Whether you work full time or have to look after the kids, you may find yourself wishing for more time to spend on making yourself feel gorgeous. Despite the busy lifestyles we’re leading now, there are ways to save time on your beauty routine, whether you want a bit more time in bed in the morning or you need some quick fixes for throughout the day.

A close shave

Rather than the hassle of using shaving cream or foam in the shower, try using your hair conditioner. While your hair is getting some TLC your legs will also be left silky smooth at the same time.

Multi-purpose products

There are plenty of multi-purpose skin care products you can use to save time. For example, using a tinted moisturiser with SPF will moisturise, protect you from harmful rays and create an even skin tone. Or if you’re used to spending ages applying make-up, why not try one of the many all-in-one make-up products that can be used on your eyes, cheeks and lips?

Prepare your hair

If you’re fed up of getting up early to do your hair, you can save time by washing it the night before so it’s ready for styling as soon as you wake up. You’ll appreciate the extra 30 minutes in bed! If you’re prone to greasy hair there are some great dry shampoos around to help soak up excess oil.

Quick drying nails

You may find that nail polishes advertised as being quick drying are not as strong as regular polishes but there is a quick and easy way to get bold colour and avoid chips. After applying your nail varnish leave them to air dry for a couple of minutes. When they are at the stage when you think they’re dry but are likely to mark easily, hold your fingers in a bowl of icy cold water. This will help ‘freeze dry’ the varnish and make them less likely to chip.

Smooth lips

Smooth lips are essential for the perfect pout. By gently brushing your lips with a clean toothbrush you will exfoliate them, leaving them in great condition for an easy application of your favourite lipstick or gloss.

Stay organised

Just as you might plan what you’re wearing for the next day, keeping your beauty products organised will help you save time in the morning, ensuring you don’t waste time searching for your misplaced mascara!

Vaseline

Vaseline can be used for a number of quick-fixes. As well as soothing sore lips, Vaseline can also be used to keep cuticles in good condition, add a glow to your cheekbones or used to tame your eyebrows. It’s definitely a must-have when you’re on the go!

Guest Post contributed by Kathy Keable from Cafe La Moda, visit us for makeup and beauty advice and to save on all your skin care products when you shop online.

Sleep masks might be at least as important as skin creams. The old idea that women in particular needed to be well rested to look their prettiest might sound like something out of “Gone With the Wind,” a pampered lady’s excuse to be lazy, but there’s more to it. Indeed, while unironically complaining about lack of “beauty sleep” won’t earn you any points as a hard-charging worker around the office, getting sufficient sleep is, in fact, important for good health. It also really appears that the improved health related to sufficient sleep, usually about 7-9 hours depending on the individual, also translates into a more attractive appearance.

A 2010 study by a Swedish research group took photographs of subjects who had gotten their eight hours and others who had been sleep deprived. Showing those pictures to other test subjects, the researchers found that the better rested individuals were generally perceived by viewers as being notably more attractive. Not surprisingly, they were also seen as being healthier and better rested.

There are quite a number of theories about how this might work. Most of them have to do with natural physiological processes taking place in the body during sleep that may tend to affect the skin’s appearance. Some think that a lack of sleep might cause a chain reaction that tends to reduce the amount of moisture in skin cells, making them less taught. Another theory might be familiar to those of us who exercise regularly and notice that our muscle tone tends to improve when we’ve had enough sleep. The face also has muscles and therefore a rested face looks more “in shape,” and not saggy.

The fact of the matter is that lack of sleep, often of a pretty severe and chronic nature, is well beyond epidemic proportions. Two career families have become the norm and many companies have found that they can improve productivity by having fewer workers do the work of more individuals. That means that making the most of your sleep time may be important than ever. Certainly investing in sleep masks, ear muffs, white noise machines, and anything else that might improve the duration and quality of your slumber might be well worth it to both look and feel better.

Finally, of course, if you find that you are chronically unable to sleep, it is time for a visit to a doctor. A chronic lack of sleep will not only make you less attractive, it can lead to a host of sometimes serious health problems including depression. We know that a good night’s sleep — with or without sleep masks — makes the world seem a much nicer place. That has to make you happier, healthier, and, of course, prettier.

]]> http://www.caringwhispers.com/beauty-sleep-the-not-so-ugly-truth/feed/ 0 http://www.caringwhispers.com/top-5-ways-to-protect-yourself-from-skin-cancer/ http://www.caringwhispers.com/top-5-ways-to-protect-yourself-from-skin-cancer/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:44:25 +0000 Roxanne Jones http://www.caringwhispers.com/?p=1153 Let’s face it, too much of a good thing is never a good thing, and that’s especially true when it comes to sun exposure. There’s no doubt that a small amount of sunlight is good for us. After all, sun exposure is what helps our bodies produce vitamin D, which helps guard against disease. And while the time we need to spend in the sun to produce an adequate amount of vitamin D varies depending on a person’s skin pigmentation, generally you only need a few minutes of exposure. Anything beyond that can be damaging and can lead to skin cancer, which can sometimes be deadly.

There are three types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and—the most dangerous and life-threatening—melanoma. Skin cancer is becoming more and more common. In fact, tragically, about 10,000 people a year die from some form of this disease. And many of these deaths could have been prevented by taking precautions against too much sun exposure. Before you step out for a day in the sun, remember to follow these five easy rules to protect yourself:

1. Use sunscreen—and not just any sunscreen. Make sure it has an SPF of at least 30 and that it blocks both UVA and UVB rays, then reapply it every two hours. The same holds true for lip balm.
2. Avoid the sun at peak hours. Stay in the shade when the rays of the sun are the strongest, typically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
3. Cover up with lightweight clothing. Wear long sleeves and long pants. Look for clothes made from special sun-protective material that’s designed to block ultra-violet rays.
4. Wear a hat. It’s easy to forget that your scalp can be damaged by the sun just as easily as any other part of your body. Choose a wide-brimmed hat that covers your face, ears and neck. And protect your eyes from too much sun exposure by wearing wrap-around sunglasses.
5. Never use tanning beds. In recent studies, experts estimated that people who are under the age of 35 and use tanning beds increase their risk of skin cancer by as much as 75 percent.

It may be tempting to think of dark, tanned skin as healthy-looking, but the facts spell out something much different. Before you spend time in the sun, remember to take precautions. And if you really want a nice tan, try a spray-on or lotion product to achieve a tanned look without any sun exposure at all. Most skin cancers can be prevented if you just pay attention and follow the five easy rules.

Its not only food or exercise alone that can give you the fit look. You need to have a combination of both in the right proportion to attain that perfect healthy look. The human body is more complex than it looks to the eyes or the fraternity that specializes in studying the human body. The human body is in constant need for nutrition for its energy, repair and regeneration needs.

Having natural food products that have not been unnecessarily processed to change the taste or to extend their shelf life is the best and the only advice offered by nutrition experts all across the world. The human body always craves for food products that are fresh; although our taste buds sometimes force us to ignore this craving and we are tempted into having food products that instead of providing the much required benefit to the body degenerate the body cells and organs. People with special need of food like Gluten Free food should stick to their dietary regimen as prescribed by their physician.

The body responds to you as you need or feed it. To keep the body active and fit you need to keep it conditioned and the best conditioning for the human body is exercise. One should exercise the body at least one a day especially people who have a sedentary lifestyle. People doing desk jobs are prone to have a body that will be obese and quite out of form due to non exercise. Make it a point to exercise the body at least once a day if you are seeking a healthy body that will go a long way in increasing the quality and quantity of life that you lead.

It’s not that difficult to possess a beautiful body you just need to keep an eye on the kind of food and the time you spend on your exercises. The benefits of a healthy and beautiful body are immense and the efforts required are too less. It’s just that you have to get into the mental set up of getting yourself into the best shape that will surely be a subject of envy for your peers and a reason for you to be proud of yourself.

So you are all geared up for a season full of fun, dance and partying late night, picking up dresses and attires and accessories matching every garment. But wait a second! Have you paid enough attention to your skin which is the most important aspect of your beauty? If you have not, here are some tips and things that would help you overcome the stressful party nights and yet be the cynosure of all eyes at every gathering that you attend.

How Do Parties Affect Your Skin?

Parties can be fun, but along with it comes a host of other things such as shopping for yourself and your near and dear ones, welcoming guests, adorning your homes, searching for discount party supplies, preparing for colossal gourmet arrangements and what not. These put a lot of stress on your health and the result is clearly shown in the dull looking skin which you might try hard to camouflage with make up. Not to forget those glasses of alcohol and cocktails that maims and dehydrates your skin to a great extent.

Pre-planning - If you thought going for a facial one or two days before the party will do the trick, you are not quite right. In fact, planning for a facial or a peel a week or two in advance is the key to a glowing skin as any irritation that might have developed would wither away by that time, leaving you fresh like a flower.

Applying a Moisturizer that Does all Your Tasks at a Go-Well, for this, you need to do a bit shop hunting for a moisturizer that will do a number of jobs for your skin from protection against the ultra-violet rays to smoothening of wrinkles, brightening and making your skin vibrant, do away with the scars and lightening of the skin marks. Try this out for some days before the party and
you are sure to see the difference in your own visage.

Keep Yourself Hydrated - A hydrated body leads to a healthier, hydrated looking skin. For this it is imperative that you have several glasses of water every day, apply a good humidifier every night before going to bed, and spruce up your home environment with moisture containing alternatives to do away with the dry season problems.

For the Last Minute Treatment - If you suddenly see a pimple or acne popping on the eve of the party, do not fret. Keep some tea-tree oil handy and apply it on the scar only to find the blemishes gone the next day.

Follow these simple tips and you are sure to win much appreciation and wooing at your next party.

Give your hands a treat by getting a professional manicure done after a few months. This will ensure proper well being of your hands and you can also get professional tips on how to take care of your hands in particular from the beauty experts.

Take care that you keep your nails short and filed. Always keep them clean.

When applying nail polish, apply — first. Apply nail polish carefully so that you do not spoil your fingers by the nail polish drooling on them.

On a once a week routine basis, soak both your hands in lukewarm water for about 10 to 15 minutes. Clean them with a hand cleaner. This will wipe away all the dust and pollutants off your hands. Push back your cuticles firmly yet gently. Clean your nails. Use a good hand moisturizer and you are ready to go!

It is a good idea to sometimes massage your hands. This will boost blood circulation. To do this yourself, simply rub the palm of one hand over the back of the other. Then rub the other palm over the other hand’s back.

Remember! Your hands do so much for you, all throughout the day, tasks- both big and small. How can you not spare a few minutes for them every day! Care for them as they care for you!

I’m guilty of it, I admit it. In fact, I found myself doing it so often that I decided to finally do something about it. I started looking online for natural skin care solutions that work from the inside out. I’m not a big fan of putting a lot of crazy chemicals on my skin because, well, I just don’t want to age my skin even more than I already have. I find, with my type of skin, natural and organic products just simply work best on me.

Through trial and error I came up with a routine that has transformed my skin from looking 47 to looking, honestly, 27!

I have shared what I like to call my ’20something skin’ secrets with most of my girlfriends and even my husband has asked if I have any ’20something skin’ tips for men. Clearly it’s not just us women who want to look younger!

While this regime has worked wonders on my skin, it may not be perfectly suited to every skin type out there, however the foundations of it are universal.

Simply put, my 3 tricks for ’20something skin’ are movement, a balanced diet, and using nature’s ingredients on my skin.

While it may sound a little restrictive and require quite some effort, I have been able to absorb these practices into my busy life with ease, and I’ll teach you how to as well.

Step 1: Get Moving!

While it may sound easier said than done, getting even 20-30 minutes of physical activity throughout your day can do wonders for your skin. This could be anything from simply going for a walk, doing pilates, taking a yoga class or even  running. Anything that gets you moving around, gets your blood circulating, and your heart working a little bit faster is good for your skin.

We usually tend to focus on the cardiovascular benefits of physical activity and movement, however anything that promotes healthy circulation also helps to keep your skin healthy, vibrant, and ultimately looking younger.

How I work this into my daily routine is I take the stairs at work every day. It’s simple, you don’t notice how much work your body is doing, and by taking the stairs instead of the elevator I can be sure that every week I climbing about 500 stairs!

This not only affects my skin but I now wear pants that are one size smaller. An added bonus!

Step 2: Don’t Eat Like a Caveman? or Woman!

I used to be a huge meat eater. A meatatarian even. It wasn’t until one day, a girlfriend of mine who is a raw food chef, told me she could tell I ate too much meat just by looking at me. She told me my skin lacked a glow and she could see it affecting my skin texture. I was blown away!

Since that conversation I started streamlining my diet a bit more. I still eat meat, but I try to choose leaner options such as organic and grain-fed chicken, lean pork, or fish.

The healthy fats from fish alone have changed the look of my skin, and to amplify that I add other sources of healthy fats and antioxidants. I tend to stick to nuts, avocados, green leafy vegetables, olives, red grapes, and of course dark chocolate; because ultimately the ’20something skin’ regime is not about is restricting ourselves, and sometimes a girl needs some chocolate.

It’s simple and easy to work these ingredients into your daily diet. For breakfast I eat egg whites and guacamole, then for a snack I will pack a little container of red grapes and another one of walnuts and a few dark chocolate chips. For lunch I love to eat sushi, a big salad with chicken on it, or even a sandwich on whole grain bread. If I slip up and have a few french fries or chips I don’t sweat it. Guilt will only dissuade you from continuing on with the regime. To top it all off, for dinner I like to mix it up and make homemade turkey tacos, fish ceviche, crispy skinned salmon, pork stir fry, or vegetarian cold spring rolls! The trick is to never get bored, and dishes that mix up flavours while still staying healthy are always your best bet.

Step 3: Don’t Suffocate Your Skin!

This might be the biggest key to my ’20something skin’. I have tried so many products that promise younger, more beautiful skin yet just don’t deliver.

It wasn’t until I started paying attention to what was actually in my skin cream that I started seeing results.

I made a decision to no longer use skin creams that contained ingredients I couldn’t even pronounce. I also started looking for certified organic skin creams that didn’t contain ‘parfum’ in it’s ingredients list. This is an important element to the ’20something skin’ regime as ‘parfum’ is a term that legally allows manufacturers to include up to 200 synthetic chemicals, including phthalates, in their products without having to declare them on the label.

This change was the most simple one to make in my quest for longer looking skin as I simply stopped buying skin creams that contained ‘parfum’ in them. Personally, I like Pai Skincare for my skin as it is certified organic, is affordable, and is ‘parfum’ free!

Always remember that skin creams that use natural ingredients, vitamins, and minerals are usually your best bet. Just make sure to always read the labels, and if the cream is full of ingredients you can’t pronounce, it is usually best to keep looking.

It’s as Easy as 1, 2, 3!

Ultimately, while we may not have a choice in getting older, we can tweak certain elements in our lives that can help to hide the signs of aging. If you follow the basic foundations of my ’20something skin’ regime you should be living your best life and looking younger than you have in years!

Believe me, your skin, and ego, will thank you for it!

A Guest Post by Vanessa. Vanessa is an independent skincare reviewer who loves to write about the hottest skincare products over on her popular website, BES Skincare. The biggest perk of her job is she has amazing skin!

Let us start with the skin. Your skin requires attention and time. You need to cleanse your skin with a quality cleanser every day so that you can keep it clean off the dirt, makeup and pollutants that might have accumulated on it throughout the day.

As dead cells accumulate on our skin, exfoliation is important to get rid of them so that our skin can breathe properly. It will look younger and better instantly. Don’t forget to use a good toner after you exfoliate, because you do not want to leave your skin pores open as that will invite more dirt to get clogged in.

On a daily basis, keep your skin moisturized. Select a moisturizer that suits your skin type. When applying on the face, do not ignore your neck, ear and back of ear.

While going out, use a sun screen during the day so that your complexion is not compromised. Again, when applying the sun screen, do not forget your neck, hands or any other part of the body that may be exposed to the sun.

Looking beautiful also demands the right sort of food and the right amount of rest. Ideally, rest for 6-8 hours a day. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking at least 8 glasses of pure drinking water.

Taking care of all these things would help you stay beautiful. Once you bring these tips in practice, they will become a part of your lifestyle and will be easy to use. Not only will you look great, you will also feel good and full of life.

1. Sugar – This is something that you use the first thing in the morning with your tea or coffee. This extremely good scrub removes the dead surface cells and gives you a radiant and soft skin. You can make your own sugar scrub at home by mixing equal quantities of cane sugar and oil or glycerin. Add fresh aloe vera gel to it to enhance its properties. Massage this mixture on your skin and leave it one for a few minutes. Rinse it off well with water. You can also use this as a body scrub. It will leave your body and feet soft, smooth and silky.

2. Salt – This kitchen essential should be a essential part of your beauty routine too. Mix equal quantities of sea salt and olive oil and add a dash of orange or apricot oil to it. You have a moisturizing body and face scrub ready that will leave your body hydrated and refreshed.

3. Oatmeal – If you thought that oatmeal was good only for a healthy breakfast, then you have another thought coming. Use raw oats with ¼ teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of honey to scrub your face. Massage it in circular movements to slough off the dead epithelial cells. It is also known to promote cellular turnover.

4. Green Tea – This tea that is rich in antioxidants is good for internal and external health. It is a good body scrub that can be used for sensitive acne prone skin. Green tea is rich in anti-oxidants and hence protects skin from free radicals.

5. Walnuts – Mix equal quantities of yogurt with ground walnuts and scrub your face with it. Yogurt has anti bacterial properties and when it combines with walnut that has exfoliating properties, it makes an excellent scrub. It is also good for sensitive skin. Be sure to leave it on your skin for a few minutes before you rinse it off.

All these can be easily found in kitchens. While sugar, salt and oatmeal are staples in all kitchens, walnuts and green tea are easily available too. Use them for a beautiful skin and glow with health.

Guest post by Brenda Lyttle. Brenda Lyttle is a health and beauty expert who began writing for publications in her community in 2005 and now commands an authority in writing on healthy living, fitness, and anti-aging related topics. She is also a strong believer of the goodness of GHR1000, a popular HGH supplement, but insists that exercising can never be replaced by any supplement whatsoever.

1. You rush to buy the newest shampoo that speaks so extravagantly of its benefits. But, despite all advertising, curly hair needs good shampoo. You must wash it every day so as not to freshen it up and give it the required moisture. This is essential to give it back its bounce. Hair stylist O’ Connor recommends Shampoo and Conditioner from Suave Professionals Healthy Curls for smooth and moisturized hair. A good shampoo will have the requisite PH levels that do not dry hair. It is also recommended to use shampoos rich in moisture and a similar conditioner.
2. To keep your hair in good condition, get it cut property. Hairstylists recommend that hair should be kept long as short layered hair shrinks to a round shape. A short hairstyle with curls will make it look too short. A cut that works with all shapes of faces is A-Line cut that frames the face. In this type of cut the layers are kept long. If you wish for a short hair cut, then choose one that frames your face.
3. A day after washing your hair, it hangs limps. Pump your hair with a spray gel and mousse. Start working at the roots and work down towards the tips. Use spray gel if you have medium length hair that is curly and scrunching mousse, if your hair is fine. Styling lotions are best for fine hair as they keep the hair light and give it shape too. Thicker hair requires gel to keep it manageable.
4. Other styling products include using a hair cleansers and conditioners that are created for curly hair. Given below are a few hairstyling products that make hair look good.

(a) Use Healthy Curls Scrunching Mousse on damp hair to give it a natural bouncy form.
(b) A lightweight spray on curly hair holds them in place. Vibrant Shine Hairspray is one such
product that controls frizz.
(c) If your hair is not fine, use a combination of volume foam and styling crème. It is best to
apply it to damp hair and run it through to the ends. The scrunch your hair and let them
set.

After all these products, it is best to touch it up at least once a day using Vibrant Shine Mist to keep the scrunch intact. It is essential to keep the moisture of the hair intact. Using products to trap the moisture in hair will keep it shining and bouncy and give you a great hair day.

Guest Post by Brenda Lyttle who is a fashion and beauty expert who began writing for publications in her community in 2005 and now commands an authority in writing on latest clothing trends, accessories, beauty products online, and related topics. For makup, she is a firm believer in the goodness of Neutrogena products but insists that nothing beats the long-term benefits ofat-home beauty remedies.