Watermelon Benefits Skin Care

Watermelon, An Ingredient For Skin Care

Watermelon can be called more than a thirst quencher. With so many benefits lined up in its name it is not coincidence that it is stated as one of the favorite fruits for many people. It has been used in many forms such as fresh juices, smoothies, as well as pickles depending on your taste. As it is rich in fat and protein it is widely used as a favorite snack.

Watermelon servings per day would help you in the long run. It helps you with conditions like asthma, atherosclerosis, diabetes, colon cancer and arthritis. It has nature's best source of antioxidants. These antioxidants help in neutralizing the free radicals in the body. Free radicals can cause lot of damage to your body.

Watermelon is very useful for removing blemishes on the skin. It was termed to be one of the treasured gifts of Native American. Rich in A, B and C vitamins keeps the skin fresh, radiant and hydrated. The acids in the fruits act as exfoliates.

Watermelon seed oil is also beneficial for your body. The presence of omega 6 and omega 9 essential fatty acids helps the skin immensely. This oil has a very good absorption level which readily penetrates the skin and dissolves the sebum buildup.

It proves to be a good for skin care, due to its moisturizing properties. The non-greasy oil helps to smooth your skin by refurbishing the elasticity of the skin. It is widely used as massage oil, baby oil, facials, face creams, salt scrubs, shower bath as well as hair oil.

Some Beautifying Recipes

Watermelon Toner

You would require 1 cup watermelon pieces, 2 tbsp. witch hazel (a shrub), and 2 tbsp. water.

Preparation: Blend the watermelon pieces in a blender. Strain the liquid. Add witch hazel and water in the blended juice. Dab this juice on your face using a cotton ball. This mixture is rich in sugar and vitamins like A and B. The strong astringent properties and water content gets you a fresh and clean face.

Works as a Exfoliate

Mash a cup of watermelon chunks and then apply this paste on your face. Find a place to relax for 10 minutes. Rinse it later. It is a process of natural facelift helping in cleansing and tightening the skin.

Tips For Dry Skin

Mash a cup of watermelon chunks mixed with a banana. Banana acts like a binding agent enhancing the effect of the watermelon.

Tips For Oily Skin

Yogurt and watermelon are a great combination for oily skin. By applying this mixture on your face, it assists in the process of exfoliation. The lactic acid in the yogurt does wonders on your skin.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautions while following instructions on the recipes from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

History Natural Cosmetics

A History of Cosmetics, Part 2

For centuries after the Egyptian empire faded, the fashion norm around the world was a pale complexion. A tanned, sun-dried face was associated with being a commoner who worked out in the field all day alongside her husband. The upper class ladies of course did not participate in physical labor like that so they stayed inside and had white faces.

A white, pale complexion was also a symbol of wealth. If you had enough money, then you didn't have to work. So a pale complexion was extremely important to some people. To get this look, women (and men too) would use a combination of hydroxide, lead oxide, and carbonate in a powder form to paint their faces and bodies. Unfortunately, this lead to a sometimes fatal side effect, lead poisoning.
To remedy this, chemists in the nineteenth century finally discovered a mixture of zinc oxide that didn't block the skin from being able to breathe and kept people out of that irritating lead poisoning sickness. It worked so well that it is still used today by cosmetics manufacturers.

In the Edwardian era of London, around the turn of the century of 1900, society women with a disposable income would throw lavish parties and do a lot of entertaining to show off their wealth. As hostesses of the party, it was important for them to be the best looking woman at the function, so it was extremely important for them to look the youngest they possibly could. Women at that time who lived these extravagant lifestyles did not eat well, would not exercise, and breathed in the heavily polluted air that the cities of the time produced. They would rely on products like anti-aging cream and face cream to help hide their blemishes.

They would also go to the beauty salon. It was a little different back then than it is today. Women would sneak into the back of the salons and hide their faces as they entered. One of the most famous of these discreet beauty houses was the House of Cyclax, who would sell creams and rouges to ladies. Mrs. Henning, who was the owner, sold and created many products for her desperate customers who didn't want anyone to know that they were getting old.

Simple Wrinkle Erasers

20 Simple Wrinkle Erasers

Aging of the skin is a natural process by which the collagen and elastin, that keep our skin looking firm and youthful, begin to decline, this results in wrinkles. Cell production and cell quality also diminish over time resulting in wrinkles. These factors unfortunately are out of our control, though diet and supplements can slow down the process, but it wonít stop it.

The influences that are within our control are largely environmental such as pollution (eg; smoking) and sun damage. Here are 20 easy ways to reduce wrinkles and slow down the aging process.

1.    Stop smoking (Itís #1 for a reason)
2.    Always wear sunscreen whether itís cloudy or sunny and donít sunbake.
3.    Hydrate your skin by drinking about 8 glasses of water a day.
4.    Use skin care products that contain antioxidants and AHA's.
5.    Moisturize the skin on your face twice daily.
6.    Reduce stress. (Try reading, exercising, meditating) 15 minutes a day is a good start.
7.    Reduce alcohol consumption. Over indulging can put enormous strain on your system and will accelerate wrinkles forming.
8.    Eat healthily by incorporating plenty of fruits and vegetables in your daily diet.
9.    Sleep at least 8 hours every night.
10.   Eat fish three times a week. Great for the skin and general health.
11.   Check with your doctor about taking supplements, your diet may be lacking some of the important ones.
12.   Use an eye cream for the delicate skin around the eyes nightly.
13.   Facial scrubs remove the build up of dead cells that can increase the appearance of wrinkles, try this weekly.
14.   Use natural skin care products that will nourish your skin and give it lots of vitamins and minerals to help it stay fresh and healthy.
15.   Jojoba oil resembles the skins natural oils. Dab this around the eyes to keep wrinkles at bay.
16.   Take vitamin C supplements and use products that contain vitamin C, it will help boost your collagen.
17.   Start a good skin care routine in your 20ís. Prevention is easier than the cure.
18.   Honey is known worldwide for itís beneficial abilities. Use a honey mask weekly. Simply apply the honey to your face and neck and leave for 30 minutes then rinse off. This mask will "feed" your skin with nutrients.
19.    Aloe Vera and Avocado oil both have the ability to prevent the skin from drying out; they are both used to improve the skins elasticity.
20.    A soothing way to help achieve a wrinkle-free face is to lie on your back with your knees elevated by placing a pillow or cushion beneath them.

Try this when you are watching TV or reading.

History of Cosmetics

A History of Cosmetics, Part 1

With all the billions of dollars spent every year worldwide on cosmetics, sometimes we may find ourselves asking, ìHow did it get to this point? When did it become the norm for me to have to wake up every morning and before I even go out the door I get to paint my face from top to bottom? Surely a woman way back in history didnít just wake up one day and apply eyelashes, lipstick, eyeliner, foundation, and rouge all at the same time. No, it was, like many things, a culmination of things from the past.

Remember the Egyptians? That was over four thousand years ago. Cleanliness and appearance were terribly important to the Egyptians. They believed the appearance was in direct link with the health of the soul. They strived to always look and smell good. And with a society who values their appearance, youíre inevitably going to have people who are going to make themselves stand out. But the Egyptians, being the innovative people they were, used cosmetics for reasons that were even smarter than just trying to look good.

Mesdemet was the earliest kind of eye shadow- a substance made of copper and lead ore. The dark shades they believed would ward off evil eyes to their own. It was also a great disinfectant and insect repellant. Kohl was a dark powder that was also applied around the eyes in an oval shape. It was a combination of lead, ash, ochre, copper, and burnt almonds. To further enhance their appearance, they would apply a mixture of water and red clay to the cheekbone area. They would also paint their nails colors of orange and yellow with a substance called henna.

As time moved on and cultures were exposed to each other more and more, the Greeks began to pick up on the many practices of the Egyptianís use of cosmetics. They would give themselves a pale color with a foundation that contained lead in it. This proved fatal on more than one occasion. As the Romans began to pick up the cosmetics practice, the pursuit of beauty became much less about functionability and took a turn into much more exotic routes. The Romans would paint their nails with a combination of sheepís blood and cooked body fat. An ancient Roman man once said, ìA woman without paint is like food without salt.

Anti Aging Skin Care Tips

Anti Aging Skin Care Tips

As we all get older we seem to lose that youthful glow that we once had. There are many factors fighting against us to keep our youthful looking skin including, sun, wind, the foods we eat, or the lack of hydration our skin so desperately needs.

Quite a few skin care products can help us keep our skin looking better than ever, however, without proper skin care treatment, all the skin care products in the world will not help. To look your best and provide your skin with anti aging skin care you should turn to natural skin care and all natural products.

Let's begin by first looking at your overall daily routine. You need eight hours of sleep, stay out of the sun as much as possible, use a good all natural moisturizer and above all else drink plenty of water. It is recommended in order to have youthful healthy looking skin the best anti aging skin care starts with eight glasses of water per day.

Exposure to the sun makes our skin dry and weather beaten. If you must be out in the sun, use sunscreen and moisturizers for natural skin care. Read the label, though, you do not want any product that has any type of alcohol in it; alcohol will dry the skin causing it to age as well.

One of the best skin care treatments you can add to your anti aging skin care routine is the use of moisturizers. Our skin loses water constantly and if you are like most people you do not enjoy drinking gallons of water in order to keep your skin hydrated. This is the reason you should use moisturizers every day. You should apply an all-natural moisturizer to your face before you apply any type of make-up.

When you are searching for the best anti aging skin care, you will of course look for anti aging products. The best products for skin care treatment that aid in anti aging are ones that include antioxidants. Antioxidants aid our skin by protecting the collagen and the elastin that we need to keep our skin feeling firm and supple.

The overall thing to remember with all skin care treatment including anti aging skin care is that what you put into your body will show on the outside. You should eat a proper diet and healthy foods. Eating well-balanced meals and nutritional foods will give your skin a healthy glow especially when you remember to drink plenty of water.

Ageing Skin Care - Does Chemical Peeling Slow The Aging?

Ageing Skin Care - Does Chemical Peeling Slow The Aging?

In skin care, doctors use chemical peeling as a procedure to remove sun damaged, pigmented and wrinkled skin by peeling it with chemicals. as the old skin peels off, new skin appears that is much fresher looking. But chemical peeling does not slow the aging process or prevent it. What is doe is to remove old damaged skin with a fresh looking new skin. After that it is up to you to take better care of your skin to keep it younger for more time by protecting it from sun. The process itself does not affect the internal ageing of the skin. If you expose your new skin to sun again, you will get damaged as you got damaged before.

Skin care with chemical peeling and skin damages- chemical peeling will remove mild skin wrinkles; sun damaged spots, and pigmentation. it also will remove the leathery appearance of the skin. Chemical peel will help remove some pre cancerous spots, and facial scars. Mild chemical peeling is used to treat acne in some cases.

 Can chemical peeling damage- in rare cases chemical peeling procedure can damage with infection and scarring. You must talk to your doctor about this. No procedure that changes body in any way is free from risk. AHA formulations are used to give light peel, TCA is used to give a medium depth peel and phenol is used to give deep peel to the skin. You can visualize the process like this- the deeper your skin problem, the deeper peel may be used. So for surface aberrations, a mild peel and for deeper scars a deep peel. Your doctor will decide that after looking at your skin and consulting with you about what results you desire, the time you want to give and the care and discomfort you are ready to undergo. Deep peels give, more discomfort but produce better results. You will have to discuss these issues with your doctor.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

4 Necessary Steps You Should Take When Thinking About Getting A Tattoo!

4 Necessary Steps You Should Take When Thinking About Getting A Tattoo!

Obviously there is some concern about getting a tattoo because when you get a tattoo, you risk getting an infection, pain and wonder about the possibilities of infectious diseases. The process needs to be better understood.

1. Can I Get Infectious Diseases From Tattoo Needles?

There has been some concern recently regarding transmittable diseases (particularly Hepatitis-B and AIDS [HIV]) and tattoo shops. Just as in a dentist's office, as long as the area is strictly sanitized, your chances for infection will be greatly reduced.

2. Can I Get Aids From Tattooing?

When needles are passed from IDU to IDU and reused without sterilization, some of that blood remains in the syringe and is passed on to the next user. If infected blood is passed, the recipient can become infected with HIV, which leads to AIDS.

Tattooing is VERY different from injecting drugs. The needles used in
tattooing are not hollow. They do, however, travel back and forth
through a hollow tube that acts as an ink reservoir. The tip of the tube is dipped into the ink, which draws a little into the tube.

3. Can My Tattoo's Get Infected? 

Not as long as you take care of your new tat. There is a section in the Ebook that covers healing methods in depth. Some people have trouble healing tattoos with colors they are allergic to.

4. What Are Some Bad Things For My New Tattoo? 

Once it is healed, there is very little that will screw up a tattoo. The one exception is prolonged exposure to sunlight. (the other is scarring, but that is patently obvious).

Well, unfortunately it is. The newer inks are better at resisting fading
but whatever you do, if you spend lots of time in bright sunlight your
tats will fade (over a lifetime, not over a week). Best to try and keep
them out of bright sunlight.

No one wants to become a cave dweller just to keep their tats looking good, so just use some common sense. Think of your tat as an investment--slather on that sunblock so it doesn't turn into a dark blob.

Tattoo art has become very popular and people are getting tattoo's for lots of reasons. Taking good steps in choosing the right tattoo, getting it applied properly and with the proper care is probably the most important things to consider when thinking about getting a tattoo. Read all you can about tattoo art safety and when you're ready to get your tattoo, you will feel much better about your decision!

A Closer Look at Wart Removal

A Closer Look at Wart Removal

Surgery is often a popular choice for wart removal. Usually following home treatment and chemical applications on the warts that has failed, surgery remains a common choice for many who seek wart removal. The reason is simple: surgery works. Itís effective, simple surgery, usually performed in a doctorís office or outpatient center, causes a minimum of pain, very little scarring in the hands of a talented, skilled professional and is usually covered by insurance.

There are two forms of commonly used surgical techniques used for wart removal.

The first is a combination of electrosurgery and curettage. Electrosurgery means using tools that send a small electrical charge into the head of the wart, effectively burning it. Curettage means cutting the wart off completely using a surgeonís knife or a specially designed spoon shaped device intended for this use. Most often, these two procedures are used together, sending the wart into shock with the electricity and then removing it with the spoon shaped surgeonís knife. Lately, state of the art lasers have been used with growing popularity and enviable success rates. They effectively burn off the wart by shooting an intense beam of light into the base or root of the wart, severing its blood supply and killing it.

The wart is usually left to die if it is internal or it might be cut off after the laser treatment. Whatever treatment you choose for wart removal, you can rest assured that even if it is new, it has been tested frequently and perfected before it has been used on you. Go to your doctor at the onset of any symptoms or irregularities you may notice in or on your body. Let him diagnose your problem and then discuss the possible treatments. And if you elect wart removal, trust in medical science to have found just the right way to go about it for maximum success and minimum pain.

Ways to Increase HGH (Human Growth Hormone) in Your Body

3 Ways to Increase HGH (Human Growth Hormone) Amounts in Your Body

HGH has been touted lately for itís anti-aging possibilities.  The amount of HGH in our body peaks in our early 20ís and goes down drastically from that point.  Many people are rejuvenating themselves, and swearing by the results, by increasing HGH into their system

There are three delivery systems that add HGH into the system: homeopathic sublingual sprays, pharmaceutical injections, or pills that stimulate the release of HGH from the pituitary gland. With all three choices the goal is the same: to raise the measurable IGF-1 levels in the body in order to gain the youthful benefits. The short discussion below on all three therapies will help you discover which protocol is right for you.

Human Growth Hormone Pills:

When you buy a pill form of HGH you should know right up front that there is no HGH in the product.  Read the ingredients.  There are only stacked amino acids and other assorted stimulants.  Even though the product name might be ìHGH Releasor,î or ìHGH Precursor,î there is no HGH in the product.  It works by stimulating your Pituitary Gland into producing more HGH.

Thereís good news and bad news.  The good news is that it actually works.  The bad news is that it only works for 4-8 weeks.  Then your over-stimulated Pituitary Gland says, ìno mas,î and stops being stimulated.  Itís really a terrible tease because just when you start saying to yourself, ìhey this is great,î everything shuts down.  Just when you realize what youíve been missing, you lose it again.

Additionally, I was scared away from this therapy by reports that taking stacked amino ìgrowth hormone pillsî can raise cortisol levels in your body, which is extremely unhealthy. So the choice then came down to putting the actual hormone into my body by way of shots or via oral sprays.

Human Growth Hormone Shots:

Almost all the HGH sites will tell you that the cost for shots ranges between $10,000 and $20,000 per year. It doesnít. You can easily find it available for around $3,000 per year and even lower if you go through Mexican pharmaceuticals. Needles today are very safe and generally painless.

But sticking myself twice a day, twenty days per month, didnít seem like a routine a healthy person should be doing, no matter how quick and easy it is. Call me squeamish if you like, I donít care. This might suit some people, and if it does, you can consider going for it. Not me.

Those taking HGH injections should be aware that a few problems have been reported with ìhighî or ìoverî dosages, so anyone using this protocol would be wise to be clinically monitored on a regular basis by a physician.

HGH Oral Spray:

So the HGH spray option was the one I chose, especially considering the fact that I didnít know if the product would deliver what retailers were claiming. It seemed to be the most benign, risk free, gentle, therapy that produced excellent results, and was reasonably priced between $500 and $1250 per year.

The amounts of herbal and nutritional contents listed on a product label can be most misleading. Whatís important is not the nutritional content listed on the label, but rather how much of that nutrient is actually absorbed into the cells of the body.  Sprays provide excellent absorption when micro-sized beads or droplets of a nutrient are taken into the body through the tissue lining of the mouth or nose. Blood capillaries are extremely close to the surface in these areas and readily absorb HGH into the bloodstream. The flow of absorbed nutrients from this area of the mouth is to the Carotid Artery, then to the brain, and then on to the heart within 22 to 30 seconds. Within minutes, it is totally dispersed throughout the body.

As far as which spray is the best, itís my belief that if and when independent clinical trials are made of all the spray products they will all basically be close in effectiveness. They all contain the same amounts of Somatrophin (Human Growth Hormone). Some add a little bit of female this, some add a little bit of male that. I chose the one I thought was most homeopathically prepared because I knew more care would have been taken in its manufacturing and it would probably be more gentle on my system.

Learn as much as you can about Human Growth Hormone and make your own decision about which way you want to go. No matter what age you begin taking HGH you will enjoy the results.

3 easy steps to get that perfect tan using self tanning sprays

3 easy steps to get that perfect tan using self tanning sprays

Traditional tanning methods have become less popular these days because of major health risks. Because of this major finding in tanning several companies have provided tanning creams, lotions and spray to get a tanned skin even without the help of tanning beds or the sun. Most people prefer this type of artificial tanning since there is no significant health risk and the only damage a person may get from them is if their skins are too sensitive and the application may cause some allergy.

Among these innovations the one that is gaining the most popularity is the self tanning spray. This easy to use product is sprayed evenly on the skin and then all you have to do is wait for it to dry. Tanning products contain a chemical called dihydroxyacetone (DHA). This chemical acts an agent that triggers the amino acids in the skin to produce a great tan. Tanning products has been recognized by many as safe and effective and does not produce the great risk that traditional and tanning beds have. Applying a tanning spray is pretty easy, but there are some things that you need to know to achieve that perfect even tan. Here are five things that you should remember when you apply one.

Prepare your skin

Before you apply a tanning spray, make sure that your skin can handle the formulation. Read the instructions carefully and then apply a small amount of the spray in your body and wait for any allergic reactions or discoloration. In this way you can check the quality of the tanning spray and you reduce the risk of hurting your skin.

It is best that you remove all the dead skin cells in your body so that the spray will be more effective. The reason behind is that tanning sprays usually ìstickî to the outer layer of your skin. So if your dead skin cells are still in your body, they will be ones that gets tanned, and your tan will not last long. Aside from this, healthy skin cells are very receptive to the tannig sprays and would hold them longer. Scrub your whole body using a loofah or any other scrub and make sure that you exfoliate your whole body especially the exposed parts.

Aside from scrubbing your body, be sure to apply a moisturizer a few hours before you apply your tanning spray. This softens your skin and it becomes more receptive, therefore making your tan last longer and absorbing it better.

Application strategies

Wear dark clothing because the spray sometimes discolors them. Aside from this, make sure that you have a pair of gloves that you can use to avoid discoloration in your hands. Although some prefer to use their hands to evenly apply the spray. Just be sure that you wash your hands right away after application to avoid further discoloration.

When you start spraying your body be sure to apply the tanning spray evenly. Prepare a towel or tissue to wipe off drips and make sure that you apply the spray in covered areas like the back of your ears to achieve and even color.

Final reminders

Make sure that you have evenly applied the spray, and make necessary adjustments if you find any discoloration. Stand still for about a minute to avoid dripping and uneven application. It is crucial that you do not move especially your joints since these areas can easily remove the application. Be sure to follow the instructions given in your kit and do not forget to apply a sun screen when you go out. Most tanning sprays contain a sun screen protection formula but it is best to apply it separately to ensure safety.

These three steps will give you that perfect tan you have been dreaming about. Just be sure to follow these reminders and all you have to do next is to find that perfect clothing that goes with your new tanned look.

Benefits Home Tanning Beds

3 Benefits Of Home Tanning Beds

Some people love the idea of owning tanning beds. A bed in your home will allow you to tan whenever you want, day or night. You won't have to drive across town or rush to get to the salon before they close. Although they can be expensive, if you tan regularly, the investment may be well worth the money in the long run.

3 Things to Look for in Tanning Beds

The Style of the Bed
You basically have two choices in the style of your bed: a traditional horizontal bed and a standing booth. Unless you have a room or large space to devote to a horizontal bed, you may want to consider a standing booth. These take up less space in your home and can be placed in a corner. Basically, your preference and the amount of space you have available will dictate this choice.

The Bulbs Used in the Bed

The type of tanning bed bulbs used in a bed are the most important feature. Beds use either UVA and UVB rays or UVA only. There is controversy over which bulbs are safer for your skin. There really is no safe way to tan, and you should take precautions to protect yourself from damage to your skin, regardless of the bulbs used.

You need to know exactly which kinds of bulbs are used in your bed when it is time to replace them. Bulbs aren't interchangeable and you need to be sure to buy the right ones. Also, look at the placement of the bulbs. How easy will they be to replace? You will most likely be performing this task yourself and you want to be sure it will be easy to do.

Extra Features

The best extra features to look for include a face tanner and a cooling system. The face tanner will help you get the ultimate tan all over your body. These have specially placed bulbs in the facial area that direct light to this area, which is difficult to tan for some people.

A cooling system is important if you get easily over heated inside a bed. The cooling fan will keep your skin from getting too hot. Make sure you don't overdo it in the bed with this feature. Just because you don't feel the heat, doesn't mean you aren't tanning. Staying in the bed too long contributes to over exposure and can be dangerous for your skin.

Choices in Home Tanning Beds

Most home beds are traditional tan beds. These use typical bulbs that resemble fluorescent tubes. Another choice in beds are known as High Pressure Beds. These use high pressure quartz bulbs, rather than the traditional lamps. They are called high pressure because the gas in the bulb is slightly higher than the pressure in the atmosphere.

These beds allow you to tan on only one side at a time. You will need to turn over half way through your session. Many people find these to be more comfortable than traditional beds. These are normally found in salons, but you may come across one if you shop for used equipment.

Purchasing Used Tanning Beds

A used bed can be an affordable option to an expensive new home bed. In many cases, you can find a high quality bed at the price of a cheap bed. There are some things you should consider before purchasing a new bed:

Make sure the bed you are considering meets the current federal and state safety regulations. These change often and you want to make sure the bed you buy is safe. A tanning salon owner is a good source of information regarding safety regulations. The Internet is another good source of information, as most states post regulations for salon owners.

Find out how often the bed was used. If it was originally used in a salon, it has probably gotten quite a bit of use. Sometimes beds that have been purchased for home use end up getting very little use. These can be great, giving you a little used bed at a substantially reduced price.

Compare the price difference of the used bed with a brand new bed. The bigger the difference, the better for you.

Ask about the working condition and any repairs that have been done. Also ask when the bulbs were last replaced and about the maintenance that has been done. You want a bed that has been properly maintained.

Ask if there is any time left on the warranty.

Skin Antioxidants Glowing Complexion

Feed Your Skin Antioxidants for a Glowing Complexion

Although there is no conclusive proof that antioxidants keep skin from aging, experts do agree they have the ability to ëcaptureí free radicals and may protect us from certain diseases. Antioxidant-rich foods can also give us a healthier, glowing complexion.

According to Susan M. Kleiner, R.D., Ph.D, a Seattle-based nutritionist, eating foods rich in antioxidants is best. ìThereís no substitute for getting nutrients through food. The body absorbs and assimilates them far better than in supplement form.

Kleiner suggests following the U.S. Department of Agricultureís Food Guide Pyramid, and eating three to five servings of vegetables and two to four servings of fruit each day. Choose at least one citrus fruit, such as an orange, a tangerine, or a grapefruit, for vitamin C. To increase beta-carotene intake, eat at least two orange-yellow or leafy green vegetables each day.

Eat Right for Younger Looking Skin

Eating healthy equals younger looking skin. Drinking a cup of orange juice and eating one raw carrot provides twice the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamin C and beta-carotene. The RDA for vitamin E is harder to meet, especially for those on a low-fat diet.

ìDonít be afraid to add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil to your diet, or to eat some nuts or seeds,î advises Dr. Kleiner.

The following guideline can be used for RDAs for three of the most common antioxidant nutrients, vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene; good sources and how best to maximize benefits of each are included.

Vitamin C:  RDA at least 60 mg. (1/2 cup orange juice = 70 mg.)  Citrus fruits and juices and tomatoes are good sources of vitamin C. Eat whole fruit for extra fiber. Avoid juice in glass containers, and heat-pasteurized juice. Light and heat destroy some of the vitamin C.

Vitamin E:  RDA 8 mg for women / 10 mg. for men (1 tablespoon of canola oil = 9 mg.)  Good sources include nuts, seeds and their oils, fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, halibut, and trout, and wheat germ. Use canola, olive, or another vegetable oil in place of butter or margarine when cooking.

Beta-carotene:  no established RDA. Expert Dr. Kleiner, however, recommends 5-6 mg. ( One carrot = 12 mg.)  Orange and yellow vegetables, and leafy green vegetables, including broccoli, are all good sources. Instead of potato chips or popcorn for an evening snack while watching television, opt for prepackaged, washed and peeled baby carrots.

If you feel you are unable to meet the RDAs through diet alone, by all means take an all-in-one antioxidant vitamin supplement a day, but continue to pay attention to rich food sources.

Summary

Because many over-the-counter cosmetics containing antioxidants donít have enough to be totally affective by themselves, it is best to ëfeedí them to your skin in combination with a healthy, antioxidant rich diet for younger looking skin.

We at Savvy Spa Luxuries care about you and your wellbeing. With proper skin care, a healthy diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and ample amounts of water, you can enjoy a more fit body, improved quality of life, increased stamina, and a glowing complexion!