The easiest skin care routine

 When I was younger, I felt insecure and lost when trying to start a skin care routine of my own. Going beyond my teens and into my adulthood, I wanted to take proper care of my skin. So today I'll share a very simple and easy skin care routine that anyone can follow as well as some product recommendations. The following is an AM beauty routine.

I'll also include in this post some product recommendations of products I've actually tried myself and have liked. Most of these products are quite affordable, bought at local drugstores or on amazon. So with that being said let's dive right into the easiest skin care routine.

♡1. Find a facial cleanser that suits your specific skin type. Have in mind the common skin types which are: normal, combination, sensitive, oily and dry, make sure to find which one you have. Finding a facial cleanser that is made specifically for your skin type is a very important step. 

 Some facial cleanser recommendations : 

CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser (for normal to oily skin)

Neutrogena Ultra gentle daily cleanser

 ♡2. Using a toner will help get rid of any remaining residue left on the skin by makeup, sunscreen, dirt and oil. A lot of people like to skip this step in their skin care routine, feel free to do so if it feels right for your skin. Every body's skin is different and there is no rule set on stone that you must use a daily facial toner. 

Some toner recommendations. If you have oily skin like me you can try a witch hazel or salicylic acid toner.  These are astringent ingredients which help remove excess oil from the skin as well as tighten pores. You can also chose a toner with anti aging properties that include ingredients such as green tea.

ISNTREE Green Tea Fresh Hydrating Face Toner

♡3. Choose an SPF product, in the form of a moisturizer, cream or gel. Always wear sun protection before heading out the door, this way you will be protecting your skin from the sun's harmful effects as well as protect your remaining collagen. 

Some SPF product recommendations.

CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30

Olay Complete lightweight day lotion for sensitive skin SPF 15

For your PM routine, you will follow the first two steps of this routine, for the third step you will skip the SPF and use a facial moisturizer. 

Choose a moisturizer once again that suits your skin type. For sensitive and dry skin a cream moisturizer may be more suitable since its heavier. For combination or oily skin make sure to choose a moisturizer that is oil free and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.

Moisturizer recommendations: I have oily skin and my nighttime moisturizer is coconut oil, its supposed to be non-comedogenic meaning that it won't clog pores. I've also used in the past glycerine mixed with water, this one was much more hydrating but gave me breakouts when used too often.  

Eucerin Q10 anti-wrinkle face cream

Grape seed oil

In a few words this an easy and very basic skin care routine, nothing fancy or complicated. There are indeed more complex and lengthy skin care routines consisting of 5 or 12 steps or even more. In a future post I'll dive into how to add a fourth step to this 3 step routine, it will be on exfoliating, which is also a very important factor to have healthy skin, but not a step to be done daily.

I hope this article will be helpful in your journey to create your own personal skin care routine. Feel free to explore and try out different products until you find those that suit your skin the best. Don't forget to makes sure which skin type you have before starting. Below is a small reminder of the skin care routine outlined in this post, feel free to print it to keep as a reminder.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post, I was not payed by any company or service to recommend any product. This post is based on my personal opinion and experience. 

Prevent broken capillaries on face

Many women, including myself, have broken capillaries on the face also know as Telangiectasia, which is their medical term. Some may have them only on the side of the nose and bottom of the nostrils, others may have them on the cheeks and chin area as well. There are many reasons why broken capillaries manifest themselves in the delicate facial area and some of these are: Alcohol consumption, Changes in pressure as well as changes in weather, environmental irritants, genes, injuries, rosacea and sun exposure. But if you have broken capillaries on your face don't lose hope, because theres a few things you can do to prevent the formation of more broken capillaries. That is what we will consider in this post, and in a future one we will see the various options to treat and eliminate broken capillaries.

Go gentle on exfoliations. One of the causes of broken capillaries is injury to the skin, this can be by picking on a pimple, squeezing out blackheads and also due to over exfoliating your skin or using harsh scrubs to do so. So if you are going to exfoliate your skin it is best to seek a gentle exfoliant made with fine grain or a chemical exfoliant, that dissolves all the gunk in your pores with out having to scrub harshly.

Apply sunscreen everyday. If you have broken capillaries on your face, you need to protect your skin from further damage and one way of doing so is by wearing a sunscreen of at least spf30 on a regular basis. According to Dr. Fusco, the sun's UV rays not only cause damage but also can thin the delicate walls of blood vessels, making their appearance more noticeable.

Strengthen those weak capillaries. One great ingredient to do so is Vitamin C in the form of a serum, which will not only strengthen the capillary walls but will also soothe redness, just make sure to use a stable formula that will not irritate or sting your skin. Take into consideration Celebrity esthetician Renee Rouleau's favorite form of Vitamin C to apply topically which is magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. It is also recommended to take Vitamin C with bioflavonoids on a daily basis at a dosage of 1000 milligrams. It is believed that taking them internally can prevent bruising and also prevent capillary walls from becoming fragile.

Avoid extreme temperature changes. The sudden and extreme change in temperature can affect your delicate skin, so be careful to protect your skin, not only in the summer but also in the harsh winter months. According to the skin nerd it is in winter when broken capillaries are more common to appear, but why is that? well when a sudden temperature change occurs the body works harder in order to regulate its own temperature, therefore blood vessels constrict as their solution to maintain body heat. So if you go from a very cold environment to a nice and warm heated area indoors, your poor capillaries suffer from all this pressure of going from being constricted one minute to being dilated the next minute, and in turn this causes damage.

These are just a few basic tips on how to prevent further broken capillaries from forming. As you can see just a few lifestyle changes can really make a difference in your skin, if you are constant with them. I truly believe prevention is much better than just treating the underlying symptoms, in order to maintain a healthy complexion.



                                                                Sources:

medicalnewstoday.com

marieclaire.com

byrdie.com

theskinnerd

Adriana Lima's beauty secrets

I'm always looking out for beauty secrets and tips from celebrities, models, and other inspirational people. It's fun to borrow a beauty tip or two and incorporate them into my beauty routine. This time I wanted to do my own little research on Adriana de Lima's skin care and beauty secrets including some on how she maintains a fit and toned body.

So here are a few of her beauty secrets, that I found to be very beneficial. I plan to include some of these into my own beauty/wellness routine. If you also like reading about celebrities best kept beauty secrets, then this post is for you.

                              

Coconut water & other Juices - Adriana drinks coconut water everyday, she also recommends drinking other healthy juices made of fruits such as Acai and Acerola. According to Dr. Axe, the acai berry is a high antioxidant food, even more than other berries including the goji berry. One of the benefits of acai berries is that it helps regenerate skin and also prevent those annoying early signs of aging.

Intense workouts- Adriana loves doing workouts that will make her sweat, she recommends jumping rope, which she does sometimes up to an hour. She also suggest doing a minimum of ten minutes jumping rope, which according to her burns up as many calories as running for thirty minutes, no wonder she is so fit and slim !!

Healthy snacks - When she is being careful with her diet she goes for healthy snacks such as asparagus and spinach as well as berries specially blackberries and blueberries. 

Flax seed oil- For hair to grow faster Adriana recommends flaxseed oil, it can also be in a pill form, but suggests asking your doctor first.

A lot of mascara- One beauty tip from Adriana which never occurred to me is: applying and reapplying black mascara all day long specially during the summer.

Mix bronze powder or shimmer with moisturizer- For a bare faced look Adriana recommends mixing your moisturizer with bronze powder or shimmer. This can also be done with your daily sunblock, according to Adriana it gives a nice glow when applied.

Hair mask- Doing a hair mask at least once a week is what Adriana tries to do, she uses hair conditioner for this, and leaves it 30-45 minutes under her hair cap, before rinsing. She also suggests changing conditioners once in a while, which is what she does. She also shares a unique beauty tip from native country, Brazil and that is very simple and is, mixing a hair mask or hair conditioner with some avocado and using it as a treatment, according to her it will leave your hair shiny.

Going to a dermatologist- Like most celebrities Adriana has a personal dermatologist, that she visits once a month and takes great care of her skin. His name is Herve Herau, has his very own line of products, which are amazingly natural, and lives in the beautiful city of Paris.

Beauty Oils- One of her best kept beauty secrets: the use of oils to make her skin look not only healthy but also glowing, in fact she uses almond oil and coconut oil before big events as a way to prepare her skin and hair. Drinking a lot of water is also a must for her as well as using water mists to keep herself hydrated during the day when she has events.

I hope you too can benefit from some of Adriana's best kept beauty and skin care secrets as much as I did. Which of the above was your favorite beauty secret? share below if you wish, in the comment section. Have a great day ladies !!!

Sources: http://stylecaster.com
intothegloss.com
mojeh.com

IQ Natural Aluminum Oxide Exfoliate Crystals

Today I would like to share my experience using the IQ Natural Micodermabrasion product made with Aluminum Oxide Crystals. I bought this product on Amazon for $9.95 (usd), which I find to be more than affordable for those of us on a beauty budget. The main reason I purchased this product was my desperate need of a deeper exfoliation, that I could do from home.

This product is very easy to use you just mix the Oxide Crystals with your regular facial wash and massage in a circular motion on your face. What I like about this product is that the Oxide Crystals are very fine in size and don't feel harsh when used. I also love the fact that the label states that this product is cruelty-free which means this company doesn't test its products on animals.

I have used this product several times already sometimes I use it once a week and other times once every two weeks just to make sure I'm not over exfoliating. I have probably used it about ten times and I'm still not even half way through the container.

When I use it I like to take my time and wash my face by sections, starting with my left cheek, then right one, forehead, nose and chin. For each section of my face I mix the crystals with a small amount of my Olay foaming face wash, and massage onto my already wet face. I do about 15 seconds on each section and then rinse throughly. 

After my face is dry I like to take a close look at my skin with a magnifying mirror and can say that I'm pleased with the results. My skin looks and feels smoother and my pores look much cleaner, which is what I love most. At the end I only use a moisturizer on my skin and go to sleep, with a fresh and clean feeling face. 

Positives 

1. You can use it at home
2. Affordable price
3. Lasts a long time
4. Gentle on the skin
5. Paraben-free

6. Sulfate-free

Negatives

1. Had to purchase online

2. I have to mix it on my own with
my face wash, it gets a little messy

Overall I would recommend this podruct to anyone who wants a deeper but gentle exfoliation that can be done from home. It has been more than a year ago since I bought this product so it now has an updated label cover. Of course there are other Microdermabrasion at home devices that can offer more visible results and that I would like to try in the future but for the moment I will stick with this product. I hope this review was helpful to those out there who wish to pamper and improve the texture of their facial skin.

Disclaimer: This product review is based entirely on my personal opinion and experience while using the specified product.

Natural facial moisturizer

 Lately I've grow tired of using drugstore brand facial moisturizers. I've become concerned with the harsh chemicals these contain such as: Sulfates, parabens, preservatives and so on. I wanted to change to a more natural/organic product for my skin, but it wasn't easy I had to do some research first. My second concern when searching for a product was to find something that was non-comedogenic, given the fact that I have oily/ acne prone skin. 

The first website I visited was ewg.org/skindeep also known as the safe cosmetics database, which helps consumers find safe products to use. I searched for a facial moisturizer there and found a few on the list with a low degree of harmful ingredients/chemicals in them. There weren't many to choose from so I decided instead to search for natural ingredient or oil that I could use on it's own as a facial moisturizer. I was able to find a few ingredients/oils that could be used as a facial moisturizer and that were non-comedogenic too, these were Shea butter and argan oil. 

                   

At first I tried using unrefined Shea butter on its own, but I must say I had to rub it a lot against my hand to soften it, and it was also quite sticky. Either way I started using it as my nighttime facial moisturizer and was somewhat pleased given the fact that I was using something natural and free of chemicals or harmful ingredients. After a few nights it got a bit annoying and to have to soften the Shea butter with my fingers to soften it so I decided to mix it with coconut oil. Although coconut oil has a low comedogenic rating, I was afraid it would cause me breakouts, but after a few weeks of using this mixture I noticed it didn't affect my skin in a negative way.

I am pleased with having found a more natural product to use as my nighttime facial moisturizer. I must say also that I find facial oils to be quite affordable compared to top brand facial moisturizers. My next goal is to find organic/natural foundation, lipstick and mascara. I will be posting how my search for these goes.

                                           

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When to throw away your make up

Using expired beauty products such as make up can be considered hazardous and dangerous to one's health just as it is eating expired food products. Expired skin products such as make up can cause skin irritation due to high levels of bacteria therefore it is important to get rid of these once in a while. Natural or organic skin products contain less preservatives therefore their shelf life is far shorter than conventional products and can harbour even more bacteria.

Not all make up products will have the same shelf life some range in shelf life from 6 months up to 2 years. This is an essential reason to check the expiration date to make sure you are not using an expired product. Since some products don't have a clear expiration date, below is a quick guide to follow.

Eye Make up

Eye Pencil... 24 months

Eye Shadow... 12 months

Liquid Eyeliner... 3-6 months

Mascara... 3-6 months



Skin Products

image courtesy of photoexplorer @freedigitalphotos.net

Blusher... 12-18 months

Foundation... 6 months

Lipstick... 18 months 

Tinted Moisturizer... 12 months



Another quick tip is to always check the jar symbol on your beauty products with a number which indicates the months the product lasts before it expires. This is just a brief guide to get an idea of the shelf life of certain beauty products as well as informing of the commonly unknown dangers of using expired cosmetics.

Sources: dailymail.co.uk/femail/beauty/article

Cleaner pores: My top 3 tips

Most of us suffer once in a while, from unpleasant and annoying blackheads, whiteheads or just clogged pores. Some may be easy to remove and respond well to gentle facial scrubs, while others tend to be more stubborn. For this common skin problem I have tried several methods, and wish to share today 3 that have worked for me.

❶ Exfoliating with a Scrub: As mentioned in a previous post, exfoliation is an important and vital step in any skin care routine. Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells from the surface as well as dirt, oil and pore clogging debris. One facial scrub that has truly helped in keeping my pores cleaner, is the St. Ives Apricot Scrub. Having in consideration that my skin is oily and acne prone, this scrub hasn't caused any irritations or breakouts on my skin. I use this scrub 1-2 times a week, but it can be used up to 4 times a week according to the instructions. There are many facial scrubs on the market and finding one that suits your skin may be difficult but worth the results.

❷ Using a facial cloth or skin cleansing tool: In between facial exfoliations I like to use a facial cloth to cleanse my skin, doing so once a day, preferably at night, has helped in keeping my skin and pores cleaner. Another alternative to using a facial cloth, is using a silicone cleansing pad which is very gentle to the skin and can be used with any facial wash you choose. I have noticed that when I cleanse my skin with the help of a facial cleansing tool such as: cloth, silicone cleansing pad or scrubbie, my skin pores feel cleaner and are even less noticeable. 

❸ Using a blackhead/whitehead extraction tool: Sometimes clogged pores may still be present after trying several methods to cleanse them this is when the use of a pore extracting tool can be effective. The most common and affordable type is the double ended loop extractor made out of stainless steel. This small tool usually has two ends one with an angled loop to roll out whiteheads and the other a flat side with small opening to press out blackheads. When using this type of extraction tool it is very important to follow the instructions on the product packaging. Using a double loop extractor is very effective in removing the most stubborn blackheads and whiteheads that don't seem to respond to other skin treatments. 

Having a skin care routine that specifically targets clogged pores is important if that is a skin concern for you. Another important factor in order to obtain cleaner pores is, consistency when using any skin cleansing method or treatment. When you achieve the desired results you will notice how your skin feels and looks healthier.

10 skin soothing ingredients

Some skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema sensitive sin and others can cause the skin to feel irritated and uncomfortable. Whether you have a skin condition or not most people will experience irritated or dry skin sometime in their life. This is where mother nature comes in to save the day offering various remedies that can soothe troubled skin.

⓵ Aloe Vera : A plant believed to have healing properties useful in treating wounds and skin irritations. Very beneficial for skin suffering from acne or dryness. Believed to be suitable for all skin types. 

⓶ Calendula : Has both healing and analgesic properties and is beneficial for dry or damaged skin. According to yourhealth.com the topical application of Calendula has the ability to decrease inflammation and promote healing on the following : burns, eczema, wounds and other inflammatory skin conditions. Note of warning: Calendula may cause a skin rash if there is an existing allergy to either marigold or pot marigold. The use of Calendula is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

⓷ Chamomile : Contains calming and conditioning effects. Has antiseptic and anti inflammatory properties which aid skin suffering from burns, rashes and sunburn. Also suitable for acne and eczema due to it's anti inflammatory abilities.

⓸ Cucumber extract : Commonly used in facial products such as serums and astringents due to it's ability to cool and soothe the skin. Contains various vitamins and minerals as well as silicon. Two important components of cucumber are ascorbic acid and caffeic acid which help reduce water retention. 

⓹ Grape seed oil : Known to have antioxidant properties, therefore helping fight off free radicals without causing skin irritations. It is believed that flavonoids present in grape seed oil can help reduce skin allergies. Can be used as a skin moisturizer and makeup remover.

⓺ Green tea : Powerful antioxidant, contains potent anti inflammatory and anti irritant properties. Can be used as a skin moisturizer for it's soothing effects. Studies suggest topical formulations made with green tea help reduce sun damage and may enhance sun protection when used in combination with sunscreen.

⓻ Honey : Known to have healing properties. Beneficial to use for various skin conditions such as the following: acne, eczema, hyperpigmentation, and sensitive skin. It is recommended to use raw honey as it is not processed with perservatives. A patch test is also recommended before using raw honey on the facial skin to make sure it won't cause an allergic reaction.

⓼ Oatmeal :  Has healing and soothing properties and is known to reduce inflammation. Oats are a wonderful form to exfoliate the skin due to it's beneficial properties. Oats have been scientifically proven to aid the process of healing on dry and itchy skin. People suffering from eczema have also found relief in the use of oatmeal, which is a natural and hypoallergenic ingredient.

⓽ Olive oil : An excellent moisturizer for skin, containing antioxidants, nutrients and vitamins. Has the ability to protect skin from free radicals found in the environment. It is recommended to use cold pressed Olive oil as this is the best method of extraction that still mantains the vitamin and nutrient of the olive.

⓾ Rose hip oil : Known to have a high content of vitamin C as well as other essential fatty acids beneficial to the skin. Has healing properties beneficial for various skin conditions including acne scars, damaged and mature skin just to name a few.

There are definetly more ingredients in the form of herbs and plants that can be found to heal and soothe specific skin conditions this is just a brief list. If you suffer from a skin condition that that makes your skin irritated you may find relief in some of the ingredients mentioned above. If you choose to try some of them there are a few links below with more information regarding the ingredients.

Information sources: Aloe vera: www.naturalnews.com

Calendula: www.livestrong.com

Chamomile: blog.zenmed.com

Cucumber extract:www.rcuv.org

Grape seed oil : www.livestrong.com

Green tea : www.smartskincare.com
Honey www.beautyatskindeep.com:

Oatmeal: www.naturalnews.com
Olive Oil: www.dailyglow.com
Rose hip Oil: www.care2.com

Korean beauty secrets

Korean women have truly the most beautiful, flawless complexions I have ever seen. Evened out skin tone, poreless skin, no age spots or blemishes. Not only do Korean women seem to have perfect skin but also a lasting youthful appearance which makes them look younger than their actual age. It's not only amazing but also makes one wonder what is the secret to such beautiful skin that radiates with glow even with out makeup?

☁ Skin care: The usual skin cleansing method most of us are familiarized with is the CMT ( cleanse,tone, moisturize) but korean women follow a different routine. This is a cleansing method consisting of 5 steps which are : double cleansing, massage & mask, tone, essence/serum, and finally moisturize. For an in depth explanation visit the following link :http://k-popped.com

☁ Oil cleansing method : In asian countries, including Korea some women don't use conventional facial cleansers instead they use oil to cleanse their skin But is oil beneficial to skin? Commonly regular facial cleansers contain sulfates that alter the natural ph on the skin which results in skin dryness that leads to wrikles. On the other hand oils help remove make up and dirt with out over drying the skin.

And for those who have acne prone skin you will be glad to know that not all oils are comedogenic I was able to find a chart that shows the level of comedogenecy of certain oils. I was surprised to find out mineral oil and safflower oil are both non comedogenic which means they won't clog pores. (source) Therefore all skin types can benefit from the oil cleansing method and there are various oils with different properties that can be useful to the skin depending on the needs of your skin.

Even though the oil cleansing method sounds fairly easy you may still have doubts on how it is done and how it works for a through explanation check the following link: theoilcleansingmethod.com/ 

☁ Layering skin products: Korean women use multiple products and take time massaging them into the skin. It is believed that the average korean woman applies 18 beauty products per day. This routine of applying various skin products also includes facial massage, and according to health.com massaging moisturizers and treatments onto the skin can make the products more effective. A benefit of massaging the skin is increased blood flow and better penetration of products.

☁ Whitening Products: In asian countries a blemish free complexion along with a fair skin tone is considered beautiful. During the Koryo dynasty in Korea people with white skin, were considered of noble decent. Nowadays the process of acquiring such fair complexion is achieved thru the use of whitening products. The goal is to remove skin yellowness, freckles blemishes or scars which results in an evened out skin tone and brighter complexion.

Koreans believe a perfect complexion involves having fair skin and consider it more important in their beauty routine than wearing makeup. Most korean women include at least one or more whitening products to their daily skin beauty routine. It is no wonder that in Asia, Korea is leader in whitening products as it is a country that considers white skin as beautiful.

☁ BB creams: You might ask yourself ¿what are bb creams? First of all the letters bb stand for beauty balm or blemish balm. BB creams serve many functions such as make up, base, foundation, and even concealer. These famous cream was originally just used by surgery patients, in order to cover scars, it was later adapted into a beauty product in Korea, becoming a hit. BB creams can be found in almost any store now, in a variety of textures, tints and with distinct properties.

                                                                                               
Korean women prefer a more natural look when it comes to makeup, instead of heavy foundation they prefer light tinted moisturizers or bb creams. Before bb creams were available in the U.S.A there were plenty of varieties of such product in Korea. What is truly amazing about bb creams is that they are a combination of makeup and skin care put together in one product. BB creams contain ingredients that help improve the appearance of skin such as, SPF protection, antioxidants and vitamins.

 ☁ Sun protection: Korean women know that in order to have beautiful skin it is very important to limit their sun exposure. Therefore they try to cover up as much as possible when doing outdoor activities, and avoid tanning at all cost. For Korean women protecting the skin from the sun in winter is equally as important as doing it in the summer.

Umbrellas, wide brim hats and protective clothing are some of the objects Korean women recur to in order to protect their skin from he sun. A top all these preventive measures wearing sunscreen is an essential step that can't be missed. This is one of the most important things a woman can do to maintain a youthful appearance, as mentioned in a previous post according to skincancer.org: 90% of visible signs of aging are caused by sun exposure.  

      

Western countries are now adopting the same point of view of Asian countries  when it comes to sun tanning, and sun protection. A study conducted by Mintel beauty and personal care revealed that in The U.S.A in 2011 the percentage of new products offering sun protection rose to 19%. A high difference if it compared to the percentage of 2008 which was 13%.

In Eastern countries there is definetly more awareness on the damage the sun can cause on skin. Staying away from the suns harmful UV rays can with out doubt benefit the skin in great measure. This may be one of the best kept beauty secrets Korean woman share in common. The best part is that protecting the skin from the sun is easy and affordable in general, and can provide positive results in the long run.

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Having beautiful skin like korean women might seem complicated specially if scars, spots, visible pores  and wrinkles are present. It is important to maintain a daily beauty regime that targets specific skin problems. Staying away from the sun will surely benefit, as it will delay the aging process, and prevent age spots to appear. Equally important and optional is to use whitening products, which help maintain an evened out skin tone, a characteristic of youthful skin.

There are without doubt many more Korean beauty secrets that western countries have no knowledge of yet. With Korean being one of the most advanced countries in skin care, we can surely expect to see more innovative products that will be made to battle aging skin in the future. When it comes to Korean beauty it is all about nourishing the skin and being gentle with it.

                                                                 

 sources:www.health.com 

                          www.modernmom.com                                      

http://en.korea.com
http://articles.nydailynews.com
http://www.joseibi.com
http://www.skin-lightening-tips.com

http://www.marieclaire.com

Aishwarya Rai's beauty secrets

Considered as one of the most beautiful women in the world Aishwarya Rai with out doubt has become a beauty icon. Crowned Miss World in the year 1994, Aishwarya continued to gain worldwide fame, successfully becoming a bollywood actress. With big blue eyes, flawless skin and defined facial structure Aishwarya is the envy of many women.

Most of us feel intrigued by the most beautiful celebrities and want to find out their best kept beauty secrets. With the creation of the internet this task has become quite easy. After searching for Aishwarya's beauty tips and advice here's what I was able to find. Following are a few of her beauty secrets with an explanation of the benefits these can provide.

Beauty secret #1  Staying Positive 

Aishwarya believes that our deepest thoughts can be reflected on our face therefore she suggest staying positive is very important.

Having a positive attitude in life can help us maintain a healthy body and it will surely reflect on the skin too. According to Mayo Clinic positive thinking can have a favorable effect on one's health. Some benefits of positive thinking may be: increased life span, psychological/physical well-being and ability to cope better during times of stress just to mention a few. If staying positive can help the body deal better with stress then the skin will benefit from it too, as various studies have suggested that stress can have a negative effect on skin.

 Beauty secret #2 Staying Hydrated 

Aishwarya believes staying hydrated is a must for beautiful skin and makes sure she drinks at least 10 glasses of water every day as she says it also help detoxify the body. Aishwarya believes drinking plenty of water each day can provide benefits not only to the skin but also for  hair. Lets see what studies suggest about the benefits of drinking water.

Although it has been scientifically proved that drinking 8-10 glasses of water has no proven benefits, drinking water does help in certain ways. According to the WebMd website there are 6 top reasons to keep consuming water on a regular basis. One of the reasons mentioned is that water helps skin look good, having in consideration that over hydration is not going to erase wrinkles. When the skin is dehydrated it will look dry and wrinkled, but staying hydrated from within can improve skins appearance.

Beauty secret # 3 Avoiding fast foods, smoking and drinking

There are three things that Aishwarya tries to avoid and these are eating fast food, smoking and drinking. Indeed it has been proven that having addictions or vices can affect the body not only internally but also externally. Lets take a look at how fast food, smoking and drinking can affect our skin.

Fast food can affect skin in a negative way. When we eat fast food a process called Glycation occurs in the body.When this process takes place it can cause the skin visible signs of aging, but what is glycation? A sugar molecule bonding to a protein with no enzyme present. Basically the result of glycation includes: fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration and uneven skin tone. Source:Blog.Perricone.

Smoking can cause the skin to age much faster there are also visible changes in the skin, teeth and hair. Smoking excessively doesn't let the skin receive the oxygen and nutrients it needs to stay healthy and vibrant. What is truly shocking is that Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, which all contribute to the destruction of both collagen and elastin (source:WebMD) Check the previous link for more information and a slideshow on the effects of smoking on the skin.

Drinking too much alcohol can have an adverse effect on the skin. Drinking excessively can cause dehydration in the body and affect the skin making it look dry and even more wrinkled. Another effect of excessive alcohol consumption is the widening of small blood vessels making broken veins appear on the skin. (source:Simplyantiaging.com)

Beauty secret #4 Eating fruits, veggies and healthy dairy products

Aishwarya tries to consume fruits and vegetables as well as dairy products she considers to be healthy. The consumption of fruits and vegetables can provide a wide range of benefits to the skin. According to Web Md research done suggests adding just two extra portions of fruits and vegetables a day for a period of 6 weeks can lead to a healthy skin glow(source:WebMd.com). Check out the following article link of the 5 best fruits for healthy skin

Beauty secret #5 Following a basic CTM routine with the purest of ingredients

Aishwarya follows a simple skin care regime that consists of three simple steps: cleanse, tone, moisturize. This is not an elaborate skin care regime it is very simple and easy to achieve as it is not time consuming. When purchasing products for your skin you should make sure not only that they are chemical-free but also grown/produced organically. Source:Livestrong.com

There is a website that helps you search your skin care products and lets you know how safe they are in a scale from 1-10 and if they contain any health hazardous chemicals or ingredients, here's the link: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

Aishwarya Rai is a woman that knows what she is doing when it comes to her skin care and anti aging regime.  Avoiding vices is a key factor in the well being and appearance of our skin. In order to have beautiful skin expensive creams or treatments are not necessary but taking advantage of what mother earth offers such as fruits and vegetables. 

Taking in consideration Aishwarya's beauty secrets and following them can help our skin look and feel better and are not hard to follow or expensive either.There are definetly a few things we can learn from this former beauty queen. Sometimes less is more when it comes to skin care and Ashwarya has proven this to be true.

      Sources: http://wonderwoman.intoday.in

Deep facial cleansing

Properly deep cleansing the skin is extremely important in order to achieve beautiful skin. There are numerous benefits your skin can obtain from a deep cleansing, a few of these are, unclogging pores, removing dead skin cells, giving skin a healthy glow. When pores are cleaner any treatments applied on the skin will absorb beter. Today I will show you a 4 step deep cleansing routine that can be done at home.

Things you will need

⓵ Cold cream 

⓶ Facial scrub

⓷ Masque

⓸ Moisturizer

Step 1 > Use a Cold cream this will help remove any traces of makeup as well as dirt and oil from the skin. If you prefer a more natural approach then instead of using a cold cream try olive oil for this first step.

Step 2 > Use a facial scrub and massage your face in circular motion while using it. For a natural approach to this step use your regular facial cleanser mixed with a teaspoon of either baking soda, salt or sugar. This will work as an exfoliation as well but much gentler than if you used a facial scrub as these can be quite irritating to the skin sometimes.

Step 3 > Apply any facial masque of your choice you can choose one depending on the needs of your skin. For combination and oily skin a clay masque can work wonders as clay helps clean pores and draw out impurities. A natural approach to this step is using a home made masque heres one recipe I like using once in a while:

Oatmeal powder

＋

Milk

Mix equal amounts into a paste, leave on the face about 15 minutes then rinse with lukewarm water. This masque can be very refreshing to the skin. Worthy of mentioning is the fact that Oatmeal helps relieve dry skin and milk helps brake down any traces of oil/sebum on the skin.

Step 4 > Moisturize. After a deep cleansing it is vital to moisturize the skin. Moisture helps seal water to the skin making it more supple. Apply moisturizer right after rinsing off your masque that way you will lock in moisture. If you have oily or acne prone skin don't forget to choose an oil-free moisturizer or one that says non-comedogenic.

After a deep facial cleansing your skin will feel smooth and refreshed. Don't forget to give your skin a deep cleansing at least once a week. With time you will start to notice the positive results: a glowy, healthier complexion: the dream of every woman.

sources:Mujerurbana.net

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Prevent facial sagging

As we grow older common signs of aging start to appear on our face from fine lines to deep creases and finally wrinkles. The facial skin may look opaque as well, and to sum up the facial skin starts sagging. Even though the aging process is part of our human nature, it can be prevented to a certain point. With proper care and consistency you can delay the aging process and maintain your facial skin firm.

First of all why does facial sagging occur ? One reason is that the skin stops producing collagen which is a protein that helps maintain skin's firmness. It is vital to stimulate the skin so it can produce more collagen. Our eating habits and lifestyle can also contribute to the improvement of our skin's appearance or to the worsening of it. Here are a few tips you can try to slow down and prevent facial sagging.

❶ Limit Sun exposure: by doing so you can
delay your skin's aging process which also includes facial sagging. But you might ask yourself how much skin aging can the sun cause? you will be amazed when you read the following fact: According to skincancer.org  90% of visible skin aging is caused by the sun! So now is the time to bring out those wide brim hats, sunglasses and sunscreen.

❷ Eat collagen boosting foods

✎ Green leafy vegetables: A lot of vegetables contain vitamin C and Lutein which is an antioxidant these are known to help skin's collagen production.

✎ Red vegetables:  These contain lycopene (a carotene and carotenoid pigment source) that serves as an antioxidant helping build collagen. Here's a brief list of some red vegetables you can incorporate into your diet:

beets, red peppers, as well as tomatoes just to name a few. 

✎ Sulfur rich vegetables: Vegetables containing high levels of sulfur can help the body produce collagen as well a few sulfur rich vegetables are: Celery, cucumber, black olives.

✎ Legumes: foods containing lysine can boost collagen production but what is lysine? an essential amino acid that can be found in legumes and can help form collagen in our bodies According to the University of Maryland Medical center. Some legumes worth trying in order to boost collagen production are: Alfalfa, peas, clover, lentils, red beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, black beans,black eyed peas.

❸ Use creams containing Copper peptides

Copper peptides which are laboratory made can help heal wounds when applied topically, According to an article on the Mayo clinic website copper peptides can stimulate collagen production, and can probably enhance the application or action of antioxidants. (source:Mayo clinic)

Copper peptides can promote the production of collagen and elastin in the skin. A study conducted revealed that copper peptides can do    this job better than prescription retinol A formulations. It is   recommended to use  creams containing copper peptides as well as other key ingredients for anti aging.
(source: copperpeptides.org)

❹ Facial massage

Some sources suggest facial massage can slow down visible signs of aging (source: facial massage). Facial massage can also relieve pain and stress by relaxing the muscles. This is believed to be beneficial against aging because when our facial muscles are relaxed we tend to frown less.

Facial massage is commonly done with the hands, today there are also devices or tools for this. There are also plenty of examples in the  internet of facial massages you can give yourself at home. In the following link you can find an easy facial massage from the skin care brand Shiseido ➡ Facial massage tutorial

After mentioning all these preventive measures against facial sagging you can choose which ones you want to incorporate into your beauty routine. One of the most important measures is to limit your sun exposure as the suns rays can cause visible aging signs difficult to erase. Eating collagen boosting foods and giving your self facial massage are two affordable ways to combat visible skin sagging.

 Copper peptides can be quite expensive, since they seem to be relatively new in the market but with time this may change. As you see the good news is that theres a lot you can actually do to maintain your facial skin firm and prevent it from sagging. Consistency and patience along with a few of these tips will help you achieve the desired results.

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Beauty and Stress don't go well together

Stress can have a negative effect on the body. When you stress your body releases a hormone called cortisol, having large amounts of this hormone traveling thru the blood stream can be very toxic for the body. Some effects of stress on the skin are: thinning of skin, aging and wrinkling at a faster rate as well as prominence of blood vessels under the skin.(Source:http://www.dailyperricone.com/2009/05/the-10-sins-of-skin-aging/ )

Staying beautiful not only consists in taking care of your skin, leading a healthy lifestyle is important as well. Maintaining a low stress level is vital in order to achieve a vibrant, healthy and glowing complexion. Stress can make skin look lifeless and tired reason for which, daily relaxation should play an important role in your beauty routine. Here are a few examples on how to release stress in a healthy way, and help the body relax.


① Pamper yourself ➤ Each day dedicate a few minutes, just for yourself, to relax and unwind from daily life stress. Close your eyes and lay down on your favorite sofa while you listen to your favorite music, you can try adding two slices of fresh cucumber to your eyes for a truly soothing experience. Another option to try is a bubble bath, it can work wonders, after a long day helping body muscles relax. While soaking in the bath tub you can enjoy a glass of your favorite wine.

② Exercise ➤ Doing some type of regular workout can help the body release accumulated stress. A
daily 30 minute walk, a jog, playing tennis or volleyball, there are many options today.

③ Sleep ➤ Try to sleep at least 8 hrs each night. When the body is well rested it's better prepared to respond to daily stress. If you can't sleep 8 hrs each night then you can try a mid afternoon nap, of 15 or  20 minutes, It will help you feel refreshed and ready to continue your day.



④ Drink a tea ➤ There are a variety of herbal teas specialized in relaxing the senses, here's a list of a
few:

● Chamomile: Helps soothe anxiety, induce sleep.

●Valerian (herb): Has sedative properties.

● Lettuce: It is believed lettuce has sedative properties, enough to help sleep. Lactucarium (a substance similar to opiate) can be found in all types of lettuce. It is no wonder Romans and Egyptians had a bit of lettuce after each meal to induce sleep. source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lettuce

⑤ Get a pet ➤ The company of an animal can help people feel loved and safe. Theres a form of treatment called animal assisted therapy in which animals help patients improve their social, emotional and cognitive functioning. In a study conducted in 1988 the phycological effects of talking and petting a dog were analyzed. The results of the study suggests patients blood pressure decreased while petting the dogs, was a bit higher when talking to them, and higher when talking to the experimenter. Therefor the companionship of an animal can have therapeutic effects on those suffering from severe stress.
source: wikipedia

⑥ Listen to music ➤ According to some research music can have a calming effect on the brain. I found it very interesting that in a research study, music was played at nursing homes during the meal time, this actually helped keep alzheimer patients calm, it was also noticed that there were less disagreements between residents of that particular nursing home. It has also been suggested that listening to music can help decrease blood pressure as well as heart rate. source:Livestrong.com

 These are just a few recommendations that can be of some help for those suffering from stress. And remember by reducing your stress level you will feel better, and have a healthy radiant complexion as well. The following link will take you to a useful chart showing the effects of stress on the body. Thanks for stopping by, have a great day.

infographic detailing the effects of stress on the body.

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❆ ❆ ❆ Winter Skincare ❆ ❆ ❆

In winter it's common for the skin to suffer from extreme dryness. In the part of California where I live the coldest it gets is about 28° degrees (°F) at night, during the day normal is in the °50's. I guess it's not so bad compared to other countries near the north pole where they get below 0 temperatures in winter. Just to mention an interesting fact : one of the coldest city's in the world is Yakutsk, Russia with temperatures as cold as -40 °C in the month of January, now that is freezing.

In some countries people's skin even bleeds due to the harsh cold. Even though this may not be the case for most of us one thing is true our skin needs special care in winter. Here are some tips for facial skin care in winter, since the face is the part of the body that is most exposed to the cold air in winter.

❆ Change from your regular moisturizer to a cream. So basically have a moisturizer for year round but upgrade to a heavier one like a cream during the winter months.

❆ Try a moisturizing mask once or twice a week.

❆ Use a natural toner. You might want to switch from your regular toner to a natural home made one. Regular toners that target specific skin concerns ej: oily controller, acne, lightening the skin etc, can be harsh to the skin during the winter. Here's a very simple DIY natural toner that you can try. Mix two tablespoons of green tea ( that has already been made) and two tablespoons of water. Store in a plastic container, re-do mixture every two days.

Why Green tea?

Green tea when applied topically can help soothe irritated, dry, sensitive skin. It also contains powerful antioxidant properties and if used regularly it can help skin maintain it's youthful appearance. Green tea can also be moisturizing when applied on the skin and is suitable for all skin types. Skin can greatly benefit from green tea not only in winter but all year round too.

❆ Exfoliate less often. Skin should be exfoliated 2-3 times a week, but in winter if you can lower it to once a week depending on your skin type. 

  And most important of all stay warm and protect your skin from the cold air with a scarf if you live where it snows. I hope that with these tips you are better prepared to greet this new season. Thanks for stopping by.

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