Wordless Wednesday

Follow me into this Garden of Eden.

Remedies for Chapped Skin

Remedies for Chapped Skin

It’s hard to believe that winter is fast approaching when we’ve had such nice weather the past few weekends!  This weekend in MN it feels like winter is creeping in. Our autumn weather is going to change and so will the condition of our skin.  Here are some tips to deal with winter skin.           

 Remedies for Chapped Skin

• In winter, use a humidifier or place bowls of water near the heater to counteract the moisture loss created by central heating. 
• A healthy diet is essential for healthy skin. Here is where fruits and veggies come in. Vitamin C is required for collagen production; beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A, a substance essential for maintaining skin tissue; vitamin E is vital for skin condition; and vitamin B helps repair the skin. 
• Get sufficient sleep as the skin's cellular repair activity is at its optimum during this resting phase. 
• Exercise benefits skin as it boosts circulation and encourages blood flow. Regular exercise will nourish and cleanse your skin from within. 
• Dry brush skin in the mornings to stimulate circulation and the sebaceous glands. 
• At bedtime use a moisturizer on your face and a lotion/moisturizing cream on your hands and feet. 
• Limit the use of soap, because soap dissolves the fats from the skin and takes them away from the surface.
• 15 minutes of sun exposure in the early morning or late afternoon is healthy for the skin, and activates the production of vitamin D in the body which, in turn, will promote healthy skin. Here in MN because of the reduced sunlight this time of year a Vitamin D supplement is recommended.
• Half an hour before you take your bath, massage yourself with a bath oil or if taking a shower, apply a bath oil immediately after. Blot yourself dry; do not rub vigorously with a bath towel. 
• Wear gloves in cold weather to help prevent chapped hands.

Cheap Beauty Tips

In this troubled economy people everywhere are looking to save money. I’ve compiled a list of ways to be beautiful by spending little or no money.  Take a look…

1. When you get to the bottom of your perfume or cologne and it won't spray out anymore, pour it into your body wash or an unscented moisturizer to get more use out of it

2. Shave with conditioner instead of shaving cream. You can buy cheap conditioner for less than a dollar. Spread a little bit on your legs, shave, and in one motion, you have smooth and moisturized legs. It softens the hair, moisturizes the skin, and does not clog the razor. For a shaving cream alternative, always buy the cheapest shaving foam/cream, even men's! It doesn't matter what the bottle looks like or what it smells like because it gets washed off anyway. 

3. Take a bit of honey and spread on your face in an upward motion, rinse after a couple of minutes. It will give your skin a glow and moisturize your face as well. 

4. Exercise is free. Thirty minutes of exercise five days a week will enhance all aspects of beauty. Endorphins are released and your skin glows, muscle tone improves and attitude is enhanced. Exercise helps you relax overall, which in turn eases tension in your face (think fewer crow’s feet and expression lines). 

5. An apple-cider vinegar rinse works like a clarifying shampoo and leaves your hair with great shine.

6. Use regular olive oil to get skin super soft. Put a few drops on a cotton ball, and dab on flaky spots, avoiding any breakout zones.

7. If you saw a video of yourself sitting at your computer or watching television, you'd probably be surprised by how you hold your face. Make an effort to soften your expression, since over the years your face will carve itself along those lines. As Coco Chanel once said, "Nature gives you the face you have at twenty. Life shapes the face you have at thirty. But at fifty you get the face you deserve." 

8. Give a new life to an old pink, rose, or peach lipstick (depending on your preference and skin tone) and dab with fingers like a cream blush on the apples of your cheeks (blending well, of course).

9. A drop of olive oil rubbed nightly into your nails will help them grow long and strong and is cheaper than shop-bought manicure oils.

10. Dry brushing the skin (whole body) before showering or taking a bath exfoliates, detoxifies, stimulates circulation, tones, tightens, invigorates and helps with cellulite. All you need is a soft natural fiber body brush with a long handle. ( You can get one at Walmart for just a few dollars.)

11. In ancient civilizations, they used milk in their bath water to soften their skin. You can try this trick, too. Use powdered milk in your bath and you’ll find that your skin feels softer.

Do you have any tricks to save money and still be beautiful? 

Wordless Wednesday

Voted one of the world's best beaches. (Oregon)

Wordless Wednesday

Thank you to all the Little Free Libraries for encouraging us to share our favorite books!

Sun Safety

One way to be safe is to avoid tanning and use a self-tanner. After seeing a co-worker with streaks down her legs, I thought I’d offer some tips for getting the perfect “tan”.

**Take a quick shower or bath (don't soak) and exfoliate your skin, either with a washcloth or body scrub. Don't over scrub, but do pay extra attention to your knees, ankles, feet, elbows, and neck. This will help achieve a uniform appearance since self-tanners grab on to dry surface skin cells. Your tan will look more even and will last longer. Now is the time to shave your legs if you have to, because you shouldn’t shave or wax your legs for a few days after the application of a self-tanner. 

** Your skin must be completely dry to get the best results. Do not apply self-tanner in a steamy, hot bathroom or on a humid, hot day. The heat and moisture in the bathroom can cause you to start to sweat and the self tanner can melt and drip which will cause streaks. Also,wait until your body has cooled down after your shower. Hot skin will have the same affect.

**Apply a thin layer of lightweight moisturizer over the areas where you will be applying self-tanner. This will help the self-tanner glide on without clinging to dry patches.

**To avoid streaks on your legs when using a self-tanner , rub on tanner in a horizontal motion, rather than a vertical one.

**Wait AT LEAST 15 minutes before getting dressed. Remember that self-tanner can stain clothes. Color will show up after approximately 2 hours, not immediately

**For a realistic-looking tan, skip body parts that wouldn’t tan in the sun, like your inner arms.

**Dilute by half on the areas prone to dark spots. Your knees, ankles and elbows are usually first to show if you don’t apply correctly. Mix half self tanner and half moisturizer for a more natural look.

**Never apply body self-tanner, tanning lotion or body bronzer to your face. Buy a special facial self-tanner.  After tanning your face, take a wet cotton swab to eyebrows and rub out any tanner residue. Also, rub a moistened cotton ball across your hairline where tanners tend to build up during application. This will ensure a no-tell perfectly tanned face. Never wear foundation, face powder, eyeshadows or lipstick when applying self-tanner.

**To maintain your new tan and to make it last longer reapply the tanning product every week or every three to four days.

** To keep self-tanning color from staining nails, cuticles and palms, coat your hands with petroleum jelly.

WHEW, that’s a lot of information. Hopefully, you’ll be able to get a tan that looks like you just stepped off the plane from Hawaii!  It’s guaranteed to be better for you skin than sun-bathing or using a tanning booth.

Happy Mother's Day