The Right Vitamins for Hair Growth Can Grow Hair Longer!

Posted by Allykat on December 14th, 2011

Can vitamins for hair growth really grow your hair long? Many people want long, beautiful, healthy hair. Unfortunately not everyone can grow their hair long. But you can make sure your hair is as healthy as can be. Having healthy hair may also help it to grow longer. Healthy hair looks more beautiful too, you can see the difference when it comes to luxurious, shiny, locks over dull, lifeless locks. In order to get healthy hair you have to treat it right and take vitamins.

If you want, long, healthy, beautiful hair then you have to make sure you are getting all the recommended amount of vitamins daily. Vitamins make you more healthy on the inside and out. So don’t just take vitamins for hair growth, take them for your health. Doctors always tell you to get the recommended amount of vitamins daily, so listen to doctor’s orders, because you will see the benefits in your skin, nails, and hair. So take care of your body, eat healthy, exercise, and take your vitamins. Get plenty of fruit and vegetables everyday. If you look at a horse that gets fed well, with plenty of vitamins, compared to a horse that does not get vitamins you can see the difference in their manes. The horse that is well cared for has a very shiny beautiful mane. Well, it is the same with humans, the better you take care of yourself, the better your hair will look.

Now the question is, can you really get the recommended amount of vitamins from food alone? This is debatable. When I was in college I took a health class and I had two health teachers, because one teacher had to quit for a family emergency. One teacher said you can’t and the other said you can, so you can imagine my confusion. However, I agreed with my first teacher who said you cannot gain all the vitamins that you need everyday from food alone. Because you would have to eat so many apples and whatnot, just to get the recommended amount of fiber, and so on and so on for every vitamin. You would have to eat way too much food everyday as well. Plus, it’s not like you are going to eat the same everyday. Some days you will splurge and not eat very healthy and that is fine occasionally, but it can affect your hair. Well, when you take your multi-vitamin or hair growth vitamins then you can rest assured that at least you are getting the recommended amount of vitamins daily.

Vitamins for Hair Growth - Fruit

Fruit is Natural Vitamins for Hair Growth

Hair Growth Vitamins for Hair and Nails

You really do not need to take vitamins specifically labeled for hair and nails to get long, healthy hair. There is a lot of marketing out there for natural vitamins for hair growth, but don’t fall for it. Yes, the vitamins may work, but so will just taking a combo of other vitamins, which may be cheaper and better quality. All I am saying is, really do some research before you buy. Check out the ingredients of every bottle of vitamins, make sure the bottle contains the right amount of vitamins you are looking for. Shop around, compare ingredients, and compare prices. Don’t go too cheap either though, because oftentimes you get what you pay for, it is true. If you buy online, make sure you are buying from a reputable site, with an address and telephone number that works. Also, if you are pregnant check with your doctor before taking any type of vitamins. Or if you are on any type of drugs, check with your doctor to make sure the vitamins with not counteract your drugs. It is better safe than sorry, so just check with you doctor.

Some of the best vitamins for hair growth are: Vitamin E, Vitamin B, and Vitamin A. All of these vitamins are excellent antioxidants and they are great for hair growth. We all know how good antioxidants are for you nowadays, so gaining healthy hair from them is just another reason to take them. Vitamin E helps blood to circulate in your body more. When the blood is circulating it stimulates the scalp and muscles, allowing your hair to grow better. You can find vitamin E in avocados, mangoes, tomatoes, and broccoli. Vitamin B is another great vitamin for hair growth. There are many forms of the vitamin B family and they are all important for beautiful hair and skin, your immune system, and cell growth. Vitamin B also increases your energy level, a lack of vitamin B will leave you feeling drained. You can find it in turkey, tuna, potatoes, bananas, and beans. Vitamin A is known for cell growth and maintaining healthy skin. Since, your scalp is skin and that is where you hair grows from, it is important to take vitamin A for hair growth as well. It is found in liver, eggs, spinach, carrots, and sweet potatoes.

You don’t just need to take vitamins for hair growth, you need to treat your hair right as well. Treat your hair like fine silk if you want it to be healthy, long, and beautiful. Hair takes a lot of damages from the environment, styling tools, harsh shampoos, and just the way your handle your hair. Always brush your hair with care. Your hair is like fine silk and if you treat it as such, it will look more and more like beautiful fine silky hair. Never brush your hair when it is wet. Use a wide tooth comb, you may also want to use a detangling spray. The light leave-in conditioner will conditioner your hair and protect it from the sun’s rays, wind, and extreme temperatures. Try not to wash your hair every time you take a shower, skip a day and let your hair’s natural oils condition your hair. Use a deep conditioner mask on your hair weekly. I have written another post about a good hair treatment and some hair care tips as well. Get your hair trimmed regularly to get rid of split ends. Try not to use heat styling tools very often, and try to avoid using too many styling products. Let you hair air dry every once in awhile, let it go wild and free.

You can have the beautiful, healthy, silky hair you have always dreamed of. Now, it may not grow as long as you want, because genetics do play a part, but it can look as healthy and as beautiful as it can be. You just have to make a habit of taking hair growth vitamins. Take vitamins with your breakfast or dinner everyday. Have a healthy body from the inside, be healthy from head to toe. Make sure to treat your hair like fine silk and it will treat you right as well. Love your hair no matter what!

A Good Hair Treatment Will Make Your Hair Shiny and Soft

Posted by Allykat on October 20th, 2011

There are so many different types of hair treatments out there, that it can be overwhelming choosing just one. Are you a hair product junkie? It can be tempting to want to try all of the products out there, and that is fine, but it is also fine to use the same product over and over, if it works. Being a product junkie can be fun, as long as you can justify the expense on your wallet. Taking care of yourself is important and your hair is a big part of that. So make sure you are using the right hair products for your hair.

When it comes to finding the right hair product, I like to go by ingredients. Not all products have the best ingredients, so I tend to stick to my favorite hair products. Using a moisturizing hair treatment once a week is very important for healthy hair. Deep conditioning treatments will add moisture back into your hair. Leave the conditioner on for about 20 minutes and wear a shower cap to keep the heat in while you wait. Waiting 20 minutes will really moisturize your hair and make it silky soft. A keratin protein hair treatment, will really help to repair damaged hair, but use a deep conditioning treatment as well. Too much protein can be too much of a good thing, it can actually cause dry, brittle hair. So balance the protein with conditioning, it depends on your hair, but a protein treatment once a month is good. Always use a conditioning treatment after a protein treatment too. Aphogee 2 minute or 2 step reconstructor are excellent ones to try.

Your hair type will determine the type of hair treatment you need. I have fine straight hair, so I will use products for fine hair or even normal hair. If you have curly hair, then you hair oftentimes will be drier naturally, so you should use a dry hair treatment. I think everyone should use the most gentle shampoo that they can find. Your hair really doesn’t need a strong shampoo, unless you were wrestling in mud or something. Styling products can build up, but a gentle shampoo will rinse out the build up. If you want you can use a clarifying shampoo once a week or once a month, depending on your hair and product use. I prefer to do co-washing. That is conditioner only washing. That is right, I don’t even use a shampoo. Well, I do occasionally, but rarely, maybe once a month. I have written a post about co-washing before. Lots of people like to wash their hair this way, because it is so gentle and it will still clean your hair, believe it or not.

Hair Treatment

Treat Yourself to a Great Hair Treatment

I like using Garnier Fructics 3-Minute Undo Triple Nutrition Dryness Reversal Hair Treatment. It does not have any silicones in it, which I think can build up too much in your hair. Some people love silicones and some people don’t. I fall into the don’t category. Now, silicones can be good, because they coat and protect your hair from breakage, plus they make your hair really shiny. But I think they just build up and coat your hair, and don’t actually provide much moisture. So I prefer products that uses natural oils and other moisturizing ingredients. For some at home hair treatments, you can use pure oil, such as olive oil or coconut oil as a conditioning pre-wash natural hair treatment for 20 minutes. Some people will use mayonnaise, why not try it, if you are feeling really brave. I just don’t think I could do it. Some good deep conditioning treatments that many people love and buy at the store are: GVP The Conditioning Balm, Sexy Hair Healthy – Sexy Hair Pumpkin Treatment Masque, Joico Kpak Intense Hydrator, Je Veux Revitalizing Mud Mask, Bumble and Bumble Crème de Coco Masque, Biolage Conditioning Balm, and so on…

Treat your hair gently all the time, but especially gently when it is wet. Hair breaks really easily when it’s wet. So you may want to use a detangler spray or a leave-in conditioner, it will help the comb to gently glide through your hair. I have fine straight hair and I use my normal daily conditioner and Aussie’s Hair Insurance Leave-In Conditioner spray. My hair used to get so tangled every time I washed it, no matter how gentle I was. I never ruffled it with my towel, which is bad for you hair by the way. Aussie’s leave-in spray makes my hair silky and tangle free. It has great ingredients and is super cheap too! You may not need to wash your hair everyday either. In fact, not washing your hair everyday can be good for your hair, because it allows your hair’s natural oils to moisturize your hair. And not washing will help you to avoid all that shampooing, just rinse with water on the no wash days, that will be enough, or just put your hair up with a cute clip.

Fight the Heat with the Right Hair Treatments

Heat can play a toll on your hair. Try to limit your heat styling products use as much as possible. Blow drying, curling irons and straightening irons can dry out your hair. Using special heat styling protective treatments to protect your hair from the heat will help though. Let your hair air dry as often as you can. At least give your hair a break once a week, say when you do your deep conditioning hair treatment. Coloring, perms, and hair relaxers can damage your hair as well, but we all want hair that looks great, so what’s a girl to do? Well, just take good care of your hair despite any chemical or mechanical damage. I color my hair, but I use a deep conditioner every week and I co-wash. I also use the leave-in conditioner spray that is light, but detangles my hair. I don’t brush my hair a great deal either. I just comb it when it’s wet and then let it air dry almost everyday. At night I will brush it and put it up in a bun while I sleep. Putting it up in a bun at night will keep my hair from getting tangled at night and I like to think it keeps it from getting too many split ends. I don’t do this every night, but almost. I am not married, so I may not want to put it up when I get married, because I think I look better with my long hair down, but we will see.

It is important to get a haircut regularly too, about every 12 weeks or more depending on your hair style. A haircut can help your hair stay healthy. Snipping away those split ends is the only thing that will get rid of them. Hair treatments can make the cuticle lie down and disguise them, but they are still there. Conditioning treatments can help prevent them, but if you already have split ends, you have to cut them off. Cutting split ends will help keep them from going up the whole shaft of your hair.

Don’t forget to exercise, eat healthy, and take vitamins too. It all affects your hair just like it affects the rest of your body. If you take care of yourself, your hair will show it. So spend time on yourself, you deserve it. Find a great deep conditioner treatment, treat your hair like fine silk, and get it cut regularly, even if you are trying to grow it. Treat your hair to your own person weekly spa time with special hair treatments, and you will have beautiful, shiny, healthy hair.

Anti Aging Products – What are the Best Wrinkle Creams?

Posted by Allykat on October 14th, 2011

Finding the right anti aging product for your skin can be overwhelming. There are so many products out on the market, that it can be stressful just walking down the beauty aisle, but don‘t give up hope. Before you start your search there are a few things to know though. Realize that aging happens to everyone, don’t become obsessed, be happy, and age well. Read reviews and test out the products until you find a product that smoothes out those wrinkles. Know that you can have that youthful glow and look younger. There are products that really work, but sometimes it takes a little more than that.

Anti Aging Products

Anti Aging Product Secret = Laughter

Aging happens. We all age. We will all become old and wrinkled, with age spots peppering our faces and hands. However, life is short, so we have to enjoy the journey and that includes the aging part of it. When are you old anyway? When you ask people in their 80s if they feel old, they will usually tell you “No!” They still feel like they are in their 20s. No one feels old. So do you just look old? When do you look old then? Does it happen in your 30s, 40s, or 50s? Everybody will tell you different and when they hit that age, they will say, no way, that’s not old. We as a society place to much attention on aging. Yes, everybody loves to look at the young people in their 20s, but that is only a decade of someone’s life, which is such a small part of life. We should place more emphasis on wisdom and being happy. It doesn’t matter how old you are. It shouldn’t matter how many wrinkles you have. I can say this all day long though, but we still care.

We still spend millions of dollars on anti aging products. We still want to age as gracefully as possible. And there really is nothing wrong with this, as long as you don’t take it too far. It just seems like so many people are taking the whole anti aging thing way too far nowadays. People in their 20s are even getting obsessed about it! They should be enjoying life, not worrying about wrinkles. Although, no one should be worrying about wrinkles, because worrying causes more wrinkles, right? Lol! No, you really shouldn’t worry, just be happy in life, no matter how many wrinkles you have. Let the joy shine through and people will see that, not your wrinkles.

How Far Are You Willing to Go for the Right Anti Aging Product?

Now, I am not saying you shouldn’t strive to look your best. It is important to take care of yourself. I am just saying, try to strike a balance. You can age as gracefully as possible, without getting obsessed about it. You can also be happy enjoying every second of your life. First, you need to realize that an anti aging beauty product can only do so much. If you want drastic, instant results, then you will need to go to a little more extreme measures, such as plastic surgery or botox. Now botox prices are reasonable, but the question comes down to how much are you willing to pay? Can you handle the upkeep? An anti aging product will take longer to show results, but the risks are pretty much non-existent and the price is way cheaper!

There is no one magic anti aging potion that is the best. Everybody’s skin is different and what works for your friend, may not necessarily work for you. Although, it is good to get recommendations on products, just remember that it may not work for you, but something else will. Use products that are right for your skin type. Also, be aware that your skin does change as you get older too. Your skin be more sensitive than it used to be, so reach for the sensitive skincare products and see how they work. Read reviews and then start testing out the anti aging wrinkle products. It just comes down to trial and error. So keep trying them out, until you find one that works for your skin.

Retin-A anti aging products really do work to smooth out your wrinkles, which I have written many posts on. If Retin-A does not work for you, then try peptide anti wrinkle products. Do not use both Retin-A products and the copper peptide products together though, because they counter-act each other.  I have written a post about collagen creams before as well, but I thought I would make a little note of it here as well. Collagen creams really do not work like you think. Collagen molecules are too large to seep down past the first several layers of your skin in order to go deep into your skin. Just keep looking for the right anti aging facial products. Don’t give up hope, you will find the right product for you.

Don’t forget to apply sunscreen daily! Sunscreen should be the first anti aging product that you reach for. The sun’s harsh rays causes wrinkles and a broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen can help to prevent those wrinkles. Make sure you read the ingredients, because not all sunscreens work as effectively as others. And yes, you need to apply it daily. Even walking to and from your car can cause damage over time. Plus, all the anti aging wrinkle treatments can make you more photo-sensitive to the sun.

Most of all, make sure you are happy. Try to laugh every day, because that is the secret to aging gracefully. You will look younger, just because your joy is radiating around you. So don’t dwell on the bad, think good thoughts always, and laugh. After all, laughter is the best medicine for the body and the mind, right?

Botox Prices – Is it Priceless for Youthful Skin?

Posted by Allykat on October 5th, 2011

Botox injections, laser resurfacing, derma fillers, plastic surgery, it can all be so overwhelming. We all want to age well, but should you choose a wrinkle treatment to help you or not? And which one should you choose? There are a lot of anti aging treatments out there, but there is something for everybody. Plastic surgery can be expensive, derma fillers are a close second, and then there’s botox. Botox prices are pretty reasonable and there’s the whole no surgery part! Plus, it seems like more and more people are getting botox. They even have botox parties! (which you should avoid by the way.) Before you decide though, you should consider all of your options and do some research.

Botox Prices

Pay the Botox Prices for Your Happiness

Why do so many young people get botox? It seems like more and more people in their twenties are getting botox injections. I understand about wanting to age as gracefully as possible, but I think there are some other winkle treatments that can be done before botox. All people in their twenties need is sunscreen really. Perhaps a retinol product and they are good to go. We are just a society that is obsessed with aging. I think these people that are so young are becoming really obsessed though and at way too young of age! I was researching a botox website that helps you find surgeons, and one of the reviewers was a 23 year old man. He said he loved botox and was going back for more. I am sorry, but I don’t think these young people should even be thinking about aging so much. They should be enjoying their youth not worrying about wrinkles! How young is too young? What do you think?

Now, if you are in your 30s and above and you really want to get botox I say do it. Just be careful about getting too obsessed about aging and anti aging. Botox injections are not as dangerous as plastic surgery, although botox does come with risks. Everything comes with risks, I mean you are getting needles with a botulinum toxin ingredient injected into your face every 4 to 6 months. I have not gotten botox and as of now I am a little scared. My mom has been thinking about botox though. And I do have some friends my age who have gotten botox, so I am curious about it and that is why I researched and wrote this post. You only live once and if getting botox will make you happier, then go ahead and get it. Forehead wrinkles and crows feet can really make some people depressed and sad, so get the botox if it will make you a happier person.

To Pay the Botox Prices or Not?

Botox prices depends on how large of area you want done. A single botox injection syringe will cost around $300 to $400. If you want to target the crows feet wrinkles around you eyes that can run from $300 to $700. The forehead wrinkles can run from $800 to $900, because it is such a large area and it requires multiple injections. The price of your surgeon will range in prices as well. They have to charge for their labor. Their expertise will also dictate the price. You get what you pay for and I wouldn’t spare any expense when it comes to my face. Unfortunately, botox is not covered by your insurance because it is a cosmetic procedure, but you can get financing options from your doctor.

Shop around for the best surgeon and make sure they are board certified plastic surgeons. Do not go for the cheapest botox price you can find! Most of of the surgeons all pay the same price for botox, which is $10 to $18 per unit used. And $400 is 100 units. So if you see a ridiculous cheap price, steer clear, because the surgeon may be lacking in experience. Also, don’t do the botox parties. When you are getting such a procedure done on your precious face, it should be done at a doctor’s clinic.

If the botox prices are too expensive for you, there are always alternatives. Plus, if you are afraid of needles, have no fear other options are here. There is laser resurfacing, it does not get the deep wrinkles, but it can smooth your skin’s texture and give you that youthful glow. Then there are dermal fillers which can fill moderate to severe wrinkles, such as Juvederm and Restylane. A dermal filler injection is a bit more expensive than botox though, but it can last you up to a year as opposed to botox’s 4 to 6 months. There are lots of different types of face fillers so be sure to check them out as well.

Some topical botox alternatives are Retin-A, copper peptide creams, and peels. Retin-A is a very popular wrinkle treatment and it is a lot cheaper than the expensive botox prices! With Retin-A you will not get instant results like you get with the injections, but it is safer and cheaper. Retin-A is also good for clearing the skin, which would make it great for people who suffer from adult acne and wrinkles. Copper peptide creams should not be used with Retin-A, because they counteract each other, but it is a great option to use if Retin-A does not work well for you. As you can see, I really like Retin-A. I have written a lot about it and it’s other formulas such as retinol and retinaldehyde. Peels are another great way to exfoliate your skin and really smooth out those wrinkles. So don’t forget to try other options before or besides botox and be patient, the results are worth the wait.

We can’t beat aging, but we can age as gracefully as possible. And since science has given us all of these ways to help diminish wrinkles, why not try them? Just research all of your options before deciding on one. There are plenty of topical wrinkle treatments to try out there. Botox is a relatively inexpensive option though. It is less invasive and less frightening over plastic surgery, as well. The main point is to be happy no matter what. If you will be happier with the botox, then do it! But be happy whether you have a ton of wrinkles or none at all, the is the key to aging gracefully. Aging happens to all of us. We shouldn’t get obsessed about it. Aging is part of this wonderful journey called life, so enjoy it.

Diets that Work Fast

Posted by Allykat on October 4th, 2011

With all the fad diets out there it is hard to know which one to try. Or perhaps you have tried them all and none of them work? Well, one of the keys to any diet, is discipline, patience, and motivation. You have to stick to these crazy fast diets. There are diets that work fast. They really do work, but you have to be strong and determined.

Many people know that these fast diets are not meant to be followed for the long term, because they are NOT meant for long term. You just want to loose 5 to 10 pounds quickly, so you can look hot for that party coming up right?! Well, you can jump start your weight loss with one of these diets that work fast. The fast results make you really happy and that can motivated you to keep the weight off. However, if you want to keep the weight off you need to go off the fad fast diets and just eat healthy and exercise regularly. But this post is about fast diets that work. Fast diets that just melt away those pounds.

Good Diets that Work Fast:  

The Cabbage Soup Diet – is a very interesting diet. I think it is a bit confusing and strict with certain foods you can eat one day, but not the next. It is a 7 day diet and of course you eat cabbage soup as a meal every day. Cabbage is high in fiber and very good for you. This diet is kind of like the Special-K diet where you replace a meal with cereal instead. This diet is a low-calorie diet that can be boring, but it may be effective for you.

Diets that Work Fast

Loose Weight with a Diet that Works Fast

The South Beach Diet – is a low-carb diet. The first two weeks you are not suppose to eat any fruit or simple sugars at all. Then you can slowly incorporate fruit back into your diet. You are suppose to eat as much vegetables as you want though. And you are suppose to eat whenever you are hungry, so this diet is not a low-calorie diet, but a low sugar diet.

The Juice Diet – is where you only drink juice for three days. You can buy the special juice mix at the store or you can try the lemonade juice diet. They are all the same very low calorie diets that work really fast, but they are extremely hard to stick too, even for three days. Plus, forget about being able to concentrate on work or anything. You will be so weak, so it’s probably best to try this on the weekend. I have tried it before and I could not do it. I like to enjoy a meal with my family and it’s very weird when I can’t. Plus, the temptation to eat something is too great. Perhaps, this diet could work for you, if you live alone. This is definitely one of those extreme diets that work fast.

Diets that eliminate an entire food group are usually hard to stick to though. Your determination and discipline has to be strong. You have to have self-control. Control your emotions and tell yourself no. With strict diets you are left feeling deprived, which can lead to cheating. Low calorie starvation diets are hard to stick to as well, because you are being deprived again. Most people know these fad diets that work fast are not healthy. They are only meant for the short term of a week or two. So if you really want to loose those first 5 to 10 pounds, try one of these diets, but then immediately switch to your long term plan of healthy eating.

The key to loosing weight and staying in shape is through healthy eating and exercising over the long-term. Eat balanced meals. Control your portions, but don’t starve yourself. Enjoy everything in moderation, that is the key. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Eat whole grains and lean protein. Don’t eat a lot of processed food, nor fast food. When you don’t feel deprived, you will stick to it and you will loose the weight and keep it off. Try to always eat healthy and not yo-yo diet, it’s better for your body.

Exercise is very important as well. Work out for at least 30 minute everyday or 3 to 5 days a week. It is important to exercise in moderation as well. You don’t want to over exercise and burnout, but you want to stay consistent. Make sure to incorporate both cardio and weight training into your exercise routine. Lifting weights is very effective for weight loss. As you get older your body does not burn as many calories as you did when you were younger, since you body looses muscle as you get older. So weight training is more important for weight loss than you know. It will not make women look like a body builder either, no matter what, you will only look nice and toned. Try a different cardio activity to spice up your routine so you don’t get bored. One day try dancing, running, walking, swimming, tennis, or aerobics. Just move you body and have fun with it. Diet alone is not enough, you must exercise too. Plus, the pounds will drop even faster.

Loosing weight can be difficult. So many people are struggling with weight loss in America. Being overweight or even just 10 pounds overweight can be stressful. Well, don’t be mad about being overweight anymore. Try one of the fad diets that work fast to give yourself some quick satisfying results. However, you don’t have to try a fast crash diet. Just try eating healthy and exercise first, it will be much healthier for you. If you must try the crash diet, then remember to only stay on it for a week and then switch to healthy long-term eating. Stay motivated, be patient, and discipline yourself. It is hard work to get into shape, but you have to do it. Without your health it is hard to enjoy life to the full. So believe in yours

Vitamin C Serum Will Give You a Youthful Glow

Posted by Allykat on June 8th, 2011

I have talked about vitamin C serum before, but I thought I would talk about it again, since it’s been awhile. We all know how popular antioxidants are right now. Antioxidant serums are all the rage, because they help fight free radicals, which causes aging. A good antioxidant serum is an excellent addition to your anti aging routine. The right serum can smooth out your wrinkles, even your skin tone, and give you that beautiful healthy glow. Before you go out and buy any serum, there are a few things you need to know, which will save you time and save your face.

vitamin c serum

Find the Best Vitamin C Serum

There are a variety of antioxidant serums in the stores today and they do not all work the same. Some are better than others. Now, I have said in a previous vitamin C serum post, that scientists are still debating on what the best antioxidant serum is. They have said all of them work well, as long they are fresh and stable serums. Many scientists say that no one antioxidant works better than the other, so you should just use an anti aging product that contains a combination of antioxidants, in order to get the most benefits. However, others say that is only because many consumers fail to find a good stable vitamin C product. Therefore, Vitamin C is one of the most powerful antioxidants to prevent wrinkles and aging.

In order for you to get the most benefits out of vitamin C, you have to make sure it is fresh. Now, you could go ahead and make your own homemade vitamin C serum, there are a lot or recipes online. I posted one below for all of you ambitious DIY types. Me personally, I am not a fan of homemade skincare recopies. I never tried any of the home acne remedies and I used to have really bad acne, but I prefer to buy something that scientists have worked on and proven works. Okay, so fear gets to me, but when it comes to my face I am not going to go there. Plus, just buying a product is a lot faster and it can even be cheaper, but whatever floats your boat.

Homemade Vitamin C Serum

(resource: skinacea.com)

3½ teaspoon distilled water (at room temperature)
½ teaspoon l-ascorbic acid powder
1½ teaspoon propylene glycol
1 dark glass bottle

Instructions:

  • Clean the bottle with rubbing alcohol or boil it in hot water.
  • Let the bottle to cool and dry.
  • Add the l-ascorbic acid to the bottle.
  • Add the distilled water.
  • Shake the bottle or use a something to stir it up, until all the l-ascorbic acid is dissolved.
  • Add the propylene glycol
  • Put on the cap and shake well, until everything is blended.
  • Use up and make a new batch every 5 to 7 days. L-ascorbic acid is highly unstable, so you have to make a new batch frequently.

Anyway, back to find the best vitamin C serum. Not all vitamin C skincare products work the same, and I am not just talking about creams vs. serums. No, I am only talking about serum vs. serum. I have research about these serums a lot. And for a serum made of vitamin C, it has to be stable. A stable serum is one that is made with the right formula. Also, the serums will oxidize fast too, if the liquid turns yellow or brown, smells bad, or causes a bad reaction on your face, toss it out. Just like an orange, it will go bad with time. Sunlight and air will cause the vitamin C to oxidize very quickly. So you really should only buy small dark bottles, because they do not last forever.

A vitamin C serum for face should also have the right amount of vitamin C concentrate in the bottle. Many companies will say they have vitamin C in their anti aging product just to sell their product, but their product does not contain enough vitamin C to even do anything to your skin. Everybody wants to make a profit and like I said earlier, antioxidants all the rage. That is why it is your job to me a smart consumer and you are already, if you are reading this. J Make sure your serum has a percentage of 5% to 20% vitamin C, anything lower will not have any benefits. There are also different forms of vitamin C, such as L-Ascorbic Acid, which is the strongest and then there are other derivatives, such as (MAP) magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, which is more gentle for sensitive skin. Different skin types can handle different forms. This is where you just have to read reviews and tested it our for yourself.

If you have oily acne prone skin, the best vitamin C serums are: Avalon Organics vitamin C serum it’s a lotiony serum that is very light and not sticky at all. Murad’s Active Radiance Serum Feautring Resilent-C Complex can be expensive, but it works. Paula’s Choice Active Skin C-Strength 15% is like a primer and it will disappear instantly. And SkinCeuticals AOX20 is very liquidy and it will seep right into your skin.

For dry skin try: La Roche-Posay it’s a fabulous skincare line and their Active-C product comes in a nice light lotion. SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic also contains vitamin E, this is a great product for dry skin. Nufountain Sensitive Skin Vitamin C serum is another great option. Jason Naturals Ester-C serum and Kiss My Face Ester-C serum from the Potent & Pure line are two other natural lotion types for dry skin.

A vitamin C serum benefits are amazing, it can indeed give you that youthful glow again. Just keeping trying them, until you find one that works for your skin. Be sure to give the product time to work though. A good stable serum will smooth fine lines, erase red spots, and even your skin tone. Make sure you keep the serum in your medicine cabinet, away from sunlight, heat, and air. In order to receive extra protection from the sun’s harsh rays apply the serum before you sunscreen, wait 5 minutes and then apply the sunscreen. Be patient and your skin will look better than it has in years!

Collagen Creams – Do They Really Work?

Posted by Allykat on June 4th, 2011

Collagen creams are very popular. Well, all of the anti aging products are very popular, because everybody wants to stop the clock, right?! To be able to turn back the clock 10 years or just a few would be a dream come true. There are ways to age as gracefully as possible. Finding the right anti aging routine for your skin is key. Make sure you know what ingredients are in your creams. Read on to find out if collagen cream really works or not.

First let’s talk about skin. The skin is made up of 3 layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and the hypodermis. The first layer is the epidermis and it is the protective barrier and keeps your skin from getting dehydrated. The second layer is the dermis and it contains the most collagen. The dermis also grows blood vessels, hair follicles, and nerves. And the third layer is the hypodermis which is made up of fat and tissue with large blood vessels and nerves. This layer also protects the inner organs and keeps your body warm. Now let’s talk about Collagen. Collagen is located largely in the dermis and acts a framework structure to help grow blood vessels and cells. Collagen is a protein in the skin that helps the skin stay elastic and moisturized. When you make those expressions lines, collagen will help the skin to bounce back into place and be smooth.

So because collagen is in the second layer of skin and acts as a framework structure for the skin, you can see that a collagen cream will not work very well to smooth out wrinkles. Collagen in creams can not penetrate the protective barrier of your skin. The collagen molecules are too large to penetrate deep down into your skin. The collagen face cream will just sit on top of your skin and then be washed away when you wash your face. I have heard about new creams that they have been working on with transdermal technology, which may be able to penetrate deep into the skin. We will see if these creams will work or not though. As of now, the only proven way to add more collagen to your skin is through injections.

Collagen Injections Instead of Collagen Skin Cream

Collagen injections do work, because they inject collagen and collagen like substances underneath the skin. Now, there are quite a variety of collagen injections available. When you inject the collagen it will indeed go into the dermis where your body should accept it as its’ own, thus your skin will be more smooth. Some injections can cause an allergic reaction and be rejected by your body though. Collagen injections can be made up of collagen from cows, collagen from other parts of your body, collagen from other people, or a synthetic collagen filler. Some injections are just fat from other places in your body that will be easily accepted in your dermis. The injections you decide to have done, depends on you and your skin and how often you can get the injections done. Some injections are only temporary and will last only 6 months. Plus, you will most likely need several injections done to treat different areas of your face.

Anyway, this post is not about collagen injections it’s about collagen creams. I am not that big a fan of shots and surgeries, especially nocollagen creamt plastic surgery. I think anytime you go for a unnecessary surgery, it is dangerous. However, whatever floats your boat. My opinion may change in the future when I get more wrinkles, but by then modern technology may have advance more and who knows what they will come up with. I can dream right? J However, I really don’t see my opinions changing much when it comes to shots and surgery, unless it is absolutely vital, such as a car accident. Now there are a lot of anti aging products that do indeed work to smooth out those wrinkles. Retnoid has been proven to reduce wrinkles and give your skin that youthful glow. I have written other posts about these anti aging products. Before you go buy retinol cream make sure you are buying a good product though, they all have different percentages, some over-the-counter products are better than others. And of course prescription rein-A is the most effective treatment of all. A good stable Vitamin-C serum can help to produce more collagen and help get rid of red spots too. Check out my other post about vitamin C as well.

Now you can still use the best collagen cream as your everyday moisturizer though. The collagen face cream can act as a great moisturizer, after all it is a lotion. The collagen and the other ingredients will determine how moisturizing the cream is. I would not spend a lot of money on the cream though, since it doesn’t have any special benefits beside moisturizing your skin. Any cheap facial moisturizer will work just as well as the expensive moisturizers, it all just comes down to the ingredients. Even a body lotion will work just as well, as long as your face likes it. I don’t see why there is any need to speed money on a facial cream. Save your money for the other anti aging products that really work and have great benefits.

So collagen creams do not really work to smooth out wrinkles, but if you like to use them as a moisturizer then keep using them. The collagen is just too large of molecule to penetrate all the way down to the dermis. That is why it is good to research skincare products before you buy them. Knowing what ingredients do can help you save money and be a smart happy shopper. There are plenty of anti aging products that do help to smooth wrinkles so keep on shopping.

reference: webmd.com

Cracked Heels Can Be Healed!

Posted by Allykat on May 12th, 2011
Dry, cracked heels can be painful and unsightly. Rough feet need to be soften in order to be ready for sandal weather. However, why wait until the weather gets warm? During the cold months is when your feet need you the most. Cold, harsh weather can cause your feet to become even more dry, so develop a feet softening habit. Use an exfoliate tool, AHA lotion, or even Listerine! Apply that lotion regularly to your heels! Read on for a few tips on how to soften your feet.

Your feet work hard for you all day, everyday. Your feet hold your body up all day long. They take you wherever you want to go. Everything you do starts with the feet. It all starts with the ground up. It really is amazing that our little feet can hold up our bodies. Not only may you want to soften your feet with lotion, but you may want to strength your feet as well. There are lots of tips out there about strengthening your feet, which may prevent ankle sprains, shin splints, and other injuries. Try to incorporate single leg lunges and squats into your workout routine, which will cause your feet to stabilize your body. Try to do more yoga and balancing exercises. I think it will help you from falling as you get older too. Being overweight can also contribute to cracked heels, since you are applying more pressure on the feet. Anyway back to talk about healing cracked feet.

The long cold, winter months is one element that can cause cracked heels. The harsh weather can cause feet to become dry very fast. During the winter there is less humidity in the air and feet become more dry. Make sure you wear good shoes that provide support for your feet, callous can occur just because you have bad shoes. Avoid shoes with open backs and thin soles, which will make the callus worse and not allow your heels to heal quickly. When the heel hangs over your sandal, it will cause a callus, so make sure your shoes fit properly. 

Cracked heels occur when the feet become very dry. Cracks in heels are also known as heel fissures. When the heels become dry and callused they can crack. Because you are standing on your feet all the time, the brittle skin will crack. The tiny cracks can become deep and then bleed. Sometimes the cracks can become infected as well. So wintertime is when you need to especially pay attention to your feet. It really is all about starting a soft foot habit. Take care for your feet, just like you brush teeth, make it a part of your routine. 

Exfoliate Your Dry Cracked Feet

Exfoliate your feet 2 to 3 times a week in order to soften your feet. You have to get rid of the hard, rough, dead calloused skin on your heels. The lotion or cream you are using cannot work effectively on a cracked heel, because is cannot penetrate that hard dead skin. Therefore, your feet are still dry underneath and they do not get any softer. Try a wet pumice stone or a loofa sponge or whatever works for you. Use a PedEgg foot file, which I have heard is better than a pumice stone, to smooth out your rough feet. Check out my other post titled: Soften Your Feet with These 3 Tips for some more tips on exfoliating tools. Gently buff away at the rough spots to get rid of the dry skin. Be gentle, you don’t want to hurt yourself. Do not use any kind of razor to try to cut of the rough skin. You will end up cutting your skin and cause infection and be far worse off then you are now! You could also try a glycolic acid or lactic acid lotion for even more gentle exfoliation. Yes, the lotions are chemical exfoliates, instead of the pumice stone manual exfoliation, but the lotion can be more gentle on your feet. It all depends on what your feet like. There are plenty of prescription creams out there, but there are also plenty of over the counter creams, such as Peter Thomas Roth AHA Exfoliating Foot cream or AmLactin cream.

A cracked heel may also be sign of a fungus. Try applying some athlete’s foot treatment occasionally and see if that helps. To prevent the cracks from getting infected, apply Neosporin on the cracks at night. Neosporin works great on all kinds of sores. It is really a great invention to heal skin. You could even try Listerine! Yes, Listerine. Try it as a home remedy for cracked heels. Treat it like the well-deserving pedicure treatment that you need once or twice a week. Use the original Listerine AntisepticMouthwash. The Listerine will act like a chemical exfoliate, because it contains benzoic acid. Plus, the Listerine also contains ethanol, which will also kill germs and fungi! Pour 1 part Listerine and 2 parts warm water into a bucket and let your feet soak for a relaxing 15 to 20 minutes. If you are scared of the Listerine you could try lemon juice as an acid treatment instead.

Most of all, apply a thick moisturizer everyday. This is key to soft feet and severely cracked heels! A moisturizing body lotion can work just as well for your feet, you don’t need a special foot cream. People recommend a special foot cream, just because it is so thick. However, a body lotion with urea, jojoba oil, and shea butter can work just the same. It is all about the ingredients. When you have dry cracked heels, make sure you are using a quality body butter. Body butters are thicker than body creams, and body creams are thicker than body lotions. Don’t just apply the cream once a day though, apply it twice a day! You will be amazed at just how soft they will be just from applying twice a day, I know I was amazed! Before bed massage on some thick cream and slip on some socks, which will help keep the moisture in. Try using some Vaseline jelly as well, which is really emollient, your heels will just absorb up the moisture. You will definitely need socks with the Vaseline though.

Give your feet a little extra attention, because you are standing on them all day long. Get into a foot pampering habit, just take one step at a time. You might also want to treat yourself to a real pedicure done by a professional once a month or a least every season. Try going to a beauty college for a great deal! Not only do your feet deserve it, but you deserve it too. Gently exfoliate your feet twice a week with a good exfoliating tool or AHA lotion and apply body cream twice a day. You can heal those cracked heels!



Body Lotion – Which One is the Best?

Posted by Allykat on April 26th, 2011
Do you love body lotion? I know I do! I have several bottles of lotions in my bathroom and bedroom. I have scented lotion and unscented lotion. I have body creams, body oils, and body butters. What makes a lotion the best? Do you really get what you pay for when it comes to lotion? Or are there drugstore brands that are just as good as the high-end brands? What really matters is the scent or the unscented, and how soft and moisturized the lotion makes you skin, right? Read on to find out if there really is a lotion that beats out all of the other lotions.

What is the best body lotion out there? Is there one? I don’t think there is one or even the top 3 best body lotions, which is why this post is not title the Best 3 Lotions. Of course, there are a great deal of fantastic lotions out there and there are a great deal of not so great lotions. The secret to finding the best one, is finding the best one for you and your skin. Everybody’s skin is different and so you cannot label one lotion the best. Even if everybody did have the same skin conditions, we would still not have one lotion as the best, because we like variety. Variety is the spice of life. We all want different scents and we all want different unscented lotions as well. We all want lotion that comes in a certain consistency. Some people don‘t want a greasy lotion, while others might want more oil than cream. 

What makes a moisturizing body lotion better than another one? It all comes down to the ingredients, right? Yup, it’s all about the ingredients, but it also comes down to your preferences. It all depends on what you want the body lotion to do for your skin. Some lotions contain vitamin E and vitamin C for antioxidant purposes. Other lotions contain shea butter or cocoa butter for extra dry skin. And other lotions have more healing properties, such as BHA, AHA, and aloe vera to help skin with acne or keratosis pilaris. Of course body creams are known to be more moisturizing than regular lotion. Creams are more emollient and perfect for winter months or dry skin. Regular lighter lotions are good for people with normal to oily skin and for summer time.

Are the high-end hand and body lotions that much better than the drugstore ones? Again, it comes down to the ingredients. That are a great deal of drugstore body lotions that are phenomenal and they don’t break the bank. Of course, if you want that La Mer lotion or other big brand that you have been eyeing forever, then buy it. You only live once, so why not treat yourself sometimes? Buy it and let me know how you like it, and if it compares to any cheaper alternatives. Although, beware that some people will say the high-end products work way better, just because they paid so much for them and they want them to work better. Or they just believe they do, because it is that expensive brand they have been dying for. The mind is a powerful thing and it will believe what it wants to believe. Anyway, don’t let me discourage you from buying La Mer if you want it. I don’t even know what I am missing out on. I would recommended buying a bottle and using it for special events and then use your everyday lotion on the other days. 

Here are Some of the Best Body Lotions: (note – most of them are drugstore, because I don’t see why you should spend more money than you need to, unless you really want to.)

Vaseline Deep Condition Cocoa Butter Lotion – Cocoa butter helps to even skin tone and it gives skin a slight glow. Plus, cocoa butter is a very moisturizing ingredient, combine this with petroleum and you have a double whammy. This is my favorite everyday lotion right now. It is very light, yet moisturizing, and it doesn’t leave the skin greasy. In fact, the Vaseline lotion line is great for people who hate lotion. Vaseline also makes this in a cream as well, which is perfect after a long relaxing bath or during the winter months. It will make you feel like you just went to the spa. 

Keri Original Body Lotion – Keri lotion is my Mom’s favorite lotion. She does not use anything else. She has always used this lotion and will not stray. Well, why stray from what works right? I remember seeing her put this lotion on her legs when I was a small child. I think that is the time when I wanted lotion. I wanted to put lotion on my legs too and that is when my love for lotion started. I used Keri for a while, but have tried many other lotions since then.

Burt’s Bee’s Buttermilk Lotion – This lotion is perfect for all of you who want natural ingredients. If you don’t like petroleum, then get beeswax instead. It is a light moisturizing lotion, that melts into your skin. However, I have heard that they are reformulated this lotion and the new version is not as good as the original.

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion – This is another lotion that uses all natural ingredients. It is made for people with sensitive skin. People with eczema tend to like this lotion. It is long-lasting and not greasy.

Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Lotion – This classic lotion is a option for those with really dry, itchy skin. You can get the medicated or non-medicated version.

St. Ives Whipped Silk Lotion – St. Ives is known for their great prices. Some of their products can be hit or miss, but this one is a hit. This lotion really does sink into your skin like silk. The creamy texture makes it easy to apply.

La Mer: The Body Lotion – Of course, I have to talk about this lotion, since I mentioned it so much above. La Mer body lotion is very expensive at $140 for 6.7fl oz. However, there are several ladies on makeupalley.com that say this is the best lotion ever. They love it, of course they don’t love the price tag so they use it occasionally. It has a subtle powdery smell. The lotion is not greasy, absorbs quickly, and moisturizes well.

Eurecin Daily Skin Balance Skin-Fortifying Body Lotion – Many people with very dry skin love Eurecin products. I love their Aquaphor advanced therapy. It is not a lotion, but a healing ointment. I have written posts about this wonderful product, such as Protect Your Lips During the Cold Winter Days! So back to the daily lotion. This is a very light, yet moisturizing lotion that sinks right into your skin. This scent is light and fresh, with a hint of cherries.

Well, that is it for now. Perhaps I will come back and add to this post in the future. I also love Bath and Body Works lotions and body creams. Wait for a sale, when you can buy 3 and get 3 free! I love all the yummy scents. Japanese Cherry Blossom is an old favorite, top it with a few spritz of the perfume as well and the scent will last all night long! What are some of your favorite body lotions?

Modern Science Has Produced Some Fabulous Anti Aging Products

Posted by Allykat on July 3rd, 2010

There are many exceptional anti aging products on the market today. However, we’ve all heard the saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

One of the most important things a person can do for prevention is to use sunscreen. SPF30 or higher is recommended. Makeup with sunscreen in it is not enough protection. A true sunscreen contains the best protection. The problem with sunscreen is that it needs to be re-applied more often than anyone does. And be sure to apply 1/4 teaspoon to you face and a 1/4 teaspoon to your neck. If you perspire or are out in the sun for extended periods, it is recommended to apply it every hour. If you work indoors then apply it before you go outside. Keep in mind that UVA rays, which causes the wrinkles, do penetrate windows. So if you are next to large windows all day long and drive long commutes, then you need to apply sunscreen.

There are many foods that nourish the skin and prevent wrinkles. What you eat really does affect your skin. Take care of your skin on the inside and the outside. Vitamin C will protect your skin from ultraviolet rays. It is good to get this vitamin from foods such as oranges, peppers and lemons. Vitamin C helps your body produce more collagen. A good stable Vitamin C anti aging product applied topically will help as well.

Another form of food that helps the skin is sunflower seeds. Seeds and nuts contain fatty acids, which enables your skin to secrete natural oils and keep you from loosing water. Natural oils keep your skin soft and also reduce blackheads.

Papayas contain carotenoids, which release vitamin A and are an anti oxidant. Whole grains are a source of vitamin B, which will fight skin infections. The niacin that whole grains contain helps the skin to absorb the nutrients in your other foods and helps with energy production.

Green tea is a huge antioxidant and contains flavornoids, which wards off damage from free radicals and UVA rays. Other foods that help are pulses rich in proteins and ingesting aloe juice, which helps with the pigment of the skin. Add these foods to your diet and then use topical anti aging products to reduce fine lines as well.

When buying anti wrinkle creams for a more youthful appearance you will want to use products with the following ingredients: Retinalehyde, it reduces wrinkles and it helps with acne as well. Check out Avene’s anti aging wrinkle product. They are stronger than other over the counter retinol products. Epidermal Growth Factor or EGF contains fifty-three amino acids, which helps to renew the skin. You will gain elasticity by stimulating the production of collagen. Alpha hydroxy and  Beta hydroxy acids are used in chemical peels. Chemical peels removes the dead skin cells by dissolving the intracellular adhesive that holds dead cells together. It then incites the skin cells to renew themselves. Exfoliating the skin with chemical peels is a great anti wrinkle treatment.

Eating healthy foods, with lots of fruits and vegetables really helps keep the youthful appearance of your skin. Encourage your children to eat plenty of healthy foods at an early age so they form a healthy habit. Get them to at least try one bite every time and hopefully they will develop a liking. Make sure to drink a lot of water everyday as well. The human body is made up of about 70% to 80% water, so water is huge for healthy youthful skin. Learn to love water. Now find some great anti aging products that work for you and you will be aging gracefully!

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