Tag Beauty

Biotin For Healthy Skin, Nails and Hair

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Woman touching her faceBiotin is a B vitamin which is naturally present in the human body and which is important for numerous metabolic functions. It is a carbon dioxide transporter and also expedites the processing of carbohydrates, protein and fat. As a result biotin can be a great component in a weight loss plan. Biotin’s involvement in carbohydrate processing also makes it responsible for maintaining normal blood sugar levels. It can also help to lower cholesterol levels, but be aware that it may interfere with the effects of some cholesterol-lowering medications.

There is extensive evidence to suggest that biotin plays an important role in the maintenance of healthy skin and nails. Those who suffer from eczema, seborrheic dermatitis or brittle nails often benefit from supplementation with this nutrient. Biotin is also helpful in treating a number of hair issues such as hair loss, reduced growth, thinning hair, and dull, brittle hair. I have put patients on biotin who have reported stronger, healthier and thicker hair after taking biotin for a few months.

This supplement is relatively inexpensive and carries rare and minimal side effects. The most common side effect reported is cystic acne at the chin and jawline and subsides after a few weeks. If this is something you experience while taking biotin, decrease your daily dosage to 25 micrograms per day.

Most sources recommend a dosage of 30 micrograms per day. However, I have taken 5,000 micrograms daily for many years and have not experienced any untoward effects.

The BEST Hair Treatment – Enjoy Hair and Skin Treatment Oil

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Enjoy Hair OilThis is hands down the BEST hair treatment product I have ever used, and believe me, I have tried them all!  This is applied to slightly damp hair and gives wonderful shine, great conditioning and imparts the loveliest fragrance.  If your hair is parched or damaged, this will restore bounce to your hair.

Trying To Get Into Fitness Modeling?

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Natalie Minh CollageThough I have modeled for the majority of my life, I didn’t become involved in fitness modeling until after I turned 43. As I approach my 47th birthday I realize more and more how intimidating and confusing it can be for an aspiring fitness model to navigate through the industry and know what will propel their careers instead of putting them on a path of wasted time, effort and money as they try to make themselves known. I truly wish I had a guide like this http://tinyurl.com/aoeabbr to help me when I was revamping my modeling career! This guide is INVALUABLE if you are serious about embarking on a fitness modeling career.

Many aspiring fitness models ask me questions about the best way to direct their efforts. Now there is a fantastic and comprehensive guide which takes all the guesswork out of the process. I am so fortunate to know the author of this guide and have worked with her on numerous projects over the years. She has been kind enough to extend an offer to my friends and clients which will save you all the headaches you could be dealing with if you do not have such a great guide to lead you on your path to fitness modeling success.

Click here http://tinyurl.com/aoeabbr to take advantage of this amazing offer, and remember to use code STACEYNAITO to get special pricing!

Versatile Lemons

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lemonsWhen I was a child I was obsessed with lemons.  I loved their bright, cheerful yellow color, invigorating aroma and delightful, tart flavor.  In fact, I used to suck on lemon wedges so often that I stripped part of the enamel from my front teeth as a result.  However, I broke that habit long ago, but my love for lemons remained.

Lemons are truly amazing.  Though they have a tart, acidic flavor, they have a powerful alkaline effect on the body and prevent the accumulation of excess acid which can result in rheumatic pain.  Even the oil from lemons has anti-inflammatory properties that, when rubbed into inflamed joints (mix a few drops with 1 teaspoon of almond, jojoba or grapeseed oil), will alleviate pain.

Lemons are packed with citric acid, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, pectin, bioflavonoids and limonene which support immunity.  The juice of lemons acts as a digestive aid and is a liver cleanser, so regular consumption can act as a very effective weight loss aid.   A few drops of lemon juice added to a meal can aid in digestion and can also help to treat constipation.  Additionally, regular consumption of lemons can help to lower blood cholesterol levels.  If you want a natural breath freshener, you can rinse your mouth out with the juice of one lemon mixed into a glass of tepid water several times a day, or you can chew on a lemon slice after each meal.  The lemon and water mixture can also be employed as a treatment for canker sores.

Individuals who are plagued with frequent acne flare-ups may notice an improvement in the condition of their skin after incorporating lemons into their regular meal plan, since the alkaline nature of lemons can kill the bacteria known to cause acne.  Try drinking a glass of water with a teaspoon of lemon juice in the morning and see if your skin begins to clear up.  Some proponents of the lemon juice cure will drink the juice of half a lemon in a glass of water twice daily and swear by its multiple benefits.  You can also take lemon juice and apply it directly to acne blemishes and leave on overnight.  Another remedy involves mixing equal parts of rosewater and lemon juice, applying to acne-afflicted skin and allowing to sit for 30 minutes, then rinsing off with water.  This can be done twice daily.

If you suffer from corns or callouses, you can make a lemon poultice by placing a lemon slice onto the corn and bandage, or you can apply lemon oil to the corn.  Allow these treatments to sit overnight for best results.  Eczema can also be treated with lemons by adding several drops of lemon oil to one cup of lukewarm water and one tablespoon of honey.  Soak gauze bandages in this mixture and apply to affected area for 30 minutes.  If dandruff or dry scalp conditions plague you, take the juice and apply to the scalp.  Allow to sit for 30 minutes, then shampoo.

There are countless other benefits which lemons offer, but the ones I have mentioned here are my favorites.  I hope you enjoy the benefits of this amazing fruit!

My Skincare Regimen

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I’d like to say that I have a detailed skincare regimen, but I really don’t.  In my line of work I am asked frequently what serums, potions, brews, etc. I use to keep my skin looking its best.  I swear this is not a copout, but honestly, eating clean food is my number one insurance policy for good skin.  This is not to say that I don’t take care of my skin.  I follow certain guidelines which I am pretty consistent about, but I think people will be surprised by what I don’t do and what I don’t use, as well as the reasons behind why I don’t incorporate certain steps and products in my routine.

Face WashMy Nightly Regimen:

At night I remove eye makeup with a cotton ball soaked in Kiehl’s Extremely Gentle Eye Makeup Remover.  Then I use a dollop of Earth Science Clarifying Facial Wash on my Clarisonic Professional Skin Care Brush.  Once that is completed, I pat my skin lightly and apply moisturizer while my skin is still damp.  I vary which moisturizer I use, either turning to Kiehl’s Cryste Marine, Nerium AD, Vivite Vibrance Therapy, or Skin Food Peach Sake Pore Serum depending on whether my skin is on the dry side or more oily (I have skin that tends towards the oily end of the spectrum).  Every 2 to 4 days, I apply Latisse to my upper lash margins.

I do NOT use a separate neck cream or eye cream, nor do I use Retin-A.  My skin tends to react to regular use of retinoic acid or glycolic acid so that is part of the reason why I switch my moisturizer frequently (Vivite Vibrance Therapy has retinol, which I also react to if I use it for prolonged periods of time).  I also do not use fancy serums or skin tightening potions to firm my skin.  I will admit that I have been a bit alarmed by the ever increasing amount of sag that my skin adopts over time and have somewhat accepted it as part of the aging process.  Besides, I know that laser therapies are very much hit-or-miss when it comes to conferring a tightening effect on skin that is progresssively losing elasticity.

My Daily Regimen:

I do not wash my face in the morning as I believe it strips my already clean face (from the night before) of essential oils which it needs.  The only thing I do is dust translucent loose powder on my face which has SPF in it so that I can get some UV protection.

Once a Week:Face Mask

I am fairly religious about applying a mask to my face and neck once per week and notice a difference in the tone and texture of my skin after I do so.  I cleanse my face in the same manner I use at bedtime, then I use either Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask or 10.0.6 Deep Down Detox Ultra-Cleansing Mud Mask on my nose and chin area, while Repechage Honey and Almond Scrub is applied to the rest of my face, neck and decollete.  I let the mask sit on my skin for 15 to 20 minutes, then I remove with a wet washcloth and warm water.  Then I pat dry and use one of my moisturizers.

How to Bling Out Your Own Suit

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Find original post at:  http://www.rxmuscle.com/rx-girl-articles/6387-how-to-bling-out-your-own-suit.html

Peacock Suit I Blinged Out! - Copy

Most of us ladies love the dazzle of crystals and sequins when seen on competition suits, but such embellishments can be pretty expensive, especially when suits are custom made and crystallized by a professional suitmaker.  However, it is possible to bling out your own suit at home as long as you have a somewhat creative hand and a lot of patience.  I have endured the laborious process of applying crystals by hand on three suits.  Despite the fact that this was very time-consuming, it was well worth it considering the fact that I saved hundreds of dollars by crystallizing the suits myself.

You may be wondering where to purchase a plain competition suit.  Good sources are eBay, Jagware,  Suits You Swimwear and Chynna Dolls, or you can have a suit made by a professional suit designer (examples are Passion Fruit, CJ’s Elite, TameeMarie) and then apply the crystals yourself.  Once you have your suit, you can determine what design you would like to apply on the fabric.  You can get ideas from looking at competition images of ladies in suits you like, or you can go to a site like www.Dreamstime.com and select a clip art image.  After this is done you need to make a copy of the design so that it is the appropriate size for your suit, and also make copies of the mirror image so that your suit design is symmetrical.  These prints will serve as templates when you are ready to start mapping out the design.  If you are very artistic, you can sketch a freehand design.

The next step in the process is determining the colors, sizes and quantities of the crystals, beads or sequins you want to purchase for your suit design.  Rhinestone Depot is an excellent wholesale online site for crystals.  I also like Artbeads but the prices are higher.  Make sure when you place your order that you order extra materials just in case some of the crystals pop off.  Generally speaking, you should only purchase flat-backed stones as they are much easier to glue onto fabric and much less likely to pop off.

There are two options available to you with Swarovski crystals when you are trying to decide how to affix the stones to your suit.  Swarovski crystals come in a “Hotfix” variety which already has adhesive on the back, but you will need to purchase the application tool (which looks like a soldering iron) in order to apply the stones.  The other option is to get the regular flat-backed crystals and use a fabric glue such as E6000 or Aleene’s Flexible Stretchable Fabric Glue.  If you are using very small stones, you should have a pair of small angled tweezers on hand to pick up the crystals.  Other supplies to have on hand are toothpicks (for setting a crystal in the exact spot where you want it and for cleaning off excess glue) and a piece of sturdy cardboard large enough to stretch out the fabric in your suit while you are working on it.

To begin the process, line up the crystals on the design which you have printed out.  This will give you a familiarity with the design and also ensure that you have enough crystals to create the design.  You can also place marks on the fabric with a washable marker so you have some guidelines.  Put your suit on the cardboard in such a way that the fabric is completely stretched out.  KEEP FABRIC STRETCHED WHILE YOU GLUE RHINESTONES AND ALLOW GLUE TO DRY!  If not, the crystals will pop off.

Start at one end of the design, placing a small amount of glue on the back of the crystal and then pressing into place. For smaller crystals, you can use angled tweezers and toothpicks to move the crystals into their exact spots.  It is a good idea to switch back and forth from one side to another to ensure your pattern remains symmetrical.

Most importantly, TAKE YOUR TIME!  This will take HOURS and HOURS to do.  Trust me, it really takes a while.  When I crystallized the peacock feathers on the suit I wore in 2011, it took me a total of 38 hours to complete the work.  I had no choice but to keep returning to the project over a number of sessions until it was completed.  Then again, there were over 3,000 crystals, so I created quite a challenge for myself.

Once you are finished, you can celebrate your creativity and rest in the knowledge that you have a one-of-a-kind suit!