Sunday, February 21, 2010

"Grow and Glow" Organic Skin Care Giveaway


How do you handle the funny tell-tales on soon to be moms? Some say, if you are extremely glowing or you are having an impeccable aura your child would certainly be female, the funny thing though, is what if someone told you, “perhaps, you will be having a boy”, a.k.a “excuse me, but you look terrible”. Yes, someone said that to me, and it directly equates to the latter part. Staying beautiful while you are “on the way” is challenging, your hair treatments will surely be postponed for at least a year. Your nail care, well, just be contented with the sufficient help from the calcium that we are taking. Nail polishing is not really a good idea on pregnant women, from mothers to doctors same old advise, “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure”, for some long lasting nail polish includes formaldehyde, which could really be harmful due to its fume and skin absorption. Read more and participate in this giveaway, click here.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Breakthrough: Seaweed extract helps to reduce wrinkles and improve skin in general.

What do we know about Seaweed extract often used in skin care? Seaweed is also kows as Spirulina, green, red, brown, blue algae and kelp. Seaweed is packed with vitamins, minerals, trace elements, and amino acids that are essential in maintaining healthy and youthful skin. This natural marine wonder helps slow the aging skin process while protecting it from the harsh environmental elements in the air and water. Essential vitamins include: A1, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, E, K, pantothenic acid, folic acid, and niacin. As well as being rich with antioxidants such as beta-carotene and over 60 trace elements that include potassium, calcium, iodine, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc and manganese, seaweed is a major source of B12. Selenium and ascorbic acid protects the skin from damaging free radicals. Organic Iodine found in seaweed increases metabolism. Seaweed also contains fatty acids to combat skin irritation and inflammation. Clinical trials have shown the ingredient to drastically reduce wrinkles and improve skin appearance. Both in vivo and in vitro tests were carried out on the ingredient, which was specifically developed for use in anti-ageing skin care applications. Targets glycation and preserves skin’s natural collagen In in-vitro tests, the ingredient was shown to inhibit skin degrading enzymes and the glycation process. Glycation is triggered when the naturally occurring sugar molecules in the skin bond to a protein or lipid molecule without the controlling action of an enzyme. The resulting glycation process impairs the functioning of biomolecules, which weakens the skin structure at a cellular level, leading to a less firm surface and a greater tendency towards wrinkling. In addition, it inhibits elastase and collagenase, two enzymes linked to the break down of the structural proteins elastin and collagen. Seaweed improves skin appearance and proves to be effective in reducing skin aging, particularly in white Caucasian women, studies show. Subjects applied a formulation, at one per cent twice a day for 12 weeks, which resulted in a 9.45 per cent decrease in wrinkle depth. Expert grading carried out at the end of the study showed skin tone, firmness, and elasticity, showed an improvement of 67.6 per cent. Similarly, overall skin appearance improved 68.4 per cent. The expert grading also reported a 92.1 per cent improvement in skin dryness and roughness.
Seaweed is a part of formulation of Sweetsation Therapy's Aqua*Tica Organic Botanical Night Cream.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Cellulite and it's cure


Cellulite is a persistent problem among many women. The ripping fat that gets deposited at your bum is called cellulite and is caused by the deposition of the fat cells in the epidermis. Cellulite is strictly genetics and hence whatever you do they are sure to return. In fact there is no permanent cure for cellulite. Often you will see fat people without cellulite and often many thin and slim figured girls have cellulite deposits at their bums. There are two ways to fight it one is the change in lifestyle and the other is the external surgery and hormone treatment. Food Habit: The first step you can take to reduce cellulite is to improve your lifestyle and cut down on the fatty junk food and alcohol consumption. In this way you will reduce the chance of more fat cells getting deposited at the tights. Fibre: Fibre is one of the cleansers of the body. They absorb harmful toxins and cleanse the whole system. They help in the circulation and improve skin texture which will help you to fight cellulite. Water: Drink more water to keep the skin hydrated. When the skin is hydrated it retains its elasticity and also the damage mechanism effect also becomes quite effective. This may in turn will help in the rippling effect of the skin. Exercise: Cardio vascular exercise is a must in order to burn out the fat cells. To target the particular bum region do a lot of leg presses, squats, jogging, walking also help in the reduction of cellulite to a long extent. Mesotherapy: It is another process of surgery to reduce cellulite by injecting a chemical solution in order to get rid of the fat bands. They may cause bruising and inflammation and is also not permanent. Hormone Therapy: Cellulite is directly influenced by the hormones like estrogen, insulin, prolactin etc. In certain cases hormone therapy may prove to be quite effective. Deep tissue massage works too. But you have to do it on a regular basis to keep cells moving and reducing it's storage. ( short cut to exercise in a way) Skin QR Organics offers a short cut to that (see picture) by offering a small device that can be operated with one hand and on any part of the body to provide that deep tissue ironing on daily basis. For more information click here.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Best Moisturizers with SPF , updated TOP 10 report.


EWG's analysis shows that many moisturizers don't give long-lasting, broad-spectrum protection. Choose from among EWG's top rated products to get the most from your moisturizer. And match the SPF strength with your expected UV exposure to avoid spreading unnecessarily large amounts of sunscreen chemicals on your skin. EWG has just released the latest report and recommendations of the best Moisturizers with SPF on the market. And we are pleased to report that yours truly, is one of the Top 10. Sun*Si'Belle SPF 50 and other 2 SPF 30 take the cake in TOP 10.

V-Day Giveaway. We have a winner.


Congratulations to Clarissa, she is the winner of our first major giveaway this 2010 year. Thank you everyone for participating. When a giveaway is over I always feel bad that I can't make it so everyone wins. Guilt. Being a mother "guilt" is pretty much my permanent state of mind, it's just the way it is. So by now I would hope I would get used to it. But I am not.
I know some of you have actually went ahead and purchased some of the limited edition products, without even waiting to see who wins. And that was a great decision, since now we are almost out of stock. Please let us know how you liked the products so we can decide whether to add them to the line permanently.
Have a Sweetsation Day!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Custom Invitations and Announcements. Introducing Little Ladybug Designs.


I've been looking through a lot of sites searching for the perfect cards for my family to use for different types of events. I used to use Vistaprint, but they offer such a generic and well, somewhat boring, designs (no offense Vistaprint). And needless to mention I was looking for a deal too, every penny counts these days.

So eventually, I've found this company that I got so excited about that I can't not to share it with everyone. They offer literally hundreds of custom print products and designs for a lot of family life events. It's Little Ladybug Designs.

Can you imagine, your family and friends have been waiting nine long months for the arrival of your new born and will be anxiously waiting to see how the new baby looks. Does she have your nose? or Does he have his daddy's eyes? These questions make it even more important to send out a birth announcement card to each family member and friend that have called you every day for NINE MONTHS to find out if you have had the baby yet.


They specialize in custom announcements of various kinds, invitations, and more for any occasion. Even baby Valentine's Day cards, how sweet.

Announce the birth of your baby with custom birth announcements, send a unique birthday invitation with one of their many themes, and send a holiday greeting with a custom holiday photo card. Little Ladybug Designs also offers mommy calling cards, personalized children's wall art, wedding invitations, and much more. If you don't see what you are looking for Little Ladybug Designs will create a custom design for you(!!!) Little Ladybug Designs offers a variety paper choices and paper sizes including recycled matte card stock to help the environment. I love Eco friendly companies. And what I also love that Little Ladybug Designs is owned by a mom. And what is really amazing is, the prices are very reasonable for all the custom work that is available.

Check out this company, you will be impressed, as I am.

Monday, February 8, 2010

One Exercise That Works All Your Face Muscles

When facials and cosmetics prove ineffective and surgery seems out of budget, exercising your face muscles is the best way to avoid and treat the formation of wrinkles and fine lines.

Regularly exercising your face muscles will tone up the underlying support structure and thus you will see a decrease in the number of wrinkles on your face. Also the added benefit is that the increased blood flow, due to exercise, results in a natural glow on your skin.

Here’s a small facial excise routine that will take nearly ten minutes of your time every day to tone up your face muscles.

1. Begin by scrunching your face so that lots of wrinkles can be seen all over your face including your forehead, the eye region, the cheeks and the nose. Keep your mouth and eyes tightly clenched all through this phase of the exercise. Hold in this position for about ten seconds.

2. Next do exactly the opposite and open your eyes and mouth wide to stretch all the muscles on your face.

3. Relax your face muscles and pout your lips, and try moving your pouted lips from left to right to you feel the pressure on your cheeks. Repeat this about five times on each side and then let your face muscles loose.

4. Next extend your chin till you feel all the muscles in your neck tightened up and stretched. Finally it’s time to grin, so grin with your lips completely stretched and ensure that none of your teeth show through your tightly pursed lips.

In the beginning, you can start off by repeating this whole exercise about five times and slowly when you’ve mastered the movements try completing twenty repetitions of this exercise, in one go, every day. This one single exercise, which consists of multiple moves, exercises nearly every muscle of the face. So you won’t needs to follow three or four different exercises for different muscles of the face.

Lemon For Your Skin

Sometimes we become so very oversensitive about our skin that we often forget that to take good care of the skin we do not need to burn a hole in our pocket.

Sometimes ordinary fruits and vegetables that are available cheaply in the market are quite beneficial for the skin like lemon.

It is perhaps one fruit that is consumed regularly in households directly and added as secondary tough ups in many dishes to enhance their flavour. However apart from the edible qualities lemon has also several usages for the skin. To know more read on:

To Lighten the skin:

Lemon juice has a strong astringent in it that has proven effects on the skin specially in the lightening of the skin. If the elbow region becomes darkened then mix lemon juice and sugar and rub gently over the area till the sugar granules dissolve. Repeat this thrice every week and you will see the darkness will lighten.

The lips also tend to get darker due to nicotine stains for the chain smokers. Apply lemon juice and leave it on the lips overnight and within 15 days you will see that the dark patches are lightened slowly.

For Hair:

The astringent action along with Vitamin C present in lemon juice also improve hair quality and also give shine to the hair. After washing your hair you can mix 1 part lemon juice with 10 part water and apply on the hair. D not wash and leave it. You can also mix the juice with tea liquor and after washing leave it on the hair.

For Skin:

Those of you who have oily skin and lot of pimples or want to use a natural toner can use lemon juice. You can use lemon juice mixed with your face pack and apply on the skin. You can also use grated lemon skin , on your skin for rejuvenating freshness after bath, and also before bath.

No Excuses - Wear A Sunscreen


Beauty professionals and doctors have always been emphasizing on the importance of wearing a sunscreen. And if you still haven’t made it a habit to applying sunscreen to your skin on an every day basis, then it’s high time now that you better start listening to these people and get into this skin saving habit. Quite likely, you must be aware that global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer is making us more and more vulnerable to the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. And using a sunscreen is a small step that you can take to guard your skin against the detrimental effects of these harmful ultraviolet rays. The big bundle of benefits You obviously know that sunscreen helps prevent tanning, but then that’s not all that it does for your skin. Sunscreens also help in warding away aging signs and other skin related problems such as pigmentation. Sun exposure is the major root cause for most skin problems, because the UV radiations that the sun rays carry damage the natural collagen structure, which supports the skin. Who’s at risk It is a major misconception, that sunscreen needs to be worn only when you go outside. The harmful ultraviolet rays can reach almost anywhere, even where the sun rays do not reach, so even if you spend most of your time indoors you are still susceptible to damage from these rays. What products are good for you? The brand name of the sunscreen doesn’t matter, because all that matters is its sun protection ability. There are different types of sunscreens available, and your choice should ideally be based on your age factor and kind of lifestyle that you have. Apart from this you must keep in mind your skin type, because with oily skin you would definitely be better off using an oil free sunscreen. Vitamin enriched sunscreens are also available, and they seem quite helpful in certain skin conditions such as hyper pigmentation and acne. The most important thing that you need to be focusing on is the sun protection factor, by which we judge the strength of a sunscreen. For people who spend most of their time indoors, a sunscreen with an SPF 15 is perfectly fine, however for those who spend most of the time out in the sun the SPF count should be at least 30 or more. Still need help? EWG and Skin Deep has done the research for you. Click the link below to see TOP 10 best moisturizers with sunscreen, recommended by EWG.


Acne: The Little Bits That Can Help

Acne breakouts are common during teenage, however, in some cases they may continue till much later. Apart from causing pain and irritation these break outs can have a negative effect on one’s self confidence and self esteem.

Even though acne doesn’t pose any serious threat to your physical health, it is still needed that you treat it properly to preserve your aesthetics.

Behind the scene

Underneath our skin are present the subcutaneous glands which produce sebum, which is the natural oil of the skin. However, when the pores of the skin get clogged, these glands become inflamed. The reasons for the blocking of these pores can be many ranging from poor skin hygiene to increased stress levels, or from use of steroids to a hormonal imbalance.

Precaution to prevent acne

Whatever be the reason behind the eruption of acne, the one most important habit that will ensure fewer problems is to keep your hands off the affected area. You have to resist all the temptations to scratch the affected area and most importantly the temptation to puncture the pustules. Every fresh breakout will take its own time to subside, but rubbing, scratching or puncturing them will just add onto your problems and make the healing process longer while also increasing the likelihood of some scars remaining behind.

The affected areas

In most cases it is the face and the forehead which suffer from acne breakouts. However, in some chronic cases the problem may extend to the upper back and the chest region too. On the face, the forehead, chin, upper lip and outer cheeks are the most susceptible to acne outbreaks.

The likely treatments

There are several treatments that you can choose from, ranging from completely natural homemade face packs to medical and surgical procedures. If the problem isn’t quite severe, some over the counter medication and a change in one’s eating and skin care routines should be enough to counter the problem. However, if the problem is deep rooted then you may need the assistance of a medical practitioner or a cosmetologist to design and effect the treatment.

Don’t Run For Cheap Cosmetics

The effectiveness of any beauty product depends solely on the ingredients that have been used in its production. So if you go lurking behind cheap cosmetics, how can you expect them to deliver good results?

If a company is going to sell its beauty and skin care products at cheap prices, it’s obvious that it is compromising on the quality of ingredients.

These discounted and cheap beauty products may not just be ineffective because of their inferior ingredients, but these may also prove detrimental at times. Some of these cheaper ingredients may even be toxic, and though these may not show any negative effects within the first few weeks of usage, over the longer run these are sure to leave you with some serious skin problems and side effects.

Here are some of the problems that you may face because of using cheap cosmetics and beauty products.

Your skin may get dehydrated

The complex compounds and harsh chemicals contained in these cheap beauty products, rob the moisture from your skin, leaving it dry and dehydrated. Using such products even for a few days may leave your skin looking dull. And if you still continue to use these products, very soon wrinkles and fine lines may start developing on your skin.

They may show reactions on your skin

It’s not very unlikely that you may experience irritation, allergy, inflammation and blemishes, if you choose to apply cheap beauty products to your skin. As we mentioned earlier, these products may contain a lot of harsh chemicals which may not suit your skin.

While some of the reactions such as rashes, inflammation and irritation are temporary, and may disappear once you stop using the particular product, some other reactions like blemishes and scars can become permanent and you may have to live with them for the rest of your life.

The Uses Of Acai Berry To Fight Aging

If you have heard the name Acai Berry for the first time, then do not fret. It is an extremely common ingredient used in your daily cream, cosmetics, moisturizers and tablets.

Still confused about Acai Berry? Well – learn more about it here.

Acai berry is actually a kind of fruit. It belongs to the family of grapes. In fact, just like grapes, Acai berries too have a purplish color and are pulpy.

Acai Berry is mainly found in Peru and Brazil. Slowly but steadily, the acai berries are making their presence felt in various parts of the world. Acai berry is known to have multiple benefits. A lot of research has been done on this to develop its various advantages. Acai berry is known to be beneficial in case of fighting age problems. Factors like pollution and stress end up robbing us off our natural youthful beauty.

As a result, we end up having various medicines and opting for various anti-aging creams. Acai berry has a dose of oxidants in them that help to combat aging issues.

Acai Berry is known to contain certain free radicals that are extremely crucial to combat the various signs and after effect of aging. Who does not want to retain their youthfulness forever? All of us want to- right? Acai Berry helps in doing just that. No wonder, Acai Berry is found in various anti-wrinkle and anti-aging creams and moisturizers.

There are various natural poly nutrients available in Acai Berry. These poly nutrients are also available in various fruits and vegetables. On consumption of these poly nutrients, our body releases certain radicals that help to diminish the damage caused to our skin.

However, beware of unscrupulous practices adopted by people selling Acai Berry. It is important to give extra importance while purchasing Acai berry. If you need to buy, only buy from authentic sources.

A Home Spa Feel

A spa experience is a great one and a great way to pamper yourself. If you want to have the same experience at home you can create your own home spa. Only thing, it would need a little planning and programming on your part .

If you are convinced about the experience you can provide, why not call in a few friends and enjoy the experience together? Won’t that be fun?

First, you can sit together and discuss the kind of things you must need at the spa. That would include all the bath oils, essential oils, scrubs, perfumed candles, body scrubs and body packs, sheets and towels and arrangements for even a manicure and a pedicure.

When you have all those ready and at hand start feeling good about enjoying a real spa experience at home soon.

You can next plan some healthy meals like the omelette with an egg white, and some chicken pieces friend with boiled vegetables for lunch. You could add some salad for dinner. Food could be a part of your spa at home to add to the verve and energy.

Walking round the neighborhood, taking a bike ride to the gym or watching a DVD for exercise could be interesting. The day could start with some fruits while you go for the exercise. You can walk as much at is necessary for you.

A body scrub and bath is an easy treatment at the spa. You can do this in the morning, take some rest and then take a facial massage. The nails of hands and feet can be done.

At the home spa there is always a larger scope to meditate. You do not have to try and meditate. You can sit for some time, be quiet and feel the peace within. That would help you to meditate better.

At some Spa you can listen to some talks on wellness and health and at your home spa you can take some time out and read something interesting, a health or a beauty book or magazine perhaps.

You should feel and look good after you come out of the spa. There should be that feeling of warmth and love around you and on your mind. At the end of the Spa treatment you should feel refreshed and welcome your family with a lot of love and warmth.

Papaya And Peach For Healthy Skin

If you are looking to find a natural product that could help to moisturize the skin and also hydrate it fully, you can use peach fruit. It acts as a natural emollient.

Peach is supposed to be used in many products of skin care. Peach softens the skin and since it is a natural product, it is much better than the over the counter skin care products. It also imparts a rich glow to the skin.

The peach is rich in minerals and it has all the necessary anti oxidants as well. It is used for all problems of the skin and for all types of topical treatments.

You can as well prepare a homemade facial mask for skin hydration purposes. This pack is used for toning and moisturizing purposes. You can use the peach to make it into a puree.

The mixture can be mixed with some lemon juice and also some ripe mashed papaya. When you have a thick rich paste of the mixture, you have to apply the same to the face and keep for some time. It can be washed off with some rose water and then left to dry.

Apart from peach another skin care natural product is the papaya. Use some ripe mashed papaya after pealing off its skin. You can then make a pulp out of the same. Some curd can be added. You can also use some drops of honey. Mix the paste thoroughly and then apply on face and all other parts of the body that remain exposed. Let dry and then wash off gently.

These are wonderful home made packs with absolutely no side effects. These are rich in anti oxidants and equally wonderful when applied to the face. This brings to the face an ethereal glow and adds that extra sheen to the skin. Natural skin care products are the best.

Some products are bottled up and labeled as natural products but these are best when home made. It is easier made straight out of kitchen. You can have it and apply it to get the required hydration and softening that works deep within. Go for it.

You would be happy at the end of the day!

Is Your Skin Aging Too Fast

Most of the people pay out worth for skin cosmetics or lotions that helps you to refresh aging skin but always fails to fulfill their expectations or makes the condition more worst.

These following mentioned points are very useful to boost your skin health and also has possibilities to get rid the aging problem by natural remedies. Here are some positive natural ways to get healthy skin and avoid wrinkles and dull skin mentioned below.

The very first step to get the healthy skin is to consume the nutritious diet that contains all the important nutrients in equal ratio. This article also lay out the some important foods that are beneficial for you skin such as almonds, soybeans, oatmeal, barley, dry beans, citrus fruits, cereals, sprouts and seeds. These are very profitable for your skin and provide you the glowing skin.

Try to avoid or eliminate the sugar completely. I know it is very difficult to remove sugar completely from your diet. Even we know that whole grains, fruits and vegetables changes into glucose when digested. But try to avoid the sugar.

Lemon is ver valuable and it is also known as the anti-aging treatment. Apply the some drops of the lemon juice on the face. It is very useful to erase the blemishes and age spots.

Vitamin E is also very profitable for aging problem and it is also known as the excellent remedy for anti-aging. If you also have the aging patches or blemishes then you are recommending applying the vitamin E oil, it helps you to fade the patches.

You can also apply the paste of turmeric and sugarcane juice on to the face. It helps you to avoid the wrinkles and gives you the glowing skin.

You can also apply the milk extracts from the raw coconut; this will helps you to avoid the wrinkles and also gives you the glowing skin.

Take a small piece of pineapple and rub on to the face and leave this juice till it gets dry and wash your face. This home remedy helps you to avoid the wrinkles.

How To Get Clear Skin

These days’ people like to change with fashion because they want to appear exceptionally different and also feel young always with fair and glowing skin.

There are various products or cosmetics are available in the market that challenges to provide the clear and glowing skin but on the other hand, prolonged use of cosmetics can damage the skin complexion.

Some cosmetics consists some harmful or toxins chemicals that can badly effect the skin or also cause the irritation to the skin, eyes and also other parts of the body. For example lipsticks often touch the tongue and goes to the stomach. If it consists of harmful materials then it can show the adverse effects on the digestive system.

There are various creams and solutions which helps you to provide the clear skin but try to avoid the excess usage of chemical treatments on the skin. This article lay out the some tips to get the clear skin or free from any acne, blemishes or pimples. Here are some natural ways to get clear and gorgeous skin mentioned below.

How to Get Clear Skin Naturally

It is very important to wash your face regularly before get into the bed. So that, your skin flushes out all the pollutants that you carried from the whole day and after washing, your skin can breathe out.

Always covered your face when you are in direct sun, it helps you to avoid the tanning which is caused by harmful rays of sun. Exercises are very essential because it helps you to give glowing and beautiful healthy skin and also very useful to repair the damaged skin.

It is also important to consume the water as much as you can in a day. It helps you to flush out the infections from the body through the urine. Consume at least 8 to 10 glass in a day. It also helps you to improve the quality of the skin and gives you glowing skin.

Also use the toners, cleansing lotions and natural extracts moisturizers and also give time to time facial especially mask facial is very beneficial for your skin. All these tips help you to give you clear, amazing and glowing skin.

Is infant massage beneficial for my baby?

Giving your baby a full-body oil massage before bathing, is very beneficial to the kid. And to give your baby a little message, you needn’t be a professional masseur. Baby massage techniques are easy to learn, and there is ample information on the internet, supplemented with photos and videos, to help the parents to learn infant massage techniques. But for now we will be talking about how beneficial infant body massage is.

Improved blood circulation

Since the baby has to keep on lying all day, and cannot be made to exercise, giving him a body massage will help in improving his blood circulation. There is no need to emphasize on how important good blood circulation is to keep a person in good health, because we all know it, already. As the blood flow increases to the limbs, you will see that your baby’s growth and development will speed up. And besides the overall improvement you may see in your child’s health, because of regular body massage, one major benefit is that the infant will not develop bed sores and diaper rashes.

Distressing and relaxation

Giving your infant a body massage will make him more relaxed and happier. Just like adults, infants too experience stress, and infant massage may be very helpful in de-stressing the baby and making him more cheerful and relaxed. It is seen that after a massage the babies drift into sleep very easily, and they usually enjoy a deep and peaceful sleep. It is also believed that infants who are given body massage regularly, experience colic and gastric problems less frequently.

Soft and supple skin

Regular massage will make your infants skin soft and supple. Also the infant is less likely to face skin problems like rashes and dry patchy skin.

Builds a bond

Giving your infant a body massage is a nice way to interact with your baby on a one to one basis and to strengthen the bond between the two of you. This daily interaction will make the baby more familiar with your touch and it certainly is a great way to build a deeper and a more intense bond between you and your baby.

Natural Ways to Cure Melasma

Melasma is a skin condition, wherein uneven distribution of the melanin skin pigment, causes brown spots to appear on the facial skin. Although, there is no evident reason, but somehow women with brownish skin tone are more prone to getting affected by Melasma. The spots usually become more and more prominent, with over exposure to sun rays. In fact, in most cases over exposure to UV radiation is the main reason for the appearance of these spots. In other cases, pregnancy, hormonal imbalance, undergoing hormonal replacement therapy and consuming birth control pills have been sighted as the causing factors. In most cases the condition may subside on its own, however it’s still better to make some extra effort to get rid of the spots as early as possible.

Here are three completely natural treatment to cure Melasma.

Aloe Vera gel
Aloe Vera contains a magical substance called MPS, which is quite effective in lightening the brown spots and making them to completely disappear with a few days. Aloe vera gel is available at most health stores, and isn’t very expensive. It is best applied in the evening before going to sleep, and when applying it to the face skin, let it get absorbed into the skin by massaging it in a circular manner using your finger tips.

Exfoliate with oatmeal
Take some raw oatmeal and mix it in about half a cup of sold milk, and rub this mixture all over your face. Oatmeal is a natural exfoliating agent and will help in removing the outer layer of skin which has turned brown. After rubbing it on the face skin, just leave it on the skin for about 20 minutes and then wash off with warm water.

Lighten the spots with turmeric
Mix some turmeric powder in rose water to form a thick paste, and leave it on your skin for about half an hour. Turmeric is rich in antioxidants which help in repairing the oxidative damage. Also turmeric has some skin lightening properties which will make the dark brown patches less visible.

Slow Down the Ageing Process

It doesn’t matter whether you are still in your twenties or thirties, the sooner you get conscious about protecting your body form aging, the better it is. It’s always good to get on to proper eating and regular exercising habits, as early in life as possible, because making changes after 50, when health problems may already have started doesn’t help much. Getting conscious about your life today will ensure a smoother journey through the twilight years of your life. Here are some steps that will help you in retarding the aging process of your body and in helping you to lead a life full of energy and vitality till the very end.

Limit the junk
Refined carbohydrates, carbonated beverages, alcohol and Trans fats, are best had within limits, because the toxins produced by these things have a degenerative effect on our cellular structure. There are also a host of other health problems which arise due to the consumption of such foods. The fats will choke your arteries, the refined carbohydrates will make you obese, the alcohol will damage your brain cells and sodas will make your bones brittle. So, give up all these damaging foods for healthier foods like whole grains, dairy, fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and organic foods.

Keep the machinery fine tuned
Just like your car begins to rust if left unused, your body too begins deteriorating if you don’t keep it mobile. You need to exercise, to improve blood circulation, to keep the glands working, to open up skin pores and to keep the muscles well toned, only then can you expect to have a pain and problem less, future. Healthy blood circulation will keep your arteries clean and all the organs of the body well nourished. So get onto some exercise regimen and make sure you set aside at least 4-5 hours a week, only for exercising.
Exercise is not just beneficial for physical health but also for your mental health, and there are several physical activities which are helpful in developing cognitive abilities. Besides physical activates, think about keeping you mind in good health by doing some metal exercises such as playing crosswords or sudoku. Pick up some challenging mental tasks and you are least likely to face the problem of memory loss as you grow older.

Want a sexy body?

Sex and love is a game of attraction, and you can’t expect to get many dates, and that too good ones, if you don’t look sexy. For the face you can go the easy way and use some cosmetics to add in a sexy touch. But looking sexy isn’t just about working on your face or your clothing, because what makes you really sexy is your body. And turning your body into a sexy one is one hard job, although not unachievable.

A woman may not be great looking, but if she has long and slender legs, a slim waistline, snug breasts and visible collar bones, she is sure to make a lot of heads turn. Most men just can’t ignore women with good bodies.

Forget dieting

Dieting can be an option to slimming down, but remember that being all skin and bones isn’t counted as sexy. What you need is a well toned body with ample bulk around where it is needed, that is the breasts and the buttocks. Simply sticking to dieting will result in loosing fat all over, including loosing on the breasts. And worst of all, dieting takes away the glow from your skin.
Exercising is the answer

If you seriously want a well toned and sexy body, exercising is the only way to go. Eat healthy, don’t cut down too much on your food, and stick to a regular workout. Here are the areas that you need to target, to achieve a sexy body.

• To trim down your waist get on to the treadmill, and if you’re willing for more try crunches to add more definition to your mid line.

• To tone up the leg muscles and the buttocks, try the elliptical trainer and squats.

• For well toned and larger breasts, nothing will work as good as the bench press. You don’t have to pick up heavy weights, like men, to develop your breasts. Even mild weights, something around ten pounds, is quite enough. Alternatively inclined pushups can also help. The idea is to tone up the underlying chest muscles which support the breasts, because breasts do not have any muscles and there is no way to work them out.

• For better shoulder definition and to make your collar bones prominent, try shoulder rows and shoulder press.

So if you’re serious about turning your body into a sexy body, then you must have understood by now that exercising is the only way out.

Foods to Fight Sun Damage

With spring round the corner, you are perhaps getting ready for the sunny days ahead. Stocking up on sunscreens is defiantly unavoidable to prevent sun damage; however your external sun protection may not be enough. You need to think about natural ways to build an internal sun defense system, which lets you have as much fun, in the sun, as you desire, without worrying about the damage, the sun’s rays may cause to your skin. There are several antioxidants found in some foods which are known to fight against sun damage. And here’s how you can get some internal sun protection, with foods.

Polyphenols

Green tea is rich in Polyphenols, a type of antioxidant, which helps in reducing the impact of UV radiation damage. There are even creams and lotions containing green tea extract, but the best way to get the sun protection benefits of green tea is to drink two or three cups of green tea every day. And for summers, you can always switch over to the iced version, instead of the regular hot tea.

Omega 3 fatty acids

Most of you may know of omega 3 as heart healthy fatty acids, but these are also vital to your skin health. EPA, which is a sub type of omega 3 fatty acid, keeps you safer in the sun by slowing down the burning of the skin by the sun rays. These fatty acids are also believed to prevent skin cancer. So, now you have more than one reason to feast on salmon, sardines and flax seed, all of which are rich sources of omega 3 fatty acids.

Lycopene

This magical nutrient can be found in most of the deep red vegetables and fruits like, tomatoes, red bell peppers and watermelon. Lycopene fights free radical damage and UV radiation damage.

Vitamin C

Get going with berries, oranges, peaches and guavas this spring, to prevent dark spots from sun damage. Also, vitamin C has a good anti-inflammatory effect which will keep most of the skin inflammation problems at bay.

Sunscreen: is still your skin’s best friend.

No matter how old or young we are, we all love the sun and its warm golden rays, that makes us fee good, but most of us already know that sun rays are the worst enemy of our skin and cause irreversible damage in the long run. Overexposure to the sun speeds up aging of the skin and the development of age spots, wrinkles and freckles. You’ve heard this advice a million times, but there is simply just no way around, but to apply sunscreen lotion. There is a wide range of face and body lotions of various degree of protection and various sun shielding ingredients in them. For true sun protection, nothing less than SPF 30 is advisable, because only with a SPF 30 you can expect to get 6-8 hours of sun protection. And for a full day protection you might want to consider something with an SPF count of 50-60. Having said that it is still recommended to reapply sunscreen every 2-3 hours if you're engaged into sports that make you sweat, as it may cause removal of sunscreen. Most women inclined to think that they have to apply sunscreen only during the summer months, but you must understand that the sun rays remain the same strength all year through, even though they don't feel hot and burning during the cold time. The winter sun is as damaging as the summer sun, so you just can’t afford to skip out on the sunscreen in the winter, just to put to waste all your beauty efforts during summer.
Now speaking of the sunscreen choices. There are many wonderful products on the market. And there are just as many of the ones I would suggest to avoid. This is where I would recommend to do some research and find the one you're comfortable with. Cheap is not necessarily "a great find" as it may contain harmful chemicals, like oxybenzone. 90% of popular sun defense products contain it, unfortunately. There is another issue has been surfacing lately. It's the topic of nano particles, specifically targeting Titanium and Zinc as the leading natural sunscreen ingredients . Some sources claim that Titanium Dioxide is a photoactivator that can react with other sunscreen chemicals and potentiate their free radical production or their cancer forming abilities. Looking deeper into the issue it becomes pretty evident that the various "tidbits" of this information on the internet seem to loop amongst each other, referring to the same body of articles, and then using each other's sites as sources of reference. Back and forth. In essence the same thing is being said without any new information or research, just more people are quoting each other from the same document and causing a lot of hysteria. Research and testing on lab animals (rats) shows that after daily exposure to nano particles of Titanuim Dioxide for 2-4 weeks, it caused photocatalisys within the cell and DNA damage. When Titanium Dioxide particles are uncoated and micronized (nano), particles can penetrate the skin through pores as well as be inhaled (in powder form) may causing the damage. Coarse or fine particles of titanium dioxide (NON-NANO) are safe and effective at deflecting and absorbing UV light, protecting the skin, as they do not penetrate, but consumers should avoid using products with micronized mineral pigments, either in sunscreens or color cosmetics.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Kidorable Review and Giveaway

In 1997, Kidorable sprung from the minds and hearts of Liping and Jonathan Domsky. They knew that "the world needed someone to create children's apparel and accessories that are both functional and fun. We can do that." That was when Kidorable was conceived. Starting with lions, cats and bears manifested as umbrellas and hangers, Kidorable generated enough sales during it's first year to break even and plant their seeds throughout the land, so to speak. The following year the sales grew even more and every year since a new product line or style debuted. Children and their parents absolutely love Kidorable and all of the products that they have to offer. Today Kidorable is a striking presence, not just in stores but across the vast landscape of the children's apparel and accessories industry.


Kidorable delights both children and the adults who love them by transforming everyday, functional kids accessories into objects that excite their imaginations and enrich their lives at play. From rainwear to backpacks to towels, Kidorable speaks to the precious spirit of childhood. To check out more information and to see all the great products that Kidorable has to offer, head on over HERE. Also, check out the Kidorable Birthday Club, sign up your kids to be able to receive a special free gift on their birthday.
This GIVEAWAY IS FOR THE CHILD'S UMBRELLA OF YOUR CHOICE. TO PARTICIPATE PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

GIVEAWAY Otter Love is in the Air (Smells Like Troll Spirit!) - with Sweetsation products


Whoever said warts weren’t romantic? Diaper Troll is nothing if not romantic. There wouldn’t be four Troll offspring if she weren’t a sucker for amorĂ©. And so to celebrate the holiday which (let’s face it) frequently results in the need for diapers, she is spreading some Otter Love by announcing the First Ever Otter Babies Valentine Giveaway!

What every She-Troll needs:

  • A Booroi wipes bag filled with:
  • Valentine Rainbow Wipes in crimson and chocolate bamboo velour and natural organic cotton sherpa
  • LuSa organic goat’s milk soap
  • Scrumptious organic bath and body treats from Sweetsation Therapy that nourish your body and soul and are safe for mom and baby (and cloth diapers)!

How to enter: Follow this link.