Beauty is Life

Quotes

2009-10-20T02:04:00.000-07:00

"A foolish man tells a woman to stop talking, but a wise man tells her that her mouth is extremely beautiful when her lips are closed”

“A man falls in love through his eyes, a woman through her ears.”

“When I say, "I love you," it's not because I want you or because I can't have you. It has nothing to do with me. I love what you are, what you do, how you try. I've seen your kindness and your strength. I've seen the best and the worst of you. And I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are. You're a hell of a woman.”

“How can a woman be expected to be happy with a man who insists on treating her as if she were a perfectly normal human being.”

Breathing exercises helps lower stress big time!

2009-10-20T01:45:00.000-07:00

ur body tends to react during times of stress; irregular breathing, sweating, aches and pains, slow metabolism and so on.

Since these are all physical in nature, we have to deal with it in a physical way. One method is through breathing exercises which can affect your body in a profound way.

Simply speaking, these exercises controls the flow of oxygen in your body, as well as its distribution to different parts of your anatomy.

One way to do this is to count your breathing. Breath slow and deep, relax your stomach as you do so.

Try to keep a rhythm and follow it all throughout the duration of the exercise.

With enough practice, you can control your breathing instantly during times of stress which can help you relax and alleviate some of the negative effects in your body.

Dandruff Go Away

2009-10-20T01:37:00.000-07:00

What is Dandruff?
Dandruff is simply dead skin shedding from your head at a fast rate. Almost everyone has had dandruff at some point to one degree or another. People with a strong degree of dandruff will experience an itchy scalp.

Causes of Dandruff:The following are items that may cause dandruff:
Hormone imbalance.
Excessive perspiration
Allergic reactions
Excessive stress
Poor hygene
Poor nutritioin/health
Lack of sleep
Inherited genetic trait
Inadequete shampooing and rinsing of the hair.
Tight fitting hats.
Excessive use of hair styling products (gel, mouse, hair dye, hair curler...)
Cold weather
Dry enviroment.
Excessive Heat

Even though dandruff is known as the drying of the scalp, it is most common in people with oily hair.

Dandruff Treatment
Unfortunately there is no cure for dandruff yet (once you get it you may continue to have it), but there are ways that you can control and limit dandruff.

If you have only a mild case of dandruff, shampooing your hair with a regular shampoo daily or twice a day will usually do the trick.

Start out by trying a mild shampoo, stronger shampoos can irritate and dry out your hair making dandruff flaking worst.

If your standard shampoo doesn't get rid of your dandruff, buy an anti-dandruff shampoo and your dandruff condition should improve signifigantly in a couple of weeks.

Picking the right shampoo for your hair can be a process of trial and error, try out different shampoos to see which one works best for you and also rotating shampoos periodically can be good for your hair.

Once you have found an anti-dandruff shampoo that works for you, keep on using it or your dandruff will most likely reoccur.

Lather and rinse twice when using anti-dandruff shampoos, the first time cycle will clean your scalp, the second cycle will medicate it.

If you think you may have a severe case of dandruff, it is advised that you set up an appointment with a dermatologist.
Poor health may be the cause of your dandruff, so be sure to get enough sleep, eat nutritiously, and avoid stress inducing activities.

Something in your diet may be causing you to have an allergic reaction and trigger dandruff to occur, try limiting your diet and see if your dandruff gets any better. Some foods that commonly cause an alergic reaction causing dandruff include nuts, choclate and shellfish.

If you have to scratch your head, avoid using your fingernails to scratch (you'll risk an infection if you do) instead use the pads of your fingers.

Wear a hat outside on days that are extremely cold, windy, and when you're going to be out in the sun for a lengthy period.

Use a humidifier to keep the air moist.

Limit the use of hair coloring and hair styling products with alcohol which dries out hair.

Make sure that you get an adequate ammount of B6 in your diet, which will help prevent dandruff.

Massage your scalp with the pads of your fingers in a circular motion to increase circulation

Stress! Stress! Stress!

2009-10-20T01:30:00.000-07:00

Stress, in some levels, is needed in our daily life. Stress can challenge us to do better, to improve, and even to innovate. But stress has many other negative effects on your body. Under significant physical of psychological stress, your body releases a stress hormone, called cortisol. Cortisol in the natural world, could help save your life in dire circumstances. It helps keep your blood pressure up, makes your kidneys work harder, pushes your liver to get rid of toxins more effectively, and changes your metabolism from storing energy to burning it.

How about the skin health now? How can stress affect your skin?

We can see this in the skin where elevated cortisol can change both the skin’s structure and function. Studies have shown that chronically elevated cortisol levels lead to a decrease in your skin’s natural lipid or fat barrier. These lipids are essential to keep your skin protected and to prevent it from drying out. Without a layer of lipids on your skin, it is no longer waterproof, and irritating soap and water from hand washing or bathing is able to penetrate the skin, causing inflammation. Without a protective lipid layer, the moisture in your skin evaporates easily, leaving the skin dehydrated. This dry, flaky skin is even more susceptible to damage or irritation.

Elevated cortisol also impairs your skin’s natural defense system. Your skin is constantly producing specialized protiens that act as bacterialcides, killing off unwanted intruders on your skin. Stress can lead to a drop in production of these first line defense proteins, leaving your skin vulnerable.

As conclusion, if you get too stressed out, be careful, since it sooner or later can affect your skin health, and by the end of the day, make you ugly, hehe.. So, manage your stress, and stay healthy and beautiful always!

How to Feel Beautiful for Yourself

2009-10-20T01:19:00.000-07:00

Feeling beautiful is a state of mind. It's not just a physical view in the mirror or something cosmetics enhance. It helps. But if you feel beautiful on the inside, that will exude on the outside. Everyone wants to be feel beautiful and if you surround yourself with the right, positive individuals, you can always feel beautiful. Different things make us feel beautiful. Try some of these when you are feel down.

Instructions

Step 1
Love yourself first. When you love who you are, you radiate a natural glow. If you are happy and feel festive inside, you look wonderful. Never compare yourself or your situations or struggles against anyone else. If you are struggling with something, keep your head up high and get on with your day. Feel like you can conquer anything, and you'll feel like a million.

Step 2
Pride and Prejudice. Yes it's a book by Jane Austen but it's also a way of feeling. Too much pride can help you miss out on a lot of beautiful things in life. You can miss out on a love because of pride. We all know that we all feel beautiful when we're in love. We radiate light and feel great. Prejudice is just as bad. Don't be jealous over what others have that you do not. Is it something you really need? Probably not. So don't be a hater. If your neighbor has the new trendy $1000 handbag, let her have time in the limelight. The trend will run it's course. Buy yourself a budget friendly bag and look just as wonderful and think of how much money you saved. That will put a smile on your face. Everyone looks beautiful with a smile.

Step 3
Feeling beautiful is about loving you. When you love yourself, others will fall in love with you too. Some romantically and others will adore your friendship. Great company makes even the most tiresome event exciting. Enjoy being your beautiful self everyday!

Lemons for Your Hair

2009-10-20T01:16:00.000-07:00

For people lucky enough to be naturally blonde haired, by adding lemon juice to your hair you can bring out the blonde high lights. All you have to do is add the juice of half a lemon to the water you are going to use to rinse your hair with once you have shampooed it. You can also use this with other shades of hair to bring out the lighter high lights. But for the darker shades of hair you should make up a mixture of 1 tbsp of lemon juice and 3 tbsp of vinegar and add that to the rinsing water for when you rinse the shampoo out of your hair.

Facial Exercise

2009-10-20T01:08:00.000-07:00

Facial Exercise can make a profound difference to your looks. Just as your body looks best when it is toned and firm when you exercise regularly, you will be amazed at the difference regular facial exercise can make to your face and neck.

Smooth away those wrinkles
Facial exercises will do a great deal to prevent new wrinkles from forming or to soften existing expression lines that make you look older than you feel. Regularly exercising your facial muscles will also revitalise your skin by increasing the blood flow to this part of your body, thereby improving its overall look.

Tighten slack facial muscles
Even if you take good care of your skin or if you are lucky enough not to have too many wrinkles, you might find as you age that your facial muscles are losing the fight with gravity and you develop a double (or heaven forbid triple) chin, jowls and slack saggy skin which is a tell-tale sign of advancing years. Exercising your facial muscles regulary will improve and eventually eliminate all these problems, making you look years younger.

A Simple Exercise to Get Rid of a Double Chin

The following exercise from "Families Online" will help tone the neck and flatten a double chin. Perform the movement once a day, six days in a row. Take one day off and continue for another six days.

1. Lift your chin to create a taut line between your chin and the base of your neck. Keep your shoulders erect.
2. Press the surface of your tongue firmly against the roof of your mouth. (Your tongue acts as the anchor when you press it against the roof of your mouth.)
3. Allow your teeth and lips to part slightly.
4. Hold the contraction for five (5) seconds.
5. Relax your face and bring your head to its level position.
6. Breathe in deeply through your nose and exhale through your nose.
7. Repeat the remaining sets three times holding the contractions for ten (10) seconds each.
8. Breathe in deeply through your nose and exhale through your nose.

Facial exercises are easy
If you put aside between five and ten minutes per day you can achieve a healthier, younger looking skin – make it part of your regular routine and you will achieve the benefits of a face lift without going under the surgeons knife. And this advice is not just for mature women. Start to exercise your facial muscles as early as possible to maintain your youthful looks. This can benefit both men and women

To sum up
Just as exercise keeps your body toned, exercising the face and neck, strengthens the supportive muscles, preventing double chins, drooping eyelids and wrinkles from forming. These exercises also improve the flow of blood to the skin bringing nutrition to feed the skin and removing toxins from it. The elasticity and health of the skin will improve if you do these exercises regularly to achieve and maintain results.

How to Make Your Breasts Beautiful with Exercises

2009-10-20T01:02:00.000-07:00

How to Make Your Breasts Beautiful with Exercises
The standards of a beautiful bosom have changed for a number of times, today an ideal bust is considered the one with a shape that remains the same no matter what movements your body performs. Hence, a beautiful bosom is considered the one with high, elastic breasts, regardless of their size; the main point of a beautiful bust is its tone. The perfect sport to increase the tone and improve the appearance of your breasts is swimming, the second alternative, in case there is no way to practice this sport, is to see a fitness trainer or do some simple but effective exercises, which will help you strengthen the pectoral muscles by yourself.

Exercise 1 for Beautiful Breasts. Pressure
Applying pressure is the simplest exercise for your bust. Stand tall facing the wall, lean against it with your hands. Press against the wall as hard as you can, as if you want to move it, keep on pushing for 10 seconds. Relax, shake your hands. Do a set of 10 repetitions.

Exercise 2 for Beautiful Breasts. Elbows Touch
Stand tall, bend your hands slightly in the elbows, keep your hands on your hips. Try to touch your elbows one to the other behind your back, do not do it in jerks, but rather do it slowly, stretching the muscles for 10-15 seconds. Repeat 8 times.

Exercise 3 for Beautiful Breasts. Palms Pressing
The next exercise for beautiful breasts is as follows: join your palms in front of the chest and press them hard against each other for 3-5 seconds. Repeat 8-10 times.

Exercise 4 for Beautiful Breasts. “Dry” Breast-Stroke
If you can not go to a swimming pool, do this effective exercise to improve the tone of your breast. Stand tall, nestle up to the wall, squeeze the pectoral muscles and make movements, as if you are breast-stroke swimming. Do a hundred slow strokes, keep your pectoral muscles tense all the time.

Finishing Exercises for Beautiful Breasts with Posture Exercise
The best way to finish this set of exercises for your bust is to do an exercise which targets your posture. Take a thick book, put it on your head and walk around the house for a few minutes like that, trying to keep it on your crown. This will help you relax the muscles effectively and give them the needed working tone. If you can not walk like that, at least try standing with the book on your head. You can hold on to a chair or the wall, but do not lean against the wall.

Love Can Make You More Beautiful

2009-10-20T00:51:00.000-07:00

Ever heard of the saying “love makes the world go round”? It may be true, but do you believe that love makes a person more beautiful?

Ask any beauty icon about her beauty secret and she will tell you that how a woman feels inside shows outside. In truth, a person who feels loved and in love will have a different aura. They refer to this as a “gleam in one’s eye or a glow in one’s cheeks”, and is something that improves a person‘s appearance.

It is not necessary for a person to feel the “man and woman” type of love to be beautiful: it can be filial love or love for anything. What is important is that you have a powerful feeling that transforms heaven and earth and a person’s sense of well-being.

Imagine how you would look if you possess the knowledge that no one cares for you or loves you: this depressed feeling can make you want to frown and look depressed and/or angry.

On the contrary, a person who feels that he is loved by his family, his friends or by a special someone, will have a face that speaks of serenity, peace and happiness.

The glow of love does not only create a glow in one’s heart but it also creates a glow in one’s face and reflects how a person views the world around him. A lighter feeling inside can result in a lighter face and a happy disposition that will improve one’s appearance.

Haven’t you noticed that almost all women look their prettiest on their wedding day? Despite the pressure and the hustle and bustle of wedding preparations, a woman will still look beautiful on her wedding day. They call it the glow of love.

It may be the rush of adrenalin that gives people who are in love a special glow that makes their eyes sparkle, or their smiles brighter. It is often referred to as an inner beauty that is reflected in one’s appearance.

A person who feels loved or who is in love will have more self esteem than an ordinary person. This self esteem can give a person a beautiful glow that exudes more confident when facing others and in doing his daily tasks.

A person who exerts a great deal of effort to do the most mundane tasks will probably become happier doing those tasks when he is in love. Consequently work is accomplished more easily.

While beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, true beauty is in the eyes of a person in love.
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The Benifits of Sex

2009-10-20T00:44:00.000-07:00

Sex is a beauty treatment. Scientific tests find that when women make love they produce amounts of the hormone estrogen, which makes hair shine and skin smooth.

Gentle, relaxed lovemaking reduces your chances of suffering dermatitis, skin rashes and blemishes. The sweat produced cleanses the pores and makes your skin glow.

Lovemaking can burn up those calories you piled on during that romantic dinner.

Sex is one of the safest sports you can take up. It stretches and tones up just about every muscle in the body. It's more enjoyable than swimming. 20 laps, and you don't need special sneakers!

Sex is an instant cure for mild depression. It releases endorphins into the bloodstream, producing a sense of euphoria and leaving you with a feeling of well-being.

The more sex you have, the more you will be offered. The sexually active body gives off greater quantities of chemicals called pheromones. These subtle sex perfumes drive the opposite sex crazy!

Sex is the safest tranquilizer in the world. IT IS 10 TIMES MORE EFFECTIVE THAN VALIUM.

Kissing each day will keep the dentist away. Kissing encourage saliva to wash food from the teeth and lowers the level of the acid that causes decay, preventing plaque buildup.

Sex actually relieves headaches. A lovemaking session can release the tension that restricts blood vessels in the brain.

A lot of lovemaking can unblock a stuffy nose. Sex is a natural antihistamine. It can help combat asthma and hay fever. This message has been sent to you for good luck in sex.

Natural Skin Care Beauty Tips Made From Natural Ingredients

2009-10-20T00:17:00.001-07:00

For natural home cures, kitchen is the great place to start. Natural cures created at home for the smallest of problems from natural ingredients such fruits, vegetables, herbs are catching loads of attention due to its very nature of cure - no or negligible cost, purity, without side effects, dollops of TLC (tender, loving care), simple and no side effects. Sounds too good to be true?

-Try this for dandruff problem; soak 1 tbsp of fenugreek seeds overnight. Grind them into a paste. Apply on hair for an hour and wash it off using gram flour paste.

-For dry, flaky skin on your arms and legs, try this concoction. Mix 6 tsp petroleum jelly, 2 tsp each of glycerin and lemon juice. Apply this moisturizing lotion at least twice a week.

-Peel, grate and squeeze the juice of a cucumber. Mix it with Ã‚½ tsp each of glycerin and rose water. Apply this if you are suffering for sun burns.

-A facemask of egg white and honey gently removes the tan from your face.

-Dip cotton wool pads in chilled mixture of cucumber and potato juice. Keep this on your eyelids for 15 to 20 minutes and gently wash it off. A way out for dark circles.

-Melt paraffin wax; mix it with little mustard oil and apply on the affected area. Leave it on overnight. After 10 or 15 days, your cracked heels will become smooth.

-Mix oats with honey, yogurt and ground almonds. Apply this to your face, leave it for five minutes and wash with lukewarm water.

-Try chocolate mask to make your normal to dry skin, skin smooth. Take 1/3 cup cocoa, 3 tsp of heavy cream, 1/3 cup ripe papaya, Ã‚¼ cup honey and 3 tsp of oatmeal powder. Mix them together. Smooth on your face. After 10 minutes, wash your face with warm water.

-For oily skin, apply a mixture of grapes (softens your skin), lemon (natural cleanser) and egg white (tightens the skin). Leave it for 20 minutes and rinse with warm water.

-Tone and refresh your skin by rubbing the wedge of a cut lemon all over your face. Leave it for about 20 minutes and then rinse off with cold water.

-You can mix 1 tbsp cranberry sauce juice with 2 tbsp of Vaseline for a delicious home made lip balm.

-Mix honey, lemon and vegetable oil for a great home made moisturiser for your dry skin. Apply this concoction for 10 minutes.

-For a glowing skin, heat 4 tbsp of almond oil, 2 tbsp each of lanolin, petroleum jelly and extra virgin olive oil. Blend all these ingredients and massage into your skin.

-Mix a slice of pumpkin with egg yolk and milk. Let this mask set on your face for 30 minutes for a glowing skin.

-Massage your body with a mixture of coconut oil and some of your favourite scented oils like lavender or rosemary. Your skin, besides smelling heavenly, will acquire a silky and supple quality.

-Mix Ã‚½ cup honey to your bath water for soft and smooth skin.

-Paste of mint leaves and almonds, mixed with warm water and applied all over body till it dries and rinsed off with warm water makes a soothing body pack.

-Buttermilk dabbed on skin for 15 minutes will soak up oil from your skin without drying it.

-Carrot juice applied daily helps blemishes fade.

-For dark underarms and neck - apply lemon juice mixed with cucumber juice and a pinch of turmeric daily. Leave this on for 20 minutes.

-A mix of crushed mint leaves and oats applied for 20 minutes and washed off with warm water will reduce pimples.

-Hair on face - apply a sticky paste of egg white blended with sugar and corn flour. When it dries, gently peel it off. Repeat this three to four times a week.

-Thin apple slices rubbed onto oily skin will help in controlling the oily shine.

-For supple skin, apply a ripe mashed banana on your face for 20 minutes daily.

-Try this natural bleach to lighten the tan. Mix orange peels (sun dried and powdered) with milk. Apply this paste for 25 minutes and rinse off.

How to Make Your Own Beauty Products.

2009-10-20T00:09:00.000-07:00

You will learn how to make your own face masque, moisturizer and exfoliator using products you can find in your own kitchen! Give yourself a fantastic facial even if you are on a budget.

Things You'll Need:
Dry Oats
Honey
Aloe Vera Gel
Almonds
Vegetable Glycerin

Instructions

Step 1 Exfoliator - Mix 3 tablespoons of dried oatmeal with 2 tablespoons of honey. Apply the mixture to clean skin using a gentle circular motion. Leave on for 5-10 minutes to get the full benefits from the nutrients. Wash off after this time and pat skin dry. Oats have exfoliating and moisturising properties while honey is one of the most nutrient rich foods available, making this an excellent exfoliating and moisturizing masque.

Step 2 Face Masque - Make a paste using 3 tablespoons of pre-soaked almonds and a little water, apply to your face and leave on for 5 minutes to get the benefits of the almond oil. Wash off and pat skin dry. Almonds contain a natural oil which is used in a lot of beauty products and they possess amazing moisturizing properties.

Step 3 Moisturizer - Using 4 parts aloe vera gel to one part vegetable glycerin, mix to a smooth consistency. Apply to your face as you would your normal moisturizer, using a gentle, upward motion. Aloe vera is one of natures best moisturizers and also helps to repair the skin making this a fantastic moisturizer without all the preservatives and additives.

Home Beauty Care – Olive Oil Rituals

2009-10-20T00:05:00.001-07:00

Did you know that most of the best beauty products are found in your kitchen? The most healthy and organic beauty products are usually found in your kitchen which is great because not only they are healthy and good for you, it’s affordable and you can use it safely using the procedures given.

Limes, garlic, onion, honey, cucumbers, etc. are just some of the things you usually see from your kitchen that has a valuable use for beauty and wellness. One of them is, Olive Oil. Yes, it is healthy for you not only for food though… Olive oil is one of the flexible organic product in your kitchen. This can be used in several beauty rituals and remedies as well.

Olive oil contains Vitamin E that works as a natural anti-oxidants which are great for your skin. I recommend Extra Virgin Olive Oil because ‘pure’ and ‘light’ are chemically processed already.

Beauty Use of Olive Oil

Moisturizer
Can remove dandruff
Hair Conditioner
Make Up Remove
Shaving Oil (Alternative to shaving cream)

Procedures:

Few drops of olive oil with your regular shampoo would make your hair softer and smoother. A dab of olive oil on a cotton ball will do a great make up remover. Rubbing a drop of olive oil on every part of your scalp, simple massage to improve blood circulation before shampoo will help you get rid of your dandruff by doing it every other day. Rubbing olive oil before shaving will make a great shaving result and moisturize you skin too.

Now, you don’t have to worry about your beauty problems. You have the best remedy in your kitchen, it’s practical and organic, both good for your health and budget!

Home Beauty Products

2009-10-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

At-home beauty tips are probably meant in preparation for the coming winter weather, but they seem appropriate for any time, especially for me right now:

To treat dry skin, do two things: exfoliate with a sugar scrub made from three parts sugar, one part grapeseed oil. Rinse with lukewarm water and follow with a rich moisturizer.
To de-puff puffy eyes, steep chamomile tea bags and cool in the refrigerator. Apply a thin layer of aloe gel to the eye area, and rest for 15 minutes with the cooled tea bags on your eyes. Follow with an ultra-hydrating eye cream.

The Magic of Color Combinations - Guide to Evening Dresses

2009-10-19T23:54:00.000-07:00

Most of the expensive dresses are bought to wear in the evening parties. Evening dresses have a charm in them and a good color combination adds much more spark in the dress. Making color combinations sometime becomes much harder and a wrong comparison or a mismatch can spoil the entire beauty. Therefore the color combination should be given the much more attention especially when buying an expensive dress for the evening party. Various seasons have their own colors formals and before deciding a color as well as the dress pattern, one should make sure that this particular style and color goes well with the body type. There are some common colors like pastel shades which can create disaster and should be avoided for a perfect evening party.

The golden beauty look - The color gold is in fashion this season and will be the rage in many of the party scenes. Christmas and New Year is fast approaching and you could be the diva of the evening if you choose the golden color for your evening dress and carry it off well. A golden colored top goes well with a pair of black tights. Avoid teaming it with jeans for the jeans will steal away the glam and glitter of the golden colored top. You could wear a black mini skirt also and couple it with stockings for a more youthful and a trendy look. Wedge shaped shoes or strappy heels that wrap around your ankles will be a good match for the golden brocade look.

Metallic shades - Besides gold, you could try the silver or the copper shades for the ethereal romantic evening. Metallic shades are in vogue now and coupled with the right accessories, they can lend a very unique style to your persona. Gowns in metallic silver with lace work are some varieties of dresses in this category that look great on a toned body. Tops in shades of copper go well with trousers if the evening is going to be a formal one. You could use a shimmering mascara to give a soft look to the eyes. Tunics are also available in the silver range or in grey for a light evening. Avoid bright shades of lipstick. They kill the ensemble. Gold ballet shoes with silver or any metallic shade will complete the look for a perfect evening.

Black and white - This is the most tested and tried combination that has made many a heads turn if worn in the right way. Instead of using these two colors as a combination, try using the colors independently. Black is a very versatile and a flattering color that will suit any body type. If you are little on the chubbier side, black is magical in making you look trimmer. If you are on the thinner side, black flatters your figure. Black gowns, tunics, off shoulder mini dresses and footless tights are great for evening dresses.

White too is fabulous in the form of long flowing skirts. Any shade of white whether it is cream or off white is good for accentuating a curvy figure. Team it up with the right jewellery and you have a show stopper for a party ready.

More benefits of vegetarianism

2009-10-19T23:53:00.000-07:00

Meat is costly and it is the most wasteful source of resources. When one removes meat from his or her diet, a whole new world of eating opens up. Cooking and preparing vegetarian style is no more time consuming than cooking meat. It costs less than half as much to eat vegetarian as it does to eat meat. There are excellent, nutritious, and easy to prepare vegetarian dishes that are Italian, Chinese, Indian, Mid-Eastern, French, Spanish, etc.

Additionally, one can enjoy many other foods that he has never tasted because of the meat craze. Most consumers have eaten no more than five or six varieties of beans and legumes â€” less than 10% of what is available and grains, including different appetizing types of wheat, nuts, and seeds. And they can be prepared very creatively!

In my opinion, there are far more benefits to becoming a vegetarian then there are becoming or staying a meat eater. Due to the fact that I was raised on meat, I have the wonderful experiences from both worlds. As a meat eater, I was constantly sick, tired, and overweight. As a vegetarian, I am healthy, full of energy, and maintaining a perfect weight. I love being a vegetarian and it shows. Because I wish the best for myself, itâ€™s just second nature to want the best for others. From my past experience and research, going vegetarian is the best thing anyone can do for their mind, body and spirit.

Benefits of Being Vegetarian

2009-10-19T23:49:00.000-07:00

1) Weight loss

The first and most obvious benefit of quitting meat and dairy products is weight loss. Without doing anything else you will most likely lose a little weight and over time, you will get back to your natural weight. It is not very often you see an overweight vegetarian.

2) More energy

When your meals consist of vegetables and fruit, your blood sugar will become much more stable. As a result, your energy level will be consistent and you will not get that fatigue feeling after meals.

3) Good conscience

You save many lives when you do not eat meat. A cow weighs about 1000 pounds. A pig weighs about 250 pounds when it is going to slaughterhouse. How many pounds of meat do you eat each week? In a lifetime, that is a lot of animals saved.

4) More money

The average vegetarian spends less money on food than non-vegetarians do. How much you can save depends on how much you eat. The average family saves $10-$15 a day, just by being vegetarians.

5) Helping the environment

Less farm animal means less pollution. Circle 4 Farms in Utah, which raises 2.5 million pigs every year, creates more waste than the entire city of Los Angeles. This is worth thinking about.

6) You will be healthier

More fruits and vegetables mean more vitamins for you. Less meat means fewer toxins and unwanted hormones in your body. Your immune system will greatly improve after replacing meat with more greens.

7) Avoid heart disease

Cardiovascular disease is often connected with a diet full of saturated fats and cholesterol from meat and dairy products. The average person eating a meat-based diet has 50% chance of dying from a heart disease. If he go vegetarian this decrease to 15%, furthermore if he also cuts out all dairy products this goes all the way down to 4%.

8) Your body will be built of quality

You are what you eat and your body creates your cells of whatever you are putting into your mouth. Fruits and vegetables are life. Becoming vegetarian "detox" your body naturally.

9) Your bones will last longer

At age 65, the average woman has a bone loss of 35%. A vegetarian woman has an average loss of 18%, at the age of 65. This is because a non-vegetarian gets excessively much protein. At overage, meat eaters get about 150% more protein each day than they need.

10) You will live longer

Now you know that living on a non-meat diet drastically decrease your chance for dying from heart failure and other obese connected diseases. However, did you know that it would reduce your risk of getting cancer? A recent study shows that red meat is associated with breast cancer. Vegetarian's immune systems are in much better shape than meat-eaters. Maybe this has something to do with it.

Benefits of Orage

2009-10-19T23:42:00.000-07:00

It is amazing that in ancient times, orange peel was more valued that the inside fleshy fruit. Due to its miraculous properties, the orange Peel found a place as a medicine in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda. The oils extracted from orange peels were often used in medicines for indigestion and infections. Cooks during the Middle Ages were using dried orange peels as seasonings. The interest in orange peel and its usage is increasing now days because great deal of current research being conducted to explore its properties for cancer cure.

Orange Peel is one of the greatest sources of vitamin C .Other constituents include p-synephrine, pectin, volatile oils, hesperidin, protein, carbohydrates, fiber, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron and vitamin A. Here are some more things you can do with orange peel instead of just throwing it in the bin.

Natural Toothpaste: Rub an orange peel on the teeth. The vitamin C of the orange peel will combat with the microorganisms.

Fight against skin cancer: The outer peel contains d-limonene, the enemy of UV rays. A University of Arizona study found that eating one teaspoon of orange peel per week reduced skin cancer risk by 30 percent.

Add Zest to your Soup and Salads: sprinkle orange zest on into soup and salads and make them flavorful.It adds fragrant orange flavor to cakes,coffee,tea,muffins and cookies.

Facial Scrub for dry skin: 2 teaspoons quick-cooking oats, 1/4 teaspoon almond powder,1/4 teaspoon orange peel powder, 1/4 teaspoon lavender flower powder, 2 tablespoons yogurt.Stir together all the ingredients and apply very gently on face with fingertips. Orange peel balances the Ph levels of the skin and softens it.

Against infections: Orange Peel's high vitamin C content (and A) is used to combat invasive infection, colds, flu and many other ailments. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects your body's cells from damage.

Digest easily: Orange Peel is an easily digestible and helps gastrointestinal complaints such as dyspepsia, flatulence, indigestion, diarrhea and heartburn. It is also effective in digesting fatty foods.

Lower Cholesterol: The pectin in Orange Peel is a soluble fiber that may be helpful in lowering blood cholesterol and glucose levels.

Air Freshener: Orange peels create a pleasant odor as they burn. Dried peel makes a great fire starter.As a air freshener, dried orange peels can also be stored in a cheesecloth bag and kept in closets to reduce musty odors.To deodorize a garbage bag, throw down a few peels in it.

Insect Repellent: The essential oils found in orange peels are also used as insect repellents. It is an effective mosquito repellent when rubbed directly on the skin . A puree blend of orange peel and water can be applied to an area to discourage ants from crossing.

Next time, when you eat an orange, save the skin!

Health benefits of eating banana

2009-10-19T23:39:00.000-07:00

healthy bowels

cardiovascular health

protection from strokes

protection from ulcers

improve blood pressure

may boost mood

boost energy

help reduce water retention

Diet Tips: How to Eat Less

2009-10-19T23:12:00.000-07:00

1. Eat less. More often. Rather than eating large meals, chop up your eating into smaller portions throughout the day. I found myself eating 3 meals most days and having a snack around 3pm as well as another in the evening. That was enough to keep me from feeling hungry while still eating less in total.

2. Don't eat right before going to bed. I've read this numerous times and don't get why it works, but it does. I set a limit of 3 hours. So I planned to go to bed at midnight, I wouldn't eat past 9pm.

3. Brush your teeth early. For whatever reason, I won't eat when my teeth still feel clean. By brushing them several hours before bed, it was easier to accomplish #2.

4. Kick the sugar habit. If you drink sugared soft drinks (I used to be a Mt. Dew and Coke fan), replace them either with their diet counterparts or water. This can make a very, very big difference.

5. Eat vegetables before the main course. Whenever possible, I'd make sure to have an ample serving of a vegetable (you get very few calories for the amount you eat) before eating the denser main course--often a meat or fish. You'll need less of the dense stuff to be happy.

6. Update your spreadsheet daily. Keeping a running count will help you ration out the rest of your daily calorie allowance, which we'll talk about tomorrow.

7. Get used to leftovers. When you eat out, expect to take some of your meal home. If you eat standard restaurant portions, you'll almost certainly overeat.

8. Shop with calories in mind. When you're at the grocery store, spends some extra time reading the labels and nutritional information. You'll probably end up changing your shopping habits along the way. You'd be surprised by the how widely the calorie counts in various granola bars varies, for example.

9. Slow down! When you eat fast, you end up ingesting more food before you body has a chance to figure out that it's satisfied (not full).
10. Drink more water during the day. This is fairly generic advice, but definitely seems to help.

11. Trick yourself with gum. Sometimes we eat out of habit or because it just feels good to get some flavor in your mouth and chew for a while. Find yourself some sugar-free chewing gum and use it when the urge strikes.

12. Reduce the amount of breads, chips, crackers, and salty snacks you eat. A lot of starchy and/or salty food make you want to eat and drink even more. This comes straight out of Atkins diet culture.

The 6 Most Unhealthy Foods You Should Avoid at All Costs

2009-10-19T22:51:00.000-07:00

Some people swear by the mantra "everything in moderation," but the truth is, some foods, no matter how good they taste, are better off left alone.

If you need a little motivation to stay away from these most unhealthy foods, consider that four of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States are related to diet (diabetes, heart disease, cancer and stroke). And if you're looking to improve yours, cutting back on these six foods is a great place to start.

1. Soda.

An average can of soda has 10 teaspoons of sugar, 150 calories, 30 to 55 mg of caffeine, artificial food colors and sulphites. Diet sodas have the even-more-unhealthy artificial sweeteners. A major part of the problem is that sodas have become a staple in many people's diets. A study in the journal Pediatrics found that 56 percent to 85 percent of children consume at least one soft drink a day, and 20 percent of adolescent males drink four or more sodas a day.

2. Potato chips and French fries.
These popular snack foods contain acrylamide, a known carcinogen and neurotoxin that is formed when foods are baked or fried at high temperatures. "I estimate that acrylamide causes several thousand cancers per year in Americans," said Clark University research professor Dale Hattis.

When CSPI conducted tests on some popular brands of French fries and chips, they found that the acrylamide in a large order of fast food fries was at least 300 times the amount allowed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a glass of water.

3. Doughnuts.
Tasty, yes. But break a doughnut down and you'll find nothing more than refined sugar and flour, artificial flavors and partially hydrogenated oil that's loaded with trans fats. They have no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

"When it comes to health, the only thing good about them is the hole," said Carla Wolper, nutritionist at the New York Obesity Research Center.

4. Coffee Cake and Other Baked Goods.

This category actually includes all varieties of baked goods, including packaged cake and biscuit mixes. What makes these foods so bad is that they almost always contain high amounts of trans fats and a host of other unsavory additives including corn syrup, preservatives and artificial flavors and colors. In fact, commercial baked goods typically contain more trans fats than any other food because not only are they often made with hydrogenated oils, they're fried in them too.

5. Luncheon Meats/Hot Dogs.
Processed meats like these (and others including sausages, bacon, pepperoni and other processed meats) contain a carcinogenic precursor ingredient known as sodium nitrite (sodium nitrate is closely related).

"Sodium nitrite is a dangerous, cancer-causing ingredient that has no place in the human food supply," says nutritionist Mike Adams, author of the Grocery Warning Manual.

And, according to a University of Hawaii study that followed nearly 200,000 people for seven years, people who consumed the most processed meats (hot dogs and sausage) showed a 67 percent increased risk of pancreatic cancer over those who consumed little or no meat products.

6. Canned Soup.

Here we're talking about the traditional, canned soups you find in your grocery store. This may come as a surprise, but most canned (and packaged) soups have high levels of trans fats, sodium and artificial preservatives like MSG. Just one cup of canned soup can have almost 1,000 milligrams of salt (and most people eat more than one cup), which is tons considering dietary guidelines recommend consuming no more than 2,400 milligrams for the entire day.

The Advantage of Being Skinny Thin

2009-10-19T22:29:00.000-07:00

1 You can eat as much as you like.

2 If, girl, no need to wear bra to support nothing.

3 Less weight in the car, so consume less petrol.

4 Crowded lift and you can still squeeze in.

5 In a packed MRT you don't need to protect your neh neh.

6 You can do pull ups! you can touch your toes without bending your knees.

7 You stand upright and can see your feet when you look down.

8 Everyone is perspiring in the Sun except you.

9 Underwear you can buy from the kids section, got mickey mouse one.

10 Hawkers give you bigger portion out of sympathy!

Stay Beautiful Even at 40

2009-10-19T22:19:00.000-07:00

Aging is feared because of both the prospect of death and a general decline in physical beauty. If you are already in your 40s and tell-tale signs of age are already showing up, we recommend that you take a peek on our tips below on how to retain beautiful skin even after the age of 40.

Establish a rinsing ritual.
Never forget to wash your face especially after a long day. Do this with a cleansing product that suits your skin type. For women, never sleep with your make-up on. Whatever is left of your make-up will clog the pores of your skin and will produce a host of unwanted results such as irritation and development of acne. You don't want that to happen.

Use fresh goodies.
Do this in two ways: incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables into your daily diet, and use fruit- or vegetable-based products. There are many products you can choose from, of course, but it is always best to use the actual fruits and vegetables as treatments.

Go crazy over vitamins.
Increase your dosage of vitamins especially vitamins A and E, for these can help rejuvenate and improve your skin substantially. Opt for fresh sources like fruits and vegetables. You may also use vitamin supplements.

Moisturize.
The 40s and beyond are the ages when the skin becomes increasingly dry. So don't forget to moisturize. This will not only delay the onset of wrinkles, but it will also prevent the development of skin-damaging conditions such as acne rosacea.

Avoid toxins.
If the body has too much toxin, it will show first on the surface. So avoid activities that can increase the toxicity levels of your body such as excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and the intake of other hazardous substances.

Use natural face masks.
The use of natural substances such as honey, milk, egg yolks, and olive oil can help freshen up your skin. These have natural skin-friendly components that can fix a variety of minor problems such as dryness.

8 hours of sleeping

2009-10-15T19:59:00.000-07:00

Having good deep sleep for at least 8 hours in day is must for everybody to keep the skin glowing and body fit. One can hide the flaws of the skin by make up but good deep sleep is something which naturally keeps your skin beautiful, keeps dark circles at bay and keep even your concentration level high. Its not just skin which gets affected without proper sleep but also entire body and mind get effected and function slowly with lack of sleep. If you don't get proper sleep by not getting sufficient time to sleep, try to complete your sleep in small naps. If the problem has increased to the level of insomnia then its better to consult a doctor. Some people start having sleeping pills, which are very bad for health and have many side effects. One should take them only if there is any reason and the physician prescribes them. Consuming sleeping pills for a longer period damages a person's control over mind and body and one gets addicted to them. One can try the tried and tested natural methods to get a peaceful sleep. It can be guesses that you require sleep by seeing your skin only. Today's lifestyle doesn't permit many of us to get an 8 hour peaceful beauty sleep so whatever time you get, you should try to get the most peaceful sleep out of it so that your skin doesn't get older soon, you don't get dark circles around your eyes and your body and mind could function well.

Methods for tooth whitening

2009-10-15T19:53:00.000-07:00

There are many options available for teeth whitening and one can choose the most suitable one for himself/herself.

Toothpaste-toothpaste are the most easily available tooth-whitening product in the market. You can choose your favorite brand's whitening toothpaste for your teeth, as you trust that brand. Whitening toothpaste contains some mild chemical, bleaching agents and polishing agents to brighten your teeth by many shades. Its depends on the usage. Some promise you to give whither teeth in a month. These toothpastes are quite reliable in removing stains from the teeth and in making them 2-3 shades lighter.

Whitening Drops-there are some whitening drops available in the market to brighten the teeth. They can be used with or without toothpaste to polish the teeth. They contain a chemical agent as sodium monofluorophosphate, which polishes the teeth without any noticeable side effect.

Tooth whitening with laser technique-this is the technique which is used by most of the dentist to bleach or whiten the teeth where they put a rubber cap to protect the gums from the laser. Then they put the bleaching agent, which is specifically meant for teeth whitening on the teeth as a layer. Now they start putting the light of laser with their machine on the teeth. This laser light removes the stains and brightens the color of the teeth whereas the solution, which is put on the teeth, protects them. It's a long process, which is done in many sittings and is meant for those who really get ugly stains on the teeth with tobacco or cigarette smoking. Person who gets this treatment is not advised to eat or drink something for few hours after the polishing is done. It's a professional job, which can be done by a professional dentist only and is really expensive.

Strips for teeth whitening-these strips contain peroxides which is a mild bleaching agent for teeth. They are easily available in the market and are much cheaper than a dentist's treatment. One can use these strips very easily by putting them on teeth like waxing strips are put on the skin and then removed after 30 minutes.

Home treatments for whitening of teeth-certain whitening trays are available in the market or can be purchased online which can be easily used at home. There are two trays for lower teeth and upper teeth. One has to put the solution and wear those trays on the teeth. It has to be worn for sometime as an hour or so.

One can apply this easy home remedy for brighter teeth but people with sensitive teeth should not try this. One should take boric powder or eating soda and add a pinch of salt and lemon juice to it. Massage it on the teeth for few minutes and leave it on them for 5 minutes. Wash it off. It will help you reduce the stains and will give you brighter teeth.

Paint on whiteners-this is a method which is most likely works as the whitening trays. It's a gel, which is applied, on the teeth regularly for sometime and the solution should be left on the teeth for half on hour or so depending on the brand. One needs to learn the trick while using these whiteners, as they are not that effective if the paint doesn't dry before the mouth gets closed.

Home remedies to whiten the skin-certain home made packs and remedies are really helpful in giving you a lighter and whiter complexion

2009-10-15T19:50:00.000-07:00

Dry orange peels in sun. When they are fully dried, grind them in a mixture and make powder. Add raw milk to it, make a paste and apply it on your skin everyday. Rinse it off with lukewarm water when dries. It's tested pack for skin whitening.
Take sandalwood powder, add lemon juice, tomato juice, cucumber juice to it, make a paste and apply on the skin till it dries to get a brighter, lighter and even skin tone.
Gram flour has whitening agents to it. Take 2 spoonfuls of gram flour; add a pinch of turmeric to it, few drops of lemon juice and few drops of milk cream. Make it a paste and apply on the skin. When it dries scrub it off. It can be applied all over the body everyday.
Soak almonds in water overnight. Peel them off in the morning. Make a paste and add honey to it. Apply it on face and scrub it off when dries to make skin whiter and glowing.
Potatoes have bleaching agents in them their juice is quite helpful in giving an even skin tone. Reduce pigmentation and blemishes. It can be applied on the skin everyday to get it whiter.

2009-10-15T19:34:00.000-07:00

Is it possible to burn fat fast?
This is a common question we asked ourselves daily. Different people wants to burn fat fast for different reasons. These days it is so easy for us to get our hands on our favorite but high fat food such as the chocolate cheese cake or the double cheese burgers. All of us know how to burn fat and lose weight - follow a proper diet plan and frequent exercise. But to burn fat fast is much more difficult and challenging since we are also up against time.

Here are a few burn fat fast techniques that you can try out.

1) Increase your metabolism.

The excess calories that we consumed will be stored as body fat. Thus, in order to burn fat fast, you will need to burn calories fast and the quickest way to do so is increase your body metabolism.

One of the most effective ways of increasing your metabolism is exercising such as running the treadmill, bicycling, swimming, pilates or working out in the gym. Exercising not only helps you burn fat and lose weight, consistent exercises will keep your body fit and healthy. If you have the habit of exercising, try to increase the intensity of your workout in order to burn even more fat and faster.

However, many people often find it difficult to fit exercising in their lifestyles due to their hectic schedule. If you are one of them, I have good news for you. Exercising is not the only way to boost your metabolism and lose fat fast. You can increase your metabolism by making minor adjustments to your lifestyles. Examples, walk up the staircase instead of taking the elevator. Walk to the neighborhood grocery stores instead of driving the car. Take your dog for an evening walk. Attend a dance class. Get a home gym or treadmill and exercise at the comfort of your own home while watching your favorite TV series. These are only a few examples, you will find ways to increase your metabolism - be creative and spontaneous.

2) Watch what you put in your mouth (i.e. your diet).

You are what you eat - The fat in our body is a result of the food that we eat. To lose fat quickly, not only do we need to burn fat fast, we will need to consume the appropriate amount of calories. Although, it may sound logical that the less calories we consume the faster we lose fat, in reality this is untrue. Our body needs a minimum amount of calories in order for our body to function appropriately. By depriving yourself the food and nutritients that your body needs daily, you are lowering your body metabolism and its ability to burn fat since your body will automatically make adjustment. Hence, it will be counter-effective in your effort to lose fat and lose weight. More importantly, it can do your body a lot of harm.

Ensure that your daily food intake is healthy and balanced by including variety of food such as vegetables, fruits, whole grain products, low fat dairy products, fish, lean meat, poultry. Don't deprive yourself from your favorite food - you can consume your favorite food but in moderation. One way to do so is to invite your family, friends or colleagues together. This way you will not be tempted to finish the piece of cheesecake or juicy steak by yourself. Moreover, chatting with them will help keep you and your mouth busy.

3) Put on some weight

Years ago, people believe that lifting weights are for body builders only. This thinking has changed these days as many find additional weight will help your body burn fat faster than running only. Lifting weights is effective and help you work out targeted part of your body. A little weight is good enough to increase your metabolism. You can easily find weights that you can strap around your ankles or wrist in your neighborhood stores. It is easy and convenient.

4) Sleep to lose fat

Not many people realize that you burn fat while you sleep. Of course, the amount of fat that you burn while sleeping is not much. However, have a good and sufficient sleep has great benefits in your quest to lose weight or lost fat fast. Lack of proper rest will effect your lifestyles and hinder rate your body burn calories and burn fat. For example, lack of sleep can lead to fast exhaustation and your lack of energy to perform your daily task or exercise. In addition, many people who don't have sufficient sleep will also have bad eating habits. They often try to overcome their tiredness by consuming food especially unhealthy food such coffee, ice-cream and snacks.

5) Enjoy life.

Whatever your reason for wanting to burn fat or lose weight fast, it is not the end of the world if you don't lose it as fast as you desired. Do not be obsessed with losing weight or punish yourself if you lose track. Just like a dance, if you miss a step, just continue, you do not need to restart from the beginning.

The most important thing...
Most people failed to lose weight because they lack the motivation and energy to keep up with their weight loss plan.

5 Makeup and Beauty Tips from Paris Hilton

2009-10-13T19:59:00.000-07:00

Tip #1: Wear a scent that means something to you.
For some people, scent is highly tied to memory, like how a whiff of men’s Eternity can bring back memories of one’s lame ex-boyfriend (I’m not bitter).

I used to sneak a spritz or two of my mom’s Chanel No. 5 when I was a wee child. For Paris, the fragrances of Jean Patou hold a special place in her heart. The first perfume she ever wore was Jean Patou’s 1000 because her mom wore it when Paris was young. Jean Patou’s Joy was another one. “It just smells like my grandma,” said Paris. “She always used to wear it. She passed away from breast cancer a few years ago, so it kind of reminds me of her when I wear it.”

Tip #2: Rock the lipgloss.
CHANEL Glossimer lipgloss, YES!

Paris was rocking a fierce look in our interview. She was wearing a sleeveless cream top and black skirt by BCBG and hot pink Christian Dior shoes. Ladies and gents, you know how your girl loves the shoes. I briefly thought about stopping the interview to have my photographer (El Hub) take shots of Paris’ fantabulous footwear, but alas, I only had six minutes to get through all my questions. So sorry, fellow shoe lovers!

For her makeup, Paris wore a silver, sparkly eye with thick black liner on the top lid along with a soft flushed cheek. She had on MAC shadow and Max Factor blush. The focal point of her look was a pink lip topped with a layer of Chanel Glossimer lipgloss in Astral #104. “I love the glitter in it,” she said.

For the past few weeks I’ve been trying to motivate myself to do stuff by using Chanel makeup as a self-motivator — i.e. Karen does ‘X’ tasks and gets two tubes of Chanel lipgloss — but after seeing Paris wearing Glossimer, I’m afraid I’m going to cave, like, really soon. Perhaps tomorrow, even. Girlfriend’s lips looked *super hot*.

Tip #3: Get the glowy look with weekly facials and Kate Somerville products.Paris is known for her dewy, glowy skin. She said her secret is a weekly facial at Kate Somerville, a spa located down the street from her house. She and Kate are homies, and Paris gets treatments with extractions at the spa when she isn’t too busy with work.

Extractions? I cringed.

“You know,” she said, “it’s good for you. Everyone should do it. And like Lasergenesis, which makes your skin really, like, plump … it’s just this light that goes on your face.”

Kate Somerville offers a full skin care line, and Hilton is an avid devotee. “I use all Kate’s products,” she said. She can’t live without Nourish moisturizer and Exfolikate (formerly known as Kate in a Jar) exfoliating treatment. On the day of our interview, beside the sparkly eye and lip, Paris’ skin actually had very little shine. It was a very matte skin look, which is really trendy right now.

“I just think it’s good to just take care of yourself and get massages and drink water,” she added.

Tip #4: Planning ahead never hurts, especially when it comes to skin care or the quest for beauty-product world domination.
Paris’ quest for world domination doesn’t stop at the fragrance counter. She is currently working on a makeup line and would also love to create skin care products. Her take home message for skin care: start young! I hear ya, girl. Like I always say, the best anti-aging secret is sunscreen (and don’t forget your neck, oy!).

Tip #5: Be polite and sweet to everyone.
Although I never really watched Paris’ show, “The Simple Life,” I’ve read a lot about her in the news, and truth be told I didn’t know what to expect from this interview. Would she roll her eyes because I wasn’t from Newsweek or the New York Times? Girlfriend did say she didn’t use the Web too much, and she’d never heard of beauty blogs before. Would she spend the entire time text-messaging Nicole on her massive jewel-encrusted smartphone?

To my surprise, she was nice. Although she seemed a bit guarded and heavily media trained, she was sweet and fully engaged throughout the conversation. The moral of this story? Despite all of the drama surrounding Paris in the news, I found her to be a sweet girl who works hard and loves her family.

Beauty Products to Avoid During Pregnancy

2009-10-12T23:45:00.000-07:00

Retinoids
Retinoids are Vitamin A derivatives used in acne medications and anti-aging creams. Most pregnant women are well advised on the risks of Accutane (a retinoid called isotretinoin), which is used to treat serious acne. Taken orally, the use of this medicine has been associated with major birth defects and should not be taken while pregnant or within a month of becoming pregnant.

The evidence for other products in the retoniod family is not as clear. Retin-A, Avita, and Renova are topical treatments commonly prescribed to for acne, hyper pigmentation, improving skin appearance, and wrinkles. Although all these products contain a retinoid (tretinoin), the amount absorbed by the skin is considered to be very small, and they therefore pose little to no risk to a fetus. However, the Organization of Teratology Information Services suggests not using them during pregnancy due to the possible (yet unknown) risks.

Alternatives: If your acne is serious, ask your doctor about oral erythromycin, considered safe to use during pregnancy. Try natural acne remedies or small amounts of benzoyl peroxide for local treatment. If you’re worried about your skin or a certain product, consult a dermatologist.

Salicylic Acid
Like retinoids, the oral form of salicylic acid (SA), in high doses, has been shown to cause birth defects. However, the small amounts we are exposed to in skin cleaners and lotions are generally considered safe. The bottom line is to avoid oral supplements of SA (also under the name beta hydroxyl acid or BHA). If you’re erring on the cautious side, you may want to avoid prolonged exposure to SAs in body wraps or leave-on lotions.

Alternatives: Try a homemade, natural astringent.

Sunblock
There are two kinds of sun block on the market: ones with chemical protection and ones with physical protection. Although the chemicals in sunscreen (oxybenzone and avobenzone) haven’t directly been shown to produce toxicity, they are absorbed into the skin. According to Tristen, the physical blockers may be better during pregnancy because they are not absorbed into the skin.

Alternatives: Look for products containing zinc oxide or titanium oxide (physical blockers).
Rather than having to abstain from primping while pregnant, the main idea is to try to reduce exposure to the bevy of chemicals in many beauty products. That means even if you’re not able to avoid everything on this list, you can still limit the number of products you use.

Beauty Products to Avoid During Pregnancy

2009-10-12T23:42:00.000-07:00

Pregnant women often hear advice on what they should and shouldn’t be putting into their bodies. However, rarely do they consider that what they’re putting on their bodies may also pose a risk. It is estimated that women use, on average, twelve different beauty and body products a day, and many of these products contain chemicals that may harm a fetus. While certainly a woman shouldn’t have to eschew her beauty routine just because she’s pregnant, there are some products better avoided. I asked Tristen Markey, a senior analyst at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), what products to watch out for and alternatives to them. Here’s a list of the top offenders:
Phthalates

Phthalates are compounds used in plastic processing; they are also among the most common fragrance ingredients in cosmetics and lotions. At high doses, they have been linked to reproductive problems in animals, but it is unclear whether they cause health damage in humans. After surveying the evidence, an expert panel from the National Toxicology Program concluded, “reproductive risks from exposure to phthalate esters were minimal to negligible in most cases.” However, because the risks may not be fully understood, pregnant women may want to avoid them.

I asked Tristen what beauty products contain phthalates. He said that phthalates are not usually listed on consumer products; however, almost anything that is heavily scented contains phthalates. His advice was to look for products that are not heavily fragranced, and instead choose products that are fragrance and scent free.

Alternatives: You can find a list of phthalate-free beauty products on the EWG’s Skin Deep Web site. Some companies list their products as being phthalate free; Burt’s Bees and Kiss My Face are examples. Look for products that are unscented.

Hair Treatments
Not much is known about the relation between hair dying and birth defects. It is probable that the chemicals used in dying, perming, and treating hair are absorbed into the scalp; just how much and whether or not they reach the fetus is unknown. However, it seems smart to avoid them and the fumes associated with them. Tristan notes that certain hair dyes have been linked to cancers and localized irritations.

Alternatives: Because highlights and hair painting do not touch the scalp, they present a lower risk; henna is a natural dye that poses much less risk; and au natural is no risk.

"If you had to wear one thing every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?"

2009-10-12T23:18:00.000-07:00

Eve
"a nice dress of course!!"

Victoria Beckham
"A great pair of jeans, obviously. That's why I have my own clothing line!"

Mandy Moore
"A great pair of shoes. Inevitably, they're what makes the outfit. Besides the confidence they give you, nothing makes me feel better than going shoe shopping!"

Tory Burch
"I love cuffs. They're an easy way to dress up any outfit. I wear them all the time."

Famke Janssen
"It would have to be a little dress. They’re feminine and very easy, especially in the summertime. In any color but black."

David Meister
"A black T-shirt. I wear a black T-shirt and jeans every day. I’m not picky [about the brand]. It's comfortable and it's just me."

Question and Answer

2009-10-12T23:10:00.001-07:00

The Question is: "What's Your Handbag Philosophy?"

Jessica Alba
"I usually go with one bag all day. At night, I try to downsize to something smaller. It's usually a shoe to purse situation, although sometimes I'll wear a great bag with sneakers. And sometimes I have to wear a bag that's big enough to fit my daughter's bottles, diapers and wipes!"

Kerry Washington
"I don't have one! I have some staples, but my handbag decisions have to be vetted and advised by people with expertise in that area."

Nicky Hilton
"I used to buy a lot of 'It' bags, but now I look for more classic pieces. I was accumulating so many trendy bags."

Sophia Bush
"I switch bags pretty often, more so even in the summer. A great bag can make an outfit."

Bakers Sandals

2009-10-12T22:53:00.001-07:00

Wow this sandal is so great(for me)
for only $60 equivalent of Php3000...
still expensive!!
WoHHH!!!

Even cats can be fashionable

2009-10-12T22:50:00.001-07:00

love your pets,
dressed them as fashionable as you.

Celebrity Makeup Secrets for Your Best Look Ever!

2009-10-12T22:36:00.000-07:00

Why does celebrity makeup always look so perfect?Celebrity makeup artists have tons of tips and techniques for applying makeup that most people never heard of! Want to be one of the few in-the-know? We’ve gathered some great ones for you right here! Here you will learn some great makeup application secrets to get your most flattering eyes, eyelashes, eyebrows, concealer, foundation, blush and lips ever!

Celebrity Eyes:

Makeup artists have many tricks up their sleeves to make celebrities’ eyes pop! They first put an eye shadow primer or some foundation on the eyelids, so that the eye shadow has something to hold onto. For eye shadow colors, they’ll select three shades which are variations on the same color (i.e. light green, medium green, and dark green), or in the same neutral color family (i.e. beige, brown, and dark brown). They will put the lightest color on the brow bone, the medium color on the lid, and the darkest color in the crease. This will emphasize the shape of the eyes and make them stand out!

Other tricks for glammed-up, red carpet eyes include lining the lower inner rim of the eyes with a white pencil to make them appear bigger and applying shimmery clear lip gloss to the top eyelids to make eyes sparkle. Celebrity makeup artists also apply shimmer powder under the brow bone to draw more attention to the eye area and they always smude eyeliner with a Q-tip to make it look less severe or smokier.

To create cat-eyes (like Brigitte Bardot in the sixties or Pamela Anderson today), celebrity makeup artists use dark brown or black eyeliner to exaggerate the end of the eye so it turns up slightly. If you decide to go this route, remember that smudging is the key to perfecting this look!

Celebrity Eyelashes:

Celebrity makeup artists also have many secrets for eyelashes! They always curl eyelashes first to maximize length and curl. They then dust them with powder which makes the eyelashes look much thicker after the mascara is applied! Celebrity makeup artists will often use two coats of mascara, the first will be a lengthening or separating formula, and the second, a thickening formula, to max out eyelash potential! Mascara clumps are combed out between coats.

For special occasions celebrities may use false eyelashes (their secret is dark eyelash glue) or may have eyelash extensions applied which are semi-permanent variations.

Celebrity Eyebrows:

Celebrity makeup artists know that enhancing the shape of the eyebrows is one of the most dramatic ways to improve a celebrity’s appearance. Celebrity makeup artists use Treezerman brand tweezers most often to shape eyebrows. They tweeze the hairs under the arch of the eyebrow to further emphasize it and pluck away any strays. Eyebrows are filled in with the feathery strokes of an eyebrow pencil in either "blonde "or "taupe" for blondes, "auburn" for redheads, and light brown or medium brown for brunettes. Only black-haired gals should fill in their eyebrows with a "dark brown" eyebrow pencil" and nobody should use a black eyebrow pencil as it looks too severe. A secret weapon of celebrity makeup artists is brow sealant, which keeps this brow look in shape all day.

Celebrity Concealer:

Amazing Concealer by Amazing Cosmetics is favored by many celebrity makeup artists. Concealer is usually applied with an eye shadow brush. It is applied in thin layers which are "built up" until the blemish is covered. Concealer typically is applied before foundation. For really red blemishes, makeup artists often use a green concealer first which tones the redness down under foundation.

Celebrity Foundation:Laura Mercier Foundation is very popular with celebrities. Foundation is usually applied by celebrity makeup artists with a sponge for the most natural looking coverage. Celebrity makeup artists use a foundation primer which is worn between your moisturizer and your foundation. This product refines the skin and helps foundation stay in place all day. If you can’t spring just yet for celebrity products, try Revlon’s Color Stay Foundation with Soft-flex, which stays in place all day and comes in an extensive variety of shades.

Celebrity Powder:

Celebrity makeup artists almost always use loose powder in a translucent or skin matching shade. They will apply it with a puff and then dust it away with a big brush, or will apply it with the big brush, being sure to shake off any excess first. Then the celebrity will carry around a pressed powder or blotting papers in her evening bag for touch ups. Some celebrities skip powder all together for their dry skinned clients. Powder is great for keeping foundation in place for the longest period of time, however.

Celebrity Blush:

Nars and Stila blushes are very popular with celebrity makeup artists. While these are powder blushes, there are other makeup artists who prefer gel blush because of the dewy, healthy glow it imparts. Blush is never applied with anything but a big, fluffy brush. It is applied on the apples of the cheeks in circles, or is swept from the apples to the hair line. Shimmery blushes like Nars blush in Torrid can make the cheeks appear to be glowing, according to celebrity fans.

Celebrity Lips:

MAC lipliner in Spice is the shade thought to most closely resemble natural lip color for most people and is a favorite of celebrity makeup artists. Celebrities often use lip-plumping products like City Lips and LipFusion which have both won awards from Good Housekeeping! Lip gloss is applied at least to the center of the bottom lip to make it look fuller.

5 common bad breath myths

2009-09-29T23:47:00.000-07:00

MYTH 1:
It's Easy For People to Tell if Their Own Breath Smells
Many believe they can smell their own breath odor by cupping their hands between their mouth and nose. Unfortunately, we can not tell if our breath smells because we become accustomed to our own odors.Additionally, in many cases, we do not produce bad breath until we talk. This is because bad breath often originates near the back of the mouth and is propelled forward and out of the mouth only when we speak.
How can we tell if our breath smells ? One of the best ways is to have a trusted friend or loved one smell it for you. If you don't want to do this, wipe near the middle of your tongue with a cotton ball or gauze pad. Then smell the cotton ball or gauze pad for odor.A more accurate assessment of bad breath can be performed by a dentist using a device called a halimeter. The patient blows into a straw like tube attached to the halimeter and the machine measures the amount of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) in the breath. These volatile sulfur compounds are what give breath its bad smell.

MYTH 2:
Bad Breath Comes From the StomachA common misperception is that bad breath arises from the stomach. While an extremely small percentage of bad breath problems may be due to stomach and digestive problems, the overwhelming majority of bad breath arises from the back of the mouth. Here bacteria feed on mucus and food particles creating odorous sulfur compounds.

MYTH 3:
Good Dental Hygiene (Tooth Brushing and Flossing) Will Always Eliminate Bad Breath
Good dental hygiene (brushing and flossing) helps eliminate bad breath. Unfortunately, most people do not properly brush their teeth.It takes nearly three minutes to completely brush all tooth surfaces yet most people spend only 30 to 45 seconds brushing their teeth. Consequently, they consistently miss tooth surfaces where bacteria are allowed to proliferate and create odorous volatile sulfur compounds.People can brush and floss properly, however, and still be unsuccessful at eliminating bad breath. The problem is that odor causing bacteria often hide deep within the crevices of the tongue under a protective layer of mucus and proteins. Cleaning the tongue with a tongue cleaner (also called a tongue scraper) can remove this layer of mucus and proteins exposing bacteria and freshening breath.

MYTH 4:
Mouthwashes Are Effective in Treating Bad Breath People believe mouthwashes can treat bad breath. Unfortunately, most conventional mouthwashes only temporarily mask bad breath and are relatively useless at treating bad breath.
In fact, most conventional mouthwashes can actually contribute to bad breath formation. This is because mouthwashes contain a high percentage of alcohol which tends to dry out the mouth. Bacteria responsible for creating bad breath grow much better in drier mouths.A new breed of mouthwashes, however, are very effective in treating bad breath. These mouthwashes contain chlorine dioxide which actually attacks the volatile sulfur compounds on the molecular level.

MYTH 5:
To Prevent Bad Breath We Should Focus on the Foods We Eat
It is true that temporary bad breath comes from the foods we eat. Many foods like onions and cabbage contain high amounts of sulfur compounds. When these foods are digested the sulfur compounds are absorbed into the blood stream and carried to the lungs. Here the sulfur compounds are exhaled as we breathe causing our breath to smell.Chronic bad breath , however, is not caused by the foods we eat. Instead, chronic bad breath results when bacteria in the mouth break down left over food particles creating odorous sulfur particles. The primary goal in this case is not a change in diet but a reduction in the number of odor causing bacteria in the mouth. This can be done with proper brushing, flossing, and cleaning of the tongue with a tongue cleaner (tongue scraper).

Your Tongue: A Bad Breath Incubator

2009-09-29T23:43:00.000-07:00

Surprisingly, it may be your tongue that's causing embarrassing bad breath. People go through great effort to produce a sparkling set of teeth, but they ignore the large organ in between (the tongue) which is literally crawling with odor producing germs.

Bacteria responsible for bad breath, gingivitis, and tooth decay are removed from teeth and gums by normal brushing and flossing. For smart bacteria, however, the tongue provides a perfect hiding place.

Here bacteria live in a virtual compost heap of saliva, protein, and putrefied food remains. Unfortunately for us, bacteria feast on this compost to produce the volatile sulfur particles responsible for foul breath.

Steps to become Sexy and Confident

2009-09-29T23:29:00.000-07:00

Empower YourselfYou are greater being than you probably think you are. Take some time to assess your strong points, your skills and abilities and multiply them by 100! You are always your own worst critic so give yourself some credit- you are awesome!

Walk this Way
Take a day to examine the way that you walk. Do you take small, shuffling steps or fling your arms around when you walk? Well if you do, it’s time for some Vitamin C, and I don’t mean the Vitamin C you find in your morning orange juice! It’s time for a burst of Confidence! You may be doing something sub-consciously that does not really compliment your style so now its time to be aware of how you walk. Be quick and energetic with a spring in your step.

The Smile behind the Eyes
Smile as often as you can and, if you can manage, let a tiny smile hang around the corners of your mouth. In all your interactions, look people in the eye, greet them and smile. You'll see the other person transform in front of you.

Be Empathic
Your confidence levels rise drastically when you successfully connect with people around you. You need to be empathic towards your family, friends and colleagues. Once you are able to help other people with their emotions and problems, you immediately increase your influence with your circle of friends, acquaintances and colleagues.

Knowledge is Power
Knowledge almost always boosts self-confidence. Bikini Models not only empower themselves with knowledge of their immediate surroundings but of the world around them. A good grasp of current events will make you sounds worldly and helps you strike up meaningful conversations.

Benefits of Body Massage

2009-09-29T22:05:00.000-07:00

Touch is a very important part of human contact. It helps us feel connected and loved by those around us.
Massage uses touch through rubbing or kneading of parts of the body to aid circulation, relax the muscles, or provide sensual stimulation.

Massage is one of the oldest, simplest forms of therapy.
The basic goal of massage therapy is to help the body heal itself and to increase health and well-being.

There are many health benefits to receiving massage therapy on a regular basis:

Relieves stress
Encourages relaxation
Improves circulation
Improves posture
Lowers blood pressure
Helps manage pain
Relaxes muscles
Improves flexibility
Improves breathing
Relieves tension headaches
Strengthens immune system
Decreases depression
A good massage is an exhilarating experience.

Nail care tips

2009-09-29T22:00:00.000-07:00

No nail care product alone can give you healthy nails. But following these simple guidelines can help you keep your nails looking their best:

1.Don't abuse your nails. To prevent nail damage, don't use your fingernails as tools to pick, poke or pry things.

2.Don't bite your nails or pick at your cuticles. These habits can damage the nail bed. Even a minor cut alongside your nail can allow bacteria or fungi to enter and cause an infection (paronychia). Because your nails grow slowly, an injured nail retains signs of an injury for several months.

3.Protect your nails. Wear cotton-lined rubber gloves when using soap and water for prolonged periods or when using harsh chemicals.

4.Perform routine nail maintenance. Trim fingernails and clean under the nails regularly. Use a sharp manicure scissors or clippers and an emery board to smooth nail edges. Never pull off hangnails — doing so almost always results in ripping living tissue. Instead clip hangnails off, leaving a slight angle outward.

5.Moisturize your nails frequently. Nails need moisture just like your skin does. Rub lotion into your nails when moisturizing your hands. Be sure to apply a moisturizer after removing fingernail polish.

Benefits of Apple

2009-09-29T03:01:00.000-07:00

We all know that old adage about an apple a day keeping the doctor away, but did you know that apples are fabulous for beautifying our complexions? They are! The alpha-hydroxy fruit acids in apples are the greatest for sloughing off old tired skin so the fresh skin underneath can be revealed, and their pectin firms and tightens saggy skin–as well as healing inflammations and smoothing fine wrinkles.

Apples are mentioned in ancient literature as magical fruits sacred to many goddesses. Now it’s autumn and the apples are round and ripe, ready to be picked so you can be a Goddess of Beauty with their help. Find out apples’ secrets here–and learn why they’re also great for your teeth and breath!

For Teeth and Breath
The pectin in apples helps to neutralize food odors, so the next time you have garlic or onions, have an apple for dessert! The fibers also serve as a natural dental floss.

Honey of an Apple Glow Mask
This one really wakes up a dull complexion and it’s fun, too! This formula combines the magical apple with sweet honey, a great humectant–meaning it will bring moisture to your skin.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cored apple
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon dried sage

Pulse ingredients in a food processor, combining well. Refrigerate for at least 10 minutes. Apply this mixture to a clean face. With your fingertips, begin gently patting your face. Continue until the mixture feels very, very sticky–this will bring the blood to the surface of your skin, making it glow. Rinse with warm water.

To Reduce Wrinkles and Inflammation
Grate an unripe apple and apply to clean skin to heal and improve the appearance of fine wrinkles or inflammation. Allow pulp to remain on skin for 10 to 20 minutes before rinsing with warm water.

Oily Skin/Acne Healing Mask
Mix equal parts grated raw apple (or unsweetened applesauce) and honey. Apply mixture to a clean face and allow to remain on skin for 10 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

To Reduce Eye Puffiness
Mix 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce with one small grated raw potato. Lie down and apply to eyes, covering with a warm damp washcloth, if desired. Allow to remain on for 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

Autumn Magic Facial Mask
This formula soothes and nourishes skin and nerves, and provides gentle exfoliating action.

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cored apple, peeled and grated
1 tablespoon rolled oats
1 teaspoon cream
1 teaspoon honey

Combine all ingredients thoroughly. Apply to clean face, massaging gently, and allow mixture to remain on skin for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Yummy Food for Great Skin

2009-09-29T02:56:00.000-07:00

BERRIES: berries have more protective plant antioxidants than almost any other food. These compounds of berries not only lower your disease risks, they help prevent memory loss.

SALMON: salmon is a a small fish and is the most significant source of omega-3s, the healthy fats that fend off heart disease and may more important nutrients. Just 3 ounces of the fish serves up 170% of your daily vitamin B12 and more than 80% of your D. So don’t miss on salmons now.

WHOLE GRAINS: Whole grains have up to 96 percent more fiber, magnesium, zinc, chromium and vitamins E and B6 than refined grains. This nutritional powerhouse helps prevent the same health problems that refined grains help cause: heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension and even obesity.

YOGURT: Low- or no-fat plain yogurt is one of the best source of B vitamins, protein, calcium and –if it has active cultures–the healthy bacteria known as probiotics, which crowd out disease-causing germs. Don’t forget to take your daily yogurt does then.

All about Facials: Skin Care and Treatment

2009-09-29T02:46:00.000-07:00

Learn the benefits of facials, facial skin care and beauty products, facial massage, treatment and different kinds of facials. Most of us know that getting a facial done is as simple as going to the parlour, spending a few hours in the presence of someone who claims that they will make us beautiful and get a wad of greens for their services! But then, one of the joys of womanhood is taking the time to pamper ourselves so we can face each new day looking and feeling our best.

Facial skin care and treatment
Our skin is our largest organ, performing several functions, including protecting us from invasion by foreign substances and serving as the transfer point for the release of toxins from our bodies. Facials are deep skin treatments that cleanse, rehydrate and rejuvenate the skin, apart from minimizing skin blemishes, acne, dry skin and, of course, wrinkles. Facials vary depending on your skin type, the kind of treatment you've chosen, the products used and the person's age. However, it is advisable to start having facials in your late 20's.

Facial skin care and beauty products
The skin provides an honest mirror of our inner health and well-being. It is thus especially important to use only natural, gentle ingredients on our skin whenever possible. Application to the skin of fresh, natural products such as essential oils, plant waters (also called "hydrosols") and cold pressed unscented oils helps maintain a youthful, glowing complexion.

Essential oils and hydrosols are the fragrant liquids that are distilled from different plant parts, such as flower petals; herbs leaves and tree barks, and are fundamental components of any solid, natural skin care regime. Cold pressed unscented oils are extracted from various fruits, nuts and seeds, and include olive oil, sweet almond oil, avocado oil and jojoba oil. Used in tandem, essential oils, hydrosols and cold pressed unscented oils work together to soothe and nourish the skin, encouraging a healthful, radiant complexion.

Benefits of facials and facial massage
Facials involve a cleansing procedure, a massage and steam, and the application of a face mask. What they help to do is remove the dead, dull outer layer of cells that make up the skin's surface or epidermis along with pollutants. The massage, which is an important part of a facial, helps blood circulation, which in turn aids lymphatic drainage (the removal of toxins and waste from the body). A facial massage also relaxes the facial muscles and is very important to delay the onset of wrinkles.

The face is steamed during a facial for two main reasons. Firstly, steam helps the skin absorb cream better. Secondly, it helps in softening blackheads and whiteheads so that they can be removed easily. The application of a face mask in the end helps tone and clarifies the skin. Face masks are also used to treat dry and acne-ridden skin.

Different types of facials
* A basic clean up
* Normal facials
* Special facials
* Bio-lift facials
* AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) facials
* Paraffin facials
* Anti-oxidant and pollution-fighting facials
* Acne Facials
* Collagen Facials
* Aromatherapy Facial
* Galvanic Facial
* Gold Facial

How to improve physical appearance?

2009-09-29T02:35:00.000-07:00

When you desire to be a beautiful girl or woman, you should be ready to bring about some changes within yourself. Read this article to learn more about how to become beautiful. Beauty and femininity goes hand in hand. Every woman loves to look beautiful. It is not that only those woman who feel they are ugly want to know how to become beautiful. Even beautiful women wish to become more beautiful. For this, they make a lot of effort to improve their physical appearance. They spend so much of time in selecting the right skin cream, eye makeup, clothing, etc. However, all these beauty products will help to make them beautiful only temporarily. For a permanent effect, you should learn to make yourself beautiful from within.

Lady Gaga

2009-09-17T18:19:00.000-07:00

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (born March 28, 1986), better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American recording artist.The eldest child to Italian American parents Joseph and Cynthia Germanotta.

Smoking

2009-09-15T21:35:00.000-07:00

In a study conducted by British Journal of Dermatology, it is found that female smokers experience ‘dotty skin’.

It also says that smoking is not one reason for women developing marks on their face. Stress, pollution, hormonal alterations, occupation, exposure to steam and heat for longer hours etc. lead to non-inflammatory acne. As skin make-up varies from individual to individual so all smokers may not experience such dermatological problems.

Nevertheless, smoking is found to aggravate such problems which actually highlight health problems within. There is a world wide awareness campaign going on against smoking because smoking causes infinite damage to smokers and surrounding people.

The study also found that smoking reduces skin secretions like Vitamin E and thereby does damage to the skin all over the body. As the skin on the facial region is more sensitive than the other parts of the body and is the most exposed part of the body, the face is affected severely compared to the other parts of the body.

During teenage we develop the habit of smoking and carry on with it until we suffer from major diseases that prevent us from smoking. From our personal experiences we have found that smoking affects the color and smoothness of our lips. Lips become dark and rough.

We try rubbing lemon and honey and other home made therapies on our lips for sometime only. It is often heard that the smoker tries to stop smoking but finds it difficult to give up this obnoxious habit.

philosophy talk about beauty

2009-09-15T19:46:00.000-07:00

Is beauty in the eye of the beholder? John defines beauty as that which brings enjoyment to the person who looks or contemplates. John defines subjective properties as properties that require subjects of the right sort to make a difference. When we say something is beautiful, are we recommending to others that they should take delight in it? Beauty may be intersubjective, but is it objective? Can we argue rationally about whether something is beautiful? Ken introduces Alexander Nehamas, professor at Princeton. Is beauty both skin deep and in the eye of the beholder? Nehamas distinguishes between surface beauty and deep beauty.

Kant thought that if we think something is beautiful then we want everyone to agree with us. Ken proposes the idea that perception is a skill. Would the world be better off if everyone agreed on what is beautiful? Nehamas thinks the world would not be better off because what we find beautiful is a reflection of our personality and individuality. What can we learn about ourselves from what we find beautiful? Nehamas thinks that it illuminates our style. Is taste a function of education and economics?

Is natural beauty ever better than constructed beauty, like in art or music? Do beauty and happiness go together? What is the relation between beauty and the sublime? Nehamas says that the sublime is our reaction in the face of something so overpowering that it consumes or obliterates us. There is a saying that truth is beauty and beauty is truth, but is that correct? John thinks it is false. Why does beauty matter?

Skin and Health Benefits of Banana Peel

2009-09-15T19:29:00.000-07:00

Skin and Health Benefits of Banana Peel
In many countries, banana fruit and the peel are considered to be the ‘golden fruit’ of nature because the fruit helps promote natural beauty and keep the body healthy. Eating bananas regularly can keep the digestive system running at an optimal level, restore energy and also provide the body with essential nutrients that help with cell regeneration.

Banana peel contains a number of antioxidants and minerals that can help the skin restore itself naturally. Banana peels have been used as a home remedy for a number of skin conditions including allergies, bruises and skin irritation. The key compounds in the peel include potassium and other antioxidants that help to keep the skin looking soft, supple and healthy. These compounds and have a positive effect on conditions such as psoriasis and warts, and also help to relieve irritation from allergies and other skin conditions.

5 steps to be beautiful

2009-09-15T18:45:00.000-07:00

1. Seek beauty around you. How do you define beauty? As you go through your day, try to make note of things and people that strike you as beautiful: art, the sky, someone's freckles. If you can, write them down. Try to understand what makes them beautiful to you. They may not be beautiful to others, but that's why beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

2. Recognize the beauty in yourself. Look in the mirror and search for beauty. By now, you've probably noticed that the most beautiful things in life are often subtle and hidden. The same goes for the beauty you hold. Maybe you have smooth, well-proportioned hands, or a flawless forehead, or perfectly-shaped shoulders. Whatever it is, it's yours--revel in it.

3. Enhance your physical beauty. Looking beautiful is all about emphasizing those features in you that are already beautiful. There are millions of ways to do this, as there are millions of potentially beautiful features on a single body. The important thing is to experiment with accentuating that beauty until you can look at your reflection and feel like you've given your beauty the representation it deserves.

4. As beautiful as ever.Develop your inner beauty. There are plenty of so-called beautiful people out there who lie, cheat, steal, and even kill. Their beauty never lasts, but yours can. By finding yourself and building your character through integrity, you can be beautiful both on the inside and on the outside. Better yet, your inner beauty will always emanate and never fade, wrinkle, or turn gray.

5. Create beauty outside of yourself. Now that you see beauty and you are beautiful (as you always have been, but now know it), it's time to make beauty. Art is a very popular emulation of beauty, but it's possible to inject beauty into everything you do (your work, how you interact with people, and the way you decorate your room, for example). This is an extremely satisfying pursuit that will not only make the world a more beautiful place, but it will also bring your quest for beauty full circle.