My hands aren’t always in the best of shape, especially if I spent a lot of time in the garden. To remove dead skin and such, there’s a quick and easy sugar scrub that leaves hands feeling fresh and smooth.

Get out some inexpensive lotion. This can be scented or unscented… your choice. Mix a dab of the lotion with a teaspoon or two of sugar and massage it into your hands. The sugar crystals act as a mild abrasive and the lotion will moisturize your skin at the same time.

Rinse your hands to remove all of the sugar and pat them dry gently. If you’d like you can follow this with a little more moisturizer.

Acne is mainly caused because of hormonal changes in the body. Many women suffer from acne during their pregnancies. In some cases it can be severe. Many pregnant women never had acne when they grew up and so they find themselves struggling with it for the first time. There are many acne treatments on the market, but many can be dangerous to your baby and to yourself. Which treatments should you avoid and what can you do to eliminate your pregnancy acne?

During the stages of pregnancy higher levels of hormones known as ‘androgens’ serve to prompt the sebaceous glands in the skin. This in turn gets bigger and boosts production of an oily substance known as ‘sebum’. This extra sebum creates more problems by combining with the shed skin cells that lie all around the hair follicles. In due course of time this blocks the pores and creates an environment which multiplies the bacteria. All these ultimately lead to the inflammation of skin and thus results in the development of skin eruptions called acne. It should be noted that if one is already suffering from the skin eruptions of acne the situations might tend to worsen during the stages of pregnancy.

But a pregnant woman may not use many acne medications. Let us find out now. *Acne and isotretinoin- Isotretinoin can treat the severe forms of acne. Isotretinoin which is a derivative of Vitamin A is taken orally to treat acne. But isotretinoin is strictly prohibited during pregnancy. Not only that, you must become pregnant only after few months of your stopping use of Isotretinon. So Isotretinoin is a strictly no during pregnancy.*Acne and Tretinoin- Tretinoin is one of the most common retinoids that are used to treat acne. Tretinoin clears the upper layer of the skin by peeling it off. Tretinoin gives very good results in acne treatment and in improvement of skin. But being a Vitamin A derivative, it cannot be used during pregnancy. All other retinoids also cannot be used.

You don’t have to go under the knife or spend money on botox treatments in order to look ten years younger. Instead, make a few lifestyle changes and start treating yourself with a little TLC and you will be amazed at the results. Things such as sleep, diet, exercise and more play a huge role in your appearance.

Getting a good night’s sleep is a sure-fire way to not only look younger, but to feel great as well. This is because while you sleep, cells go through a repair process and your body releases the hormone melatonin. This hormone has very positive effects on the skin. The result is radiant and youthful looking skin, fewer lines and less puffiness around the eyes. So do yourself a favor and get your z’s.

Be sure to eat a balanced diet, including lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Not only will this regimen help you to maintain a healthy weight, the vitamins and anti-oxidants in the fruit and veggies nourish your skin and hair. Having healthy skin and shiny hair is a definite recipe for a more youthful look.

While you’re at it, drink lots of water each day. Water cleanses your body of toxins and hydrates your skin. Hydrated skin just plain looks younger. While we’re talking about skin, don’t forget to protect your nicely hydrated skin by wearing sun screen. The damaging effects of the sun, including skin cancer, have been well documented and should be taken very seriously. Excessive exposure dries the skin and will eventually give it a leathery appearance at the least.

Be sure to wear a hat to provide further protection from the rays for the sensitive skin on your face. You don’t have to forego the healthy tanned look. Just use a tanning product instead of baking in the sun or in a tanning bed.

It’s important to use a good cleanser on your face each day to unclog pores and keep your skin from looking dry and dull. Don’t forget to moisturize after washing and this includes your entire body, not just your face. Your hands take a beating in the course of daily life. Slather on a layer of oil followed by rich lotion, nightly, to have soft, younger looking hands.

Exercise increases bone density and muscle tone. So get regular exercise, including a routine like Pilates or Yoga, to tighten sagging muscles. A fit, trim body looks younger. Not only will you be healthier and more energized on the outside, you’ll feel younger too.

Updating a haircut can cut years from a woman’s appearance. Consider highlights rather than simply dying your hair to soften your look. Find a cut that accentuates your best facial features and your lifestyle. Talk with your stylist about what type of cut and color will look best on you and try it, you never know you might just fall in love with your hair again.

Your lifestyle choices greatly affect whether you look ten years younger or ten years older. Smoking and drinking both negatively affect the aging process by blocking the absorption of necessary nutrients and over time cause damage to the major organs of the body. So, if you smoke or drink, quit and soon you’ll begin to look and feel younger.

There are so many easy, natural ways to become a younger you. Once you’ve applied some of the tips above and started seeing a difference in yourself, try not to look too smug when people find out your true age.

To improve hair growth and make sure your hair is as healthy and shiny as it can be, try this easy daily routine.

Once a day get out a brush and then bend at the waist. Lowering your head this way will improve blood circulation to the scalp. Staying in this position gently rush your hair from the scalp to the ends. You want to take about 100 strokes being sure to cover each and every part of your hair.

All this brushing will distribute the natural oils in your scalp and hair and give you that healthy, shiny hair look.

I recently became a fan of coconut oil. I’d heard that eating it was good for your thyroid. I’m not sure that I believe that, and I *really* don’t like my eggs fried in it, and the slushy that I had it in was YUCK.

BUT I have found one use that I love using it for — my lips.

I’d heard that coconut oil was wonderful for your skin, which I believe, but, by accident, I found out that it is absolute heaven for my lips. I’d eaten a teaspoon of it (trying to help my thyroid) and licked off my lips. Then, hours later, I was out in the sun and realized that my lips weren’t chapped anymore.  So, I tried it again and I love it.

No more buying Chapstick here. My family and I are coconut oil converts.

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, I thought this was appropriate…

Before the arrival of computers, TV, and fashion magazines, daughters looked to their mothers for advice about beauty. Even though this advice may not be as necessary as it was years ago, a mother can still be depended upon for a few beauty tips in this day and age.

Your mother is certainly aware of what she considers the good, the bad and the downright, I’d like to forget about this, parts of her appearance. No doubt she has worked to improve the parts that she doesn’t like while taking good care of her assets. While doing so she has probably passed on some of the tips that have worked for her in the beauty department.

As a girl you probably sat and watched as your mom applied her make-up, combed her hair, or got ready for an evening out. Many of her tips were probably casually tossed out while you chatted together during these times. Things like, go easy on the eyeliner to avoid the raccoon look, or blend in the blush so you don’t get the round clown dots on your cheeks.

Mothers are aware that the older we get, the more we sag. So when your mom tells you to throw your shoulders back and walk tall, she is really talking about posture. When you have good posture, you look slimmer, have more confidence and feel good about yourself.

Another piece of good mom advice is to relax. We tend to be so stressed today and this is reflected in our faces. Frowning and grimacing produce fine lines around the eyes and mouth that deepen with age. Make a conscious effort to smile as much as possible. Not only will you look better, but you’ll feel better too!

Another tip she may pass on is to wear sunglasses when it’s sunny no matter what season it is. Another tip is to wear glasses if you need them instead of straining to see. Scrunching up your eyes produces wrinkles around them in years to come. You can delay the crow’s feet and other wrinkles around the eyes by what you do (or don’t do) with your eyes now. So, stop scrunching up your face to avoid the bright sun or read that newspaper.

Some tips from mom may even be passed on without conscious thought from her. You can learn a lot about yourself just by looking at your mother. For instance, take a careful look at your mom and you’ll get an idea of what you may look like in twenty or thirty years. Using what you’ve learned from doing so might indeed prove to be an important beauty tip from your mom.

Moms are wise. Some of the tips that she shares are really designed to support a daughter who is bemoaning some aspect of her appearance or her life. Since mothers are all about championing those she loves, don’t be surprised when she talks about beauty being on the inside. No, it doesn’t mean that she thinks you’re hopeless. She just wants you to love yourself for who you are, just like she does. When you think about it, this tip alone is the single most important beauty tip she can pass on to you.

Aloette Enzyme Peel

This actually looks pretty interesting. I wonder if it works well with Rosacea? Normally anything that says “Enzyme” in it is too strong for my skin. The before and after pictures looks decent. And, I’ve heard that Aloette started by using a lot of Aloe in its products, so it might be quite soothing.

Any reviews of this product? If you’ve tried it, I’d love to hear your results.

I ordered some Marlo Quinn Soy Lip Balm last month because I hate the thought of putting petroleum on my 5 year old’s lips (since she eats it — yuck!).

I feel much better putting these ingredients on her lips:
Soybean Oil, Beeswax, Sunflower Seed Oil, Cocoa Seed Butter, Shea butter, Vitamin E, Flavor Oil

I ordered the loco cocoa scent and it smells just like chocolate. The balm is smooth and goes on easy and definitely makes my lips feel much better than using Vaseline-based products.

Here’s where you can order:
http://www.marloquinn.com/special (this store is now out of business)

Pros: Affordable ($5 for a large container), natural ingredients, smooth, soft, and smells yummy.

Cons: I’d prefer if it came in a tube instead of a jar.

Let me know if you try it!

Reviewer: Carrie Lauth, GA
Where to buy: www.burtsbees.com

Description: Burt’s Bees offers a lightly scented body lotion with Vitamin E and Aloe for normal to dry skin.

Review: I’m a big fan of all the Burt’s Bees products and the Milk and Honey body lotion is one of my favorites.

The lotion has a very light scent that is not at all overpowering and won’t interfere with your perfume, but is nice on its own. I like to use it all over my body when I get out of the shower, and even in the summer it’s not heavy. It is safe for both adults and babies. I love to use it on my babies after their bath.

Some may not like the fact that the lotion seems watery, but in my experience, it moisturizes just as well as thicker lotions.

If you are going on vacation and want to pack light, bring this lotion along. It’s great for all members of the family from young to old, can be used as a shaving lotion, facial moisturizer and I’ve found that it even works beautifully as a light leave on conditioner for my hair.

The whole world has gone wild over a new fad on the beauty market, sugar scrubs. If you haven’t heard of, or tried a sugar scrub yet, you are in for a real treat!

Sugar scrubs are comprised of several ingredients, the main being – you guessed it – sugar! The other ingredients in a sugar scrub may vary from company to company, but generally include deep moisturizing oils or butters such as Sweet Almond Oil, Grapeseed Oil, or Shea Butter. If sold commercially, the scrub will also contain a preservative of some sort, and usually fragrance and/or colorant.

The reason sugar scrubs work so well is because of their dual action. When you rub the scrub into your skin, the fine sugar granules gently slough off dead skin cells on the top of the skin while the oils and butters provide deep moisturizing. The result is extremely soft, silky smooth skin that is both renewed and revitalized.

There are a huge variety of sugar scrubs available on the market, with different ingredients and different packaging, but the basic action of the product remains the same. Sugar scrubs also have a huge price range as well, ranging anywhere from several dollars up into the $50 range You can even make your own sugar scrubs for use at home with common kitchen ingredients. These work just as well as high priced scrubs, but they don’t last as long (storage-wise), and may not have as exotic ingredients as some of the pricier scrubs on the market. Here are a few sugar scrub recipes you can make and use in your own home:

Ingredients:
1 handful ground almonds
5 tb. ground oatmeal
2 tb. brown sugar
2 tb. honey
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients and blend well. Store in an airtight container when not in use.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup white granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2-3 tsp. fresh coffee grounds
1/4 tsp. Essential or fragrance oil if desired

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients and blend well. Store in an airtight container when not in use.
makes approx. 1-8 oz.

Ingredients:
3/4 of cup of sugar
1/4 cup of grated coconut
1/4 cup of coconut milk powder
1/4 to 1/3 cup of Sweet Almond Oil
Coconut fragrance oil

Instructions:
Combine all dry ingredients and blend evenly. Add Sweet Almond oil a little at a time until sugar mixture is moist. Add a few drop of fragrance until you are satisfied with the fragrance strength. You can also add pineapple and/or strawberry fragrance oil for a nice tropical blend. Makes about 8oz.

As you can see, sugar scrubs are easy to make in your own home, or available to purchase if you want a longer lasting product. It is no wonder that sugar scrubs are such a fad right now, with the conditioning that they give to your skin! Be cautious using them if you have sensitive skin, and they aren’t recommended for use right before a big event such as the prom or a wedding, as the rubbing action of the sugar can cause redness when used.

So now that you know what sugar scrubs are, and how you can make or buy them, go treat yourself to a home spa experience with a sugar scrub!

Stephanie Davies is a 27 year old Missourian with a loving husband and an 8 year old son. She currently owns her own business, Mystickal Incense & More, and sells handmade candles, incense, bath & body products and more at www.mystickalincense.com