Back to basics.It's that time of year again. The kids have headed back to school, many with a renewed sense of commitment to the basics. A good breakfast, front row scat in Algebra class and doing homework right after school are all practices that help encourage strong performance in school. Developing good habits early in the year is much easier than playing catch-up when grades get out of control. The same principal applies to skin and hair care. Keeping the following three basics in mind can help minimize the chance of your skin being plagued by out-of-control acne or your hair falling limp and lifeless. As usual, none of the tips here require a great deal of time or financial investment. The hardest part is simply developing each as a habit. EAT RIGHT That good breakfast won't just help you ace your history test or that presentation with the boss's boss's boss. The age-old edict A decree or law of major import promulgated by a king, queen, or other sovereign of a government. An edict can be distinguished from a public proclamation in that an edict puts a new statute into effect whereas a public proclamation is no more than a declaration of a law "cat healthy and drink lots of water" is so simple, and yet we manage to have trouble with it. A healthy diet (read: stay away from the saturated fat saturated fat, any solid fat that is an ester of glycerol and a saturated fatty acid. The molecules of a saturated fat have only single bonds between carbon atoms; if double bonds are present in the fatty acid portion of the molecule, the fat is said to be and sugar!) truly helps keep your skin clear. Staying hydrated hy·drat·ed adj. Chemically combined with water, especially existing in the form of a hydrate. Adj. 1. hydrated - containing combined water (especially water of crystallization as in a hydrate) hydrous helps with skin texture. Pull this list out and take it with you on your next shopping trip. Even adding one extra piece of fruit and one extra liter of water a day will make a tremendous difference in the texture and appearance of your skin. HEALTHY SKIN SHOPPING LIST Asparagus asparagus, perennial garden vegetable (Asparagus officinalis) of the family Liliaceae (lily family), native to the E Mediterranean area and now naturalized over much of the world. or onions: These veggies Veggies of Nottingham, also known as Veggies Catering Campaign, is a campaigning group based in Nottingham, England, promoting ethicalbum alternatives to mainstream fast food. have a high sulfur content which helps to keep skin youthful looking. Bananas, lemons or grapefruit grapefruit, pomelo (pŏm`əlō), or pummelo (pum`məlō), citrus fruit (Citrus paradisi) of the family Rutaceae (orange family). : Yellow fruits contain beta-carotene, an essential ingredient for tissue regeneration. High-fiber choices: Whole wheat instead of white bread, spinach instead of iceberg lettuce iceberg lettuce n. A crisp, round, compact head of lettuce with light green, tightly folded leaves. [From its pale color. . Choosing foods high in fiber is the smartest "diet trick" of all. Not only do they keep you full, but they facilitate detoxification Detoxification Definition Detoxification is one of the more widely used treatments and concepts in alternative medicine. It is based on the principle that illnesses can be caused by the accumulation of toxic substances (toxins) in the body. in a way nothing else can. My husband and I both get on our "Eat high-fiber!" soapbox, perhaps more than we should, but it's only because this is the easiest (and most flavorful) way to stay healthy. Good water: Make sure you get your water from a trusted source. Chlorine, fluoride fluoride, a salt of hydrofluoric acid; see hydrogen fluoride. See also fluoridation; fluorine. , and other chemicals often make it into public water supplies. My philosophy is, if I wouldn't eat it spread on a cracker, Fm not going to drink it. Aim for at least two liters of clean water a day (unless it's hot or you're exercising--then make it three). CLEANSE cleanse tr.v. cleansed, cleans·ing, cleans·es To free from dirt, defilement, or guilt; purge or clean. [Middle English clensen, from Old English PROPERLY Sodium Laureth Sulfate Sodium laureth sulfate, or sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), is a detergent and surfactant found in many personal care products (soaps, shampoos, toothpaste etc.). It is an inexpensive and very effective foamer. is usually found in shampoo and is responsible for all the foam that helps to get rid of oily hair. It also gets rid of oil and grease by making its way into engine degreasers, ear wash solutions, and garage floor cleaners. The abrasive quality of some facial scrubs can be on par with that of a straw broom if used improperly. Keep the following things in mind when searching for and using any personal care product. Ingredient List--Really take some time to check the label. Can you pronounce all of the ingredients? Some? None? Skin and hair both absorb much of what is in the environment and many outside chemicals circulate in the body for several days. Again, the "If you wouldn't eat it spread on a cracker ..." rule applies. What's the problem? Identifying the real cause of any skin or hair care problem needs to be done before anything else. An abrasive skin cleanser won't help with severe acne, as you can't just "scrub" it away. Conditioner galore won't help repair breakage that occurs when you comb through soaking wet hair. Often, shelling out big bucks for a brand new moisturizer mois·tur·iz·er n. A cosmetic lotion or cream applied to the skin to counter dryness. moisturizer n → crema hidratante moisturizer moist n is unnecessary; perhaps all that's needed is an extra glass of water a day. Identifying the cause of a problem before you make it to the skincare aisle is a good idea. It can be hard to remember the "Cracker Rule" when tempted by so many quick-fix products. Get Regular, Stay Regular--Once you find a routine that works for you, stick with it. Follow it every day. Missing a week of Algebra class leaves kids playing catch-up for a long time, perhaps longer than the time missed. The catch-up is always harder than just doing it the first time, so make regular cleansing a priority. HAVE FUN Be regular, but don't be stagnant! Everyone needs a "field trip" once in a while. Over-experimenting with products can wreak wreak tr.v. wreaked, wreak·ing, wreaks 1. To inflict (vengeance or punishment) upon a person. 2. To express or gratify (anger, malevolence, or resentment); vent. 3. havoc on your skin, but a mask once a week can leave you looking and feeling refreshed. Deep conditioner every day will leave your hair looking as oily as that garage floor, but a treatment every few weeks will leave you shiny and healthy. Nothing will show up on your face faster than being miserable, so make sure to have some fun...even if it means ditching that cracker and having a cookie once in a while. Emily Ray, based in Atlanta, GA, has been creating natural beauty products for six years, and she is a regular contributor to New Life Journal. To ask her a question, email askemily@newlifejournal.com. For more articles on natural beauty visit www.newlifejournal.com |
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