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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Top Foods for Clear Skin: Diet Secrets

Here are the Top Foods for Clear & Glowing Skin

How to eat your way gorgeous: Smart nutrition can help maintain clear, radiant, healthy skin, says Nicholas Perricone, M.D., antiaging consultant to some of today’s biggest stars, including Uma Thurman.

Here, his Top diet for glowing skin secrets that are guaranteed to keep your skin clear and glowing, keeping you looking forever young.

1. Include this at every meal: According to Dr. Perricone , protein provides the essential amino acids that the body uses to repair and regenerate the cells responsible for maintaining skin’s tone and elasticity. But the body can’t store protein for future use, so it’s important to consume lean protein like poultry, eggs and low-fat dairy products at each meal. This ensures there’s a steady supply of amino acids available for cellular growth.

2. Sip Green tea:
Dr. Perricone advises consuming 6 to 8 cups of green tea and 8 to 10 glasses of water per day. According to research in the journal Archives of Dermatology, green tea’s antioxidants are so effective at healing damaged skin cells, this dose can significantly reduce wrinkles and fine lines in as little as four weeks.

3. Keep fat on the side menu:
Eating plenty of fish, nuts, seeds and olive oil is necessary for radiant, glowing and supple skin, notes Dr. Perricone. These foods provide healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids, which help maintain volume in the facial cheek pads and trigger skin to rejuvenate at the cellular level.

4. Snack on Fiber-rich fruit:
Dr. Perricone suggests opting for fruit like berries to satisfy carb cravings. The sweets are rich in soluble fiber insoluble fiber, which improves digestion to ensure skin-damaging toxins are flushed from the body. Berries, such as blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, strawberries, and cranberries are also an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin E, and riboflavin, which are all good for the skin and help manufacture collagen which makes skin smooth and supple. Berries, especially blueberries are loaded with antioxidants that are so effective in neutralizing damaging free radicals that lead to skin cell damage and premature skin aging generated in the skin by excessive UV exposure or from other sources. Read More

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

Stressed Skin? Stress-free Ways to Keep Your Skin Clear

How to feel relaxed- and keep your skin clear and stressed-free - even during anxiety-prone times:

German researchers at Free University Berlin have shown that stress and breakouts are directly linked: When the brain perceives stress, stress hormones called androgens and cortisol, are released into the body. Whenever you’re stressed, your adrenal glands pump out more of the hormone androgen, explains Zoe Draelos, M.D., clinical associate professor of dermatology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston Salem, N.C.

The hormone increases oil secretions, which can become trapped if dead skin cells are littering the skin’s surface. The pileup, along with bacteria in the pores, can trigger breakouts.

Relaxing could be the best thing you can do for your skin:

1. Address the source of your stress and take good care of your body. Take time for yourself regularly, your skin will be better off as a result. Set aside time each day for reflection and relaxation. Activities that help promote well-being include yoga, meditation and even just walking, which can help clear your head.

2. Stick to your skin-care routine. "We tend to skimp on self-care when under stress", says dermatologist Richard Fried, M.D., Ph.D. But a regular skin-care routine is critical to clear skin; this includes cleansing morning and night, using a toner to clear up excess oil, and applying products that contain pore-declogging salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide or retinols to prevent breakouts.

3. Continue or increase your exercise. When women get busy, they tend to exercise less and eat more, both of which lead not only to weight gain but also feeling bad about themselves, and that increases stress. Read More