Five Tips for Beautiful Skin

Tip 1: Give Yourself a Dry Brush Exfoliation
A dry brush exfoliation can be done in the morning before you shower. It eliminates dead skin cells and allows the skin to detox (skin is the largest organ of elimination). Dry brush exfoliation also improves lymph and blood circulation and decreases puffiness. An added benefit is that the gentle pressure is calming to the nervous system. To give yourself a dry brush exfoliation, you’ll need a soft, natural bristle brush.

Tip 2: Rev Up Your Digestion
In alternative medicine, good skin is a reflection of a good digestive system. People with skin disorders such as acne, rosacea, and psoriasis often suffer from constipation, imbalanced “good” vs. “bad” bacteria, leaky gut, and other digestive conditions. The two most common sluggish digestion culprits are:

* Culprit #1: Not Enough Water Water bathes cells and eliminates waste products, preventing constipation.

* Culprit #2: Not Enough Fiber Most people lack fiber in their diets - the average person eats only 12 g of fiber a day. In 2002, the National Academy of Sciences Food and Nutrition Board established recommended fiber intakes. For men aged 19-50 years, 38 g fiber is recommended, and for men over 50, 31 g fiber is recommended. For women aged 19 to 50 years, 25 g fiber is recommended, and for women over 50, 21 g fiber is recommended.

* Some suggestions:
1. Add Whole Grains - Choose whole grain products over refined. Have brown rice instead of white or make your own 50:50 combination.
2. An Apple a Day - Have an apple, skin on, as a snack.
3. Eat Cauliflower - Try this delicious Roasted Cauliflower recipe!
4. High-fiber snacks - Snack on nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, such as dates, figs, and prunes.
5. Try a “Prune Power” Smoothie - Prunes are a great source of fiber. Start your day with this tasty Prune Power smoothie.
6. Eat Beans and Legumes - Open a can of your favorite beans or legumes. Rinse them well and add them to your meal.
7. Ground Flaxseeds - For any easy fiber boost, sprinkle ground flaxseeds (available at health food stores) on rice, salads, oatmeal, or any other meal. Store flaxseeds in the fridge.

Tip 3: Invigorate Sluggish Circulation
Do you sit at your desk for hours, only getting up to go to the bathroom? One of the best things you can do for your skin, stress level, and overall health is to get moving! Inactivity may affect skin and promote bloating and puffiness, acne, cellulite, and loss of muscle tone.

* Take a quick break to go outside and walk around the block.
* Book a massage therapy appointment.
* Close your door and stretch.
* Go to the gym.
* Start each morning by stretching.
* Get a skipping rope - raise your heart rate and do some good cardio.

Tip #4: Avoid Excess Sugar
Most people do not realize this but excess sugar is considered one of the main causes of premature aging. The more sugar we eat, the more sugar we have entering our bloodstream. Over time, this can result in a process known as glycation, which is when a glucose (sugar) molecule damages a protein molecule by sticking to it. The new molecules formed are called advanced glycation end-products, or AGEs. AGEs damage collagen in skin, cartilage, and ligaments and promote a loss of elasticity. Wrinkles form and skin begins to sag.

* Try This - It may seem impossible to reduce your sugar intake, but it can be done! A gradual approach works best. In the next week, choose one thing you’re going to do to decrease the amount of sugar you consume. For example, start by cutting the amount of sugar in your daily coffee or tea by half. Every week, find another way you can decrease your sugar intake. Pretty soon, you’ll be surprised at how far you’ve come!

Tip #5: Eat Some Good Fats
Essential fatty acids are simply fats your body cannot live without. They are needed to make cell membranes, hormones, and other body chemicals. Essential fats are thought to keep your heart healthy, fight inflammation, and possibly prevent cancer. They are also particularly important to people with inflammatory conditions such as eczema and acne, and also for people with dry skin. People with essential fat deficiency sometimes notice bumps on the backs of their arms. Here are my suggestions on getting more essential fats:

* Flaxseed and walnut oil - Use flaxeed oil or walnut oil with balsamic vinegar as a salad dressing. Be sure to keep these oils refrigerated. They should not be heated or used for cooking.
* Cold water fish - Sardines are a good source of essential fats. Salmon is another good source, however these salmon accumulate toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (otherwise known as PCBs) in their body fat during the 95 percent of their lives they spend at sea.
* Supplements - Consider fish oil supplements.

Easy Tips for Beautiful Skin

Your face is probably the first thing people notice about you.  It is the way we all imprint and record new people to
memory. Since it is the most noticible thing about you, it is very important to take good care of your facial skin. The skin on your face should be properly cleansed, hydrated and moisturized. The skin around your eyes need special attention too as it is very thin and most of the times people suffer from bags, wrinkles and dark circles underneath their eyes. The best facial skin care is what you need to take care of all the different needs of your skin.

Below are some basic tips to help you put your best face forward:

Wear Sunscreen - Protect your skin from the sun. Use at least as SPF 15 sunscreen, and avoid direct sunlight between the hours of 10pm and 3pm.

Drink Water - Water is one of the best things you can put into your body…and it’s calorie free! The more you drink
the better your skin will look!

Catch some Z’s - Poor sleep is a disaster for your skin. Try to get at least 6-8 hours sleep each night.

When in Doubt, Toss It - Replace old sponges in your compact every 3 months or so. Replace the whole compact if not used within 6 months. The average shelf life for make-up is 6 to 12 months.

Oily Skin Tip - To reduce the appearance of oily skin, cut a lemon into wedges. Rub some all over your face. Leave
it for about 15 minutes, rinse with cold water.

Pimples Be Gone - Crush a clove of garlic apply the juice to your daily> It is said to reduce pimples.

Naked Skin is Best - Forget make-up. Go natural as often as possible. After all, make-up is one of the leading
causes of clogged pores. And, we all know that clogged pores leads to pimply skin!

Don’t Forget the Hands - Make sure that you put sunblock on those hands. Your hands really reveal your age. Make sure to moisturize them daily, and do weekly hand treatments (alpha hydroxy works good).

Wash - Be sure and wash your face twice a day. And NEVER go to bed with your make-up on. For every day that you sleep in your make-up, you have aged your skin FOUR! Also, be sure to exfoliate your skin at least every other day.

Moisturize - After you wash that beautiful skin, moisturize it. Use night cream before bed, and face cream during the day. Make sure you take care of your eyes as well. When you do wear make-up, be sure and put a good moisturizer underneath.

Applying these simple skin care tips are sure to help you have beautiful skin!