Secrets of the World Wide Sisterhood

Loss of Collagen and Elastin

According to New Beauty Magazine, collagen provides structure and is essential for healthy, plumpskin.  Unfortunately, over time our bodies naturally lose collagen and begin producing less of it.  Once collagen levels become depleted, moisture levels diminish and elasticity is lost.  Resulting in wrinkles, lines and loose skin.  Overexposing your skin to the sun can cause collagen to break down.  Other agressors that contribute to the breakdown of collagen include pollution, smoke and the weather.  Also, with every facial expression made, tiny amounts of collagen are slowly depleted.  The best way to increase you body's natural collagen production is through the use of lasers that induce it.  With the use of some creams and lotions such as peptides, retinol, and in-office treatments like chemical peels and laser resurfacing, you can elicit the skin's own natural response to stimulate collagen production.  Collagen loss can cause Crow's Feet, drooping brows, nasolabial folds, jowls, and thin lips.  Injectables and fillers can be used to fill in and smooth out depressed areas.  Botox prevents lines and wrinkles from forming, especially around the eyes, on the forehead and between the brows.  Hyaluronic Acid Fillers can plump up the nasolabial folds and tear troughs in just one treatment.  Noninvasive skin-tightening treatments such as Radiofrequency Treatments and Infrared Skin-Tightening Treatments may be an option if you're looking to slightly tighten and firm your face.  A browlift may be needed for sagging brows.  A facelift may be the only solution that can permanently remove skin that has lost elasticity.   Elastin is the key for flexible, healthy youthful skin.  But with age, the amount of elastin the body naturally produces begins to decrease.  When there is less elastin present in the skin, it can droop and sag.  If you haven't started already, you need to start taking preventative  measures.  Make sure you are using topical antioxidants and eating a healthy diet.  A diet with high amounts of antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, milk thistle and vitamins B1, B6, C and D is beneficial.  It's never too late to start!!

Bliss

Now is the time to start getting yourself in tip-top shape you that special Valentine's Night.  Or, if there are no plans....start early getting your body ready for summer.  I can't believe it's almost February 1st!  Summer will be here before you know it.  If your weather is like mine...you're more than ready for summer.  I got a Bliss catalog in the mail the other day and was looking through it making my wish list.  I save you some search time and share with you some products of interest that will help prepare you for special events or summer's more revealing months......

ID Anti-Acne, Anti-Aging Face, Chest, Back, and Body Exfoliating Lotion.  This formula has salicylic acid/monolaurin combo that scours pores and obliterates acne anywhere.  It has the ability to slough off old skin cells and reduce roughness and wrinkles, banish ingrown hairs and shaving bumps, keep chicken skin in check and subdue swelling-all without clogging or adding shine.  ($28)  This sounds like a good lotion for your back.  You know those tiny little bumps you get there and also on your chest.  This is a really good price for this product.  It's going to be on my list for sure!

Earthen InstantPeel-  This fast-acting peeling paste sloughs away several layers of dead cells and sebaceous buildup (blackheads) to improve your skin's surface in minutes.  It contains a box of 6 packets. ($50) Not bad for 6 treatments.  

Bliss Thinny Thin Chin Neck Firming Cream-This citrus-scented cream instantly tightens the neck area while firming, hydrating and improving the appearance of neck lines, crepiness and hyper-pigmentation over time. ($48) I just started noticing neck lines.  I think the neck has been my most ignored part of my body.  And now I'm thinking, "Where did those lines come from?"  I'm just getting them and I really hate them.  If this cream works, I'll be a happy camper.  I've got to give it a try.  

Bliss Spiff Upper Lip Line Filler- This product is engineered to address all of the physical factors that exemplify upper-lip aging: vertical lip lines, man-worth moustache hair, that sinister shadowy below-the-nose pigmentation and the slow, subtle, awful loss of collagen that leaves your previously pouty lips limping along. ($48) Oh, how I hate those lip lines.  Mine are looking much better since I've been using my LED.(Evis MD Platinum Light Therapy) This is also available in Bliss. ($295)

This Works: Skin Deep Dry Leg Oil- With its blend of evening primrose, macadamia, rose hip, frankincense and sandalwood oils, you can think of it as a sort of flowery English poetry for legs that are looking a little lizard-y.  ($60) This would be really good for extremely dry skin.  

Artemis Woman Heel Smoother Pro Spa Kit- This is a waterproof, rechargeable sole-smoother, available outside of a doctor's office.  It includes two packages of rotating DuraCrystal tips with different grades of 'grit' to refine the coarsest calluses to the tenderest toes.  ($39.99) You can purchase the replacement tips for $5.99.  Sounds like a neat product. 

Bliss Blood Orange + White Pepper Sugar Scrub- This fragrance was inspired by a cocktail Bliss's scent specialist sipped. ($36) Sugar Scrubs are great for sloughing off dead skin cells.  The Bliss scrubs are terrific.  They're a must for an at-home spa treatment.  Your skin will be remarkably soft. 

These are just a few products I found as I was browsing through the catalog.  Click on the ad on my page and look for yourself.  I'm a HUGE Bliss fan, I'm sure you will be, too. 

Leave-In Conditioner

If you live where the weather is cold during the winter months, your hair is probably dry and lifeless right now.  And aging doesn't help matters any.  Aging hair loses its shine, strength, and managability.  Grey hair is a different texture than your normal hair.  That's why I like the Caviar anti-aging products by Alterna.  I have been using the Caviar Anti-Aging SeasilkColor Hold Leave-In Conditioner. You can get it for blonde, brunette, or red hair.  It should be applied to hair once you have towel dried it.  Start about 2 inches from the roots so it doesn't weigh down the top of your hair and make it look flat.  It's great for detangling and it has optical brighteners which add depth and shine to your hair.  It also contains UVA/UVB protectants to guard your hair from color fade if your hair is chemically colored.  The seasilk helps fight the aging process and makes your hair very soft.  It can be purchased in salons that sell Alterna, or you can find it on amazon.com for $32.  It is a little pricey, but very worth it.  If you're on a budget, you can purchase similiar products in a department store for less money. But, it is important to use a leave-in conditioner of some type during the winter months. 

Are You Over-Doing Your Skin Care Routine?

Because of the fluctuating hormones, our skin encounters after the age of 40, we see major changes in the way our skin looks. And unfortunately, the change is not for the better.  Our skin tone starts looking more uneven and dark spots appear out of nowhere.  Do you remember everyone telling you to stay out of the sun? Well, I do....but I didn't listen.  As a result, I fight diligently to revitalize my skin and spend so much money trying to reverse the damage.  If only I had listened.  Sometimes when women start seeing the change in their skin, they freak out and start buying everything they can get their hands on.  Before they know it, they have spend thousands of dollars and have a bathroom cabinet full of products they'll never use and if they did use them all at once, it could mean disaster for their skin.  There are just a couple of products you should use day and night to age better than gracefully.  Every morning and night you should use a gentle cleanser.  It's especially important to wash your face every night before going to bed.  Makeup,pollution, and grime that have accumulated during the day can cause your face to break out and clog pores.  In turn your face will look dull and lifeless along with the pimples you will get.  I know how tired we women are at the end of a busy day.  But, you have to make time to wash your face.  It will only take a few short minutes.  I'm a huge fan of Glytone cleansers.  You can find them on my amazon.com site.  Starting the day off with a super clean face isn't a bad idea either.  You'll slough off dead cells, making the skin look smoother and enabling better penetration of your daytime products.  The next product you shouldn't start you day without is a moisturizer with a sunscreen.  You need the moisturizer for your  skin to remain dewy and hydrated all day, and it is very important to use a sunscreen to minimize you skin's exposure to free radicals in UV rays which cause the breakdown of collagen and UVB and UVA rays which cause your skin to burn and may also cause cancer and accelerated aging. I love Patricia Wexler's Brightening Moisturizer.  It has an SPF15.  Your next necessary product is a good eye cream.  You should use it morning and night.  The skin around the eyes is the thinnest, driest, and most susceptible to wrinkling.  It is also one of the first spots to start sagging.  And when this delicate skin stretches out, dark circles appear because the blue blood vessels appear more obvious.  For wrinkling, sagging, and dark circles, your best bet is an eye cream with peptides.  To shrink puffiness, you need an ingredient such as topical caffeine.  But, if you choose only one anti-aging product, experts say you should use a retinoid.  The result is a complexion that's brighter, plumper, more even in tone, and less prone to breakouts.  Choose one with the right extras for you.  Renova is moisturizing, Tazorac combats acne, Retin-A Micro is better tolerated by sensitive skin, and Tri-Luma fades dark spots. In most cases you will need to get a prescription.  However there is a retinol, which is gentler and of course much cheaper, that you can get over-the-counter.  It is ROC Multi-Correxion Night Treatment.  It is only $25 and you can get it in most drugstores.  These products should be applied before bedtime.  The biggest change in skin after 40, is its sudden lack of moisture.  You should use the richest moisturizer you can tolerate at night.  One very good one (that won't make your skin break out) is Clarins Hydraquench Cream.  Using these products faithfully will make a huge difference.  And remember, drink plenty of water and get your beauty sleep.            

Instant Energizing Eye Mask

As we age, it seems that dark circles and bags under the eyes seem to worsen. What actually causes dark circles. After doing some research I found this info. on the internet.....Dark under-eye circles begin in the capillaries, the tiny blood vessels that web the delicate skin around the eyes. Now, your capillaries are so small that red blood cells sometimes have to line up, single file, to get through. Frequently, red blood cells get lost and wander into the surrounding skin. This isn't a problem - it happens all the time - and your body has a mechanism to mop up these escapees. Enzymes in your body break down the red blood cells, including their hemoglobin (the molecule that gives them their distinctive red color). No problem, right? Except for one thing: when hemoglobin is broken down, its remaining components have a dark blue-black color. Just like a bruise. So your dark under-eye circles are actually caused by leaky capillaries.How dark under-eye circles are like bruises.When something hits you, blood vessels are traumatized and sometimes broken. Blood leaks out into the surrounding skin. Your body begins the mopping-up process, and you see a dark, purplish or blue-black discoloration. So, as you can see, dark under-eye circles are very similar to bruises. The same mechanisms produce them.  Why are dark under-eye circles so visible? The reason dark under-eye circles are so apparent is this: the skin around the eyes is some of the thinnest, most delicate skin of your entire body. The capillaries are much closer to the surface of the skin there. Many people's skin is not only thinner around the eyes, but also more translucent. The combination of capillaries near the skin's surface and translucent skin makes this discoloration much more apparent. And that's why you have those dark under-eye circles staring back at you in the mirror.  However, this same article says that dark circles are not caused by lack of sleep or stress.  I tend to disagree.  I can tell my dark circles look worse when I have had less than 7 hrs. of sleep.  They are also puffy underneath.  When I get my beauty sleep, I can definitely tell it.  I think the dark circles are there due to the above theory, but losing sleep can make them worse.  So, the bottom line is......Get enough sleep if you don't want them to look worse and when they still show up after a good night's sleep, there are products on the market to use to improve their appearance.  I'm a big fan of Bliss. That's why I have their ad on my page.  I don't want anything on my blog I don't actually use myself or believe in their product.  Bliss has a Triple Oxygen Energizing Eye Mask that is great. ($54)  It is an energy drink for your eyes.  It brightens the eye area with 3 forms of glow-inducing oxygen, antioxidant vitamin C and puff-pummeling cucumber extract.  In 15 minutes you will look more rested and renewed.  Their Baggage Handler Eye Gel  ($28)is also great for fighting persistent puff or temprorary post-party eye fatigue.  It also helps you look bright-eyed even if you don't feel like you've had enough sleep.     You can get them both is a set for $95.    You'll love them!!!   

Hand-Held LED (Evis MD Platinum)

O.K.  If you've been keeping up with my blog, you know that I purchased my Evis MD Platinum right before Christmas.  So, I'm now on my 5th week.  It is supposed to be 4-8 weeks before you see any results.  Well, I can tell that my skin does look some better.  I'm not sure if it's the light, though.  That's what happens when you do so much.  You're not sure what is actually working!! I've increased my salmon intake. (After the Madonna thing) If she thinks it can make you younger, it's worth a try.  I'm back to work after the holiday season, so I actually eat better because I only take healthy foods to work to snack on and for lunch.  If I'm home, I have too many unhealthy snacks to choose from.  But, back to the LED.  I've been using it every other night pretty faithfully.  I've got this pretty good sized wrinkle beside my mouth forming.  I've noticed it looks much worse in the mornings.  I sleep on that side of my face, so I'm sure that is what has caused it to begin with.  I've held the LED on that wrinkle longer than other parts of my face, each time I use it.  And I really do believe it is starting to flatten.  I'm not seeing a huge improvement.  It seems very, very gradual.  Hopefully, I'll be able to tell you more in a few more weeks.  By eight weeks, I should probably see about all the improvement there is going to be.  My sister has had hers about 2 weeks longer than I have and she is seeing improvements in her skin also.  But she is feeling the same way as I am as far as wondering if it's the light, or other products she has begun to use recently.  If anyone has input, please post a comment or go to my "About Me" page and send me an email.  I'd love to know if anyone has used the Evis MD Platinum and seen great results. 

Pan-Fried Chicken-and-Ham Parmesan

Here is a delicious recipe that is in Southern Living this month. 

4 (6 oz.) skinned and boned chicken breasts

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 large egg

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2/3 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs

2 tbsp. olive oil

8 thinly sliced smoked deli ham slices (about 1/4 lb.)

4 (1 oz.) fresh mozzarella cheese slices

Garlic-Herb Pasta

Sauteed Grape Tomatoes

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper.  Whisk together egg and and 2 tbsp. water.  Dredge chicken in flour; dip in egg mixture, and dredge in breadcrumbs, shaking off excess.

2.  Cook chicken in hot oil in a large oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat 3 to 4 minutes on each side until golden.  Top chicken with ham and cheese.

3.  Bake chicken in skillet at 350 degrees for 8 minutes or until cheese is melted.  Serve over Garlic-Herb Pasta; top with Sauteed Grape Tomatoes.

Garlic-Herb Pasta:  Cook 8 oz.  vermicelli according to package directions; drain.  Toss with 1/4 cup Garlic-Herb Butter.  Season with salt to taste.  Makes 4 Servings.

Garlic-Herb Butter:  Stir together 1/2 cup softened butter; 1 large garlic clove, pressed; 2/3 cup chopped fresh basil; 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley; and 1/4 tsp. salt until well blended.  Use immediately, or cover and chill up to 3 days.  For longer storage, form into a log or press into ice cube trays, and wrap tightly with plastic wrap; freeze up to 1 month.  Makes 1/2 cup.  Prep: 15 min.   

Too Many Products Can Cause More Problems For Your Skin

There are so many beauty products on the market, it is sometimes hard to decide which brand to choose or what type of product to use .  If you have dry skin, wrinkles, large pores, and age spots, which product do you use when each one claims to treat a specific problem instead of treating everything? So, should you try to use several products at once?  Actually, using several different products can overwhelm your skin.  Using retinol (for fine lines) andhydroquinone (to lesson dark spots) on top of something else with strong exfoliating effects (like glycolic acid) can cause irritation, dryness, or even a mild burn.  You can actually overdo it, and reverse the benefits.  That's why it is really better to stick with one brand. The system is designed to work together.  But, it is still hard to find which brand to choose when there are so many good ones out there.  To save yourself a lot of time and money, do your research.  Thanks to theinternet, you can research several different products and compare them. You can also go to sights such as amazon.com or sephora.com, that sell the products and read the reviews.  Just remember, don't buy everything that sounds good and use them all together!   

Running for Quick Weight Loss

I've worked out for many, many year.  But, nothing has been as good as running for shedding pounds quickly.  Luckily, you can run outside during most of the months (depending on where you live) except for very cold, snowy winter days.  If it's just cold,you can dress warmly and still get your run in.  Or, you can run on a treadmill in your home or in the gym.  I just started enjoying running on the treadmill at the gym.  It was always hard for me for some reason. I ran outside at our high school's track, but just had a hard time on the treadmill.  Granted, running is soooo boring. (I think) It is very much worth it.  If you're just getting started running on a treadmill...start slowly.  You will want to start off walking slowly.  Increase your speed gradually.  When your comfortable with the feel of the treadmill, you can start to jog.  You might only be able to run 2 or 3 minutes, but that's o.k.  Each time you get on it, increase the number of minutes you run.  Before you know it, you will be tracking miles instead of minutes.  Here are some helpful tips for running on a treadmill....

~Make sure you have the appropriate shoes.  Go to a sporting goods store that has trained salesmen to tell you what type of shoe you will need.

~Dress comfortably.  I hate to see people on the treadmill in jeans and sandals. Yeah, it happens!

~Keep a level head.  If the tv's in the gym are up high, staring up will move your torso back, taking your weight behind your hips.  That drags your weight backward and makes it harder to go forward. 

~Move arms back and forth, not across your chest.  This improves balance and coordination, which makes increasing pace easier.

~Find your rhythm.  After you've worked up some speed and mileage, count the number of times your right foot makes contact:  Aim for 46-48 strikes in 30 seconds. 

~Tilt a little.  Stand tall as you run, but deliberately lean your whole body slightly forward from the ankles.  It helps increase your speed with minimal effort. 

~Center yourself.  Position your steps  to land in the middle of the treadmill band for safe sprints. 

It may take several months to work up to running on the treadmill.  But, that's o.k.  Be patient.  It will be worth the time invested.  I wouldn't recommend running every day. And once you start running, you will not want to miss.  

Dirty Healthy Hair

 I have very unruly, natural wavy hair.  Sometimes I wear it curly.  All I have to do is wash it, put in styling glaze and scrunch.  Of course, I blow it dry a little so I don't get soaked waiting for it to dry naturally.  And sometimes, I wear it straight.  It is much more work to straighten it and is much more damaging to my hair.  However, if I straighten it aftering washing it one day, and then straighten it but not wash it, it actually looks better on day 2.  It is more healthier looking and even feels softer.  My beautician has always advised me to do this so I don't do so much damage to my hair, especially since I highlight it so often.  But, I just read another interesting fact about dirty hair in Self magazine......  Unwashed hair absorbs about seven times as much harmful ozone---a gas that can cause you to have respiratory problems---as a freshly washed mane, say researchers from the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla.  The oil that covers our hair and body contains triglycerides and fatty acids that may help neutralize ozone beforewe breathe it in.  Lather, rinse and repeat only every couple of days.