Homemade Beauty Tips for Radiant, Glowing Skin

Guaranteed: The most beautifying homemade soaks and scrubs that are sure to leave you radiant and glowing.

To Eliminate Redness: Soak in an oat-cinnamon bath.

To do: In a food processor, combine 1 cup of rolled oats, ½ cup of baking soda (to soften the water), ½ tsp of ground cinnamon and 1 Tbs. of vanilla extract until the mixture reaches the consistency of flour.

Sprinkle it into a warm bath, then get in and enjoy. Oats’ vitamin E, amino acids and silica alleviate irritation, while cinnamon’s cinnamaldehyde functions as an antioxidant, antiseptic and antifungal to prevent rashes and infection.

The cherry on top: Research reveals that the sweet scent of vanilla causes the brain to release the neurochemical serotonin, which boosts mood and suppresses appetite.

To Feel Baby-smooth: Pamper yourself with a tropical treat.

To do: Just slice ¼ of a fresh pineapple into 3” – or 4” – wide strips (which should be enough to cover the entire body, so you can snack on the rest). Then sprinkle the soft pulpy side of the strips with coarse salt or sugar. Next, stand in the tub and gently scrub your skin, including rough spots like knees and elbows, just as you would with a sponge or loofah. Wait two minutes, then rinse well.

Fresh pineapple contains an active enzyme called bromelain, which acts as a natural exfoliator to leave skin smooth. Plus, the fruit smells amazing.

To get Glowing: Try a coffee scrub.

To do: In a medium-size jar, combine 1 cup of ground coffee, ½ cup of brown sugar, ½ cup of sea salt and ½ cup of almond oil. The mixture can be stored for up to four weeks. In the shower, wet skin and use a circular motion to massage the mixture into cellulite-prone areas for at least 5 minutes.

The caffeine in the coffee grounds stimulates blood flow to help flush cellulite-causing toxins, while the brown sugar and sea salt whisk away dulling dead skin cells. And almond oil’s fatty oleic acid seeps deep into the dermis for extra smoothing and hydration.

To obtain the fastest results, wrap thighs in plastic wrap after applying the scrub. Leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse and moisturize as usual. The wrap will hold in body heat, helping the active ingredients better penetrate the skin.
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Get a Smoother Skin: A Velvety Skin All Over

Get a smoother velvety skin with a simple three-step skin-pampering plan.

Several things characterize a velvety skin, it appears soft, smooth and even-toned, and it seems to glow with sun-kissed radiance day and night, year-round.

And best of all, promises dermatologist Kenneth Beer, M.D., smoother velvety skin can be achieved with an easy 3-step skin-pampering plan.

First, even out skin tone by applying a cleanser or lotion containing glycolic acid or lactic acid once a day for three days. This helps prime skin for step two: exfoliation.

Step into the shower and dampen skin with warm water, then massage the body, using a circular motion from the bottom of your feet up to your neck, with a generous helping of a self-heating body scrub, like philosophy pure grace hot salt rub and shower scrub.

The combination of the massaging action and the warmth of the water and heating scrub will dilate blood vessels, boost circulation and improve skin's light reflection. "That's the key to glowing skin", says Dr. Beer.

As a finishing touch, apply a gradual self-tanner like Nivea Sun-Kissed Beautiful Legs, every other day to help even out any skin imperfections and achieve that smoother velvety bronze skin that never fades. Read More

Tips for Glowing Skin: How to Get It

Why skin gets dull and what to do to get glowing, radiant skin.

One signature quality of youthful-looking skin: a subtle glow and rosy sheen that shouts health and vibrancy. "Healthy skin has a dewy glow," explains Karyn Grossman, M.D., a celebrity dermatologist who caters to clients in both New York and Santa Monica, Calif. A balanced diet and a healthy body can help you achieve that, but it also takes the right skin-care regimen. "Sunscreen is a must," says Grossman, "and pampering your skin with products that exfoliate, even out the complexion and super-hydrate will give you that star-quality red-carpet glow".

How to exfoliate your face: Exfoliating 101

The secret to healthy glowing skin is the regular use of an exfoliator.

Exfoliating can help you get rid of dull skin, but here’s what else you need to know about skin exfoliating scrubs and chemical peels.

1. Not all scrubs are created equal: The ingredients you want in a scrub- whether they’re larger, more abrasive particles or softer, smaller granules- depend on your skin type, explains dermatologist Gary Monheit, M.D., an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Since exfoliating scrubs work by physically sloughing off the top layer of dead skin to reveal fresh cells underneath, the thickness and sensitivity of your skin play a big part.

Oilier skins have larger sebaceous glands, making the skin thicker and better able to tolerate a more abrasive scrub. Scrubs of any kind however, can irritate blemishes, so use with caution if you have acne. Those with sensitive complexions should stick to products with fine granules, like jojoba beads or ground oatmeal, which are less likely to irritate the skin and prevent tiny tears from developing in your skin.

2. Use with caution: Much like any ingredient in skin-care product, glycolic acid- an exfoliating agent derived from sugar cane and used in everything from skin cleansers to peels- could, if abused like getting or giving yourself too-frequent peels, for example, make the skin sensitive, explains dermatologist Lynn Mckinley-Grant, M.D., an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the George Washington University/Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C.. as is commonly advised in skin care, to avoid irritation, you must use products in moderation and adhere to the directions for proper application, including frequency of use- no more than twice a day for those with glycolic acid and no more than once or twice a month for glycolic peels.

3. Apply daily sun protection: Since unprotected exposure to the sun on newly exfoliated skin can trigger a sunburn and irritation, daily sunscreen or an SPF-laden moisturizer is a must. Try Nu Skin Moisture Restore Day Protective Lotion SPF 15 or Neutrogena Intensified Day Moisture, SPF 15 for dry skin. These moisturizers help hydrate dry skin – and protect skin from the sun’s damaging rays. Read More

5 Best Tips for Glowing Skin

5 Healthy Habits for a Happy Glowing Skin

One of the best things you can do for your skin is to take good care of your body - and your health.

As our largest organ, our skin has a big job to do. It works hard to keep germs from entering the body and protects against environmental threats like the sun's ultraviolet rays.

That's why keeping it in good health is critical to our overall health. Eating right, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep and learning to deal with stress can help maintain healthy glowing skin- as can establishing good-skin habits like washing morning and night, hydrating regularly and using a sunscreen ever say.

Getting your skin into shape start with these baseline good-health requirements:

1. Catch enough sleep. Getting enough shut eye gives the skin's cells a chance to regenerate. You need at least eight hours of sleep a night. Sleep deprivation stresses the body, and being fatigued can worsen skin problems like acne and leave you with a lackluster complexion.

2. Practice proper skin care. Establish good-skin habits, like removing makeup daily with a gentle cleanser, exfoliating dead skin cells two to three times weekly, using a moisturizer when skin feels dry and wearing a sunscreen every day.

3. Exercise regularly. You need to get physically active. Exercise for at last 30 minutes a day to relieve stress and increase all-over body conditioning. "Exercise boosts circulation and keeps oxygen and nutrients flowing to the skin, giving it a fresh, radiant and glowing look", says bicoastal germatologist Karyn Grossman, M.D.

4. Eat right. A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help keep skin glowing and radiant. Though research has yet to show link between eating junk food and developing skin problems, what you eat does affect the health of your body and your skin.

Aim to eat plenty of good-for-you foods like whole grains, fruits and vegetables, all of which are chock-full of skin-essential nutrients. They'll boost the skin's ability to fend off problems.

A diet rich in vitamins and minerals and omega-3 fatty acids is particularly important. "Consuming foods like citrus, berries and orange or red vegetables, as well as salmon, tuna, walnuts and flax seeds (which contain heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids), helps form the skin's lipid layer and hold moisture", explains Alan M. Dattner, M.D., director of Integrative Medicine & Dermatology in New Rochelle, N.Y.

5. Hydrate by Drinking plenty of water. Water helps fuel the nutrient-bearing circulatory system, which nourishes skin and hair. You need at least 11 cups of hydrating fluids (from a combined intake of food and liquids) every day.

"It's not possible to have a good glowing skin if you don't get enough water", explains Mary Lupo, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at Tulane University Medical School in New Orleans. "When you're dehydrated, your skin is one of the first organs to show it". Eating fruit is an easy way to get nutrients- and help meet your daily water requirements. Read More