GET HEALTHY & BEAUTIFUL NAILS

Many women battle dry, damaged nails that split, peel or break. Though sometimes weak nails are hereditary, you can take some measures to help your fingernails grow longer, stronger and healthier. Follow these tips to help prevent and repair damaged, brittle nails.

Soak nails in olive oil

For weak, thin nails, soak them in extra virgin olive oil 10-15 minutes a day for a month, then twice a week thereafter. This inexpensive home beauty treatment will help fortify damaged, weak or peeling nails.

Use a cuticle cream

A soothing cuticle cream like Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme helps nourish dry cuticles and brittle, damaged nails with vitamin E. Massage the cream into and around your nails nightly before going to bed.

Wear gloves for chores

When doing the dishes, cleaning and gardening, wear gloves. Detergents and cleansers are harsh on your fingernails, causing drying, spitting and peeling. Soil and gardening can also cause damage to your nails.

Find a miracle treatment

Sally Hansen Miracle Cure for Severe Problem Nails works wonders. It stops nails from peeling almost overnight. Using a mineral rich formula with protein and antioxidants, this treatment helps restore dry, splitting, damaged nails. A clear coat of nail polish may also help protect nails.

Eat biotin-rich foods

Make sure your diet features foods rich in biotin, such as liver, cooked eggs, whole grains, cauliflower and avocado, among others. In addition to other health benefits, biotin can help strengthen and thicken nails. You can also take a biotin supplement, if necessary.

Don't overuse your nails

Your fingernails aren't intended to be tools to open soda cans, dial the phone and other tasks. Instead, use a pen or other object rather than your fingernails to do these everyday tasks.

Take a multivitamin daily

Vitamins are essential for your overall well being and can do wonders for your nails too. Lack of vitamin A, vitamin C and calcium can cause dry, brittle nails. Be sure to take a multivitamin and calcium supplements daily. Also be sure to eat a protein and calcium rich diet.

Avoid nail polish remover

Don't use nail polish remover more than once or twice a month, if possible. And never use a nail polish remover that contains acetone, which can dry and damage nails.

Massage your nails

Massaging your fingernails stimulates blood flow to the area, helping them grow longer and stronger. Use a moisturizing lotion and massage hands, cuticles and the nails themselves. Also, get into the habit of applying lotion immediately after washing your hands.

Drink lots of water

We all know how good water is for your overall health and that goes for your nails too. Drinking water can help hydrate dry, damaged nails, just like it does for hair and skin.

Read More

How to Strengthen Your Fingernails to Prevent Breakage

Acrylic nails are just one of many ways to protect our natural nails from breakage and damage, but there are many natural, less expensive ways to protect our nails and allow them to grow longer and stronger naturally without the acrylics that actually damage nails and keep them from reaching their healthy potential. For many women, having weak, bendy nails is actually a sign of anemia, or iron deficiency, and simply taking an iron supplement will aid their nails in growing stronger.

Another nail affliction is the separating of the layers of nails, where the top layer physically peels off, leaving the softer layer underneath soft and pliable and prone for tearing and ripping. Picking at nails is one of the causes of the nail layers separating, and not keeping the nails moisturized allows them to become dry and brittle and leads to the layers separating.

At least once a week, or every time you paint your nails, soak your fingertips in a Vitamin E oil for 15 minutes, and rub the oil into the cuticles and the nails. This not only softens the cuticle so it's easier to push down, but also hydrates the skin around the nail, preventing and treating those nasty hangnails. Allowing Vitamin E oil into the nail helps it replenish and regenerate and create new cells to grow out.

Take a prenatal vitamin supplement daily. Prenatal pills are excellent for both hair and nails as they are rich in Biotin, Vitamin B, and Vitamin E, which hair and nails love. This allows your damaged nail to regenerate and produce healthier nails which are stronger and less apt to separate layers or break off.

Ever look at your naked nail and see ridges in the top of the nails, or see white dots? The white dots are another classic sign of iron deficiency, and the ridges are actually little scars in the nails from all your days of peeling nail polish off your nails when you were bored. Quit picking at your nails to help them grow back smoothly and once again, get your iron because your body is telling you to!

When cutting your nails, cut them all to follow your natural nail shape. Some nails grow square, some round, some oval. Don't manipulate the natural shape of the nail. When filing, don't file back and forth, file in one motion, and use a glass file, which lasts longer and provides a smoother, shinier finish.

Apply a clear base coat when wearing nail polish, and give your nails a break entirely now and then. Wearing a base coat protects your nails from absorbing nail polish (green and red colors dye the nails when applied directly) and not wearing nail polish at all for a few days helps your nails just breathe and regenerate on their own. Take these days to rub Vitamin E oil into your nails and let them relax and have a vacation from your picking, painting, filing, and gluing.

Keep your nails at an appropriate length. A long nail should be no more than a few millimeters beyond the fingertip (in other words, when typing you should be able to still type with your fingertips, not just the nail). Not only does having too-long nails encourage natural breakage as the longer they are the more susceptible they are to snapping and snagging, nails too long are harder to keep clean, and acquire harmful germs and bacteria underneath from every day activities.

To clean underneath nails and keep them pretty, rub a bar of soap under each nail and wash away the caked soap. This should pull out debris under the nail and get to those nasty germs that are harmful all around.

While acrylic nails are pretty and hide ugly snaggy nails, acrylics also damage nails as you have to file the nail next to nothing to put them on. If you are willing to avoid acrylics and try to grow healthier looking nails naturally, it will be easier and cheaper and more rewarding in the long run.

Having healthy nails starts with hydration, maintenance and nurturing from within. The greatest thing about growing healthy nails is that you can see results within just a few days, as they are always growing! follow these simple tips for happy healthy nails and you can kiss those fake nails goodbye!

Read More

Beauty Foods: What to Eat Now and Why

It's no secret that eating a variety of fruits and vegetables on a daily basis is one of the keys to a healthy body, great skin, strong nails and a host of other positive attributes, but few people pay enough attention to eating what's in season. Not only will eating in season benefit your health, it's beneficial for budgets and will make it more likely that you'll stick to eating healthfully (because in-season produce tends to be more flavorful than say…peaches in December). Ideally, we'd all be buying organic, but if you don't have access to pesticide-free produce or are on a tight budget, opt for ones known to have the fewest trace pesticides (marked with an asterisk below).

Here's a look at some of what's in season for summer and why you should be eating.

Kiwi*

Rich in vitamin C, kiwis are known to help treat lung problems including shortness of breath, asthma and coughs. They're also rich in vitamin E, magnesium, potassium and copper, all of which work to protect the cardiovascular system.

Pineapple*

They are loaded with immune-boosting vitamins and ones that help regulate blood sugar and aid the body in metabolizing fats and protein like vitamin C, manganese and vitamin B.

Avocado*

Full of "good" fat (monounsaturated fat), avocados have been shown to help lessen your LDL cholesterol, which is harmful to your body, while raising the HDL cholesterol (called "good cholesterol"). They also have a high fiber content, B vitamins, vitamin K and vitamin E, all of which work to help the body's metabolism and help bones grow properly.

Mango*

High in glutamine acid which is good for boosting memory and keeping cells active, mangoes are also high in iron, which is especially important for women who tend to run low on this crucial mineral. Bodies low in iron tend to experience dizziness, fatigue, pale skin, low energy and frequent headaches.

Grapefruit*

A good source of vitamin C, potassium, lycopene, calcium, fiber and phosphorous, it also contains bioflavonoid and other plant chemicals, which helps protect against various cancers and heart diseases.

Spring onions*

High in vitamin K and A, spring onions are known to help lower blood sugar levels, help treat gastrointestinal problems, alleviate cold symptoms and speed up the level of blood circulation in the body.

Morels*

These spongy wild mushrooms provide antioxidants that protect healthy cells from disease formation, macronutrients beneficial for heart health, and they're thought to help improve liver function.

Spinach

Rich in flavonoids, which help fight cancer, spinach also contains a variety of anti-inflammatory agents. The high amount of vitamin A in spinach also promotes healthy skin.

Radishes

High in fiber and vitamin C, radishes also contain a group of compounds called isothiocyanates, which have been shown to be effective cancer fighters.

Rhubarb

Though it's a vegetable, it's usually used as a fruit for dessert and makes for a good source of vitamin C, potassium and manganese. That said, if you aren't a fan of tart flavors, you might want to stay away from rhubarb as it will require a lot of sugar, which may negate some of its health benefits.

Beet

Known as one of nature's aphrodisiacs, beets contain high amounts of boron, which is related to the production of human sex hormones. Beets are also particularly beneficial to women who are pregnant because they're a rich source of vitamin B and iron, which help with the growth of cells during pregnancy.

Read More

Little Fixes for Big Beauty Emergencies

What do you do when you feel a zit coming on in the middle of the day, or realize while on a date that you forgot to wear deodorant? What about when you've snagged a nail without your portable mani kit around? These are just a few examples of beauty emergencies that can have serious consequences for your mood. Never fear! Learn these simple fixes for unexpected beauty issues and you'll never be caught feeling less than gorgeous again.

Flaking Polish Problem

There's possibly nothing more annoying than looking down and seeing the first signs (or the last) of flaking polish. Unless you opt for a more expensive gel manicure, flaking after only a few days is often inevitable. How can you fix it fast before that big meeting or lunch date? Make sure you have one of the following on hand: glitter polish or stick on polish strips. Understandably, glitter polish isn't appropriate for all occasions, but its texture can quickly mask flakes. The strips, however, require zero drying time and are easily trimmed. You'll be glad you have them on hand! 

Low on Lipstick

You meant to get to Sephora and restock, but it was one of the many things you just happened to forget to do this week. No worries. Dab your lips with cream or powder blush instead. Typical blush colors match up really well with the natural color of lips. They create a natural effect that may not be your favorite color, but will do to emphasize your kisser in a pinch!

Gray Hair Cover Up

It's true that some will recommend mascara for this job, but there are actually root touchup products out there for grays such as Tween-Time ($7) and Alterna Stylist 2 Minute Root Coverup ($24). If you insist on getting your color at the salon, these are good to have on hand during times when life requires you to push back your appointment.

Rough Cuticles

Nothing makes a pair of nails that would otherwise look fine look messed up than dry cuticles. The dry skin becomes hard and starts to lift from the nail, giving that telltale sign that you haven't had a chance to do a mani for a little while. Bummer. Fix it with any oil you can get your hands on, or lotion. One of my favorite ways to fix them is by emptying the contents of a Vitamin E capsule. These capsules are ultra easy to carry and store wherever you go, and don't go bad.

Rainy Day Frizz

Picked the wrong weather day to wear your locks au naturale? Again, not a problem. Regular old hand lotion, used sparingly, will tame fly-aways. So will a small bottle of any number of serums you can buy at the drugstore and keep around, but those only have one purpose, whereas the lotion has many. 

Zit Be Gone

By about age 17, a girl can tell when a doozy of a zit is coming her way. There's redness, maybe an itch or tingle, or even pain when she touches a small area of her face. If you can find an ice cube and a lemon or lemon juice nearby, you may be able to prevent the blemish from breaking through. Rub the cube on it, to take down swelling. Then dab on lemon juice; its astringent properties will dry out the problem. (Just don't expose the area to the sun as lemon juice can cause discoloration.)

Oops, Forgot Deodorant!

Here's another little issue that a lemon will fix right up. If you've gotten to work and realized you forgot deodorant that morning, rubbing a cut lemon or dabbing lemon juice under your arms will prevent odor. Just be careful you don't have any open cuts or nicks from the razor under those arms! Ouch.

Greasy Summer Bangs and Roots

Left your big can of dry shampoo at home? Prefer to keep it there? Buy a mini bottle of hairspray or fill up a mini travel size bottle and use it when you've noticed that a couple days without washing your hair is making it look a little too shiny. The alcohol in hairspray will absorb extra oil. 

Read More

The Science of Aging and the Secrets of Forever-Young Skin

Ah, aging. Why is it that some of us tend to look better with age, while others…don't? There are two basic reasons. One has to do with your genetics, which is a complex issue. The best way to understand it simply is to look at how your parents and grandparents have shown their signs of aging. The other has to do with how well you take care of your skin, which if done diligently, can supplant a genetic predisposition toward early signs of aging. Seemingly every week, a new anti-aging product comes on the market, promising a new, special ingredient that turns back the hands of time. Should you trust it? How does skin age, anyway? Read on to find out!

Your Skin's Essential Proteins

When it comes to understanding the aging process, there are three terms us non-dermatologists should know: collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. Your body has these proteins in spades when you're young. In fact, skin is about 75% collagen during that time. 

What They Do

Collagen is a connective tissue that binds together vessels and cartilage, among other things. It's part of your skin matrix that when strong, keeps skin firm and plump. Elastin's job is to keep skin resilient. If you've ever pinched skin on the top of your hand, versus the hand of a senior citizen, you'll see that young skin immediately snaps back whereas older skin does not. That's due to the amount of elastin and its strength. Hyaluronic acid is also part of the skin matrix and works to lock in moisture, also aiding in skin plumpness. 

When They Go Away

The human body loses its ability to create these efficiently and in adequate amounts over time. Moisture loss makes skin look dry and papery, making fine lines and wrinkles more obvious, loss of elastin contributes to sagging, as does collagen loss. While you can't ultimately control this process without plastic surgery (the results of which can be iffy), you can help to slow it down. You might be surprised at what a little perseverance early on can do.

What You Can Do

First and foremost, starting in your mid to late twenties, you need to moisturize your skin daily with a moisturizer that has SPF protection. Dermatologists agree that most early signs of aging are due to overexposure to the sun. That hot ball in the sky zaps elastin like no one's business, which is why older sun worshipers have skin that resembles thick, worn out leather. Sadly, I've seen women who dabbled in tanning in their teens, showing early signs of aging compared to those who did not. You do not want to mess with the sun when it comes to your skin. Doctors also agree that wrinkles are essentially caused by repetitive facial movements. We each have our own little ticks, and that's why wrinkles are as individual as fingerprints. Should you stop moving your face? No. But being aware of a frowning habit and fixing it, will have an affect on future wrinkles. Exfoliating your face once per week gets rid of dead skin, helping new skin show on the surface, this alone will make skin look younger, more glowing and will reduce the look of lines, too. 

Barring these basic activities (that I swear make a huge difference over time), you can visit a dermatologist for prescription strength skin creams that contain the right amount of collagen-building and moisture-preserving ingredients. Dr. Cynthia Bailey, a California-based dermatologist points out on her site that not only are the ingredients important, but so is their concentration and the stability of their form to see results. If you're not opposed to injectables, these can temporarily restrict muscle movement and plump skin to fill in lines and wrinkles, also done by your dermatologist. Chemical peels work like super strength exfoliants, removing the topmost skin cells so new ones can shine through, also giving a temporarily younger look.

Beware of the Hype

Many drugstore brands make bold claims, but don't deliver exactly what they promise. While they tout having special ingredients like vitamin C, retinol and hyaluronic acid (all related to collagen production), such ingredients are delivered in molecules that are too big to be absorbed by skin. Peptide formulas make claim to having a smaller sized molecules and are more effective, but not a guarantee. Some detractors say that delivered topically, these ingredients don't work at all, and one must try to create collagen from the inside out. They suggest eating foods that contain collagen-building ingredients or taking supplements, but again, have no proven success rate. 

The Verdict

Don't despair about false claims. Let it be a lesson that more expensive, doesn't always mean better. And know that regardless of the extra anti-aging power a product promises, its basic moisturizing ingredients used daily will absolutely have an effect on how your skin ages. I never thought I would have use for a sports adage, but when it comes to aging, the best offense is a good defense. Moisturize, exfoliate and protect skin from the sun. Your skin will love you for it. And you'll love it right back. 

Read More

7 Life-Changing Habits for Your Most Gorgeous Hair Ever

Have you ever looked at a woman on a blistery day, wind whipping your hair all akimbo, and noticed her tresses look…perfect. How does she do it? It's all in how you care for your hair, baby. Granted, hair that doesn't move is either under a hat or a serious amount of styling product. But that shine, those perfectly un-split ends…that's taking care of your assets in between styling sessions.

If you've ever wondered how to separate haircare fact from fiction (no, trimming your hair does NOT make it grow faster), we're here to help. Live by these seven rules and you'll be on your way to giving yourself the hair you've always dreamed of. Note: healthy hair is also a product of taking care of your body and your stress level. As if you needed another reason to be an all-around healthy gal, add gorgeous hair to the list. Now, here are the ways to protect hair and treat it right, once and for all!

1.) Skip Daily Shampooing

If you're washing your hair every day, you're doing it a major drying-out disservice. I know, you're like, "But I have super oily hair!" That's what dry shampoo is for. Or just warm water in the shower. You do not need to shampoo every day. Every other day is plenty and your hair will look better for it. Trust. Try to keep the shampoo on your scalp and the conditioner for your lengths and ends, too.

2.) Stock Up on Vitamins 

Look at the labels of the products you buy and stick to nourishing natural vitamins, minerals and even oils. They do your hair good, just as they do the rest of you good when you eat them. In fact, consuming healthier foods will directly contribute to healthier hair. Think of essential fatty acids, leafy greens and vitamins A, E and C. 

3.) Brush Sparingly 

There's only one reason to brush your hair — ever. If you're being a good girl and haven't shampooed it in two or three days, you might notice some oil buildup on your roots. That's natural, normal and healthy. Use a boar bristle brush from root to tip to distribute that natural shine serum from the top of your head to the tips. Otherwise, stick to combing. Combs don't flatten your volume or reduce your natural wavy or curly texture. 

4.) Dye Wisely and Only Out of Necessity 

It's sort of common sense to dye your hair sparingly, right? But if you're an at-home dyer, here's another tip that will make your hair look 25 when you're 45: Dye only your roots on a four to six week basis. This saves the length and ends of your hair from extra damage. As for the rest of your hair, it can be dyed only a few times per year if it's particularly faded or brassy. As a blonde who's been dying her hair for 15 years and using this method, I revel in compliments about how healthy my hair looks. People assume it's natural – nope! 

5.) Listen to your Scalp 

Your scalp is an indicator of your hair type. If it's oily, are your strands. If it's dry and flaky, expect brittle, breakable hair. Depending on what you observe, choose your haircare products. Moisturizing for you dry types and clarifying for extra oily scalps.

6.) Use Protection 

Like skin, hair retains damage from heavy and repeated sun exposure. If you can wear a hat on a sunny day, do so. Now imagine what a blower and flat iron are doing to your strands. Yikes. Too many women think heat-protectant creams and sprays are an unnecessary add-on to their haircare regime, but without them, you might as well be hanging out in the middle of the Sahara in your polka dot bikini sans sunscreen.

7.) Stay Trimmed 

Once and for all, keeping hair trimmed does not promote growth. You hair grows from your roots, not your ends. What getting your hair trimmed actually does for you is keep your ends looking…trimmed and healthy! It also allows your hair to look its best while it grows out. Split ends don't necessarily stop at the tips either. Without a trim, they'll just keep moving up the hair shaft, meaning you could be in for losing more hair than you want when you sit down in your stylists chair. 

Read More

Eat These Foods to Prevent Cancer, Boost Immunity, Energize and More

Celebrity trainer and fitness personality Noah Neiman is known to tell the people he trains that while eating healthy is expensive, it doesn't come close to hospital bills. That may be hard to remember when you're paying $12 for your green juice or $7 for your raw-vegan cookie, but there's no denying that one of the best ways to help fight and prevent disease is through a diet rich in vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Here's a look at what to load up on to help ward off common ailments.

Help prevent cancer

According to nutritionist Joy Bauer, 35% of cancers are related to nutritional factors. Garlic, broccoli, tomatoes, strawberries, carrots, spinach, whole grains, grapefruit and peanut butter are among the antioxidant rich foods proven to be effective in helping fight cancer.

Boost your immune system

Tahini, yogurt (and other fermented foods like kefir and sauerkraut), beans, nuts, free-range chicken, eggs, pumpkin and seaweed are all great sources of healthy protein, magnesium and zinc, which have been proven to boost immunity.

Energize

Dehydration is a common cause for fatigue, so make sure you're getting enough water and grass-fed meat, sweet potatoes, blueberries, salmon, eggs, almonds, broccoli and spinach, all of which are loaded in the nutrients commonly found in low levels in people who suffer from fatigue.

Boost memory 

Research has shown that certain foods — including berries, kale, salmon, nuts and seeds, coffee and beets — can enhance brain function and in some cases reverse age-related memory loss.

Lower cholesterol

There are plenty of foods that can help lower LDL cholesterol. Oats, whole grains, fatty fish, apples, grapes, strawberries, citrus fruits, eggplant and beans are all rich in cholesterol lowering soluble fiber.

For heart health

Cut back on salt, while opting for lean protein, whole grains, olive oil, cinnamon, oatmeal, nuts, peppermint and salmon.

Read More