Better Cleaning of Your Face

Always use a clean washcloth or sponge on your face so that bacteria are not encouraged to invade your face.  Apply a dime size amount of cleanser to your face, neck and chest with your fingertips.  Allow your cleanser to sit on your face at least 20 seconds after it is applied.  Use warm, tepid water and your washcloth or sponge to remove the cleanser using delicate, upward strokes. There is no need for rubbing or scrubbing.  Pat your face dry with a clean towel and begin your skin care routine.

Car heater can cause dryness

If you use the heater in your car, be certain the warm air goes to the floor so that your face isn't adversely affected with drying heat.

Avoid Stretching your skin

Refrain from stretching your skin.  This is usually done by rubbing your eyes, propping your face or neck in your hands or even stroking that double chin.  Best advice:  Keep your hands away from your face.

Soften Rough and Scaly Feet

Elbows and feet can become extremely rough and scaly during the winter.  We can easily camouflage this neglected skin with layers of clothing but we need to exfoliate our elbows and the edges of our feet with a pumice stone or the Tellurian Skin Scrub so these dead skin cells do not become a thick layer of impenetrable callous-like leather.  Grey, winter skin must be exfoliated regularly then followed with a deep moisturizer.  (This also applies to your face so that moisturizers and foundation glide on easily and your skin appears nourished). 

Whiter Nails

Skin Tags - How to Remove Them

I had a conversation with a Facial Magic user who told me of a natural, safe remedy for those pesky, little skin tags (acrochordons) that can appear almost overnight in the most unlikely places.  Some can appear on the face, others can develop on the neck, armpits and the groin.  The information I have is that acrochordons are harmless and usually do not become cancerous or malignant; however, they are annoying, especially if they catch on clothing or you just find them unsightly. 

Here's the secret to removing them in just a few days:  Pluck a long strand of hair from your head.  Tie the strand securely in a knot around the skin tag and forget about it.  In just a few days, the tag will drop off!

How do I know this?  I had a skin tag and tried the suggestion.  It worked beautifully and there's no evidence the tag ever existed!

How to soften rough feet

Here's a pre-nighttime solution for prettier feet: 

1)    Soak your feet for about 15 minutes.  I use Epsom Salt, a recent discovery, and was pleasantly surprised to learn of its many health benefits.  (I discard the water around my rose bushes!)

2)    Exfoliate.  I use Tellurian Skin Smoothing Scrub and then remove with water.

3) Moisturize.  Apply a generous amount of Tellurian Nighttime Moisturizer and avoid the areas between your toes.  Slip on a pair of socks and go to bed.

Five Habits that Age You! 

•  Getting stuck in ruts    •  Hanging around your home with no exercise  

  •  Eating processed foods   •  Not enough deep sleep    • Working non-stop 

Exfoliation - Why It is Important

Facial Magic includes Daily Lift, an alpha hydroxy.  Why is exfoliation necessary and is it safe for all skin types?  

Using the Daily Lift is like exercise for the skin.  The Daily Lift will gently remove environmentally damaged skin cells so that serums and moisturizers easily penetrate your skin more readily, increase circulation, and refine the texture and tone of your complexion.  All skin types benefit from the Daily Lift; however, if you are prone to deep, painful eruptions, please discuss our ingredients with your dermatologist.

5 Tips for Beautiful Summer Skin 

• Wear sunscreen; wear a hat and long sleeved garments to protect your skin.  Stay in the shade whenever possible.
• Take your antioxidants faithfully.  Vitamin C, E, Beta Carotene, Selenium, Grape Seed Extract, and Pychnogenal.
• Drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine-laden drinks.
• Exfoliate with the Daily Lift on a regular basis and see how clear your skin becomes.
• Get out after 4:00 p.m. and walk, roller blade or bicycle for fifteen minutes to increase your circulation.

How does your face compare to your Mom's

“Scientists speculate that genetics account for anywhere from 25% to 30% of the aging process. That means that unless your mom is a heavy smoker or has a booth named after her at the local tanning salon, her skin is a good indication of how yours will age.  “That's not to say that if your mom looks like hell, you'll look like that too,” says aesthetician Carolyn Ash, author of Timeless Skin.” “We know a lot more today about how to take care of our skin. If you use that knowledge, your skin will benefit from it.”

If you don't remove your makeup at nighttime, that old makeup clogs your pores, causing them to stretch!  

How can I make my bottle tan look real? 

The first step is to exfoliate your skin.  Of course, I recommend our Tellurian Skin Smoothing Scrub because it leaves my skin feeling very silky.  Make certain you pay extra attention to elbows, knees and the ankle area.  

When your skin is dry, apply the tanning mixture with long, broad strokes to avoid splotching and streaking. 

Apply sparingly on elbows, knees, ankles and tops of feet.  Avoid using self tanners on your heels and between your fingers.  Wash your hands immediately after applying the self-tanner.

Allow the product to dry thoroughly – at least ten minutes – before dressing. 

If you use a self tanner on your face, use great care to apply it evenly. 

Make certain you use the Mineral Sunscreen after the self tanner has dried because self tanners will not protect you from harmful rays.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Unwanted facial hair is no laughing matter.  Whether you see hair on your upper lip, chin or the sides of your face, I know you want it gone! 

Years ago, my sons would comment on my hairy face.  At first I didn't readily see the fine, blond hairs but as the years came and went, those hairs began to take on a life of their own.  

There are many remedies to facial hair.  Some methods are ideal for home use and others are best left in the hands of a professional.  Let's explore the possibilities: 

Waxing – a very popular solution and it can be painful.  My sister tried it once and swears that she was in a sound-proof “scream room.”  This method is not recommended for dark skinned women and it's not recommended for your chin where coarse hair may grow. 

Sugaring – easy, at-home method that works.  Like anything new, there is a learning curve but the results last 3-6 weeks.  Sugaring your eyebrows and upper lip takes only seconds. 

Depilatory creams – Great for legs and arms but can irritate facial skin.  These are usually inexpensive and may keep hair away one to two weeks. 

Electrolysis – Long lasting results but it is costly and time consuming.  Be certain to find a qualified professional that uses a new needle for every session.  This method works best for women with light or blonde hair. 

Laser – Not very effective on light to blonde hair so we brunettes and dark-skinned women can benefit from this. Your dermatologist or doctor can help you determine if you are a good candidate.  Just make certain the person treating you has a high level of experience and that you discuss the type of results you can expect.  Usually the procedure is called “permanent hair removal” although my friend Connie would disagree.  She had at least six treatments and continues with maintenance.  Expensive! 

Keep in mind that some hair growth is hormonal.  If it is excessive or abnormal, consult your physician.

Want a better bod? 

Studies have proven that weight training reduces the risk of injury (I can attest to that when I experienced a bicycle accident – thankfully, my weight training kept my bones from breaking!) and most importantly, you can more successfully diet and have a better body in just a few weeks just by using dumbbells! 

When my friend, Betsy, and I were discussing dumbbell training for better looking arms this summer, she found an article demonstrating easy-to-follow exercises that can trim our arms.  I've been using this training with five-pound weights in each hand for almost two weeks and the results have startled me.  If you want to see more shapely, defined arms, pick up a pair of dumbbells.

I suggest you invest in 5-pound weight and 3-pound weights for toning and firming.  If you want to build muscle mass, go for the 8-10 pounds weighs.

Jewelry Tip

Store your silver jewelry (even silver flat ware) in a zip-lock bag to prevent tarnishing.  When jewelry needs cleaning, first soak your piece in warm water with a drop of dish detergent and then brush very gently with a soft toothbrush.

Here's a tip on how to lose weight without extra huffing and puffing!

Enjoy a cup of green tea with hot pepper sauce! Quebec's Laval University researchers found that eating a teaspoon of hot pepper sauce before meals reduced the amount of food people ate. They discovered that the hot pepper sauce had an effect on the nervous system so that their subjects not only ate less they had more energy.

The University of Geneva in Switzerland reported that if you drink three cups of green tea a day, you will burn more fat.

Hairbrush Cleanliness

Recently I read a health tip concerning our hairbrushes that made perfect sense to me. If you take your hairbrush into the shower with you and wash it with shampoo at least three times per week, you will drastically cut down on the bacteria that collects daily in your brush and then transferred onto your hair. These bacteria can creep onto your face and neck resulting in unwanted blemishes. If you are prone to regular outbreaks, your hairbrush might be the culprit.

BRIGHTEN YOUR SMILE

One of the first things people notice about you is your smile. Lighter teeth can provide you with a younger appearance and I'm all for that. You know that when we reach a certain age, our teeth may not be as bright and vibrant as we'd like so teeth whitening can help you appear years younger. Having a beautiful smile enhances your face!