Moisturizing, anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, regenerating… the list of beauty creams and skin products can go on and on, all promising to give you healthy glowing skin.

While these high-tech and high-priced products might help you get that flawless complexion, all they do is an outside job that does not maximize your skin’s beauty potential.

There’s a lower-priced yet healthier alternative that does just as well, maybe even better. Nutrient–rich foods work from the inside to tap into your body’s natural moisturizing, anti-aging, regenerating and beautifying power. Now that’s literally beauty that comes from within.

Here are some foods to help you get that beautiful blooming skin.

Low-fat yogurt		Low-fat yogurt. This creamy snack packs a lot of vitamin A that takes care of your skin’s health. On top of promoting good vision, vitamin A promotes cell growth and repairs skin damage. It is also said to reduce the production of sebum, one of the main triggers of acne. Other good sources of vitamin A are green leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli – toss them up in a salad or mix them with your favorite entrée. Your skin will stay smooth, soft and flawless with a daily dose of vitamin A.
Oranges		Oranges. We’ve been told that foods rich in vitamin C help keep the sniffles and coughs away. But one other beautifying benefit you get from eating vitamin–rich fruits is to keep sagging skin, fine lines, and wrinkles at bay. Vitamin C is the key to the production of collagen, a type of protein that keeps the skin strong and flexible. Grapefruits, guavas, lychees and kiwis are better and cheaper alternatives to collagen injections. Add these juicy fruits to your daily meals to keep your skin looking young and firm.
Berries		Berries. The black, blue and red variety ranks as the highest source of anti-oxidants, a group of vitamins and minerals that eat up free radicals. Caused by pollution, cigarette smoke, sun exposure and a bad diet, free radicals damage the healthy cells in your body. What this means for your skin is dryness and wrinkling. Aim for a daily serving of healthy berries to keep your skin smooth and supple. Not fond of berries? You can still get your antioxidant fix from sweet potatoes and tomatoes.
Whole-wheat cereal		Whole-wheat cereal. Eating whole-wheat cereals for breakfast is a good way to get your supply of selenium, a mineral that works with vitamins C and A to fight free radicals. Another benefit of going whole-wheat? You’ll be too full to eat refined carbs such as white bread, rice and cake — the worst foods for your skin. These “white foods” cause a spike in your insulin levels that contribute to inflammation and skin breakouts. So the next time you’re in the bread or pasta aisle, look for the whole wheat variety so you can keep your skin blemish-free.
Green tea		Green tea. This variety has the highest amount of skin-loving EGCG. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate is a compound that prevents inflammation, which is related to acne and skin aging. Applying green tea topically can help protect the skin from sun damage. Another reason to love green tea is L-theanine, an amino acid that has a calming and soothing effect on the body. Since it causes breakouts and makes your skin age faster, stress is one of your skin’s greatest enemies so the less stress you have, the younger your skin will be.

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oily skin

Skin problems are quite common today–polluted air and the stresses of everyday life have their reflection on the condition of our skin, making it oily or too dry and scaly or causing other problems.

Oily skin ages slower, but it usually looks tough, greasy and too shiny and causes discomfort to its owner. Besides, such skin usually has large pores that easily get dirty. So, to lessen the problems caused by oily skin, you should follow a number of simple rules.

Oily skin must be cleaned regularly, not less than two times a day. It’s good to wash your face with hot water and soap. Cultured milk products and oat flakes that can be very useful for cleansing. Oily skin also needs moisturizing and nourishing creams.

It’s also good to apply whitening and cleansing masks two times a week. Here are some recipes of homemade face masks from fruits and natural ingredients:

1. A banana mask. For this mask you’ll need one banana, a tablespoon of honey and some juice of an orange (you can also use a lemon instead). Mash or blend the banana and mix it with honey and add the juice. Apply this mixture onto your face and wash it with warm water after 10-15 minutes.

Bananas are a rich source of vitamins and nutrients. They will soften your skin, remove the dead cells and moisturize it.

2. A strawberry mask. You’ll need a half cup strawberries, a half tablespoon of honey, 1 egg white and a half tablespoon squeezed lemon juice. Just mix all these ingredients and apply the mixture onto your face. Wash the mask after 10-15 minutes.

Strawberries are very good against acne, and the lemon helps to whiten your skin and remove the excess oils from your face.
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Perfumes should be chosen with special care since they speak much about a person.

People display various tastes concerning to perfumes. There are people who are fond of mint flavors, others prefer woody, floral, oriental or fresh citrus flavors. In case you are fond of floral fragrances, I can offer several options of perfumes for women for you to choose from.

You may decide on Kenzo Flower. This Kenzo parfum was created by Alberto Morillas and has a sweet, fruity and vibrant fragrance. Though the perfume is very light, it lasts long.

Another floral parfum is Kenzo Jungle Parfum L’Elephant. Created in 1996 by perfumer Dominique Ropion, this Kenso parfum has a floral, warm and fruity fragrance and a strong scent. In case you are sensitive avoid using it too much. The Kenzo Jungle L’Elephant is the way to go for the winter.

Many women choose parfum Nina Ricci Apple. It combines femininity with fashion and style. It possesses a rich aroma and smells like apples, vanilla and peony petals. The bottle of parfum Nina Ricchi is shaped like an apple. Spray Nina Ricci Apple on clothing since wearing it on skin may not last long.
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Product geeks like myself always find it so interesting to find out the stories behind my favorite formulas. For example, I always thought it was so cool how the outdoorsy rosemary and eucalyptus scent of our hot salt scrub was inspired by the herb garden of our product development guru’s mom.

The inspiration behind our brand new triple oxygen+c energizing cream actually comes from that same product development diva, Damiana. She told me that she was influenced by the way skin looks after you step out of the shower. “I wanted to translate that perfectly rosy and hydrated complexion into the product,” says Dam. “After using this cream, your skin looks and feels clean and fresh, and glows with vitality.”

Seriously, do the shower test yourself—next time you step out, take a gander in the mirror while you’re still dripping. You’ll see how your face looks decidedly dewy, with an envy-inducing sheen. THAT, my friends, is what Damiana decided to put in a jar when she came up with the new triple oxygen cream. (She also decided to throw in a special form of brightening vitamin C that’s more easily absorbed into skin for good measure. That’s why we love her.)

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Who doesn’t dream of a beautiful face early in the morning while looking in the mirror? Practically everyone does. There are a lot of women who don’t feel as well without makeup as they do with it. Permanent makeup is the best solution to this dilemma.

Permanent makeup is sometimes misunderstood by many people. They treat it as a regular tattoo. Of course, there are many similarities, but the differences prevail. In order to form the right opinion consult a trained practitioner who will explain everything connected with permanent makeup.

Actually, permanent makeup is the placement of a pigment below the skin. It is done with a needle. In this way it creates the impression of applied cosmetics.

Pigment is a colored organic or inorganic solid which is insoluble and chemically and physically unaffected by the substrate into which it is incorporated. Permanent makeup pigments contain basic ingredients that are used by almost all manufacturers. Some pigments are created with iron oxides. Iron is considered to be the most stable among all the elements. Inorganic iron oxide pigments are non-toxic and have a range of colors. Iron oxide pigments are also lightfast. That means that they retain their original hue over time. The difference in pigments is strongly connected with the liquid or method used to place the pigment under the skin. Choices differ in this case. Some artists use distilled water and ethol alcohol, others use glycerin. One of the main reasons for using pigments with glycerin is that they glide on the skin and do not dry out in the cup.

Though permanent makeup and regular makeup are alike they have different goals. Permanent makeup, compared with regular tattoo, is subtle, not drawing much attention. It needs to be in harmony with facial features and skin tones.

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You can improve the appearance of your lips in several ways. Lip augmentation is one of them.

While several years ago lips enlargement was considered mainly by celebrities, nowadays a considerable number of women and girls undergo this procedure.

Lip enlargement is accomplished surgically or by injection. Some procedures are temporary whereas others are permanent.

Lip implants available for lip augmentation can be in liquid or sheet form. Currently lip injections are common.

Several months ago I underwent lip enlargement with collagen injections. Collagen was injected into my lips with small needles. In general, collagen injections are used for temporal augmentation of lips. Collagen lip implants last from a couple of months to a year and a half.

However, you should be aware that collagen might cause allergic reactions although it’s purified.  Reddening, itching, swelling and even bleeding may occur after the procedure. Therefore, I recommend that you undergo a sensitivity test before the lip injection.

The entire collagen injection procedure takes approximately 10 minutes and does not necessarily require general anesthesia.
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It’s not a secret for anyone that chocolate is a great thing and gives lots of health benefits. But did you know that you can use chocolate as a skin care mask too?

Chocolate masks will moisturize your skin, making it beautiful, soft, clean and glowing. The color of your face will also become better. And, yes, you can forget about those pigment spots.

One of the best things with chocolate masks is the fact that you can easily make them by yourself, at your home. And here are some good chocolate mask recipes for your face:

1. A moisturizing mask. You’ll need 1/4 cup cocoa powder, 1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup chopped oats and 1/4 cup natural plain yoghurt (or sour cream). Mix all these ingredients, wait for several minutes so that the mask thickens a bit, and then you can apply it on your face. You must leave the mask for 10-15 minutes and then wash it.

The cocoa powder is rich with anti-oxidants; it tones your skin and keeps it young and beautiful. Honey is a natural moisturizer–it opens the pores of your skin, has an anti-bacterial effect and helps to keep your skin fresh and clean. The oats will remove the dead cells of your skin, and the yogurt will help in that.

2. For another chocolate mask you’ll need a bar of dark chocolate, 1/5 cup of milk and one teaspoon of salt. Mix the salt and the milk, then heat the dark chocolate and when it melts, add it into the mixed milk and salt. When the mask becomes cooler, apply it on your face. Wait till it hardens on your face and wash it with warm water.

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