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Sun Problems

Sunburn


Sunburn has long-term detrimental effects on the skin and should be avoided. Contrary to popular myth, you do not have to burn to get a tan. In addition, just in case you’re still wondering, you can still get a tan using High protection factors. If you do burn, however, keep your skin cool and clean and soothe it with calamine lotion or natural yogurt.

Aloe Vera is another good sunburn calmer, as is the essential oil from the bark of the tea tree. Simply add 2-3 drops of it to 10 ml of carrier oil, such as wheat germ or avocado, available in most health food stores and chemists.

If you burn badly over most of your body, you may need to rest in bed and drink plenty of fluids. You must not sunbathe the following day, or until the redness has gone. Seek medical advice for severe burns.

Prickly Heat
This spotty rash occurs because of blocked sweat glands, mostly appearing on the chest, back and arms and you can take steps to preve nt it. Avoid strong sunlight, especially between eleven in the morning and three in afternoon when the sun is at its strongest. Wear high-factor sunscreens that screen out both UVA and UVB rays. Take cool showers or bathe frequently, patting the skin dry afterwards. Also, avoid activities that make you sweat a lot.

If you do develop prickly heat, stay in the cool, apply calamine lotion or talcum powder and wear loose clothing. Prickly heat is often confused with polymorphic light eruption (see ahead).

Heat Exhaustion and Heat-stroke
Avoid succumbing to either heat exhaustion or heat stroke by resisting the temptation to lie in the hot sun for hours on end. Keep your body cool by going for a swim at regular intervals. Don’t fall asleep in the sun. If you begin to feel woozy or headachy, retreat to the shade immediately and cool yourself, down with cold compresses or a tepid bath and sip liquids. Orange juice is good because it replaces potassium lost through sweating.

Drink, at least, two liters (three to four pints) of water a day, and don’t rely on thirst as an indicator of dehydration- you could easily be dehydrated and yet not feel thirsty. Don’t drink alcohol or caffeinated drinks as these have a diuretic effect, adding to dehydration. If, despite these precautions, you develop symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, take the following steps immediately:

Heat Exhaustion:
There are three types of heat exhaustion, all of which can be fatal: water deficiency, salt deficiency and anhidritic.

The symptoms of water-deficiency heat exhaustion include thirst, lack of appetite, giddiness, a dry mouth and rising temperature. Rest in cool surrounding and drink half a liter (about a pint) of water every fifteen minutes for two hours. Seek medical help if your symptoms continue to worsen

Salt-deficiency heat exhaustion occurs if you have been sweating heavily during the first few day s of acclimatization to a very hot climate and have not eaten properly. Fatigue, giddiness and severe muscle cramps are symptoms of this type of heat exhaustion. If you think you may be suffering from this condition, see a doctor.

Anhidrotic heat exhaustion is a rare malfunction of the sweat glands, which occurs in people who have been in a hot climate for several months.

Heat stroke:
The symptoms of heat stroke are that your body temperature rises but you do not sweat, as this heat-regulating mechanism is not functioning correctly. You develop a severe headache, feel faint or disoriented, stagger or start to convulse. The skin is hot and may feel dry. ’Sunstroke’ is an incorrect term-you can get heat stroke without being in the sun.

Heat stroke can be extremely dangerous or even fatal, so call an ambulance or ask someone to drive you to the emergency department of a nearby hospital.

Easy ways with hair styling


If you are looking for a variation on normal plaits, you can braid simply the front section of your hair at each side of the temple and then scrape these back and let the rest of the hair hang straight down. This is a great way to add interest to a one-length style. If you are bored with the traditional three-strand plait and want to try something different, use just two sections of hair and weave them together. When you get to the ends of the hair, secure the braids with a band.

TOPKNOT
Ensure hair is tangle-free, then comb it towards the crown of the head and scrape into a high ponytail. Secure with a ponytail tie, then wrap the hair in a circular motion round the tie in a bun shape. Secure with hairgrips or bobby pins, for a modern finish, splay the ends out and mould into an interesting shape, then fix with a light hairspray. You could reposition the bun at the nape of the neck or the middle of the back of the head.

DROP CURLS
If you have shoulder-length or longer hair which is straight or has a natural wave, you can create an interesting finish by curling the mid-lengths (just below the ears) and ends. Start at the front with 2.5cm-wide sections of hair and wrap them around heated tongs, working from the mid-lengths to the ends. Clasp hair in tongs for thirty to sixty seconds, depending on your hair type: fine hair will absorb heat more quickly. Unravel and then move on to the next section. If you are using heated rollers, follow the same procedure but wind hair from the ends up the airshaft until you reach the top of the ears. Secure in place and move on to the next section.

STRAIGHT
To blow-dry your hair dead straight, first apply mousse, then comb it through and partially rough-dry the hair. Take a 2.5cm section across the hair at the nape of the neck with a comb and pin the rest of the hair out of the way. Using a round brush, dry this section. For the best results, gli de the brush from roots to ends and direct the air flow from the hair dryer down the hair shaft, following the brush as you work. Make sure that each section is completely dry before you move on to the next one. Gradually proceed up the head, working in 2.5cm sections. After drying, smooth on a small amount of serum to give the hair a polished finish.

SCRAPE BACK
Ideal for one-length styles, longer hair with layers or if you are growing a fringe out. The secret is to ensure that the hair is absolutely straight and ultra-shiny. If you’re not expert at blow-drying your hair straight, get to work with heated straightening irons. Once hair is straight, comb it off the face and make two partings (using the centre of each iris as a guide) back to the crown. Hold this section at a 90-degree angle to the head, scrape a hair comb the same width in and push back, so it grips the hair, taking it off the face. Push back until the comb feels secure.

PLAITTo successfully plait the hair, comb through to remove tangles and then divide into three equal sections. Weave the left section over the middle section, then weave the right section over the middle section, repeating the process until you reach the end of the hair. Secure with a band. Once you have finished, you can spritz the hair with a fine mist of hairspray to keep it in place. It you feel the total look is too neat, simply ease out a few strands of hair around the front. If you pull too much out by mistake, you don’t need to start again from scratch. Using small pins, scoop hair back into the plait and secure in place.

Stylingwork
Style Savers
When you are travelling, it’s always possible to get more mileage from your hair-styling appliances. When you are packing, wrap your necklaces around a hair roller and secure in place with a hair elastic. This will ensure that chains do not tangle and get knotted. Also, hair-dyers can be used to dry l ingerie and any other small items of clothing after washing.

Mirror Image
If you have a symmetrically shaped hairstyle, you should alternate the hand in which you hold the dryer in order to ensure that both sides of the hair look the same. Once you have mastered the knack and it comes naturally, you will be blow-drying like a professional. As a side effect, this is a good way to tone the muscles on both arms and hands.

Satin Slip
If you always wake up with bed-head hair, you could try changing your pillowcase. Satin pillowcases allow the hair to slide across the pillow gently as you move in your sleep, whereas cotton causes friction and disrupts the hair. Using a satin pillowcase also means that you will not end up with crease marks on your face if you tend to sleep nuzzled into the pillow.

Easy Curls
To curl hair with a natural wave, take random 5-7.5cm sections of damp hair, twist tightly and literally scrunch up into smal l balls and secure in place. Leave to dry naturally, only unravelling when the hair is completely dry. To finish, do not comb through but tip your head upside-down and use your fingers to break up the curls and enhance the movement created.

Simple Steps to successful hair-styling
Root Lift
A foolproof way that is guaranteed to achieve root lift which will not drop shortly afterwards is to work through the roots with a vent brush. While you are blow-drying your hair, lift individual sections as you go. You will also find that tipping your head upside-down or leaning your head to one side as you blow-dry has the effect of maximizing the hair’s volume.

Flyaway Hair
If you have a problem with static, flyaway hair, you could always try using an anti-static clothes spray. You should never apply this directly to the hair, but can spray a small amount on to a comb or hairbrush and then gently run it through the hair. However, you should go lightly at this stage, as over-zealous combing or brushing is likely to result in more static.

Steam Style
When you run a bath, close the bathroom door so the steam from the water doesn’t evaporate, then spray your hair with setting lotion and put rollers in before getting into the bath. The steam will help set the curls. Remove the rollers when your hair is completely dry and run your fingers through the hair to break up the curls and to add definition.

Thickening Treat
If you have baby-fine hair and want to make it look fuller, hairdressers recommend spraying the hair with dry shampoo. This will add body and make the hair easier to manage. Just remember, less is more, so try to be as light-handed as possible during application. To remove, you can simply brush the hair.

Dodging Common Exercise Pitfalls


Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment. This old saying is especially true for exercise, in which bad judgment can lead to aches, pains, and injuries. Bad judgment can also waste time and effort. Therefore, being aware of the pitfalls that plague novice and seasoned exercisers can help prevent problems and help you maintain a comfortable and consistent program.

Depending on your exercise goals and the intensity of your training, some of the common pitfalls listed below may apply to your situation now. Others won’t be important until you have considerable training under your belt. Consider those that apply to you and adjust your program accordingly.

Technical Fouls
Less-than-choice choices. Making the right exercise choice can make all the difference. Weight-bearing exercises such as walking and jogging are great for most of us, but they can be too demanding for those who are overweight or have mus cle, bone, or joint problems like arthritis. Exercises with barbells can also stress joints, especially the elbows and shoulders.

Alternatives include non-weight-bearing exercises (in which your weight is supported), like bicycling or exercising in the water. Also, weight machines or dumbbells may reduce joint stress and allow you to continue weight training without pain. Troublesome technique. Exercise technique is critical, even for exercises that you take for granted, like walking. When increasing the pace of walking, for example, it’s natural to take longer strides. But this can overstress your shins. Proper technique entails taking more rapid strides without increasing their length.

A small breath of air. Novice exercisers tend to breathe rapidly and shallowly because it feels right. But with this type of breathing, oxygen does not make its way to the depths of the lungs where it’s needed. This contributes to a sense of breathlessness. Instead, conscious ly take longer and deeper breaths.

Intensity Trouble
Body not ready. Vigorous exercise is one of the most stressful challenges your body can face. If you are healthy, your body will adjust to the demands, and such adjustments increase fitness. But an unhealthy body can be overwhelmed by exercise. See your doctor to make sure your body is ready for the challenge.

Beginner’s pluck. If you have not been active, your body is ill prepared for demanding exercise. Even so, you are likely to make rapid gains in the beginning stages of an exercise program, which can inspire you to do too much too soon. Resist the temptation. Working out like a veteran can easily lead to injury. Veteran’s overconfidence.

Even if you are a seasoned exerciser, don’t advance more quickly than your body will allow, and avoid overconfidence. Those who were once in shape but have quit exercising and want to start again are particularly likely to increase too rapidly advanci ng, for instance, from a 2-mile run to a 6-mile run in a few weeks. Whether you are starting from scratch or restarting from a higher level, progress slowly.

Feel the burnout. When you improve to the point where, say, a 5-mile run is fairly easy, don’t assume all is well. Your abilities and drive may inspire you to keep adding to your workload. In this case, even small and slow increases can add up and become too much.

If you find yourself dreading your exercise sessions or dragging yourself through the day because of exhausting workouts, you may be overtraining--doing more exercise than your body can tolerate. If so, cut back to where your workouts are comfortable again and you look forward to them. Take a few days off completely and then return at a much reduced level.

’No pain, no gain.’ Athletes are taught to train hard and to overcome pain. But years of training are required to withstand high-intensity workouts. If you are a competitive athlete, you may have no choice but to train as hard as the coach demands. But everyday exercisers should cut back when they feel pain.

Damage Control
Not easing in and out. Take time to warm up and ease into exercise. Even if you only walk or do other forms of mild exercise, your body needs an adjustment period. Start with a slow, comfortable walk before progressing to faster speeds. If you choose more demanding exercise, the warm-up phase should be longer and more involved and include a variety of stretching exercises. At the end of a workout, don’t stop abruptly, but rather slow your pace gradually until you quit. Then stretch again.

Leave it for weekends. Many people use sports as a means of getting in shape. They push themselves on weekends in demanding events like basketball that can stress the body to its limits. This "weekend warrior" approach is backward. Instead, get in shape first so you can enjoy sports safely. This is especially important if you do not participate regularly. No rest for the workout. Vigorous exercise takes a toll on the body, and not resting completely between workouts can spell trouble. This is especially true as you get older, because your body may need more time to recover. Get as much sleep as your body needs every night.

Gear Choices
Unclear on gear. Good exercise gear is designed to reduce stress and help you avoid injuries. Jogging and walking shoes are designed to provide support and absorb shock. For exercising in the heat, proper clothing lets excess heat escape from the skin to minimize overheating. In the cold, certain material wicks moisture away from the skin, helping you stay dry and warm. Such training aids can be expensive, but going the cheap route could ultimately cost you big bucks at the doctor’s office.

Ecologic illogic. Heat, humidity, and high altitude stress the body considerably during exercise. Therefore, don’t attempt to accomplish as much as yo u would under more ideal conditions. In hot weather, drink enough water to make your urine clear. Cold and wind can cause frostbite if your skin is unprotected. Your ears, fingers, and toes are especially vulnerable.

Unkind surfaces. If you walk or jog, the surface you choose to exercise on is important. User-friendly surfaces will reduce the impact shock. Grass and smooth gravel are friendly, whereas cement (as on sidewalks) is brutal. Asphalt is better than cement, but not as good as grass. The surface also must be even and predictable.

Great Expectations
Fat fiction. Exercise can help you lose body fat, but you need to know two facts. First, you cannot remove fat from specific areas of the body with specific exercises (a concept known as spot reduction). Sit-ups won’t reduce your waistline, for example, because fat burned as fuel during exercise is drawn from fat stores all over the body.

Second, a bout of exercise burns fewer calories th an you might expect, so you probably won’t shed pounds without a low-fat and moderate-calorie diet. A 1-mile brisk walk, for example, will burn about 100 calories for an average-sized man and about 85 calories for an average woman. Contrast that with a 500-calorie deluxe cheeseburger.

Fair-weather exercise. Regardless of your goals or the type of exercise you choose, little will be accomplished by sporadic exercise. The key to success is consistency. On occasion you won’t have time to exercise as much as you would like. On those days, it’s important to do something, no matter how small. A little exercise performed daily will produce much greater results than sporadic, lengthy workouts.

Combination Skin's Care


Combination skin, characterised by an oily central panel (forehead, nose and chin) and dry cheeks, is the most common skin type. To keep oiliness and dryness under control, the skin needs to be cared for as two distinct types - oily and dry. There are many products on the market that provide a balance of ingredients designed to cope with the demands of combination skin.

What is combination skin?
Many of us have an oilier T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) and drier cheeks. It’s the width of this T-zone that determines whether your combination skin is on the drier or oilier side. If you have a more active oil-secreting T-zone across your entire forehead, for example, you have an oily-to-combination skin type. If your nose and chin are oily and your forehead is drier, your skin is defined as normal-to-combination.

How you know if you have combination skin?
You have combination skin when your skin is slightly shiny on your nose and forehead 20 minutes after washing, when it looks shiny on your forehead, nose or chin in the morning, even when you haven’t used a night cream, and when pores are slightly visible on your nose and forehead in a regular mirror. You will probably suffer from occasional blemishes in the T-zone and your cheeks and jawline are likely to suffer from dry patches.

What causes combination skin?
This skin type tends to develop with time, especially in those skins that were oily during puberty. In your teens, sebum is usually stimulated by surging hormones; in your 20s, oily skin in the lower half of your face - the jawline and chin - is generally caused by hormonal factors, such as stress, the Pill and menstruation. The oily and dry patches of combination skin do change with age, so it’s worth assessing your skin type regularly so that you can adjust your beauty routine accordingly. Most people will notice that combination skin changes with age, the seasons, the environment and hormonal fluctuations.

Balance skin from within
Eating a balanced diet and, if necessary, taking appropriate supplements, is a vital part of creating a healthy complexion. Bear in mind that it takes a good three weeks for newly formed cells to reach the skin’s surface, so it takes time for lasting results to show. Vitamins A, C and E, selenium and zinc are essential antioxidants that help to enhance collagen repair and generally promote skin healing. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) can also have a positive effect on skin as they form a barrier that prevents moisture loss that helps combat dryness, fine lines and wrinkles.

What to avoid if you have combination skin
Combination skin is tricky because it has opposing needs. Take care not to exacerbate either the oiliness or the dryness by avoiding:

Overwashing This will make your cheeks drier and strip oil from the T-zone, causing the sebaceous glands to produce more sebu m to compensate.

Mixing products Instead of trying to mix and match products for different skin types, use skincare for combination skin.

Heavy moisturisers These will nourish the dry areas of your face but will be too lubricating for the T-zone. It’s better to strike a balance with a light, non-pore-blocking lotion.

The best skincare routine for combination skin
The T-zone tends to need more attention than the drier areas of the face. Look for gentle cleansers and moisturisers that will work to keep it under control.

Look for cleansers suitable for combination skin. A deep-pore cleanser will help to keep the oily T-zone clear. In the summer, an antibacterial soap will help to keep bacteria in check and prevent problems in the T-zone.

An oil-inhibiting moisturiser will provide enough hydration for the dry areas of the face, without making the oilier areas worse. If you feel you’re not getting enough hydration, try a lotion wi th silicone oils - they’re light enough to moisturise without causing extra oiliness.

A gentle toner will help to keep the skin in the central panel of the face shine-free. There’s no need to use it on drier areas.

When you exfoliate, pay special attention to oilier areas such as the chin, nose and forehead. A gel mask suits combination skin. Or try using two different masks: a clay mask for the oil-prone nose, chin and forehead, and a cream mask for dry areas, such as the cheeks.

Stuffy Nose Sniff This


Nasal congestion, stuffiness, or obstruction to nasal breathing is one of man’s oldest and most common complaints. While it may be a mere nuisance to some persons, to others it is a source of considerable discomfort, and it detracts from the quality of their lives.

Medical writers have classified the causes of nasal obstruction into four categories, recognizing that overlap exists between these categories and that it is not unusual for a patient to have more than one factor involved in his particular case.

Infection
An average adult suffers a common "cold" two to three times per year, more often in childhood and less often the older he gets as he develops more immunity. The common "cold" is caused by any number of different viruses, some of which are transmitted through the air, but most are transmitted from hand-to-nose contact. Once the virus gets established in the nose, it causes release of the body chemical histamine, which dram atically increases the blood flow to the nose, causing swelling and congestion of nasal tissues, and stimulating the nasal membranes to produce excessive amounts of mucus. Antihistamines and decongestants help relieve the symptoms of a "cold," but time alone cures it.

During a virus infection, the nose has poor resistance against bacterial infections, which explains why bacterial infections of the nose and sinuses so often follow a "cold." When the nasal mucus turns from clear to yellow or green, it usually means that a bacterial infection has taken over and a physician should be consulted.

Acute sinus infections produce nasal congestion, thick discharge, and pain and tenderness in the cheeks and upper teeth, between and behind the eyes, or above the eyes and in the forehead, depending on which sinuses are involved.

Chronic sinus infections may or may not cause pain, but nasal obstruction and offensive nasal or postnasal discharge is often present. So me persons develop polyps (fleshy growths in the nose) from sinus infections, and the infection can spread down into the lower airways leading to chronic cough, bronchitis, and asthma. Acute sinus infection generally responds to antibiotic treatment; chronic sinusitis usually requires surgery.

Structural Causes
Included in this category are deformities of the nose and the nasal septum, which is the thin, flat cartilage and bone that separates the nostrils and nose into its two sides. These deformities are usually due to an injury at some time in one’s life. The injury may have been many years earlier and may even have been in childhood and long since forgotten. It is a fact that 7 percent of newborn babies suffer significant nasal injury just from the birth process; and, of course, it is almost impossible to go through life without getting hit on the nose at least once. Therefore, deformities of the nose and the deviated septum should be fairly common probl ems -- and they are. If they create obstruction to breathing, they can be corrected with surgery.

One of the most common causes for nasal obstruction in children is enlargement of the adenoids: tonsil-like tissues that fill the back of the nose up behind the palate. Children with this problem breath noisily at night and even snore. They also are chronic mouth breathers, and they develop a "sad" long face and sometimes dental deformities. Surgery to remove the adenoids and sometimes the tonsils may be advisable.

Other causes in this category include nasal tumors and foreign bodies. Children are prone to inserting various objects such as peas, beans, cherry pits, beads, buttons, safety pins, and bits of plastic toys into their noses. Beware of one-sided foul smelling discharge, which can be caused by a foreign body. A physician should be consulted

Allergy
Hay fever, rose fever, grass fever, and "summertime colds" are various names for allergic rhinitis. Allergy is an exaggerated inflammatory response to a foreign substance which, in the case of a stuffy nose, is usually a pollen, mold, animal dander, or some element in house dust. Foods sometime play a role. Pollens cause problems in spring (trees) and summer (grasses) or fall (weeds) whereas house dust allergies and mold may be a year-around problem. Ideally the best treatment is avoidance of these substances, but that is impractical in most cases.

In the allergic patient, the release of histamine and similar substances results in congestion and excess production of watery nasal mucus. Antihistamine Help relieve the sneezing and runny nose of allergy. Many antihistamines are now available without a prescription. The most familiar brands include Chlor-Trimeton®, Benadryl®, or Dimetane® (although most are also available in generic forms). Newer, nonsedating antihistamines, which require a prescription include Claritin®, Zyrtec®, and Allegra®. Decongestants shrink congested nasal tissues. Examples include Sudafed®, Guaifed®, and Entex® that are available without a prescription in several generic forms. Combinations of antihistamines with decongestants are also available. All these preparations have potential side effects, and patients must heed the warnings of the package or prescription insert. This is especially important if the patient suffers from high blood pressure, glaucoma, irregular heart beats, difficulty in urination, or is pregnant.

Allergy shots are the most specific treatment available, and they are highly successful in allergic patients. Skin tests or at times blood tests are used to make up treatment vials of substances to which the patient is allergic. The physician determines the best concentration for initiating the treatment. These treatments are given by injection. They work by forming blocking antibodies in the patient’s blood stream, which then interfere with the allergic reaction. Many patients prefer allergy shots over drugs because of the side effects of the drugs.

Patients with allergies have an increased tendency to develop sinus infections and require treatment as discussed in the previous section.

Vasomotor Rhinitis
’’Rhinitis" means inflammation of the nose and nasal membranes. "Vasomotor" means blood vessel forces. The membranes of the nose have an abundant supply of arteries, veins, and capillaries, which have a great capacity for both expansion and constriction. Normally these blood vessels are in a half-constricted, half-open state. But when a person exercises vigorously, his/her hormones of stimulation (i.e., adrenaline) increase. The adrenaline causes constriction or squeezing of the nasal membranes so that the air passages open up and the person breathes more freely.

The opposite takes place when an allergic attack or a ’’cold’’ develops: The blood vessels expand, the membranes become congested (full of excess blood), and the nose becomes stuffy, or blocked.

In addition to allergies and infections, other events can also cause nasal blood vessels to expand, leading to vasomotor rhinitis. These include psychological stress, inadequate thyroid function, pregnancy, certain anti-high blood pressure drugs, and overuse or prolonged use of decongesting nasal sprays and irritants such as perfumes and tobacco smoke.

In the early stages of each of these disorders, the nasal stuffiness is temporary and reversible. That is, it will improve if the primary cause is corrected. However, if the condition persists for a long enough period, the blood vessels lose their capacity to constrict. They become somewhat like varicose veins. They fill up when the patient lies down and when he/she lies on one side, the lower side becomes congested. The congestion often interferes with sleep. So it is helpful for stuffy patients to sleep with the head of the bed elevated two to four inches accomplish t his by placing a brick or two under each castor of the bedposts at the head of the bed. Surgery my offer dramatic and long time relief.

Lip Liner


Lip liner accentuates the shape of the lips. Invest in a pencil that is close to your lips’ natural color and team ’this with any shade of lipstick. It can be tricky to achieve the perfect lip-line, especially if you are a little over-enthusiastic and don’t have a steady hand. The best method is to apply the liner in series of feather -stokes around the outer edge of the lips, then join and blend these with your fingertips or a lip brush.

USE LIP LINER TO DEFINE AND SHADE:
the entire lip area. Otherwise, when the lipstick wears off, you’ll be left with an unsightly outline. Lip liner also acts as a fixative for lipstick.

IF YOU WANT TO DO CORRECTIVE WORK:
For example, plump up narrow lips or emphasize a cupid’s bow, keep it to a minimum. It can look messy and require constant retouches. Instead, experiment with different shades of lipstick. Pale tones add fullness to the lips and dark shades have slimming effect.

Lip Gloss:
Lip-gloss, available in clear or tinted versions, is ideal for highlighting your lips or enhancing your mouth’s natural color. Because of its consistency, it tends to slide on and glide off within hours of application, or seeps into fine lines around the mouth. To overcome this, dab gloss onto the center of the upper and lower lip, and then purse your lips together. This creates the illusion of all-over gloss.

Lip Stick:
You don’t have to match your lipstick with your clothing or nail varnish. For a modern finish, take your skin tone and overall make-up look into consideration. Shades with brown undertones will flatter most complexions.

THERE IS A GREAT VARIETY OF LIPSTICK TEXTURES:
which range from matt and cream to sheer tints. Experiment with these, bearing in mind that matt is long- lasting but has a tendency to dehydrate the lips, creamy formulations last well, and lip tints provide a natural look and add luster .

Application:
The way you apply lipstick is up to you. Experiment with brushes and your fingertips and see what you feel comfortable with. To improve the staying power of lipstick, blot the lips with a tissue after application and reapply. Repeat this several times. Add a final coat of lipstick. Alternatively, once you’ve applied lipstick. Place a tissue over the lips and dust them with a small amount of loose powder then remove the tissue.

Tricks Of The Trade:
Protect your lips with lip balm or lipstick containing SPF 15. The lips do not contain melanin, the body’s natural sun-defence substance, and the lower lip is a common site for skin cancers.

If you’re in a hurry, avoid wearing red and dark-colored lipsticks, as they require precision application, try lipsticks with neutral tones.
Avoid dark lip color if you have narrow lips, Paler shades enhance the shape of the lips, making them appear fuller.
To enhance a pout, d ab sliver lip-gloss onto the center of the lower lip.

If your lip line is too dark and won’t work in harmony with your chosen lip color, tone it down with a small amount of foundation, and then apply lipstick.
Give your lips a topcoat of vitamin E oil. It seals in the color, creates instant shine and helps to condition and protect this sensitive area.

Brightly Colored Lipsticks Look Great But There’s a Catch:
because of the density of their color pigment, they tend to feather and bleed around the lip -line. To prevent this, define and coat the lip with lines before applying lipstick.

There is nothing more taboo than lipstick on your teeth. To prevent this, put your index finger in your mouth and close your lips. As you withdraw your finger, it will remove any excess color, which could end up on your teeth.

Whiter Brighter Teeth


Getting your whites whiter and your brights brighter is no longer only for your laundry. Today, it’s easier and safer than ever to get your teeth whiter and cleaner looking, too.

For several years, dentists have been offering whitening procedures for those whose teeth are mildly stained or discolored. And now, according to research presented at the conference of the Academy of General Dentistry in Toronto this past July, it is even possible for dentists to reduce severe stains associated with childhood use of tetracycline, an antibiotic than can cause significant - and previously irreversible - discoloration.

"It may take as much as six months for tetracycline patients to see results," says Ralph H. Leonard, Jr., D.D.S. M.P.H., who conducted the research, "but our findings do controvert the previously-held belief that tetracycline-stained teeth cannot be bleached."

As for the rest of the smiles in America - the ones that have been disco lored by coffee, cola, wine or cigarettes, or just by Father Time - whitening generally takes just days or weeks, not months. In some cases it’s even possible to have all your whitening done in just one or two sessions at the dentist’s office. The range of whitening products and procedures available keeps expanding. And while dentists are wary about some of the over-the-counter methods available, there are plenty of legitimate, safe and healthy ways to achieve a brighter smile.

Here’s the rundown on the most common whitening procedures - and a few new whitening methods, too. Talk to your dentist to decide which one is best for you.

Tooth Whitening Toothpaste: We’ve come a long way since the days of the Pepsodent smile. Unlike the do-nothing products of yore, today’s tooth-whitening toothpastes can actually make a slight improvement in the color of your teeth. The good news is that these pastes are safe and inexpensive, and if you know how to brush your teeth, you know how to use them properly. The bad news? They won’t make a tremendous difference in your tooth color. But if you want just a subtle pick-me-up - or if you’re looking for a way to keep your professionally whitened teeth white longer, these products may be right for you.

Dentist Supervised At-Home Whitening: In this process, most commonly recommended by dentists for typical yellowed smiles, your dentist will take an impression of your mouth and fabricate custom trays that fit your teeth perfectly. When the trays are ready a few days or weeks later, the dentist will check them for fit and provide you with pre-measured bleaching solution in applicators you’ll use to fill the trays. At home, you’ll pop the filled trays in your mouth, and - depending on the particular kit and instructions your dentist gives you - you’ll wear the trays either for a couple of hours a day for several days in a row, or to bed every night for a week. The results can be dramatic, and wi ll last from one to several years.

While dentist-supervised at-home bleaching is right for many people, it is not appropriate for everyone. Bleaching only works on your natural teeth, so if you have yellowed caps, crowns or tooth-color fillings, talk to your dentist about alternatives.

In-Office or "Chair-Side" Whitening: If you have just a few teeth that need to be bleached (for example, if you need the inside of a tooth bleached after a root canal), or if you don’t have the patience or discipline to bleach your teeth at home, your dentist may recommend in-office bleaching. In one or several visits, he will carefully apply protective gel to your gums and spread a highly concentrated bleaching agent to your teeth. He may shine a "cure light" on your smile, to accelerate the bleaching action (although the effectiveness of these lights has been debated). Depending on the extent of your yellowing, chair-side whitening may take one visit or several. The cost will vary with the amount of your dentist’s time your whitening requires.

In-office bleaching is also a good way to "jump start" an at-home bleaching process. After one session of high-concentration bleaching at your dentist’s office, you will see a significant improvement in the color of your teeth - and you’ll be well into the days- or weeks-long at-home process. Be sure to notify your dentist if you feel any burning sensation in your gums, as in-office bleaching solution can be very strong.

Laser Whitening: Seems lasers are being used for just about everything these days - and tooth whitening is no exception. When you visit your dentist for laser bleaching, he will protect your gums, tongue and the roof of your mouth, and coat your teeth with bleaching material and then concentrate the laser on your teeth for a short while to activate the bleaching process. The good news? The procedure is quick and, many devotees say, laser whitening yields dramatic results. Bu t many dentists are still concerned about the laser’s safety and the American Dental Association has not yet endorsed the process.

Bleaching Strips: Amid much media fanfare, Colgate recently introduced bleaching strips. The kits, available only through dentists, include several weeks’-worth of strips coated with bleaching solution; their adhesive edges allow you to stick them right on to your teeth. One size fits all, and the cost is much lower than custom-tray bleaching. The downside? These can be used only on your front six teeth, so they’re not right if you have a super-wide, molar-baring smile. Also, the manufacturer acknowledges, the whitening benefits are significantly less than those provided by custom-tray bleaching. Still, bleaching strips can be a terrific choice if you want to touch up the bleaching job you got a few years back, or if your teeth are not significantly stained.

Over-The-Counter Whitening Kits: You’ve seen ’em in the drugstore, or per haps on late-night infomercials: those do-it-yourself-dentistry kits that include a "boil and bite" form you use to make your own tray. While these kits are cheaper than having your dentist create custom trays, their imperfect fit can cause problems - including severe gum irritation - because the trays don’t fit precisely enough to keep the whitening solution on your teeth, where it belongs. The American Dental Association advises against using these products.

A Whitening Word to The Wise

Before undergoing any whitening procedure, ask your dentist to review the pros, cons and any possible side effects or risks. And if your gums bother you during bleaching, alert your dentist immediately.

Avoiding and Treating Blisters


Whether you hike, row, run, or shoot hoops, blisters are almost as much a part of the action as sweat is--but they don’t have to be. You can take measures to avoid them. And if you develop a blister, you have several options for lessening the pain and lowering your risk of infection.

Cause and Effect
Blisters form when the skin rubs against another surface, causing friction. First, a tear occurs within the upper layers of the skin (the epidermis), forming a space between the layers while leaving the surface intact. Then fluid seeps into the space.

Soles and palms are most commonly affected for several reasons. The hands and feet often rub against shoes, skates, rackets, or other equipment. Blister formation usually requires thick and rather immobile epidermis, as is found in these areas. In addition, blisters form more easily on moist skin than on dry or soaked skin, and warm conditions assist blister formation.

Keeping Bl isters at Bay
To prevent blisters, you need to minimize friction. For the feet, this begins with shoe selection. Shoes should fit comfortably, with about a thumb’s width between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Narrow shoes can cause blisters on the big toe and little toe. A shallow toe box can lead to blisters on the tops of the toes, while loose shoes can create blisters on the tips of the toes.

Buy shoes specific for a sport. When trying on shoes, be sure to wear the same socks, insoles, or orthotic inserts that you wear when playing or working out. Try on shoes in the afternoon or evening, because feet tend to swell during the day. Walk or jog around the store before buying them and then wear the shoes around the house for 1 to 2 hours to identify any areas of discomfort. It often helps to break in shoes by wearing them for 1 to 2 hours on the first day and gradually increasing use each day.

Socks can decrease friction between the feet and shoes. Layering of socks or special double-layered socks can minimize shearing forces. Socks made from polypropylene or other new synthetic can wick moisture away from the skin more effectively than wool or cotton can, further decreasing the likelihood of blisters. You can also carry extra pairs of socks to change into if your socks become too damp.

Another preventive measure is to use padded insoles to decrease friction in a specific area. Drying agents can also help. Foot powders and spray antiperspirants that contain aluminum chlorhydrate or aluminum chloride are inexpensive ways to decrease moisture. Nightly application of pre- scription-strength 20% aluminum chloride hexahydrate (Drysol) provides more effective drying.

A thin layer of petroleum jelly can also be applied to the feet to decrease friction. Conditioning the skin by gradually increasing activity tends to lead to formation of protective calluses rather than blisters. Finally, you can apply cl oth tape or duct tape over areas prone to blistering before you exercise or play a sport.

The same principles of reducing friction apply to hands. Wear gloves if practical, tape areas that are prone to blisters, apply powder or antiperspirants to help keep hands dry, and increase physical activity gradually to help keep blisters away.

Blister Care
If you get a blister, you’ll want to relieve your pain, keep the blister from enlarging, and stave off infection. Specific steps depend on the size of the blister and whether or not it is intact. You can treat the vast majority of blisters yourself and need to call a doctor only if blisters become infected, recur frequently, form in unusual locations, or are very severe. Signs of infection include pus draining from the blister, very red or warm skin around the blister, and red streaks leading away from the blister.

Small, intact blisters that don’t cause discomfort usually need no treatment. Nature ’s best protection against infection is a blister’s own skin, or roof. To protect the roof, this type of blister can be covered with a small adhesive bandage if practical.

Larger or painful blisters that are intact should be drained without removing the roof. First clean the blister with rubbing alcohol or antibiotic soap and water. Then heat a straight pin or safety pin over a flame until the pin glows red, and allow it to cool before puncturing a small hole at the edge of the blister.

Drain the fluid with gentle pressure, then apply an antibiotic ointment such as bacitracin with polymyxin B (double antibiotic ointment) or bacitracin alone. Avoid ointments that contain neomycin because they are more likely to cause an allergic reaction.

Finally, cover the blister with a bandage. Change the dressing daily--more frequently if it becomes wet, soiled, or loose.

Blisters with small tears are treated the same as those that you have punctured. Blist ers with larger tears should be "unroofed" carefully with fine scissors, and the base should be cleansed thoroughly with soap and water or an antibacterial cleanser. Apply antibiotic ointment and bandages as described above.

Additional padding may be necessary for exercise or sports. Ring-shaped pads made of felt will protect small blisters. Larger blisters may require dressings. Some of the many available dressing materials are DuoDerm (ConvaTec, Princeton, New Jersey), Spenco 2nd Skin (Spenco Medical Corporation, Waco, Texas), Vigilon (CR Bard Inc, Murray Hill, New Jersey), and Opsite (Smith & Nephew United, Largo, Florida). Additional, doughnutshaped padding made of felt or lamb’s wool may be applied over the area surrounding the blister. Then the entire dressing can be applied to help keep the dressing in place on sweaty skin.

Steps for Comfort
The best way to avoid discomfor and time off from physical activities is to avoid blisters with so me of the steps mentioned earlier. But if blisters do surface, prompt treatment will get you back to form quickly and help prevent infection.

Remember: This information is not intended as a substitute for medical treatment. If you have serious health concerns, consult a physician.

Dr Ramsey is an associate in the Department of Dermatology at Penn State Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pensylvania, a fellow of the American College of Dermatology, and an editorial board member of The Physicial and Sportsmedicine.

Natural Cosmetics


Today we are in the Cosmetic Age, where we treat our skin to jars and jars of creams and lotions. The range is endless - we use scrubs, toners, cleansers, exfoliators, moisturizers, whiteners and what not in our quest for good skin, without realizing that nature can give us all that and much more…And you don’t even need any magic herbs. Here are a few things from your kitchen shelf, which can do wonders for your skin and body! :

Curry leaf or ’Kari patta’ :
Take 10 g of curry leaves and boil in 100 ml coconut oil, till the leaves turn black. Massage hair with this oil, twice a week, to promote hair growth and retard the greying process.

Grind a few curry leaves and mix with either curd or buttermilk and regularly to prevent premature greying.

Grind a handful of curry leaves and mix with fresh coconut milk. Apply mixture all over the scalp, once a week, to nourish hair roots.

Cucumber:
Grind one cucumber, half a beet and one carrot in a mixture or juicer and drink it. This cures dehydration, acidity and promotes hair growth.

It is the best astringent for your face. Daily application prevents pimples and blackheads. Besides, being a cooling agent, it also helps lighten blemishes.

Carrot:
Carrot juice helps purify the blood, improves vision and keeps skin looking healthy. When taken regularly it also prevents constipation.

Grate onions and extract carrot juice. Mix in some honey and apply on dry skin.

In case of oily skin just add a few drops of lime to carrot juice. It helps reduces pimples.

Almonds:
Soak 8-9 almonds overnight. Next morning grind into a fine paste, mix with curd and a few drops of lime and apply all over face and neck. This will help brighten and soften skin, reduce blemishes, prevent blackheads and pimples and delay the appearance of wrinkles.

Mix a teaspoon of almond paste with grated cucumber an d a teaspoon of grated raw potato. Make a compress of this mixture and place over eyes for 10 minutes everyday.

Mix a teaspoon of almond oil with a teaspoon of castor oil and coconut milk and two teaspoons of neem juice. Massage this mixture gently on the scalp for 10 minutes. This will prevent hair fall and dandruff.

Mint:
Brew a big cup of peppermint or mint tea and cool it. Wash and condition hair as usual and then rinse with the tea. Again rinse off with water. This will make greasy hair look full and shiny.

Mint leaves when ground into a paste and applied on face reduce the appearance of pimples and also make the skin cool.

So you are weary and tired and none of those cosmetics seem to be doing anything to make you look and feel fresh? Fret not! Follow these golden rules and get beautiful...naturally.

Begin your day with a warm glass of honey-water. Just shake a teaspoon of honey in warm water and lap it up.

Have plenty of fruits for breakfast and salads for lunch and dinner. A cupful of curd daily is good for skin and hair.

Don’t use harsh soaps for your skin. To make your skin glow, make a paste of gram flour, cream and turmeric powder and rub all over the body before a bath. Your skin will be visibly glowing and soft.

Use lemon or cucumber juice as an astringent.

Papaya pulp can really rejuvenate your face.

To get rid of stubborn acne and blackheads, wash and clean coriander leaves well. Grind into a fine paste. Apply all over face twice a day.

Apply rose water cubes on your face to feel fresh instantly.

For dandruff, mix equal quantities of buttermilk and coconut oil and apply on the scalp. Rinse off after 30 minutes. Do this every 8 days to keep your hair clean and bouncy.

Drink at least six glasses of water everyday. It will enhance your complexion greatly.

You are what you eat, so avoid excessively oily and spicy food. Exercise daily for about 20 minutes. It will keep you fit.

Smile! It increases your face value and helps to relieve stress and tension.

Besides you never know… someone could be admiring you!

Creative Solutions Hair-styling can be achieved at high speed with minimum fuss, as long as you know how. Whether you want to create curls, wear your hair up or let it loose, the aim is to look sexy, modern and natural. Over-worked hair can seem artificial and dated. Any hairstyle should give the impression that you created it effortlessly in a few minutes. Blow Drying Prep Work Before blow-drying, use a wide toothed comb to remove all tangles. Apply a heat-styling aid to protect the hair and comb through in the direction and shape of the finished style. Start off rough-drying the hair all over and then blow-dry the under sections, making sure each one is completely dry before moving on to the next, and gradually work up the head. Hot hair can feel damp, so give your hair a cool blast of air before you decide whether it is really dry or not. Styling Advice Never attempt to style your hair when it is wet. Instead, rough-dry it with a hair-dryer using your hands until it is 50-60 per cent dry if curly and 80 per cent dry if straight. The more styling your hair needs, the damper it should be. To speed up this initial drying stage, tip your head upside-down and use your hair dryer to remove any excess moisture. Drying Techn-iques You should always move the dryer as you are working on the hair, even when you are concentrating on one particular section. Either work in small rotating motions or gently shake the dryer, as the heat will dry the hair out and can burn the scalp if you are drying the roots. Heat Control Do not use a dryer on the hottest setting when you are working on the roots, as this can irritate and burn the scalp, and make the hair greasy. It will also flatten the hair. Moderate (or slightly hotter for frizzy or thick hair) heat will help create volume, if your hair is fine, always work with the dryer on a cool to moderate setting to stop it being dried out. Keep Cool If you are using a brush while blow drying to curl or style your hair, you should allow each section of hair to cool before removing the brush, otherwise the movement you have created might drop. Alternatively, before removing the brush, blast the hair with the dryer on a cool setting to finish. Cowlicks A cowlick is a small area of hair which sticks up around the hairline and does not grow in the same direction as the rest of the hair. To tame it, you will need to anchor the hair with a round brush in the opposite direction to usual and blow-dry, holding the brush firmly in place. If you then blow-dry in the other direction, this should straighten the cowlick out. Air Flow Always aim the airflow of your hair-dryer down the hair shaft, to ensure that the cuticles lie flat and the hair looks shiny (if you point the air flow up the hair shaft, it will dishevel the cuticles and the hair will look dull and lifeless). To make this t ask easier and to give yourself greater control of where the heat is going, hold the nozzle instead of the handle of the dryer in your hand and work from the roots to the ends. Limited Time If you are pushed for time, start blow-drying the hair around your face first, as these are the bits in show, and then work on the top sections. If time does not permit, leave the under sections to dry naturally. Alternatively, comb wet hair into shape and then leave; when nearly dry, get to work with your hair-dryer and a styling brush to finish off. TWIST 1. You don’t need to be an expert to master this style. If you arm yourself with a comb and hairgrips, you can twist your hair up into an interesting shape in seconds. Comb through and scrape all the hair back to the nape of the neck, as if creating a ponytail. Instead of securing with a band, twist the hair until it is taut and then twist up the head. 2. Secure in place with randomly placed pins where needed, but make su re the pins are not visible. If you have a problem seeing what you are doing, look into a wall mirror and then inspect your work with a hand-held mirror, holding it behind you. 3. If you find that stray hairs dropped from your original section of hair, use the pointed tail end of the comb and gently scrape them back in, securing with extra pins. 4. This is a great style for you to create when your hair is still wet, because it will then dry into place. It will also give the hair interesting movement and body when you take the pins out and unravel your hair. PONYTAIL 1. Anyone can achieve this look in four simple steps. It is a great way to disguise greasy-looking hair: simply add a small amount of gel and then continue. Or you can work without using any styling preparations at all. Start by combing the hair to make sure that it is completely tangle-free. 2. Comb hair back towards the nape of the neck. Ensure that the hair is tightly pulled back by running the hands th rough. This will tame unruly hairs and reduce static that may have occurred while combing. 3. Do not secure with a rubber band as they can snag and tear the hair and are difficult to remove. Look for special bands that are either fabric-covered or designed not to rip hair. Once in place, roughly divide your ponytail into two parts and draw them out vertically to tighten the fastening. Comb through again for a sleek finish. For added interest, you could always curl the ends of your hair or add extra shine by smoothing serum on to the hair that is scraped back into the ponytail. CURLS If you have a natural wave to your hair it will be easy to curl, whereas straight hair will need more work. Curl hair by setting with rollers (using heated rollers on dry hair Velcro rollers on damp hair). The type of curl created will be determined by the size of rollers used: the smaller the rollers, the tighter the curl. Large rollers will create rough and tumble, loose curls. Spray wit h a sculpting or setting lotion before using rollers. The angle between your head and the position of your hair before you roll it will determine the amount of root lift. So, if hair is wound round the roller at a 90- degree angle it will create maximum root lift, while 45- degrees will give minimum root lift. Always wind hair around the roller from the ends up. Use Velcro rollers so you do not need to secure with pins and so don’t mark the hair. Do not remove rollers until hair is completely dry, or the movement will simply drop out. To dress curls, do not comb them through, using your fingers to separate them instead. SLICK Slicking it back is one of the simplest and quickest ways to style the hair. Create either a high-shine slick finish or a more textured variation. You can stick wet or dry hair back. For a more natural-looking finish, use a minimal amount of hair mousse or gel and gently run a wide-toothed comb through dry or damp hair. For a sleeker finish, smoo th wax or pomade onto the hair and comb into place. If you do not have gel, mousse or wax to hand, use an oil-based moisturizer to slick hair back. It will not brush out so you will need to wash it out. Carefully work the comb through the hair to distribute the product evenly and then shape into the desired style. A wide-toothed comb will create an interesting finish. After combing, run the hands through to tame any stray hairs and ensure a slick finish. To keep in place apply a fine mist of hair spray. If you have long hair you can slick it back and then to either secure it in a ponytail or pin it up.

Miracle Drug To Stay Fit If a miracle drug could help you lose weight, build muscles, avoid disease, stave off bone loss, and improve your mental health, would you take it? Before you answer, know that you need to take the drug three to five times a week, and each dose takes 30 to 45 minutes to administer. Also, the drug causes most people to sweat and breathe heavily, but only during its administration. Still interested? With benefits like that, who could refuse? The "drug," of course, is exercise. So why don’t more women "take" it? Maybe exercise needs an ad agency. An ad for exercise would tell you that even moderate activities like walking will improve health in many ways. Coupled with proper nutrition, physical activity is the cornerstone to healthy living. Look more closely at all that exercise has to offer: Strength and fitness. Moderate exercise helps build strength, endurance, and flexibility o f muscles, which will contribute to the health of muscles and bones. It also promotes cardiovascular (heart-related) fitness and endurance. Exercise may help in avoiding low-back pain, preventing falls due to inflexibility, and improving daily stamina. Vigorous activity improves fitness even more. Weight control. Obesity is a risk factor for heart disease and a culprit in other diseases as well. Exercise coupled with a healthy diet is the key to effective weight loss (see "Tips for Shedding Pounds"). Mental health. Physical activity can improve self-esteem and impart a general sense of well-being. It can also augment medications to improve depression and anxiety. Muscle and bone health. Osteoporosis. Exercise can protect against osteoporosis (gradual bone loss that can lead to fractures). Women’s bone density is typically greatest in their mid-20s to mid-30s, but then declines slowly until menopause, a time of rapid bone loss. Physical activity performed during younger years will help you have good bone mass at menopause. Even physical activity begun during menopause will help slow the loss of bone. Arthritis. Exercise strengthens muscles and increases joint flexibility and motion. Disease prevention. Heart attacks and strokes. The American Heart Association has identified physical inactivity as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases--primarily heart attacks and strokes--which are the leading causes of death in the United States. All women are susceptible to the same predisposing factors for cardiovascular disease, but black women have the highest disease and death rates (see "Black Women at Risk"). Before menopause, women have less cardiovascular disease than men do, but after menopause women’s risk is close to men’s. Certain risk factors for cardiovascular disease can be reduced with exercise. These include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and inactivity. Regular exercise can lower your ris k of dying from cardiovascular diseases by 40% (1). Quitting smoking is also important. High blood pressure. Inactive people are more likely to develop high blood pressure than those who are active. In addition, aerobic exercise can reduce blood pressure in people who have high blood pressure. High fat and cholesterol. Exercise lowers triglycerides (fatty substances that can contribute to clogged blood vessels) and elevates "good" cholesterol (which may help clear blood vessels). People who exercise, eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet, and lose weight will benefit the most. Diabetes. Because physical activity helps regulate blood sugar, it can decrease the need for drugs. In type II ("adult onset") diabetes, 80% of patients are obese. Regular activity, with the assistance of a nutritionist, a trained exercise physiologist, or both, may help with weight loss. Cancer. Some studies show that ovarian, cervical, uterine, vaginal, and colon cancers are lower in acti ve than in inactive people. Activity in All Things It’s wise to live an active life in general. An extra 30 minutes of exercise such as taking the stairs or walking instead of driving for short errands has benefits. For a moderate exercise program, walking is the safest and least expensive activity. So get started! Lifestyle choices such as proper diet, exercise, a positive attitude, and avoiding drugs are some of the most important steps a person can take to ensure a long, healthy, and prosperous life.

Lip Stips


Lips are an integral part of makeup. Moist, smooth lips hold colour best. Look beautiful by following these basic tips for healthy and great looking lips.

Morning
Give dry, flaky lips the brush-off; add "brushing your lips" to your morning ritual using a soft toothbrush or terry washcloth. Now add some lip balm to smooth the way for lipstick-worthy lips!

Bedtime
Apply moisturising cream before going to bed. Always give your lips a touch of clear, rich moisture at bedtime. Do it each night, and you’ll wake up to softer lips in no time at all!

All day
Avoid over-exposure to the sun, which can dry your lips the way it dries the rest of you. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, we suggest a ’triple’ lipstick, with moisturizers and sunscreen built right in.

How to find more suitable colour
Most important things for right colour choosing are skin colour, hair colour and shape of your lips.

For light skin and blonde hair: all shades of orange, pink, purple.
For dark skin and dark hair: all shades of red, violet.
For light skin and dark hair: all shades of brown and beige.
For red hair women: coral-red, brown and bronze colours.

Try These Out
Shimmery Lips
Beauty’s latest crush is with shimmery lip colors in golden shades and iced pastels. Keep your lips looking sweet with moisturizing lipsticks or glosses in pearly nude, candy pink, lilac, silver and gold.

Party Lips
Party season demands high profile lips! Treat him to flavor-filled kisses with fruit-flavored lip-glosses. For that techno, ultra-gloss look - apply a dash of metallic lip-gloss over lipstick in the center of your lips.

Puckering Lips
Pucker-proof lips are a sure thing when you use a lip pencil to fill in your entire lip area (not just the edges) and then top with gloss in a slightly lighter color.

Lip Color
Red and wine colors roc k on lips. Choose a sheer shade to be safe or if you’re daring, try solid color. Reds with yellow or orange-bases suit darker skin tones whilst reds with blue-bases suit fairer skins.

Glossy lips
Gloss is more fashionable than lipstick and you can get away with it at school. So think baby lips - hints of pink and a natural shine. We love Poppy Shine, Blistex Lip Conditioner and Clinique Glosswear.

Kissable Lips
Chapped lips don’t look pretty and aren’t nice to kiss, so make sure yours are always smooth and soft by applying lip balm every day. The best ones to soothe dry lips are Blistex, Bonne Bell, Body Shop and Carmex.

Luscious Lips
For smooth, lush lips, smear a little lip balm underneath your lipstick or a dab of thick gloss in the center of your lips. We love pinks and berries for March.

Lipcolour Shades That Best For Your Skin Tone
Are you a fair skinned and want to wear a red lipstick? Or maybe, you ’re a medium olive skin tone, looking for a pink lipstick that will look right for you. Here’s a guide for most skin tones to help you chose the correct shade of lipstick that is most suitable for you.

Fair skin
Deep plum reds: Soft berry and wine reds with a blue undertone. Avoid reds with an orange undertone. These can make you look washed out and ashy. Sheer medium brown with pink undertones or beige lipsticks with a pink undertone flatter fair skins.

Browns:
Mocha browns, and darker brown/pink lipsticks are also flattering for an evening lip look. Extra pale browns with yellow undertones, make fair skin look washed out.
Pinks: Pinks look fantastic on fair skin. sheer, light shiny pink lipsticks with blue undertones work well. Pink with a slight gold shimmer also enhance this skin tone very nicely. Dusty roses with or without shimmer are good ones. Stay away from hot pink lipstick as it overpowers fair skins.

Medium skin
Deep reds are most flattering. Blue-reds brighten medium skin with a yellow undertone. Brown, warm reds will soften and look warm on medium skin.
Browns: Browns that are very pale can make medium skins look ashy and washed out. Stick to rich caramel shades, medium brown with yellow or pink undertones, and creamy coffee colour browns. Sheer browns in these varying shades can also be very flattering.
Pinks: Rich and deep pinks which tend to fall on warm look best on medium skin. Also pinks with brown undertones enhance and flatter medium skins very well. Sheers, creams, and mattes can all be tried and tested with much success using these shades of pink.

Olive/Yellowish skin
Rich, deep brown reds and deep, dark berry shades. Stay away from orange/reds and pink/reds.
Browns: Browns with a red or auburn/mahogany undertone work well with this skin tone. Also, rich browns that resemble coffee, toffee, and chocolate colors work well.
Pinks: Deep berries, rich rose, and soft to medium plums are very flattering to this skin tone which have very strong yellow undertones. Avoid pinks that are to cool and too light as these pinks can make complexion look draining.

Brown/Black skin
Try red with a blue undertone, which are deep and rich. Also, mahogany, and deep plums, and wine reds are worth trying. Avoid orange and pink reds here.
Browns: Almost any shade of brown suits black skin. Sheer and shimmery light browns to a rich, dark, coffee brown.
Pinks: Medium and soft sheer pinks are very flattering. A hint of pink in glosses and sheers with a touch of beige can really enhance this skin tone. Berries, deep roses, and plums also flatter this skin tone.

Acne (pimples)


Acne is a common problem faced by almost all teen-agers and youth. What is acne and why do we get them. Acne is actually caused because of hormone imbalance. Your skin breaks out because of a hormone called testosterone. Both men and women have testosterone in their systems. In fact, did you know that in order to make testosterone, boys bodies have to make female hormones first? If you have acne, you haven’t got abnormal levels of testosterone. You’ve got skin that reacts abnormally to this hormone. You start producing testosterone around the time you start sprouting body hair. Testosterone tells glands in your skin, called sebaceous glands, to produce oily stuff called sebum. To add to the problem the inside of the tubes that hold each hair become gummy and get partially blocked - giving you blackheads. Put together if sebum blocks the tubes --- you have big acne.
So go to your pharmacist or doctor to get your acne treated. Here are a few tips that will help you know how to treat acne at home.

1. If you have red angry looking acne, don’t touch it. If you squeeze now, all you’ll do is force the contents deeper into the skin that will make matters worst. And all you’ll end up with is redder, angrier acne than you had before. Don’t do it.
2. If you have a yellow custard top? Go for it. These beauties CAN be squeezed but there’s an art to it. Here’s how. Wash your hands thoroughly to avoid trouble and infection. Put a tissue over your finger. Why? Because you want the contents of the spot on the tissue, not splattered all over the mirror. Using the side of your thumb and the end of your finger, very gently start to squeeze. Don’t whatever you do, use your nails as this will damage your skin. Stop when you’re applying a lot of pressure and nothing is happening and you see clear fluid, rather than yellow grotty stuff and the spot begins to bleed. When you’ve finished dab it with antiseptic. Once the custard bit is out, the spot will heal more quickly than an unsqueezed yellow top would, providing that you now leave it well alone. Now wash your hands again.
3. Whiteheads and blackheads. If acne is left untreated they may cause this problem. Here the rule is if they’re black, squeeze but if they’re small, white raised lumps leave them alone. All that stuff about clean hands, tissues and stopping if nothing is happening or you see blood, apply here too.

Tips for acne treatment
1. DON’T TRY TO WASH IT AWAY
Acne isn’t caused by dirt. In fact people with oily skin have cleaner skin than average because they wash it more often. But it’s a fact that washing too much can make acne worse because it makes the skin dry and sore. So, wash no more than twice a day, using mild soap and water. If you have patches of dry skin, don’t worry about putting moisturizer on. It won’t make your acne worse. If you’re still concerned, use an oil free moisturizer.

2. DON’T NUKE ’EM
There are lots of over the counter creams, gels, lotions and potions. Most contain a powerful bleaching agent called benzoyl peroxide. You’ll find the strength written on the label. You might be tempted to go straight for the highest sort, working on the ’let’s nuke ’em principle. The likely result is that you’ll irritate your skin like mad. It may also go all dry and scaly on you. But if you still are willing to bleach then use the mild one.

3. MAKE A DATE - THE TWO MONTH RULE
If you have been using over the counter remedies for two months and there is no real improvement in your spots, this is the moment to go and make an appointment with your doc.

4. YOUR DOCTOR - THE TWO MONTH RULE
The thing you are most likely to be given by the doctor is a prescription for antibiotics. These will either be topical (which means something you put on your skin) or tablets you have to take every day. Whatever treatment your doctor or p harmacist recommends, follow the instructions carefully and keep using for at least two months. There should be a noticeable improvement by this time. If not, go back to discuss other possible treatments Antibiotics are perfectly safe to take. You should take them for at least two months and then go back to your doc. If they seem to be working, he will probably tell you to keep taking them and give you some more. If they aren’t doing their stuff, don’t despair - he has loads of other spot busters in his black bag.

5. YOU ARE NOT AN ALIEN - BUT JUST BE PATIENT
Hundreds of thousands of teenagers seek help for acne. You are not alone. You are not an alien. And if people really care about you, they don’t even notice your acne, however bad you think they are. But you will need to be patient. Most treatments take time to work. At least two months. And some treatments, like antibiotics will work well but may have to be taken for months, or even years.

6. THE MONTHLY CURSE... OR EXAMS
Acne does tend to get worse just before a period. It’s because there is a surge in hormone levels at this time. But boys don’t get away lightly either. Being hot and sweaty (particularly after sports like football) makes acne worse. And for everyone, stress - particularly at exam times - is a cue for a mega breakout. This is normal - and of course, even more reason for feeling stressed. Go chill. They’ll get better - promise.

7. WATCH WHAT YOU PUT ON YOUR SKIN AND HAIR
Some beauty products are big no-nos. These include pomades and defrizzing agents for hair that tend to cause an outcrop of blackheads along the hairline and some of the heavier cosmetics. And be wary of suntan oils. Not all will make you break out, but some may. Try a friend’s first before you buy. By the way, the sun might dry up acne and a tan might hide them, but your skin is still vulnerable in the sun and needs protection.

8. CARRY ON KISSING
You can’t catch acne during kissing - go for it!

9. CARRY ON EATING CHOCOLATE
It’s a myth that eating chocolate and fried foods causes acne. However, eating a good diet improves your general well-being and this is reflected in your skin.

Common Questions asked about acne problem

Does wearing make up cause acne?
It is not necessary that wearing make up causes acne. Acne is caused because of hormonal imbalance mostly during puberty. But you have to take special care while you apply make up and thereafter if you have acne. Make sure you wash any make up tools, including sponges and brushes as often as possible as these become a breeding ground for bugs which can cause your spots to pop up. Stop wearing make up if you have too many spots and you can resume after you have treated them. Don’t forget to clean the make up after you come home and and make sure you cleanse your face properly each night.

Do skin ton er and moisturizer cure acne?
One thing that you need to know is acne is not caused by dirt, so no amount of cleaning and toning is going to get rid of them. So for treating acne you must consult your doctor and eat lots of healthy food and drink lots of water. That is the natural way to keep you face spot free.

Is it ok to do facial?
It can be a real treat to have the facial done, as they can be very relaxing and make you feel properly pampered. However, you should be aware that they should not be used to help ’treat’ spots, as this can be quite dangerous if the beauty therapist is not trained. Sometimes a beauty therapist will also squeeze out any spots and blackheads that if it’s not done properly, may cause a bigger problem than before.

What is the best way to cover up spots?
Foundation is okay to use and may give you more confidence if you’ve got a hot date, but remember to look for oil-free one. Whatever you use to put on your skin, wash your hands or sponge before applying foundation.

Step By Step To Beautiful Nails


Remove all traces of nail polish with a cotton wool pad soaked in remover. Pay special attention to the corners, where streaks of nail color may remain.

Soak hands in a bowl of warm, soapy water with a pinch of salt.

Massage cream into the cuticle, all around the nail and down to the first joint of the finger. Push back the cuticle with a cuticle stick

Clean your nails with a soft brush.

Give your hands a light scrubbing with a pumice stone, to gently cleanse the skin.

Cut your nails to the desired length.

File your nails to prevent splitting and flaking. Use the coarse side of the nail file to reduce the size of the nail, and the fine side to shape and seal edges.

Snip cuticles with a cuticle cutter. You can also apply a liquid cuticle remover (an alkaline based liquid with a moisturizing agent) to the nails to further soften dead skin cells which collect around the nails groove.

Remove dirt lodged unde rneath nails.

Change the water in the bowl and add a few drops of antiseptic solution. Apply hand cream and give yourself a thorough massage to remove dry or loose skin cells. This improves the circulation and allows hands to become supple and soft to the touch. At Villa Appearances, a vibratory massager is used to induce softness.

Steam hands with a soft towel and relax. You are done with a the manicure. But if you would like to take things a step further, the Deluxe Rose Manicure at Villa Appearances has a few extra steps, for those who like to be spoiled.

Apply a thick layer of cream to your hands.

The thermoherb pack reduces wrinkles and fine lines, and tightens skin.

This pack is removed after ten minutes and a rose mask pack is applied with a manicure brush, to refresh and rejuvenate hands.

Nails are polished with a buffer. This improves blood circulation and gives nails a shine.

Two coats of nail polish and a topcoat la ter. Perfect.

Nail Necessities
Mix two tablespoons of powdered gelatin in a glass of milk or fruit juice and drink daily in the morning. This is a sure cure for brittle and splitting nails.

To soften hands soak them in a mixture of honey and orange juice for about ten minutes. Pat dry and apply hand cream.

Lemon juice is a whitening agent and can also be used for removing stains from fingers and nails. Apply and leave for 15-20 minutes. Remove with warm water, pat dry and follow with a rich moisturising cream (lemon juice can be drying, so you must compensate).

Take three tablets of calcium lactate daily with a warm glass of milk for strong bones, nails and teeth.

To repair the damage done by soaps and hard detergents rub equal amounts of rose water and glycerin to the hands.

Exercise your hands daily - like any other part of your body, they need a workout, tool. Bend your fingers up and down 15-20 times daily. Pep up the c irculation by taking the fingers of one hand in the other and gently pulling each finger.


Make Up Guidelines For Complexion Perfection Remember that carefully chosen products combined with professional techniques give you a flawless finish fast. The key to successful make-up is getting the base right. This means choosing the right products for your skin type, learning color and application techniques and having knowledge of quick complexion enhances for long-lasting polished perfection. Foundation This has several beauty benefits: it evens out skin tones, smoothens the skin’s texture, provides a base or other make-up, and keeps color true. Choose a color that is close to your own skin tone-going to a few shades lighter or darker will look unnatural and mask-like. Not all skins need foundation. Color Check Apply a little on your jaw-line (don’t use the back of your hand, as the skin here is darker and coarser than that on your face). With a good match, the foundation will almost disappear. It is important to check this in daylight. If you can’t find an exact match, buy a couple of foundations-one slightly darker, one slightly lighter than your skin tone and blend them to your own ideal shade. Modern Mixes Foundation and powder in one handy ready-mixed compact are the shortcut to a natural-looking complexion. They are smoothed on with a sponge and suit most skin types, except very dry skins. Tailoring Foundation To Your Skin Bear in mind your skin type and needs, when buying your foundation. It shouldn’t look obvious or feel uncomfortable. If it does, it is likely that you have chosen a product incompatible with your skin. Remember the following points when choosing foundation: •If you have dry skin, look for a creamy, moisturizing formula. • For oily or combination skin, an oil-free or water-based make-up is best, as it minimizes shine (the high powder content in water-based foundations gives a matte finish). • Tinted moisturizer does exactly what it says leaves a tint or the skin and moisturizes. It is terrific for summer on tanned skin or for skin that is naturally clear and even toned, as it gives virtually no coverage; it doesn’t work on open-pored or oily skin. • Some cosmetic companies offer a personalized foundation and powder service, where the products are made on the spot to match your skin tone and type exactly. Many foundations now also incorporate sunscreens to protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet light, which is an added benefit

Question Answers Concerning Your Skin Problems


Most of us, when afflicted with any kind of skin problems prefer to wait for time to do the trick instead of your doing anything to solve them. It is due to our general ignorance. It is assumed that now that may be the case with your having gone through this look up to this stage. Given below in the question answer form, the solutions to some of your most common skin problems.

There are some red veins appearing around my nose which look appalling. What treatments are available?
Thread veins are dilated capillaries that may have ruptured. Of course, they can occur at any age and affect any skin type, not just dry and sensitive skins. They occur most frequently on the cheeks, the bridge and under the eyes and on legs.

They are caused by sun damage, alcohol, drinking very hod drinks such as tea and coffee, eating spicy foods, high blood pressure, exposure to harsh weather conditions and steroid products applied to the skin.

You can disguise the veins using a concealer stick or you can go to a beauty salon where they will remove them by using either electrolysis sebrotherapy.

With electrolysis a fine needle which transmits, short wave electrical current, is used to cauterize the blood vessel, blocking off the flow of blood. Two or three sessions may be needed, depending on how many veins need to be removed. The skin smells for a couple of days and scabs may form at the point where the needle was inserted.

Sebrotherapy is used to treat more sever broken veins, particularly by veins (but not vericose veins). A chemical is injected into the vein that makes it collapse and close up, the blood drying out and fading away.

Can I avoid getting spots and what is the quickest way to heal them?
The precise cause of acne is not known, although hormones play a key role in the appearance of the spots, due to which acne often starts in teenage, and can last into the thirties or even longer, it can also flare up in women of thirty or even forty plus who have never previously suffered, because a change in the hormonal activity has occurred.

There are, however, circumstances that can aggravate inflammation of the skin in some people.

• A very humid atmosphere
• Certain medicines
• Insufficient sleep
• Pre-menstrual hormonal fluctuation
• Stress and emotional upsets
• The contraceptive pill
• The link with diet has not been proven, although and unbalanced diet and zinc deficiency may contribute to it.
• Certain ingredients, in cosmetics, may be a factor if you have developed black heads or acne, follow these precautions:
• Don’t use harsh cleansing products or abrasive scrubs, as this may increase the skin’s oil production and also dry the surface of the skin.
• Never pick at or squeeze spots - this pushes inflammations deeper into the skin and causes permanent damage.
• Salon facials and professional removal of blackheads are beneficial.
• Using clay masks at home absorbs excess oils.
• Contact your doctor if the problem is sever. One form of acne can pit and scar near the skin, which can be avoided with specialist treatment. But, if you just have the o dd spot, the best advice is to leave it well alone and don’t worry!

How can I avoid stretch-marks and are there any ways to remove them at all?
Stretch-marks are caused by rapid fluctuations in weight through dieting or as a result of weight gain during pregnancy, for example.

There is almost nothing you can do to avoid them in pregnancy, as much depends on your hormones, although controlling your weight gain will help. Keeping your skin firm and elastic with body lotions can also be helpful. In addition, vitamins and minerals, in your - diet, have been shown to maintain strong connective tissues.

Unfortunately, once the stretch-marks have formed, no treatment or cosmetic device will remove the scars. However, they will fade, even if they do not disappear completely, with time.

How can I prevent occurrence of cold sores?
Cold sores are the result of a virus known as herpes simple, virus 1. Once your have the virus it stays with your for lifetime, although some people never have more than one outbreak. It can be activated by strong sunlight, colds, and menstruation. Wear a high protection sun screen to help prevent cold sores. Apply medication as soon as you feel the telltale tingling sensation. Cold sores are extremely contagious and you must keep them clean and dry. Don’t touch them or pass them to others thorough contact, such as kissing.

How can I conceal dark patches around my eyes?
Dark circles are a very common complaint and can worsen with times as the surface skin thins. Try to get adequate sleep and, on waking, tap the skin lightly with finger tips, using refreshing gel-which will improve circulation. Use a fine film of a circular, blending carefully.

Could the flaking, red patches that have developed on my skin be psoriasis?
It sounds very likely. Psoriasis, unlike eczema, doesn’t itch. It affects most commonly scalp, elbows, shoulders, lower back and knees. The rough red patches flare up at random and may be triggered by shock, fatigue, depression and certain drugs, and get aggravated be stress. The complaint sometimes occurs two or three weeks, after a throat infection. Studies are being carried out to determine the precise cause of psoriasis, which occurs when the precise cause of psoriasis, which occurs when skin cells turn over too quickly the condition is often hereditary, your doctor can prescribe tar products or treatment by a form of ultra violate, depending on the extent of the problem. Some doctors may suggest conticosteriod products. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture, using herb and plant oils and homeopathy can, sometimes prove useful, as also bathing in mineral salts.

Eczema can also be helped by acupuncture and homeopathy. There are several forms of eczema, some of which are triggered by allergic reaction to particular chemicals. Your doctors can arrange tests to identify the cause.

Is eczema the same condition as dermatitis and what a re the best treatments?
Eczema and dermatitis are now used as interchangeable description, and there are many types with different causes. It is important to consult your doctor or as specialist for a precise diagnosis. The inflammations of skin causes dryness, flaking and, sometimes, blisters.

In its mildest form eczema is simply a tendency to dry skin but, in severe cases, it can affect the whole body, causing itching, inflammations and discomfort.

Eczema causes the skin to become itch and hot and areas of hardened skin may develop from continual scratching. Infection may also result.

The most common type of eczema is atopic eczema, which usually first appears in infancy and is strongly linked with asthma and hay fever.

You should use pure cotton bedding and clothing, as wool and synthetic fibbers can aggravate the condition. Washing powders that contain harmful substances can cause skin problems. Allergies to nickel, rubber, dyes, m edications, plants and the house dust, mite can trigger eczema and stress can also aggravate it.

Treatments include the application of especial emulsifying oils to your bath water and emollient creams after bathing, when the skin is still damp. Topical steroids may be prescribed by your doctor. Anti-histamine can also be prescribed to relieve itching and antibiotics to treat infections.

Treatment with Chinese herbs has proved successful for patients whose eczema did not respond to tropical steroids. It is advisable to seek the advice of your doctor before embarking on this treatment.

How does acupuncture treatment help in curing the skin-related disorders?
Before answering this question let us tell you basics of this style of treatment. The Chinese view of the cosmos encompasses the idea that all things have a YIN aspect and a YANG aspect, and that without these two opposite (but complementary in parts), nothing could exist. So, without col d there would be no heat, without day any light.

Chinese philosophy also believes that all living matter is permeated by a life force or energy called CHI. It is claimed that in the human body this energy flows along channels called meridians. If the body is in a state of ill-health, this is because the YIN-YANG balance of the CHI energy is upset, so that CHI is unable to flow freely. So, the basis of acupuncture theory is that the root cause of all diseases is a problem in the energy equilibrium of the body. The treatment is concentrated on restoring its this lost balance. One of the ways of entering into the body’s energy network is via the acupuncture points, of which there are about 800 in the entire body.

Acupuncturists believe that the skin disorders are caused mainly by this energy equilibrium getting disturbed through the external factors like heat, damp and wind.

Acupuncture is very effective in curing skin disorders provided the cause is dia gnosed correctly and the right point of the body is punctured. At themes this style of treatment deems, like homeopathy, that the internal body disorders of lungs, intestine, liver etc. manifest their effect also on the skin. But this treatment should be resorted to under the expert’s supervision only.

What is the basis of Anthrosophical treatment. How does it view skin disorders?
If the metabolic organizations (as against the anabolic organization) predominates, as it does in the inflammatory stage of skin disorders like eczema, the formative never sense system needs reinforcing. Skin infection occurs when the host boundaries are weakened. The vitality (etheric forces) of the body as a whole needs addressing and strengthening. Local treatment, for instance calendula lotion or ointment, can be used. Anthroposophical medicine views the skin as a vital part of the immune system, effective against bacteria and viruses, only breached when the skin is damaged o r weakened. The skin has many qualities associated with the nerve-sense system as it is sensitive to temperature and pain. Skin disorders occur when the breaking down quality (catabolic) of the nerve-sense system is out of balance with life force (anabolic) quality of the metabolic system.

Question Answers Concerning Your Skin Problems


Most of us, when afflicted with any kind of skin problems prefer to wait for time to do the trick instead of your doing anything to solve them. It is due to our general ignorance. It is assumed that now that may be the case with your having gone through this look up to this stage. Given below in the question answer form, the solutions to some of your most common skin problems.

There are some red veins appearing around my nose which look appalling. What treatments are available?
Thread veins are dilated capillaries that may have ruptured. Of course, they can occur at any age and affect any skin type, not just dry and sensitive skins. They occur most frequently on the cheeks, the bridge and under the eyes and on legs.

They are caused by sun damage, alcohol, drinking very hod drinks such as tea and coffee, eating spicy foods, high blood pressure, exposure to harsh weather conditions and steroid products applied to the skin.

You can disguise the veins using a concealer stick or you can go to a beauty salon where they will remove them by using either electrolysis sebrotherapy.

With electrolysis a fine needle which transmits, short wave electrical current, is used to cauterize the blood vessel, blocking off the flow of blood. Two or three sessions may be needed, depending on how many veins need to be removed. The skin smells for a couple of days and scabs may form at the point where the needle was inserted.

Sebrotherapy is used to treat more sever broken veins, particularly by veins (but not vericose veins). A chemical is injected into the vein that makes it collapse and close up, the blood drying out and fading away.

Can I avoid getting spots and what is the quickest way to heal them?
The precise cause of acne is not known, although hormones play a key role in the appearance of the spots, due to which acne often starts in teenage, and can last into the thirties or even longer, it can also flare up in women of thirty or even forty plus who have never previously suffered, because a change in the hormonal activity has occurred.

There are, however, circumstances that can aggravate inflammation of the skin in some people.

• A very humid atmosphere
• Certain medicines
• Insufficient sleep
• Pre-menstrual hormonal fluctuation
• Stress and emotional upsets
• The contraceptive pill
• The link with diet has not been proven, although and unbalanced diet and zinc deficiency may contribute to it.
• Certain ingredients, in cosmetics, may be a factor if you have developed black heads or acne, follow these precautions:
• Don’t use harsh cleansing products or abrasive scrubs, as this may increase the skin’s oil production and also dry the surface of the skin.
• Never pick at or squeeze spots - this pushes inflammations deeper into the skin and causes permanent damage.
• Salon facials and professional removal of blackheads are beneficial.
• Using clay masks at home absorbs excess oils.
• Contact your doctor if the problem is sever. One form of acne can pit and scar near the skin, which can be avoided with specialist treatment. But, if you just have the o dd spot, the best advice is to leave it well alone and don’t worry!

How can I avoid stretch-marks and are there any ways to remove them at all?
Stretch-marks are caused by rapid fluctuations in weight through dieting or as a result of weight gain during pregnancy, for example.

There is almost nothing you can do to avoid them in pregnancy, as much depends on your hormones, although controlling your weight gain will help. Keeping your skin firm and elastic with body lotions can also be helpful. In addition, vitamins and minerals, in your - diet, have been shown to maintain strong connective tissues.

Unfortunately, once the stretch-marks have formed, no treatment or cosmetic device will remove the scars. However, they will fade, even if they do not disappear completely, with time.

How can I prevent occurrence of cold sores?
Cold sores are the result of a virus known as herpes simple, virus 1. Once your have the virus it stays with your for lifetime, although some people never have more than one outbreak. It can be activated by strong sunlight, colds, and menstruation. Wear a high protection sun screen to help prevent cold sores. Apply medication as soon as you feel the telltale tingling sensation. Cold sores are extremely contagious and you must keep them clean and dry. Don’t touch them or pass them to others thorough contact, such as kissing.

How can I conceal dark patches around my eyes?
Dark circles are a very common complaint and can worsen with times as the surface skin thins. Try to get adequate sleep and, on waking, tap the skin lightly with finger tips, using refreshing gel-which will improve circulation. Use a fine film of a circular, blending carefully.

Could the flaking, red patches that have developed on my skin be psoriasis?
It sounds very likely. Psoriasis, unlike eczema, doesn’t itch. It affects most commonly scalp, elbows, shoulders, lower back and knees. The rough red patches flare up at random and may be triggered by shock, fatigue, depression and certain drugs, and get aggravated be stress. The complaint sometimes occurs two or three weeks, after a throat infection. Studies are being carried out to determine the precise cause of psoriasis, which occurs when the precise cause of psoriasis, which occurs when skin cells turn over too quickly the condition is often hereditary, your doctor can prescribe tar products or treatment by a form of ultra violate, depending on the extent of the problem. Some doctors may suggest conticosteriod products. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture, using herb and plant oils and homeopathy can, sometimes prove useful, as also bathing in mineral salts.

Eczema can also be helped by acupuncture and homeopathy. There are several forms of eczema, some of which are triggered by allergic reaction to particular chemicals. Your doctors can arrange tests to identify the cause.

Is eczema the same condition as dermatitis and what a re the best treatments?
Eczema and dermatitis are now used as interchangeable description, and there are many types with different causes. It is important to consult your doctor or as specialist for a precise diagnosis. The inflammations of skin causes dryness, flaking and, sometimes, blisters.

In its mildest form eczema is simply a tendency to dry skin but, in severe cases, it can affect the whole body, causing itching, inflammations and discomfort.

Eczema causes the skin to become itch and hot and areas of hardened skin may develop from continual scratching. Infection may also result.

The most common type of eczema is atopic eczema, which usually first appears in infancy and is strongly linked with asthma and hay fever.

You should use pure cotton bedding and clothing, as wool and synthetic fibbers can aggravate the condition. Washing powders that contain harmful substances can cause skin problems. Allergies to nickel, rubber, dyes, m edications, plants and the house dust, mite can trigger eczema and stress can also aggravate it.

Treatments include the application of especial emulsifying oils to your bath water and emollient creams after bathing, when the skin is still damp. Topical steroids may be prescribed by your doctor. Anti-histamine can also be prescribed to relieve itching and antibiotics to treat infections.

Treatment with Chinese herbs has proved successful for patients whose eczema did not respond to tropical steroids. It is advisable to seek the advice of your doctor before embarking on this treatment.

How does acupuncture treatment help in curing the skin-related disorders?
Before answering this question let us tell you basics of this style of treatment. The Chinese view of the cosmos encompasses the idea that all things have a YIN aspect and a YANG aspect, and that without these two opposite (but complementary in parts), nothing could exist. So, without col d there would be no heat, without day any light.

Chinese philosophy also believes that all living matter is permeated by a life force or energy called CHI. It is claimed that in the human body this energy flows along channels called meridians. If the body is in a state of ill-health, this is because the YIN-YANG balance of the CHI energy is upset, so that CHI is unable to flow freely. So, the basis of acupuncture theory is that the root cause of all diseases is a problem in the energy equilibrium of the body. The treatment is concentrated on restoring its this lost balance. One of the ways of entering into the body’s energy network is via the acupuncture points, of which there are about 800 in the entire body.

Acupuncturists believe that the skin disorders are caused mainly by this energy equilibrium getting disturbed through the external factors like heat, damp and wind.

Acupuncture is very effective in curing skin disorders provided the cause is dia gnosed correctly and the right point of the body is punctured. At themes this style of treatment deems, like homeopathy, that the internal body disorders of lungs, intestine, liver etc. manifest their effect also on the skin. But this treatment should be resorted to under the expert’s supervision only.

What is the basis of Anthrosophical treatment. How does it view skin disorders?
If the metabolic organizations (as against the anabolic organization) predominates, as it does in the inflammatory stage of skin disorders like eczema, the formative never sense system needs reinforcing. Skin infection occurs when the host boundaries are weakened. The vitality (etheric forces) of the body as a whole needs addressing and strengthening. Local treatment, for instance calendula lotion or ointment, can be used. Anthroposophical medicine views the skin as a vital part of the immune system, effective against bacteria and viruses, only breached when the skin is damaged o r weakened. The skin has many qualities associated with the nerve-sense system as it is sensitive to temperature and pain. Skin disorders occur when the breaking down quality (catabolic) of the nerve-sense system is out of balance with life force (anabolic) quality of the metabolic system.

Staying Fit In Just Thirty Minutes18


So you want to loose those last five kilos before that all important date but you haven’t got much time to spare. Relax there is no need to throw your hands up in despair, give up or to push the panic button.

Fashion India has come up with an half an hour fitness routine devised to work on all your trouble areas and have a slim’n’ trim new you in record time!

Exercise One: 5 minutes
Leg Lunges: tones inner thigh, strengthens front thigh muscles and removes saddle bags. Stand naturally with feet apart and back straight.

Lunge forward with the right foot at least two feet straight ahead of you, bending your right and left knee at the same time; keeping toes of right and left foot straight ahead.

Hold the stance for 30 seconds and repeat with left foot. Repeat this 5 times. If you want a more intensive workout, use bar bells in each hand.

Exercise Two: 10 minutes
Skipping Rope: great cardio workout, provi des an overall workout for arms, buttocks, legs and heart.

Skip rope for 10 minutes using different variations with the legs such as fast skipping, slow skipping, hopping, etc.

Exercise Three: 5 minutes
Butt Lift: tones hip, buttocks and back thigh muscle, removes saddle bags and strengthens back. Lie on your stomach. Extend your toes behind you with your feet a foot apart.

Squeeze your entire hip/buttock area as hard as possible, keeping your knees locked and lift both legs at once until you can’t go any higher.

Keep the pressure on your hips/buttock as you return to the start