Shopping for mascara can be an “eye opening” experience. Who knew there were so many formulas to choose from? Thickening, lengthening, volumizing, maximizing and separating, only to name a few; it’s no wonder a tube of “Maybelline Great Lash” is being sold somewhere in the world every 1.5 seconds. It’s bright pink and green tube stands out from all the rest, saving us from the myriad of eye lash options, without batting an eye many of us grab the familiar and alas another sale for Great Lash the best selling mascara for 33 years. I do own a tube I admit but because I read it was a “must have”, plus it adds a little color to my make up bag.

In search of a greater lash I secretly spied into the makeup bags of my most well painted friends, casually slipped in “so what mascara do you use” to unsuspecting co-workers, and polled long lashed strangers to uncover their mascara of choice. To my surprise, friends and strangers alike were wide eyed and bushy tailed to share the secrets of their lash life. So if you’re interested in peaking into what’s keeping these women’s eyes wide open… read ‘em and wink:

For Lengthening, Volumizing and Separating -
Lancome Definicils $21.00Splurge
Iman Perfect Mascara$13.00Midway
Max Factor Maximizing$5.99 Value
Maybelline Great Lash$4.99 Value

For Volumizing and Thickening -
Estee Lauder MagnaScopic$21.00 Splurge
Fashion Fair Volumizing$12.00 Midway
L’Oreal Volumizer 4x$4.24Value
Avon Astonishing Lengths$2.99*Steal
* sale price www.myavon.com

For Lengthening and Separating -
Lancome Definicils$21.00 Splurge
L’Oreal Lash Out$5.99Value
Max Factor Stretch & Separate$4.99Value
Avon Astonishing Lengths$2.99*Steal
* sale price www.myavon.com

Dramatic Lashes - One Coat
Christian Dior Show$23.00Splurge
Benefit Bad Gal$18.00Midway
L’Oreal 3 D Architect$6.99Value

Sensitive eyes & Lens Wearers
Clinique Long & Pretty Mascara$13.50Midway

Hard to reach & bottom lashes$4.99Value
Maybelline Lash Discovery

Best Mascara to sleep in (wink)
Kanebo Mascara$23.00 Splurge
Most waterproof mascaras

Here are a few lash seccrets to help you get your lash-on right:
Clean your mascara wand at least once a month to get rid of clumps and prevent build up of bacteria on bristles. Coat the wand with a little Vaseline and gently wipe mascara from the bristles but don’t damage the wand. Vaseline works best. Water won’t remove all the mascara residue and soap can irritate your eyes. Shelf life of mascara is 3 - 4 months.

Always have a dampened Q-tip handy when applying your mascara to clean up any smudges before they dry!

Fashion Fair Cosmetic Manager Dewayne Moore recommends using a lash conditioner to improve brittle, dry lashes, extend the life of the lash and to help mascara adhere better and longer. Look after your eyelashes just like your do your hair and skin

If necessary curl lashes using mascara curler before applying mascara.
For best results “draw the mascara wand out of the tube and gently scrape off any clumps on the side or wipe with a tissue before applying, says makeup artist Brandi Williams.
Oprah’s make up man Reggie Wells, says “start at the lash roots and gently sweep mascara to the ends”
Allow lashes to dry between coats. Use lash comb or spiral brush to remove any clumps.
Reggie Wells believes applying mascara to bottom lashes is not necessary and only draws attention to dark circles and wrinkles below the eye area. Try brown on bottom lashes for subtle definition.
Remove before bedtime with a gentle eye make up remover like Lancome Bi-facil Eye Makeup Remover or Andrea Q eye make up remover pads.
Mascara merge…did you know Fashion Fair is black owned by Johnson Publishing Co. (Jet, Ebony) but L’Oreal owns Lancome, and Maybelline. Proctor & Gamble owns Cover Girl & Max Factor. “Don’t Sleep”

Okay beloveds, I hope you found this F.Y. Eye enlightening and helpful in choosing the best mascara to maximize your lashes and bring focus to your eyes…the windows of your soul.

Bold indicates highly rated!

Cathy Gatson is a freelance writer and owner/operator of Yada Beauty Lounge, a hair and body salon in Northern California.

The purpose of human existence is to send out impulses to influence the environment and people where one exists, and feed upon what is received in return. This is growth, and this is where we grasp our identification and validation. What is the measure of what one feeds upon? It is one’s expanding essence of existence. And what crop is one growing? Who are you feeding? The foods you eat influence what you eventually constitutionally become. Who are you creating? And most importantly, who is creating you?

For example, in relationships, the sad state of unrequited affection, fascination or desire, is the knowledge that the person you like is not eating from you whilst you eat from them, for indeed this is the selection of responses into ‘like’ and ‘not like’ in both senses of the word [like as in similar to, and like as inclined towards].

You can sense who likes you from noting if they are becoming like you, falling into forms of you, as you are falling into theirs … how you turn their heads round, feed into their brain processes, how you incline them to make certain decisions, how they follow your express or implied or inferred paths of reasoning. [Hence, I really do not believe that opposites attract, and what I mean is opposites beneath appearances, true elemental opposites, or last very long in their attraction, unless one person is surely suffering and being overwhelmed by the other, which is not very pleasant to contemplate].

I think players are people following different paths, juggling opportunities and judgments, refusing to be influenced, fighting for their sovereignty and suffering the paranoid hesitation to being overwhelmed by influence [Hence is suppose every player has a past of being overwhelmed] whilst they wear their many faces.

Inspiration. This is what the meal is. Which is why there are long term and short term inspirations … fascinations … inclinations. And the capturing attention is indeed an art. Who and what captures your attention? Whose attention do you capture? For you are feeding, and being fed.

The people you like are the people you identify with despite your appearances, because they are who you are, or who you think you are like.

Things you think people do are things you have done, there is a general feeling of perception in the world you control and you want the people in your world to comply and conform with your definitions of rationality and irrationality, good and evil, et cetera, and you feed on these individuals to derive and confirm your definitions of everything you believe in.

18th June, 2004

Natasha Ashwe is a poet and a writer. She was born in Kingston, Ontario, and she currently resides in Nigeria where she is at university studying law. She loves music, art, and philosophy.

Acne can often strike an individual at the worst time possible.

You usually get your first case of acne in your teenage years.
There aren’t many things that can affect a teen more emotionally than acne.

Teens are very self conscious, especially about their looks. Usually the onset of acne has nothing to do with anything the teen has done, like failed to wash their face properly or eating too much junk food.

It is just a case of the hormone androgens enlarging the glands and the oils getting blocked, that causes the acne. It can be traumatic for teens just starting to notice the opposite sex and hoping they are getting noticing themselves when they suddenly get a pimple on their nose.

This makes the teen even more self conscious of their appearance and can cause embarrassment and depression. Some teens are even tormented by peers over their appearance. Even the mildest case of acne can cause emotional distress for a teenager.

If your teen has acne, try to help them find the correct treatment to help alleviate it.

Mild cases of acne can usually be taken care of with over the counter topical medication, but more severe cases may require visits to a dermatologist for further treatment.

Be sure to monitor your teen’s emotions if they are taking
prescription medication for their acne.

Although studies have shown that drugs like Accutane don’t involve a risk of depression, some parents are still concerned about it effects.

Also remember that the first treatment used may not help.
You may have to try several different brands of medication before finding one that works.

Pregnant moms are also subject to acne due to all the hormonal changes associated with pregnancy. This can cause the mother-to-be quite a bit of stress and anxiety.

Many expectant mothers already feel unattractive due to weight gain and if you add acne on top of that, it makes them feel even more unattractive. While this is form of acne will
usually subside after the pregnancy, it can still cause a great amount of emotional and physical pain before the birth.

Pregnant women had additional stress to deal with in that because of the baby, their choice for acne treatment are limited. Many older adults who may have experienced
acne as a teen are shocked to have their faces breakout when they get older.

While older adults may not be under the same amount of peer pressure as teens, the acne can still cause emotional distress.

Adults whose careers are spent in front of people - speakers, doctors, actors, businesspeople - may find acne especially embarrassing.

Adults may also suffer stress when thinking about going to see a doctor for acne treatment because many see acne as a “teenage” problem.

No matter your age, acne can cause temporary or permanent emotional scars as well as physical. Anyone experiencing acne should seek treatment as soon as possible.

Robin Araoz makes a short review about Chris Gibson’s natural acne treatment. Find out how thousands of people have cured their acne in 3 days. Visit this link for details: Visit this link for details

CELLULITE

“Cellulite” is a skin condition that gives the appearance of small bumps and ripples under the skin. The bumps are caused by the underlying fat cells growing too large and stretching the natural fiber compartments that hold the skin to the underlying layers of tissues.

“Cellulite” is ordinary fat, but ordinary fat that affects the appearance of the skin. Strands of fibrous collagen tissue connect the skin to the subcutaneous layers and also separate compartments that contain fat cells. When fat cells increase in size, these compartments bulge and produce a rippled appearance of the skin.

Women tend to have cellulite more often than men because they have a vertical pattern of collagen in the underlying layer that holds the fat cells, and when the fat cells become very large, they bulge out of the chambers and appear as cellulite. In men, the pattern of collagen is tighter, in a diagonal pattern, and they have thicker skin, so there is less bulging of the individual fat cells. Another factor in cellulite is high levels of estrogen, since this hormone has a direct effect on the holding capacity of fat cells through the increase of alpha-adrenoreceptors, the chemical doorways that tell your fat cells to hold on to their contents. Poor diet, bad circulation, and poor lymphatic circulation can all contribute to the appearance of cellulite.

TREATING SKIN WITH CELLULITE

There are several extra steps you can take for the treatment of cellulite. Consider your skin care regimen, and fine-tune it to meet the needs of skin that has a tendency to swell with fluids, store fat and have poor circulation.

Nutrition: Although cellulite is a skin condition, it’s closely tied to the storage of excess fat. If you are significantly overweight, you should certainly alter your diet. The dietary enzyme bromelain can improve overall circulation to your skin and adipose tissues by removing the buildup of fibrin on the walls of blood vessels. Treating cellulite requires a two-pronged approach - one being the shrinking of the fat cells themselves, the second being the regeneration of collagen and strengthening of the skin outside of the swollen fat cells.

Cleansing: When cleaning your skin, use your wash cloth or loufah to massage the area where cellulite occurs. At first, use a circular motion and then a brushing motion upwards towards the bowels. This will improve circulation and edema, and help remove toxins and metabolic wastes out of the tissues and interstitial spaces around the collagen and fat cells.

Other Treatments:

 Dry Skin Brushing: Learn to dry brush your skin at least twice every day - upon rising and before going to bed. Skin brushing provides many benefits in the treatment of cellulite. First of all, it’s “exercise” for you skin, and strengthens the underlying dermis and pattern of collagen in the subcutaneous layer. It stimulates the growth and repair of the tissues by increasing blood flow to the area. It also helps remove toxins and metabolic wastes out of the interstitial fluids surrounding the tissues for disposal. Dry brushing is good for you skin all over, but if you are suffering from spider or varicose veins, brushing these areas vigorously several times every day, first in a circular motion and then upwards towards the colon, can improve the appearance of cellulite.

 Hormones: Cellulite is often associated with the use of HRT and birth control pills. High levels of estrogen from these medications can cause an increase in the fatty tissues ability to store fats and cause them to bulge, pushing out the skin and causing cellulite. If you are using birth control pills for contraception, you may want to ask your doctor for a lower-estrogen dose formula or a non-hormonal form, such as an IUD. If you are on HRT, you may want to consider switching to a lower dose, adding progesterone cream, or using a weaker formula, such as an estrone cream.

 Habits: Get out of the habit of crossing your legs, knees and ankles. This reduces circulation and increases swelling. Try to keep moving regularly, neither sitting nor standing for long periods.

 Exercise: Regular exercise is necessary for the improvement of cellulite. Not only does it help reduce the appearance of cellulite by burning the fatty acids that are causing the cellulite. It also improves circulation and helps to remove toxin-filled wastes away from the skin. Take up a walking program, or sneaking in a set of exercises in the restroom during breaks. Teresa Tapp’s “T-Tapp” program is renowned for short, effective exercise movements that reduce cellulite and increase overall blood and lymph circulation. Rashelle Haines program “LifeLift” is also excellent for improving lymphatic circulation, burning excess fat and glucose and improving muscle and skin tone.

 Body Wraps: Body wraps, both professional and homemade can improve the appearance of cellulite. Body wraps use a combination of minerals and herbs that stimulate the fat cells to release their contents, they absorb toxins from the skin and reduce swelling. Generally you will find stimulant herbs like kelp or algae that stimulate the fat burning process in the cells. You will find cosmetic clays that will remove toxins and wastes from the pores, and horsetail and horse chestnut that reduce edema (swelling) and provide minerals for strengthening the skin. These formulas are applied to the skin with the use of compression wraps. For recipes for doing home wraps, go to the Botanical Beauty Lab website.

 Massage: Massage, particularly the kind that improves lymph flow, is very good for reducing the appearance of cellulite. It improves the removal of metabolic wastes and toxins from the interstitial tissues around the adipose tissues, and gives the skin a smoother appearance. There are many professionals offering massage for cellulite, including lymphatic massage and endermology, but if that is out of your budget, you may want to try a home massage device. Many are available, from a simple round-prong hand tool to a powered massager that provides heat, massage and suction similar to the professional endermology machines.

SUPPLEMENTS FOR CELLULITE REDUCTION

Alfalfa: Alfalfa is a natural diuretic that helps balance the body’s interstitial fluids and reduces edema and swelling. It’s also a phytoprogesterone, which helps balance the excess estrogen that can exacerbate cellulite.

Borage Oil: Borage oil contains high amounts gamma linoleic acid, which is an important fatty acid to the strengthening of cell walls.

Bromelain: Bromelain is a naturally occurring enzyme in natural foods that aid in the digestion of proteins. The consumption of bromelain aids in the removal of fibrin buildup in fine blood vessels. This improves and increases circulation to the skin, and aids in repair and rejuvenation.

Horsetail: Horse Chestnut herb contains high levels of the mineral silica, which is used in the repair and maintenance of skin cells.

Cider Vinegar contains an array of important enzymes and aids in balancing body pH. It’s also a good source of potassium, which is necessary for fluid balance in the body.

Coconut Oil contains medium chain triglycerides which are easily absorbed and used by the body for fuel. It has the capability of stimulating the thyroid gland, which increases body temperature and metabolism and is known for improving the burning of excess fat.

Ginkgo Biloba is a natural blood thinner that increases the microcirculation to skin and fat cells.

Gotu Kolu is a natural source of caffeine. Caffeine stimulates the beta-adrenoreceptors on the surface of the fat cells to release their stores of fatty acids, aiding in the burning of excess fat.

Green Tea: Green tea is a mild stimulate that contains caffeine as well as powerful antioxidants that aid in the proper replication and repair of skin cells.

MSM: Is an important mineral that is necessary for skin cell repair.

EXTERNAL TREATMENTS FOR CELLULITE

Aloe Vera contains alatoin, which sooths and heals skin. It has been shown clinically to increase microcirculation of the skin and to speed healing of skin tissues.

Betonite Clay is a natural mineral clay that is known for its ability to absorb impurities and toxins from the skin through the pores.

Horsetail, ginkgo biloba, kelp and green tea also work externally and can be added to lotions or creams for massage into problem areas.

Many experts have recommended using coffee grounds as a scrub for cellulite prone areas. The grounds work as an exfoliant, as the caffeine absorbs into the skin and stimulate the beta adrenoreceptors in the fat cells to release their contents.

Dead Sea Salts and Kelp or bladderwrack contain powerful minerals that aid in the repair of skin cells as well as the mineral iodine which can aid in the metabolism of the underlying fat cells.

There are also many commercial formulas and methods for the reduction of cellulite. Most contain caffeine or a similar chemical called theophylline or aminophylline. Many also contain kelp, bladderwrack and other herbs mentioned herein.

Just remember that cellulite reduction is a two step process. The cause of cellulite is over-sized fat cells that have stretched out the collagen structure underlying the skin. The first step is to reduce bodyfat, and many herbs and nutrients both external and external can accelerate the process. The second step is to increase the strength of the skin and the collagen webs under the subcutaneous tissues. Skin and collagen require vitamins, minerals and fatty acids to rebuild themselves properly. Excess fluids can exacerbate the problem, so proper fluid intake and circulation is important. Drink plenty of fluids, and stay active to increase the circulation of the lymph system. With a little diligent effort the appearance of cellulite can be reduced.

Fawn Bales has studied and practiced alternative and herbal medicine for over 20 years. She has also studied aesthetic technology and cosmetology. She is the co-author of two natural beauty books and is a managing partner of Botanical Beauty Lab a women’s source for natural health and beauty information at www.botanicalbeautylab.com

Breast augmentation is the surgical enhancement of breast size using a silicone bag implanted in the breast. This silicone bag is filled with saline and it expands the breast to give fullness, better contour, and more cleavage. In 2004, over 300,000 breast augmentation surgeries were performed in the United States alone. While breast augmentation might have been once considered an act of the vain, it is now a common procedure and can help women to improve their image.

If you are considering breast augmentation surgery, the first thing you should do is find a surgeon that comes highly recommended to you. You can do this by checking with friends or anyone you know who has surgery, as well as asking your regular physician. Before making a decision on which surgeon will perform your breast augmentation, interview several and make sure you are comfortable with them doing the procedure. It is also recommended that you ask for their credentials and call the state medical board to find out if there have been any complaints or disciplinary action taken against the surgeon.

Once you have found the surgeon you wish to have perform your breast augmentation, your surgeon will sit down and explain what the procedure involves. One of the first things they will discuss with you is your implant size. This is a personal decision and the more you can describe the size you would like to be, the better your surgeon will be able to help you. A great way to get an accurate preferred measurement is to take a plastic bag and fill with water that you have measured. Place these in your preferred bra size. This will give your surgeon a better idea of your ideal size. You and your surgeon will also discuss the shape of your implant, whether round for a rounded appearance or a more contoured shape to enhance the slope of your breast.

You will also have choices in what type of implants you wish to have. There are smooth surface and textured implants and there are options of where you wish to have them placed. The smooth implant has less chance of rippling or wrinkling, however, it must be placed in a larger pocket. This has more chance, however, of the implant becoming hard or firm. The textured implant has less chance of hardening but it has a greater chance of rippling.
When it comes to placement, the best possible position for the implants is under the chest muscle. This placement has a less occurrence for both ripple and hardening, but it is a more difficult surgery. The easiest placement is under the breast tissue, but there is more of a chance of hardening and rippling. Your surgeon will provide you with all the necessary information regarding these options to help assist you in your decision making.

While the surgery itself has been deemed as safe and relatively easy to perform, as with any surgery, it has its risks. The main risk is possible infection and while this is rare, it is possible that the implant would need to be removed to allow healing. Other risks are possible bleeding of the implant pocket, hardening of the breast, the slipping of an implant causing distortion of the breast, and leakage of the implant bag.
As for new developments in breast augmentation, it has come a long way since the first procedure was performed in 1962. Silicone breast implants were used in the beginning, however, due to the suspicion that the silicone was causing health issues, there was a moratorium placed on their use. After much research, the general consensus is that silicone breast implants had nothing to do with the health issues of women who reported silicone leakage. However, silicone breast implants are now under limited distribution by physicians who are part of an INAMED/INAMED Medical Clinical Study. All other implants are filled with saline.

Women who have had breast augmentation highly recommend it to others. They state they feel better about themselves and there is a vast improvement in their self-confidence. They also state that it should be done for yourself and not because someone wants you to have it done. Not only can it change the way you look, breast augmentation can change the way you feel.

This article was prepared for this Breast Augmentation Toronto site, please visit them for more information.

Are you one of those folks that needs to figure-it-out all the time? Are you one of those Law of Attraction students who catches yourself saying things like, “I wonder how this is going to come to me?” or, “What do I need to figure out so I know what to do next (to manifest what I desire)?”
Attention Law of Attraction Students!
Stop trying to figure out where/how/when your manifestation is going to come! It’s not your job!

Here’s a great tool that will help all of you ‘figure-it-outers’ reduce your need to figure it out. Those of you who are thinkers need to see it or know it before you can fully accept that The Law of Attraction exists and is working in your life. You need proof before you can STOP being a sceptic. Ideally, if I could show you a test tube with Law of Attraction ‘proof’ inside it, or a Petri dish with Law of Attraction growing in it, that would be all the proof you’d require. The Law of Attraction does provide us with proof, however, it’s not found in test tubes and Petri dishes.

One of the best tools for getting the proof you need is to begin recording personal evidence of every coincidence or every ‘out of the blue’ experience that happens to you. HINT: Every time you use the words or phrases: serendipity, coincidence, synchronicity, every thing is falling into place, and out of the blue—you are actually gathering your own proof that The Law of Attraction is working in YOUR life!

Folks who are thinkers and ‘figure-it-outers’ simply need this gathering of evidence to reduce their scepticism. Scepticism or doubt produces negative vibrations. More doubt attracts more negative vibration, and as we all know, The Law of Attraction is working in every moment to match our vibration and bring us more of the same, whether wanted or unwanted. Doubt slows down the speed of the delivery of our desires. It’s important to reduce that negative vibration; the less doubt or scepticism we have, the faster we manifest.

Proof does just that! Gathering proof through keeping a log and recording each personal experience of The Law of Attraction reduces doubt for the sceptic. Gathering proof replaces those negative vibrations with the positive vibrations of knowing that The Law of Attraction is indeed working for you, the thinker!

If you are a sceptic, a thinker, or a figure-it-outer, start your log of evidence today. By the time you have logged 7 or 8 personal experiences of The Law of Attraction working in your life, you will be well on your way to knowing through evidence and proof, that The Law of Attraction is working in YOUR life! Enjoy the relief of letting The Law of Attraction arrange, figure it all out, and bring you your desires. It is the recording of evidence and the celebrating of proof that will raise your vibration. Practice using this great tool. You’ll be giving more attention to your desires, doing more allowing and speeding up the delivery of your manifestations.

Michael Losier, a Law of Attraction Trainer and author, supports people in understanding and practicing the Art of Deliberate Attraction, so they can have more of what they want and less of what they don’t. Michael has been applying the principles of Law of Attraction for many years and enjoys a wonderful and rewarding life in the city of Victoria, BC, Canada. He facilitates a number of in-person Law of Attraction seminars as well as Teleseminars to a worldwide audience.

For more articles by Michael Losier, Teleclass information or to purchase the book, Law of Attraction, The Science of Attracting More of What You Want and Less of What You Don’t, visit www.LawOfAttractionBook.com.

Dr. Wayne Dyer has been an inspiration for me for at least two decades now and below I wanted to share with you my favorite 20 quotes of his that relate to creating abundance and prosperity:

1. “There is no scarcity of opportunity to make a living at what you love; there’s only scarcity of resolve to make it happen.”
2. “Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into.”
3. “There is no way to prosperity, prosperity is the way.”
4. “Within you is the divine capacity to manifest and attract all that you need or desire.”
5. “We are Divine enough to ask and we are important enough to receive.”
6. “You are always a valuable, worthwhile human being, not because anybody says so, not because you’re successful, not because you make a lot of money, but because you decide to believe it and for no other reason.”
7. “When I chased after money, I never had enough. When I got my life on purpose and focused on giving of myself and everything that arrived into my life, then I was prosperous.”
8. “The measure of your life will not be in what you accumulate, but in what you give away.”
9. “Successful people make money. It’s not that people who make money become successful, but that successful people attract money. They bring success to what they do.”
10. “Self-worth comes from one thing — thinking that you are worthy.”
11. “Prosperity in the form of wealth works exactly the same as everything else. You will see it coming into your life when you are unattached to needing it. “
12. “Our intention creates our reality.”
13. “Love what you do.”
14. “Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life.”
15. “It’s never crowded along the extra mile.”
16. “I will grow. I will become something new and grand, but no grander than I now am. Just as the sky will be different in a few hours, its present perfection and completeness is not deficient, so am I presently perfect and not deficient because I will be different tomorrow. I will grow and I am not deficient.”
17. “Heaven on Earth is a choice you must make, not a place we must find.”
18. “A non-doer is very often a critic-that is, someone who sits back and watches doers, and then waxes philosophically about how the doers are doing. It’s easy to be a critic, but being a doer requires effort, risk, and change.”
19. “Anything that has been accomplished by any other human being in the physical realm is within the field of possibility.”
20. “Anything you really want, you can attain, if you really go after it.”

All of the above excerpts are credited to Dr. Wayne Dyer.

Resource Box:

Chris Knight is the humble moderator of the fan discussion board for Dr. Wayne Dyer: Wayne-Dyer.InspiresYOU.com — He invites you to drop by, register for free, and join the discussion. It’s by fans and for fans of Dr. Wayne Dyer, and as such, is not connected directly with Dr. Wayne Dyer.

More about who Dr. Wayne Dyer is: Affectionately called the “father of motivation” by his fans, is one of the most widely known and respected people in the field of self-empowerment. He became a well-known author with his bestselling book, Your Erroneous Zones, and has gone on to write many other self-help classics, including Meditations for Manifesting, Staying on the Path, Your Sacred Self, Everyday Wisdom, and You’ll See It When You Believe It.

Healthy skin happens when we eat good foods, have enough
exercise, minimize stress and protect our skin from the
harsh environment.

Certain foods are especially beneficial to the skin.
Garlic is one such food. It contains sulphur compounds
(which give it its rather strong odor) which are beneficial
to your skin. It also acts as a natural antibiotic and
cleanses the whole system. If you like garlic, eat it as
much as you can. If the smell worries you, chew a piece of
parsley afterwards and this will neutralize it. Odorless
garlic tablets are available if this is all too hard.

Vitamin C is probably the most important skin vitamin
in my opinion. Not least because the human body can neither
make it or store it. This vitamin helps collagen formation
which keeps the skin looking young and plump. This could be
why smoker’s skin can look older than a non smoker’s.
Smoking also uses up the oxygen in the blood. Give it up if
humanly possible or at least cut it down.

Vitamin C is best consumed together with bioflavonoids,
the way it is normally found in nature. The two have a
synergistic effect. They can be found in Citrus fruit,
berries such as strawberries and blueberries and vegetables
such as broccoli.

Broccoli also contain vitamin A, an important vitamin
for skin as it helps it fight infection from the inside out.
Great for those with acne! Have some every other day if you
can.

Carrots are a great source of carotenoids such as
“beta-carotene” which your body converts to vitamin A .
Beta-carotene is absorbed into the skin and can also protect
it from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Carrots also contain
“alpha carotene” which protects against free radical damage.
Carrots are a great way to get your vitamin A as excess
carotenoids are expelled by the body. Too much vitamin A is
toxic to the body.

Dark leafy green vegetables, particularly kale and
spinach are a good source of zinc and iron. Iron will make
sure your skin gets enough oxygen and zinc is a great pimple
fighter. Eat some every day if you possible can or include
some in a fresh juice.

Parsley deserves a separate mention as it is rich in
just about all the skin boosting nutrients. It contains beta
carotene, chlorophyll, vitamin B12, folic acid (great for
firm skin), vitamin C and iron. Parsley can be added to
juices, casseroles, sprinkled over any savory dish or simply
chewed by itself. Its great for fresh breath too. Parsley is
easy to grow, pop some in a pot and keep it near the kitchen
door.

Olive oil is fabulous for dry skin and wrinkles. Use
it for cooking - it contains monounsaturated fats and anti
oxidants- or slather it on your skin after a bath.

Flaxseeds and flax oil (also known as linseed)
contain the essential omega 3 oils not found in many foods.
(Fish also contains omega 3). Flaxseeds contain fiber and
phytoestrogens which balance the body’s hormones and are
vital for younger looking skin. Sprinkle some on your cereal
or use in soups and stews.

Avocados give skin (especially dry skin) a boost.
Although fairly high in fat, its the healthy monounsaturated
kind which makes dry skin supple. Avocados contain
glutathione which is one of the most powerful antioxidants
around and will prevent cell damage in all skin types. They
are also high in potassium.

Drink as much water as you can, this flushes out toxins and
helps to hydrate the skin. If you can’t drink eight glasses
a day - I can’t unless its 40 degrees - then just drink as
much as you can without being uncomfortable.

Skin needs sufficient protein to replace and repair itself.
Most of us have plenty of protein in our diets but a lot of
it comes with a lot of fat attached. If you can substitute
low fat items e.g. milk, peanut butter, cheese etc, then do
so. You’ll still be eating the same amount. Lean meat is
fine, fish is even better as it contains natural omega 3
oils which are great for your skin and your health.

Try and add as many fruits and vegetables as possible to
your diet. If you ‘re a committed junk food “junkie” this
may seem impossible, but if you tackle it in small bites (pun intended!) It will be easy. Commit yourself to healthy
foods on certain days of the week or drink water instead of
soda in the afternoons. When this becomes comfortable,
expand it to every day. Its just breaking old habits and
replacing them with new ones. After a while you’ll be
comfortable with it. And you’ll feel better and loose weight
too.

The purists tell us that all vitamins and minerals can be
obtained from foods and there is no need for us to take
supplements. In theory this is true, however the stress of
life today probably robs our system of vitamin B. Smoking
uses up about 35 mg of vitamin C per day.

Added to this, the practice of storing fresh
produce for extended amounts of time, can’t help but deplete
the natural vitamins in these foods. The pollution in our
cities and some of our bad habits like eating junk and
smoking (who me?) leads to the production of free radicals
in the body. For this we need an antioxidant which contains
among others beta carotene (a precursor of vitamin A),
vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, lycopene (found in tomatoes)
and zinc.

Healthy skin loves exercise! It doesn’t matter what kind.
Walking, jogging, all types of sport, aerobics, thumping
around in the gym, whatever you enjoy try and fit it in
three times a week. If you don’t enjoy any exercise, find
one! Join a group of people or find a walking buddy, you
will get to enjoy it I promise!

Stress is bad for you and bad for your skin. Stress will
slow the circulation of blood to the skin causing a shortage
of oxygen to the cells. It will also deplete certain
nutrients from the body - for example vitamin B. It can ruin
your sleep thus preventing the repair and regeneration of
skin cells. It will put worry lines on your face and will
make you look old before your time! Who needs it? No-one!
check out this page on stress to see how you can deal with
this incapacitating disorder now!

As you may have gathered from all this, having a healthy
skin is the same as having a healthy body, it’s worth
maintaining a good diet and lifestyle so you not only look
great but you feel great too!

Like to have better looking skin? http://www.holistic-facial-skin-care.com will give you detailed information on all facets of skin care. The author, Wendy Owen has had a lifetime interest in general and alternative health and skin care.

Sometimes when men and women decide they want hair extensions, they just make an appointment at a salon near them and go get them. While this approach may work sometimes, many times the end result is either damaged hair or a very unhappy extension client. If you are informed and prepared to get hair extensions you will avoid many of the common mistakes made when getting hair extensions.

The next step involves using the information you discovered in step 3, so if you are trying to skip steps—go back and do step 3.

Anyways, back to Step 4: Select a salon and schedule your hair extension consultation (and go to it). It may be advisable to schedule several hair extension consultations–even if they charge you. They usually apply this fee to the cost of the hair extensions if you go with them. This is money well spent. Hair extensions can cost from hundreds to even thousands of dollars, so a few $25 or even $50 consultation fees are negligible.

The best case scenario is to select a stylist that is trained and certified in several different hair extension methods. That way, he/she can tell you which method would be best for you. Hair extensions are NOT one size fits all. Different hair textures, different hair condition and desired length and look all effect the type of hair extension method.

To find a salon in your area, you can contact the company directly for a list of certified stylists. This is the BEST method to finding a qualified stylist. BEWARE: There are some hair stylists out there claiming to be certified and trained by XYZ Company, when in fact they are not. Always ask to see a copy of their certification, or call the company to make sure they are certified. We have even run across several stylists that have been ‘de-certified’ by a hair extension company because of numerous customer complaints.

Below are 10 tips for getting the most out of your hair extension consultation. Bring a notebook and write the answers down so you won’t get confused later when comparing methods.

1. After selecting a salon, schedule an initial consultation to discuss what you would like to have done and any concerns that you have.

2. Ask about what hair extension experience your hair stylist has and where they received their training. Are they trained in more than one method?

3. Make sure the hair stylist listens and understands your needs and concerns. Does he/she communicate well with you?

4. The hair stylist should ask you about your lifestyle, health, hobbies and your normal hair routine

5. An analysis of your scalp and hair should be done at the initial consultation to make sure your hair is in a condition for successful hair extensions.

5A. Ask what can go wrong with the hair extensions–attachment and removal.

5B. Ask what happens when things go wrong. Is there any sort of guarantee for the products (hair) or attachment?

6. Ask to see before and after photos of hair extension clients, ask for references and be sure to call them

7. Make a mental note of the workspace of the stylist. Is it neat, clean and orderly?

8. Ask how often the average client needs to replace the hair. This is very important for anticipating future costs

9. Get a written estimate for your hair extensions with an itemized list of the services required to achieve your new look

10. Get a written maintenance plan. Plan should include recommendations for products, grooming tools, follow-up appointments and any special instructions

Stay tuned for Step 5 of 6 to getting hair extensions!

Perriann Rodriguez is the author of the top-selling E-book, Hair Extensions-The Official Consumer’s Guide to Getting Hair Extensions For additional information and resources related to hair extensions, visit http://www.hrhairextensions.com

Do you love the look of sun kissed skin, but worry about the long term ramifications of tanning? If so then you are not alone. For years there has been quite a bit of talk about tanning, and you may be confused by what you hear. So unless you plan to spend the summer looking like a ghost, it is important that you learn what is safe and what isn’t in the wide world of tanning.

First, I want to stress that baking in the sun is out! Every time you go outside you are exposing your skin to the elements and risking damage and premature aging. It doesn’t matter how old you are, your skin type, or your location. Sun block with a SPF of at least 15 is a must for everyone. Apply it at least 30 minutes before leaving the house, and reapply often. Once again- lying out in the sun is not an option. If you do, you can look forward to:

• Getting wrinkly skin prematurely
• Getting sunburned or blistered
• Getting skin cancer

In fact, every year over 60,000 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed, mostly due to unsafe tanning practices.

Doesn’t sound like something that you want to experience? Well you aren’t alone. The next option you have is tanning beds. While tanning beds offer you a bit more control over your exposure rate, they still aren’t a valid option. The sheer act of tanning is damaging to your skin. So I would skip the tanning beds and search for something less damaging.

So what else is there?

Self tanners are perhaps your safest and best bet. Now, if you tried some of these products a few years back you may be skeptical about going back. Products of yesterday used to be streaky and fake looking. Luckily technology has played a huge role in the self-tanning market and has allowed manufacturers to create a product that rivals the look of a sun-kissed tan. The trick is to find a quality product and learn to apply it correctly.

Some tips for getting a perfect self-tanner tan are:

• Exfoliate! Basically what this means is remove the dead skin cells that can dull your complexion. Dead skin cells will suck up the self tanner and leave you looking streaky. You can purchase a loofah or exfoliation cream at any beauty supply store. One hot shower and a bit of scrubbing will leave your skin in perfect condition for self-tanner application.

• Make sure your skin is dry before application. Many people are quick to start applying the self tanner right after they exfoliate. This will lead to a blotchy result that will look unnatural. So step away from the shower, dry off thoroughly, and go watch a sitcom or two. That way you will be dry and ready to get a perfect tan.

• Buy a brand that you can see when you apply. There are many things that you will want to look for when choosing a brand. Finding one that is easy to see when you apply it will help prevent over application or missed spots. You can always go back and do touch ups once it has dried, but colored creams or lotions will help make your job a bit easier.

• Use gloves to prevent streaky hands. No one has to know that you self-tan! Prevent streaky odd colored hands by using surgical gloves when applying the tanner. Your palms will come out the right shade, and you won’t have to explain yourself for a week afterwards.

• Use less product on knees and elbows for even color. Your joints are usually drier and tend to suck up more self tanner than other areas of your body. Apply less tanner to these areas for an even look. Exfoliation will also help a bit, but always work on the side of caution.

Still scared to do it yourself? Consider a professionally done spray on tan. The concept is simple; you strip down to the bare minimum and then enter a shower type stall. Most tanning salons have such devices and the shower will then spray your entire body for an all over sun kissed glow. Some salons will allow you to do it yourself, or have the treatment done by another. Once the spray on tan solution has been applied, you want to let it dry completely before putting your clothing back on.

Good luck, and get ready to start getting compliments on your sun kissed glow!

Adam Short is freelance writer and creator of http://www.tanningguide.info - a site providing facts about tanning and tanning products.