Self Renewal

Self Renewal from Head to Toe
By Kate M. D.Imperio

Are stressful days leaving you dragging? Invigorate your senses and relax your entire body for instant renewal that will keep you going the whole week through. Renewal of mind, body and soul can be achieved more easily than you think just set aside some time for yourself and slip away into a carefree moment.

Renewal of Hair and Scalp

With extreme temperatures, excessive blow-drying and chemical processing, hair and scalp may suffer damages that are not immediately apparent to the naked eye. After time, dry, peeling scalp, split ends and brittle hair may result. To remedy these undesirable traits, revamp your daily maintenance routine.

Change products to a moisture-rich shampoo formula and a deep conditioning treatment. Something like Hair Repair Intensive Conditioner will generally provide immediate results in the texture of your tresses and the way your scalp feels.

While shampooing, gently use your fingernails on your scalp as the suds course through your hair. In a light scratching motion, refresh your scalp and rinse away any dry particles. For a truly invigorating experience, apply a deep conditioning treatment with a tingling effect. Before rinsing, allow product to saturate hair and scalp for two minutes or as directed.

If at all possible, avoid over-drying hair with a blow dryer. By allowing hair to dry naturally, strands are kept intact longer, leaving them soft, shiny and healthy-looking.

Renewal of Eyes
For tired, overworked eyes, get as cool as a cucumber by placing a cold slice on each eye. If no cucumbers are to be found, substitute a cold, damp washcloth, wrung out and placed over both eyes. Lay back and relax for a few moments while your eyes absorb the cooling effects. To best relieve bloodshot eyes, though, make an early appointment with your bed!

Renewal of Skin

First, a Facial

To reinvigorate your skin and your body altogether, choose a gentle exfoliant to restore a healthy glow to your visage. (I recommend St. Ives Apricot Scrub.) Using your selected product, gently buff away any rough spots and dry skin cells in seconds. Remembering to repeat this process regularly will leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and perfect.

For further rejuvenation, a facial mud mask applied at least once a week will dry out problem areas on your skin, relax facial muscles and relieve tension lines as the mask hardens in minutes. Allow the mask to dry as you relax while reading a book or magazine, watching part of a television program or writing out your shopping list.

The Whole Body Experience

Macrobiotic Counselor Patrick Riley suggests doing a daily body rub, which involves dipping a white washcloth in warm water and vigorously rubbing every square inch of one's body. He explains that this procedure would leave the skin feeling fresh and renewed, while also freeing the mind. (Note: this is a great exfoliating technique as well.)

Additionally, scented moisturizing lotions for dry elbows, knees and legs will help to keep skin soft and smooth, moisturized and healthy.

Renewal of Feet
Pedicures operate as an excellent stress-buster and they work very well as a means of refreshing and reinvigorating the body. If an all-out pedicure takes too much time, compromise with some aromatherapy foot lotion and a self-administered foot massage before heading off to bed. Relaxation and rejuvenation will send you straight to dreamland.

You, in Entirety
For your entire body, enjoy a sensuous hot bubble bath with suds of your favorite scent or bath oil beads, bath salts, fizzers or other relaxing bathing products. Fill the tub with warm water - not scalding but not lukewarm. Allow yourself at least 20 minutes to a half hour to enjoy serenity and the soothing suds and waters around you. After a long day in the office, a sporting event or intense workout, a calming bubble bath will wash your cares away.

To enhance the experience:

• Burn an aromatherapy candle on your countertop, away from any potential fire hazards.
• Immerse yourself in a good book or magazine.
• Play soft and tranquil music in the background.
• Treat yourself to a plate of healthy snacks - frozen grapes, vegetable sticks, applesauce, pudding or yogurt.
• Close your eyes and daydream, but be careful not to fall asleep.
• Wrap yourself in a fluffy towel at the conclusion of your bath.

Another body renewing trick makes things about as simple as they get exercise!
Mild exercises such as crunches, sit-ups, push-ups and maybe even an early morning run will help your overall spirit and frame of mind by awakening your muscles and reminding your body how great it feels to stay active.

By combining all of these steps or concentrating on only a few, your body should be well on its way to a more relaxed and recharged state. By adding some relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation, your stress load should diminish, leaving you with more energy for those things that are most important to you.

Sexy Mini Skirts

All About Mini Skirts

By Beverly Smith

Mini skirts are more than still in, they are a fashion must-have.

Why are mini skirts sexy? What makes men like seeing women's legs?
I can understand the primeval lust for breasts (supposedly resembling buttocks!) and for red lips (similarly resembling flushed sexual organs!), but why legs?

It's not that women who ran faster were better breeders or anything. Maybe it's the exposed flesh that's been covered in more modest times.

Whatever the reason, it makes one look like the top of the evolutionary pyramid that all males want to breed with.

And so many women want to be irresistible to the attention of men...

Even though the notion of "dressing your age" is outdated, micro mini skirts look best on younger women.
However, it's easy to modify the look for any age: just go a few inches above the knee for an updated look that's still quite flattering and wearable.

Note: Good rule of thumb in case you're wondering if your feminine figure can handle thigh-grazing attire: a skirt should never be wider than it is short.

Remember that everything - getting into a cab, picking up that lucky penny you stumble upon in the parking lot, sitting on a stool - is a challenge in a mini.

Wondering which shoes and legwear to use with your miniskirt?

Try these below to look your trendy best:

Boots - The hands-down winner for a miniskirt is a pair of boots. Lengths range from ankle-length to mid-calf to knee-high. Tall boots (a few inches under the knee) are the easiest to carry off with short skirts.

The nude look - Show off the rewards of step classes and waxing sessions with bare legs and boots. Or fake perfect legs with self-tanner or leg makeup.

Socks - Display your playful side with over-the-knee socks. Only for the young (under 20 and adventurous!)

Patterned legwear - Add soft texture to pantyhose with subtle patterns for a ladylike look; fishnets for funk or bold graphics for a nice feel.

Don't be afraid to enjoy yourself and have fun!

Simple Ways to Retain a Youthful Look

By Anna Lynn C. Sibal

We women, in one way or another, wish to look young all our lives. Whether you pin the blame on our upbringing, the media or our youth-oriented society, the thing is that we do indeed desire to retain our youthful looks for as long as we can. That is why cosmetic surgery and the cosmetic industry in general are making loads of money. Many women and even men are willing to spend a tremendous amount just to keep their faces and bodies looking young.

But did you know that retaining a youthful look is quite simple and that you do not have to break the bank just to achieve it? It is just as easy as taking care of your self and deciding for yourself to make a few changes in your habits and lifestyle.

Taking care of your self from the outside.

The one part of the body that easily reveals our age is our skin. Having dry, stretched skin with wrinkles, fine lines and spots makes a person look old. One way of keeping our skin looking young is to make a habit of moisturizing the skin at least twice a day once in the morning and once at night, before you go to bed. Keeping the skin moisturized makes our skin feel soft and smooth and plumps up the fine lines. The act of rubbing the skin with the moisturizer also helps improve blood circulation to the skin.

There are specifically formulated moisturizing products targeted to suit the different areas of our skin. A face cream is for the face and the face alone. It should not be used for the hands or the body. A hand and body lotion is for the hands and the body only; they should not be used for the face. There are different products designed particularly for the neck, the foot, and the eyelids. This may seem tedious, but different areas of the skin have different moisture requirements. Use these products to feed your skin with moisture.

Remember as well that oily skin needs oil-free products, while dry skin needs extra moisture.
Also, try to keep out of the sun as much as you can. The sun's ultraviolet rays harm the skin; not only does constant exposure induce the appearance of wrinkles on the skin, but it also causes ailments such as skin cancer. If you have to go out, make sure you are protected. Use a hat and sunglasses. Your skin products should also have SPF.

Makeup also helps. Dab a concealer over the pimples, the dark circles under the eyes, and whatever skin blemishes that you have. After that, apply a light foundation, then a touch of the bronzer and a little lipstick. Take care not to put on too much makeup; too much makeup makes us look older instead of younger.

Don't forget your hair. All the effort that goes into taking care of the skin will all be wasted if the hair is not given enough attention as well. Keep your roots touched up if you have dyed hair. You may also want to frame your face with highlighted locks to add light to your face. Keep your hair clean, soft and well-groomed.

Taking care of your from the inside.

What is inside is reflected on the outside. To have a youthful, glowing look, we have to take care of the inside of our bodies too. And that is done by eating right so our bodies get the right nutrients, by exercising right so our muscles would be toned and flexible, and by drinking a lot of water to wash out the waste and toxins from our body. Another thing that you should do is to minimize or even eliminate the consumption of alcohol. You should also quit smoking. Visit the dentist regularly as well to keep your teeth white, strong and healthy.

Whether the fountain of youth is real or not, what matters is that we women should learn to take better care of ourselves. In learning how to take better care of ourselves, we have already found our own fountain of youth.