What Does Beauty Really Cost?

Yes! We all want to be beautiful no matter what. We are shown what is classed as as beauty on a regular basis by the media. Fashion models who look like bean poles and who cant possibly eat chocolate or cream cakes as this would be the ultimate sin.

In reality they probably eat very little!

We are all made to be beautiful in our own way! it might not necessarily be in the way the media portray.

This is a good thing as it would be a rather boring world if we all looked exactly the same.

Time is also a big factor as we struggle to fight against it,nobody likes growing old, but are we really winning or delaying the inevitable?

What is all of this really costing us? we spend millions of pounds a year in the UK on beauty products and treatments.

How many of us know what we are really using in these products? We heard recently about parabens possibly causing cancer yet manufacturers still produce products containing them which we buy and use!

We need to look at what we are buying and what they contain!

Would you knowingly eat something containing poison or harmful ingredients? I know i wouldn't,yet we regularly buy and use thing to so called make ourselves more beautiful without reading the labels.

Here are some of the many things to look for:

DEA,MEA,TEA(not the kind you drink) are irritants which dry the hair and skin ,also known as allergens
METHYL,PROPYL,BUTYL & ETHYL PARABENS: are food grade preservatives-used to preserve products and extend there shelf-life. considered to be highly toxic and have been found in cancerous tumors ,also allergens.
ISOPROPYL:poisonous solvent used in many products.
IMIADAZOILDINYL UREA:formaldehyde-forming preservatives,known to weaken the immune system.
PROPYLENE GLYCOL: wetting agent and solvent main ingredient in antifreeze and brake fluid.
POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL(PEG): is a caustic substance used to dissolve grease. found in oven cleaner and most skin cleansers.

Are we taking unnecessary risks by not doing a simple thing like reading a label?

Is it worth risking your health for the sake of beauty,when these days there are more and more natural alternatives available in our retail stores,supermarkets and online so we can have a more natural way to enhance our beauty. Without the extra costs!

Alison Jones http://www.pureessenceproducts.bravehost.com

Natural Beauty Products That Don't Cost The Earth.

Basics of Spray Tan

I miss summer! I think I suffer from season depression disorder (and it?s only November). You know what would make me feel better? A healthy glow! No, I don?t want to be one of those tanning booth tanorexics. Those days went out for me in college when, after a steady month of tanning booth visits, a really cute football player told me I was starting to look like an oompa loompa.

I decided to try the new wave, the professional spray tan! I just didn?t want a Ross from Friends situation (he forgets to turn around and ends up looking like an oompa loompa too.) I did end up having such a positive experience I want to share with you some tips to ensure you end up with a beautiful healthy glow.

First step, find a reputable shop. Word of mouth is always a good idea, if you know of no one who has done the spray tan check out www.mystictan.com for a location near you. Mystic Tan is very reputable, I would consider them the leader in spray tan technology.

After you have found your salon book an appointment. If you are tanning for a specific event then I suggest a trial run maybe two weeks before the event. If you are pleased with the results then book another appointment about 3 or 4 days before the actual event. This will allow the color to settle in.

On the day of your appointment shower and exfoliate. Use a loofah and shower gel OR try a body scrub. This will ensure an even application.

At the salon you will probably be given an instructional video to watch but just in case, check out the online video at Mystictan.com. The video explains the whole procedure and what you need to do. Some important steps the video will review: hold your breath when the spray is going off (for about 14 seconds and it?s very challenging), when spray stops turn around and more importantly where to apply the lotion to block the spray (feet and hands). The reason you block the spray from these areas is that due to the excess wrinkles and creases the spray will settle around those areas and cause tell-tale white veiny looking areas in the creases. You will be screaming Spray Tan. In fact, next time I go I will be more thorough with the cream, I had some of those white creases.

When you leave the spray booth you will be given towels to wipe down and remove any excess spray. Make sure you wipe not blot. This is also important so that you do not ruin your clothes, though I would not wear anything too nice anyway. You won?t see any color at first, it takes a couple of hours to emerge. The color lasts 4-7 days and to stretch it as far as it can go moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.

I can?t tell you the boost it gives me to have a bit of a tan in the cold days of fall and winter without the worry of cancer. Don?t get me wrong? this is not a weekly pick me up. This is a special treat I will do when I?m really down in the dumps or if I have a special event. The treatment is pricey $30 - $40 a visit. Many places offer package deals but still they are not cheap. I purchased a package of 3 for $75 and plan to stretch it out over a long New England winter.

About The Author

Valerie is mother of 2 and co-founder of http://www.million-dollar-mama.com a website devoted to helping mothers rediscover their favorite hobbies like travel, fitness and girls night out.

val@million-dollar-mama.com

Who Wants Younger Looking Skin?

If you are like many others on this planet you would like younger looking skin. If so, please read this artice and learn how amazing new products made from microfiber can assist you in achieving this goal.

Never heard of microfiber? Well most people have not, so I will explain what microfiber is. Microfiber is two synthetic materials blended together, then split. The 1st material is polyamide a by-product of nylon, and the 2nd is polyester. You may have heard of or even own microfiber clothes, pocket books, or upholstered furniture. Most microfiber is blended as 80/20, 75/25, and 70/30. The higher number represents polyester, (the cleaning part), and the lower number polyamide(the absorbant part). Hence if you wanted a super absorbant material a 70/30 blend would be your choice, and a 80/30 blend would be a softer one.

Microfiber has been around for years and came to the USA in the automotive industy as cleaning/drying cloths. They worked great and required no chemicals or detergents to clean . They could be used wet with water to clean and used dry to dust, polish and dry. This made them environmentally preferred products and guaranteed their acceptance. Soon, other fantastic products were developed, tested, and made available to the consumer market.

Enough of technical jargon. How do you get younger looking skin? Use the magic of microfiber ! Microfiber require only water to remove make-up, thus eliminating costly creams, etc. Creams may be used if desired but are not necessary. Microfiber also exfoliate and clean the skin which promotes new skin growth, guaranteeing a younger looking you! Microfiber cleans the skin better than any other material and works great in acne areas. Microfiber may be washed by hand or machine using normal detergents or just water. Hang to dry or use a dryer. Microfifiber products are environmentally preferred because only water is required and they are economical because they can be washed and re-used hundreds of times!

Microfiber-Products LTD is a woman owned small HUBZone business located in Dunn, NC. We import and distribute environmentally preferred products to include janitorial and health & beauty products.You can learn more about microfiber at our web site http://www.microfiber-products.com ,email at sales@microfiber-products.com , call toll free at 1-888-412-3078, or fax 910-892-2936. We sell wholesale to resellers and retail to customers. Lewis R. Smith has written several articles for trade magazines concerning microfiber products.

Special Offer: Call or email an order in 2005 and receive free shipping. We ship within 2 days of orders(normally same day)by UPS or USPS. Our products are guaranteed to work as advertised! They Make Great Gifts!!!

Blemish Be Gone!

I get many inquiries on the topic of blemish prone skin. So, how do you go about trying to reduce the appearance and occurrence of blemishes? Above all the best solution starts with a proper cleansing routine. There are many over the counter skincare products that can help.

My suggestion to start would be:

Start with a Deep Cleanser formulated for blemish prone skin: Use twice per day-morning and night.

Next try a Blemish Control Toner: Start once per day at night. If your skin is not feeling overly dry, increase to morning and night.

Lastly, you must moisturize!! Try an Oil Control Lotion: Use twice per day-morning and night. This will hydrate your skin, yet help control the production of oil throughout the day.

Keep this simple routine for at least a week before adding in any optional products. An example of an optional product would be an Acne Treatment Gel with benzoyl peroxide, no greater than 5%. More benzoyl peroxide isn't always better and it could overly dry out the skin. Over drying the skin often triggers more oil production, making the process counter-productive.

If you find that your skin feels tight, you may need to add an Oil Free Hydrating Gel. And lastly, you may find that a product like an Oil Mattifier, helps to control excess oil production.

So, the routine might look like this:

Cleanse (2x per day)
Treat (with toner and/or benzoyle peroxide)
Moisturize (with an oil-free hydrator and/or oil-control lotion)
End with an oil mattifier

Find a line of Blemish Control products that works for you. If you can, try-before-you-buy, or look for a 100% satisfaction guarantee. This way you are only purchasing the products that actually work for your skin. If these over-the-counter remedies do not work or you experience an adverse reaction, consult a dermatologist immediately, who may suggest other treatments.

Above all, DO NOT squeeze your pimples. This can cause bleeding, infection and possibly scarring. Keep your hands off! Touching your pimples, transfers bacteria from your hands to your face. I don?t mean to sound obsessive, but who knows where your hands have been?the grocery cart, counting change, the ATM machine?? Blah!

Once you find what works best for you, you should notice a relief from those pesky pimples and your skin will feel clean, calm and fresh.

Have a great day!

Dawn Hull
Professional Skin Care Consultant
http://www.MaryKay.com/ShopOnline

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A PlainEnglish Guide to Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal has become an increasingly popular method of depilation in recent years, for many good reasons. But like most other beauty treatments, it should be undertaken with caution and with a little bit of research under your belt, so here are the most important factors to bear in mind when considering whether laser hair removal is right for you.

First of all, what is laser hair removal? Unless you want to understand the physics of light, there's a very simple definition. In the hands of an experienced beauty therapist, a handheld device emits a particular wavelength of light, which destroys the hair without harming the skin that surrounds it. It's a simple technique that's easy to administer, and more importantly, unlike waxing or sugaring, it's relatively pain free.

There are, however, some disadvantages associated with this method of hair removal, and it's unfortunately not suitable for everyone. Because the laser destroys dark material, the hair to be removed must be darker than the skin surrounding it, so those with very fair hair might not be eligible for laser hair removal.

Recently tanned skin is also unsuited to this method of hair removal, so be careful to avoid the sun before you schedule your appointment. Any type of skin damage may be exacerbated by the use of lasers, so take good care of your skin before you take that trip to the beauty salon, and postpone your appointment should you develop any skin injuries, such as a rash, or a cut.

Laser hair removal is sometimes advertised as a permanent system of hair removal, and while this method of depilation often does yield long-lasting results, there is not yet enough evidence to support a blanket claim of permanent hair loss. Laser hair removal is most effective on those with paler skins and dark hair, and many people matching this description have found that regrowth is minimal, with new hairs finer and lighter than prior to treatment.

Laser hair removal is more expensive than other methods of depilation, and as the area of unwanted hair can require a number of treatments before optimal results are seen, the cost can quickly add up. But for those who regular spend a small fortune on shavers, waxing strips and other hair removal tools, the effectiveness of laser surgery can make it a real money saver in the long run.

It is important to remember that a laser can be dangerous in the wrong hands, so be careful to find a professional and reputable salon to perform your laser hair removal. Find a beauty therapist with whom you feel comfortable, and ask any and all questions you need to put your mind at ease. Don't be afraid to ask about your therapist's qualifications and experience - all laser hair removal practitioners should be licensed physicians or registered nurses.

Laser hair removal is an effective technique than can bring wonderful results. Relatively painless - expect a slight tingling sensation when the laser is in use - and long-lasting, laser hair removal is, however, a technique that requires skilled hands. Treat your skin with the respect it deserves and find a well-qualified and experienced practitioner to perform the procedure, and say goodbye to that unwanted hair.

Article written exclusively for http://www.laser-hair-removal-report.com. For more information and articles on Laser Hair Removal, visit http://www.laser-hair-removal-report.com.