There are many vitamins and minerals vital to healthy skin, and most of these can be found from eating a balanced diet that includes a good range of fresh fruits and vegetables, proteins, essential fatty acids and fibre. Overloading the body with rich, heavy foods can make the skin to look blotchy and can also cause other health problems, so make sure you keep processed meats, ready made meals and fried snacks and sweets to a minimum.

Vitamin A
This is one of the essential vitamins for healthy skin, as it supports skin strength and cell repair and can also help to prevent wrinkles and acne. Vitamin A can be found in foods like eggs, whole milk, liver, spinach and carrots, and is also present in many whole grain breakfast cereals which are also good sources of fibre. It is not advised that you take vitamin A supplements as it can build up in your body, and can actually be harmful in larger amounts, but you can use topical creams safely if you have conditions such as acne.

Vitamin E
This well known antioxidant that can help boost protection against free radicals that can cause ageing, and can be found in many nuts and seeds such as almonds, sunflower seeds and hazelnuts, as well as spinach, broccoli and mangos.

Vitamin B
This vitamin is essential for healthy skin tone and can also help to prevent skin conditions such as eczema that are brought on by stress. There are a number of different types of vitamin B, and each have a beneficial effect on the skin. Vitamin B1 for example helps the skin to flush out toxins more efficiently and can improve circulation. You can find vitamin B in whole grains such as whole wheat, wheat germ, bran and oatmeal and also dairy products, fish, offal and eggs.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps the skin to rejuvenate and heal wounds, and is also beneficial to the immune system and is one of the essential vitamins for overall health. You can find vitamin C in a whole range of fruits and vegetables including oranges, lemons, grapefruits, lettuce, spinach, green peppers and tomatoes, and it is also present in high concentration in fresh chilies.

There are now many simple ways in which you can get a gorgeous tan which do not have the same risks as more traditional methods such as sun beds and lying in the sun for hours, and many of these are affordable and widely available.

Bronzers
These sunless products come in the form of powders, creams or tanning lotions and if applied correctly create a smooth, even tanof almost any tint you want. When using bronzers at home you should make sure you exfoliate your skin and apply a light moisturiser all over a couple of hours before you use the bronzer. This will help to prevent any dry or rough skin patches that could affect how smoothly the bronzer is applied and will also prepare the skin to receive the bronzer more effectively. You should avoid applying the bronzer directly after a shower or bath, and you should wear plastic gloves to avoid your hands from getting stained by the tint.

Spray Tans
Spray tanning booths are a popular way to get a tan as they will apply a bronzing product smoothly and evenly all over your body, and you will be less likely to get any streaking or patching. Spray tans are applied with an air gun or brush and are widely available from most beauty salons theses days, and there are a number of different qualities of products used, so you should make sure you choose the best one you can afford. Cheaper spray tans may be more difficult to match to individual skin tones, and you could end up with a very orange, fake looking tan, or they may go on slightly less evenly. As with other bronzing products you should make sure you exfoliate and moisturise your skin before you go and get your spray tan applied, and wear loose fitting clothes so that when you leave the salon the tan is not rubbed off by tight clothing whilst it is still settling in.

Tanning accelerators
These accelerators are not suitable for everyone, but are thought to provide an effective tan to certain skin types. Tan accelerators come in lotion or pills forms and contain and ingredient called tyrosine, which works by increasing melanin, the skins darker pigment, and accelerates the tanning process. Some tanning pills also contain cathanxanthin, which also works by changing the colour of the skin. Tanning accelerating lotions and pills have not yet been scientifically proven to work, and the effects of increasing melanin and cathanxanthin in the body are not really known, but a lot of experts already believe that this form of tanning has some potentially dangerous side effects, especially for those people who have certain medical conditions and are taking other medicines, so it is important that you check with your medical advisor before using a tanning accelerator product.

Myth 1 – Only Overweight People Get Cellulite
If you are overweight you are more likely to get cellulite, but it can affect anyone of any size and is difficult to shift even with diet and exercise. Cellulite is a type of fat deposit that has become malformed, as it has burst through the first subcutaneous layer to become trapped in the fibrous, mesh like tissues of the lower dermis. This is what gives it the distinctive ‘orange peel’ appearance and also what makes it difficult to shift, and it is commonly found on the hips, thighs, bum, stomach and tops of the arms.

Myth 2 – Only Women Get Cellulite
Statistics clearly show that women are the most susceptible to cellulite, but men can also suffer from this condition, and in particular cellulite on the thighs can occur in both men and women to the same percentage.

Myth 3 – Only Adults Get Cellulite
Research has shown that over 90% of post pubescent women get cellulite, and that effects worsen with age, but it can affect children and teenagers as well, especially if they are overweight and do not take regular exercise.

Myth 4 – Exercise and Dieting Can Eradicate Cellulite
Unfortunately once you have cellulite it can be very difficult to get rid of it, and although dieting and exercise can lessen the appearance of the cellulite and stop it from getting worse, in most cases this will not be enough to completely eradicate it. This is because the fat deposits have become trapped in the fibrous tissues of the lower dermis away from the first subcutaneous layer, which means the body can no longer burn these fat cells off in the usual manner.

Myth 5 – Cellulite Creams can Eradicate Cellulite
Cellulite creams work by attempting to penetrate the skin deeply and dissolve those fat cells that have become trapped, and they can be effective at reducing the appearance of cellulite. However these creams and lotions cannot completely get rid of fat deposits or prevent new ones from forming and so they cannot completely eradicate cellulite on their own. In order for them to be most successful cellulite creams need to be combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Lipstick can be a great way to make you look more attractive and sexy to the opposite sex. It is however, very important to pick the right color. If you use the wrong color it can make your skin look off-color and really draws attention to your face instead of complimenting it. This article will help you pick the lipstick color that’s right for you!  

 It is very important to use a color that is going to compliment your skin tone. If your skin color appears darker then you will see that plums, wine colors and very deep reds will suit your skin very well because your skin tone won’t be overpowered by these bright colors.

 If you have a lighter or paler skin tone then you will see that the best shades for you are going to be light colors like light browns or beiges with a pink or orange undertone to them. It is imperative to stay with these colors otherwise you could be using colors that are drastically too strong for your face or skin tone.

 The best shades to use for people with olive skin tones are reds that are mildly brownish, very light browns and possibly raisin colors or other darker reds.  

 It is very important that you wear a different color in the daytime and the evening. In the daytime go for more light and natural colors. You’ll see that using a lipstick with a cream colored matte shade will be more subtle to your skin tone. At night you can go for those brighter shades to really pull off that sexy look. .

 Experiment with lots of colors to get the color that is right for you. There are a lot of ways you can do this, but the best way is to visit the makeup counter of a big store. You can talk to someone with more makeup experience there and get some insiders tips on the color they think will work best for your skin. Before picking a shade, go outside with a mirror and see if you like the shade in natural light. Some colors look different under florescent lights than they do in the sunlight.  

 Don’t forget to purchase a liner to go with your new shade. The liner should be in the same colors as your lipstick only a shade or two darker in order to outline the lips.

Your teenage years are home to some of the most exciting times in your life. During this time however your young body goes through changes you may not quite understand. Puberty can come at anytime during your ten years and sometimes even before. This is a time of high emotions, touch and go relationships and exploration. Then BOOM! Out of nowhere a pimple pops up right in the middle of your forehead. Of course it wouldn’t be fitting unless this happened a few days before homecoming right? Don’t stress, there are some surefire things you can do to help treat and prevent acne.

To prevent acne effectively you need to understand your skin. Knowing whether your skin is oily or dry is very important. It’s never too early to have a daily skin care regiment. This alone can really help improve the quality of your skin and reduce the chances of blemishes. If you’ve ever wondered how some girls simply never have bad skin? Its not luck, they simply have a skin care regiment. Each morning cleanse your face with an astringent based cleansing pad. Next, moisturize your skin. Go to your local drug store and find some vitamin E. It’s typically very inexpensive. Lastly, before facing the day, use a medicated concealer that will not only help conceal any problem areas, but will also work during the day to eliminate them. Follow this same process at night for the best results.  

Blackheads are a common problem with teenage girls. Blackheads are similar to typical acne, but blackheads are those annoying black dots that typically are on your nose and forehead. There are a few things you can do to get rid of Blackheads. If you’re squeamish or just want to let a professional handle it then you can see a dermatologist. They can help clear these up quite quickly. However you can clear up blackheads at home. Simply put some Elmer’s glue on your fingers and rub it on your nose. Allow it to dry and then peel the glue from your nose. The blackheads will come right up with it. There are several over the counter remedies you can use, but as long as you don’t have an allergy to glue, this is the cheapest and simplest way to deal with Blackheads. If you continue to have blackheads or if they appear to be getting bigger you should probably see your doctor.

Every woman eventually has to face the big 4-0. However you’re makeup can help stretch out that 39^th birthday for many years to come! Here are just a few great makeup tips for women that want to stay in their 30’s for just a little bit longer.

The foundation for applying makeup professionally is having a good canvas to work with. Good skin is vital to applying good looking makeup. Make sure to fully clean and moisturize your face before applying any sort of makeup. Try to use products that are rich with retinals, peptides and antioxidants to help smooth out those tell-tale bags and lines. Before applying foundation, make sure to use something to smooth out the face like cover-up. Cover-up is a great product women over 40 can use to smooth out problem areas on the skin.

Some women have problems with the skin getting to red. Here is the solution:

Makeup is a lot like a painting or drawing. When applying make up, you can borrow a lot of techniques from artists. In charcoal drawing, in order to create a shade you very lightly shade the entire area. Then, apply another layer where you want it a bit darker, and continue to add layers until you have a very natural looking blend and shade. The same can be done with makeup. Apply your foundation very lightly at first and then continue to add very light layers on the problem areas. This will prevent you from putting on too little or too much in the wrong areas.

Playing up the eyes:

Don’t assume you can pick one eye shadow shade in your 20’s or 30’s and assume you can use it many years later. Your skin tone is constantly changing and the tones you used a few years ago may not look right on your skin now. The biggest thing to remember is that you want to stay away from darker tones or at least be very careful with them that you aren’t simply accenting the fine lines in your skin and making them more noticeable.  

Just because you’re over 4 now it doesn’t mean you need to toss out all your makeup or completely change the way you apply it every day. All it means is that your skin is slightly changing and you’ll just simply need to adjust with it. Avoid accenting fine lines and remember to have a light hand with the makeup brush and your makeup will look as fabulous as it always has.

Many of us have had a long standing battle with acne. Unfortunately acne doesn’t go away for a lot of women after college. Acne scars can be unsightly and can make wearing makeup a day necessity. There are various creams, salves, oils and other strange mixtures on the market to help eliminate acne scars. Most however, don’t live up to their hype. There is one sure-fire way to rid yourself of embarrassing acne scars though: Lemons….that’s right….Lemons.

Step 1

First and foremost you need a clean palate so to speak. Use your regular cleanser and clean your whole face thoroughly. Make sue that all of the makeup has been cleaned off and your skin dry. Refrain from using any astringents at this point, you can go back to your normal acne prevention methods after this treatment.

Step 2

Now, take one lemon and cut it in half. Place it on a microwave safe plate and nuke it for about 30 seconds. The microwave will actually draw out more juice than just squeezing it alone will. This is a useful trick for the next time you’re using lemons in the kitchen. Squeeze the lemon juice into a cup or bowl.

Step 3

Next cut a piece of gauze about 1 ft. in length and roll it up on itself. Now place the rolled up gauze in the lemon juice and let it soak for about 5 minutes. A lot of the liquid will be absorbed into the gauze.

Step 4

Next unwrap the gauze. If it’s dripping, wring out any excess juice. Now place the gauze on the areas with your acne scars. You will most likely need to be lying down or reclining. Keep the gauze on your skin for at least 20 minuets at a time. If you notice any serious reddening of the skin stop immediately and consult your doctor. It is rare, but some women can have an allergic reaction to extended citrus acidity like lemon juice.

Step 5

Repeat the whole process each night for about 2 weeks. By the end of the regiment you will notice a significant change in your scars. They won’t disappear completely, that’s impossible, but they will lighten up quite a bit and unless you’re really looking for them, will appear to have vanished all together.

Eye makeup is especially useful to really make the color of your eyes come alive. Eye

makeup products can make a smaller set of eyes look brighter and larger, and already large eyes can obtain a beautiful depth of color and richness as long as you are using the right shades and products.

It seems sometimes like we are more artists than anything else in the morning when it comes to makeup. 9 times out of 10 it takes years of practice to really understand how to use makeup properly for your skin tone and shape of face. There are some women unfortunately that will probably never understand how to wear makeup properly. I’m sure you’ve seen a couple examples! The first step in applying make up each day should be the eyes. The main reason for this is because the creams and foundations used on the other parts of your face can smear very easily and will make it next to impossible to apply eye make up properly.  

Make sure to put your eye makeup on in order of eye liner, eye shadow and mascara. If you start with the eyeliner it will help to define the eye and frame it, which usually makes it much easier to put on your eye shadow properly. Your mascara should be put on last because it really needs to stay clean. If you put it on before you put on the eye shadow then specks may appear on the eye shadow and it’s next to impossible to get them off without doing the whole process over again.  

 The best way to apply eye shadow is with the brushes and bristles that come with the product themselves. There are very expensive brushes you can buy, but honestly your small plastic one can do the same thing. One thing you want to avoid though is the sponge applicator. The eye shadow will blend and go on much easier with a bush. If you use a sponge then it’s next to impossible to really define small areas. Brushes are the way to go.

With a little patience and practice any woman can find the best way to put on her face. Experiment with different looks and don’t be afraid to try something a little out of the ordinary…that’s how trends happen! Stick with it and you’ll fall into your own routine and style in no time at all.

Do I have dry skin?
You can get dry skin at different times of your life, so you may not have dry skin all of the time, but commonly sebum production does decrease with age, so as you get older it is likely you will find that you skin does need more moisturizing. Common symptoms of dry skin are a tight, parched feeling after washing, redness, irritation, flaking and itching. Your feet and hands can often get very dry, especially in the winter and you may find the skin getting so dehydrated that painful cracks and fissures develop that can become sore and infected if left untreated.

What causes dry skin?
Some people naturally have dry skin, but certain factors can make the symptoms worse and these include extreme weather conditions (such as very cold winters), harsh soaps and cleansers that strip the skin of sebum and a poor diet low that is low in essential nutrients the body needs to produce sebum and keep the skin healthy. Smoking and excessive drinking can also exacerbate dry skin as well as some medications and conditions such as under active thyroid and diabetes.

Caring for Dry Skin
Dry skin can age much more quickly than healthy, hydrated skin so it is important to put in place a good skin care regime to tackle dry skin early on. You should avoid soaking in the bath for too long because this can actually cause the skin to become dehydrated, and you should only use warm water on your skin and avoid any hot or cold temperatures. Only use mild soaps, shampoos and cleansers on the skin, as these will not strip the skin too much of essential oils, and avoid washing dry areas too often and always moisturize after washing to prevent that tight, parched feeling. Be very gentle with dry skin and avoid scrubbing it dry, and pat down carefully with a dry soft towel instead, and when rubbing in skin care products use a gentle, massaging action.

Protect dry skin in extreme weather conditions by wearing sunscreen in the summer months and wrapping up in warm clothes in the winter.

Healthy Diet
A healthy diet is essential for skin health, as your body will need a certain amount of vitamins and minerals to maintain the delicate natural balance of the skin, and a poor diet can soon make your skin looked tired and dull, and can also exacerbate dryness.
Don’t forget to drink plenty of water as well, and hydrate your skin from the inside out.

Pick colors that compliment your skin tone. This will help it look healthier and tone. Every girl knows that you need the pieces of your outfit to match, but alas, a lot of girls pick out tones and shades that are completely wrong for their skin tone. Remember… the right colors can make you look and feel more comfortable and confident.

Stop packing on the mascara.

Wearing excessive makeup can make dimples and lines seem deeper and can portray a harsher look to your face. Try to keep your shades lighter during the day and darker in the evening. Try talking to a professional to get an experts opinion on what colors and shades will compliment you best.

Make sure it fits!

If you aren’t wearing clothes that fit comfortably then you could end up appearing bigger than you really are. Additionally, wearing clothes that do no compliment your body’s shape or skin color can also make you seem disproportionate.

Keep the nails pretty

Nail polish was invented to make your nails look nicer, not to let them chip and break off like an old painted shed in the backyard. You nails are typically part of your first impression with men or professional colleagues. Make sure to take care of them.

The Granny cut isn’t popular

Your haircut is pat of the first face that you show off to the world. Wearing an out of date cut or style can make you look outdated. Haircuts can also portray more than just your style sense. Finely done hair makes you look more professional. Make sure to visit a salon regularly and ask questions about what styles are in right now.

Its all about the shoes

Take care of your shoes. There’s no other piece of clothing that gets as much of a workout each day than your shoes. Keep them clean, buffed and make sure that the colors you are using compliment several different outfits. This will help you save money instead of buying a pair of shoes for each and every outfit.

Don’t let the roots show.

Women that color their hair need to make sure that it is done regularly. Spotty color or discolored roots is a fashion no-no.

 Cover it up!

Bras and Bra straps that can be seen through a blouse or shirt is tacky. Make sure that the tops you are buying don’t show more than you want them to.