Friday, April 04, 2008
Women's Health
11 Beauty Boosters You Can Start Today
by Laura Miller
You have probably thought about goals for nearly every facet of your existence -- but have you worked up a plan to boost your health and beauty regimens? This list of eleven beauty boosters will help you get on the fast track to bliss both inside and out.
1. Wear SPF on your face every day of the year
Protecting your facial skin from the damaging rays of the sun is an important commitment. You need to be serious about it. Many daily moisturizers contain sunscreen, including Dove Deep Moisture Lotion with SPF 15 and Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 30.
Do your face a favor by getting moisture, sun protection and a smooth-looking skin tone with a tinted moisturizer. Cover Girl CG Smoothers SPF 15 Tinted Moisture and DuWop Revolotion Face with SPF 15 both offer multiple benefits for your complexion in one simple product.
2. Get your fingernails in shape
If you have always had problem nails, you can get them looking great with minimal commitment. Many people associate good nails with long nails and that is simply not a fair assessment to make. Healthy nails are often worn fingertip length or shorter.
I've found that most nail difficulties can be remedied with Nailtiques nail protein polish. They have several formulas to treat a variety of nail issues, including an After Artificial Treatment to get your nails healthy after tips, acrylics or gels.
The old standby, Sally Hansen, also has a great product called NailGrowth Miracle. Both the Nailtiques and Sally Hansen products dry very quickly, so if you apply one coat and wait one minute you will be on your way to healthier, more beautiful fingernails in no time.
Be sure to apply moisturizer to your hands (including the cuticles and nails) at night. While protein polishes make your nails strong, you also need moisture to provide flexibility so your nails don't break. Three products to consider: Burt's Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Creme, Babor Body Line Thermal Hand & Nail Repair With Algae and Vaseline Intensive Care Healthy Hand & Nail Care Lotion.
3. Invest in a quality hairbrush
Did you know that a cheap hairbrush could literally tear your hair out? Even the most healthy scalp loses a minimum of thirty hairs a day, so ensure that your hair will stay where it belongs -- on your head -- with a quality brush designed for your hair type.
Boar and nylon are the most commonly used bristles in hairbrushes. Natural boar bristles are good for long, normal, fine and damaged hair; while the nylon variety tend to be better for short, coarse or heavily-damaged hair. Look for brushes with widely-spaced rows of bristles, as they glide through the hair more easily.
Mason Pearson has made classic hairbrushes since 1885, while Denman and Sephora also offer superior hairbrushes.
Another hint: Buy yourself a wooden comb. Choose one with widely spaced teeth like the one shown here. It will stimulate scalp circulation while eliminating static.
4. Scrub your way to soft feet
Taking time out for salon pedicures is not always in the budget, time or money wise, so make this the year you agree to take matters into your own hands... or, in this case, your own feet.
Purchase a foot file (it is a bit like a giant nail file) and vow to scrub any areas of your feet with dry or rough skin once or twice a week. Use the file after a bath or shower -- or in the shower when your feet are wet -- because warm water softens the skin.
You will be so amazed at how good your feet look and feel with regular use of a foot file! They work better than pumice stones and are much easier to maneuver. I recommend Diamancel or Earth Therapeutics brand foot files. Stay away from the razors that are sometimes used to cut dead, dry skin off feet. These are very risky to use and can cause serious harm to your feet. A foot file does a wonderful, thorough job of ridding your tootsies of dead skin -- no cutting is ever needed.
5. Stay on top of personal grooming appointments
If at all possible, schedule manicures, pedicures and hair salon appointments as much as three months in advance to get the times most convenient for you. Sitting down with your calendar and a friendly salon receptionist to map about your beauty routine is the best way to keep hair, skin and nails from getting out of hand before it's too late! (By that I mean too late to get a trim right before that big presentation, or too late to get a much-needed facial before meeting your boyfriend's parents for the first time.)
When you are on a maintenance schedule for personal grooming, you always look polished and professional. There is never a panicked phone call to the salon to beg to be 'fit in'! (Trust me, beauty professionals hate that -- and I spent many years in that business, so I know this firsthand.)
6. Get whiter teeth
It's easier than ever to whiten your teeth at home, and you can do it quickly and painlessly. SuperSmile Single Dose Whitening Mouthrinse is pocket-size and couldn't be easier to use: just tear the top off the foil packet, add water, swirl and rinse -- making it perfect at work or after a business dinner. (The company recently brought SuperSmile Professional Whitening Gum to the market, as well.)
Whitening strips are still a great option, with Crest offering several varieties. Rembrandt gets high ratings for its 2 Hour White kit, containing form-to-fit teeth trays and syringes filled with whitening gel.
If you smoke or drink coffee, tea or wine, chances are your smile could benefit from one of these inexpensive options to help whiten and brighten your teeth.
Finally, be sure to schedule professional dental cleanings about every six months. (These are fully-covered by most insurers -- which means no copay.)
7. Moisturize your skin every day
Your skin, the largest organ of your entire body, needs special care and attention. Especially in the winter months, skin loses moisture and can easily become dry and flaky. Vanilla and Bergamot Bubbling Bath and Shower Gel from Bliss smells good enough to eat -- and will leave your skin so soft that you won't even need body lotion.
Olay Moisturinse In Shower Body Lotion softens skin while you take a shower -- working much like a hair conditioner, but is instead for your body. Bath & Body Works offers something similar: Breathe Skin Conditioning In-Shower Body Moisturizer, in Amber Myrrh and Tamarind Nectar fragrances.
Come on, ladies -- soft skin awaits you, and you don't need to take an extra step to get it!
8. Take your vitamins
If you are not already using a daily multivitamin supplement of some kind, there's no better time than now to start! These dietary supplements don't substitute for food and good nutrition, but can augment your daily diet if you're like most women and don't get enough nutrients.
Fortunately, you have more options than ever before, from the old fashioned vitamin pill route (supplements like One-A-Day, Centrum and Nature Made multivitamins) to the more modern approaches (a powder mixed in water, such as Emergen-C; or the sugar-free Drinkables Liquid Multi Vitamins.)
The new Luna Elixirs offer a boost of folic acid, calcium and several vitamins, and are made from organic fruit juice -- perfect for a nutritional boost on-the-go! Just take one of the single-serving sachets (available in four flavors: Dragonfruit Kiwi, Orange Passionfruit, Pomegranate Berry and Rasberry Lychee) and mix it into 8, 12 or 16 ounces of water, depending on what concentration tastes good to you.
I also like Dr Brandt's Anti-Oxidant Water Booster in Lemon flavor. One dropperful has the anti-oxidant equivalent of 15 cups of green tea, and can be mixed into any liquid or yogurt.
With so many easy ways to get much-needed vitamins and minerals into your system, you have no reason not to take advantage.
9. Find an exercise partner
Find a buddy to exercise with and you are guaranteed results as you will keep each other honest with it comes to the exercise commitment. Looking to locate a fitness partner? Try your neighborhood newspaper or the bulletin board at your local coffee shop. Websites such as Craigslist have sections for many cities, with categories like 'activity partners' and 'groups' where you can meet other people with like-minded fitness goals. (Other sites to try: ReadyToSweat.com, ExerciseFriends.com, and the Dieting Buddies message board here at SheKnows.)
Don't make the mistake of picking a friend or acquaintance you know will bail out on your fitness appointments! You need someone reliable. Use this as an opportunity to make new friends, see different parts of your town and bring health and energy to your life.
10. Get enough sleep
Not getting the right quantity -- or quality -- of ZZZs can affect your appearance. Dark circles under your eyes will appear, and other annoying skin issues -- including cold sore outbreaks -- can flare up and broadcast to the world that you aren't sleeping well. As if that wasn't enough, without enough rest, your cells don't have a chance to repair themselves, which will make your skin look dull and dry, and age more quickly than it otherwise would.
Several strategies can help you to get the the 40 winks we all want and need. Start by picking a bedtime and sticking with it. This goes for getting up in morning too; if you are having trouble sleeping, establishing a pattern will go a long way toward helping your body to understand when it is supposed to be idle. Many people find it helps to wind down significantly before going to bed, so turn off the television (and the computer) and read or listen to soothing music to help you relax and prepare for sleep.
If you need a little extra help, you might try Bach Rescue Sleep. This homeopathic sleep aid is sprayed on the tongue before bed, and can help you drift off to dream land. Rescue Sleep is not a sedative, and so is non-narcotic and non-habit forming.
Soothing aromatherapy -- in particular, lavender, neroli, marjoram and chamomile essential oils -- can also work wonders. Put a few drops on a cloth or handkerchief, and set it on your pillow.
If outside distractions are keeping you awake, and old-fashioned eye mask and some earplugs may be just the ticket. PeeperSleepers offer dual-strap sleep masks in more than 28 different designs. Whether you're looking for a pattern with chili peppers, paisley or even kittens, these are a great buy at under $10 each.
See your doctor if, after various strategies are implemented and fail, you still find yourself lying awake and thinking about checking your email one more time, or hitting the kitchen for some ice cream. Sometimes it takes a professional to get to the bottom of our sleeplessness. You are worth the time and effort to make sure you are getting well-deserved sleep each night!
11. Make time for you, because you're worth it
Never forget that the most important person in your world is little ol' you. Make time to rest, relax and rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. Vow that once a month you'll plan a special treat, all for you. It might be dinner with a friend, a massage, a visit to a museum -- what ever works for you. (Get some more ideas here.)
Remember that "me time" is the fuel that keeps you going in this hectic world. You have a lot to do, a lot on your mind, and a lot to be thankful for. When you make yourself a priority in your own life, you and everyone around you will reap the benefits.
Beauty from the inside out
Now that you have a blueprint for some basic beauty goals, get out there and be the best you can be. As you nurture yourself, you can't help but be a happier, healthier, more relaxed human being. These tips require little time and effort, yet offer huge rewards. It's definitely true that beauty is an inside job, but looking great on the outside never hurt anyone, either!
About the author: Laura Miller is a freelance writer specializing in beauty, fashion and wellness topics. Her many years in the salon and spa field combined with her love for writing have culminated in what she considers the greatest job in the world.