Beauty & Healthy Lifestyles
Below are articles on beauty and healthy living to help you keep fit and looking beautiful. None of the information on this web site is meant to be taken as medical advice. If you have any health issues or questions on these topics, you should always first consult with a physician. Check back periodically, as we update this page regularly.
We provide you with a list of available articles immediately below. You can go directly to an article that interests you by clicking on the link to that specific article.
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Tropical Superfoods
The term "superfood" may sound like hyperbole, but there's science behind the term. A superfood doesn't just nourish, it also provides antioxidants and phytonutrients that promote good health. Superfoods are nutrient-dense and pack a large nutritional wallop per serving without adding empty calories. If you're traveling somewhere exotic, why not enjoy some of the superfoods native to your vacation destination?
It's no coincidence that many superfoods thrive in tropical climates. Greater biodiversity in sub-tropical and tropical zones means a broader range of phytochemicals. Including some of these exotic foods in your diet gives your meals a boost both in nutritional fitness and in flavor.
Coconut
On any list of tropical superfoods, coconut must be first. A staple of tropical diets and Ayurvedic medicine for millennia, coconuts are a source of essential trace minerals manganese and selenium. The real superfood nature of coconut isn't in the fresh white flesh, though, but in coconut oil.
Once maligned as just another saturated fat, coconut oil increases "good" cholesterol (LDL) and lowers "bad" cholesterol (HDL). Although it's as caloric as any oil or fat, coconut oil sates hunger well; using it in cooking adds flavor and makes smaller portions feel more filling. The coconut milk used to enrich curries and mixed drinks like pina coladas is rich in coconut oil, so enjoy plenty of this superfood while traveling in tropical climates.
Chocolate
Surprised to see cocoa on the superfoods list? You're probably thinking of rich, calorie-laden chocolate desserts. The complex flavor of this product of the cacao tree were so prized by pre-Columbian peoples of the Americas that the pods were used as currency. Only the very wealthy drank chocolate, and they drank it bitter. These ancient cultures may have been onto something; science is only now seeing the value of chocolate.
While the sugar, cream, and butter in chocolate treats aren't exactly diet-friendly, the cocoa they contain is loaded with flavonoids, compounds that may help reduce your risk of cancer, ward off heart disease, and lower blood pressure. Take advantage of cocoa's superfood properties without the extra calories by enjoying dark and semisweet chocolate drizzled over fresh fruit or coconut.
Papaya
This sweet tropical fruit's pink flesh contains vitamins A, C, E, and K along with potassium and fiber. It's also low in calories, making it a good choice for anyone who wants to stay slim and still enjoy delicious food. Papaya's nutritional benefits are readily apparent, but what elevates this tropical fruit to superfood status is the enzyme papain.
Papain makes papayas a natural tenderizer for meats; that same enzyme aids digestion when you eat papayas. If you suffer from an upset stomach on your vacation, try eating papaya to feel better naturally. While you're enjoying papaya as a snack, you might want to rub it on your face as well; fruit enzymes act as a natural gentle exfoliant. Whether you eat papayas or wear them, they'll enhance both health and beauty.
Mango
Native to India, mangoes now thrive throughout tropical and semi-tropical zones around the world. They're a favorite for their lusciously rich taste, but they're also packed with vitamins A and C as well as important minerals such as copper and potassium. Mangoes are also rich in fiber.
If you have a taste for this tropical superfood, make sure you peel it thoroughly. One of the many phytochemicals mangoes contain is urushiol. Unlike other phytochemicals that have beneficial effects, urushiol is the itchy active ingredient in poison ivy. If you're susceptible to itching from poison ivy, take care when peeling a mango. Better yet, enjoy having one peeled for you.
Fish
Not all superfoods are plants. Although cold-water fish are more typically considered superfoods thanks to their abundant omega-3 fatty acids, fish that live in warmer climates are also good for your health. High in protein and low in calories, fish of any sort should feature prominently on your dinner plate. If you're planning a tropical vacation, try some of the local varieties of fish while you travel.
Thai fish curries made with coconut milk and served with mango chutney, for example, would give you a taste of three superfoods in one meal.
Incorporatiing multiple superfoods enhances their beneficial effects. Thai fish curries made with coconut milk and served with mango chutney, for example, would give you a taste of three superfoods in one meal. Regional cuisines often feature food combinations that happen to be especially healthful as well as flavorful.
Eating healthy even on vacation is a good plan, but flavor counts for just as much as health; you'll enjoy both with fresh tropical superfoods.
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Shape Up for Your Beach Vacation
It's easy to become complacent about physical fitness when you can bundle up in coats. But when all that stands between your figure and the world are swimsuits and sarongs, it's time to get to work. While a bikini-ready body doesn't happen overnight, you do have time to make the most of your shape before your tropical getaway. The key is to start as soon as you plan your trip to avoid a last-minute crash diet that improves neither your figure nor your health.
Three Months to Vacation
If you have three months to work with, you'll be able to make marked changes to your fitness level. A quarter of a year is enough time to shed or gain pounds with relative ease and add noticeable definition to your muscles.
First, assess your figure honestly. There's no shame in carrying extra pounds; a voluptuous shape looks good in a swimsuit. Three months gives you ample time to look even better. The key to changing your weight lies in your mind; instead of considering a diet punishment, look at it as a chance to incorporate new foods into your daily meals. You aren't subtracting cake and cookies to lose weight, you're adding fresh fish and roasted vegetables. Sample some healthy, lean dishes native to your vacation destination to help keep you focused.
Even if your weight is where you want it, maybe you'd like to tone and tighten. You could rush out and join a gym, but chances are good you already have all you need to sculpt yourself. Try body-weight exercises like push-ups, squats, triceps dips, and lunges to reshape your body; these moves are free, yet they're staples of any athlete's workout. Aim for three days a week of exercise, but skip days between sessions at first to give your muscles a chance to recover.
One Month to Vacation
You might be tempted to start a crash diet or extreme new exercise routine with only a month to go before your trip, but your best bet is to prepare yourself gradually. You don't want to make yourself ill or injure yourself shortly before your vacation.
Step up your water intake. Water is essential to your body's metabolism of stored fat, so without enough of it, you lose efficiency when converting fat into energy. Water also helps you feel fuller after meals; have a glass of it with each meal of the day, adding slices of lemon or lime for flavor and color.
Drinking water improves your workouts, too. Water assists in this healing process that builds muscle and helps stave off muscle soreness. Expect a minor weight gain the day after a vigorous workout. That's fluid retention caused by your body's efforts to knit new muscle, so don't let a higher number on the scale scare you.
One Week to Vacation
Forget fad diets that promise to take off weight in a week; if they worked, the world would already be slim. Instead, eat "clean" the week before your vacation. This means limiting or eliminating heavily processed or refined foods like white flour, bread, and sugar. Cut down on sodium consumption too, as it causes water retention.
You won't be able to make much of a change in your muscle tone in a week. However, you can fake it with a tan. As any body-builder can tell you, darker skin reveals more muscle definition. This is the time to test out a self-tanner or spray tan while it still has enough time to fade if you find it doesn't suit you.
The Day You Hit the Beach
Whether you're flying, driving, or cruising to your destination, stay well hydrated. Cabins and cars are arid environments that quickly sap you of moisture, so replace what you're losing by keeping a drink of water always at hand. Take small sips, though, to avoid bloating your stomach with water if you want to keep your belly flat at the beach.
Another trick that body-builders use to enhance muscle definition is rubbing the skin with gleaming oil. Pick a sunscreen formula that leaves your skin satiny, not matte, if you want to show off your tightly toned body. You'll keep your skin well protected as you make yourself look leaner.
The single best thing you can do to shape up for the beach is to wear your bathing suit with confidence. Good posture makes any body look more toned, so keep your chin up and your back straight. You've earned your confident bearing by making yourself beach-ready well before your vacation.
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Tropical Sun Protection
However much you enjoy your tropical vacation, one souvenir you won't want to take home is a sunburn. As much as eighty percent of premature aging isn't age-related at all, but damage from the sun's ultraviolet rays. A sunburn is the most obvious sign of sun damage, but even a tan is damaging.
You don't have to hide indoors while you're visiting a tropical paradise, though; with the right sun protection, you can enjoy feeling the sun on your skin without risking your beauty or your health.
Protective Clothing Is Your First Line of Sun Defense
One of the oldest solutions to sun exposure remains one of the best. Simply covering up while at the beach offers some protection from ultraviolet rays. The more densely woven the cloth or straw of your sun protection, the more effectively it protects your skin. Look for swimsuits and sarongs with a close weave and hats with solid brims if you plan to be in direct sunlight.
Beach hats have always been stylish, but now doctors advise wearing them for your health; a beach hat with a tight weave at the brim keeps the sun off more effectively than the strongest sunscreen. However, to protect yourself from ambient light, apply sunscreen as well as using a hat. Another bonus: hats protect your hair from sun damage as well.
Cover-ups double as sun protection, too. Sarongs screen out both direct sunlight and the reflected rays from beach sands or poolside tiles. Another advantage of a sarong or pareo is its ease of use; you may not want to slather on sunscreen for a quick trip to the shops, but adding a beach cover-up protects you without muss or fuss.
The Right Way to Wear Sunscreen
Dermatologists recommend using sunscreen far more liberally than we usually do. An entire ounce--that's about a shot glass full of sunscreen--is about right for the average wearer. In the strong sun of tropical climates, it's even more important to use enough sunscreen. Be sure to get all the forgotten spots like your ears, the tops of your feet, and the underside of your chin where reflected rays can reach. Even if you're wearing protective clothing as well, sunscreen is mandatory in tropical sunlight.
Another mistake many people make with sunscreen is applying it too late. Ideally, sunscreen should "soak in" for half an hour before you're out in the sun. That isn't always practical, but aim for applying it with some time to spare. If your sunscreen doesn't reach maximum effectiveness until you've already spent half an hour in direct sun, you've already taken damage.
Once you've applied sunscreen, keep up with it throughout the day for as long as you're exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays. Swimming, sweating, and friction can reduce your sunscreen's effectiveness. Reapply it after a dip in the pool or the ocean or every two hours, whichever comes first. If you've been wearing a sarong, T-shirt, or beach hat, your clothing might wind up wearing some of your sunscreen; reapply it to any areas newly bared by removing or readjusting your cover-ups.
Made in the Shade
As good as full sunlight may feel, consider spending some time in the shade. If you can manage it, avoiding direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day is a good idea. Stake out a beach umbrella if possible; if not, wear a wide-brimmed hat as your portable shade. Remember, though, that even indirect or reflected tropical sunlight is too much for unprotected skin. That umbrella won't help you if you don't assist it with some sunscreen.
Overcast days are no fun to see during your vacation, but even the best days sometimes get cloudy. Those clouds are no protection against tropical sun, though, so don't skip the sunscreen just because it's gloomy. Wear a broad-brimmed hat and one of your most colorful sarongs to keep you looking sunny even if the weather isn't.
Enjoy every minute of your vacation, but make sure the only reminders of it that you take home with you are pictures and happy memories. Your tropical honeymoon shouldn't still be visible on your face for your fiftieth wedding anniversary, so pack your sunscreen and protective clothing for your tropical trip.
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Should You Wear Makeup at the Beach?
There's no greater test for your makeup than a day at the beach. While some people prefer to go bare-faced on the beach, there's nothing wrong with some judiciously applied cosmetics. Whether you're planning a tropical vacation or living in a warm climate year-round, enhance your beach appeal by following a few guidelines for a great warm-weather look that outlasts sea, sand, and perspiration.
Remember Your Sunscreen
Beach umbrellas and sarongs help protect your body from the sun's ultraviolet rays, but you can't protect the delicate skin of your face as easily. Using a liberal application of sunscreen not only saves you from a sunburn, it also preserves your health; unprotected skin is at considerably greater risk of developing skin cancer. Dermatologists recommend about a tablespoon of sunscreen just for your face and neck. It may seem like too much, but applying sunscreen at least twenty minutes before going out gives it a chance to soak in.
Skip the Foundation
Full-face makeup belongs in a formal setting, not poolside or at the beach. No matter how closely you match your foundation color under ordinary lighting conditions, it will look artificial under strong tropical sun. Foundation also makes a mess as you sweat, leaving a ring on the inner band of your beach hat and smudges on your towel. Matte foundation on the face looks unnatural with gleaming beachy skin, too.
Instead of foundation, try a tinted moisturizer. If you're very fair-skinned and want a head start on the sun-kissed look, try a sheer application of bronzer at your temples and along your cheekbones; you'll add color, not coverage. Leaving skin bare is another option. Those who see you will be too sun-dazzled to notice any unevenness to your complexion, so full-face makeup isn't a necessity.
Waterproof Your Makeup
Oil and water don't mix. Keeping your makeup on all day at the beach means wearing oil-based or wax-based products, not water-based ones. Waxy pencil eyeliners have excellent staying power and are a good choice for beach makeup. Keep your application light and natural – no extravagant winged-liner looks unless you want to risk having a very unusual tan line. Waterproof mascara is a must if you're wearing makeup at all, but as with eyeliner, a light touch is enough. One clump-free coat defines your lashes without exaggerating them.
Long-wear lipsticks and lip stains are naturally impervious to liquids as they're designed to stay on through eating, drinking, and kissing. They're ideal for the beach as well. You could also go for glosses; although they don't have the staying power of an all-day lipstick formula, reapplication of a sheer gloss is easy to do without a mirror.
Consider Sheer Color
Just as bathing suits look better under colorful sarongs and not heavy sweaters, you look your best on the beach with light, sheer makeup. Under full sun, skin has a translucency that opaque makeup hides. Opaque color on lips, cheeks, or eyes has a painted-on quality that only works well if you're a doll. If your favorite shade of lipstick or shadow looks too heavy for wearing poolside or at the beach, try blending it with a something colorless, yet water-resistant like petroleum jelly or a lip balm containing sunscreen.
Which colors you choose depends on your style, but natural colors tend to be more flattering in the sun. Let hyacinth macaws and ocean waves have those vivid blues and greens; you'll look more beach-ready in colors that occur naturally on your face.
Embrace Imperfection
However carefully you apply your makeup before hitting the beach, it will smudge and fade. Your choices are to tote your mirror and makeup with you or to apply your makeup with an eye to how it will look as it wears away. You'll probably prefer to save space in your beach bag for a novel and a snack by leaving the makeup kit in your hotel room.
When applying eyeliner, stay close to the base of your lashes. As the heat of the day makes it spread, your liner will grow "smoky," not messy. Leave off your lipliner and highlighter as well; the less precise your makeup is when you apply it, the less worry you'll have about where it winds up.
Think of your beach makeup as an Impressionist painting – natural shapes, translucent color, and artful imprecision combine to make something beautiful. Enjoy your vacation more as you fuss with your makeup less by keeping it light and natural.
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Vacation Shaving Tips
Bathing suit season lasts all year in the tropics. So, if you're planning a beach vacation, you'll want to get yourself bikini-ready. That means having smooth, satiny skin free of bumps or razor burn. Getting a close shave is especially important when so much of your skin is visible, but being too aggressive when you shave could leave you unable to enjoy your vacation as you should. Find out how to get the perfect beach shave before and during your vacation.
Don't Shave Too Early
You may have noticed that when you first awaken, your eyes feel and look puffy. That puffiness happens to your skin elsewhere on your body as well, including your legs, underarms, and bikini line. Shaving puffy skin means leaving more of the hair shaft intact as skin puffs up around each follicle, preventing the razor from getting too close. No matter what part of you you're shaving, you'll get a closer shave if you give yourself a chance to wake up a bit first.
If you're on vacation and don't have time for a leisurely morning, try to get a good soak in the tub to swell hair follicles and make them easier to cut.
Don't Shave Too Late
If you can avoid shaving the day of your trip to the beach or dip in the pool, do so. Even a sharp new razor inevitably leaves microscopic nicks in skin. Under normal circumstances, you don't notice these little abrasions; they're just superficial and you won't feel them happening. However, those same tiny breaks in the outermost layer of your skin will become very noticeable in salty or chlorinated water. Legs feel the sting too, but it's especially important to give delicate skin at your bikini line at least twenty-four hours to heal before going to the beach.
If pain isn't a deterrent, appearance might be. Freshly-shaven skin may break out into a red rash of bumps as the micro-abrasions caused by shaving get irritated and swollen. Even stubble is a better look than painful red dots in sensitive areas.
If you've already shaved on your beach day and wound up with a rash, invest in some colorful sarongs and spend some time poolside. You'll look and feel cool while you recuperate enough to go for a swim.
Choose the Right Razor
Your vacation might be a great time to experiment with fashions, indulge in new foods, and try some activities you just can't do at home. It is not, however, a good time to experiment with your type of razor. If you're making a switch from an electric razor to a manual one or going from a refillable brand to a disposable type, practice with it well before you go on your trip. You'll learn how to get the most from your favorite variety of razor before you have to rely on it to keep you smooth.
The same advice goes for your choice of shaving gel, lotion, or soap. If possible, try a product out at home before you pack it. If you wind up without your favorite shaving product and can't find more at your destination, look for unscented products with few ingredients. In a pinch, you can use your conditioner as a shaving lotion, as you already know your skin won't react badly to it. The last thing you want on your vacation is an allergic reaction to an untested shave lotion.
Wear sarongs, eat papayas, try snorkeling, embrace all the novelty your vacation has to offer – but when it comes to shaving, stay with what's tried and true.
Use the Right Sunscreen
Shaven skin is sensitive skin. If you've ever applied a chemical sunscreen to freshly shaved areas, you know how red and irritated your skin can become. Although chemical sunscreens are perfectly safe, they also spell potential trouble to shaved skin. As with shave lotions and creams, you should test sunscreens at home or on an inconspicuous patch of skin before applying it to shaved legs or bikini line.
If you're buying your sunscreen while on vacation and aren't sure which one to pick, choose a sunscreen that physically blocks the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. Look for sunscreens containing finely-milled titanium oxide or zinc oxide. These physical sunscreens form a protective barrier over skin rather than sinking into it and are less irritating to areas you've recently shaved.
Following these tips for getting a great shave lets you think more about the tropical paradise that surrounds you and less about your legs. You'll look and feel smooth for your whole trip, so relax and enjoy your vacation.
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Coconut Oil: A Tropical Beauty Secret
From the earliest Sanskrit writings thousands of years ago to the most modern research, coconut oil has been hailed as a health and beauty staple. Ayurvedic practitioners have recommended coconut oil for centuries as a gentle oral cleansing agent and skin conditioner. It's been used since earliest times as a poultice for irritated skin. Nor were the only medicinal uses of the humble coconut from ancient times; during World War II, the liquid contained in green coconuts was used as an emergency intravenous fluid for wounded soldiers.
While you're more likely to encounter coconut in your pina colada than in a doctor's office, you can benefit from adding some coconut oil to your beauty regimen. As coconut oil stays fresh for years and remains solid at room temperature, it's ideal for packing along on your beach vacation. Besides, where better to enjoy this tropical beauty secret than in the tropics?
Coconut Oil Moisturizer
French painter Paul Gauguin glorified the beauty of Polynesian women in his most famous paintings. The way their colorful sarongs set off their lustrous hair and burnished skin made these beauties irresistible subjects for the artist. It's a safe bet that the lovely women in Gauguin's art used pure coconut oil as a moisturizer.
Most moisturizers rely on two elements: a hygroscopic ingredient that draws moisture to the skin and an occlusive barrier that holds it there. In commercial formulations, two or more ingredients combine to perform both functions, but coconut oil alone makes an effective hypo-allergenic moisturizer when used directly after a shower, bath, or swim.
Although coconut oil makes an excellent moisturizer, one job it cannot do is act as a sunscreen. If you plan to spend time poolside or on the beach during your vacation, use sunscreen that contains coconut oil to get the benefits of coconut without harming your skin. Gauguin's women may have looked beautiful without sunscreen, but they were also quite young and hadn't yet sustained the kind of damage that tropical sunlight can do to skin.
Conditioning with Coconut Oil
One of the best conditioning rituals for hair has been available for millennia. Coconut oil plus the sun's heat gives hair a natural hot-oil treatment that leaves it silky, manageable, and sweet-smelling. Even better, you don't have to seek out an expensive salon; you can try it yourself even as you relax on the beach or go for a swim.
Coat the palms of your hands with just enough coconut oil to leave them shiny, but not dripping with oil. Run them through damp hair starting with the ends. If you have long or especially dry hair, you'll probably need to apply oil to your hands more than once. After your hair is oiled, braid it or pin it up under a beach hat. It might be tempting to sit in full sunlight to get maximum heat for your hot-oil treatment, but harmful ultraviolet rays could burn a delicate scalp; wear a hat or scarf to be safe.
At the end of the day, you may find that your hair has absorbed all the oil and doesn't need washing. If you prefer, you can also give your hair a light wash, shampooing only once, and finish with your usual conditioner. Either way, you'll find your hair in better condition than it's seen in some time.
Coconut Oil as a Makeup Remover
The health of your skin depends on keeping it scrupulously clean. That means removing your makeup at the end of the day. If you're on vacation, why pack yet another jar or bottle of designated makeup remover when non-comedic coconut oil will do a thorough, yet gentle job? Just apply coconut oil as you would a cream or lotion remover, allow the oil to penetrate for a few moments, and remove with a soft cloth or tissues.
Originally from southern India, the buoyant, hardy seeds we know as coconuts traveled across miles of open ocean to colonize islands in the region. From there, seafaring peoples brought this versatile plant to tropical communities around the globe. Instead of packing specialized products on your tropical vacation, take advantage of the abundance of coconut oil and "go native" by using it in place of all those pots and bottles. You'll look beautiful and smell heavenly. Paul Gauguin would certainly approve.
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How to Hide a Sunburn
It's natural to want to get a little sun while on vacation; a little sun-kissed color flatters almost everyone. But when that color is closer to boiled-seafood red than to rich golden-brown tan, you've gotten a sunburn.
The best way to deal with a sunburn is not to get one in the first place, but that isn't always possible. It's easy to forget that the intensity of sunlight in the tropics is very different from the gentler rays you might be used to. That SPF 15 lotion that works well to keep your skin safe from sun damage during daily errands at home isn't enough to withstand the blaze of a tropical sun.
If the worst happens, and you wind up with an angry sunburn, there are ways to downplay its appearance and alleviate the discomfort.
Wear the Right Clothing
A sunburn is uncomfortable enough without subjecting delicate skin to the heat and friction of binding clothes. Tight waistbands, fitted sleeves, and "skinny" pants rub already damaged skin and could cause peeling. Instead, opt for flowing sundresses, sarongs, and loose-fitting shirts that won't scratch your sensitive skin. Wear smooth fabrics with soft fibers like cotton and silk instead of synthetics that contain blunt, scratchy fibers or natural products that tend to be itchy. A wool blazer may look sharp, but it doesn't go well with a sunburn.
Looser clothes will leave you more comfortable, but choosing the right colors can also make your burn less noticeable. The color of your sunburn will help you decide which shades to avoid. If you're naturally fair and burn in the pink or purplish range, steer clear of yellows and oranges that will emphasize your burned hue. If your usual skin tone is more olive or golden, you probably burn bright red and should avoid greens and pale pinks. Darker shades play down a burn while light colors highlight it, so choose darker outfits for a few days as your burn fades.
Makeup for the Sunburned Face
The less makeup you wear on a sunburned face, the more comfortable you'll be. While you might be tempted to hide your face under a thick layer of foundation and concealer, that route will leave your face stinging, puffy, and more noticeably burned than before you applied your makeup. Instead, go with just enough translucent powder to take the shine from your nose and cheeks. If there is any good news about a sunburned face, it's that it renders spots and undereye circles virtually invisible, so you shouldn't need concealer at all.
For eyes and lips, stay with neutral colors to avoid wearing tones that offset or clash with your unwanted new hue. Choose colors with a golden undertone rather than a pink one; your face doesn't need any more ruddiness than it already has and gold or yellow bases minimize pink tones in skin. Black, espresso browns with no hint of red, taupes, and champagnes are your safest choices for eye makeup, while lips look best with clear or coral-tinged gloss.
Can Anything Fade a Sunburn Quickly?
Although very few remedies will cause a sunburn to fade more quickly, there are a number of mistakes people make that lead to a burn staying visible longer than it should. Sunburns aren't called burns for no reason; sunburned skin is traumatized skin and requires gentle treatment. If you want your sunburn to fade as quickly as possible, skip any kind of abrasive exfoliation, astringent toner, or acidic cleanser. Home remedies like lemon juice or vinegar may feel cooling initially, but they ultimately irritate tender skin.
The best way to wash your sunburned face is with a gentle facial cleanser and plenty of cool water. Taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory may also help the redness and discomfort. Aloe vera gel feels cooling and is non-irritating; while it may not make redness fade, it's soothing to apply. Once you've gotten a burn, wear sunscreen daily to prevent worsening the damage.
Life After a Sunburn
A sunburn doesn't have to ruin the rest of your beach vacation. Wear loose clothing, sunscreen, and a beach hat until the worst of your burn is over, then stick to colors that flatter ruddy skin until it's mellowed into a rich tan. Try to keep your swimming to the morning and evening hours if you're fair-skinned to prevent a recurrence of your sunburn.
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Sugar Scrubs for Beautiful Skin
Sugar scrubs have helped women beautify their skin since granulated sugar first became widely available. Similar to salt scrubs but far gentler, the simplest sugar scrubs contain only sugar and oil. More involved recipes such as the ones you might find in spa treatments add other ingredients that enhance the scrub's effectiveness or impart a lovely smell. Whether you go to the spa, buy a prepared rub, or make your own, treat yourself to a sugar scrub before your beach vacation.
Even the most basic oil and sugar scrub can improve your skin in two ways. Sugar is a natural humectant, meaning it attracts water from the surrounding air; anyone who's noted how brown sugar forms clumps can see what humidity does to sugar. That extra moisture may not be a good thing to have in your kitchen, but adding moisture to your skin is key to retaining its beauty. The oil component of a sugar scrub forms a protective barrier to hold that moisture near your skin.
In addition to its moisturizing properties, sugar also exfoliates your skin effectively and safely. Granules of sugar have smoother edges than the tiny cubes of salt contained in a salt scrub, so sugar provides many of the same benefits without scratching or irritating your skin.
How to Make a Sugar Scrub
At its heart, a sugar scrub is just sugar crystals within a liquid that won't dissolve them, usually a vegetable oil. Whether you prefer the softer grain of brown sugar or the coarser texture of white sugar is up to you, but skip confectioner's sugar; it contains starch and will make your scrub gummy.
You can make more of a favorite scrub at a time, but a cup is a good starting point as it's sufficient for a couple of full-body scrubs for most people. For every cup of sugar, add half a cup of an oil of your choice. Almost any oil in your kitchen will work, but especially popular ones include olive oil, warmed coconut oil, and sweet almond oil. If you'd like to experiment, you can even try multiple types of oils.
Getting Creative with Your Sugar Scrub
This basic formula of a cup of sugar to half a cup of oil can have hundreds of variations, but keep in mind that any homemade beauty preparation has a limited shelf-life. Mix your scrubs in smaller batches and store them in the refrigerator if they contain perishable ingredients. You might enjoy a cool exfoliating scrub anyway, so keeping them cold is a nice touch for hot summer days.
Try adding cocoa powder and a few drops of vanilla extract for a delicious-smelling chocolate body scrub. If you'd like something that will wake you up in the morning, how about a citrus scrub containing orange and grapefruit zest and a few crushed mint leaves?
Look to other natural ingredients to enhance the effectiveness of your sweet concoctions. Mashing an avocado with your scrub enhances its moisturizing properties, while mixing it with fresh papaya turns it into a better exfoliator. If you enjoy aromatherapy, you can add essential oils that lend themselves to relaxing or invigorating you.
Peppermint sugar rubs are wonderful before a pedicure and are as easy as adding a few drops of peppermint oil to the sugar as you mix it with the oil. Take care to keep peppermint oil away from more sensitive skin, though; it's ideal for feet, but might be too strong for other areas of the body. Lemon is another ingredient that, although natural, can cause skin irritation in too large a dose. If you enjoy lemon and mint in your scrub, add them in tiny quantities.
Are Commercial Sugar Scrubs Better than Homemade? Aside from a wider array of fragrances than you're likely to have at home and perhaps a few preservatives, commercially produced sugar scrubs are identical to the homemade variety. Commercial formulas have pretty packaging, but when a simple brown sugar scrub from a specialty shop can cost as much as ten pounds of sugar from the grocery store, the allure of the homemade variety becomes clear.
Instead of buying commercial sugar rubs for your skin, browse them for ideas and make your own versions. You might not have access to ylang-ylang or vetiver, but your kitchen probably contains many of the spices and extracts most popular in commercial body scrubs.
Wear your sarong for style, not to cover up; be ready for swimsuit season with glowing skin thanks to regular sugar scrubs.
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The Best Vacation Manicure
Whether your ideal tropical vacation is pure relaxation or non-stop activity, you'll want to focus on more interesting things than your nails. The right mani/pedi for a beach vacation has to be easy to care for, durable enough to withstand sun and sand, and equally attractive with all your sundresses and sarongs.
Easy Care for Nails
Long fingernails may be your trademark style, but consider going short for your vacation. Even if you plan to spend most of your days lounging on the beach with a novel in one hand and a drink in the other, you'll use your hands to tote heavy luggage or reach for door handles. Breaking off a long fingernail when you can't readily repair it isn't just uncomfortable, it can be downright painful. Spare yourself the possible aggravation and go sporty and short.
The easiest shape to care for is the squared-off oval, sometimes called a "squoval" shape by manicurists. Pointed tips can chip off while square nails tend to break at the corners. A short squared oval has no weak points. Keep your "squoval" tips no more than an eighth of an inch (about three millimeters) beyond the nail bed and they'll be practically indestructible.
While on your trip, keep your hands well coated with sunscreen, especially your cuticles. Your cuticles can easily become parched from all the sun and salt they'll encounter, so keeping them moisturized will save them from painful splits or hangnails.
Don't forget your toes. They'll be on display for much of your trip and deserve to look their best, too. Slather the tops of your feet with sunscreen whenever you expect to be in the sun; sunburned feet make wearing even the lightest sandals painful. Cut nails close to the bed and straight across, rounding the corners slightly where they come closest to your skin.
A Long-Lasting Manicure
A Long-Lasting Manicure Your vacation only lasts a little while; don't waste any of it fussing with your nails. Whether you give yourself a mani/pedi or have one done professionally, there are ways to make polish last through the rigors of a beach vacation.
If you typically buff your nails before a manicure, skip that step before your trip. Buffing makes nails glassy-smooth; that's great for bare nails, but that smooth surface gives polish nothing to grab. Buff only if you plan to leave your nails unpolished.
If you're going to polish, start with an entirely clean surface. Lacquer adheres best to scrupulously clean nails, so before you polish, clean nail beds of all residual soap with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. Once the alcohol evaporates, follow up with a base coat. Using a base coat gives polish something to cling to and lengthens its life.
Quick-drying nail enamel works wonders when you're in a rush, but they lack staying power. Choose regular nail polish over quick-drying sorts if you want lasting color. Two coats should be plenty, especially if you're using the beach-friendly shades described below.
Your top coat is crucial to a great mani/pedi. The perfect top coat is completely clear, thick enough to add protective depth, and fortified with UV filters to prevent polish discoloration due to sunlight. Unlike your polish color, your top coat should be quick-drying; as it dries, it contracts slightly, sealing the edges of your polish. Think of that quick-drying top coat as shrink-wrap for your nails. The final touch to extend your manicure's life is sweeping a dab of top coat horizontally across your nail tip so that the brush coats the underside of your fingernail with clear sealant.
The Best Colors Under the Tropical Sun
Dark, saturated colors are best left in more sedate climates; under bright tropical sun, they'll show every chip or flaw. Instead, pick a color that's close to the shade of your nail bed. Shell pinks and light coral hues look appropriately beachy, yet are also close enough to your natural coloration that chipping won't show. Another plus: paler colors flatter darker skin, so you'll make your vacation tan look richer just by wearing lighter polish.
If barely-there polish isn't your style, then take your inspiration from your locale. Brilliant mango orange, vivid sunset coral, even parrot green and swimming-pool blue look exciting and fresh. These colors will show damage, though, so you'll be trading off some longevity for fun.
Another possibility is mixing things up. Go with a paler shade on your fingernails and something brighter, but in the same color family on your toes. Toenails see less wear than fingernails, so you'll get to enjoy your bright polish and keep your hands looking neat. Mixing instead of matching is a more modern take on beauty.
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Wearing Perfume in Warm Weather
When you think of a tropical beach, scents of coconut-infused lotions, salty marine air, and fragrant blooms may come to mind. Let those rich, exotic scents inspire your choice of perfume while you're on vacation. Whether you decide to pick out something new to wear for your trip or stay true to your signature fragrance, you'll want to consider how the sultry weather will affect your perfume's impact.
To understand how fragrance is composed, think of musical notes on a scale. Top notes are the first impressions you get of a perfume, the light and fleeting scents that evaporate most quickly. The middle notes or heart notes are the "body" of the fragrance; middle notes emerge a few minutes after application and linger for a few hours afterward. Base notes in a perfume last for many hours, a period also called the dry-down.
In warm weather, top notes evaporate almost immediately and base notes become more prominent. Perfume dissipates quickly, but becomes more intense in heat. Think of how a scented candle's aroma fills the room as it burns, but turns faint as the wax cools.
Keep It Light
Fragrances are available in different concentrations. Parfums or extraits contain the highest concentration of the aromatic compounds that give the perfume its scent. Eau de parfum, eau de toilette, and eau de cologne contain a respectively lower amount of aromatics, making them lighter but less lasting than parfum. Body mists, splashes, and scented lotions contain the smallest percentage of fragrance.
Wearing perfume in warmer weather can be tricky. You'll want to steer the middle course between wearing a fragrance so light that it dissipates within an hour of your putting it on and using a lasting scent that leaves an almost palpable cloud around you.
For warm climates, look for a concentration of fragrance that's one step lighter than what you customarily wear. Taking your fragrance lighter reduces its staying power somewhat, but it's easier to re-apply a light misting of fragrance than to remove an excess of it.
Layering for Lasting Fragrance
The key to wearing fragrance in warm weather is to layer it. Think of perfume the way you think of dressing for the weather. When it's cold, you'd wear a thick coat, a heavy layer meant to keep you wrapped in warmth. In tropical heat, you'll opt for light layers that you can remove as the day grows warmer; a swimsuit with a cover-up or sarong is all you need for days on the beach.
By the same token, layering sheer washes of fragrance will give it lasting power without becoming overwhelming. A scented soap, lotion, and eau de cologne with the same scent makes it subtler, but more complex than a single heavy application of parfum.
If you'd like to try something more unusual, consider layering different complementary fragrances together. The effect can be as stunning, the olfactory equivalent of a watercolor painting created with translucent washes of color. Choose scents with similar base notes for warm weather wear as these long-lasting elements will predominate. Adding a vanilla-scented soap and powder to a perfume with a strong vanilla component changes the personality of the scent and makes it uniquely yours.
Which Scent to Wear?
There are as many theories about how to choose the ideal perfume for your body chemistry as there are perfumes. How you'll wear a perfume depends on so many factors--the oiliness of your skin, your favorite foods, where you apply your fragrance--that the best way to choose your scent is to try it. Before your vacation, collect two or three promising scents and wear them throughout the day, preferably in warm conditions.
To narrow down your options, draw inspiration from your destination. A floral featuring tropical blooms like plumeria, frangipani, and orchid would put anyone in the mood for an island vacation. Spicier oriental fragrances might include Tahitian vanilla and Ceylon cinnamon. Or you might be inspired by the sea and gravitate to modern aquatic fragrances cooled with cucumber notes or brightened with citrus.
While there are no absolute rules about which scents not to wear in the heat of a beach vacation, some scents are more suited to the climate than others. Soliflores--perfumes made from a single flower--may feel too shy for the expansive warmth of the tropics. Heavy patchouli, amber, and myrrh could become overwhelming as they evaporate more quickly in the heat, so wear them with caution.
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Hair Care from Your Own Kitchen – Treating Your Hair Naturally with Foods and Herbs
A healthy head of hair is something every woman wants. But you don’t have to pay high salon prices or purchase expensive products to keep your hair beautiful. Ingredients you probably have in your kitchen right now can be just as effective at creating shining, lovely locks. There are even simple ways to highlight your hair without the hassle of scheduling a salon appointment or purchasing messy over the counter dyes. On top of the low prices and convenience, kitchen hair care has the added benefit of coming without dangerous additives or chemicals!
Eggs
Eggs are a wonderful natural conditioner and softener, especially for damaged hair. Whisk a few eggs up, work them into your hair, let them dry and then rinse them out again. If you can’t get all the eggs out, try a vinegar rinse to remove residual whites and yolks.
Lemon
Like egg, lemon is a natural hair conditioner. It’s so effective that it’s a common ingredient in many hair products. Lemon also adds natural shine and brightness to your tresses, livening up dull locks. Because lemon has astringent and antiseptic qualities, it’s good for the scalp, reducing dandruff and drying up oil without leaving your head too parched.
Use a light leave-in treatment of lemon and honey to add even extra shine to your hair! But use honey carefully, as you don’t want sticky hair.
Avocado
Avocado is particularly good at deep conditioning your hair, as it contains nourishing natural oils as well as vitamins B6 and E. Many pricey hair products go out of their way to include these ingredients in their recipes, but you can simply crush your avocado and mix with egg, yogurt, mayonnaise or a natural oil such as grape seed, olive or canola. Leave it on for about 20 minutes, then rinse.
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise is another natural deep conditioner, full of rich fatty acids and oils. For this reason, don’t use it on your scalp. Work it into the length of your tresses, concentrating on dry, damaged ends.
Yogurt
Yogurt works on your hair in much the same way as mayonnaise. It’s a good choice if you have an aversion or allergy to mayo or eggs.
Vinegar
Many of those expensive salon quality products you use on your hair leave residual build-up that can cause your hair to look dull over time. Mix one part vinegar with three parts water, and rinse your hair to wash out chemicals and other build-up. Using this roughly once a month will keep your hair soft and manageable.
Chamomile
Chamomile works as a natural highlighter for blonde hair. Make a chamomile tea and rinse with it several times a week to give your tresses a quick pick-me-up. Chamomile works especially well when combined with a little lemon and sunlight. Bring a spray bottle with you to the beach and spritz your locks every so often for a sun-kissed look.
Rosemary
Rosemary has many health and beauty benefits. Rosemary oil is especially good for stimulating your hair follicles and preventing or reducing baldness. Warm it up and massage it into your scalp. Leave it on for several minutes, then work it down into the rest of your hair before rinsing.
Natural Oils
Your hair loves natural oils. They add shine and deep condition with vitamins and nutrients. Many natural oils have been shown to improve the strength of hair and encourage growth. Try coconut oil, grape seed oil, mineral oil, canola oil or olive oil. These oils make wonderful bases for adding any of the other ingredients mentioned here, and are especially beneficial when warmed.
Fruits
Specifically watermelons, peaches and cucumbers. Crush them up and mix them with your favorite oil, yogurt or eggs to conditioner your hair and add a light, feminine fragrance.
Natural hair care is easy, and can be just as effective as professional salon products without the prices. You’ll get the peace of mind of knowing that your hair isn’t full of unnecessary additives that could cause harm to it (and you) over time. Being a kitchen beautician is a fun, healthy way to enhance the beauty and strength of your hair!
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The Many Uses of Peppermint Oil – The World’s Oldest Medicine
You’re probably familiar with refreshing peppermint candies and sweets, but did you know peppermint has been used in a wide variety of applications throughout most of history? It’s true! There is evidence of peppermint in use as long ago as in Ancient Egypt. Peppermint is an essential tool in your health arsenal because it can be used for everything from curing bad breath to aiding digestion. Here are some of the most useful applications for peppermint oil.
Digestive Aid
Using peppermint oil to cure tummy troubles is one of the most traditional uses. It’s most effective when taken on an empty stomach, when food won’t impede its progress to the intestines, where it is dissolved. Peppermint is so powerful, though, that you can still take it after eating and experience benefits. It can be taken in capsule form, or by drinking a few drops in a little water. Another popular way is drinking peppermint tea, particularly common after dinner in the Middle East.
Scientific studies are beginning to back up centuries of traditional wisdom. In a 2007 study, 75% of people taking peppermint oil capsules over a period of four weeks experienced reductions in symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, and increases in vitality and health.
Weight Loss
Peppermint's digestive aid extends to appetite control as well. How often do you want to eat directly after brushing your teeth? Probably not often! Inhale it as aromatherapy or add a few drops to some water. You can also place a single drop on your tongue, which will freshen your breath and kill the bacteria in your mouth.
Relieve Congestion
When your sinuses are stuffed up from a head cold or respiratory troubles, try peppermint oil. Place a few drops in a bowl of warm, steamy water and inhale to break up the congestion. Drape a towel over your head to capture and surround yourself with the medicinal steam. But be careful not to burn yourself, and keep your eyes closed when inhaling the steam.
Itch Relief
Place a drop of peppermint oil over a bug bite, or rub it into a poison ivy rash. It’s incredibly cooling and soothing. You’ll soon forget you were scratching at all!
Skin Care and Beauty
Peppermint oil contains menthol, which refreshes and brightens tired, dull complexions. It’s especially beneficial when combined with a carrier oil, such as grape seed or jojoba, and used to reduce oil production on the skin. In this way it can reduce acne and help keep your pores unclogged. It also has a smoothing, soothing effect on chapped lips, especially when combined with a carrier oil.
Pest Control
Many pests detest peppermint. Do you have an ant problem? Place drops of peppermint oil around infestation hot spots. Other creepy crawlers that hate peppermint oil include aphids, some beetles, plant lice and ticks. A drop of peppermint applied to a tick will make it detach from the host and take its head with it. Even rodents such as mice can be discouraged with peppermint scented cotton balls. This has the added benefit of making your home smell wonderful!
Ease Headaches
Use a very small amount of peppermint oil on your forehead, temples, at the base of your neck, on your scalp or behind your ears. Don’t use too much, or your eyes will tear up.
Sore Muscles
Peppermint oil has an icy hot effect that is soothing to sore muscles. It encourages blood flow to the area and reduces pain. Rub it into aches and wait for the icy hot effect to penetrate your skin.
Refresh and Recharge
Peppermint is a natural mood booster and energizer that is a great replacement for morning coffee. It can get you revved up for a workout, help you wind down from a stressful day, and cool you off when the weather is too warm.
It’s also a wonderful treatment for hot flashes!
Peppermint oil is safe and non-toxic for most people, but use it with caution before you understand how peppermint oil works best for you. We’ve covered just a few uses here, but there are many more ways this natural remedy can improve your quality of life!
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The History of Aloe – Healing through History with the Miracle Plant
Many people know that aloe heals sunburns and minor wounds, but aloe’s healing potential goes much farther than that. Its powerful properties benefit so many different ailments that aloe is used in most parts of the world for restoring and maintaining health. In studies aloe has been shown to affect everything from wrinkles to scarring, and is being studied for its apparent cancer fighting properties and dramatic benefits to the immune system.
Scientific studies are only beginning to bear out what centuries of traditional wisdom has always known.
Sumer
We see the first mentions of aloe in the first writing ever found. Sumerian clay tablets from around 2100 BCE reference aloe and its therapeutic applications, suggesting it was in use long before writing was even developed.
Ancient Egypt
Skipping ahead several thousand years to an era when writing was more prevalent, we find the Ancient Egyptians were absolutely in love with aloe. They painted it on their vases, included it in the “Egyptian Book of Remedies,” and made it a primary ingredient in many cosmetic and beauty products. It was especially popular among Queens and Pharaohs, who dubbed it the “elixir of long life.”
Cleopatra credited aloe vera for the youthful, vibrant look to her eyes. Queen Nefertiti was said to bathe in aloe pulp, which nourished her skin and kept it youthful even in the harsh Egyptian climate.
As the “elixir of long life,” aloe also represented rebirth to the Egyptians. Priests used it as an embalming ingredient, calling it the “plant of immortality.” Aloe was planted along the roads to the Valley of the Kings, and on the land surrounding funeral pyramids. The aloe kept the dead Pharaoh well fed on his journey into the afterlife. When the aloe around the tomb flowered, the Egyptians knew their Pharaoh had safely made it to the “other bank.”
Even for common Egyptians, bringing aloe vera plants to funerals for gifts was a gesture of respect and rebirth.
Ancient Greece and Rome
For the Greeks, aloe vera symbolized beauty, health, good fortune and patience.
Hippocrates cited aloe as a cure for skin problems and aid for accelerating hair growth, healing tumors, relieving stomach and digestive issues, and relieving dysentery. Another Greek doctor quite taken with aloe was Dioscorides, who served with the Roman army. He was very excited when he wrote in his “De Materia Medica” that aloe could coagulate blood and heal open wounds, cure hemorrhoids, reduce hair loss and cure eye infections.
During the Punic Wars, the Romans learned about the benefits of aloe from watching their wounded Carthaginian captives treat their wounds with the plant. The Romans, never a people to fall behind in technology of any kind, quickly picked up on the amazing benefits of aloe and began both importing it and growing it themselves.
Aloe and Alexander
During the siege of Gaza in 330 BCE, Alexander the Great took a bad wound. Bad went to worse when the wound became infected as he campaigned across Egypt and Libya. His famous tutor and mentor, Aristotle, sent a priest to treat him with healing aloe-based oil from the island of Socotra. Alexander was impressed with the results, and took Aristotle’s advice to conquer Socotra, so as to always have a good supply of aloe for his soldiers.
Aloe in the Bible
Aloe is referenced several times throughout the Bible as a healing and sacred plant. One notable use of aloe was during the early Christian persecutions. The Romans were forcing Christians to burn sacred incense, primarily based on aloe, as offerings to pagan gods. The Christians got around this law by substituting their own incense made from aloe blended with other unofficial ingredients, such as myrrh and benjoin.
Referred to as “The Miracle Plant,” “The Elixir of Long Life,” and “The Plant of Immortality.” Aloe has received so many complimentary nicknames from doctors, queens and other enthusiasts over the centuries that we couldn’t include them all in this list! Perhaps it’s enough to say that when you heal with aloe or drink aloe juice, you revitalize your body with a timeless plant that can preserve your health and beauty.
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Restoring and Healing with Kombucha Tea – The Elixir of Long Life
Kombucha is a fermented tea, reputed by some to be one of the oldest drinks in the world, even older than leaf-based teas. Millions of people worldwide report dramatic health benefits from Kombucha, affecting not only one symptom or ailment, but their overall holistic health. Some even claim that Kombucha works on an energetic level with the cells, restoring balance to both the physical and energetic bodies. Recently, deliciously flavored Kombucha has become commercially available in the US, but traditionally the tea is fermented by home brewers. Science has not conducted much research on Kombucha, and is only beginning to crack open the vault of ancient healing it represents.
Kombucha: a Vague History
Kombucha is so old that no one is really certain where it originated. However, traditional wisdom claims that it comes from China or Japan. Our earliest records place it at 2,000 ago in the east. There are reports that during the Qin Dynasty Kombucha was known as a magical beverage that could provide immortality. Korean stories claim that in 415 A.D. a Korean doctor healed the Japanese Emperor Ingyo with Kombucha. None of these oral traditions can be verified, but there are many more like them throughout the world.
In more recent history, Kombucha became a popular folk remedy in 19th century Russia, especially in poor, rural communities. During the 1950s, entire villages were discovered by Soviet doctors that had been protected from hazardous environmental toxins. The residents attributed their health to Kombucha tea.
From Russia, it became popular throughout Europe, and only recently has the tea surfaced in the US. It’s now available from many commercial vendors, but there are more than six million home brewers of Kombucha around the world.
Kombucha Health Benefits
Proponents of Kombucha claim the fermented tea is more than a healthy drink, it’s actually a food full of probiotics, amino acids, vitamins and more, and works on the self as a complete, holistic therapy instead of addressing isolated issues. It’s a strong detoxifier and immune-enhancer. There have been thousands of reports of Kombucha aiding in healing cancer, sharpening eyesight, restoring elasticity and beauty to the skin, aiding digestion, nourishing bad joints and more.
Kombucha tea is said to bring the organs throughout the body together to work synergistically, and to balance metabolism. Its probiotic properties account in part for the digestive aid, working in much the same way that acidophilus in live yogurt cultures does. It introduces bacteria that produce lactic acid into the intestinal tract, keeping harmful bacteria at bay.
Many people find Kombucha is beneficial when applied topically, as well as when taken internally. It can be made into a compress or a cream and applied to conditions such as skin ulcers, fungal infections and warts.
Drinking Kombucha
Kombucha tea is created by adding a solid culture of yeast and bacteria, call the “mother mushroom” to a jar of sweetened tea, usually black or green tea. After several weeks of fermentation the drink can be tapped, and the “mother mushroom” will have produced an offshoot “daughter.” This can be separated from the mother and placed in another jar to start another batch of tea. More liquid can also be added to the mother jar, and the process can be repeated indefinitely.
The tea often tastes light and a little bubbly, due to the fermentation. Depending on the culture, and whether flavor has been added, it tastes similar to apple cider vinegar. Kombucha is carried in many grocery stores, especially businesses that focus on natural and organic foods. Many commercial producers create light, refreshing flavors that are the perfect drink for a day at the beach.
Currently, there are no reports of ill effects from drinking Kombucha, but use it with caution until you know how it works with your body. Due to fermentation, the tea typically contains small levels of alcohol, which vary from batch to batch and don’t become toxic. Pick up a bottle from your local natural grocery store, or brew up a batch in your fridge. Then wrap on a sarong and sip it in the sun, absorbing the nutrients and feeling your physical and energetic bodies come into balance.
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Facial Exercises to Help Keep You Looking Young – Natural Exercises for Tone and Vitality
Your facial muscles are attached directly to the skin of your face, unlike the muscles in the rest of your body, which are attached by fibrous connecting tissue. Over time your facial muscles lose tone and elasticity and, thanks to gravity, aging and effects from the sun, your skin begins to sag and wrinkle. Some people look to surgical procedures to restore youthful skin, but you don’t have to go under the knife. Using some simple facial exercises, you can restore and maintain a youthful look. As with other exercises, it will take time to see results, but after several months you’ll be pleased by what you see in the mirror!
Before performing any of these exercises, you should moisturize and lubricate your face with your favorite moisturizer or water.
Exercise Your Eyes
The skin around the eyes is the thinnest skin on the body. It is some of the first to show the signs of aging with crow’s feet and sagging under-eyes. For the same reason, it is also one of the more responsive areas of the face. You may see results around your eyes sooner than you notice them in other areas, however, don’t expect to erase your fine lines and wrinkles one-hundred percent.
The basic exercise for your eyes is easy. Wink one eye, hold it closed for a second or two, then repeat the movement. Close your eye firmly, but you don’t have to squint and wrinkle your skin. Start with 50 repetitions. When you’re finished with the first eye, move on to the next.
A slightly more advanced version includes pressing very gently on the bone just beneath your eye and performing the exercise. This provides a little resistance to strengthen your muscles further.
Shape Your Cheeks
This simple isometric exercise can reduce puffiness in the cheeks, giving an overall firmer look and refining your cheekbones. Just fill one of your cheeks with air, puffing it up like a blowfish. Your mouth will be puckered. Open the side of your mouth near the full cheek, and slowly press the air out with your cheek muscle. You can use a decent amount of pressure in this one, because you’re only pressing against air. Repeat this ten times on each side.
Tone up Your Mouth
Open your mouth and place your two index fingers inside at the corners of your lips. Make sure your hands are clean! Pull gently at the corners of your mouth, pressing against your fingers with your mouth muscles. Hold the contraction for a few seconds, then contract the muscles of your mouth more tightly, pushing your index fingers closer together. Try for 25 to 50 repetitions to start, but don’t over-do it! Because the muscles of the mouth are generally strong, this is one of the more firm facial exercises. Keep in mind that this won’t reshape your lips, but will firm up the muscles around them.
Tighten Your Neck
The supple skin of the neck is another area that begins to show aging early on. Rings and wrinkles form, and the skin begins to sag. Maybe you’ve even got the dreaded “turkey flap.” This exercise will help strengthen your neck muscles. If you perform it every day, you should see significant improvement over the course of several months.
Open your palm, with your fingers together and your thumb extended. Place your open hand at the base of your neck over your collarbone. Press down to hold the skin and muscles in place while you raise your chin and lower jaw toward the ceiling. Now tighten your lower lip and reach with it toward the ceiling, stretching through your neck, chin and lip. Repeat five times, then switch hands.
There are many more facial exercises out there to target other trouble spots, but these four will help out some of the most noticeable areas. Treat your skin well, exfoliating and moisturizing daily. When you wrap on a sarong for a fun day in the sun, you'll look stunning and fit! Just make sure that you go with adequate SPF and a good beach hat to keep your skin safe and youthful!
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How to Summer-Proof Your Hair Color – Keep the Color You Want Through Sun, Sea, and Salt
Whether you enhance your hair color at home or in a salon, you're probably particular about your shade. You pay good money for that sophisticated brunette, effervescent blonde, or dramatic red, so keeping it looking fresh should be a priority. Some of your favorite things about summer--the sun, the sea, the swimming pool--are exactly what your hair dreads the most. Summer is your hair's enemy.
Summer-proofing your hair color means making it last without its fading into some lackluster hue or mutating to a shade not known in nature. Fight back against the worst offenders against color-treated hair this summer and keep the color you love.
Enemy Number One: the Sun
Ultraviolet light damages pigment molecules. You've seen evidence of this if you've ever hung white laundry on a line and witnessed how it bleaches your linens. You'll notice it if you have a patch of sun that regularly falls through your window and fades your Aubusson rug. The sun has the same effect on the particles of pigment that reside in your hair shaft.
If your hair is blonde, you may not mind becoming blonder by being in the sun. If you're a redhead or a brunette, though, chances are you want to stay that way, at least unless you decide to make a major style change. Don't let the sun make changes for you; take steps to protect your color with sunscreen.
If you're at the beach for the day, you can add the same sunscreen you use on your body to your hair; you'll just look like your hair is wet. Most people aren't lucky enough to live on the beach every day, though, so invest in some specialty hair products with sunscreen. Your best bet is a leave-in conditioner in spray form that can evenly coat your hair for best protection.
Even more effective is a beach hat. A hat provides your hair with portable shade and keeps the worst of the sun's depredations from your color.
Chlorine Calamity
Chlorine in swimming pools and hot tubs eats away at hair color as surely as bleach, albeit not as quickly. Worse yet, if your hair is blonde, chlorine can react with the pigments in your hair to give it a greenish cast. This isn't a pretty kelly green, but a sickly shade that doesn't flatter anyone.
The best way to protect your hair color from chlorine damage is to make sure that the hair shaft is already "full" before you enter the pool. Saturate your hair with clean, un-chlorinated water before entering the pool; hair that's already wet has no room to absorb water containing chlorine molecules that affect your color. Once your hair's wet, seal it with a generous coating of conditioner.
If you can stand the hit to your fashion sense, wear a bathing cap over your conditioner-soaked hair. Not only will you protect your hair from chlorine discoloration, you'll also give it a deep conditioning treatment under the cap.
Blowing in the Wind
You wouldn't think that wind could strip the color from your hair; but in an indirect sense, it can. You've probably noticed how windblown hair feels coarse to the touch. Wind roughens your hair because it lifts the tiny overlapping shingle-like keratin scales that make up your hair shaft. Over time, this ruffling damages hair irreparably.
Those interstices between the keratin plates are how color gets into your hair during the coloring process--and it's also how color leaves your hair over time. While wind itself can't blow the color from your hair, it can damage it to the point that dyes won't stay in it.
Wind damage is easy to counteract. If possible, braid your hair; the wind can't make a mess of braids the way it can with loose, flowing hair. Wearing a beach hat also helps. Wear a sarong turban-style if no other options are available; it's worth it to keep your hard-earned color true.
Seawater Strategies
Like wind, seawater dries your hair. Dry hair has rough cuticles that allow free exchange between the interior of your hair shaft and the harsh environment outside. Delicate dye molecules become easier to wash away and harder to keep in your hair.
Keep the sea out of your hair the same way you lock out chlorine--wet your head with clean water and cover it with conditioner. An oily conditioner works especially well as it won't wash out quickly.
A little extra care will keep your hair salon-perfect during the cruel summer. Vacation without worry and pack a collection of hats; you'll stay looking flawless all season.
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Homemade Full-Body Herbal Wraps and Masks – How to Get the Salon Experience at Home
Herbal wraps are a signature spa treatment. They relax you, clarify your skin, and even slim you down as you lose a little water weight. Unfortunately, full-body spa treatments like wraps and masks also slim your wallet--one place where no one wants to lose. Instead of taking a trip to the spa, create the spa environment in your own home.
Here's what you'll need for any at-home spa. You can vary other ingredients, but these are the basics common to all these recipes:
6 to 8 large towels or 2 sheets Air mattress 1 cup of kelp or dulse (you'll find this at health food retailers) Your favorite body lotion or oil
One sheet or two towels will go over the air mattress and act as a dropcloth to keep it and the floor beneath it clean as you let the wrap or mask do its work. The other sheet or the remainder of the towels will be your wrapping fabric.
Invigorating Body Wrap
Prepare your herbal wrap by boiling two quarts of water. Add the kelp or dulse, half a cup of sea salt, and half a cup of lavender or ginger. Remove the mixture from the stove and let it cool until it's comfortable to touch, then add your wrapping material to the pot to soak.
As your wrap cools, have a warm shower to open the pores of your skin. Use a body brush or loofah during your shower to exfoliate. Head to your air mattress and drape the towels or sheet over your body, starting with your feet. You can tuck the fabric snugly around you, but you don't want to go too tight; wraps work fine without turning you into a mummy.
Relax for 30 to 45 minutes, then rinse in a tepid shower.
Clarifying Mud Wrap
To two quarts of boiling water, add the cup of seaweed plus a cup of green tea. Let the mixture cool. While it's cooling, mix a cup of kaolin or bentonite clay powder with a cup of aloe vera gel; you'll be applying this messy, but effective mixture to your skin before wrapping, so be sure to have your towels or sheets in place before you start.
Have a warm shower and follow it with a gentle, but thorough toweling off to exfoliate your skin gently. Smooth the aloe and clay mixture on your skin. Pay close attention to areas where breakouts occur. Wring your towels or sheet before wrapping to avoid washing off too much of the clay layer.
Leave this body mask on for 45 minutes to an hour. Finish with a warm shower followed by a light, non-oily moisturizer.
Moisturizing Oil Wrap
It's difficult to clean towels after this moisturizing wrap, so you may prefer to use an old sheet instead, replacing it each time you use this treatment.
Your wrapping mixture can contain any herbs that you find pleasant, but chamomile and calendula are particularly soothing. Make your soaking liquid from two quarts of boiling water and a cup of dulse or kelp flakes. In a separate bowl, combine a cup of olive oil with essential oils of your choice; this will be the extra moisturizing layer that makes this wrap effective.
After your shower, use your favorite moisturizer. Once you get to your spa room, apply the olive oil liberally to your skin. Wrap up with the soaking sheet and relax for an hour if possible. The warm wrappings help the oil penetrate your skin, leaving you silky.
Full-Body Mud Mask
While not exactly a wrap, a mud mask can work wonders on troubled skin. Mix kaolin or bentonite clay and just enough distilled water to make a paste slightly thicker than pancake batter. Slather this mixture on after a bath, paying close attention to areas where breakouts happen most, and allow it to dry. After you rinse the mask away, moisturize with aloe vera gel.
Do’s and Don'ts of Home Wraps
If you're uncomfortable, wash it off immediately. Irritation and pain aren't part of the process. Keep your spa room warm and use a foil-like thermal blanket if you're prone to becoming chilled. Avoid using peppermint oil; mint can irritate skin during long exposure. When you're wrapping, avoid anywhere a bathing suit touches you; sensitive skin doesn't like wraps. Keep a glass of water near you to sip; this will keep you from becoming dehydrated.
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The Best Summer Styles for Curly Hair – Make Peace with Hair That Has a Life of Its Own
If you have curls, you know you'll face a challenge every summer. Whether you're planning a tropical beach vacation or staying closer to home, heat and humidity can turn your curly hair into its own frizzy entity--one with a cantankerous personality. With the right style, though, curly hair becomes vibrantly bouncy, yet manageable even during the hottest summer day.
Finding your perfect curly style means understanding your curls. Stylist Andre Walker created a curl classification system that makes styling your curls a breeze. Type 1 hair isn't a curl at all; it's what describes stick-straight hair with no wave to it. Type 2 curls are actually waves, while Type 3 hair falls into the classic spiral curls you might associate with Bernadette Peters or Taylor Swift. Type 4 curls are tight and grow out rather than down; Macy Gray and Jill Scott are famous for their wild, beautiful Type 4 curl.
Once you know your curls, you can try some new styles in time for summer or for a beach vacation.
Long and Loose
Curls look gorgeous in their natural state, but it takes some work to look that "natural." You're aiming for air-dried and tousled, not stiffly sculpted into place or full of frizz. This easy style is perfect for vacations or weekends when you aren't in a rush. It works for best for hair that's shoulder-length or longer, as short styles need more structure.
The style starts with well-moisturized hair. After washing and conditioning your hair as normal, add another layer of leave-in conditioner to your damp hair from about an inch beyond the roots down to the ends. Don't brush or comb it through, as the more you touch your damp hair, the more frizz you'll create.
Let your hair air-dry. Once it's dry, distribute styling mousse through it with your hands. The less you handle your hair, the more shine and smoothness you'll retain, so finish with a silicone-based shine spray to ward off humidity-borne frizziness and you're set. Dress it up with a clip if you like, but gorgeous curls don't really need any ornaments.
Braids
There's a reason that women in hot climates throughout the world have favored braids since Cleopatra's day--braids feel as cool as they look. If your hair is long enough to braid, you'll want to try it for summer. Type 2 waves work well in one or two simple braids, while Type 4 can go anywhere from a pair of thick side braids to a profusion of skinny ones.
Any braids beyond a couple of pigtail-style plaits to either side of your head are going to be time-consuming. If you want a mass of micro-braids, you're looking at much of your day in the salon chair. However, once you have them in, braids are incredibly easy to care for, giving you wash-and-wear hair all summer at the cost of a few hours' occasional discomfort. Get braids before your vacation and you won't have to think about your hair. A beach hat, a sarong, and a good beach read are all you'll need.
The Puffy Pony
Curly-tops are lucky when it comes to the simple ponytail; while their straight-haired sisters try to inject volume into the crowns of their ponytail styles, you come by it naturally. Ponytails work best for longer hair; shorter styles can go for two tails or poufs either at the crown of your head or near the nape of your neck. Having your hair off your neck is a cool option for summer.
The trick to a perfect ponytail is leaving some volume around your face to keep it from looking severe. After sweeping your hair back but before you put your pony into its band, push gently at the hair just above where your ponytail will be; this will give you some lift at the crown. If your hair is fine, this may not give you enough volume, so gently back-comb at your crown before creating your ponytail.
The Wide Headband
Perfect for thick Type 3 and Type 4 curls, a wide band of fabric wrapped around your head with a riot of curls above it looks far more dramatic than the effort you put into the style. It's as easy as a ponytail, but soft cloth is kinder to delicate Type 4 hair than ponytail holders. Plus, wide headbands give you a chance to express yourself with a bold print.
There's no special trick to wearing a wide headband; it's just a matter of wrapping it on and fastening it tightly. Try it at different widths and positions on your head to see what you like best.
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Beauty on the Beach – Treatments that Work While You Play
You might think of a day at the beach as punishing to your hair and skin. Wind chaps your lips, heat bakes your skin, and the sun and sea together fix your hair with a double whammy of dryness. You don't need to skip a beach vacation, hide your hair away, or wait until dusk to avoid the worst effects of beach fun on your looks.
Hot Oil for Your Hair
Have you ever given yourself a hot oil treatment? Heat helps conditioning agents penetrate hair shafts and improves the effectiveness of any conditioner. While a hot oil pack usually requires some hot water or a microwave, being on the beach gives you a golden opportunity to apply an all-day conditioner to your hair.
You can use your favorite day-to-day conditioner as a leave-in treatment, but chances are it's designed to wash away quickly. A better choice, especially if you have dry hair, is a thicker deep-conditioning treatment. If your hair is coarse, try a tropical beauty product that's been in use for centuries: pure coconut oil. In a pinch, you could even use your sunscreen as a conditioner.
Starting with clean, damp hair, apply a liberal amount of your favorite oil or conditioning cream to your hair, starting an inch or two below the roots and working your way to the ends. Comb the product through your hair. The heat of the day will infuse your hair with conditioner, leaving it supple and shiny.
Cover up with a beach hat while you enjoy lunch or shop if you prefer to keep your hair under wraps. If you plan an active day of beach volleyball, surfing, or parasailing, braid your conditioned hair to make it neat.
Blonde on the Beach with Lemon Juice
Do you want to lighten your hair and give it a sun-kissed look as you condition? Dampen it with lemon juice before adding your leave-in conditioner. Lemon juice acts as a natural, but effective bleaching agent on hair when exposed to sunlight.
For all-over lightening, comb the juice through your hair thoroughly for even distribution. You aren't limited to big changes, though; try picking up just a few strands to dampen as highlights. Wrap half a lemon in a piece of mesh or old stocking, squeeze it to get its juices flowing, and pat it on the uppermost layers of your hair to get a natural distribution of highlights. Adding highlights near your face creates a visual frame.
Acidic lemon juice can sting the tender skin of your scalp, so leave the roots of your hair alone. If you've ever squeezed a lemon and gotten juice in your eye, you know how irritating it can be; you want your hair damp with juice, not so wet that it drips into your eyes. More isn't necessarily better, and a light application of lemon will give you plenty of bleaching power over the course of the day.
If you find that your hair is lightening too much, wash out the juice if possible. If you aren't near your shower or a bottle of shampoo, slow the bleaching with a beach hat.
Resurface Your Lips
The delicate skin of your lips is prone to wind and sun damage. Using a sunscreen on them is vital. To make a sunscreen-infused lip balm that actually improves the condition of your lips as you wear it on the beach, exfoliate your lips with the balm before wearing it in the sun.
Using an old toothbrush or a rough washcloth, rub a little of your favorite lip balm on your lips to scrub away the dry outer layers of your skin. Then apply a thick coat of balm with sunscreen. What hot oil does for your hair, hot balm will do for your lips, making them silky and smooth. The friction of exfoliation will also leave your lips looking flushed and full without lipstick.
Exfoliate Your Feet
When you're on the beach, you're surrounded with an ideal exfoliating agent: sand. Just work your heels back and forth in the sand as you lie on the beach and you'll soften even the roughest feet. Finish with some sunscreen as a moisturizer. Your feet will be ready for strappy sandals.
Beach fun doesn't have to leave you looking shipwrecked. Enjoy a beauty treatment worthy of any spa while you spend your day on the beach.
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The History of Soap – The Evolution of Cleansing to the Beauty Soaps of Today
According to legend, soap was discovered when a group of Roman women were doing laundry at a river below Sapo Hill, beneath the site of a recent animal sacrifice. They were amazed to find their clothes coming clean as sudsy clay slid into the river from the sacrifice site.
While poetic, this myth isn’t very plausible. There are no Roman records of a place called “Sapo Hill,” and the Romans kept excruciatingly detailed geographic records. “Sapo” is simply the Latin word for “soap,” and it was probably “borrowed” from an ancient Germanic language.
The "animal sacrifice" aspect isn’t very likely, either. Roman sacrifices burned bones and entrails, not meat and fat. Any fat that did make it into the sacrifice wouldn’t have been enough to form soap.
The Real Beginnings of Soap
Our first real historical soap reference comes from Ancient Babylon. A recipe inscribed on a clay tablet calls for water, alkali and cassia oil. A later recipe included ashes, cypress oil and sesame seed oil. This was recommended for “washing stones for the servant girls,” and may have been used for laundering clothes.
In the Ebers Papyrus, dating from 1550 BCE, we learn the Ancient Egyptians took beauty baths with soaps created from animal and vegetable oils. They also used soap to cleanse wool for wraps and sarongs, and prepare it for weaving.
Greco-Roman Bath Time
Ancient Greeks and Romans went to public bathhouses and slicked themselves up with olive oil. They would then scrape the oil from their skin with a “strygil,” a tool shaped like a small sickle. The oil would render dirt and dead skin slippery, making it simple to scrape off.
Roman baths were complicated, involving rooms for oiling and scraping, hot water baths, cold water baths, massage and rooms for moisturizing with more oil. Bathing was a social activity, like going to the fitness club today. It was common to bathe first, then soak and socialize.
As for soap, they appeared not to have much use for it until around 150 AD. Galen recommends it for washing the body and clothes, but he claims the best soaps were made in Germanic and Gallic lands. Pliny the Elder mentions it prior to then, but only as a beauty pomade for hair.
The Celts and Germanic Peoples
The Romans probably learned about "sapo" from the Germans and Celts, who made “saipo” from animal fats, plants and ashes. Contrary to the popular view of filthy barbarians, some Saxon peoples were considered by contemporaries to be too clean. They bathed regularly on Saturday, still called “washing day” in some Scandinavian languages. It was also popular, especially in Iceland, to bathe in natural hot springs.
Ancient China
In another part of the world, Ancient China, a centuries-long tradition of herbal baths was popular with the nobility. It is recorded that from 1100 to 221 BCE fragrant herbs were added to baths to dispel body odor and ease the stress of summer heat. Later, from around 960 to 1280 AD, the public caught the herbal bath craze, indulging especially during spiritual rituals.
Early Christian Attitudes through and beyond the Middle Ages
Early church fathers considered bathing as unspiritual, and until the Middle Ages and even beyond, bathing was infrequent in the Christian world. Eventually, with the advancement of science and spreading of knowledge, bathing was finally viewed as beneficial and healthy.
Islamic Bathing
Islamic peoples used bathing establishments, called the “hammam,” or the “Turkish Bath.” Because their religious beliefs required frequent cleansing, going to the baths was a common excursion. They cleansed themselves first, and then socialized.
Bathing so often led to the creation of soap in bar and liquid form. Arabian soaps were luxurious and fragrant, incorporating perfumes and pretty colors. They even created an early version of shaving cream! They shipped to many countries, and some of their recipes were so perfect they are still popular today.
The Mayans, Aztecs and Conquistadors
On the other side of the world, the Ancient Mayans and Aztecs bathed in sweat lodges. They built adobe and mud huts called “temescals.” “Teme” means “to bathe,” and “calli” means “house.”
The temescal was no relaxing bubble bath! It was a ritual purification of body, mind and spirit. Hot rocks heated water to create steam. Healing herbs could be added, and the water could be carefully poured over the body. Soon a layer of slick grime formed on the skin as dirt was lifted away and toxins were drawn from the body. This could be scraped off with pumice.
When the Spaniards arrived from a land of proud non-bathers (no tubs, no bathhouses, certainly no sweat lodges!) they were appalled. The European belief, likely evolved from early Christian attitudes, was that bathing was unhealthy. One European queen bragged that she had only bathed two times in her life: once at birth, and once before her wedding.
Soap Production Increases
This aversion to bathing continued for centuries, but in the fifteen and sixteen hundreds, the practice picked up. French soaps became especially renowned. Some French recipes, such as castile soap, were so effective they are still used today, produced industrially and by small artisans.
But bathing remained inconvenient, and interest continued to rise and fall until the 1700s, when awareness of the connection between being clean and healthy grew. Soap production became wide spread and industrialized through the US and Europe. Recipes quickly multiplied to include fragrances, liquid and powder forms, lotions, and later, anti-bacterial agents.
Like bathing, soap hasn’t always been in vogue, and the practice of bathing with soap was often considered a luxury. Today, keeping clean is a basic human right and a science. There are specialized soaps for washing your hands, your hair, your dishes and your dresses, but each of these highly specific recipes evolved from simple, ancient traditions.
The Beauty Soaps of Today
Today, there are many formulas for beauty soaps which have specific advantages. They include herbs, natural oils, fragrances and other ingredients which enhance beauty, diminish flaws and bring out the best in your skin.
Oatmeal has been an ingredient in beauty soaps for centuries. Oatmeal softens and gently exfoliates skin. It’s a handy ingredient because it is so versatile. It absorbs excess oil in oily complexions, but also moisturizes drier skin. It helps to balance your skin’s pH levels. Oatmeal can be combined with other moisturizers, such as olive oil, honey or shea butter, or can blend with sugar or sea salt for an effective, gentle scrub.
Moisturizing soaps often contain ingredients such as honey, shea butter or olive oil. Also, ever since the first bar of soap was made, glycerin was included. Glycerin is a natural by-product of soap making, which is produced from the natural oils and fats, such as olive oil, coconut oil or tallow. Glycerin conditions the skin to absorb more moisture from the air throughout the day. Soaps containing higher quantities of glycerin are translucent, meaning light shines through them. Glycerin also dissolves easily, leaving no film on the skin, and is beneficial for irritated skin conditions, such as eczema.
Natural exfoliating ingredients include oatmeal, avocado, sugar and sea salt. Coffee grounds are an unconventional exfoliating aid, and have the added benefit of brightening and waking up the skin with caffeine. Ground almonds, flax seeds and wheat germ all gently rub away dead skin, bringing up the brighter, younger you beneath. These are all timeless exfoliants, but when choosing a natural soap, be careful to avoid products with “polyethylene” beads. These are basically tiny plastic beads in the soap, which do exfoliate your skin, but do not dissolve or biodegrade, and are not natural.
Fragrances in beauty soap are usually derived from plants, such as roses, jasmine or lilies. Make sure the fragrances are all natural, so they will soothe your skin and not irritate it. Herbs are also a popular choice. Herbs have long traditions of medicinal and health applications, and your skin can soak up these benefits through your beauty soap. Mint soap wakes up and refreshes your complexion. Rosemary beauty soaps can increase circulation, making it a good choice for skin at any age to rejuvenate and stimulate your complexion. Some rosemary soaps have pieces of the rough herb left in, which also acts as a gentle exfoliant.
There are even natural antibacterial agents that can kill bacteria in your skin pores, such as tea tree oil. It provides a natural solution to acne in beauty soaps.
Different formulas work well for different people, so assess your skin and what you would like your soap to do, then start shopping. Protect and beautify your skin with timeless exfoliants, moisturizers and beach hats to guard from the sun. Show your complexion off with other timeless beauty enhancers, such as a lovely sarong, jewelry or natural make up.
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How to Get Luxurious Legs – Exercises and Skin Care Tips for Great Gams
Smooth, shapely legs look absolutely glamorous in a sarong, stretched out on the beach, or walking around town in a short skirt. They get attention and build confidence, not to mention a pair of healthy legs means better health overall. But creating that longed-for look won’t happen overnight. It takes commitment, patience and self-care. We’ve got some tips that can make getting great legs a walk (or a run) in the park!
Exercises
There’s no way to achieve tone and shape without putting in the work. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are three simple exercises:
1. Chair Squats – Stand with your back to a chair, roughly a foot away. Bend your knees slightly, and squat until your butt taps the seat. Make sure you keep your knees behind your toes. When you stand, squeeze your glutes for support. Try to repeat it 10 times. This works your hips, quads and glutes.
2. Standing Leg Bend and Extension – You can use a small step for this, or a phone book if you have one. Stand on your step with one leg so that the other hovers over the floor, foot flexed. Lift that knee as high as you can. Lower the leg, swing it behind yourself, and keep your toes pointed. Shoot for 10 to 15 repetitions. This targets your hamstrings, hip flexors and core.
3. Calf Press – Stand with your feet under your hips. Rise up slowly on your toes, hold the pose for a count of five, then lower slowly. Try to keep your weight on your big toes. Try to do four sets of 20.
Hair Removal
Shaving your legs is the most traditional method of hair removal. It’s affordable and you can do it quickly in the shower. Make sure you use a good shaving cream. A good substitute is hair conditioner, which eases the movement of the razor on your skin. Take your time and apply antiseptic to any cuts.
Depending on how fast your hair grows, waxing may be a good option. You can wax at home or have a professional take care of you. Some women prefer to have it done professionally for the mess control and pampering that eases the possible pain of the experience.
Depilatory lotions can dissolve the hair right off your skin, but the effects generally last a short time. Also, if your hair is dark you may be able to see a “shadow” of hair just beneath the first layer of skin.
Tanning
The rule of thumb with tanning is: Not too much! Over-exposure to the sun can prematurely age your skin and cause sunburn and even skin cancer. The same goes for tanning beds. Don’t hit the beach or tanning bed without sun block or a sarong, and never use tanning oils. Depending on your skin tone, leave the SPF off for about fifteen minutes to get a little exposure, and then apply protection. Tanning can take several sessions. Start with a higher SPF and work your way down to a lower one.
About Veins
Spider veins are a nuisance, especially in beach clothes. You can cover them up with make-up, but try to prevent them by facilitating the circulation in your legs. Long unbroken sessions of sitting or standing strain your legs, as does wearing tight clothing and tight shoes. If you need an excuse to go get a massage, consider this your ticket! Massage increases circulation. If you can't make it to the massage therapist, massaging yourself can be just as effective. Elevate your legs and use a nourishing oil. Also, try to manage your weight, as being overweight puts more strain on your legs. The exercises we offered earlier will help, and will increase your circulation.
If you prefer to eradicate your spider veins surgically, laser therapy or sclerotherapy can help. Sclerotherapy is done in a doctor’s office with injections into the veins.
Always remember to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! You’ll ward off “alligator hide,” nourish your skin and repair any damage caused by tanning and shaving on a daily basis. Go on and make that mini-skirt your friend!
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How Water Hydrates and Rejuvenates You – A Natural Resource that Makes You Possible
You’ve heard the advice repeated by medical professionals, the media and a bevy of other sources, including your parents: drink eight glasses of water a day to stay healthy. Everybody knows that drinking water is good for them, but why exactly is that? What, precisely, does water do inside your body to keep you so healthy, hydrated and alive?
You Are a Body of Water
Stripped bare, the basic elements necessary for life on planet Earth are hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon. Two of these elements come together to make water, and only after this occurred did life on Earth become possible. Over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by this compound. 97% of this is saltwater oceans and seas. About 1% is usable by humans.
Your body is made of over 65% water, and your brain alone is more than 85% water. Your muscle tissue is composed of about 75% water. Water makes up around 25% of your fatty tissues.
Your body uses water for every biological function, and it keeps your body running like the magnificent machine it is. Water helps cells function and regenerate, builds blood plasma, flushes toxins, improves skin's elasticity and beauty, cleans your inner organs, lubricates joints, facilitates your immune system and more. The duties of water inside your body are virtually endless.
Here are a few specifics: - Your individual cells use water to maintain their temperature, their size and shape, and as a solvent to help them process nutrients. - In order to create your blood, your body takes water from your intestines and stomach. Pure water can be in your bloodstream within minutes after you drink it. - Digestive juices are around 98% water, so if you’re not hydrated you won’t be able to properly break down food or absorb nutrients. Your body senses a state of dehydration and retains what fluids it has, meaning you feel “bloated.” Simply drinking enough water every day can help you lose weight.
Dehydration
Urination isn’t the only way your body expels water. You lose hydration every time you breathe, sweat, blink, move and do basically anything at all. When your body doesn’t have the essential element it runs on, slight malfunctions can occur that can eventually evolve into health risks.
That said, most people are dehydrated much of the time, but don’t recognize the symptoms. Some of the more common symptoms include fatigue, headaches, weakness, dizziness, muscle pains, fluid retention and cramps. One complication of remaining dehydrated, especially if it’s a very warm day or you’ve been exercising, is your body could be unable to regulate its temperature, putting you at risk for heat stroke.
How Much Water Should You Drink?
If you’ve ever tried drinking 8 glasses a day and found yourself running to the bathroom every half hour, you’re not alone. The truth is that not everyone needs the standard 8 glasses every day. This recommendation was actually founded on not much more than a theory. The calculation assumes that the average adult urinates 1.5 liters per day, and loses another liter through basic bodily processes. Since the food we eat contains about 20% of our fluids, adults should take in 2 liters per day to replace all that is lost.
You may have already come to the conclusion that the 8 glass a day theory is a little flawed. You’re right! It doesn’t account for factors like individual health, weight, environment, climate and activities.
A safe way to stay hydrated is drinking enough water that you don’t ever become thirsty. Also, your urine should be clear or very light yellow. Drink more when you exercise!
Now that you know how important water is to everything from your basic bodily functions to your physical and emotional comfort, be sure to keep a bottle with you all the time. Drop a bottle in your beach bag on your way to relax by the saline compound that created all life and composes 97% of the planet’s crust. Even if you’re not playing volleyball or building sandcastles, but simply relaxing in a sarong on a beach towel, you still need to stay hydrated!
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Tips for Growing Beautiful Long Hair – Glamorous Locks from the Roots on Down, Down, Down!
Long hair is feminine, elegant and always in style. Lustrous locks falling to a woman’s waist or even lower draw everyone’s eyes, and are appropriate for all occasions. Long, shining hair looks glamorous at formal events, playful and flirty when out for a casual lunch, and sensuous and natural when strolling along the beach wrapped in a pretty sarong.
Growing long hair can be difficult, because almost every woman has a “terminal length.” Basically, the growth duration of your hair follicles is activated and deactivated by genetics. Your terminal length may be longer than you think, though. Once your hair is damaged, it stops growing quickly. Keeping it healthy over long periods of time takes commitment, but can result in enviable tresses that turn heads.
Nutrition for Long Hair
For hair to grow long, it must remain undamaged for years at a time. For this to happen, it must come out of your scalp as healthy and strong as possible. Take a multi-vitamin daily, preferably one that contains biotin. Some women even take prenatal vitamins for the rich nutrients that benefit their hair. Also, be sure to get adequate nutrition. Look for foods that increase circulation, such as green tea, foods that are rich in magnesium, such as almonds, and foods that are high in protein and iron.
Be careful when dieting. Don’t eliminate entire food groups from your diet, and try not to eliminate all fats. Dairy, meat, healthy oils and carbohydrates are good for your hair.
Trim Your Hair to Grow It
Despite what commercials say, there isn’t any way you can totally repair hair once it’s damaged. It seems counterintuitive, but in order to grow long hair, you must cut it. Get rid of the damage! You may only need to trim off several inches, or it may be more than you’re comfortable cutting. Just remind yourself that it’s an investment for the future and snip away! If you treat your hair well from here on out, that’s one of the last times you should have to cut any significant length. After the initial trim, take off another half inch every three to four months. This is “damage control” and will remind your hair to keep growing.
Invest in good scissors that you reserve only for hair trimming. Consider these your “sacred shears” and don’t use them for anything else.
If you have a professional stylist trim your hair, make sure it’s someone you trust. It’s in a salon’s best interests to keep you coming back with styles that need upkeep, so make sure your stylist understands your hair growth goals and is willing to help.
Treat Your Hair Like Gold
From this point on you should treat your hair as though it is made of the most delicate silk. Be careful not to put it in styles that strain or stress your strands. Stay away from small braids, tight coils, corn rows and dreadlocks. When pulling it back, don’t yank too hard. Pass on shampoos, conditioners or styling products that contain harsh chemicals, and swear off perms, peroxides and straighteners for good!
When it comes to hair accessories, don’t use anything that could potentially damage your hair. Remember, once it’s damaged it’s gone for good. Don’t use rubber bands or harsh barrettes with sharp edges that can cause kinks. Don’t use Velcro, and be very careful with springs that can capture strands in themselves. Stick with hair-safe scrunchies and ponytail holders.
Massage your scalp every time you wash your hair to increase circulation, but make a commitment not to over wash. Try for every three days, or every two days if your hair starts looking greasy. You want to preserve the natural oils your scalp produces as long as possible.
Growing long, glamorous hair is for every woman who wants it! Never listen to anyone who says long locks wouldn’t be right for you, for whatever reason. Make a long term commitment to pamper your hair, and pay attention to the products that work well for you. Minimize damage and maximize nutrition. You’re on your way to a luxurious, head-turning mane!
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Organic and Natural Make Up – Pure, Healthy and Beautiful
All-natural and organic make up is all the rage these days, and it’s likely to continue growing in popularity. As more women become educated and determine to use products that won’t poison their bodies, cosmetics containing carcinogens, fossil fuels, animal byproducts and other undesirable ingredients become less—er—alluring. The allure of organic cosmetics is that they provide beauty while actually nourishing your skin and your body, being made with natural oils, minerals, vitamins and plant extracts. Some natural make up actually improves the quality of your skin, moisturizing and clarifying, making you look more radiant even after you take it off.
Foundations and Powders
Every girl deserves an even, brilliant skin tone. However, evening out your skin with conventional foundations and powders means you’re also getting unwanted ingredients like parabens (carcinogens), BHT (another carcinogen) and fragrance phthalates (which can cause hormone troubles).
If you use liquid foundations, organic versions are made of natural, healthy oils such as coconut and soothing calendula oil. Natural colors are obtained with minerals, fruit pigments and plant extracts. Effective, natural powder make up is also available, made from crushed minerals which perfect your complexion while nourishing your skin. Many also contain natural SPF, which can protect your skin from sun damage if you step out without your beach hat! They’re less greasy, which means they don’t clog your pores and contribute to acne as much as standard cosmetics.
Lipsticks
There’s nothing like picking out a new tube of lipstick to make you feel pretty. But too many conventional lipsticks are made with ingredients so toxic they should be kept under the kitchen sink, not in your cosmetic cabinet. Parabens, D&C pigments (synthetics linked to Alzheimer’s and cancer), and animal byproducts like cow brains, spinal cord tissue and fish scales (advertised as “pearlescence”) are all present. Ick!
The more natural alternatives contain ingredients like castor oil, orange oil, shea butter, beeswax and cocoa butter. Not only do they moisturize your lips, but colors derived from fruits, plants and minerals add nutrients to beauty. Slide on a vibrant color that compliments your sarong and protects your lips from the sun with natural SPF.
Eyeshadow
Standard eyeshadows employ all the synthetics already mentioned, as well as some that haven’t been. They also use a lot of strong ingredients that shouldn’t be used around the delicate eye area. Talc, for instance, has been found to lead to respiratory damage.
Natural shadows nourish your eyes while making them stand out with vibrant plant-based pigments and minerals. They incorporate natural oils and corn silk, which absorbs oil to keep the powder from getting clumpy on your skin. Soothing chamomile calms irritated or stressed eyes and the delicate skin around them, while vitamins, such as A, E and C provide a smooth finish. Choose a lovely, vibrant color that matches a gemstone bracelet for overall organic beauty.
Mascara
Just because you can darken your lashes with varnish, tar and “incompletely combusted hydrocarbon gas or oil,” doesn’t mean you should. Why do so, when natural mascaras provide length and color with vitamins, beeswax and herbs? Natural tints from cocoa, berries and black tea darken your lashes, while also perking up your peepers with a little caffeine.
A Word on Natural vs. Botanical Cosmetics
“Natural” cosmetics contain no synthetics, artificial colors or preservatives.
“Botanical” cosmetics contain plant extracts and oils, and generally don’t contain synthetics.
Many make ups that are made of minerals, such as face powders and foundations, don’t contain any plant extracts at all. While they’re not exactly the same thing, they are very close, and a single make up can be both natural and botanical.
When you’re buying natural make up, always read the ingredients to ensure you’re getting what you pay for. Some conventional companies would like to cash in on the natural make up market by slipping in decidedly unnatural, less expensive ingredients. Organic cosmetics may cost more up front, but they’re not all unaffordable. Considering that they nourish your beauty, your health and the planet, they are worth their price!
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Wearing Perfume in Warm Weather – Some Tips
When you think of a tropical beach, scents of coconut-infused lotions, salty marine air, and fragrant blooms may come to mind. Let those rich, exotic scents inspire your choice of perfume while you're on vacation. Whether you decide to pick out something new to wear for your trip or stay true to your signature fragrance, you'll want to consider how the sultry weather will affect your perfume's impact.
To understand how fragrance is composed, think of musical notes on a scale. Top notes are the first impressions you get of a perfume, the light and fleeting scents that evaporate most quickly. The middle notes or heart notes are the "body" of the fragrance; middle notes emerge a few minutes after application and linger for a few hours afterward. Base notes in a perfume last for many hours, a period also called the dry-down.
In warm weather, top notes evaporate almost immediately and base notes become more prominent. Perfume dissipates quickly, but becomes more intense in heat. Think of how a scented candle's aroma fills the room as it burns, but turns faint as the wax cools.
Keep It Light
Fragrances are available in different concentrations. Parfums or extraits contain the highest concentration of the aromatic compounds that give the perfume its scent. Eau de parfum, eau de toilette, and eau de cologne contain a respectively lower amount of aromatics, making them lighter but less lasting than parfum. Body mists, splashes, and scented lotions contain the smallest percentage of fragrance.
Wearing perfume in warmer weather can be tricky. You'll want to steer the middle course between wearing a fragrance so light that it dissipates within an hour of your putting it on and using a lasting scent that leaves an almost palpable cloud around you.
For warm climates, look for a concentration of fragrance that's one step lighter than what you customarily wear. Taking your fragrance lighter reduces its staying power somewhat, but it's easier to re-apply a light misting of fragrance than to remove an excess of it.
Layering for Lasting Fragrance
The key to wearing fragrance in warm weather is to layer it. Think of perfume the way you think of dressing for the weather. When it's cold, you'd wear a thick coat, a heavy layer meant to keep you wrapped in warmth. In tropical heat, you'll opt for light layers that you can remove as the day grows warmer; a swimsuit with a cover-up or sarong is all you need for days on the beach.
By the same token, layering sheer washes of fragrance will give it lasting power without becoming overwhelming. A scented soap, lotion, and eau de cologne with the same scent makes it subtler, but more complex than a single heavy application of parfum.
If you'd like to try something more unusual, consider layering different complementary fragrances together. The effect can be as stunning, the olfactory equivalent of a watercolor painting created with translucent washes of color. Choose scents with similar base notes for warm weather wear as these long-lasting elements will predominate. Adding a vanilla-scented soap and powder to a perfume with a strong vanilla component changes the personality of the scent and makes it uniquely yours.
Which Scent to Wear?
There are as many theories about how to choose the ideal perfume for your body chemistry as there are perfumes. How you'll wear a perfume depends on so many factors--the oiliness of your skin, your favorite foods, where you apply your fragrance--that the best way to choose your scent is to try it. Before your vacation, collect two or three promising scents and wear them throughout the day, preferably in warm conditions.
To narrow down your options, draw inspiration from your destination. A floral featuring tropical blooms like plumeria, frangipani, and orchid would put anyone in the mood for an island vacation. Spicier oriental fragrances might include Tahitian vanilla and Ceylon cinnamon. Or you might be inspired by the sea and gravitate to modern aquatic fragrances cooled with cucumber notes or brightened with citrus.
While there are no absolute rules about which scents not to wear in the heat of a beach vacation, some scents are more suited to the climate than others. Soliflores--perfumes made from a single flower--may feel too shy for the expansive warmth of the tropics. Heavy patchouli, amber, and myrrh could become overwhelming as they evaporate more quickly in the heat, so wear them with caution.
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Best Beach Styles for Long Hair – How to Keep Long Locks Looking Lush
No matter what its type or texture, long hair requires more delicate care. Very long hair can be a decade old at its ends, and during its tenure it's seen a lot of wear. Wind, salt, chlorine, and sun can contribute to hair damage, leaving it dry and split. Long hair gets in the way of beach volleyball games and other fun in the sun, too, so keeping it out of the way isn't just for the sake of your hair, but your temper.
Beach style should look effortless, and that goes for your hair as well. Just as you look perfectly put together just by tying a sarong at your waist and slipping on a pair of sunglasses, your beach hairstyle will look great if you don't fuss over it too much. "Less is more" should be your motto.
The Classic Ponytail
Never out of style, the classic pony is the simplest of long hair styles for the beach. A ponytail keeps your hair looking neat and feels cool on your neck. You could simply brush your hair back and add a plain ponytail holder, but why not try some variations on the theme?
For example, if you usually wear your ponytail about halfway between your nape and your crown, try shifting its position. Wrap a high-crown ponytail with multiple bands at the base to give it a dramatic "stalk" from which it flows; this works especially well with very long hair. Or go in the opposite direction and wear a low ponytail for a more sophisticated look.
You aren't limited to simple elastics, either. Remember fabric "scrunchies" from the 1980s? While they aren't for office wear, they look great at the beach. Fabric-wrapped elastic is kind to fragile hair, too, making it a good choice for long, thick hair that would otherwise show a ponytail dent when the holder is removed. Look for scrunchies that match your bathing suit or sarong for a little retro appeal.
Braids and More Braids
Long hair lends itself to braiding so well that it's been the go-to hairstyle for women for centuries. Bo Derek's cornrows in the movie "10" made a splash, but all-over skinny braids take major effort. Instead, try just a few thicker braids; they'll still keep your hair neat and well-protected, but you can achieve the style yourself before hitting the beach.
A single "Tomb Raider"-style braid down your back looks phenomenal with a simple bathing suit; go for this classic style if you have thick hair. For finer hair, try a pair of plaits behind your ears. If you prefer to leave some of your hair loose, add thinner braids just where your hair tends to get in the way--braid your bangs into a French braid that acts as a hairband for the rest of your hair, for example. A single side braid is as effortless as it looks.
The traditional three-strand braid isn't your only option, either. French braids, fishtail braids, four-strand braids, and box braids are just a few of the more complex possibilities you can play with if you have long hair. You can even braid your braids if it suits your fancy.
To keep braids orderly, add some conditioner to them as you're braiding. You'll not only make beautiful braids, you'll enhance your hair's shine and texture as you enjoy your day at the beach.
The Un-Fussy Bun
Hair in buns may conjure images of spinsters or high-strung ballerinas, but a messy bun is always beach-ready. The key is how you affix the hair in place--secure a beachy bun not with dozens of fussy little pins, but with two big hair-sticks or a stork-beaked clasp right across its center. Winding long hair into a bun and skewering it with a pair of chopsticks couldn't be simpler.
For variety, braid a few strands of hair before winding them into a bun. Don't feel you need to limit yourself to a single bun at the nape of your neck, either; two mini-buns on either side of your head near the crown look adorable on the beach.
Clips and Clasps
Simple accessories help hold long hair in place at the beach. Salt could corrode metal, so stick to easy-care plastic and cloth accessories at the beach or in the pool.
If you prefer your hair loose, but want to keep it out of your face, use some cheerful plastic barrettes to hold back your bangs. Long layered hairstyles can make great use of these little clips. Fasten braids with oversized plastic beads for a fun take on cornrows.
The essence of beach chic is looking like you aren't even trying. No one else has to know how much time you spent on your perfect pony or bountiful braids--you'll know that you look great and that your long hair is getting the protection it deserves.
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How to Choose Your Best Blonde Shade – Picking the Perfect Blonde for Your Skin Tone
According to lore, gentlemen prefer them and they have more fun, so who wouldn't want to try blonde hair? Most women who change their hair color will try a walk on the blonde side at some point. Not all blonde shades are equally well-suited to their wearers, though. Pick the most flattering blonde shade by taking an analytical approach toward your natural skin and hair color palette.
Get used to your blonde before swimsuit season so you'll be used to your new hair color once it's time to strut your stuff in summer dresses and sarongs. Blonde hair requires more care regardless of its hue, so get used to wearing a beach hat or a scarf with your new blonde locks. The up side is that you'll look fabulously retro with your big sunglasses and covered coiffure.
Fair or Dark?
The natural color of your hair and skin should guide your choice of blonde. The lightest skin tones can pull off everything from a dark almost-brown blonde to full-on platinum, but the palest shades will leave you washed out without the right makeup. People with dark skin tones should look at richer shades like caramel and cafe au lait blonde. Too-pale hair looks over-processed and artificial with darker skin tones. Not sure where your skin tone falls on the spectrum? If you were blonde as a child, you can probably pull off a paler shade of blonde; if you've been a brunette for life, stay toward the deeper end of the blonde pool.
Regardless of which shade you choose, stay within three shades of your natural hue for your base color. If you've been gifted with naturally raven-black hair, “blonde” is a relative term for you; light blonde shades would require a professional two-step process and a lot of upkeep. Instead, try lightening to a deep chocolate brown and adding caramel highlights for a softer and more natural look.
Warm or Cool?
Place a piece of pure white paper against your inner wrist, the same spot where you apply your perfume. Look at the color of your skin as it contrasts with the white paper. If you're seeing a blue or lavender hue, you have a cool skin tone. Greenish or golden tones to your skin? Your coloration is warm.
Can't tell whether you're warm or cool? You might be neutral-toned. If you're one of these rare skin types, you'll have your pick of the middle range of blonde shades.
Best Blondes for Cool-Toned Skin
If you're cool-toned, you've probably noticed that you look your best in clear pinks, true blues, rich purples, emerald greens, and candy-apple reds. Your best neutrals are pure white and black. You may burn more easily than you tan and spend most of your summer days under a beach hat.
Choose blonde shades with the words “ash,” “cool,” or “platinum.” These are the classic Hitchcock blonde hues, frosty shades that flatter cool-toned skin. Your best blondes range from the palest Scandinavian flax to sophisticated fawns and beiges. If you pine for sunny golden blonde hues despite your cool skin tone, choose an ashy shade for your base color and highlight with golden tones just a shade warmer and lighter than your ash blonde base.
If your skin has strong pink overtones, avoid going too ashy with your blonde hair. The contrast will emphasize the pink in your skin. Instead, opt for medium blonde shades that make you look appealingly rosy, not ruddy.
Best Blondes for Warm-Toned Skin
People with warm undertones to their skin look their best in autumnal and earthy hues. Think of rich golds, vivid oranges, warm browns, salmon pinks, and mossy greens. Navy, cream, and bone are your neutrals of choice. When you tan, you look golden or bronzed. You rarely burn.
Your best blondes have names that include the words “golden,” “warm,” “caramel,” and “copper.” Yours are the sun-kissed shades that are a natural fit with a breezy summer dress. Golden hair flatters your golden skin, but avoid matching your hair and your skin tone too closely. If you wish you could wear the cool platinum and champagne tones that cool-toned blondes wear, add cooler highlights to a warmer base color.
Fair-skinned peaches-and-cream complexions work with strawberry and wheat-colored blondes. Darker skin tones look beautiful with caramel and darker gold tones. Avoid going too yellow, though, if you have an olive skin tone. When trying to decide between two blonde shades, choose the cooler of the two; you'll keep your color free of brassy notes.
There's only one way to find out if blondes really do have more fun. Consult with your stylist or, if you're bold, start shopping the hair coloring aisle for your perfect shade of blonde. You'll be ready for summer with a pareo at your hips, a cool glass of something refreshing in your hand, and a head-turning new shade of blonde as your crowning glory.
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Hottest Lipstick Trends for Summer – Bold Color, Shimmer, and Sheers
After a decade of barely-there lips throughout most of the 2000s, the new decade dazzles with brilliant color for spring and summer. Whether it's the popularity of ultra-feminine vintage looks or just a swing of the fashion pendulum, the hottest lipstick trends on runways and red carpets involve a dramatic return to color and texture. These looks aren't for the shy, but even the boldest lip statement becomes wearable with a few minor adjustments.
Oranges and Corals
If there was one “it” color for lips on the fashion catwalk, it was coral. Somewhere between pink and orange, this sunset hue flatters both cool and warm skin tones depending on which way you want to take it. When it's bold, coral becomes almost fluorescent—a traffic-stopping color that can't fail to get you noticed. Corals can be soft, too; gentler hues evoke warm spring days spent in sandals and sun dresses.
Avant-garde designers and those at the fashion forefront are going for the intense poppy and tangerine shades in creamy, matte formulas. The color statement here is so bold that lips almost look pressed on with a stamp. This orange is as opaque as the stripe of titanium oxide you might wear on your nose at the beach. It's not a natural look at all—but it is stunning on someone with medium to dark skin and the nerve to dare such a dramatic color.
Not in the mood to make that much of a statement? Tame the tonal roar of bright orange lips with a kiss of pink and choose softer tones like peach and melon. Matte and satiny finishes keep these colors office-appropriate and fashion-forward at the same time. If you want to turn it down to a whisper, go for a sheer gloss without too much shine. Gloss is a great look at the beach for when you want to match the colorful sarongs and swimsuits that are hot for summer, but don't want to overshadow them with mega-lips.
Steer clear of this trend if you have discolored teeth. Orange hues demand pearly whites. Coral is much more forgiving than true orange for most skin tones.
The Deepest Burgundies
Wine-dark lips have been a fall staple off and on for decades, but this season these rich hues are big for summer. What makes dark lips look right for sarongs and sandals instead of boots and balaclavas? Balancing the rest of the face around this intense lip color keeps it from coming on too strong. The rest of your makeup should be scrupulously neutral, almost conservative. Choose a subdued matte finish for lips during the day and high gloss for evening.
Wine and burgundy shades are surprisingly friendly to almost every skin tone, although very fair folks need to keep their application light if they want to avoid a goth look. Wear a sheer wine stain to stay on-trend and boardroom-ready. If you're wearing it poolside, remember that dark colors absorb light; wear a beach hat if you don't want to have literal hot lips.
Skip this look or tone it down to a soft plum shade instead of deep burgundy if you have fine lines around your mouth.
Frosts, Shimmer, and Shine
Metallic shadows and highlighters for eyes and cheeks continue to be big for spring, but for summer, lipsticks join the shimmering party. Designers who didn't go with matte lips made a strong statement in the other direction, using heavily metallic pastels and darker shades so high-gloss that they looked like patent leather. The key to texture for lips this summer is to go big or go home—matte lips are velvety, shimmery lips are frosted, and glossed lips are glassy.
If you dare to go full-on metallic, choose a flattering pastel. Darker hues don't show sparkle as well. Pair frosted shades with a mostly matte or satiny face to keep from looking overly shiny. Shimmer is one trend you can take to the office as well as the nightclub, but leave the super-shiny gloss for evening wear. It's a little sexy for the boardroom.
Avoid pairing frosty neutral lips with blue eye shadow. That look is straight out of the late 1970s and unless you're a diehard fan of vintage “Me Generation” style, it's too literal an interpretation of the decade. If your lips are very full and you'd like to minimize them, dot gloss or shimmer only on the center of your lips.
Lipstick is one of the most accessible indulgences to enjoy this summer, so try working some of the latest lipstick trends into your personal style. If you find it isn't really “you,” it's an easy fix—just remove it and move on to the next delectable hue.
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Argan Oil for Your Hair – How It Keeps Your Locks Lush
If you've been a follower or a setter of trends in beauty, you've probably noticed that every few years brings a new miracle product. Jojoba oil, coconut oil, and butters from cocoa to shea have had their adherents. They're still readily available on store shelves, and that's a testament to their effectiveness. These oils and unguents really do moisturize well and leave your hair and skin smooth, shiny, and soft. However, they aren't magical; no product is.
So what makes argan oil different from the rest of the natural products that work, but aren't quite the miracle-workers their manufacturers touted?
What's Special About Argan Oil
Argan oil differs from other vegetable oils first in its rarity. The argan tree grows almost exclusively in Morocco, where it has recently become a protected species. As the tree was one of the few that grew well in arid conditions, its wood was a boon to desert-dwelling people who harvested the plant almost to extinction.
Rarity alone does not a beauty miracle make, though. Argan oil is also rich in fatty acids, vitamin E, and the anti-oxidant carotenes. Although pure argan oil is edible, it's so costly that more people have taken to applying it to their skin and hair than eating it as a dipping oil with bread as the Moroccans traditionally do. Researchers are following up on an experiment that suggested argan oil actually reduced sebum production—any oil that could make oily hair less oily does begin to seem a little more special than the other jars and bottles on the shelves.
Another aspect of argan oil that sets it apart from other oils is the method of obtaining it. A cooperative of Berber women is the sole source for all of the world's argan oil. They harvest the argan nuts, press them, and strain the oil for fair-trade wages that go toward improving their communities and educating their kids. While the origin of the oil alone won't beautify your hair, it's something to consider when you're shopping for a new hair product to try.
How Argan Oil Improves Your Hair
All oil-based hair products have three things in common. All of them make the hair shafts more pliant, add lubrication, and create an occlusive seal. Natural sebum does the same thing, but also leaves a waxy, dull film on your hair; that's why it's so important to wash the oil away before paradoxically restoring oil to your hair.
Argan oil is loaded with EFAs, or essential fatty acids. These compounds make hair shafts flexible and springy. Think of how a dry spaghetti strand snaps at the slightest pressure versus how bendable cooked pasta becomes. Argan oil and other EFA-rich oils make brittle hair less prone to breakage and split ends.
Oil is also a lubricant. A hair shaft that freely slips past its sisters without snagging or tangling sustains less damage and breakage over time. If you were to look at damaged hair under a microscope, you would see spots that looked like frayed ropes where little tangles and rubs abraded the hair shaft. Argan oil smooths these roughened patches and keeps hair flowing. That smooth coating of light oil also makes your hair shiny to see and soft to the touch.
Like all oils, argan doesn't mix well with water. For your hair, that's a good thing; it allows the hair shafts to maintain a stable internal moisture level while protecting them from the humidity that makes them frizz and the aridity that turns them into hay.
Where argan oil rises above other oils is in its hefty dose of anti-oxidant carotenes and vitamin E. Anti-oxidants help preserve your hair color—whether it's natural or enhanced—from the damage that ultraviolet rays can do to pigment molecules. If you've ever had a hair color turn to brass, you know how much damage oxidation can do.
How to Use Argan Oil on Your Hair
Thanks to its rarity and hand-produced manufacture, argan oil tends to be costly. Fortunately, a little bit of it goes a long way on your hair.
Apply a few drops of argan oil to the palm of your hand and rub it briskly between your hands to distribute the oil on your skin. Then run your hands through your damp or dry hair, focusing on areas that sustain the most wear such as the tips and the outermost layer of hair that's most exposed to the elements. If it soaks in quickly to porous hair, repeat the process.
For a deep conditioning treatment, use a larger amount of argan oil—a dime-sized dollop for shorter hair and as much as a quarter-sized amount for long hair—in your hair, then braid it for a day at the beach or near the pool. The sun's heat will help the oil soak in even if you're wearing your beach hat. If you're lucky enough to live near a beach, try this deep treatment once a week; carry your oil with you along with other beach essentials like your sarong and your sandals so that you'll never miss a treatment. Your hair will thank you for it.
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Five Beach Beauty Essentials – Pack These In Your Beach Tote
One of the best things about a day on the beach is how unencumbered you feel. Your swimsuit, a pair of sandals, and a colorful sarong plus a beach bag are all the accessories you need. That tote merits a second look, though; what are the absolute essentials you need in it aside from your towel and the latest beach read?
Sunscreen
Dermatologists estimate that 80 percent of what we used to call “premature aging” is actually damage from the sun's ultraviolet rays, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Those little lines you see at 50 are a by-product of your sunburn today. The good news is that you don't have to see those little lines at 50—or maybe even 60. Use protection from the sun's harmful rays today to prevent tomorrow's sunburn and a future year's smile lines.
The best sunscreen to pack in your beach bag is at least SPF 30 and waterproof. Higher SPF numbers give better protection. Fair-skinned folks should go even higher than the minimum and aim for at least SPF 50. You'll want to pick a waterproof formula to keep you safe from too much sun even if you don't plan to swim; perspiration washes away sunscreen within two hours for most people. Apply sunscreen half an hour before being in the sun, but take that bottle with you, as you'll need to reapply every couple of hours.
Lip Balm
Lips get sun damage, too. Prevent the worst of the sun's depredations with a lip balm containing sunscreen. Sun can burn your lips; seawater dries them; and wind chaps them; they need something strong to protect them. Choose a heavy, occlusive formula rather than a light lotion-like balm.
Traditional waxy stick formulas work well, but can melt in a beach tote. If you're lucky enough to have an ice chest with you, pop your stick-style lip balm on ice. Otherwise, look for a formula in a small jar or squeezable tube with a tight-fitting lid. Steer clear of products containing high concentrations of menthol or mint. These chemicals feel cool when you first apply them, but over time, they dry your lips.
Conditioner
It may seem strange to lug a bottle of conditioner with you to the beach, but you'll love the results you get from applying conditioner to your hair as you enjoy your fun in the sun. Choose a light conditioner or oil and distribute it throughout clean, damp hair, avoiding your roots. Then put your hair in a braid or bun and top it with a beach hat. Re-apply conditioner throughout the day as your hair soaks it up. When you take your evening shower or bath and wash your hair, you'll have unbelievably silky hair thanks to its all-day conditioning treatment.
If you're swimming in a chlorinated pool, conditioner helps keep chloride ions from taking up residence in your hair and turning it a funky color. However, the pool maintenance folks won't love you for leaving an oil slick in the pool, so don a swimming cap if you can bear it. If swimming caps aren't for you, go lightly on the conditioner.
Aloe Vera Gel
Manufacturers sell aloe vera gel as a mild remedy for the discomfort of a sunburn, but it's a good thing to have with you at the beach even if you don't get burned (which you won't because you smartly used your sunscreen). This oil-free moisturizing agent helps keep your skin hydrated without clogging your pores.
Aloe vera won't interfere with your sunscreen's effectiveness as long as you apply it a few minutes before you use your sunscreen. Using the gel before you apply your sunscreen gives your skin a dose of welcome moisture and feels wonderfully cool in the heat of the day. Use it about ten minutes before your sunscreen reapplications to keep your skin feeling its best.
Water
You may have an entire ocean of it for swimming, but you also need to stow plenty of fresh water in your beach tote or ice chest. Drinking water regularly helps replenish the fluids your body loses due to perspiration. You also need fresh water to rinse salt water or chlorinated pool water from your skin and hair after swimming.
Your body contains around 60 percent water, so replenishing fluids as you lose them is crucial not only to your comfort, but your health. If you're indulging in a few adult beverages as well, you'll need even more water, as alcohol dehydrates. Pack along at least a quart for drinking and another for rinsing if you don't have ready access to a beach shower.
You don't need to pack a suitcase for a day at the beach, but storing these five beauty basics in your beach bag will keep you looking and feeling your best both at the beach and once you get home.
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The Milk of Magnesia Mask – Good for Your Stomach, Great for Your Skin
You're probably familiar with milk of magnesia as a remedy for a mild upset stomach. If you're planning a vacation, you might even have packed along a little bottle of it just in case all that rich food didn't agree with you. One dose is usually enough to get you back to the beach in your sarong and sandals rather than stuck in your room.
Did you know, though, that the same milk of magnesia that helps a stomach complaint also clears your skin? Magnesium hydroxide quells an unquiet stomach and reduces acid, but it also reduces shine and blemishes on your skin. It's appropriate for any skin type, but how you use it will vary based on your own unique complexion.
Some ground rules for the milk of magnesia mask apply to all skin types. If you can find an unscented, unflavored variety, choose that one. Minty flavors make the medicine taste better, but mint is a potential irritant to skin. Don’t let the milk of magnesia get into your eyes to avoid any harm to your eyes. And, as milk of magnesia can be powerfully drying, avoid using it near your eyes or on your lips. Drying is a good thing on oil-producing regions of your face, but not so much on more delicate tissues.
Use the mask the night before you have a big event, not the day of the event; while few people have a negative reaction to this mild facial treatment, you'll have better results from it the next day.
The Milk of Magnesia Mask for Oily Skin
If you're prone to excess oil, milk of magnesia will gently dry your oil-producing sebaceous glands without parching your skin. Use your favorite cleanser to wash up before you try the mask; it's most effective on clean, dry skin. Apply a thin coating of milk of magnesia to your face with a cotton ball and allow it to dry, about 10 or 15 minutes. Try to confine the mask to the most oil-prone areas of your face and go sparingly with it on less oily areas such as your cheeks.
After 15 minutes, wash your face with tepid water and follow with the rest of your beauty routine. You should notice less oily skin immediately, but with repeated once-weekly uses, you may also notice reduced oil production even on your non-mask days.
If your skin is highly oil-prone, you could try milk of magnesia as a leave-on mask. Although a thick layer of the fluid turns white and chalky as it dries, a thin layer remains clear and forms a solid base for makeup. Using a damp cotton ball dipped in a few drops of milk of magnesia, sweep the liquid onto your nose, your forehead, and anywhere else that needs strong oil control. Let it dry, then use a cosmetic brush or dry cotton ball to buff away any residual chalkiness. Then apply your makeup as usual.
Milk of Magnesia for Troubled Skin
Magnesium hydroxide is a mild antiseptic that can reduce skin inflammation and calm a breakout. If your skin is acne-prone, try milk of magnesia either as a mask or full-strength as a spot treatment on blemishes.
Using a cotton swab, dab undiluted milk of magnesia onto active blemishes. Unlike strong benzoyl peroxide preparations, magnesium hydroxide doesn't act as a bleach. The liquid will dry up the oil that contributes to clogged pores, gently cleanse the area of harmful flora that cause inflammation, and desiccate active pimples.
If you have large pores on your nose and cheeks, try using diluted milk of magnesia as a primer before you apply your foundation. The liquid's texture lets it fill in large pores and make them appear shallower and smaller. Both oil-based and water-based makeup should apply evenly over a thin coat of magnesium hydroxide.
Milk of Magnesia for Dry Skin
If your skin is dry overall, avoid using the mask anywhere but on the areas that you want to clarify or minimize pores. While oilier complexions tolerate 15 minutes of the mask, those with dry skin should leave it on for five to seven minutes. Wash the mask off while it's still damp instead of waiting for it to dry. You'll still get the benefit of its mildly astringent and antiseptic properties.
For very dry skin, try diluting the mask with a one-to-one ratio of aloe vera gel. Although the two substances are reluctant to mix at first, a little work will produce a translucent white paste that clarifies skin without drying it unduly. Follow up with an emollient night moisturizer of your choice.
Regardless of your skin type, your milk of magnesia mask will keep your skin looking smooth, soft, and clear for pennies per use. With the money you save on fancy treatments and spa extractions, you could spring for a new pair of sandals or a great new purse.
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Treat Yourself to a Stay-Cation Day – The Spa Experience Without the Expense
Everyone knows what a vacation is and how important they are for your well-being. Spending long days by the pool, luxuriating on the beach, visiting the resort's full-service spa, having no bigger worries in your head than whether to tie your sarong or clip it--who doesn't pine for a vacation?
Unfortunately, vacations cost. Spa vacations at posh resorts cost even more. If you need to decompress but can't manage a spa vacation, try a spa "stay-cation" in your own home. You can't replicate every aspect of a resort vacation without a full staff of resort personnel, but you can enjoy many of the same relaxing, pampering treats that make a spa vacation so restorative for your mind and body.
Who knows--if you save enough from your frugal stay-cations, you might have a real vacation in your future sooner than you'd thought.
Preparation
You'll want your stay-cation day to be as low-stress as possible, so prepare your environment the night before. Chill a pitcher of water with a few slices of lemon or lime to sip as you bathe and prepare your sugar scrub ahead of time. If you plan to add herbs or oils to your bath, start with a clean slate and scrub your tub now to make sure it's pristine for your spa stay-cation. If you like music, collect your favorite relaxing pieces to listen to as you bathe.
Mix your masks if you're making them yourself. If you're using ingredients that don't keep well once sliced such as avocado, set everything up to prepare the mask quickly during your spa day. If you have a tray handy, arrange all the things you'll need on it so you'll have them at your fingertips throughout the day.
Tell your friends that you won't be available--and mean it. If you wouldn't accept a call from your mom, your boss, or that friend who loves to chat while you're up to your neck in a spa tub full of scented water, you don't need to accept the call during your stay-cation. If you have kids, arrange a play date for them or have Dad take them to the zoo. This is your time.
Starting Your Stay-Cation
If you're the breakfast-eating type, enjoy a leisurely, but spa-like breakfast of fresh fruit and an egg-white omelet. Donuts are delicious, but you'll feel more pampered with more healthful fare on your plate. Dress up your meal with a few artfully-sliced strawberry fans or sprigs of parsley; you deserve to eat pretty food. Can't stomach breakfast? Try a cup of green tea with lemon.
After breakfast, head to your bath. Light the candles and switch on the music you'd set up the night before; this is the payoff for your preparations. Settle back and soak in a warm bath if you want to relax, a cool one if you want to wake yourself up. If you're giving yourself a moisturizing facial that doesn't need to dry, apply it as you bathe. Treat yourself to a sugar or salt scrub, then rinse off in the shower.
A long bath is the perfect time to give your hair a deep conditioning treatment. Use your favorite brand or, if you prefer to go the homemade route, try mashing half an avocado with a tablespoon of honey and a tablespoon of mayonnaise. It may smell like salad, but the oils in the avocado and mayo condition hair as the honey and egg yolk keep the mask from becoming too oily. After the mask, wash your hair thoroughly and condition as usual.
Towel yourself dry with the fresh fluffy towels you set out the previous night.
Spa-Style Treatments
While no massage you give yourself feels quite as good as what a professional gives, you can treat yourself to a foot massage. Use a peppermint-scented lotion as the pros do. Try tossing a couple of golf balls or a few handfuls of marbles into an old sock; roll your feet over the sock for a surprisingly effective foot massager. Even the family dog's tennis ball makes a good massage tool as you roll the arches of your feet over it.
Give yourself a manicure and pedicure after your long soak. Your cuticles are easy to push back after you bathe; just press them gently with a towel as you dry off to neaten them. Use a quick-drying polish for your manicure and pedicure so you'll be able to move around freely instead of becoming bored and fidgety while waiting for nails to dry.
If you're feeling ambitious, you could try your own herbal wrap, but for those with more limited space and time, you can get many of the same benefits from rubbing your skin down with your favorite moisturizer or vegetable oil, then wrapping yourself between two large beach towels and a blanket.
The goal of your stay-cation is to pamper yourself, but if you prefer to share the experience with friends or your spouse, you open up new possibilities for therapeutic massage and body wraps.
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We provide you with a list of available articles immediately below. You can go directly to an article that interests you by clicking on the link to that specific article.
- Tropical Superfoods
- Shape Up for Your Beach Vacation
- Tropical Sun Protection
- Should You Wear Makeup at the Beach?
- Vacation Shaving Tips
- Coconut Oil: A Tropical Beauty Secret
- How to Hide a Sunburn
- Sugar Scrubs for Beautiful Skin
- The Best Vacation Manicure
- Hair Care from Your Own Kitchen
- The Many Uses of Peppermint Oil
- The History of Aloe
- Restoring and Healing with Kombucha Tea
- Facial Exercises to Help Keep You Looking Young
- How to Summer-Proof Your Hair Color
- Homemade Full-Body Herbal Wraps and Masks
- Best Summer Styles for Curly Hair
- Beauty on the Beach
- The History of Soap
- How to Get Luxurious Legs
- How Water Hydrates and Rejuvenates You
- Tips for Growing Beautiful Long Hair
- Wearing Perfume in Warm Weather
- Best Beach Styles for Long Hair
- Organic and Natural Make Up
- How to Choose Your Best Blonde Shade
- Hottest Lipstick Trends for Summer
- Argan Oil for Your Hair
- Five Beach Beauty Essentials
- The Milk of Magnesia Mask
- Treat Yourself to a Stay-Cation Day
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Tropical Superfoods
The term "superfood" may sound like hyperbole, but there's science behind the term. A superfood doesn't just nourish, it also provides antioxidants and phytonutrients that promote good health. Superfoods are nutrient-dense and pack a large nutritional wallop per serving without adding empty calories. If you're traveling somewhere exotic, why not enjoy some of the superfoods native to your vacation destination?
It's no coincidence that many superfoods thrive in tropical climates. Greater biodiversity in sub-tropical and tropical zones means a broader range of phytochemicals. Including some of these exotic foods in your diet gives your meals a boost both in nutritional fitness and in flavor.
Coconut
On any list of tropical superfoods, coconut must be first. A staple of tropical diets and Ayurvedic medicine for millennia, coconuts are a source of essential trace minerals manganese and selenium. The real superfood nature of coconut isn't in the fresh white flesh, though, but in coconut oil.
Once maligned as just another saturated fat, coconut oil increases "good" cholesterol (LDL) and lowers "bad" cholesterol (HDL). Although it's as caloric as any oil or fat, coconut oil sates hunger well; using it in cooking adds flavor and makes smaller portions feel more filling. The coconut milk used to enrich curries and mixed drinks like pina coladas is rich in coconut oil, so enjoy plenty of this superfood while traveling in tropical climates.
Chocolate
Surprised to see cocoa on the superfoods list? You're probably thinking of rich, calorie-laden chocolate desserts. The complex flavor of this product of the cacao tree were so prized by pre-Columbian peoples of the Americas that the pods were used as currency. Only the very wealthy drank chocolate, and they drank it bitter. These ancient cultures may have been onto something; science is only now seeing the value of chocolate.
While the sugar, cream, and butter in chocolate treats aren't exactly diet-friendly, the cocoa they contain is loaded with flavonoids, compounds that may help reduce your risk of cancer, ward off heart disease, and lower blood pressure. Take advantage of cocoa's superfood properties without the extra calories by enjoying dark and semisweet chocolate drizzled over fresh fruit or coconut.
Papaya
This sweet tropical fruit's pink flesh contains vitamins A, C, E, and K along with potassium and fiber. It's also low in calories, making it a good choice for anyone who wants to stay slim and still enjoy delicious food. Papaya's nutritional benefits are readily apparent, but what elevates this tropical fruit to superfood status is the enzyme papain.
Papain makes papayas a natural tenderizer for meats; that same enzyme aids digestion when you eat papayas. If you suffer from an upset stomach on your vacation, try eating papaya to feel better naturally. While you're enjoying papaya as a snack, you might want to rub it on your face as well; fruit enzymes act as a natural gentle exfoliant. Whether you eat papayas or wear them, they'll enhance both health and beauty.
Mango
Native to India, mangoes now thrive throughout tropical and semi-tropical zones around the world. They're a favorite for their lusciously rich taste, but they're also packed with vitamins A and C as well as important minerals such as copper and potassium. Mangoes are also rich in fiber.
If you have a taste for this tropical superfood, make sure you peel it thoroughly. One of the many phytochemicals mangoes contain is urushiol. Unlike other phytochemicals that have beneficial effects, urushiol is the itchy active ingredient in poison ivy. If you're susceptible to itching from poison ivy, take care when peeling a mango. Better yet, enjoy having one peeled for you.
Fish
Not all superfoods are plants. Although cold-water fish are more typically considered superfoods thanks to their abundant omega-3 fatty acids, fish that live in warmer climates are also good for your health. High in protein and low in calories, fish of any sort should feature prominently on your dinner plate. If you're planning a tropical vacation, try some of the local varieties of fish while you travel.
Thai fish curries made with coconut milk and served with mango chutney, for example, would give you a taste of three superfoods in one meal.
Incorporatiing multiple superfoods enhances their beneficial effects. Thai fish curries made with coconut milk and served with mango chutney, for example, would give you a taste of three superfoods in one meal. Regional cuisines often feature food combinations that happen to be especially healthful as well as flavorful.
Eating healthy even on vacation is a good plan, but flavor counts for just as much as health; you'll enjoy both with fresh tropical superfoods.
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Shape Up for Your Beach Vacation
It's easy to become complacent about physical fitness when you can bundle up in coats. But when all that stands between your figure and the world are swimsuits and sarongs, it's time to get to work. While a bikini-ready body doesn't happen overnight, you do have time to make the most of your shape before your tropical getaway. The key is to start as soon as you plan your trip to avoid a last-minute crash diet that improves neither your figure nor your health.
Three Months to Vacation
If you have three months to work with, you'll be able to make marked changes to your fitness level. A quarter of a year is enough time to shed or gain pounds with relative ease and add noticeable definition to your muscles.
First, assess your figure honestly. There's no shame in carrying extra pounds; a voluptuous shape looks good in a swimsuit. Three months gives you ample time to look even better. The key to changing your weight lies in your mind; instead of considering a diet punishment, look at it as a chance to incorporate new foods into your daily meals. You aren't subtracting cake and cookies to lose weight, you're adding fresh fish and roasted vegetables. Sample some healthy, lean dishes native to your vacation destination to help keep you focused.
Even if your weight is where you want it, maybe you'd like to tone and tighten. You could rush out and join a gym, but chances are good you already have all you need to sculpt yourself. Try body-weight exercises like push-ups, squats, triceps dips, and lunges to reshape your body; these moves are free, yet they're staples of any athlete's workout. Aim for three days a week of exercise, but skip days between sessions at first to give your muscles a chance to recover.
One Month to Vacation
You might be tempted to start a crash diet or extreme new exercise routine with only a month to go before your trip, but your best bet is to prepare yourself gradually. You don't want to make yourself ill or injure yourself shortly before your vacation.
Step up your water intake. Water is essential to your body's metabolism of stored fat, so without enough of it, you lose efficiency when converting fat into energy. Water also helps you feel fuller after meals; have a glass of it with each meal of the day, adding slices of lemon or lime for flavor and color.
Drinking water improves your workouts, too. Water assists in this healing process that builds muscle and helps stave off muscle soreness. Expect a minor weight gain the day after a vigorous workout. That's fluid retention caused by your body's efforts to knit new muscle, so don't let a higher number on the scale scare you.
One Week to Vacation
Forget fad diets that promise to take off weight in a week; if they worked, the world would already be slim. Instead, eat "clean" the week before your vacation. This means limiting or eliminating heavily processed or refined foods like white flour, bread, and sugar. Cut down on sodium consumption too, as it causes water retention.
You won't be able to make much of a change in your muscle tone in a week. However, you can fake it with a tan. As any body-builder can tell you, darker skin reveals more muscle definition. This is the time to test out a self-tanner or spray tan while it still has enough time to fade if you find it doesn't suit you.
The Day You Hit the Beach
Whether you're flying, driving, or cruising to your destination, stay well hydrated. Cabins and cars are arid environments that quickly sap you of moisture, so replace what you're losing by keeping a drink of water always at hand. Take small sips, though, to avoid bloating your stomach with water if you want to keep your belly flat at the beach.
Another trick that body-builders use to enhance muscle definition is rubbing the skin with gleaming oil. Pick a sunscreen formula that leaves your skin satiny, not matte, if you want to show off your tightly toned body. You'll keep your skin well protected as you make yourself look leaner.
The single best thing you can do to shape up for the beach is to wear your bathing suit with confidence. Good posture makes any body look more toned, so keep your chin up and your back straight. You've earned your confident bearing by making yourself beach-ready well before your vacation.
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Tropical Sun Protection
However much you enjoy your tropical vacation, one souvenir you won't want to take home is a sunburn. As much as eighty percent of premature aging isn't age-related at all, but damage from the sun's ultraviolet rays. A sunburn is the most obvious sign of sun damage, but even a tan is damaging.
You don't have to hide indoors while you're visiting a tropical paradise, though; with the right sun protection, you can enjoy feeling the sun on your skin without risking your beauty or your health.
Protective Clothing Is Your First Line of Sun Defense
One of the oldest solutions to sun exposure remains one of the best. Simply covering up while at the beach offers some protection from ultraviolet rays. The more densely woven the cloth or straw of your sun protection, the more effectively it protects your skin. Look for swimsuits and sarongs with a close weave and hats with solid brims if you plan to be in direct sunlight.
Beach hats have always been stylish, but now doctors advise wearing them for your health; a beach hat with a tight weave at the brim keeps the sun off more effectively than the strongest sunscreen. However, to protect yourself from ambient light, apply sunscreen as well as using a hat. Another bonus: hats protect your hair from sun damage as well.
Cover-ups double as sun protection, too. Sarongs screen out both direct sunlight and the reflected rays from beach sands or poolside tiles. Another advantage of a sarong or pareo is its ease of use; you may not want to slather on sunscreen for a quick trip to the shops, but adding a beach cover-up protects you without muss or fuss.
The Right Way to Wear Sunscreen
Dermatologists recommend using sunscreen far more liberally than we usually do. An entire ounce--that's about a shot glass full of sunscreen--is about right for the average wearer. In the strong sun of tropical climates, it's even more important to use enough sunscreen. Be sure to get all the forgotten spots like your ears, the tops of your feet, and the underside of your chin where reflected rays can reach. Even if you're wearing protective clothing as well, sunscreen is mandatory in tropical sunlight.
Another mistake many people make with sunscreen is applying it too late. Ideally, sunscreen should "soak in" for half an hour before you're out in the sun. That isn't always practical, but aim for applying it with some time to spare. If your sunscreen doesn't reach maximum effectiveness until you've already spent half an hour in direct sun, you've already taken damage.
Once you've applied sunscreen, keep up with it throughout the day for as long as you're exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays. Swimming, sweating, and friction can reduce your sunscreen's effectiveness. Reapply it after a dip in the pool or the ocean or every two hours, whichever comes first. If you've been wearing a sarong, T-shirt, or beach hat, your clothing might wind up wearing some of your sunscreen; reapply it to any areas newly bared by removing or readjusting your cover-ups.
Made in the Shade
As good as full sunlight may feel, consider spending some time in the shade. If you can manage it, avoiding direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day is a good idea. Stake out a beach umbrella if possible; if not, wear a wide-brimmed hat as your portable shade. Remember, though, that even indirect or reflected tropical sunlight is too much for unprotected skin. That umbrella won't help you if you don't assist it with some sunscreen.
Overcast days are no fun to see during your vacation, but even the best days sometimes get cloudy. Those clouds are no protection against tropical sun, though, so don't skip the sunscreen just because it's gloomy. Wear a broad-brimmed hat and one of your most colorful sarongs to keep you looking sunny even if the weather isn't.
Enjoy every minute of your vacation, but make sure the only reminders of it that you take home with you are pictures and happy memories. Your tropical honeymoon shouldn't still be visible on your face for your fiftieth wedding anniversary, so pack your sunscreen and protective clothing for your tropical trip.
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Should You Wear Makeup at the Beach?
There's no greater test for your makeup than a day at the beach. While some people prefer to go bare-faced on the beach, there's nothing wrong with some judiciously applied cosmetics. Whether you're planning a tropical vacation or living in a warm climate year-round, enhance your beach appeal by following a few guidelines for a great warm-weather look that outlasts sea, sand, and perspiration.
Remember Your Sunscreen
Beach umbrellas and sarongs help protect your body from the sun's ultraviolet rays, but you can't protect the delicate skin of your face as easily. Using a liberal application of sunscreen not only saves you from a sunburn, it also preserves your health; unprotected skin is at considerably greater risk of developing skin cancer. Dermatologists recommend about a tablespoon of sunscreen just for your face and neck. It may seem like too much, but applying sunscreen at least twenty minutes before going out gives it a chance to soak in.
Skip the Foundation
Full-face makeup belongs in a formal setting, not poolside or at the beach. No matter how closely you match your foundation color under ordinary lighting conditions, it will look artificial under strong tropical sun. Foundation also makes a mess as you sweat, leaving a ring on the inner band of your beach hat and smudges on your towel. Matte foundation on the face looks unnatural with gleaming beachy skin, too.
Instead of foundation, try a tinted moisturizer. If you're very fair-skinned and want a head start on the sun-kissed look, try a sheer application of bronzer at your temples and along your cheekbones; you'll add color, not coverage. Leaving skin bare is another option. Those who see you will be too sun-dazzled to notice any unevenness to your complexion, so full-face makeup isn't a necessity.
Waterproof Your Makeup
Oil and water don't mix. Keeping your makeup on all day at the beach means wearing oil-based or wax-based products, not water-based ones. Waxy pencil eyeliners have excellent staying power and are a good choice for beach makeup. Keep your application light and natural – no extravagant winged-liner looks unless you want to risk having a very unusual tan line. Waterproof mascara is a must if you're wearing makeup at all, but as with eyeliner, a light touch is enough. One clump-free coat defines your lashes without exaggerating them.
Long-wear lipsticks and lip stains are naturally impervious to liquids as they're designed to stay on through eating, drinking, and kissing. They're ideal for the beach as well. You could also go for glosses; although they don't have the staying power of an all-day lipstick formula, reapplication of a sheer gloss is easy to do without a mirror.
Consider Sheer Color
Just as bathing suits look better under colorful sarongs and not heavy sweaters, you look your best on the beach with light, sheer makeup. Under full sun, skin has a translucency that opaque makeup hides. Opaque color on lips, cheeks, or eyes has a painted-on quality that only works well if you're a doll. If your favorite shade of lipstick or shadow looks too heavy for wearing poolside or at the beach, try blending it with a something colorless, yet water-resistant like petroleum jelly or a lip balm containing sunscreen.
Which colors you choose depends on your style, but natural colors tend to be more flattering in the sun. Let hyacinth macaws and ocean waves have those vivid blues and greens; you'll look more beach-ready in colors that occur naturally on your face.
Embrace Imperfection
However carefully you apply your makeup before hitting the beach, it will smudge and fade. Your choices are to tote your mirror and makeup with you or to apply your makeup with an eye to how it will look as it wears away. You'll probably prefer to save space in your beach bag for a novel and a snack by leaving the makeup kit in your hotel room.
When applying eyeliner, stay close to the base of your lashes. As the heat of the day makes it spread, your liner will grow "smoky," not messy. Leave off your lipliner and highlighter as well; the less precise your makeup is when you apply it, the less worry you'll have about where it winds up.
Think of your beach makeup as an Impressionist painting – natural shapes, translucent color, and artful imprecision combine to make something beautiful. Enjoy your vacation more as you fuss with your makeup less by keeping it light and natural.
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Vacation Shaving Tips
Bathing suit season lasts all year in the tropics. So, if you're planning a beach vacation, you'll want to get yourself bikini-ready. That means having smooth, satiny skin free of bumps or razor burn. Getting a close shave is especially important when so much of your skin is visible, but being too aggressive when you shave could leave you unable to enjoy your vacation as you should. Find out how to get the perfect beach shave before and during your vacation.
Don't Shave Too Early
You may have noticed that when you first awaken, your eyes feel and look puffy. That puffiness happens to your skin elsewhere on your body as well, including your legs, underarms, and bikini line. Shaving puffy skin means leaving more of the hair shaft intact as skin puffs up around each follicle, preventing the razor from getting too close. No matter what part of you you're shaving, you'll get a closer shave if you give yourself a chance to wake up a bit first.
If you're on vacation and don't have time for a leisurely morning, try to get a good soak in the tub to swell hair follicles and make them easier to cut.
Don't Shave Too Late
If you can avoid shaving the day of your trip to the beach or dip in the pool, do so. Even a sharp new razor inevitably leaves microscopic nicks in skin. Under normal circumstances, you don't notice these little abrasions; they're just superficial and you won't feel them happening. However, those same tiny breaks in the outermost layer of your skin will become very noticeable in salty or chlorinated water. Legs feel the sting too, but it's especially important to give delicate skin at your bikini line at least twenty-four hours to heal before going to the beach.
If pain isn't a deterrent, appearance might be. Freshly-shaven skin may break out into a red rash of bumps as the micro-abrasions caused by shaving get irritated and swollen. Even stubble is a better look than painful red dots in sensitive areas.
If you've already shaved on your beach day and wound up with a rash, invest in some colorful sarongs and spend some time poolside. You'll look and feel cool while you recuperate enough to go for a swim.
Choose the Right Razor
Your vacation might be a great time to experiment with fashions, indulge in new foods, and try some activities you just can't do at home. It is not, however, a good time to experiment with your type of razor. If you're making a switch from an electric razor to a manual one or going from a refillable brand to a disposable type, practice with it well before you go on your trip. You'll learn how to get the most from your favorite variety of razor before you have to rely on it to keep you smooth.
The same advice goes for your choice of shaving gel, lotion, or soap. If possible, try a product out at home before you pack it. If you wind up without your favorite shaving product and can't find more at your destination, look for unscented products with few ingredients. In a pinch, you can use your conditioner as a shaving lotion, as you already know your skin won't react badly to it. The last thing you want on your vacation is an allergic reaction to an untested shave lotion.
Wear sarongs, eat papayas, try snorkeling, embrace all the novelty your vacation has to offer – but when it comes to shaving, stay with what's tried and true.
Use the Right Sunscreen
Shaven skin is sensitive skin. If you've ever applied a chemical sunscreen to freshly shaved areas, you know how red and irritated your skin can become. Although chemical sunscreens are perfectly safe, they also spell potential trouble to shaved skin. As with shave lotions and creams, you should test sunscreens at home or on an inconspicuous patch of skin before applying it to shaved legs or bikini line.
If you're buying your sunscreen while on vacation and aren't sure which one to pick, choose a sunscreen that physically blocks the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. Look for sunscreens containing finely-milled titanium oxide or zinc oxide. These physical sunscreens form a protective barrier over skin rather than sinking into it and are less irritating to areas you've recently shaved.
Following these tips for getting a great shave lets you think more about the tropical paradise that surrounds you and less about your legs. You'll look and feel smooth for your whole trip, so relax and enjoy your vacation.
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Coconut Oil: A Tropical Beauty Secret
From the earliest Sanskrit writings thousands of years ago to the most modern research, coconut oil has been hailed as a health and beauty staple. Ayurvedic practitioners have recommended coconut oil for centuries as a gentle oral cleansing agent and skin conditioner. It's been used since earliest times as a poultice for irritated skin. Nor were the only medicinal uses of the humble coconut from ancient times; during World War II, the liquid contained in green coconuts was used as an emergency intravenous fluid for wounded soldiers.
While you're more likely to encounter coconut in your pina colada than in a doctor's office, you can benefit from adding some coconut oil to your beauty regimen. As coconut oil stays fresh for years and remains solid at room temperature, it's ideal for packing along on your beach vacation. Besides, where better to enjoy this tropical beauty secret than in the tropics?
Coconut Oil Moisturizer
French painter Paul Gauguin glorified the beauty of Polynesian women in his most famous paintings. The way their colorful sarongs set off their lustrous hair and burnished skin made these beauties irresistible subjects for the artist. It's a safe bet that the lovely women in Gauguin's art used pure coconut oil as a moisturizer.
Most moisturizers rely on two elements: a hygroscopic ingredient that draws moisture to the skin and an occlusive barrier that holds it there. In commercial formulations, two or more ingredients combine to perform both functions, but coconut oil alone makes an effective hypo-allergenic moisturizer when used directly after a shower, bath, or swim.
Although coconut oil makes an excellent moisturizer, one job it cannot do is act as a sunscreen. If you plan to spend time poolside or on the beach during your vacation, use sunscreen that contains coconut oil to get the benefits of coconut without harming your skin. Gauguin's women may have looked beautiful without sunscreen, but they were also quite young and hadn't yet sustained the kind of damage that tropical sunlight can do to skin.
Conditioning with Coconut Oil
One of the best conditioning rituals for hair has been available for millennia. Coconut oil plus the sun's heat gives hair a natural hot-oil treatment that leaves it silky, manageable, and sweet-smelling. Even better, you don't have to seek out an expensive salon; you can try it yourself even as you relax on the beach or go for a swim.
Coat the palms of your hands with just enough coconut oil to leave them shiny, but not dripping with oil. Run them through damp hair starting with the ends. If you have long or especially dry hair, you'll probably need to apply oil to your hands more than once. After your hair is oiled, braid it or pin it up under a beach hat. It might be tempting to sit in full sunlight to get maximum heat for your hot-oil treatment, but harmful ultraviolet rays could burn a delicate scalp; wear a hat or scarf to be safe.
At the end of the day, you may find that your hair has absorbed all the oil and doesn't need washing. If you prefer, you can also give your hair a light wash, shampooing only once, and finish with your usual conditioner. Either way, you'll find your hair in better condition than it's seen in some time.
Coconut Oil as a Makeup Remover
The health of your skin depends on keeping it scrupulously clean. That means removing your makeup at the end of the day. If you're on vacation, why pack yet another jar or bottle of designated makeup remover when non-comedic coconut oil will do a thorough, yet gentle job? Just apply coconut oil as you would a cream or lotion remover, allow the oil to penetrate for a few moments, and remove with a soft cloth or tissues.
Originally from southern India, the buoyant, hardy seeds we know as coconuts traveled across miles of open ocean to colonize islands in the region. From there, seafaring peoples brought this versatile plant to tropical communities around the globe. Instead of packing specialized products on your tropical vacation, take advantage of the abundance of coconut oil and "go native" by using it in place of all those pots and bottles. You'll look beautiful and smell heavenly. Paul Gauguin would certainly approve.
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How to Hide a Sunburn
It's natural to want to get a little sun while on vacation; a little sun-kissed color flatters almost everyone. But when that color is closer to boiled-seafood red than to rich golden-brown tan, you've gotten a sunburn.
The best way to deal with a sunburn is not to get one in the first place, but that isn't always possible. It's easy to forget that the intensity of sunlight in the tropics is very different from the gentler rays you might be used to. That SPF 15 lotion that works well to keep your skin safe from sun damage during daily errands at home isn't enough to withstand the blaze of a tropical sun.
If the worst happens, and you wind up with an angry sunburn, there are ways to downplay its appearance and alleviate the discomfort.
Wear the Right Clothing
A sunburn is uncomfortable enough without subjecting delicate skin to the heat and friction of binding clothes. Tight waistbands, fitted sleeves, and "skinny" pants rub already damaged skin and could cause peeling. Instead, opt for flowing sundresses, sarongs, and loose-fitting shirts that won't scratch your sensitive skin. Wear smooth fabrics with soft fibers like cotton and silk instead of synthetics that contain blunt, scratchy fibers or natural products that tend to be itchy. A wool blazer may look sharp, but it doesn't go well with a sunburn.
Looser clothes will leave you more comfortable, but choosing the right colors can also make your burn less noticeable. The color of your sunburn will help you decide which shades to avoid. If you're naturally fair and burn in the pink or purplish range, steer clear of yellows and oranges that will emphasize your burned hue. If your usual skin tone is more olive or golden, you probably burn bright red and should avoid greens and pale pinks. Darker shades play down a burn while light colors highlight it, so choose darker outfits for a few days as your burn fades.
Makeup for the Sunburned Face
The less makeup you wear on a sunburned face, the more comfortable you'll be. While you might be tempted to hide your face under a thick layer of foundation and concealer, that route will leave your face stinging, puffy, and more noticeably burned than before you applied your makeup. Instead, go with just enough translucent powder to take the shine from your nose and cheeks. If there is any good news about a sunburned face, it's that it renders spots and undereye circles virtually invisible, so you shouldn't need concealer at all.
For eyes and lips, stay with neutral colors to avoid wearing tones that offset or clash with your unwanted new hue. Choose colors with a golden undertone rather than a pink one; your face doesn't need any more ruddiness than it already has and gold or yellow bases minimize pink tones in skin. Black, espresso browns with no hint of red, taupes, and champagnes are your safest choices for eye makeup, while lips look best with clear or coral-tinged gloss.
Can Anything Fade a Sunburn Quickly?
Although very few remedies will cause a sunburn to fade more quickly, there are a number of mistakes people make that lead to a burn staying visible longer than it should. Sunburns aren't called burns for no reason; sunburned skin is traumatized skin and requires gentle treatment. If you want your sunburn to fade as quickly as possible, skip any kind of abrasive exfoliation, astringent toner, or acidic cleanser. Home remedies like lemon juice or vinegar may feel cooling initially, but they ultimately irritate tender skin.
The best way to wash your sunburned face is with a gentle facial cleanser and plenty of cool water. Taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory may also help the redness and discomfort. Aloe vera gel feels cooling and is non-irritating; while it may not make redness fade, it's soothing to apply. Once you've gotten a burn, wear sunscreen daily to prevent worsening the damage.
Life After a Sunburn
A sunburn doesn't have to ruin the rest of your beach vacation. Wear loose clothing, sunscreen, and a beach hat until the worst of your burn is over, then stick to colors that flatter ruddy skin until it's mellowed into a rich tan. Try to keep your swimming to the morning and evening hours if you're fair-skinned to prevent a recurrence of your sunburn.
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Sugar Scrubs for Beautiful Skin
Sugar scrubs have helped women beautify their skin since granulated sugar first became widely available. Similar to salt scrubs but far gentler, the simplest sugar scrubs contain only sugar and oil. More involved recipes such as the ones you might find in spa treatments add other ingredients that enhance the scrub's effectiveness or impart a lovely smell. Whether you go to the spa, buy a prepared rub, or make your own, treat yourself to a sugar scrub before your beach vacation.
Even the most basic oil and sugar scrub can improve your skin in two ways. Sugar is a natural humectant, meaning it attracts water from the surrounding air; anyone who's noted how brown sugar forms clumps can see what humidity does to sugar. That extra moisture may not be a good thing to have in your kitchen, but adding moisture to your skin is key to retaining its beauty. The oil component of a sugar scrub forms a protective barrier to hold that moisture near your skin.
In addition to its moisturizing properties, sugar also exfoliates your skin effectively and safely. Granules of sugar have smoother edges than the tiny cubes of salt contained in a salt scrub, so sugar provides many of the same benefits without scratching or irritating your skin.
How to Make a Sugar Scrub
At its heart, a sugar scrub is just sugar crystals within a liquid that won't dissolve them, usually a vegetable oil. Whether you prefer the softer grain of brown sugar or the coarser texture of white sugar is up to you, but skip confectioner's sugar; it contains starch and will make your scrub gummy.
You can make more of a favorite scrub at a time, but a cup is a good starting point as it's sufficient for a couple of full-body scrubs for most people. For every cup of sugar, add half a cup of an oil of your choice. Almost any oil in your kitchen will work, but especially popular ones include olive oil, warmed coconut oil, and sweet almond oil. If you'd like to experiment, you can even try multiple types of oils.
Getting Creative with Your Sugar Scrub
This basic formula of a cup of sugar to half a cup of oil can have hundreds of variations, but keep in mind that any homemade beauty preparation has a limited shelf-life. Mix your scrubs in smaller batches and store them in the refrigerator if they contain perishable ingredients. You might enjoy a cool exfoliating scrub anyway, so keeping them cold is a nice touch for hot summer days.
Try adding cocoa powder and a few drops of vanilla extract for a delicious-smelling chocolate body scrub. If you'd like something that will wake you up in the morning, how about a citrus scrub containing orange and grapefruit zest and a few crushed mint leaves?
Look to other natural ingredients to enhance the effectiveness of your sweet concoctions. Mashing an avocado with your scrub enhances its moisturizing properties, while mixing it with fresh papaya turns it into a better exfoliator. If you enjoy aromatherapy, you can add essential oils that lend themselves to relaxing or invigorating you.
Peppermint sugar rubs are wonderful before a pedicure and are as easy as adding a few drops of peppermint oil to the sugar as you mix it with the oil. Take care to keep peppermint oil away from more sensitive skin, though; it's ideal for feet, but might be too strong for other areas of the body. Lemon is another ingredient that, although natural, can cause skin irritation in too large a dose. If you enjoy lemon and mint in your scrub, add them in tiny quantities.
Are Commercial Sugar Scrubs Better than Homemade? Aside from a wider array of fragrances than you're likely to have at home and perhaps a few preservatives, commercially produced sugar scrubs are identical to the homemade variety. Commercial formulas have pretty packaging, but when a simple brown sugar scrub from a specialty shop can cost as much as ten pounds of sugar from the grocery store, the allure of the homemade variety becomes clear.
Instead of buying commercial sugar rubs for your skin, browse them for ideas and make your own versions. You might not have access to ylang-ylang or vetiver, but your kitchen probably contains many of the spices and extracts most popular in commercial body scrubs.
Wear your sarong for style, not to cover up; be ready for swimsuit season with glowing skin thanks to regular sugar scrubs.
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The Best Vacation Manicure
Whether your ideal tropical vacation is pure relaxation or non-stop activity, you'll want to focus on more interesting things than your nails. The right mani/pedi for a beach vacation has to be easy to care for, durable enough to withstand sun and sand, and equally attractive with all your sundresses and sarongs.
Easy Care for Nails
Long fingernails may be your trademark style, but consider going short for your vacation. Even if you plan to spend most of your days lounging on the beach with a novel in one hand and a drink in the other, you'll use your hands to tote heavy luggage or reach for door handles. Breaking off a long fingernail when you can't readily repair it isn't just uncomfortable, it can be downright painful. Spare yourself the possible aggravation and go sporty and short.
The easiest shape to care for is the squared-off oval, sometimes called a "squoval" shape by manicurists. Pointed tips can chip off while square nails tend to break at the corners. A short squared oval has no weak points. Keep your "squoval" tips no more than an eighth of an inch (about three millimeters) beyond the nail bed and they'll be practically indestructible.
While on your trip, keep your hands well coated with sunscreen, especially your cuticles. Your cuticles can easily become parched from all the sun and salt they'll encounter, so keeping them moisturized will save them from painful splits or hangnails.
Don't forget your toes. They'll be on display for much of your trip and deserve to look their best, too. Slather the tops of your feet with sunscreen whenever you expect to be in the sun; sunburned feet make wearing even the lightest sandals painful. Cut nails close to the bed and straight across, rounding the corners slightly where they come closest to your skin.
A Long-Lasting Manicure
A Long-Lasting Manicure Your vacation only lasts a little while; don't waste any of it fussing with your nails. Whether you give yourself a mani/pedi or have one done professionally, there are ways to make polish last through the rigors of a beach vacation.
If you typically buff your nails before a manicure, skip that step before your trip. Buffing makes nails glassy-smooth; that's great for bare nails, but that smooth surface gives polish nothing to grab. Buff only if you plan to leave your nails unpolished.
If you're going to polish, start with an entirely clean surface. Lacquer adheres best to scrupulously clean nails, so before you polish, clean nail beds of all residual soap with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. Once the alcohol evaporates, follow up with a base coat. Using a base coat gives polish something to cling to and lengthens its life.
Quick-drying nail enamel works wonders when you're in a rush, but they lack staying power. Choose regular nail polish over quick-drying sorts if you want lasting color. Two coats should be plenty, especially if you're using the beach-friendly shades described below.
Your top coat is crucial to a great mani/pedi. The perfect top coat is completely clear, thick enough to add protective depth, and fortified with UV filters to prevent polish discoloration due to sunlight. Unlike your polish color, your top coat should be quick-drying; as it dries, it contracts slightly, sealing the edges of your polish. Think of that quick-drying top coat as shrink-wrap for your nails. The final touch to extend your manicure's life is sweeping a dab of top coat horizontally across your nail tip so that the brush coats the underside of your fingernail with clear sealant.
The Best Colors Under the Tropical Sun
Dark, saturated colors are best left in more sedate climates; under bright tropical sun, they'll show every chip or flaw. Instead, pick a color that's close to the shade of your nail bed. Shell pinks and light coral hues look appropriately beachy, yet are also close enough to your natural coloration that chipping won't show. Another plus: paler colors flatter darker skin, so you'll make your vacation tan look richer just by wearing lighter polish.
If barely-there polish isn't your style, then take your inspiration from your locale. Brilliant mango orange, vivid sunset coral, even parrot green and swimming-pool blue look exciting and fresh. These colors will show damage, though, so you'll be trading off some longevity for fun.
Another possibility is mixing things up. Go with a paler shade on your fingernails and something brighter, but in the same color family on your toes. Toenails see less wear than fingernails, so you'll get to enjoy your bright polish and keep your hands looking neat. Mixing instead of matching is a more modern take on beauty.
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Wearing Perfume in Warm Weather
When you think of a tropical beach, scents of coconut-infused lotions, salty marine air, and fragrant blooms may come to mind. Let those rich, exotic scents inspire your choice of perfume while you're on vacation. Whether you decide to pick out something new to wear for your trip or stay true to your signature fragrance, you'll want to consider how the sultry weather will affect your perfume's impact.
To understand how fragrance is composed, think of musical notes on a scale. Top notes are the first impressions you get of a perfume, the light and fleeting scents that evaporate most quickly. The middle notes or heart notes are the "body" of the fragrance; middle notes emerge a few minutes after application and linger for a few hours afterward. Base notes in a perfume last for many hours, a period also called the dry-down.
In warm weather, top notes evaporate almost immediately and base notes become more prominent. Perfume dissipates quickly, but becomes more intense in heat. Think of how a scented candle's aroma fills the room as it burns, but turns faint as the wax cools.
Keep It Light
Fragrances are available in different concentrations. Parfums or extraits contain the highest concentration of the aromatic compounds that give the perfume its scent. Eau de parfum, eau de toilette, and eau de cologne contain a respectively lower amount of aromatics, making them lighter but less lasting than parfum. Body mists, splashes, and scented lotions contain the smallest percentage of fragrance.
Wearing perfume in warmer weather can be tricky. You'll want to steer the middle course between wearing a fragrance so light that it dissipates within an hour of your putting it on and using a lasting scent that leaves an almost palpable cloud around you.
For warm climates, look for a concentration of fragrance that's one step lighter than what you customarily wear. Taking your fragrance lighter reduces its staying power somewhat, but it's easier to re-apply a light misting of fragrance than to remove an excess of it.
Layering for Lasting Fragrance
The key to wearing fragrance in warm weather is to layer it. Think of perfume the way you think of dressing for the weather. When it's cold, you'd wear a thick coat, a heavy layer meant to keep you wrapped in warmth. In tropical heat, you'll opt for light layers that you can remove as the day grows warmer; a swimsuit with a cover-up or sarong is all you need for days on the beach.
By the same token, layering sheer washes of fragrance will give it lasting power without becoming overwhelming. A scented soap, lotion, and eau de cologne with the same scent makes it subtler, but more complex than a single heavy application of parfum.
If you'd like to try something more unusual, consider layering different complementary fragrances together. The effect can be as stunning, the olfactory equivalent of a watercolor painting created with translucent washes of color. Choose scents with similar base notes for warm weather wear as these long-lasting elements will predominate. Adding a vanilla-scented soap and powder to a perfume with a strong vanilla component changes the personality of the scent and makes it uniquely yours.
Which Scent to Wear?
There are as many theories about how to choose the ideal perfume for your body chemistry as there are perfumes. How you'll wear a perfume depends on so many factors--the oiliness of your skin, your favorite foods, where you apply your fragrance--that the best way to choose your scent is to try it. Before your vacation, collect two or three promising scents and wear them throughout the day, preferably in warm conditions.
To narrow down your options, draw inspiration from your destination. A floral featuring tropical blooms like plumeria, frangipani, and orchid would put anyone in the mood for an island vacation. Spicier oriental fragrances might include Tahitian vanilla and Ceylon cinnamon. Or you might be inspired by the sea and gravitate to modern aquatic fragrances cooled with cucumber notes or brightened with citrus.
While there are no absolute rules about which scents not to wear in the heat of a beach vacation, some scents are more suited to the climate than others. Soliflores--perfumes made from a single flower--may feel too shy for the expansive warmth of the tropics. Heavy patchouli, amber, and myrrh could become overwhelming as they evaporate more quickly in the heat, so wear them with caution.
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Hair Care from Your Own Kitchen – Treating Your Hair Naturally with Foods and Herbs
A healthy head of hair is something every woman wants. But you don’t have to pay high salon prices or purchase expensive products to keep your hair beautiful. Ingredients you probably have in your kitchen right now can be just as effective at creating shining, lovely locks. There are even simple ways to highlight your hair without the hassle of scheduling a salon appointment or purchasing messy over the counter dyes. On top of the low prices and convenience, kitchen hair care has the added benefit of coming without dangerous additives or chemicals!
Eggs
Eggs are a wonderful natural conditioner and softener, especially for damaged hair. Whisk a few eggs up, work them into your hair, let them dry and then rinse them out again. If you can’t get all the eggs out, try a vinegar rinse to remove residual whites and yolks.
Lemon
Like egg, lemon is a natural hair conditioner. It’s so effective that it’s a common ingredient in many hair products. Lemon also adds natural shine and brightness to your tresses, livening up dull locks. Because lemon has astringent and antiseptic qualities, it’s good for the scalp, reducing dandruff and drying up oil without leaving your head too parched.
Use a light leave-in treatment of lemon and honey to add even extra shine to your hair! But use honey carefully, as you don’t want sticky hair.
Avocado
Avocado is particularly good at deep conditioning your hair, as it contains nourishing natural oils as well as vitamins B6 and E. Many pricey hair products go out of their way to include these ingredients in their recipes, but you can simply crush your avocado and mix with egg, yogurt, mayonnaise or a natural oil such as grape seed, olive or canola. Leave it on for about 20 minutes, then rinse.
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise is another natural deep conditioner, full of rich fatty acids and oils. For this reason, don’t use it on your scalp. Work it into the length of your tresses, concentrating on dry, damaged ends.
Yogurt
Yogurt works on your hair in much the same way as mayonnaise. It’s a good choice if you have an aversion or allergy to mayo or eggs.
Vinegar
Many of those expensive salon quality products you use on your hair leave residual build-up that can cause your hair to look dull over time. Mix one part vinegar with three parts water, and rinse your hair to wash out chemicals and other build-up. Using this roughly once a month will keep your hair soft and manageable.
Chamomile
Chamomile works as a natural highlighter for blonde hair. Make a chamomile tea and rinse with it several times a week to give your tresses a quick pick-me-up. Chamomile works especially well when combined with a little lemon and sunlight. Bring a spray bottle with you to the beach and spritz your locks every so often for a sun-kissed look.
Rosemary
Rosemary has many health and beauty benefits. Rosemary oil is especially good for stimulating your hair follicles and preventing or reducing baldness. Warm it up and massage it into your scalp. Leave it on for several minutes, then work it down into the rest of your hair before rinsing.
Natural Oils
Your hair loves natural oils. They add shine and deep condition with vitamins and nutrients. Many natural oils have been shown to improve the strength of hair and encourage growth. Try coconut oil, grape seed oil, mineral oil, canola oil or olive oil. These oils make wonderful bases for adding any of the other ingredients mentioned here, and are especially beneficial when warmed.
Fruits
Specifically watermelons, peaches and cucumbers. Crush them up and mix them with your favorite oil, yogurt or eggs to conditioner your hair and add a light, feminine fragrance.
Natural hair care is easy, and can be just as effective as professional salon products without the prices. You’ll get the peace of mind of knowing that your hair isn’t full of unnecessary additives that could cause harm to it (and you) over time. Being a kitchen beautician is a fun, healthy way to enhance the beauty and strength of your hair!
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The Many Uses of Peppermint Oil – The World’s Oldest Medicine
You’re probably familiar with refreshing peppermint candies and sweets, but did you know peppermint has been used in a wide variety of applications throughout most of history? It’s true! There is evidence of peppermint in use as long ago as in Ancient Egypt. Peppermint is an essential tool in your health arsenal because it can be used for everything from curing bad breath to aiding digestion. Here are some of the most useful applications for peppermint oil.
Digestive Aid
Using peppermint oil to cure tummy troubles is one of the most traditional uses. It’s most effective when taken on an empty stomach, when food won’t impede its progress to the intestines, where it is dissolved. Peppermint is so powerful, though, that you can still take it after eating and experience benefits. It can be taken in capsule form, or by drinking a few drops in a little water. Another popular way is drinking peppermint tea, particularly common after dinner in the Middle East.
Scientific studies are beginning to back up centuries of traditional wisdom. In a 2007 study, 75% of people taking peppermint oil capsules over a period of four weeks experienced reductions in symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, and increases in vitality and health.
Weight Loss
Peppermint's digestive aid extends to appetite control as well. How often do you want to eat directly after brushing your teeth? Probably not often! Inhale it as aromatherapy or add a few drops to some water. You can also place a single drop on your tongue, which will freshen your breath and kill the bacteria in your mouth.
Relieve Congestion
When your sinuses are stuffed up from a head cold or respiratory troubles, try peppermint oil. Place a few drops in a bowl of warm, steamy water and inhale to break up the congestion. Drape a towel over your head to capture and surround yourself with the medicinal steam. But be careful not to burn yourself, and keep your eyes closed when inhaling the steam.
Itch Relief
Place a drop of peppermint oil over a bug bite, or rub it into a poison ivy rash. It’s incredibly cooling and soothing. You’ll soon forget you were scratching at all!
Skin Care and Beauty
Peppermint oil contains menthol, which refreshes and brightens tired, dull complexions. It’s especially beneficial when combined with a carrier oil, such as grape seed or jojoba, and used to reduce oil production on the skin. In this way it can reduce acne and help keep your pores unclogged. It also has a smoothing, soothing effect on chapped lips, especially when combined with a carrier oil.
Pest Control
Many pests detest peppermint. Do you have an ant problem? Place drops of peppermint oil around infestation hot spots. Other creepy crawlers that hate peppermint oil include aphids, some beetles, plant lice and ticks. A drop of peppermint applied to a tick will make it detach from the host and take its head with it. Even rodents such as mice can be discouraged with peppermint scented cotton balls. This has the added benefit of making your home smell wonderful!
Ease Headaches
Use a very small amount of peppermint oil on your forehead, temples, at the base of your neck, on your scalp or behind your ears. Don’t use too much, or your eyes will tear up.
Sore Muscles
Peppermint oil has an icy hot effect that is soothing to sore muscles. It encourages blood flow to the area and reduces pain. Rub it into aches and wait for the icy hot effect to penetrate your skin.
Refresh and Recharge
Peppermint is a natural mood booster and energizer that is a great replacement for morning coffee. It can get you revved up for a workout, help you wind down from a stressful day, and cool you off when the weather is too warm.
It’s also a wonderful treatment for hot flashes!
Peppermint oil is safe and non-toxic for most people, but use it with caution before you understand how peppermint oil works best for you. We’ve covered just a few uses here, but there are many more ways this natural remedy can improve your quality of life!
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The History of Aloe – Healing through History with the Miracle Plant
Many people know that aloe heals sunburns and minor wounds, but aloe’s healing potential goes much farther than that. Its powerful properties benefit so many different ailments that aloe is used in most parts of the world for restoring and maintaining health. In studies aloe has been shown to affect everything from wrinkles to scarring, and is being studied for its apparent cancer fighting properties and dramatic benefits to the immune system.
Scientific studies are only beginning to bear out what centuries of traditional wisdom has always known.
Sumer
We see the first mentions of aloe in the first writing ever found. Sumerian clay tablets from around 2100 BCE reference aloe and its therapeutic applications, suggesting it was in use long before writing was even developed.
Ancient Egypt
Skipping ahead several thousand years to an era when writing was more prevalent, we find the Ancient Egyptians were absolutely in love with aloe. They painted it on their vases, included it in the “Egyptian Book of Remedies,” and made it a primary ingredient in many cosmetic and beauty products. It was especially popular among Queens and Pharaohs, who dubbed it the “elixir of long life.”
Cleopatra credited aloe vera for the youthful, vibrant look to her eyes. Queen Nefertiti was said to bathe in aloe pulp, which nourished her skin and kept it youthful even in the harsh Egyptian climate.
As the “elixir of long life,” aloe also represented rebirth to the Egyptians. Priests used it as an embalming ingredient, calling it the “plant of immortality.” Aloe was planted along the roads to the Valley of the Kings, and on the land surrounding funeral pyramids. The aloe kept the dead Pharaoh well fed on his journey into the afterlife. When the aloe around the tomb flowered, the Egyptians knew their Pharaoh had safely made it to the “other bank.”
Even for common Egyptians, bringing aloe vera plants to funerals for gifts was a gesture of respect and rebirth.
Ancient Greece and Rome
For the Greeks, aloe vera symbolized beauty, health, good fortune and patience.
Hippocrates cited aloe as a cure for skin problems and aid for accelerating hair growth, healing tumors, relieving stomach and digestive issues, and relieving dysentery. Another Greek doctor quite taken with aloe was Dioscorides, who served with the Roman army. He was very excited when he wrote in his “De Materia Medica” that aloe could coagulate blood and heal open wounds, cure hemorrhoids, reduce hair loss and cure eye infections.
During the Punic Wars, the Romans learned about the benefits of aloe from watching their wounded Carthaginian captives treat their wounds with the plant. The Romans, never a people to fall behind in technology of any kind, quickly picked up on the amazing benefits of aloe and began both importing it and growing it themselves.
Aloe and Alexander
During the siege of Gaza in 330 BCE, Alexander the Great took a bad wound. Bad went to worse when the wound became infected as he campaigned across Egypt and Libya. His famous tutor and mentor, Aristotle, sent a priest to treat him with healing aloe-based oil from the island of Socotra. Alexander was impressed with the results, and took Aristotle’s advice to conquer Socotra, so as to always have a good supply of aloe for his soldiers.
Aloe in the Bible
Aloe is referenced several times throughout the Bible as a healing and sacred plant. One notable use of aloe was during the early Christian persecutions. The Romans were forcing Christians to burn sacred incense, primarily based on aloe, as offerings to pagan gods. The Christians got around this law by substituting their own incense made from aloe blended with other unofficial ingredients, such as myrrh and benjoin.
Referred to as “The Miracle Plant,” “The Elixir of Long Life,” and “The Plant of Immortality.” Aloe has received so many complimentary nicknames from doctors, queens and other enthusiasts over the centuries that we couldn’t include them all in this list! Perhaps it’s enough to say that when you heal with aloe or drink aloe juice, you revitalize your body with a timeless plant that can preserve your health and beauty.
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Restoring and Healing with Kombucha Tea – The Elixir of Long Life
Kombucha is a fermented tea, reputed by some to be one of the oldest drinks in the world, even older than leaf-based teas. Millions of people worldwide report dramatic health benefits from Kombucha, affecting not only one symptom or ailment, but their overall holistic health. Some even claim that Kombucha works on an energetic level with the cells, restoring balance to both the physical and energetic bodies. Recently, deliciously flavored Kombucha has become commercially available in the US, but traditionally the tea is fermented by home brewers. Science has not conducted much research on Kombucha, and is only beginning to crack open the vault of ancient healing it represents.
Kombucha: a Vague History
Kombucha is so old that no one is really certain where it originated. However, traditional wisdom claims that it comes from China or Japan. Our earliest records place it at 2,000 ago in the east. There are reports that during the Qin Dynasty Kombucha was known as a magical beverage that could provide immortality. Korean stories claim that in 415 A.D. a Korean doctor healed the Japanese Emperor Ingyo with Kombucha. None of these oral traditions can be verified, but there are many more like them throughout the world.
In more recent history, Kombucha became a popular folk remedy in 19th century Russia, especially in poor, rural communities. During the 1950s, entire villages were discovered by Soviet doctors that had been protected from hazardous environmental toxins. The residents attributed their health to Kombucha tea.
From Russia, it became popular throughout Europe, and only recently has the tea surfaced in the US. It’s now available from many commercial vendors, but there are more than six million home brewers of Kombucha around the world.
Kombucha Health Benefits
Proponents of Kombucha claim the fermented tea is more than a healthy drink, it’s actually a food full of probiotics, amino acids, vitamins and more, and works on the self as a complete, holistic therapy instead of addressing isolated issues. It’s a strong detoxifier and immune-enhancer. There have been thousands of reports of Kombucha aiding in healing cancer, sharpening eyesight, restoring elasticity and beauty to the skin, aiding digestion, nourishing bad joints and more.
Kombucha tea is said to bring the organs throughout the body together to work synergistically, and to balance metabolism. Its probiotic properties account in part for the digestive aid, working in much the same way that acidophilus in live yogurt cultures does. It introduces bacteria that produce lactic acid into the intestinal tract, keeping harmful bacteria at bay.
Many people find Kombucha is beneficial when applied topically, as well as when taken internally. It can be made into a compress or a cream and applied to conditions such as skin ulcers, fungal infections and warts.
Drinking Kombucha
Kombucha tea is created by adding a solid culture of yeast and bacteria, call the “mother mushroom” to a jar of sweetened tea, usually black or green tea. After several weeks of fermentation the drink can be tapped, and the “mother mushroom” will have produced an offshoot “daughter.” This can be separated from the mother and placed in another jar to start another batch of tea. More liquid can also be added to the mother jar, and the process can be repeated indefinitely.
The tea often tastes light and a little bubbly, due to the fermentation. Depending on the culture, and whether flavor has been added, it tastes similar to apple cider vinegar. Kombucha is carried in many grocery stores, especially businesses that focus on natural and organic foods. Many commercial producers create light, refreshing flavors that are the perfect drink for a day at the beach.
Currently, there are no reports of ill effects from drinking Kombucha, but use it with caution until you know how it works with your body. Due to fermentation, the tea typically contains small levels of alcohol, which vary from batch to batch and don’t become toxic. Pick up a bottle from your local natural grocery store, or brew up a batch in your fridge. Then wrap on a sarong and sip it in the sun, absorbing the nutrients and feeling your physical and energetic bodies come into balance.
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Facial Exercises to Help Keep You Looking Young – Natural Exercises for Tone and Vitality
Your facial muscles are attached directly to the skin of your face, unlike the muscles in the rest of your body, which are attached by fibrous connecting tissue. Over time your facial muscles lose tone and elasticity and, thanks to gravity, aging and effects from the sun, your skin begins to sag and wrinkle. Some people look to surgical procedures to restore youthful skin, but you don’t have to go under the knife. Using some simple facial exercises, you can restore and maintain a youthful look. As with other exercises, it will take time to see results, but after several months you’ll be pleased by what you see in the mirror!
Before performing any of these exercises, you should moisturize and lubricate your face with your favorite moisturizer or water.
Exercise Your Eyes
The skin around the eyes is the thinnest skin on the body. It is some of the first to show the signs of aging with crow’s feet and sagging under-eyes. For the same reason, it is also one of the more responsive areas of the face. You may see results around your eyes sooner than you notice them in other areas, however, don’t expect to erase your fine lines and wrinkles one-hundred percent.
The basic exercise for your eyes is easy. Wink one eye, hold it closed for a second or two, then repeat the movement. Close your eye firmly, but you don’t have to squint and wrinkle your skin. Start with 50 repetitions. When you’re finished with the first eye, move on to the next.
A slightly more advanced version includes pressing very gently on the bone just beneath your eye and performing the exercise. This provides a little resistance to strengthen your muscles further.
Shape Your Cheeks
This simple isometric exercise can reduce puffiness in the cheeks, giving an overall firmer look and refining your cheekbones. Just fill one of your cheeks with air, puffing it up like a blowfish. Your mouth will be puckered. Open the side of your mouth near the full cheek, and slowly press the air out with your cheek muscle. You can use a decent amount of pressure in this one, because you’re only pressing against air. Repeat this ten times on each side.
Tone up Your Mouth
Open your mouth and place your two index fingers inside at the corners of your lips. Make sure your hands are clean! Pull gently at the corners of your mouth, pressing against your fingers with your mouth muscles. Hold the contraction for a few seconds, then contract the muscles of your mouth more tightly, pushing your index fingers closer together. Try for 25 to 50 repetitions to start, but don’t over-do it! Because the muscles of the mouth are generally strong, this is one of the more firm facial exercises. Keep in mind that this won’t reshape your lips, but will firm up the muscles around them.
Tighten Your Neck
The supple skin of the neck is another area that begins to show aging early on. Rings and wrinkles form, and the skin begins to sag. Maybe you’ve even got the dreaded “turkey flap.” This exercise will help strengthen your neck muscles. If you perform it every day, you should see significant improvement over the course of several months.
Open your palm, with your fingers together and your thumb extended. Place your open hand at the base of your neck over your collarbone. Press down to hold the skin and muscles in place while you raise your chin and lower jaw toward the ceiling. Now tighten your lower lip and reach with it toward the ceiling, stretching through your neck, chin and lip. Repeat five times, then switch hands.
There are many more facial exercises out there to target other trouble spots, but these four will help out some of the most noticeable areas. Treat your skin well, exfoliating and moisturizing daily. When you wrap on a sarong for a fun day in the sun, you'll look stunning and fit! Just make sure that you go with adequate SPF and a good beach hat to keep your skin safe and youthful!
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How to Summer-Proof Your Hair Color – Keep the Color You Want Through Sun, Sea, and Salt
Whether you enhance your hair color at home or in a salon, you're probably particular about your shade. You pay good money for that sophisticated brunette, effervescent blonde, or dramatic red, so keeping it looking fresh should be a priority. Some of your favorite things about summer--the sun, the sea, the swimming pool--are exactly what your hair dreads the most. Summer is your hair's enemy.
Summer-proofing your hair color means making it last without its fading into some lackluster hue or mutating to a shade not known in nature. Fight back against the worst offenders against color-treated hair this summer and keep the color you love.
Enemy Number One: the Sun
Ultraviolet light damages pigment molecules. You've seen evidence of this if you've ever hung white laundry on a line and witnessed how it bleaches your linens. You'll notice it if you have a patch of sun that regularly falls through your window and fades your Aubusson rug. The sun has the same effect on the particles of pigment that reside in your hair shaft.
If your hair is blonde, you may not mind becoming blonder by being in the sun. If you're a redhead or a brunette, though, chances are you want to stay that way, at least unless you decide to make a major style change. Don't let the sun make changes for you; take steps to protect your color with sunscreen.
If you're at the beach for the day, you can add the same sunscreen you use on your body to your hair; you'll just look like your hair is wet. Most people aren't lucky enough to live on the beach every day, though, so invest in some specialty hair products with sunscreen. Your best bet is a leave-in conditioner in spray form that can evenly coat your hair for best protection.
Even more effective is a beach hat. A hat provides your hair with portable shade and keeps the worst of the sun's depredations from your color.
Chlorine Calamity
Chlorine in swimming pools and hot tubs eats away at hair color as surely as bleach, albeit not as quickly. Worse yet, if your hair is blonde, chlorine can react with the pigments in your hair to give it a greenish cast. This isn't a pretty kelly green, but a sickly shade that doesn't flatter anyone.
The best way to protect your hair color from chlorine damage is to make sure that the hair shaft is already "full" before you enter the pool. Saturate your hair with clean, un-chlorinated water before entering the pool; hair that's already wet has no room to absorb water containing chlorine molecules that affect your color. Once your hair's wet, seal it with a generous coating of conditioner.
If you can stand the hit to your fashion sense, wear a bathing cap over your conditioner-soaked hair. Not only will you protect your hair from chlorine discoloration, you'll also give it a deep conditioning treatment under the cap.
Blowing in the Wind
You wouldn't think that wind could strip the color from your hair; but in an indirect sense, it can. You've probably noticed how windblown hair feels coarse to the touch. Wind roughens your hair because it lifts the tiny overlapping shingle-like keratin scales that make up your hair shaft. Over time, this ruffling damages hair irreparably.
Those interstices between the keratin plates are how color gets into your hair during the coloring process--and it's also how color leaves your hair over time. While wind itself can't blow the color from your hair, it can damage it to the point that dyes won't stay in it.
Wind damage is easy to counteract. If possible, braid your hair; the wind can't make a mess of braids the way it can with loose, flowing hair. Wearing a beach hat also helps. Wear a sarong turban-style if no other options are available; it's worth it to keep your hard-earned color true.
Seawater Strategies
Like wind, seawater dries your hair. Dry hair has rough cuticles that allow free exchange between the interior of your hair shaft and the harsh environment outside. Delicate dye molecules become easier to wash away and harder to keep in your hair.
Keep the sea out of your hair the same way you lock out chlorine--wet your head with clean water and cover it with conditioner. An oily conditioner works especially well as it won't wash out quickly.
A little extra care will keep your hair salon-perfect during the cruel summer. Vacation without worry and pack a collection of hats; you'll stay looking flawless all season.
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Homemade Full-Body Herbal Wraps and Masks – How to Get the Salon Experience at Home
Herbal wraps are a signature spa treatment. They relax you, clarify your skin, and even slim you down as you lose a little water weight. Unfortunately, full-body spa treatments like wraps and masks also slim your wallet--one place where no one wants to lose. Instead of taking a trip to the spa, create the spa environment in your own home.
Here's what you'll need for any at-home spa. You can vary other ingredients, but these are the basics common to all these recipes:
6 to 8 large towels or 2 sheets Air mattress 1 cup of kelp or dulse (you'll find this at health food retailers) Your favorite body lotion or oil
One sheet or two towels will go over the air mattress and act as a dropcloth to keep it and the floor beneath it clean as you let the wrap or mask do its work. The other sheet or the remainder of the towels will be your wrapping fabric.
Invigorating Body Wrap
Prepare your herbal wrap by boiling two quarts of water. Add the kelp or dulse, half a cup of sea salt, and half a cup of lavender or ginger. Remove the mixture from the stove and let it cool until it's comfortable to touch, then add your wrapping material to the pot to soak.
As your wrap cools, have a warm shower to open the pores of your skin. Use a body brush or loofah during your shower to exfoliate. Head to your air mattress and drape the towels or sheet over your body, starting with your feet. You can tuck the fabric snugly around you, but you don't want to go too tight; wraps work fine without turning you into a mummy.
Relax for 30 to 45 minutes, then rinse in a tepid shower.
Clarifying Mud Wrap
To two quarts of boiling water, add the cup of seaweed plus a cup of green tea. Let the mixture cool. While it's cooling, mix a cup of kaolin or bentonite clay powder with a cup of aloe vera gel; you'll be applying this messy, but effective mixture to your skin before wrapping, so be sure to have your towels or sheets in place before you start.
Have a warm shower and follow it with a gentle, but thorough toweling off to exfoliate your skin gently. Smooth the aloe and clay mixture on your skin. Pay close attention to areas where breakouts occur. Wring your towels or sheet before wrapping to avoid washing off too much of the clay layer.
Leave this body mask on for 45 minutes to an hour. Finish with a warm shower followed by a light, non-oily moisturizer.
Moisturizing Oil Wrap
It's difficult to clean towels after this moisturizing wrap, so you may prefer to use an old sheet instead, replacing it each time you use this treatment.
Your wrapping mixture can contain any herbs that you find pleasant, but chamomile and calendula are particularly soothing. Make your soaking liquid from two quarts of boiling water and a cup of dulse or kelp flakes. In a separate bowl, combine a cup of olive oil with essential oils of your choice; this will be the extra moisturizing layer that makes this wrap effective.
After your shower, use your favorite moisturizer. Once you get to your spa room, apply the olive oil liberally to your skin. Wrap up with the soaking sheet and relax for an hour if possible. The warm wrappings help the oil penetrate your skin, leaving you silky.
Full-Body Mud Mask
While not exactly a wrap, a mud mask can work wonders on troubled skin. Mix kaolin or bentonite clay and just enough distilled water to make a paste slightly thicker than pancake batter. Slather this mixture on after a bath, paying close attention to areas where breakouts happen most, and allow it to dry. After you rinse the mask away, moisturize with aloe vera gel.
Do’s and Don'ts of Home Wraps
If you're uncomfortable, wash it off immediately. Irritation and pain aren't part of the process. Keep your spa room warm and use a foil-like thermal blanket if you're prone to becoming chilled. Avoid using peppermint oil; mint can irritate skin during long exposure. When you're wrapping, avoid anywhere a bathing suit touches you; sensitive skin doesn't like wraps. Keep a glass of water near you to sip; this will keep you from becoming dehydrated.
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The Best Summer Styles for Curly Hair – Make Peace with Hair That Has a Life of Its Own
If you have curls, you know you'll face a challenge every summer. Whether you're planning a tropical beach vacation or staying closer to home, heat and humidity can turn your curly hair into its own frizzy entity--one with a cantankerous personality. With the right style, though, curly hair becomes vibrantly bouncy, yet manageable even during the hottest summer day.
Finding your perfect curly style means understanding your curls. Stylist Andre Walker created a curl classification system that makes styling your curls a breeze. Type 1 hair isn't a curl at all; it's what describes stick-straight hair with no wave to it. Type 2 curls are actually waves, while Type 3 hair falls into the classic spiral curls you might associate with Bernadette Peters or Taylor Swift. Type 4 curls are tight and grow out rather than down; Macy Gray and Jill Scott are famous for their wild, beautiful Type 4 curl.
Once you know your curls, you can try some new styles in time for summer or for a beach vacation.
Long and Loose
Curls look gorgeous in their natural state, but it takes some work to look that "natural." You're aiming for air-dried and tousled, not stiffly sculpted into place or full of frizz. This easy style is perfect for vacations or weekends when you aren't in a rush. It works for best for hair that's shoulder-length or longer, as short styles need more structure.
The style starts with well-moisturized hair. After washing and conditioning your hair as normal, add another layer of leave-in conditioner to your damp hair from about an inch beyond the roots down to the ends. Don't brush or comb it through, as the more you touch your damp hair, the more frizz you'll create.
Let your hair air-dry. Once it's dry, distribute styling mousse through it with your hands. The less you handle your hair, the more shine and smoothness you'll retain, so finish with a silicone-based shine spray to ward off humidity-borne frizziness and you're set. Dress it up with a clip if you like, but gorgeous curls don't really need any ornaments.
Braids
There's a reason that women in hot climates throughout the world have favored braids since Cleopatra's day--braids feel as cool as they look. If your hair is long enough to braid, you'll want to try it for summer. Type 2 waves work well in one or two simple braids, while Type 4 can go anywhere from a pair of thick side braids to a profusion of skinny ones.
Any braids beyond a couple of pigtail-style plaits to either side of your head are going to be time-consuming. If you want a mass of micro-braids, you're looking at much of your day in the salon chair. However, once you have them in, braids are incredibly easy to care for, giving you wash-and-wear hair all summer at the cost of a few hours' occasional discomfort. Get braids before your vacation and you won't have to think about your hair. A beach hat, a sarong, and a good beach read are all you'll need.
The Puffy Pony
Curly-tops are lucky when it comes to the simple ponytail; while their straight-haired sisters try to inject volume into the crowns of their ponytail styles, you come by it naturally. Ponytails work best for longer hair; shorter styles can go for two tails or poufs either at the crown of your head or near the nape of your neck. Having your hair off your neck is a cool option for summer.
The trick to a perfect ponytail is leaving some volume around your face to keep it from looking severe. After sweeping your hair back but before you put your pony into its band, push gently at the hair just above where your ponytail will be; this will give you some lift at the crown. If your hair is fine, this may not give you enough volume, so gently back-comb at your crown before creating your ponytail.
The Wide Headband
Perfect for thick Type 3 and Type 4 curls, a wide band of fabric wrapped around your head with a riot of curls above it looks far more dramatic than the effort you put into the style. It's as easy as a ponytail, but soft cloth is kinder to delicate Type 4 hair than ponytail holders. Plus, wide headbands give you a chance to express yourself with a bold print.
There's no special trick to wearing a wide headband; it's just a matter of wrapping it on and fastening it tightly. Try it at different widths and positions on your head to see what you like best.
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Beauty on the Beach – Treatments that Work While You Play
You might think of a day at the beach as punishing to your hair and skin. Wind chaps your lips, heat bakes your skin, and the sun and sea together fix your hair with a double whammy of dryness. You don't need to skip a beach vacation, hide your hair away, or wait until dusk to avoid the worst effects of beach fun on your looks.
Hot Oil for Your Hair
Have you ever given yourself a hot oil treatment? Heat helps conditioning agents penetrate hair shafts and improves the effectiveness of any conditioner. While a hot oil pack usually requires some hot water or a microwave, being on the beach gives you a golden opportunity to apply an all-day conditioner to your hair.
You can use your favorite day-to-day conditioner as a leave-in treatment, but chances are it's designed to wash away quickly. A better choice, especially if you have dry hair, is a thicker deep-conditioning treatment. If your hair is coarse, try a tropical beauty product that's been in use for centuries: pure coconut oil. In a pinch, you could even use your sunscreen as a conditioner.
Starting with clean, damp hair, apply a liberal amount of your favorite oil or conditioning cream to your hair, starting an inch or two below the roots and working your way to the ends. Comb the product through your hair. The heat of the day will infuse your hair with conditioner, leaving it supple and shiny.
Cover up with a beach hat while you enjoy lunch or shop if you prefer to keep your hair under wraps. If you plan an active day of beach volleyball, surfing, or parasailing, braid your conditioned hair to make it neat.
Blonde on the Beach with Lemon Juice
Do you want to lighten your hair and give it a sun-kissed look as you condition? Dampen it with lemon juice before adding your leave-in conditioner. Lemon juice acts as a natural, but effective bleaching agent on hair when exposed to sunlight.
For all-over lightening, comb the juice through your hair thoroughly for even distribution. You aren't limited to big changes, though; try picking up just a few strands to dampen as highlights. Wrap half a lemon in a piece of mesh or old stocking, squeeze it to get its juices flowing, and pat it on the uppermost layers of your hair to get a natural distribution of highlights. Adding highlights near your face creates a visual frame.
Acidic lemon juice can sting the tender skin of your scalp, so leave the roots of your hair alone. If you've ever squeezed a lemon and gotten juice in your eye, you know how irritating it can be; you want your hair damp with juice, not so wet that it drips into your eyes. More isn't necessarily better, and a light application of lemon will give you plenty of bleaching power over the course of the day.
If you find that your hair is lightening too much, wash out the juice if possible. If you aren't near your shower or a bottle of shampoo, slow the bleaching with a beach hat.
Resurface Your Lips
The delicate skin of your lips is prone to wind and sun damage. Using a sunscreen on them is vital. To make a sunscreen-infused lip balm that actually improves the condition of your lips as you wear it on the beach, exfoliate your lips with the balm before wearing it in the sun.
Using an old toothbrush or a rough washcloth, rub a little of your favorite lip balm on your lips to scrub away the dry outer layers of your skin. Then apply a thick coat of balm with sunscreen. What hot oil does for your hair, hot balm will do for your lips, making them silky and smooth. The friction of exfoliation will also leave your lips looking flushed and full without lipstick.
Exfoliate Your Feet
When you're on the beach, you're surrounded with an ideal exfoliating agent: sand. Just work your heels back and forth in the sand as you lie on the beach and you'll soften even the roughest feet. Finish with some sunscreen as a moisturizer. Your feet will be ready for strappy sandals.
Beach fun doesn't have to leave you looking shipwrecked. Enjoy a beauty treatment worthy of any spa while you spend your day on the beach.
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The History of Soap – The Evolution of Cleansing to the Beauty Soaps of Today
According to legend, soap was discovered when a group of Roman women were doing laundry at a river below Sapo Hill, beneath the site of a recent animal sacrifice. They were amazed to find their clothes coming clean as sudsy clay slid into the river from the sacrifice site.
While poetic, this myth isn’t very plausible. There are no Roman records of a place called “Sapo Hill,” and the Romans kept excruciatingly detailed geographic records. “Sapo” is simply the Latin word for “soap,” and it was probably “borrowed” from an ancient Germanic language.
The "animal sacrifice" aspect isn’t very likely, either. Roman sacrifices burned bones and entrails, not meat and fat. Any fat that did make it into the sacrifice wouldn’t have been enough to form soap.
The Real Beginnings of Soap
Our first real historical soap reference comes from Ancient Babylon. A recipe inscribed on a clay tablet calls for water, alkali and cassia oil. A later recipe included ashes, cypress oil and sesame seed oil. This was recommended for “washing stones for the servant girls,” and may have been used for laundering clothes.
In the Ebers Papyrus, dating from 1550 BCE, we learn the Ancient Egyptians took beauty baths with soaps created from animal and vegetable oils. They also used soap to cleanse wool for wraps and sarongs, and prepare it for weaving.
Greco-Roman Bath Time
Ancient Greeks and Romans went to public bathhouses and slicked themselves up with olive oil. They would then scrape the oil from their skin with a “strygil,” a tool shaped like a small sickle. The oil would render dirt and dead skin slippery, making it simple to scrape off.
Roman baths were complicated, involving rooms for oiling and scraping, hot water baths, cold water baths, massage and rooms for moisturizing with more oil. Bathing was a social activity, like going to the fitness club today. It was common to bathe first, then soak and socialize.
As for soap, they appeared not to have much use for it until around 150 AD. Galen recommends it for washing the body and clothes, but he claims the best soaps were made in Germanic and Gallic lands. Pliny the Elder mentions it prior to then, but only as a beauty pomade for hair.
The Celts and Germanic Peoples
The Romans probably learned about "sapo" from the Germans and Celts, who made “saipo” from animal fats, plants and ashes. Contrary to the popular view of filthy barbarians, some Saxon peoples were considered by contemporaries to be too clean. They bathed regularly on Saturday, still called “washing day” in some Scandinavian languages. It was also popular, especially in Iceland, to bathe in natural hot springs.
Ancient China
In another part of the world, Ancient China, a centuries-long tradition of herbal baths was popular with the nobility. It is recorded that from 1100 to 221 BCE fragrant herbs were added to baths to dispel body odor and ease the stress of summer heat. Later, from around 960 to 1280 AD, the public caught the herbal bath craze, indulging especially during spiritual rituals.
Early Christian Attitudes through and beyond the Middle Ages
Early church fathers considered bathing as unspiritual, and until the Middle Ages and even beyond, bathing was infrequent in the Christian world. Eventually, with the advancement of science and spreading of knowledge, bathing was finally viewed as beneficial and healthy.
Islamic Bathing
Islamic peoples used bathing establishments, called the “hammam,” or the “Turkish Bath.” Because their religious beliefs required frequent cleansing, going to the baths was a common excursion. They cleansed themselves first, and then socialized.
Bathing so often led to the creation of soap in bar and liquid form. Arabian soaps were luxurious and fragrant, incorporating perfumes and pretty colors. They even created an early version of shaving cream! They shipped to many countries, and some of their recipes were so perfect they are still popular today.
The Mayans, Aztecs and Conquistadors
On the other side of the world, the Ancient Mayans and Aztecs bathed in sweat lodges. They built adobe and mud huts called “temescals.” “Teme” means “to bathe,” and “calli” means “house.”
The temescal was no relaxing bubble bath! It was a ritual purification of body, mind and spirit. Hot rocks heated water to create steam. Healing herbs could be added, and the water could be carefully poured over the body. Soon a layer of slick grime formed on the skin as dirt was lifted away and toxins were drawn from the body. This could be scraped off with pumice.
When the Spaniards arrived from a land of proud non-bathers (no tubs, no bathhouses, certainly no sweat lodges!) they were appalled. The European belief, likely evolved from early Christian attitudes, was that bathing was unhealthy. One European queen bragged that she had only bathed two times in her life: once at birth, and once before her wedding.
Soap Production Increases
This aversion to bathing continued for centuries, but in the fifteen and sixteen hundreds, the practice picked up. French soaps became especially renowned. Some French recipes, such as castile soap, were so effective they are still used today, produced industrially and by small artisans.
But bathing remained inconvenient, and interest continued to rise and fall until the 1700s, when awareness of the connection between being clean and healthy grew. Soap production became wide spread and industrialized through the US and Europe. Recipes quickly multiplied to include fragrances, liquid and powder forms, lotions, and later, anti-bacterial agents.
Like bathing, soap hasn’t always been in vogue, and the practice of bathing with soap was often considered a luxury. Today, keeping clean is a basic human right and a science. There are specialized soaps for washing your hands, your hair, your dishes and your dresses, but each of these highly specific recipes evolved from simple, ancient traditions.
The Beauty Soaps of Today
Today, there are many formulas for beauty soaps which have specific advantages. They include herbs, natural oils, fragrances and other ingredients which enhance beauty, diminish flaws and bring out the best in your skin.
Oatmeal has been an ingredient in beauty soaps for centuries. Oatmeal softens and gently exfoliates skin. It’s a handy ingredient because it is so versatile. It absorbs excess oil in oily complexions, but also moisturizes drier skin. It helps to balance your skin’s pH levels. Oatmeal can be combined with other moisturizers, such as olive oil, honey or shea butter, or can blend with sugar or sea salt for an effective, gentle scrub.
Moisturizing soaps often contain ingredients such as honey, shea butter or olive oil. Also, ever since the first bar of soap was made, glycerin was included. Glycerin is a natural by-product of soap making, which is produced from the natural oils and fats, such as olive oil, coconut oil or tallow. Glycerin conditions the skin to absorb more moisture from the air throughout the day. Soaps containing higher quantities of glycerin are translucent, meaning light shines through them. Glycerin also dissolves easily, leaving no film on the skin, and is beneficial for irritated skin conditions, such as eczema.
Natural exfoliating ingredients include oatmeal, avocado, sugar and sea salt. Coffee grounds are an unconventional exfoliating aid, and have the added benefit of brightening and waking up the skin with caffeine. Ground almonds, flax seeds and wheat germ all gently rub away dead skin, bringing up the brighter, younger you beneath. These are all timeless exfoliants, but when choosing a natural soap, be careful to avoid products with “polyethylene” beads. These are basically tiny plastic beads in the soap, which do exfoliate your skin, but do not dissolve or biodegrade, and are not natural.
Fragrances in beauty soap are usually derived from plants, such as roses, jasmine or lilies. Make sure the fragrances are all natural, so they will soothe your skin and not irritate it. Herbs are also a popular choice. Herbs have long traditions of medicinal and health applications, and your skin can soak up these benefits through your beauty soap. Mint soap wakes up and refreshes your complexion. Rosemary beauty soaps can increase circulation, making it a good choice for skin at any age to rejuvenate and stimulate your complexion. Some rosemary soaps have pieces of the rough herb left in, which also acts as a gentle exfoliant.
There are even natural antibacterial agents that can kill bacteria in your skin pores, such as tea tree oil. It provides a natural solution to acne in beauty soaps.
Different formulas work well for different people, so assess your skin and what you would like your soap to do, then start shopping. Protect and beautify your skin with timeless exfoliants, moisturizers and beach hats to guard from the sun. Show your complexion off with other timeless beauty enhancers, such as a lovely sarong, jewelry or natural make up.
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How to Get Luxurious Legs – Exercises and Skin Care Tips for Great Gams
Smooth, shapely legs look absolutely glamorous in a sarong, stretched out on the beach, or walking around town in a short skirt. They get attention and build confidence, not to mention a pair of healthy legs means better health overall. But creating that longed-for look won’t happen overnight. It takes commitment, patience and self-care. We’ve got some tips that can make getting great legs a walk (or a run) in the park!
Exercises
There’s no way to achieve tone and shape without putting in the work. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are three simple exercises:
1. Chair Squats – Stand with your back to a chair, roughly a foot away. Bend your knees slightly, and squat until your butt taps the seat. Make sure you keep your knees behind your toes. When you stand, squeeze your glutes for support. Try to repeat it 10 times. This works your hips, quads and glutes.
2. Standing Leg Bend and Extension – You can use a small step for this, or a phone book if you have one. Stand on your step with one leg so that the other hovers over the floor, foot flexed. Lift that knee as high as you can. Lower the leg, swing it behind yourself, and keep your toes pointed. Shoot for 10 to 15 repetitions. This targets your hamstrings, hip flexors and core.
3. Calf Press – Stand with your feet under your hips. Rise up slowly on your toes, hold the pose for a count of five, then lower slowly. Try to keep your weight on your big toes. Try to do four sets of 20.
Hair Removal
Shaving your legs is the most traditional method of hair removal. It’s affordable and you can do it quickly in the shower. Make sure you use a good shaving cream. A good substitute is hair conditioner, which eases the movement of the razor on your skin. Take your time and apply antiseptic to any cuts.
Depending on how fast your hair grows, waxing may be a good option. You can wax at home or have a professional take care of you. Some women prefer to have it done professionally for the mess control and pampering that eases the possible pain of the experience.
Depilatory lotions can dissolve the hair right off your skin, but the effects generally last a short time. Also, if your hair is dark you may be able to see a “shadow” of hair just beneath the first layer of skin.
Tanning
The rule of thumb with tanning is: Not too much! Over-exposure to the sun can prematurely age your skin and cause sunburn and even skin cancer. The same goes for tanning beds. Don’t hit the beach or tanning bed without sun block or a sarong, and never use tanning oils. Depending on your skin tone, leave the SPF off for about fifteen minutes to get a little exposure, and then apply protection. Tanning can take several sessions. Start with a higher SPF and work your way down to a lower one.
About Veins
Spider veins are a nuisance, especially in beach clothes. You can cover them up with make-up, but try to prevent them by facilitating the circulation in your legs. Long unbroken sessions of sitting or standing strain your legs, as does wearing tight clothing and tight shoes. If you need an excuse to go get a massage, consider this your ticket! Massage increases circulation. If you can't make it to the massage therapist, massaging yourself can be just as effective. Elevate your legs and use a nourishing oil. Also, try to manage your weight, as being overweight puts more strain on your legs. The exercises we offered earlier will help, and will increase your circulation.
If you prefer to eradicate your spider veins surgically, laser therapy or sclerotherapy can help. Sclerotherapy is done in a doctor’s office with injections into the veins.
Always remember to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! You’ll ward off “alligator hide,” nourish your skin and repair any damage caused by tanning and shaving on a daily basis. Go on and make that mini-skirt your friend!
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How Water Hydrates and Rejuvenates You – A Natural Resource that Makes You Possible
You’ve heard the advice repeated by medical professionals, the media and a bevy of other sources, including your parents: drink eight glasses of water a day to stay healthy. Everybody knows that drinking water is good for them, but why exactly is that? What, precisely, does water do inside your body to keep you so healthy, hydrated and alive?
You Are a Body of Water
Stripped bare, the basic elements necessary for life on planet Earth are hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon. Two of these elements come together to make water, and only after this occurred did life on Earth become possible. Over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by this compound. 97% of this is saltwater oceans and seas. About 1% is usable by humans.
Your body is made of over 65% water, and your brain alone is more than 85% water. Your muscle tissue is composed of about 75% water. Water makes up around 25% of your fatty tissues.
Your body uses water for every biological function, and it keeps your body running like the magnificent machine it is. Water helps cells function and regenerate, builds blood plasma, flushes toxins, improves skin's elasticity and beauty, cleans your inner organs, lubricates joints, facilitates your immune system and more. The duties of water inside your body are virtually endless.
Here are a few specifics: - Your individual cells use water to maintain their temperature, their size and shape, and as a solvent to help them process nutrients. - In order to create your blood, your body takes water from your intestines and stomach. Pure water can be in your bloodstream within minutes after you drink it. - Digestive juices are around 98% water, so if you’re not hydrated you won’t be able to properly break down food or absorb nutrients. Your body senses a state of dehydration and retains what fluids it has, meaning you feel “bloated.” Simply drinking enough water every day can help you lose weight.
Dehydration
Urination isn’t the only way your body expels water. You lose hydration every time you breathe, sweat, blink, move and do basically anything at all. When your body doesn’t have the essential element it runs on, slight malfunctions can occur that can eventually evolve into health risks.
That said, most people are dehydrated much of the time, but don’t recognize the symptoms. Some of the more common symptoms include fatigue, headaches, weakness, dizziness, muscle pains, fluid retention and cramps. One complication of remaining dehydrated, especially if it’s a very warm day or you’ve been exercising, is your body could be unable to regulate its temperature, putting you at risk for heat stroke.
How Much Water Should You Drink?
If you’ve ever tried drinking 8 glasses a day and found yourself running to the bathroom every half hour, you’re not alone. The truth is that not everyone needs the standard 8 glasses every day. This recommendation was actually founded on not much more than a theory. The calculation assumes that the average adult urinates 1.5 liters per day, and loses another liter through basic bodily processes. Since the food we eat contains about 20% of our fluids, adults should take in 2 liters per day to replace all that is lost.
You may have already come to the conclusion that the 8 glass a day theory is a little flawed. You’re right! It doesn’t account for factors like individual health, weight, environment, climate and activities.
A safe way to stay hydrated is drinking enough water that you don’t ever become thirsty. Also, your urine should be clear or very light yellow. Drink more when you exercise!
Now that you know how important water is to everything from your basic bodily functions to your physical and emotional comfort, be sure to keep a bottle with you all the time. Drop a bottle in your beach bag on your way to relax by the saline compound that created all life and composes 97% of the planet’s crust. Even if you’re not playing volleyball or building sandcastles, but simply relaxing in a sarong on a beach towel, you still need to stay hydrated!
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Tips for Growing Beautiful Long Hair – Glamorous Locks from the Roots on Down, Down, Down!
Long hair is feminine, elegant and always in style. Lustrous locks falling to a woman’s waist or even lower draw everyone’s eyes, and are appropriate for all occasions. Long, shining hair looks glamorous at formal events, playful and flirty when out for a casual lunch, and sensuous and natural when strolling along the beach wrapped in a pretty sarong.
Growing long hair can be difficult, because almost every woman has a “terminal length.” Basically, the growth duration of your hair follicles is activated and deactivated by genetics. Your terminal length may be longer than you think, though. Once your hair is damaged, it stops growing quickly. Keeping it healthy over long periods of time takes commitment, but can result in enviable tresses that turn heads.
Nutrition for Long Hair
For hair to grow long, it must remain undamaged for years at a time. For this to happen, it must come out of your scalp as healthy and strong as possible. Take a multi-vitamin daily, preferably one that contains biotin. Some women even take prenatal vitamins for the rich nutrients that benefit their hair. Also, be sure to get adequate nutrition. Look for foods that increase circulation, such as green tea, foods that are rich in magnesium, such as almonds, and foods that are high in protein and iron.
Be careful when dieting. Don’t eliminate entire food groups from your diet, and try not to eliminate all fats. Dairy, meat, healthy oils and carbohydrates are good for your hair.
Trim Your Hair to Grow It
Despite what commercials say, there isn’t any way you can totally repair hair once it’s damaged. It seems counterintuitive, but in order to grow long hair, you must cut it. Get rid of the damage! You may only need to trim off several inches, or it may be more than you’re comfortable cutting. Just remind yourself that it’s an investment for the future and snip away! If you treat your hair well from here on out, that’s one of the last times you should have to cut any significant length. After the initial trim, take off another half inch every three to four months. This is “damage control” and will remind your hair to keep growing.
Invest in good scissors that you reserve only for hair trimming. Consider these your “sacred shears” and don’t use them for anything else.
If you have a professional stylist trim your hair, make sure it’s someone you trust. It’s in a salon’s best interests to keep you coming back with styles that need upkeep, so make sure your stylist understands your hair growth goals and is willing to help.
Treat Your Hair Like Gold
From this point on you should treat your hair as though it is made of the most delicate silk. Be careful not to put it in styles that strain or stress your strands. Stay away from small braids, tight coils, corn rows and dreadlocks. When pulling it back, don’t yank too hard. Pass on shampoos, conditioners or styling products that contain harsh chemicals, and swear off perms, peroxides and straighteners for good!
When it comes to hair accessories, don’t use anything that could potentially damage your hair. Remember, once it’s damaged it’s gone for good. Don’t use rubber bands or harsh barrettes with sharp edges that can cause kinks. Don’t use Velcro, and be very careful with springs that can capture strands in themselves. Stick with hair-safe scrunchies and ponytail holders.
Massage your scalp every time you wash your hair to increase circulation, but make a commitment not to over wash. Try for every three days, or every two days if your hair starts looking greasy. You want to preserve the natural oils your scalp produces as long as possible.
Growing long, glamorous hair is for every woman who wants it! Never listen to anyone who says long locks wouldn’t be right for you, for whatever reason. Make a long term commitment to pamper your hair, and pay attention to the products that work well for you. Minimize damage and maximize nutrition. You’re on your way to a luxurious, head-turning mane!
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Organic and Natural Make Up – Pure, Healthy and Beautiful
All-natural and organic make up is all the rage these days, and it’s likely to continue growing in popularity. As more women become educated and determine to use products that won’t poison their bodies, cosmetics containing carcinogens, fossil fuels, animal byproducts and other undesirable ingredients become less—er—alluring. The allure of organic cosmetics is that they provide beauty while actually nourishing your skin and your body, being made with natural oils, minerals, vitamins and plant extracts. Some natural make up actually improves the quality of your skin, moisturizing and clarifying, making you look more radiant even after you take it off.
Foundations and Powders
Every girl deserves an even, brilliant skin tone. However, evening out your skin with conventional foundations and powders means you’re also getting unwanted ingredients like parabens (carcinogens), BHT (another carcinogen) and fragrance phthalates (which can cause hormone troubles).
If you use liquid foundations, organic versions are made of natural, healthy oils such as coconut and soothing calendula oil. Natural colors are obtained with minerals, fruit pigments and plant extracts. Effective, natural powder make up is also available, made from crushed minerals which perfect your complexion while nourishing your skin. Many also contain natural SPF, which can protect your skin from sun damage if you step out without your beach hat! They’re less greasy, which means they don’t clog your pores and contribute to acne as much as standard cosmetics.
Lipsticks
There’s nothing like picking out a new tube of lipstick to make you feel pretty. But too many conventional lipsticks are made with ingredients so toxic they should be kept under the kitchen sink, not in your cosmetic cabinet. Parabens, D&C pigments (synthetics linked to Alzheimer’s and cancer), and animal byproducts like cow brains, spinal cord tissue and fish scales (advertised as “pearlescence”) are all present. Ick!
The more natural alternatives contain ingredients like castor oil, orange oil, shea butter, beeswax and cocoa butter. Not only do they moisturize your lips, but colors derived from fruits, plants and minerals add nutrients to beauty. Slide on a vibrant color that compliments your sarong and protects your lips from the sun with natural SPF.
Eyeshadow
Standard eyeshadows employ all the synthetics already mentioned, as well as some that haven’t been. They also use a lot of strong ingredients that shouldn’t be used around the delicate eye area. Talc, for instance, has been found to lead to respiratory damage.
Natural shadows nourish your eyes while making them stand out with vibrant plant-based pigments and minerals. They incorporate natural oils and corn silk, which absorbs oil to keep the powder from getting clumpy on your skin. Soothing chamomile calms irritated or stressed eyes and the delicate skin around them, while vitamins, such as A, E and C provide a smooth finish. Choose a lovely, vibrant color that matches a gemstone bracelet for overall organic beauty.
Mascara
Just because you can darken your lashes with varnish, tar and “incompletely combusted hydrocarbon gas or oil,” doesn’t mean you should. Why do so, when natural mascaras provide length and color with vitamins, beeswax and herbs? Natural tints from cocoa, berries and black tea darken your lashes, while also perking up your peepers with a little caffeine.
A Word on Natural vs. Botanical Cosmetics
“Natural” cosmetics contain no synthetics, artificial colors or preservatives.
“Botanical” cosmetics contain plant extracts and oils, and generally don’t contain synthetics.
Many make ups that are made of minerals, such as face powders and foundations, don’t contain any plant extracts at all. While they’re not exactly the same thing, they are very close, and a single make up can be both natural and botanical.
When you’re buying natural make up, always read the ingredients to ensure you’re getting what you pay for. Some conventional companies would like to cash in on the natural make up market by slipping in decidedly unnatural, less expensive ingredients. Organic cosmetics may cost more up front, but they’re not all unaffordable. Considering that they nourish your beauty, your health and the planet, they are worth their price!
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Wearing Perfume in Warm Weather – Some Tips
When you think of a tropical beach, scents of coconut-infused lotions, salty marine air, and fragrant blooms may come to mind. Let those rich, exotic scents inspire your choice of perfume while you're on vacation. Whether you decide to pick out something new to wear for your trip or stay true to your signature fragrance, you'll want to consider how the sultry weather will affect your perfume's impact.
To understand how fragrance is composed, think of musical notes on a scale. Top notes are the first impressions you get of a perfume, the light and fleeting scents that evaporate most quickly. The middle notes or heart notes are the "body" of the fragrance; middle notes emerge a few minutes after application and linger for a few hours afterward. Base notes in a perfume last for many hours, a period also called the dry-down.
In warm weather, top notes evaporate almost immediately and base notes become more prominent. Perfume dissipates quickly, but becomes more intense in heat. Think of how a scented candle's aroma fills the room as it burns, but turns faint as the wax cools.
Keep It Light
Fragrances are available in different concentrations. Parfums or extraits contain the highest concentration of the aromatic compounds that give the perfume its scent. Eau de parfum, eau de toilette, and eau de cologne contain a respectively lower amount of aromatics, making them lighter but less lasting than parfum. Body mists, splashes, and scented lotions contain the smallest percentage of fragrance.
Wearing perfume in warmer weather can be tricky. You'll want to steer the middle course between wearing a fragrance so light that it dissipates within an hour of your putting it on and using a lasting scent that leaves an almost palpable cloud around you.
For warm climates, look for a concentration of fragrance that's one step lighter than what you customarily wear. Taking your fragrance lighter reduces its staying power somewhat, but it's easier to re-apply a light misting of fragrance than to remove an excess of it.
Layering for Lasting Fragrance
The key to wearing fragrance in warm weather is to layer it. Think of perfume the way you think of dressing for the weather. When it's cold, you'd wear a thick coat, a heavy layer meant to keep you wrapped in warmth. In tropical heat, you'll opt for light layers that you can remove as the day grows warmer; a swimsuit with a cover-up or sarong is all you need for days on the beach.
By the same token, layering sheer washes of fragrance will give it lasting power without becoming overwhelming. A scented soap, lotion, and eau de cologne with the same scent makes it subtler, but more complex than a single heavy application of parfum.
If you'd like to try something more unusual, consider layering different complementary fragrances together. The effect can be as stunning, the olfactory equivalent of a watercolor painting created with translucent washes of color. Choose scents with similar base notes for warm weather wear as these long-lasting elements will predominate. Adding a vanilla-scented soap and powder to a perfume with a strong vanilla component changes the personality of the scent and makes it uniquely yours.
Which Scent to Wear?
There are as many theories about how to choose the ideal perfume for your body chemistry as there are perfumes. How you'll wear a perfume depends on so many factors--the oiliness of your skin, your favorite foods, where you apply your fragrance--that the best way to choose your scent is to try it. Before your vacation, collect two or three promising scents and wear them throughout the day, preferably in warm conditions.
To narrow down your options, draw inspiration from your destination. A floral featuring tropical blooms like plumeria, frangipani, and orchid would put anyone in the mood for an island vacation. Spicier oriental fragrances might include Tahitian vanilla and Ceylon cinnamon. Or you might be inspired by the sea and gravitate to modern aquatic fragrances cooled with cucumber notes or brightened with citrus.
While there are no absolute rules about which scents not to wear in the heat of a beach vacation, some scents are more suited to the climate than others. Soliflores--perfumes made from a single flower--may feel too shy for the expansive warmth of the tropics. Heavy patchouli, amber, and myrrh could become overwhelming as they evaporate more quickly in the heat, so wear them with caution.
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Best Beach Styles for Long Hair – How to Keep Long Locks Looking Lush
No matter what its type or texture, long hair requires more delicate care. Very long hair can be a decade old at its ends, and during its tenure it's seen a lot of wear. Wind, salt, chlorine, and sun can contribute to hair damage, leaving it dry and split. Long hair gets in the way of beach volleyball games and other fun in the sun, too, so keeping it out of the way isn't just for the sake of your hair, but your temper.
Beach style should look effortless, and that goes for your hair as well. Just as you look perfectly put together just by tying a sarong at your waist and slipping on a pair of sunglasses, your beach hairstyle will look great if you don't fuss over it too much. "Less is more" should be your motto.
The Classic Ponytail
Never out of style, the classic pony is the simplest of long hair styles for the beach. A ponytail keeps your hair looking neat and feels cool on your neck. You could simply brush your hair back and add a plain ponytail holder, but why not try some variations on the theme?
For example, if you usually wear your ponytail about halfway between your nape and your crown, try shifting its position. Wrap a high-crown ponytail with multiple bands at the base to give it a dramatic "stalk" from which it flows; this works especially well with very long hair. Or go in the opposite direction and wear a low ponytail for a more sophisticated look.
You aren't limited to simple elastics, either. Remember fabric "scrunchies" from the 1980s? While they aren't for office wear, they look great at the beach. Fabric-wrapped elastic is kind to fragile hair, too, making it a good choice for long, thick hair that would otherwise show a ponytail dent when the holder is removed. Look for scrunchies that match your bathing suit or sarong for a little retro appeal.
Braids and More Braids
Long hair lends itself to braiding so well that it's been the go-to hairstyle for women for centuries. Bo Derek's cornrows in the movie "10" made a splash, but all-over skinny braids take major effort. Instead, try just a few thicker braids; they'll still keep your hair neat and well-protected, but you can achieve the style yourself before hitting the beach.
A single "Tomb Raider"-style braid down your back looks phenomenal with a simple bathing suit; go for this classic style if you have thick hair. For finer hair, try a pair of plaits behind your ears. If you prefer to leave some of your hair loose, add thinner braids just where your hair tends to get in the way--braid your bangs into a French braid that acts as a hairband for the rest of your hair, for example. A single side braid is as effortless as it looks.
The traditional three-strand braid isn't your only option, either. French braids, fishtail braids, four-strand braids, and box braids are just a few of the more complex possibilities you can play with if you have long hair. You can even braid your braids if it suits your fancy.
To keep braids orderly, add some conditioner to them as you're braiding. You'll not only make beautiful braids, you'll enhance your hair's shine and texture as you enjoy your day at the beach.
The Un-Fussy Bun
Hair in buns may conjure images of spinsters or high-strung ballerinas, but a messy bun is always beach-ready. The key is how you affix the hair in place--secure a beachy bun not with dozens of fussy little pins, but with two big hair-sticks or a stork-beaked clasp right across its center. Winding long hair into a bun and skewering it with a pair of chopsticks couldn't be simpler.
For variety, braid a few strands of hair before winding them into a bun. Don't feel you need to limit yourself to a single bun at the nape of your neck, either; two mini-buns on either side of your head near the crown look adorable on the beach.
Clips and Clasps
Simple accessories help hold long hair in place at the beach. Salt could corrode metal, so stick to easy-care plastic and cloth accessories at the beach or in the pool.
If you prefer your hair loose, but want to keep it out of your face, use some cheerful plastic barrettes to hold back your bangs. Long layered hairstyles can make great use of these little clips. Fasten braids with oversized plastic beads for a fun take on cornrows.
The essence of beach chic is looking like you aren't even trying. No one else has to know how much time you spent on your perfect pony or bountiful braids--you'll know that you look great and that your long hair is getting the protection it deserves.
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How to Choose Your Best Blonde Shade – Picking the Perfect Blonde for Your Skin Tone
According to lore, gentlemen prefer them and they have more fun, so who wouldn't want to try blonde hair? Most women who change their hair color will try a walk on the blonde side at some point. Not all blonde shades are equally well-suited to their wearers, though. Pick the most flattering blonde shade by taking an analytical approach toward your natural skin and hair color palette.
Get used to your blonde before swimsuit season so you'll be used to your new hair color once it's time to strut your stuff in summer dresses and sarongs. Blonde hair requires more care regardless of its hue, so get used to wearing a beach hat or a scarf with your new blonde locks. The up side is that you'll look fabulously retro with your big sunglasses and covered coiffure.
Fair or Dark?
The natural color of your hair and skin should guide your choice of blonde. The lightest skin tones can pull off everything from a dark almost-brown blonde to full-on platinum, but the palest shades will leave you washed out without the right makeup. People with dark skin tones should look at richer shades like caramel and cafe au lait blonde. Too-pale hair looks over-processed and artificial with darker skin tones. Not sure where your skin tone falls on the spectrum? If you were blonde as a child, you can probably pull off a paler shade of blonde; if you've been a brunette for life, stay toward the deeper end of the blonde pool.
Regardless of which shade you choose, stay within three shades of your natural hue for your base color. If you've been gifted with naturally raven-black hair, “blonde” is a relative term for you; light blonde shades would require a professional two-step process and a lot of upkeep. Instead, try lightening to a deep chocolate brown and adding caramel highlights for a softer and more natural look.
Warm or Cool?
Place a piece of pure white paper against your inner wrist, the same spot where you apply your perfume. Look at the color of your skin as it contrasts with the white paper. If you're seeing a blue or lavender hue, you have a cool skin tone. Greenish or golden tones to your skin? Your coloration is warm.
Can't tell whether you're warm or cool? You might be neutral-toned. If you're one of these rare skin types, you'll have your pick of the middle range of blonde shades.
Best Blondes for Cool-Toned Skin
If you're cool-toned, you've probably noticed that you look your best in clear pinks, true blues, rich purples, emerald greens, and candy-apple reds. Your best neutrals are pure white and black. You may burn more easily than you tan and spend most of your summer days under a beach hat.
Choose blonde shades with the words “ash,” “cool,” or “platinum.” These are the classic Hitchcock blonde hues, frosty shades that flatter cool-toned skin. Your best blondes range from the palest Scandinavian flax to sophisticated fawns and beiges. If you pine for sunny golden blonde hues despite your cool skin tone, choose an ashy shade for your base color and highlight with golden tones just a shade warmer and lighter than your ash blonde base.
If your skin has strong pink overtones, avoid going too ashy with your blonde hair. The contrast will emphasize the pink in your skin. Instead, opt for medium blonde shades that make you look appealingly rosy, not ruddy.
Best Blondes for Warm-Toned Skin
People with warm undertones to their skin look their best in autumnal and earthy hues. Think of rich golds, vivid oranges, warm browns, salmon pinks, and mossy greens. Navy, cream, and bone are your neutrals of choice. When you tan, you look golden or bronzed. You rarely burn.
Your best blondes have names that include the words “golden,” “warm,” “caramel,” and “copper.” Yours are the sun-kissed shades that are a natural fit with a breezy summer dress. Golden hair flatters your golden skin, but avoid matching your hair and your skin tone too closely. If you wish you could wear the cool platinum and champagne tones that cool-toned blondes wear, add cooler highlights to a warmer base color.
Fair-skinned peaches-and-cream complexions work with strawberry and wheat-colored blondes. Darker skin tones look beautiful with caramel and darker gold tones. Avoid going too yellow, though, if you have an olive skin tone. When trying to decide between two blonde shades, choose the cooler of the two; you'll keep your color free of brassy notes.
There's only one way to find out if blondes really do have more fun. Consult with your stylist or, if you're bold, start shopping the hair coloring aisle for your perfect shade of blonde. You'll be ready for summer with a pareo at your hips, a cool glass of something refreshing in your hand, and a head-turning new shade of blonde as your crowning glory.
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Hottest Lipstick Trends for Summer – Bold Color, Shimmer, and Sheers
After a decade of barely-there lips throughout most of the 2000s, the new decade dazzles with brilliant color for spring and summer. Whether it's the popularity of ultra-feminine vintage looks or just a swing of the fashion pendulum, the hottest lipstick trends on runways and red carpets involve a dramatic return to color and texture. These looks aren't for the shy, but even the boldest lip statement becomes wearable with a few minor adjustments.
Oranges and Corals
If there was one “it” color for lips on the fashion catwalk, it was coral. Somewhere between pink and orange, this sunset hue flatters both cool and warm skin tones depending on which way you want to take it. When it's bold, coral becomes almost fluorescent—a traffic-stopping color that can't fail to get you noticed. Corals can be soft, too; gentler hues evoke warm spring days spent in sandals and sun dresses.
Avant-garde designers and those at the fashion forefront are going for the intense poppy and tangerine shades in creamy, matte formulas. The color statement here is so bold that lips almost look pressed on with a stamp. This orange is as opaque as the stripe of titanium oxide you might wear on your nose at the beach. It's not a natural look at all—but it is stunning on someone with medium to dark skin and the nerve to dare such a dramatic color.
Not in the mood to make that much of a statement? Tame the tonal roar of bright orange lips with a kiss of pink and choose softer tones like peach and melon. Matte and satiny finishes keep these colors office-appropriate and fashion-forward at the same time. If you want to turn it down to a whisper, go for a sheer gloss without too much shine. Gloss is a great look at the beach for when you want to match the colorful sarongs and swimsuits that are hot for summer, but don't want to overshadow them with mega-lips.
Steer clear of this trend if you have discolored teeth. Orange hues demand pearly whites. Coral is much more forgiving than true orange for most skin tones.
The Deepest Burgundies
Wine-dark lips have been a fall staple off and on for decades, but this season these rich hues are big for summer. What makes dark lips look right for sarongs and sandals instead of boots and balaclavas? Balancing the rest of the face around this intense lip color keeps it from coming on too strong. The rest of your makeup should be scrupulously neutral, almost conservative. Choose a subdued matte finish for lips during the day and high gloss for evening.
Wine and burgundy shades are surprisingly friendly to almost every skin tone, although very fair folks need to keep their application light if they want to avoid a goth look. Wear a sheer wine stain to stay on-trend and boardroom-ready. If you're wearing it poolside, remember that dark colors absorb light; wear a beach hat if you don't want to have literal hot lips.
Skip this look or tone it down to a soft plum shade instead of deep burgundy if you have fine lines around your mouth.
Frosts, Shimmer, and Shine
Metallic shadows and highlighters for eyes and cheeks continue to be big for spring, but for summer, lipsticks join the shimmering party. Designers who didn't go with matte lips made a strong statement in the other direction, using heavily metallic pastels and darker shades so high-gloss that they looked like patent leather. The key to texture for lips this summer is to go big or go home—matte lips are velvety, shimmery lips are frosted, and glossed lips are glassy.
If you dare to go full-on metallic, choose a flattering pastel. Darker hues don't show sparkle as well. Pair frosted shades with a mostly matte or satiny face to keep from looking overly shiny. Shimmer is one trend you can take to the office as well as the nightclub, but leave the super-shiny gloss for evening wear. It's a little sexy for the boardroom.
Avoid pairing frosty neutral lips with blue eye shadow. That look is straight out of the late 1970s and unless you're a diehard fan of vintage “Me Generation” style, it's too literal an interpretation of the decade. If your lips are very full and you'd like to minimize them, dot gloss or shimmer only on the center of your lips.
Lipstick is one of the most accessible indulgences to enjoy this summer, so try working some of the latest lipstick trends into your personal style. If you find it isn't really “you,” it's an easy fix—just remove it and move on to the next delectable hue.
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Argan Oil for Your Hair – How It Keeps Your Locks Lush
If you've been a follower or a setter of trends in beauty, you've probably noticed that every few years brings a new miracle product. Jojoba oil, coconut oil, and butters from cocoa to shea have had their adherents. They're still readily available on store shelves, and that's a testament to their effectiveness. These oils and unguents really do moisturize well and leave your hair and skin smooth, shiny, and soft. However, they aren't magical; no product is.
So what makes argan oil different from the rest of the natural products that work, but aren't quite the miracle-workers their manufacturers touted?
What's Special About Argan Oil
Argan oil differs from other vegetable oils first in its rarity. The argan tree grows almost exclusively in Morocco, where it has recently become a protected species. As the tree was one of the few that grew well in arid conditions, its wood was a boon to desert-dwelling people who harvested the plant almost to extinction.
Rarity alone does not a beauty miracle make, though. Argan oil is also rich in fatty acids, vitamin E, and the anti-oxidant carotenes. Although pure argan oil is edible, it's so costly that more people have taken to applying it to their skin and hair than eating it as a dipping oil with bread as the Moroccans traditionally do. Researchers are following up on an experiment that suggested argan oil actually reduced sebum production—any oil that could make oily hair less oily does begin to seem a little more special than the other jars and bottles on the shelves.
Another aspect of argan oil that sets it apart from other oils is the method of obtaining it. A cooperative of Berber women is the sole source for all of the world's argan oil. They harvest the argan nuts, press them, and strain the oil for fair-trade wages that go toward improving their communities and educating their kids. While the origin of the oil alone won't beautify your hair, it's something to consider when you're shopping for a new hair product to try.
How Argan Oil Improves Your Hair
All oil-based hair products have three things in common. All of them make the hair shafts more pliant, add lubrication, and create an occlusive seal. Natural sebum does the same thing, but also leaves a waxy, dull film on your hair; that's why it's so important to wash the oil away before paradoxically restoring oil to your hair.
Argan oil is loaded with EFAs, or essential fatty acids. These compounds make hair shafts flexible and springy. Think of how a dry spaghetti strand snaps at the slightest pressure versus how bendable cooked pasta becomes. Argan oil and other EFA-rich oils make brittle hair less prone to breakage and split ends.
Oil is also a lubricant. A hair shaft that freely slips past its sisters without snagging or tangling sustains less damage and breakage over time. If you were to look at damaged hair under a microscope, you would see spots that looked like frayed ropes where little tangles and rubs abraded the hair shaft. Argan oil smooths these roughened patches and keeps hair flowing. That smooth coating of light oil also makes your hair shiny to see and soft to the touch.
Like all oils, argan doesn't mix well with water. For your hair, that's a good thing; it allows the hair shafts to maintain a stable internal moisture level while protecting them from the humidity that makes them frizz and the aridity that turns them into hay.
Where argan oil rises above other oils is in its hefty dose of anti-oxidant carotenes and vitamin E. Anti-oxidants help preserve your hair color—whether it's natural or enhanced—from the damage that ultraviolet rays can do to pigment molecules. If you've ever had a hair color turn to brass, you know how much damage oxidation can do.
How to Use Argan Oil on Your Hair
Thanks to its rarity and hand-produced manufacture, argan oil tends to be costly. Fortunately, a little bit of it goes a long way on your hair.
Apply a few drops of argan oil to the palm of your hand and rub it briskly between your hands to distribute the oil on your skin. Then run your hands through your damp or dry hair, focusing on areas that sustain the most wear such as the tips and the outermost layer of hair that's most exposed to the elements. If it soaks in quickly to porous hair, repeat the process.
For a deep conditioning treatment, use a larger amount of argan oil—a dime-sized dollop for shorter hair and as much as a quarter-sized amount for long hair—in your hair, then braid it for a day at the beach or near the pool. The sun's heat will help the oil soak in even if you're wearing your beach hat. If you're lucky enough to live near a beach, try this deep treatment once a week; carry your oil with you along with other beach essentials like your sarong and your sandals so that you'll never miss a treatment. Your hair will thank you for it.
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Five Beach Beauty Essentials – Pack These In Your Beach Tote
One of the best things about a day on the beach is how unencumbered you feel. Your swimsuit, a pair of sandals, and a colorful sarong plus a beach bag are all the accessories you need. That tote merits a second look, though; what are the absolute essentials you need in it aside from your towel and the latest beach read?
Sunscreen
Dermatologists estimate that 80 percent of what we used to call “premature aging” is actually damage from the sun's ultraviolet rays, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Those little lines you see at 50 are a by-product of your sunburn today. The good news is that you don't have to see those little lines at 50—or maybe even 60. Use protection from the sun's harmful rays today to prevent tomorrow's sunburn and a future year's smile lines.
The best sunscreen to pack in your beach bag is at least SPF 30 and waterproof. Higher SPF numbers give better protection. Fair-skinned folks should go even higher than the minimum and aim for at least SPF 50. You'll want to pick a waterproof formula to keep you safe from too much sun even if you don't plan to swim; perspiration washes away sunscreen within two hours for most people. Apply sunscreen half an hour before being in the sun, but take that bottle with you, as you'll need to reapply every couple of hours.
Lip Balm
Lips get sun damage, too. Prevent the worst of the sun's depredations with a lip balm containing sunscreen. Sun can burn your lips; seawater dries them; and wind chaps them; they need something strong to protect them. Choose a heavy, occlusive formula rather than a light lotion-like balm.
Traditional waxy stick formulas work well, but can melt in a beach tote. If you're lucky enough to have an ice chest with you, pop your stick-style lip balm on ice. Otherwise, look for a formula in a small jar or squeezable tube with a tight-fitting lid. Steer clear of products containing high concentrations of menthol or mint. These chemicals feel cool when you first apply them, but over time, they dry your lips.
Conditioner
It may seem strange to lug a bottle of conditioner with you to the beach, but you'll love the results you get from applying conditioner to your hair as you enjoy your fun in the sun. Choose a light conditioner or oil and distribute it throughout clean, damp hair, avoiding your roots. Then put your hair in a braid or bun and top it with a beach hat. Re-apply conditioner throughout the day as your hair soaks it up. When you take your evening shower or bath and wash your hair, you'll have unbelievably silky hair thanks to its all-day conditioning treatment.
If you're swimming in a chlorinated pool, conditioner helps keep chloride ions from taking up residence in your hair and turning it a funky color. However, the pool maintenance folks won't love you for leaving an oil slick in the pool, so don a swimming cap if you can bear it. If swimming caps aren't for you, go lightly on the conditioner.
Aloe Vera Gel
Manufacturers sell aloe vera gel as a mild remedy for the discomfort of a sunburn, but it's a good thing to have with you at the beach even if you don't get burned (which you won't because you smartly used your sunscreen). This oil-free moisturizing agent helps keep your skin hydrated without clogging your pores.
Aloe vera won't interfere with your sunscreen's effectiveness as long as you apply it a few minutes before you use your sunscreen. Using the gel before you apply your sunscreen gives your skin a dose of welcome moisture and feels wonderfully cool in the heat of the day. Use it about ten minutes before your sunscreen reapplications to keep your skin feeling its best.
Water
You may have an entire ocean of it for swimming, but you also need to stow plenty of fresh water in your beach tote or ice chest. Drinking water regularly helps replenish the fluids your body loses due to perspiration. You also need fresh water to rinse salt water or chlorinated pool water from your skin and hair after swimming.
Your body contains around 60 percent water, so replenishing fluids as you lose them is crucial not only to your comfort, but your health. If you're indulging in a few adult beverages as well, you'll need even more water, as alcohol dehydrates. Pack along at least a quart for drinking and another for rinsing if you don't have ready access to a beach shower.
You don't need to pack a suitcase for a day at the beach, but storing these five beauty basics in your beach bag will keep you looking and feeling your best both at the beach and once you get home.
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The Milk of Magnesia Mask – Good for Your Stomach, Great for Your Skin
You're probably familiar with milk of magnesia as a remedy for a mild upset stomach. If you're planning a vacation, you might even have packed along a little bottle of it just in case all that rich food didn't agree with you. One dose is usually enough to get you back to the beach in your sarong and sandals rather than stuck in your room.
Did you know, though, that the same milk of magnesia that helps a stomach complaint also clears your skin? Magnesium hydroxide quells an unquiet stomach and reduces acid, but it also reduces shine and blemishes on your skin. It's appropriate for any skin type, but how you use it will vary based on your own unique complexion.
Some ground rules for the milk of magnesia mask apply to all skin types. If you can find an unscented, unflavored variety, choose that one. Minty flavors make the medicine taste better, but mint is a potential irritant to skin. Don’t let the milk of magnesia get into your eyes to avoid any harm to your eyes. And, as milk of magnesia can be powerfully drying, avoid using it near your eyes or on your lips. Drying is a good thing on oil-producing regions of your face, but not so much on more delicate tissues.
Use the mask the night before you have a big event, not the day of the event; while few people have a negative reaction to this mild facial treatment, you'll have better results from it the next day.
The Milk of Magnesia Mask for Oily Skin
If you're prone to excess oil, milk of magnesia will gently dry your oil-producing sebaceous glands without parching your skin. Use your favorite cleanser to wash up before you try the mask; it's most effective on clean, dry skin. Apply a thin coating of milk of magnesia to your face with a cotton ball and allow it to dry, about 10 or 15 minutes. Try to confine the mask to the most oil-prone areas of your face and go sparingly with it on less oily areas such as your cheeks.
After 15 minutes, wash your face with tepid water and follow with the rest of your beauty routine. You should notice less oily skin immediately, but with repeated once-weekly uses, you may also notice reduced oil production even on your non-mask days.
If your skin is highly oil-prone, you could try milk of magnesia as a leave-on mask. Although a thick layer of the fluid turns white and chalky as it dries, a thin layer remains clear and forms a solid base for makeup. Using a damp cotton ball dipped in a few drops of milk of magnesia, sweep the liquid onto your nose, your forehead, and anywhere else that needs strong oil control. Let it dry, then use a cosmetic brush or dry cotton ball to buff away any residual chalkiness. Then apply your makeup as usual.
Milk of Magnesia for Troubled Skin
Magnesium hydroxide is a mild antiseptic that can reduce skin inflammation and calm a breakout. If your skin is acne-prone, try milk of magnesia either as a mask or full-strength as a spot treatment on blemishes.
Using a cotton swab, dab undiluted milk of magnesia onto active blemishes. Unlike strong benzoyl peroxide preparations, magnesium hydroxide doesn't act as a bleach. The liquid will dry up the oil that contributes to clogged pores, gently cleanse the area of harmful flora that cause inflammation, and desiccate active pimples.
If you have large pores on your nose and cheeks, try using diluted milk of magnesia as a primer before you apply your foundation. The liquid's texture lets it fill in large pores and make them appear shallower and smaller. Both oil-based and water-based makeup should apply evenly over a thin coat of magnesium hydroxide.
Milk of Magnesia for Dry Skin
If your skin is dry overall, avoid using the mask anywhere but on the areas that you want to clarify or minimize pores. While oilier complexions tolerate 15 minutes of the mask, those with dry skin should leave it on for five to seven minutes. Wash the mask off while it's still damp instead of waiting for it to dry. You'll still get the benefit of its mildly astringent and antiseptic properties.
For very dry skin, try diluting the mask with a one-to-one ratio of aloe vera gel. Although the two substances are reluctant to mix at first, a little work will produce a translucent white paste that clarifies skin without drying it unduly. Follow up with an emollient night moisturizer of your choice.
Regardless of your skin type, your milk of magnesia mask will keep your skin looking smooth, soft, and clear for pennies per use. With the money you save on fancy treatments and spa extractions, you could spring for a new pair of sandals or a great new purse.
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Treat Yourself to a Stay-Cation Day – The Spa Experience Without the Expense
Everyone knows what a vacation is and how important they are for your well-being. Spending long days by the pool, luxuriating on the beach, visiting the resort's full-service spa, having no bigger worries in your head than whether to tie your sarong or clip it--who doesn't pine for a vacation?
Unfortunately, vacations cost. Spa vacations at posh resorts cost even more. If you need to decompress but can't manage a spa vacation, try a spa "stay-cation" in your own home. You can't replicate every aspect of a resort vacation without a full staff of resort personnel, but you can enjoy many of the same relaxing, pampering treats that make a spa vacation so restorative for your mind and body.
Who knows--if you save enough from your frugal stay-cations, you might have a real vacation in your future sooner than you'd thought.
Preparation
You'll want your stay-cation day to be as low-stress as possible, so prepare your environment the night before. Chill a pitcher of water with a few slices of lemon or lime to sip as you bathe and prepare your sugar scrub ahead of time. If you plan to add herbs or oils to your bath, start with a clean slate and scrub your tub now to make sure it's pristine for your spa stay-cation. If you like music, collect your favorite relaxing pieces to listen to as you bathe.
Mix your masks if you're making them yourself. If you're using ingredients that don't keep well once sliced such as avocado, set everything up to prepare the mask quickly during your spa day. If you have a tray handy, arrange all the things you'll need on it so you'll have them at your fingertips throughout the day.
Tell your friends that you won't be available--and mean it. If you wouldn't accept a call from your mom, your boss, or that friend who loves to chat while you're up to your neck in a spa tub full of scented water, you don't need to accept the call during your stay-cation. If you have kids, arrange a play date for them or have Dad take them to the zoo. This is your time.
Starting Your Stay-Cation
If you're the breakfast-eating type, enjoy a leisurely, but spa-like breakfast of fresh fruit and an egg-white omelet. Donuts are delicious, but you'll feel more pampered with more healthful fare on your plate. Dress up your meal with a few artfully-sliced strawberry fans or sprigs of parsley; you deserve to eat pretty food. Can't stomach breakfast? Try a cup of green tea with lemon.
After breakfast, head to your bath. Light the candles and switch on the music you'd set up the night before; this is the payoff for your preparations. Settle back and soak in a warm bath if you want to relax, a cool one if you want to wake yourself up. If you're giving yourself a moisturizing facial that doesn't need to dry, apply it as you bathe. Treat yourself to a sugar or salt scrub, then rinse off in the shower.
A long bath is the perfect time to give your hair a deep conditioning treatment. Use your favorite brand or, if you prefer to go the homemade route, try mashing half an avocado with a tablespoon of honey and a tablespoon of mayonnaise. It may smell like salad, but the oils in the avocado and mayo condition hair as the honey and egg yolk keep the mask from becoming too oily. After the mask, wash your hair thoroughly and condition as usual.
Towel yourself dry with the fresh fluffy towels you set out the previous night.
Spa-Style Treatments
While no massage you give yourself feels quite as good as what a professional gives, you can treat yourself to a foot massage. Use a peppermint-scented lotion as the pros do. Try tossing a couple of golf balls or a few handfuls of marbles into an old sock; roll your feet over the sock for a surprisingly effective foot massager. Even the family dog's tennis ball makes a good massage tool as you roll the arches of your feet over it.
Give yourself a manicure and pedicure after your long soak. Your cuticles are easy to push back after you bathe; just press them gently with a towel as you dry off to neaten them. Use a quick-drying polish for your manicure and pedicure so you'll be able to move around freely instead of becoming bored and fidgety while waiting for nails to dry.
If you're feeling ambitious, you could try your own herbal wrap, but for those with more limited space and time, you can get many of the same benefits from rubbing your skin down with your favorite moisturizer or vegetable oil, then wrapping yourself between two large beach towels and a blanket.
The goal of your stay-cation is to pamper yourself, but if you prefer to share the experience with friends or your spouse, you open up new possibilities for therapeutic massage and body wraps.
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