Ever tried to give up coffee? Caffeine is just one of the many things that contributes to skin moisture loss! Here’s a few more reasons to kick the habit, courtesy of KidSpot

If you rely on a cup of coffee to get you going in the morning, or a bar of chocolate to see you through that mid-afternoon slump, it’s time to make some changes! Caffeine is the most widely used drug in the world and is found naturally in both coffee and chocolate (as well as tea, cocoa, cola-based drinks and energy drinks). Caffeine is a psychoactive drug, which means it affects people’s minds and moods. When consumed, it stimulates the heart and central nervous system and can stay in the blood for up to 12 hours.

Health risks of caffeine

Australian health experts recommend that adults should not consume more than 600mg of caffeine every day – this is the equivalent of about four cups of strong coffee or six cups of black tea. However, The Australian Drug Foundation suggests that consuming as little as 350mg of caffeine each day is enough to cause caffeine dependency.

Caffeine affects everybody differently – it raises blood pressure and stimulates the heart muscle but it can also increase urination and cause shaking/tremors and sleeplessness. Long term consumption of caffeine, in excess of 600mg per day, can cause more serious health risks such as:

• Ulcers
• Depression
• Heart disease
• Infertility
• Severe insomnia

Pregnant women who consume large amounts of caffeine have a much higher risk of miscarriage and of giving birth to low-weight babies.

How to give up caffeine

Caffeine addiction is real – so banking on it to give you an energy boost whenever you need it is definitely not good for your health. Here are five proven ways to kick your caffeine habit for good:

1. Reduce your intake

There’s no need to go cold turkey when giving up caffeine. Chances are, you’ll find it a lot easier to give it up if you wean yourself off it slowly. If you drink ten cups of coffee a day, then reduce your intake to eight cups in the first week and six cups in the second week and so on. It’s important that YOU set the pace and reduce your intake as quickly as you feel able. Withdrawal symptoms such as headaches and fatigue can be significantly reduced by weaning yourself off caffeine slowly.

2. Drink more water

Staying hydrated when you are quitting caffeine is crucial, so up your water intake especially in the morning. Take a bottle of water with you wherever you go and drink, drink, drink. Water will fill up your stomach and take the edge off any caffeine cravings you might have. If water isn’t your drink of choice, add a slice of lemon and a couple of fresh mint leaves for extra flavour. Kidney Health Australia says there is no set amount of water you should be drinking every day, but recommends that you listen to your body and drink to quench your thirst.

3. Try an alternative drink

It’s a good idea to find a substitute drink when you are ditching caffeine. Herbal tea is a great alternative as there is a huge variety of flavours on offer. Not a fan of chamomile or peppermint? Try something more exotic like rose or cinnamon. If the thought of herbal tea makes your stomach turn try a natural coffee substitute, like Dandelion tea, which tastes and looks very similar to coffee.

A word of caution: If you’re tempted to opt for decaffeinated coffee, you may want to think twice. Most decaffeinated coffee still has some caffeine in it! And the same goes for green tea – despite its perceived health benefits, green tea contains about the same amount of caffeine as regular black tea. The golden rule here is substitute wisely.

4. Know your reasons

There will be moments when you will long for a nice hot cup of a coffee or a glass of ice-cold coca-cola, there’s no doubt about that! But stay strong! Get clear in your head why you want to give up caffeine and keep reminding yourself of these reasons. For many people who rely on coffee or tea for that quick pick-me-up, quitting caffeine is as much about the drink itself as it is about the ritual of sitting down with a hot drink and having some time out. Being aware of this, and being able to clearly define your reasons for quitting caffeine, will help you to break the habit faster.

5. Keep active

Participating in regular exercise while you are quitting caffeine has several important benefits. Firstly, exercise will move the blood through your kidneys faster – which means your body will detoxify a lot quicker than if you did no exercise at all. Secondly, daily exercise will help you to sleep better at night. If caffeine has been a staple part of your diet for a long time, chances are that your sleep patterns have been disturbed. A brisk walk or light jog will keep your circulation moving, and in itself give you a natural burst of energy.

Source: http://www.kidspot.com.au/MySpot-healthy-eating-5-ways-to-quit-caffeine+6924+267+article.htm

Image Source: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

Moisturising is an all important part of skin health, as this articles attests! Whether you have normal, dry, oily or some combination of all three skin types, make sure you moisturise, moisturise, moisturise!!!

–

DEFINITION
Applying a Skin Moisturiser helps to replace some of the natural fluids lost from the skin during cleansing and daily activities. Skin Moisturising provides a nourishing, protective layer of fluid to the skin to help maintain skin elasticity and integrity.

DESCRIPTION
It is recommended that all people, regardless of skin-type, should use a moisturiser to replace the skin’s natural oils which are removed with cleansing. Moisturisers are formulated to suit most skin types including teenagers experiencing a problem with clogged pores and blackheads to mature men and women wishing to maintain a smooth, healthy looking complexion. Cleansing the skin removes the surface oil and moisture, therefore a moisturiser should be applied after every cleansing routine for the following reasons:

• To rehydrate or replace fluids lost from the skin.
• To protect the skin from harmful environmental pollutants, the suns UV rays and the drying effects of air conditioning.
• To help prevent premature ageing of the skin by providing nourishment and moisture.
• To act as a base for applying make-up.

Moisturisers are classified as day or night creams. A cream with a lighter, thinner texture is recommended for day use under make-up. A richer, more nourishing cream is suggested for night use.

DAY CREAMS often contain a sun protection factor (SPF) to help protect the skin from the damaging effects of UV rays. These moisturisers often contain an ingredient known as a ‘humectant’ which helps to keep moisture in the skin rather than allowing it to escape.

NIGHT CREAMS may contain collagen and elastin to help firm the skin. These ingredients are more beneficial for the more mature skin type. Night creams will also often contain some of the fat soluble vitamins such as vitamins E and A which provide the cream with a rich, nourishing consistency. These antioxidant vitamins are associated with preventing premature ageing and promote the healing of scar tissue.

EYE CREAMS or gels are designed for use on the delicate skin surrounding the eye. The best type of eye cream or gel is one with a fine texture blended to nourish and protect the tissue around the eye without being overly rich or thick. An eye cream or gel is specially formulated to help minimise the development of fine lines and helps to prevent loss of elasticity in the skin.

APPLYING A MOISTURISER
Day moisturisers are massaged into the skin with firm, gentle upward strokes, after cleansing and before applying make-up. Day creams are applied to the face and neck in the morning only. Night moisturisers are applied in the same way after cleansing the skin at night. Only a small amount of eye cream or gel is needed and should be applied carefully with the ‘ring’ fingers using a gentle, pressing movement around the entire eye, including the eyelid. The skin around the eye is very delicate and easily damaged by rubbing and stretching of the skin.

CHOOSING A MOISTURISER
It is a good idea to change moisturisers from summer to winter according to the weather changes. During the cool winter months when the air is cooler and dryer and when the skin releases less perspiration and oils, a richer more nourishing moisturiser may be suitable rather than the light, fluid-like moisturiser used in summer.

OILY SKIN is often shiny with visibly open pores, blackheads and blemishes. This type of skin requires a light, non-greasy moisturiser which will not cause further clogging of the pores of the skin and helps to reduce oil production. It is best to apply this moisturiser sparingly onto slightly moist skin.

DRY SKIN can feel taut and dry with invisible pores. People with dry skin appear to have a fine, papery complexion and may have fine lines and wrinkles forming, especially around the eyes. Dry skin needs special attention and the use of rich, hydrating (fluid adding) moisturisers morning and night is recommended to prevent dryness and further lines from forming.

COMBINATION SKIN is the description given to skin which has an oily ‘T zone’ on the face (the area of skin around the forehead, nose, mouth and chin). The skin in this area appears to have large, open pores with blackheads and the cheeks are usually normal to dry. A light moisturiser should be applied over the ‘T-zone’ and a different moisturiser may used on the cheeks to suit the normal skin in this area.

NORMAL SKIN appears to be free of blemishes, has a fine texture which is smooth to the touch and an even colour. This type of skin needs a moisturiser to help maintain its good condition and prevent the signs of premature ageing.
A slightly richer cream is recommended than for a combination skin.

SENSITIVE SKIN reddens easily from either harsh weather or over-stimulation e.g., rubbing or allergic reactions. A fine network of broken capillaries may be noticeable on the nose and cheek area. This type of skin usually reacts to certain cosmetics and perfumed soaps etc., and can be dry and itchy. Sensitive skin requires a hypo-allergenic moisturiser which may contain ingredients which strengthen the skin and protect against further capillary damage.

PHARMACIST’S ADVICE

1. Ask your Pharmacist or pharmacy beauty consultant for advice about the most suitable moisturiser for your skin type.
2. Moisturisers, if not squeezed from a bottle, should be removed from the container with a small spatula to avoid contaminating the cream with bacteria from your fingers.
3. Follow the instructions under ‘Applying a moisturiser’. The skin should be slightly moist to allow the moisturiser to spread easily and evenly over the skin and improve the absorption of fluid.
4. Ask your Pharmacist or Pharmacy Beauty Consultant for advice about selecting a day and night cream.
5. Moisturisers are available for sensitive skins. Look for a hypo-allergenic cream if your skin reacts to other cosmetic products.

Article source: http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/health/reference/article/-/8651582/skin-moisturising/

Image source: © Andrea Rankovic | Dreamstime.com
www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-make-up-rimagefree1317176-resi3354033

If you are embracing the fake (tan) this summer, read on for some hints & tips on achieving that perfect holiday glow!

–

Everyone loves the healthy glow of a summer tan but the trade-off for the real thing (hours spent baking in the sun) is the high risk of permanent sun damage and skin cancer. The solution? A fake tan!

Faking it these days involves several methods – bronzer, a gentle “holiday tan” moisturiser, the fake tan lotion, a DIY spray and even a professional spray. In the moments it took to put this story together, five new fake tanning methods have probably hit the market.

Faking a tan not only miraculousy makes you look five kilos lighter, but also gives you a party glow that reminds you of being 21. It’s great for going out and remembering how you used to have fun (or forgetting there are children tucked up at home in bed). The key to getting fake tan right is to choose the method that best suits your skill level. After all, you don’t want to look like one of those newborn babies that needs to sit under the lights at hospital because jaundice came your way.

A professional spray tan can be had for under $50 in most salons around the country, and it is by far the easiest way for a time-poor mother to look glamourously tanned without wasting too much time. Yet if money is tight, the gradual fake tanners are definitely the easiest way to go. These “holiday tanners” are designed for fair-skinned women who want moisturising and fake tan combined in a gentle (but not insignificant) manner.

The holiday tanners require vigilant handwashing and even application to look right. If you’re bold enough to give it a try, apply after a shower doing your best to apply as evenly as possible. Wait at least 24 hours to check the performance of your job to see how good (or bad) your application has been. If you’re glowing like an orange traffic and have streaky patches, then you need a little more practice. Just like fake tanning lotion or sprays, the gentle holiday tanners usually require good skin preparation to get right. As long as your legs and arms are exfoliated and moisturised before the colour goes on, it should result in an even application.

Bronzing powders might be the easiest way to give a natural and fresh flow – choose the right colour (two shades darker than your skin tone is as dark as you can go) adnd steer clear of the glitter unless you want to look like a disco ball. Bronzers can be used on the face, neck and decolletage – and while some are bold enough to use it on their legs – it’s best applied with a large make-up brush from the back of the jaw line and then blended across your cheek, nose and
a light dusting on the forehead and then chin.

Whichever method you try, make sure you glow, girl.

Article source: http://www.kidspot.com.au/MySpot-beauty-How-to-fake-a-tan+2301+176+article.htm

Image source: © Roxana González | Dreamstime.com
www.dreamstime.com/stock-image-girl-relaxing-rimagefree2813393-resi3716291

If you’re gearing up to take off somewhere over the Christmas holiday break, then this article is for you! Great tips on what to take and what not to take. What is on your ‘must pack’ list when on holidays?

–

THERE have been many times in my life when I have been labelled an ‘over packer’. Usually I take offence, justifying it by saying that I need to be prepared in case of any situation.

I finally decided the label was warranted, though, after a recent four-day tropical holiday, where I realised I had only used a fraction of the items I’d packed – including the ones in my beauty bag.

The rule of thumb that seasoned travellers swear by is to pack what you think you need, then reduce it by half. This mantra brings terrified shudders for the over-packing-inclined, like myself!

I can see now that I actually probably would have benefited from following that old rule. So with the benefit of hindsight, I’ve done an edit of what I really should have packed in my beauty bag – and what should have stayed at home.

Toiletry bag must-haves:

• Toothbrush and toothpaste – so often forgotten yet so essential.
• Sunscreen – absolutely vital if you’re planning on being outdoors.
  Throw in an aloe vera spray for after a day in the sun, too!
• Deodorant and perfume – to keep you smelling fresh.
• Tinted moisturiser, bronzer and lip balm – all you need for a relaxed, beachy make-up look.
• Cleanser and daily moisturiser – these basics will keep your skincare routine on track without having to spend too much time on it.
• Razor and tweezers – to keep everything tidy and in order!
• One hair texturising/holding product – a multi-tasking hair product that can be used without a heat-styling tool.

And things that should have stayed behind:

• Soap, shampoo and conditioner – if you’re staying at a hotel, they usually have their own.
• Foundation, eye shadow, mascara, eye liner, blush, illuminator, lipstick and any other heavy-duty make-up – as if you can be bothered when you’re on vacay!
• Hair straightener – a complete waste of time and effort, especially if you’re swimming every day.
• Serums, toning mists and night creams – an everyday cream will do you just fine.

Remember – the more you over pack, the more you end up having to lug around with you (or, er, have your boyfriend lug around for you!).

Article source: http://www.okmagazine.com.au/lifestyle/tropical-holiday-beauty-.htm

Image source: © Ximagination | Dreamstime.com
www.dreamstime.com/free-stock-image-peaceful-whitsunday-rimagefree1461310-resi3716291

Yes people, it’s that time again, (did  we ever stop?!). Time to get our fake tans on! Not only is it warming up but with spring racing in the air, there’s never been a better excuse to fake it. Here’s some tips to help avoid tanning disasters

–

1. Scrub, scrub, scrub. Dead skin is the enemy of fake tan, so get rid of it first by exfoliating. Concentrate on areas such as your ankles, knees and elbows. YBS tip: Use a pedi-paddle on your feet and gently across the tops of your toes too.

2. Always apply your fake tan to clean skin. Deodorants, oily moisturisers and greasy shower-gel residue will only contribute to streakiness.

3. Use a little moisturiser on knees, elbows and ankles before you hit the bronzer.

4. Do one body part at a time and don’t rush while applying the lotion, foam or gel. Try small, circular movements and when you think your fake tan’s all rubbed in, rub it in again. When it comes to your arms, gradually blend the tan toward your wrists so the colour doesn’t suddenly stop short when it reaches your palms.

5. Never spray a DIY-spray tan directly onto your skin at first. Spray into the air and while holding the button down, move the mist onto your skin. Do it the other way around and you’ll have a blotch where the product first made contact.

6. Be wary of nails and hair: they can change colour, too. Protect hair with a shower cap or scarf and prevent nails from changing colour by coating with polish first.

7. Don’t forget between your toes and fingers, the back of your neck, and even your ears. Bronze up these spots as well and your tan will look more even.

8. For a realistic tan, the fronts of your arms and legs should be a smidgen darker than the backs. Likewise, your face will look less “flat” if your cheekbones and forehead have a bit more colour.

9. Avoid orange palms by immediately washing your hands after applying the fake tan. Alternatively,wear gloves during application, but don’t forget to apply product to the backs of your hands once they’re removed!

10. Prolong your tan by regularly applying moisturiser, but remember: you can’t hang on to a fake tan forever — your skin cells have to shed! After five to seven days, it’s time to hit the body scrub and start again.

11. Still can’t get it right? Leave it to the pros with a spray tan or opt for a gradual tanner instead.

Article source: http://yourbeautyspot.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=680037

Image source: © Abdone | Dreamstime.com
www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-after-bath-rimagefree162024-resi3716291

Eating a well balanced diet can do wonders for making our skin look & feel great, and having a healthy amount a ‘good’ bacteria can also aid us to feel good inside and out! Read on for some suggestions from Wellbeing for beautiful skin from within…

–

YOUR skin is a direct reflection of what is happening in your digestive tract.
To get your head around this, consider the analogy of a beautiful, lush garden.
In that garden, you’ll find a thriving eco-system filled with beneficial bacteria, insects, water and nutrients. It’s a very resilient system that’s often successful
in repelling bad bacteria and any pests that may invade. However, if the soil becomes depleted and the good bacteria compromised, the garden can easily become overrun with pests and weeds and quickly degenerate. Your skin is like that garden: to grow well it relies on a healthy soil and that “skin soil” is your digestive system.

Your body has its own internal eco-system that’s home to trillions of microbes.
For optimum health and for our exterior to shine, we need the predominance of these bacteria to be beneficial (as opposed to harmful bacteria or pathogens). Your digestive system is your nutrient processing centre and it requires a combination of adequate water, nutrients and beneficial bacteria to maintain health and wellbeing. An impaired or imbalanced intestinal flora is implicated in acne, premature wrinkles, eczema, brittle nails, lack-lustre hair, various skin conditions and myriad other health problems.

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that exist naturally in the gut. They live and work in your gastrointestinal tract to help support your immune system, manufacture nutrients (and increase their bio-availability), aid digestion, eliminate toxins and free radicals and attack pathogens/bad bacteria to keep the blood clean and healthy.

A healthy digestive system alive with good bacteria helps both assimilate and manufacture enough nutrients to feed all organs of the body, including the last
to receive them: the skin, hair and nails. By boosting your immunity and facilitating digestion, probiotics help restore a youthful vitality. They also metabolise and recycle hormones from food sources that can help offset hormone-related skin problems.

Unfortunately, modern living isn’t too kind to gut flora. The consumption of refined foods and those from depleted soils, stress, pollution and exposure to chemicals all compromise beneficial gut flora. If you add the over-prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics (the opposite to a probiotic) that kill all bacteria, including the beneficial kind, your inner eco-system becomes imbalanced. With long-term imbalance, disease of the body\’s systems, including that of the skin, occurs.

In with the good
To support a healthy, thriving digestive system and therefore healthy skin, the gut needs to be colonised with a proliferation of beneficial bacteria. The proven strains of good bacteria are the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species. You can find them in yoghurt and probiotic drinks. However, depending on the brand, often the bacteria counts are not adequate. You need enough bacteria for a useful amount to reach the intestine, as many will be killed by the acid in your stomach.

A good probiotic supplement can help. One teaspoon in the morning and night, away from meals, is recommended — first thing in the morning and last thing before bed. Eating lacto-fermented foods rich in lactobacilli (like sauerkraut)
is an excellent way of successfully colonising the gut with good bacteria. Other cultured foods such as kefir are highly beneficial.

Chlorophyll-rich green foods such as celery, lettuce, alfalfa and sea vegetables also promote healthy intestinal flora, as does slippery elm, which helps heal the
gut wall. Green tea and ginseng also contain polyphenols that foster good gut bacteria.

Prebiotics
A prebiotic is a nutrient that helps support probiotic survival. Prebiotics are found
in asparagus, bananas, endive, chicory, garlic, globe and Jerusalem artichokes, kefir, leeks, onions, sauerkraut, shallots and yoghurt, to name a few. Prebiotic supplements can also be obtained, with fructo-oligo-saccharide (FOS) being the most common. Together, supplements of prebiotics and probiotics make a powerful symbiotic combination that can help to maintain a healthy digestive system.

Other ways to support good bacteria and a healthy digestive system include:

1. The food you eat. Eat a diet rich in vegetables (best lightly steamed or sauteed, as an excess of raw vegies can weaken digestive strength). Although highly beneficial and high in nutrients, animal proteins can be hard to digest, so are best cooked slowly in soups and stews. This takes out the hard work for your digestive system. Spices such as garlic, ginger, cumin, cayenne and black pepper can be added to animal proteins to aid digestion. Grains provide a great source of fibre to aid detoxification, but they’re best soaked overnight to get rid of anti-nutrients before being cooked. Cook them with spices or eat them with a little umeboshi plum to aid digestion. Avoid refined foods and sugars that feed the bad bacteria. Eat organically wherever possible and avoid synthetic chemicals, which also compromise gut health.
2. The way you eat. To promote good digestion, drink a glass of warm water with a tablespoon of lemon juice on waking. Eat smaller meals and chew food until it liquefies before you swallow. Avoid drinking with your meal. Try not to eat when angry or stressed. Avoid skipping breakfast and reduce snacking as the digestive system needs periods of rest throughout the day. A cup of fennel tea after lunch aids digestion.

Probiotics on the skin
Probiotics used topically in skin cleansers, creams and masks will clean, soften, smooth and exfoliate your skin, giving it a healthy appearance. Lactic acid, a byproduct of the fermentation process in yoghurt and other foods, is a gentle alphahydroxy acid that exfoliates the skin and improves moisture levels in the layers of the skin. Yoghurt and raw honey masks that can be used daily give
your skin a dose of good bacteria, lactic acid and other nutrients to refine, soften, nourish and make skin tone more even.

Article source: www.wellbeing.com.au/article/Features/Body-Health/Beautiful-Skin-from-Within_832?page=2

Image source: © Anna Lurye | Dreamstime.com
www.dreamstime.com/stock-images-beautiful-girl-rimagefree10258052-resi2728233

When you’re rushed off your feet looking after your little (and not so little) ones, it does pay to take some time out for YOU! Read on for some tips & tricks to maximise your beauty when you’re time poor.

–

IF you don’t have time to get to the salon, here’s the easy way to make sure you stay on top of all your beauty needs.

The best time of day to:

Moisturise
Straight after your morning shower while your skin is still damp – the steam will have opened your pores, allowing for deeper product penetration. Blot yourself dry so your skin is still damp (for greater hydration) and then apply moisturiser.

Pluck your eyebrows
After showering – the steam will make your skin super-soft and enlarge your pores making plucking less painful.

Make-up your face
10 minutes after moisturising – this will give moisturiser time to settle and your skin’s natural oils time to resurface so make-up will go on flawlessly.

Shower
First thing in the morning- the water pounding on your body stimulates your skin’s nerve endings and gets your circulation going – and your skin glowing. Intensify your shower’s energising powers by using a citrus-scented shower gel.

Spray on perfume
Before getting dressed – maximum skin contact is important as body heat diffuses fragrance. It also allows you to access pulse points (such as behind your knees, the inside of your elbow and even your ankles), places where your body is naturally warmer so the heat makes your fragrance radiate and last longer.

Exfoliate
In the evening – exfoliating before bed means you can remove all the pore-clogging grime and dead cells that have built up during the day. It will also make your skin more receptive to products so your night skincare treatments will be more effective.

Apply skin treatments
Before 10PM – between nine and 10 at night your skin cells go into repair mode and are more receptive to products, especially acne and anti-aging treatments. Your skin’s temperature also rises by a degree or two at night, which temporarily dilates the pores making everything you apply penetrate even deeper.

The best day of the week to:

Apply a fake tan
On Sunday morning – fake tan needs acids to activate its ingredients and these are more plentiful in the morning before you’ve showered. Lazy Sunday mornings are perfect because you generally have more time to let the product work before you have to shower it off and get dressed.
The time of the month to:

Have a facial
On Friday – a week after your period. Your skin is more prone to irritation and redness the week before and during your period, because of hormone changes. Have your facial on a Friday afternoon because you’ll not only cleanse way the week’s grime, but you’ll have the weekend to recover from any resulting redness or breakouts.

Get waxed
In the morning – a week after your period. Waxing hurts regardless, but getting waxed right before or during your period is going to hurt even more because your skin is extra tender. Make your booking early in the day because your nerve endings are just waking up, so you won’t feel as much pain.

The best time of the year to:

Swap your fragrance
In Autumn or Spring – fragrance fills the air faster when the weather is hot, so perfumes that are rich (and sometimes overwhelming) in Summer are perfect in the colder months and vice versa. In Autumn and Winter, switch to richer fragrances that your skin might not be able to support in summer – like oriental and woody fragrances which come to life at this time of year.

Add highlights to your hair
In Spring or Summer – the hotter months are perfect for highlights because the sun naturally enhances your hair. Try to limit all-over colours (especially red shades) as they fade and go brassy in the sun.

Colour or add lowlights to your hair
In Autumn or Winter – in the dryer mounths, the lack of humidity causes your hair to look flat and limp. Colouring hair opens the cuticle and deposits pigment on each strand so it plumps it up, giving it more volume and a fuller appearance.

Article source: www.kidspot.com.au/MySpot-escapes-The-busy-mums-beauty-calendar+3551+178+article.htm

Image source: © Constantin Opris | Dreamstime.com
www.dreamstime.com/stock-photos-mother-and-baby-portrait-rimagefree5042547-resi2728233

According to a US  Consumer Union (like our Choice, here in Oz) there is mostly dissatisfaction with bald cures. What’s been your experience?

–

THEY might not always admit it, but for many men losing their hair is one of their greatest worries. It can be a blow to their self-esteem and self-image.

Unfortunately, hair loss is a common problem; about half of all men by the age of 50 (and more than three quarters by the age of 70) will develop so-called ‘male pattern’ baldness, or androgenic alopecia.

Men who are going bald have several options – drug treatments, hairpieces or hair transplants. Alternatively, they can ignore it and learn to live with their receding hairline, or go the whole hog and shave the remainder of their hair off.

But none of these options are particularly effective, it seems; most men report that the baldness cures they try don’t work.

That’s according to a survey published in Consumer Reports, the magazine of the US non-profit consumer rights group, Consumers Union (similar to Choice in Australia).

Consumer Reports did an online survey of 6,248 men, ranging in age from about
20 to over 90. Men were asked about their hair loss and any treatments they tried, and how happy they were with the outcomes of these treatments. (Any men whose hair loss was related to a chronic illness or chemotherapy were excluded from the survey.)

Widespread dissatisfaction
What the researchers found was widespread dissatisfaction with baldness treatments, and with hair restoration products in particular.

The treatment that respondents rated as most effective was the prescription
pill finasteride (trade name Propecia). This drug blocks the formation of dihydrotestosterone, the male sex hormone thought to cause male pattern baldness. (In Australia, this medication is available only by prescription
from a doctor, taken as a tablet once a day.)

But overall satisfaction levels with finasteride were low; just 27 per cent of men said it was very effective.

Minoxidil, another common remedy, also fared poorly with respondents. It comes as a lotion and is available over the counter from pharmacies. Men massage minoxidil into their dry scalp twice a day. It’s thought to increase blood flow to the hair follicle cells and stimulate them, thereby promoting new hair growth.

The survey showed minoxidil was mainly ineffective and better suited to people with very recent hair loss. Only 4 per cent of respondents said it was very effective, with 43 per cent saying it was not effective at all.

Complaints about side effects – such as a dry, itchy, or irritated scalp – were common with both finasteride and minoxidil.

Non-pharmaceutical cures fared even worse. Dietary and herbal supplements advertised as baldness cures were rated very effective by only 6 per cent of respondents.

Only 4 per cent of men surveyed underwent hair transplants; but of these,
49 per cent were satisfied with the results. However, hair transplants (in which hair follicles are surgically removed from areas of high growth in a person’s scalp to areas of low growth) were found to be expensive and the procedure often had to be repeated.

Men were also asked about cosmetic ways of improving their appearance.

• About 65 per cent said wearing a wig or toupee was effective
• 46 said they were happy with simply shaving their scalp
• 46 reported dressing better to compensate for baldness
• 44 per cent said they exercised to improve their body appearance.

Australian experience
Professor Rodney Sinclair, from the Department of Dermatology at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne, says the results are not surprising and are broadly similar
to the experience of men in Australia.

He says the drugs used to regrow hair can be effective, but they are slow-acting and may cause only partial regrowth.

This is particularly the case where hair loss is advanced, he says. “There comes
a point at which there is too much hair loss for regrowth to occur,” he says.

Also, regrowth doesn’t continue indefinitely; “with these drugs you tend to see regrowth in the first year or so, but not after that,” he says.

What people often don’t realise is that these drugs also prevent hair loss; but people may not give the treatment credit for this, he points out.

So the drugs can be effective but people do need to temper their expectations.

Sinclair says for many men a transplant is a good option, but in these cases,
the hair loss must not be too advanced or there may not be enough hair follicles
to transplant.

The Consumer Reports researchers say the market for baldness remedies
plays to a particularly vulnerable segment of society – those in search of
a quick fix.

Given the high levels of dissatisfaction with baldness cures, men should make sure they do their homework before trying treatments, the researchers say.

Article source: www.abc.net.au/health/thepulse/stories/2010/06/17/2929573.htm

Image source: © Emin Kuliyev | Dreamstime.com
www.dreamstime.com/free-stock-image-the-wall-rimagefree255382-resi2728233

From finding budget buys to the latest trends, beauty expert
Erin Whitty will help you glow from top to toe.

Fancy body products cross my desk every day in this business but there’s one product I’ll never stop using, QV Skin Lotion, $10.95.

You may not hear a lot about QV products but they are hospital staples – particularly children’s wards – across the country. Why? Because they are
so good for sensitive and dry skin, and for those suseptible to ezcema.

The lotion pictured above, and the heavier gels in the range, are formulated to build the skin barrier, helping it retain moisture and fend off external irritants. It has no potentially irritating fragrances, colours or preservatives but plenty of glycerine. Glycerine is an excellent, water-based lubricant.

If you’ve ever had a winter itch, a mild reaction, or even dermatitis believe me, it’s worth giving it a try. It can make a huge difference to the comfort and appearance of your skin. Use it twice a day every day and in the shower (you can buy QV Gentle Wash, $10.45, but I use the cream) because, even a seemingly innocent liquid soap can inflame your epidermis. And then, it doesn’t matter how good or plain your moisturiser is, you’ll still get irritation. If the problem area is on your legs or underarms think about using for shaving too.

Other great tips:

* Avoid SLS (sodium laureth sulphate) at all cost. Its the foaming agent in most soaps and shampoos and it will dry your skin out and exacerbate the problem.
* Have cool showers where possible
* Wear breathable clothing, made from natural fibres.

Article source: http://blogs.bodyandsoul.com.au/beauty/article/tips-for-sensitive-skin/

Cleaning & sorting out your wardrobe is not only relegated to spring! Here’s an article with some ideas to help get some summer-time organisation into your wardrobe.

–

With the summer holidays finally in sight. it is the perfect time to do a bit of spring cleaning and organise your wardrobe.

Andy Warhol once said “Everything in your closet should have an expiration date on it the way milk and bread and magazines and newspapers do.” But as fashion lovers we do not necessarily agree with this entirely because there are investment pieces and fashion classics that you are bound to have in your wardrobe for years. But as a rule of thumb, anything that you have not worn within the last year should be given away.

There is not a uniform format in how a wardrobe should be organised, it really depends on the amount of space you have and how many clothes you have! Just think of Carrie Bradshaw, she managed for years in her tiny Upper East Side New York apartment.

These are the three basic organising options:

• By Season – If you have the luxury of space, it is ideal to rotate your clothes seasonally. Not only is it healthier for your clothes (eg: less crowding) but it also makes it easier on you to keep everything neat and sorted. And makes deciding what to wear a breeze!

• By Colour – If your colour bar goes from pink to black, then an arrangement by colour lets you select from your wardrobe quickly and easily. It also allows for easy up-keep.
• By Type – shirts with shirts, pants with pants etc…

Hanging VS Folding
This argument is also dependant of space. But ideally unless the garment is a knit, hanging on padded hangers is best.

Trousers are always best hung by the cuffs on trouser hangers, to keep the crease and make ironing less of a burden.

To keep shirt collars neat and blouses from wrinkling, another tip to note is to button the top, middle and last buttons before putting away. Be sure to do up zips and empty pockets too.

Sweaters and knitwear is always happiest folded, so are T-shirts and polo shirts.

Shoes and Bags
Shoe racks are ideal for storing shoes and try and use shoe trees to keep your shoes in shape. As a back up try tissue paper.

Many people suggest storing their shoes inside clear plastic shoe boxes – and if you have the space this is a great way to store your shoes.

To extend the life of your shoes and to make walking more comfortable, ask your bootmaker to add a thin rubber sole in black or natural to the sole (called Topi). Maintenance is the key to the life of any shoe. Be sure to regularly clean and polish your leather shoes, wash your trainers and replace the heels or taps of your toes as soon as they start to wear down.

Store bags side by side inside their protective fabric slip- called pyjamas! This will prevent dust and make them last longer. Be sure to spray leather bags with a protective leather spray to enhance their lifespan.

After using your handbag, make sure you remove all the contents before storing it away, you would hate a stray pen to leak or lose your favourite lipstick.

Jewellery
We find hanging our jewellery in a hanging bag the easiest way to store our fun jewellery. Coloured bangles, rings, hair accessories and beads can be easily seen and is much easier to find like this than in a draw.

The ideal way to store your special jewellery is in protective jewellery cases with a zip at the top. If you cannot locate the original case, we suggest going to your local Asian supermarket and buying some. Alternatively you could try wrapping your jewels in muslin and then tucking them into a plastic zip lock bags, but don’t forget to label them!

Tips:

• Before you start – make sure your wardrobe is spotless, dry and line your draws with a scented draw liner.

• Never put anything dirty, soiled or stained back in your wardrobe.

Enjoy your wardrobe makeover and your summer holiday

Article source: http://aww.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=791518

Image source: Carlos Porto / www.freedigitalphotos.net
www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=345