Posts Tagged ‘body care’

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A Healthy Cinco de Mayo (comparatively speaking)

Thursday, April 28th, 2011

flickr user smohundro

If you’re like me (i.e.- routinely and somewhat defensively admitting that a margarita does actually count as your favorite food), you probably rank Cinco de Mayo right up there with your birthday as a favorite holiday. And what isn’t to love about a day that encourages margaritas and endless chips and guac all while commemorating the Mexican army’s victory at the Battle of Puebla?  (What, you didn’t know that’s the cause of the occasion?) Sadly, the calorie count in all that Cinco de Mayo food is through the roof! Not to mention, the bloat and the under-eye bags that generally appear on May 6th. Never fear- I have some insider health tips for my Cinco de Mayo loving amigos!

 

  1. Skinny Margaritas- Whether or not you are Real Housewives fan, it’s hard to argue with the amazing contribution that Bethenny Frankel gave to the world- the official Skinny Girl Margarita. Ok, maybe I am being a tiny bit dramatic, but nonetheless a low cal margarita is a pretty awesome invention.  All you need are 2 ounces of clear tequila, a splash of orange liquor and 4 fresh lime wedges and voila! A 100 calorie margarita! Amazing, considering a normal margarita can have up to 500 calories and an unimaginable amount of sugar.
  2. Fun, Festive (and healthy!) Foods- I know, there is something so satisfying about digging into a limitless bowl of chips and queso but try an incorporate a few veggies and healthier options into your party.  Crisp, sliced squash make amazing chips and taste delicious with salsa, which happens to be very low calorie. Another mouthwatering substitution is a dip my mom perfected and calls Cowboy Caviar. Mix a can of black beans, black eyed peas, diced tomatoes, 2 cups of corn, ½ an onion,  ½ green bell pepper, ½ cup pickled jalapeño peppers, ½ teaspoon garlic salt, 1 cup light Italian dressing, ¾ cup of cilantro and you have a healthy, yummy dip. I even think it tastes better than queso!
  3. Hangover Helper- Those skinny margaritas and cinco de mayo food can really creep up! Bloat and puffiness are telltale signs of over imbibing and overeating. For fast- fix hangover help on May 6th, reach for Skyn Iceland’s Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels.  The under eye gel pads firm, de-puff, reduce fine lines, and thus remove all traces of the evening before.

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Beautyfix Spotlight: Philip B.’s Chocolate Milk Body Wash and Body Crème

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011
Chocolate body wash

Source: Flickr user el patojo

OK, time for a weird fact about me:  I really don’t like chocolate. Not one bit, not even during that time of the month. I know, it’s unheard of if you’re female. Naturally, I tend to stay away from anything that has to do with chocolate. So it’s never crossed my mind to pick up a beauty product that smells like it or has chocolate in it. I was a little reluctant to try Philip B.’s Chocolate Milk Body Wash and Body Crème (thank goodness for Beautyfix and the deluxe travel sizes.) Expecting neither product to be anything I’d ever like, I was pleasantly surprised with both.

A lot of body washes dry out my skin, and I often turn to my best friend named Dr. Bronner, which does the exact opposite. So using this in the shower was quite different than what I’m used to. The smell of chocolate milk is sweetly present and will take you back to the good ol’ days when you were on a swing set asking mom for a YooHoo. Philip B.’s body wash gently dissolved dirt and debris and left my skin super soft out of the shower. The best part about this body wash is that it doubles as a bubble bath for an extra tasty treat. After using, my fiancé couldn’t help but notice the delicious scent and for once, loved the smell of my new body wash.

I’m all about body crèmes, so I was anxious to try this one after using the body wash. With ingredients like cocoa butter, safflower seed oil and extracts of chocolate and vanilla it was sure to be a winner. The luxurious and delectable body lotion was milk chocolate-y smooth and creamy with application. My skin was left soft and nourished from the body crème and the lingering sweet smell was one to enjoy. Could it be, could it actually have happened? I think I’ve found a few chocolate beauty products that I like. Best of all, no calories. Beautyfix approved and almost good enough to eat!

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A Few Beautiful Resolutions and How to Keep them for 2011

Thursday, January 6th, 2011

As we all know, along with the New Year comes  New Year resolutions. There are the ever popular lose weight, save money, stop smoking, try new things and to learn a different language. However, working at a beauty company, my coworkers have a few more specific goals for 2011 and as you can guess they are all beauty and health related.  When polled, the members of my office listed everything from styling their hair every morning to running a half marathon to eating more antioxidants to performing weekly at home manicures (ok, that last one is mine, and sad to say, 5 days in and I have already failed…chips galore).  Not surprisingly, statistics show that around 90% of New Year resolutions fail. While New Year resolutions can be tough, here are a few tips to attain your beauty and health goals for 2011.

One of my co-workers vowed to blow-dry her hair every day, not to haphazardly apply her makeup in the car and to not pick at her nails. If your resolutions mirror hers and revolve around a more put together appearance, try incorporating one new element at a time.  Grand beauty ideas are fantastic but even just the smallest tweak to your beauty ritual can make your confidence soar. Get a great blow out in the beginning of the week, try a manicure with shellac nail polish (they last for weeks and don’t chip!), or set aside an extra 5 minutes for your makeup and indulge in a new eye shadow palette (I adore Becca Cosmetics palette).

A handful of other coworkers made resolutions along the lines of a healthy detox, working out and living a booze free 2011. In fact, one of them boldly declared that she “will only eat fruits and vegetables, workout an hour every day and not drink alcohol at all!” While this is an extremely commendable new year resolution, experts insist that making extreme goals and absolute resolutions (think words like always, never and every day) is just another way to set yourself up for failure.

While incorporating fruits and vegetables into your diet is amazing (think of all the antioxidants you will get!) it’s not very likely that someone that ate cheeseburgers twice a week will be able to solely exist off the fruit of the land (literally speaking).  If a healthy lifestyle is your resolution this year, try setting attainable and manageable health goals. Challenge yourself to eat 8-12 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, drink more water, attempt Meatless Mondays (its only one day, not forever, you can do it!) and hold off on the booze until a well deserved weekend cocktail. Instead of working out for one hour, seven days a week and loosing 10 lbs in 10 days, try a non-weight related goal. Aim for 5 hours of cardio a week (that way if you miss a day or two, there are still five or six days left to make up for it) or train for a race. You won’t be worried about the number on the scale, just the accomplishment of reaching your goal.

Moral of the story? When it comes to new year resolutions, moderation is key. Cheers to 2011!

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Healthy Tips for the Holidays

Thursday, November 11th, 2010

Flickr user blucolt

‘Tis the season! The holidays, aka my favorite time of year, are just around the corner. Can you really think of a better reason to enjoy some hot chocolate by the fire place, spend quality time with loved ones, bake pumpkin pie, and indulge in a little eggnog and mulled cider? Not to mention all the fantastic holiday parties and sparkly outfits that go hand and hand with the upcoming months. The downside of all these festive treats and activities? The slew of calories that generally accompanies them. Not to worry, below are a few healthy holiday tips and tricks to make it through December and still fit into your New Year’s Eve dress. (Bonus- you can still have your pumpkin pie and eat it too!)

How to tackle the holiday party scene:

  1. Never arrive hungry. This is the number one healthy holiday tip! Always make sure you have a healthy snack before you go to a party. Take the edge off your hunger by eating a few slices of turkey breast, some veggies or fruit before you go. That way, you won’t be tempted to pig out on the cheese platter and dessert tray.
  2. Bargain with yourself. Make up little deals, such as allowing yourself 1 cookie after eating 5 healthy things.
  3. Count calories. I know, it’s annoying, but if you are aware of how many you’re consuming throughout the day, you will know how many you may eat at the party. If your friend makes the world’s best apple pie or you are planning on having a few cocktails, substitute your usual sandwich at lunch for a low-cal salad.
  4. Chew gum. Several studies have concluded that chewing gum before snacking can reduce your cravings and hunger. Plus, it keeps you occupied.
  5. Remember that the purpose of a party is to socialize, not to eat! Try making the rounds and talking to people first, instead of heading to the buffet table. You might find that you aren’t even hungry.

Other tips for a healthy holiday:

  1. Don’t skimp on your workout! In fact, try to increase them during the week. Add just a little bit more cardio to your general routine so that you can have an extra glass of wine or a second helping without the guilt.
  2. Sign up for a race. Lots of towns host races around the holidays, such as a 5k or 10k Turkey Trot. Participating in a race is a great way to stay active, get in the holiday spirit, motivate yourself to stay healthy in the coming days and even lose holiday weight.
  3. Remember to drink water! Water is one of the best things we can put in our bodies—it flushes out all the toxins (one too many holiday-tinis? Chug some agua!), hydrates skin in the dry winter months and keeps us hydrated, which minimizes hunger pains.

These aren’t just great tips for a healthy holiday, try and remember them year round as well!

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Fact vs. Fiction : Breast Cancer Myths Debunked

Thursday, October 14th, 2010

Flickr user Blueconitza

Did you know that women who detect their Breast Cancer in the earliest stages have a 98% survival rate? Science has made incredible breakthroughs in breast cancer research and women are now more proactive than ever when it comes to being aware of their health and breast cancer facts. That being said, there are still a few misconceptions and breast cancer myths floating around that we need to debunk.

  1. The only sign of breast cancer is a lump. So not true! Although lumps in the breast can be signs (but not always) of breast cancer, symptoms may come in many other forms as well. Keep an eye out for dimples, swelling, irritation or rashes, nipple retraction (turning inward), thickening of the breast skin, or a discharge. Breast cancer can also spread to underarm lymph nodes and cause swelling there before a tumor in the breast is large enough to be felt.
  2. Women with fibrocystic breast are more at risk. There is absolutely no link whatsoever to fibrocystic (lumpy) breast! However, it is very difficult to perform self exams when you have this condition. Women with fibrocystic breast should educate themselves on the correct way to perform an at home breast exam and conduct them often so they can distinguish between what is normal and out of the ordinary lumps.
  3. Antiperspirants increase your risk of breast cancer. Regardless of the American Cancer Society’s reassurance that this rumor is false, it has been around for years and years. There are no studies that show antiperspirants as a risk factor. However, it can’t hurt (yourself or the environment) to go paraben-free!
  4. If you’re at risk for breast cancer, there is nothing you can do. False! There is so much you can do to lower your risk of breast cancer.  Regular exercise, limited or no alcohol consumption, not smoking and maintaining a healthy weight are all easy life adjustments that can lower your risk. Other drastic but effective measures include preventive chemo and having a prophylactic mastectomy.
  5. Radiation in mammograms can be harmful. According to the American College of Radiology the risk of radiation is practically non-existent- the equivalent to two or three months of natural environmental exposure. Besides, the benefits and preventative measures clearly outweigh the tiny miniscule risk.  Mammograms are not going to give you cancer- quite the contrary; they could save your life!

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Think Pink with DermStore.com

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

Indulge in some retail charity. This October, DermStore.com will launch a Breast Cancer Awareness Boutique, which will feature specialty breast cancer awareness products from beauty brands such as Becca Cosmetics, Decleor, Colorescience, SpaRitual, gloMinerals, jane iredale, Sonya Dakar and Alterna, among many others. This one stop shop is the premier destination for getting gorgeous and giving back. All the products sold in the boutique will contribute a portion of their proceeds to various breast cancer charities (iS Clinical is donating 100% of the Poly-Vitamin Serum to the National Breast Cancer Coalition!) . In addition to the donations made from the individual brands, DermStore.com will donate 5% of the proceeds from each unit sold in the boutique to CEW Foundation’s Cancer and Careers program, whose mission is to educate and empower people with cancer to thrive in their workplace by providing expert advice, interactive tools and educational events.

With over 25 brands and almost 50 products to choose from, this online boutique is not only a fantastic destination for limited edition Breast Cancer Awareness products but also a unique concept from DermStore.com, as it allows for additional funds to support this well deserving cause.  In 2009, there were over 190,000 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in American women. With each passing year, science makes life-saving advancements and brings new hope to everyone affected by this disease. With the aid of charitable donations, much like DermStore.com’s and its participating brands’, we are a step closer to a cure.

One shop, one purchase, two donations, thousands of lives affected.

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10 Easy to Follow Weight Loss Tips for Every Day

Friday, September 10th, 2010

As much as I love summer- the vacations, the sun, sand, bike rides and ocean breezes, there are a few things that really start to take a toll on my body and waistline- namely the barbeques, burgers and booze that are synonymous with warmer months. I assumed that after Labor Day passed, I would be back to my healthy eating habits and kick the added calories. Although, I seemed to have forgotten that after summer comes my other favorite time of year- Football Season. (Go Canes!) Along with football season comes even more barbeques, burgers and booze. Sigh. Luckily, there are some easy ways to lose weight without giving up all the fun stuff. With just a couple tweaks to my diet and following these simple healthy eating tips throughout the day and week, I can still have my cake and eat it too…. or burger… or margarita.

  1. Cut your portions down. Portion control is such an easy thing to correct during the day. Instead of eating an entire bagel for breakfast, eat half.  Our portions are generally much larger than a recommended serving size.
  2. Go Green! And red. And Purple. And yellow. Eat as many colorful veggies and fruits as you possible can during the day. Not only are they a great low calorie snack but they provide tons of nutritional benefits!
  3. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Often times people mistake dehydration for hunger pains. Before you sit down to feast, drink a glass of water or two and reevaluate just how hungry you truly are.
  4. Eat wholesome foods. If you cannot pronounce some the chemicals, additives and substitutes, don’t eat it.
  5. Take your vitamins. It is a simple way to get your daily nutritional needs and it aids in weight loss. It really doesn’t get any easier than that.
  6. Behave on school (work) nights. Try to limit alcohol, going out to dinner and generally unhealthy habits during the week. If you treat your body right throughout the week, not only will it be reflected in your energy level and your performance at school or work, but then you will deserve a nice meal or cocktail (or three) on the weekend.
  7. Drink coffee. Caffeine is a great appetite suppressant, just be sure to go light on the sugar and cream. Black coffee has close to zero calories but can quickly become unhealthy.
  8. Get moving. I know working out is harder for some people than others but add a little cardio to your weekly routine and you won’t be nearly as worried about the hot dog that you had on Sunday.
  9. Get your beauty sleep. Research shows that less than 8 hours of shut eye can decrease your metabolism and increase hunger.
  10. Educate yourself. Just being aware of nutritional facts will help you make healthier choices. Sign up for weight loss newsletters, emails and tweets. Eat This Not That is a great website that give nutritional info and guidance on everything from what fast food lunch is most nutritious to options at a BBQ.

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Take a Relaxing Bath to Melt Away Stress

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

Take a relaxing bath to reduce stress. Flickr user Dennis Wong.

Studies have shown that women experience stress differently than men. If stress in women is different, then it makes sense that women would need different stress relaxation techniques than men too. When women are stressed, they tend to want to talk about it and they want to nurture themselves and their loved ones, whereas men tend to go into fight or flight mode. Shelley Taylor, PhD has coined the phrase “tend and befriend” to describe the way women respond to stress differently than men. If nurturing is an important part of the way women cope with stress, then it makes sense that my girlfriends and I compulsively want to visit spas and take relaxing baths – a different approach than the men in my life tend to take.

Managing stress can be stressful in and of itself. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and need a quick fix, there are a few simple things that can instantly make you feel better within the comforts of your own home. I often feel like I’m having a Calgon moment – a million stressful things going on at once and a need to escape them all, if only for a moment. Calgon was definitely on to something with their “Calgon, take me away!” commercials, “The traffic, the boss, the kids, the dog!” I’ve never actually used Calgon, but growing up seeing their commercials taught me that you can melt away stress by taking a relaxing bath.

From bath salts to bath oils, there are many different types of bath products that can help you create a relaxing bath. An aromatherapy bath will take advantage of the relaxing powers of certain scents, in addition to soothing and pampering your skin. SpaRitual organic bath salts will help you relax naturally while providing aromatherapy benefits. They offer variety of scents, but if you want the most relaxing option, I recommend the Geranium Oil-infused Close Your Eyes Organic Bath Salts. Geranium Oil is known to have a comforting and healing effect and promotes stability and balance. Learn more about Geranium Oil here. Another good choice — Pevonia Botanica makes Anti-Stress Bath Salts with Essential Oils that are infused with Lavender and Ylang-Ylang for a calming effect.

Bath Oils are great if you want to moisturize your skin during your quest for tranquility. Decléor is a French skin care brand that was started by aromatherapy experts over 30 years ago. They incorporate aromatherapy into many of their products, and have a great post-bath treatment oil that you can apply to your skin after a bath or shower – but I like to make this product do double duty and I pour a couple caps of the oil into my bath water. Learn more about Decléor’s Aromessence Spa Relax – Relaxing Body Concentrate at our favorite beauty ecommerce destination DermStore.com.

Several brands also feature bath products that are more of an elixir. We’re fans of Kerstin Florian’s Krauter Kamille Bath. Chamomile isn’t just for drinking! The chamomile flower in this bath soak will improve your state of mind and help you relax deeply. This is a great choice before going to bed.

Aside from having the right product in your bath water, make sure you create a relaxing atmosphere as well by lighting a few candles – personally I turn off all the lights and bathe by candlelight alone. A cup of your favorite tea, or even a glass of wine is a great companion for this experience. And if you’re up for it, some mellow music – but silence can be very fulfilling as well.

What’s your favorite way to relax?

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Beautyfix Summer 2010 Product Spotlight: Kinerase Eye Treatment and Boscia Hand Cream

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

By Jenna

Hopefully everyone by now has selected and customized their latest Beautyfix kits for Sumer 2010. Choosing just a few out a plethora of products is difficult. Any of the products available are great ones, but if you’re looking for a wrinkle cream or an eye cream the Kinerase Intensive Eye cream was a great choice. On the other hand (pun intended), some extra moisture for your hands is always a good choice as well. For this you’ve probably chosen the Boscia Daily Hand Revival Therapy SPF 15. For today, I’d love to highlight these two fabulous products featured in the latest season of Beautyfix and how to use them.

Kinerase’s Intensive Eye Cream is a wrinkle cream by kinerase that is meant to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the delicate eye area. Why is this important? Keeping the skin around your eye area moisturized is extremely important in helping prevent fine lines and wrinkles. It’s one of the most sensitive and delicate areas and can show your age, premature aging and sun damage very easily. This cream contains kinetin and is rich and emollient to provide intense moisture to illuminate your eye area and create a supple texture. What I love about this eye cream is that it’s great for any skin type even sensitive skin. It also works well with makeup application and doesn’t make your makeup slip and slide. The formula is also hypoallergenic and fragrance free making it useable for anyone. Kinerase is a fantastic brand that I’ve come to love and be a fan of. You won’t be disappointed with this eye cream.

Flickr user: Steven K. Wili

How to use: Apply twice a day as desired. This means that you can use it once in the morning before makeup application and at night after you wash your face.

Boscia’s Daily Hand Revival is a perfect take-with-you-anywhere item. Storing this in your purse will be a hand saver. This hand cream is non-greasy and has a very gentle scent so you won’t be knocking anyone’s senses out at the office. It’s also an all natural hand cream which is an A+ in our book at Beautyfix. It’s great to use any time of day and it’s nourishing and soothing for your hands. Not only does it fare well as a therapeutic moisturizer, but it has SPF 15 to shield your hands from UV damage and free radicals. It’ll soften and protect your hands and cuticles without any sensitivity or too much moisture while leaving your digits looking healthy and youthful. After all, you can always tell a woman’s age by her hands.

If you didn’t choose these two, don’t fret, they’ll be available on DermStore.com. How do you like the products you chose?

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Hair Removal Techniques: Making the Best Choice for Body Hair Removal

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

By Jenna

Summer can be loads of fun and filled with vacations but news flash: vacations aren’t fun when you’re hairier than a bear underneath that swim suit. Unless you’re going au natural, body hair removal is something that we can’t ignore. There are many hair removal techniques available, and for some can be a nightmare. The trick is finding the best one for you. From shaving, waxing, electrolysis, threading and laser the cost of hair removal is also more than just money, it can be painful. Here’s a breakdown of what these techniques are all about.

Flickr User: digipam

Shaving can be a pain and the next step up is waxing. Hair waxing is easy, cheaper than other techniques, and is painful for a short amount of time. Waxing is a semi-permanent hair removal technique that removes hair from the root. There are many different types of hair waxing and should ONLY be performed by a licensed cosmetologist or esthetician. It’s effective to remove a larger amount of hair at one time and can last from 2 to 8 weeks. A drawback of waxing is it can be painful and some people experience ingrown hairs, minor bleeding and bumps. Hair follicles are the strongest the first few times when your hair may be a little thicker causing these setbacks.  Ingrown hairs and these complications can be helped by exfoliating the areas before and after waxing which is highly recommended before getting your sweet spot waxed. If you’re sensitive to waxing and razor burn I highly suggest Get the Bump Outta Here by No Scream Cream.

Electrology involves (you guessed it) electricity to permanently remove hair and has been around for over 135 years as well as effective on ALL hair colors. Electrolysis is the actual process in which the hair is removed. This process can also be costly, cause some discomfort during sessions and take a few visits but it is the ONLY PERMANENT hair removal technique available.  A licensed practitioner will slide a solid, thin metal probe into each hair follicle in the same direction of hair growth. Yes that means one at a time. If your professional knows how to do this properly, this will not puncture your skin. Electricity is then delivered from the probe into the follicle which causes localized damage to the areas that generate hairs. There are 3 different methods used in electrology; galvanic, thermolysis and blend. For complete permanent hair removal, it may take up to 4 years to complete.

Laser hair removal is tricky. After its introduction, the FDA declared laser hair removal methods can only claim to reduce the growth of hair but not permanently remove it. In 1997 lasers were approved for “permanent hair reduction” in the United States by the FDA. Instead of destroying the hair follicles, they can ‘shock’ them into a temporary hibernation which reduces hair growth. Laser hair removal is widely practiced and the efficacy of it is generally accepted in the dermatology community. Lasers can cause localized damaged by selectively heating dark target matter or melanin in your skin, in the area that causes hair growth (follicle) at the same time not heating the rest of the skin. Laser works best with dark, coarse hair and light skin dark hair combinations are ideal with new lasers are now available to target darker skin and darker hair. This technique is widely popular because of its speed and efficacy although the efficacy is dependent on the operator and laser technology used during the session. It usually takes 3-8 treatments suggested 8-12 weeks apart and can require touch ups. The major cons to this are the cost and side effects. Some normal side effects can by hypo or hyper-pigmentation (which can be permanent), swelling, burning, itching, and redness. For some it works like magic and for others, no results at all.

Flickr User: wander.lust

Before making any decisions and spending thousands of dollars on hair removal, your best bet is to weigh your options and make the best decision for you. There are also alternative options like creams and at home hair removal treatments. One of my favorite new toys to play with is the Silk’n SensEpil Home Hair removal Device. It’s FDA approved, effective, and allows you to get the same laser hair treatments normally performed at your dermatologist’s office in your comfort zone at home. Less hassle and less costly. Do your research and take the plunge. You’ll be bikini ready in no time.

What kind of hair removal techniques are you a fan of?

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