Hair Care

Hair Care: "Hair Care
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Trim your hair at least every 6 weeks. It will have fewer split ends which will keep it from tangling easily, avoiding the need to buy detangler, will appear healthier, avoiding the need to purchase expensive shampoos and conditioners to repair damaged hair, and it will look better, saving you from purchasing the endless supply of hairstyling products to get the look you want. "

Make your own shampoo for dry hair by mixing 1 cup of inexpensive baby shampoo with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

Manicures and Pedicures

Manicures and Pedicures: "Manicures and Pedicures
A good manicure / pedicure is a 12 step process, but it can easily be done while watching television.
If you wear nail polish remove it."

Preventive Habits for Healthy Skin

Preventive Habits for Healthy Skin: "Preventive Habits for Healthy Skin
Drink your water
Water is necessary to hydrate your skin to prevent drying, to excrete toxins and wastes that can affect skin, and to keep your body's tissues and organs (including your skin) operating effectively."

Skin Care

Skin Care: "Skin Care
If you have rosacea, severely sensitive skin, skin allergies, or eczema see a dermatologist for a regime specific to your needs.
Morning

Take a multi-vitamin.
Yes, I know that there are vitamins in cosmetics these days, but they still don't eliminate the need for a daily oral multi-vitamin. They really do make a difference.

Homemade Skin Care Products

Homemade Skin Care Products: "Homemade Skin Care Products
I admit that I use products that I buy at the drug store (or online if it's cheaper) for most of my skin care needs, but in a pinch (and sometimes just during my weekly 'spa day at home') I use these homemade versions. Concentrations of ingredients in many quality store-bought skin care products usually exceed the amount naturally found in nature's products (fruits, vegetables, etc.), so if you exclusively use natural products, you may not see results for months, so consider whether it's more important you to have natural, gentle products that take awhile or more faster acting cosmetic industry products.
Make sure you're not allergic to anything before you use it.
Exfoliating Scrub (also breaks through heavy grime, like grease)
Mix baking soda with glycerin (or vegetable oil if you don't have glycerin; I like sunflower oil; or your body wash if you don't want to use oil) to make a paste that is moist enough to rub on your skin. Rub the paste gently on your skin with your hand or a washcloth and rinse off.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Everyone seems to have 'alpha hydroxy acid' on their skin care labels, but you probably already have it in your home. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) are currently being tested by the FDA, and there are results that show that it may indeed help reduce wrinkles, skin aging effects, and sun damage, but there have also been studies that have shown that they can cause damage if used long term and easily trigger skin allergies and irritation in some people. If you use an AHA, pay attention to any reactions you have, and stop using the product immediately if you have any irritation at all. It may also increase sensitivity to the sun and increase your chances of getting skin cancer from sun exposure, so always wear sunscreen, cover up, and avoid direct sunlight when possible. There are a variety of AHA's, including glycolic acid, malic acid, lactic acid, and citric acid. Products that contain AHA include:

Papaya
Pineapple
Oranges
Limes
Lemons
Grapefruit
Strawberries
Apples
Sugar Cane
Milk and milk based products

You can simply puree the fruit or make a mixture or sugar and milk and apply like a mask. Leave it on for up to 30 minutes. Then remove with a washcloth and rinse. You can also put milk (powdered is cheapest) or juice in your bath.

Vitamin C (a.k.a. asorbic acid)

Everybody knows that Vitamin C is necessary for a variety of biological functions, but it can also be great for your skin. When use topically, it may help reduce lines and wrinkles, promote healing, aid in the development of collagen, and can even increase your natural sun protection factor (SPF) to decrease sun damage. It is also an anti-oxidant, so it may help to reduce free-radicals in your skin.

Vitamin C powder (in the vitamin section of many stores, higher concentration than food sources)
Oranges
Peppers
Grapefruit
Peaches
Papaya
Grapes
Apricots
Broccoli
Pineapple
Tomatoes
Strawberries
Cranberries
Kiwis
Peas
Sweet potatoes
Lemons
Mangos
Tangerines
Cantaloupe melons
Honeydew melons

Puree fruit or mix vitamin C powder with water into a smooth paste and apply like a mask. Leave it on for up to 30 minutes. Then remove with a washcloth and rinse. You can also put powders and juices in your bath water. Don't forget to eat lots of foods with vitamin C to help your skin get healthy from the inside out.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is also an anti-oxidant, and it is anti-inflammatory. It also improve skin moisture levels and promotes a smooth skin texture. Some studies have shown that it may increase your natural SPF to decrease sun damage and help repair sun damaged skin.

Vitamin E oil (found in the vitamin section of many stores, higher concentration than food sources)
Sunflower seeds
Tomatoes
Almonds
Safflower oil
Sunflower oil

You can puree tomatoes or almonds (or buy almond flour) with oil to produce a moisturizing mask that you can leave on for up to 30 minutes, or use the oils alone as a night time moisturizer (make sure you test it on a small area of your skin overnight before doing your entire face just in case it causes breakouts or rashes). You can also put juices, oils, or almond flour in your bath water. Don't forget to eat lots of foods with vitamin E to help your skin get healthy from the inside out.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A (retinol) can help reduce wrinkles and even acne. It has been used in prescription anti-wrinkle and anti-acne creams for years. It has also been shown to help repair sun damaged skin, reduce brown spots, and increase smoothness. It may even help prevent skin cancer. The problem with vitamin A is that it really can take a concentrated cream from your dermatologist to make a significant difference, but a little bit every week can't hurt.

Carrots
Apricots
Cantaloupe
Nectarines
Plums
Egg yolk
Fish liver oil
Milk

You can puree fruits or make a paste with milk and a powdered ingredient from one of the other vitamin lists to make a mask that you can leave on for up to 30 minutes, and you can even make a mask out of egg yolk, but I don't recommend putting fish liver oil on your skin because it tends to smell. You can also put juice or milk in your bath water. Don't forget to eat lots of foods with vitamin A to help your skin get healthy from the inside out, but don't go overboard because you can actually become sick (even fatally) by consuming too much vitamin A.

Vitamin B3

Vitamin B3 (niacin) has been shown to effectively treat acne. It may even help prevent and slow down the development of skin cancer.

Cranberries
Tomatoes
Soy sauce (tamari)
Summer squash (any variety)
Green peas
Meat

You can pure the fruits and vegetables to make a mask that you can leave on for up to 30 minutes, but I don't recommend making a mask out of meat. You can also put juice in your bath water. Don't forget to eat lots of foods with vitamin B3 to help your skin get healthy from the inside out.

Vitamin B5

Vitamin B5 (panthothenic acid) helps to increase moisture content in the hair and skin.

Cranberries
Sunflower seeds
Tomatoes
Strawberries
Yogurt
Whole egg
Winter squash

You can pure the fruits and vegetables to make a mask that you can leave on for up to 30 minutes. You can also make a mask out of yogurt or egg. You can use juice or yogurt in your bath water (but I don't recommend putting egg in your bath). Don't forget to eat lots of foods with vitamin B5 to help your skin get healthy from the inside out.

Sulfur

Sulfur is often used to treat acne, rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis, and scabies.

Egg yolks
Hot red peppers
Brussel sprouts
Spicy cabbage
Broccoli
Onions
Garlic
Asparagus
Horseradish
Radishes
Mustard greens
Mustard (the yellow stuff that tarnishes your silver)
Sulfured molasses

Honestly, most of this stuff seems a bit icky to put on your skin, but you can do it. Many juices and dried fruits are preserved with sulfur, so you may be able to use those instead. Don't forget to eat lots of foods with sulfur to help your skin get healthy from the inside out.

Sources: http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/SR15/wtrank/wt_rank.html, http://www.nia.nih.gov, http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1998/298_ahas.html, http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/syllabus/index.html, http://www.aad.org/PressReleases/skincare.html, http://www.whfoods.com,

Sunless Tanning Tools and Accessories -- Sunless.com

Sunless Tanning Tools and Accessories -- Sunless.com


The cheapest and best scrub of all is the humble cotton washcloth. Get it wet in the shower and buff yourself in a circular motion. Once or twice a week is usually sufficient to keep your skin free of flakes.
Chemical Exfoliators
A physical exfoliator removes dead skin cells through its gritty or rough texture. A chemical exfoliator encourages skin cell turnover by dissolving the dead cells. The most common chemical exfoliant is AHA, or alpha hydroxy acid. BHA, or beta hydroxy acid, is also effective.
What's important to keep in mind is that you should try only one exfoliation method at a time. Do not use a scrubbing cleanser, an AHA lotion, and a washcloth all on the same patch of skin. Not only will you be unable to determine how well the individual products are working, your skin will fall off.
A good AHA product to try is Alpha Hydrox AHA Enhanced Lotion . Good BHA lotions are harder to find. I've been using the one from Paula's Choice.
Gloves
To keep your hands unstained, tight fitting latex or vinyl medical supply gloves are a must. They are absolutely essential if you are applying a sunless tanner with instant color or bronzer. I've been telling everyone to pop on down to their local drugstore or pharmacy to buy them. But where the heck are they hiding them? They aren't as easy to find as I thought. Fortunately, you can buy the elusive creatures online and get them delivered to your door.
Take, for instance, Ansell Medi-Touch Powder Free Latex Disposable Gloves, size small : powder free, latex free, twenty-five pairs for $3.99. I am happy. Note: The average woman will need size small for a close fit, which is recommended.
Applicators
Under what circumstances should you use an applicator to apply a sunless tanner? This is an optional step, because you already have a perfectly decent applicator around — your hands. But if you are applying sprays or sunless tanning lotions with instant color or bronzers, an applicator can make the job faster and more even.
The most common applicator is our dear friend, the sponge on a stick. There are many sponges on a stick for sale at ridiculous prices [can you believe $10?!]. Luckily, the best one is also the most reasonable. Au Courant makes one for $1.45; get lots.
If there were a Nobel prize for cosmetic sponges, the Au Courant facial flock sponge would get it. It is the perfect device for applying sunless tanning sprays to your face and neck. Designed to be used with Au Courant's sunless tanning spray, it makes even humble generic brands look even and perfect. It is, of course, washable and re-usable.
Another option is a foam paintbrush from your neighborhood hardware store. These have the disadvantage of a shorter handle, but they are incredibly durable and usually cost less than a dollar. The foam brushes with the wooden handles are superior; avoid the ones with plastic handles, as the plastic is a low grade variety that will scratch your skin like you wouldn't believe. I purchase my foam brushes for 89 cents from Ace Hardware.
Things to wear
You can wear nothing if you want to. But, if you are new to sunless tanning, you are better off wearing something. It's difficult to judge how well a sunless tanner turned out without a "tan" line. Also, it can be overwhelming to consider applying sunless tanners absolutely everywhere the first time. Wouldn't it be more peaceful to do just your legs or something? The main thing is to wear something snug and dark in color. You want to be able to apply the sunless tanner right up to the edge without having to worry about it staining the fabric or seeping underneath. Bathing suits are best, but don't overlook generic exercise clothing from your local fitness store.
Mistake removers
If you've got orange palms, there are some products that can safely eliminate the stain. The word here is safety. Do not use anything that was not intended for use on the skin. The number one mistake remover is hydrogen peroxide. Number two is the cream hair bleach that you mix up in small quantities to bleach body or facial hair. Number three is cream hair remover. Obviously only the first of these can be used on areas with body hair. Take a look at How to Get Your Sunless Tan Off Safely and Quickly for more information on alleviating the orange palms syndrome.
Knowledge
When you start to use sunless tanners, many issues come up concerning your skin. How should you moisturize it? How should you clean it? How should you exfoliate it? It's not possible to cover all of these issues here in the detail they deserve. I've been relying on The Beauty Bible by Paula Begoun with excellent results. If you want to learn more about taking care of your skin, this is the book you need.