Home Spas: Theyre Not Just For The Rich & Famous Anymore!
July 23, 2007
Aaah, a spa. It used to be that you needed a Hollywood mansion to even entertain the thought; but now, home spas are popping up everywhere you look and with good reason.
The basis for all the “ooh-ing” and “aah-ing” when people settle down to soak in their home spas is “hydrotherapy” or “water healing” which was first made famous by the Greek Hippocrates, the “father” of medicine, in the 4th century BC. He used to prescribed bathing and drinking spring water for its medicinal benefits. Soaking in hot springs was another Greek favorite which was quickly picked up by the Romans who built thousands of communal baths which were the forerunner of modern home spas!
Although the number one “official” reason for the remarkable increase in the installations of home spas is to sooth overworked muscles and soak away the effects of stress caused by our hectic lifestyles, home spas are also a wonderful socializing tool as many people have found out over the years.
Having access to home spas means that although parties may start out in the living rooms, they often end up in the “spa room” accompanied by soft music, low lights, a little wine or spirits and a whole lot of relaxing. Bathing suits are, of course, optional depending upon the “house” rules!
Fashion Tips: 5 Ways To Look Fabulous in White
July 22, 2007
Do you see white in your future? No, I’m not referring to a wedding but rather your summer wardrobe. Nothing spells summer like white. While the temperature rises you can stay cool and look fantastic in white. White will add impact to your summer wardrobe and will keep you looking fresh and inviting. To get the most from wearing white I have a few suggestions.
1. White reflects light so wherever you wear it you will bring attention. Having said that, if you have any body parts you don’t want to appear larger don’t accentuate that area by adorning it in white and wearing a dark color next to it. What you can do is wear white from head- to- toe so no particular area has focus. For example, if you have large hips don’t wear white bottoms with a dark top because the eye will be drawn to the bottom. Instead, wear a white top and white pants and use accessories to take the focus away from the problem area. Or wear white on top and black on the bottom.
What You Should Know About Cosmetic Surgery
July 21, 2007
Cosmetic surgery is any surgical procedure that is designed to enhance your physical appearance. Unless the cosmetic surgery is required as the result of an accident, injury, or birth defect, the chances are the procedure will not be covered by your insurance.
Although cosmetic surgery may change your appearance and give you the confidence to face the world with a whole new attitude, it doesn’t change who you “really” are inside. If you were lazy and unmotivated before your new nose, you’re likely to still be lazy and unmotivated after.
The most common cosmetic surgery procedures are face lifts, liposuction, breast enhancement, “nose jobs” and “tummy tucks” but this is by no means the extent of what a cosmetic surgeon can do for you.
Cosmetic surgery is performed by a doctor who has undergone specialized training in either plastic or cosmetic surgery. When choosing a doctor always make sure that they have been certified by either the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) or the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS). They should have the certification document in plain view in their office.
You’ll want to ask the following questions when you are interviewing the doctor:
Wheres The Plastic In Plastic Surgery?
July 20, 2007
Don’t be looking for the Dupont Company sales rep the next time you visit a Plastic Surgeon’s office because, despite popular belief, there’s no “Plastic” in Plastic Surgery. The name is taken from the Greek word “plastikos” which means to “mold or shape.”
Initially plastic surgery procedures were limited to facial and body reconstruction caused by accidents, trauma, illness or birth defects. As people began to see the purely cosmetic possibilities, many surgeons expanded their services to include facelifts, rhinoplasty (nose jobs), breast augmentation and liposuction.
It’s important to know the difference between plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery, especially if you’re planning on having your insurance company foot the bill for your procedure.
Cosmetic surgery is performed solely to improve a person’s outward physical appearance and self-esteem by correcting naturally occuring conditions that the patient is unhappy with. Cosmetic surgery may be performed by either a Plastic Surgeon or a Cosmetic Surgeon. Cosmetic surgery is generally not covered by health insurance.
Reconstructive plastic surgery is performed to correct or reduce the effects of congenital defects, accidental trauma injury, infections, tumors, and other health-related conditions. It’s primary purpose is rarely to simply improve appearance except for extreme cases involving major facial or bodily damage resulting from automobile accidents, etc. Plastic Surgery may only be performed by a Plastic Surgeon.
Plus Size Fashion Tips: What?s Hot this Summer
July 19, 2007
The sun is sizzling, and so will you this season! A lot of trendy, fun and colourful styles are in fashion at the moment: follow our guide which highlights what’s hot in the plus size fashion scene for summer 2005.
This summer it’s all about the subtle touches that give an outfit that extra something. Try and put in a touch of glitter into your style to give yourself some allure and shine.
Halters are back in girls. Do not feel shy to expose those shoulders! Just make sure you are protected with a good sun-protection lotion, this is very important ladies. Spin around in trendy summer styles by mixing and matching up different items with halter-neck tops. You can see a good example of a perfect colored halter top at Torrid.com: in stock at the moment they have a brown halter-neck, which can be easily matched up with a pair of jeans, trousers, skirt or capris pants!
Green is a particularly popular colour this season, so go for chocolate, gold and forestry colors which can easily be matched with green.
Whats Up With Botox?
July 19, 2007
BOTOX® is part of a family of drugs called “botulinum toxins”. Specifically, it is the Registered Trademark and brand name for “botulinum toxin type A” which is manufactured by a company called “Allergan”. Nothing else that is made by any other company is allowed to be called BOTOX®.
Botox is actually a first cousin to the dreaded botulism food poisoning that is caused by the evil bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
Yikes! That sounds scary enough to make you stop reading right now — but don’t run away quite yet. Just as atomic energy can be used for good and bad, there’s room in your life for Botox if used and administered properly.
Although you may have only heard of it recently, Botox has been around since the early 1960’s when it was first approved for use as a treatment for Strabismus (crossed eyes). It later received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for three specific medical conditions known as blepharospasm, strabismus, and cervical dystonia. Essentially, each of these conditions involve the appearance of involuntary muscle contractions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Permanent Makeup
July 18, 2007
Frequently Asked Questions About Permanent Cosmetics
Q2) What is the recovery time for permanent makeup? A2) Everyone is different, but a general rule would be 3-7 days on the surface, and another 10-14 days below the surface. It is common for a person to return to work the same day. Lips will have some residual swelling and will chap. There may be slight swelling after the eyeliner; brows may look darker than usual ? all of which softens in a few days.
Q5) Can I still wear traditional makeup over the tattooed area? A5) Yes, after the area has healed. Permanent makeup is designed to be only an enhancement to your natural features. Wearing additional cosmetics is a personal choice that enhances your permanent makeup.
Q6) What if I decide to have cosmetic surgery? A6) Plastic surgery has no affect on properly placed permanent makeup. However, if you’re contemplating plastic surgery, you may opt for the surgery before the permanent makeup.
Q7) What reaction is common regarding permanent makeup? A7) Women are usually amazed at how awesome, natural and subtle permanent makeup is. They wish they had done it a decade ago. No more smudged makeup, daily hassle, etc. Life has become simpler!
Testimonials on Permanent Makeup
July 17, 2007
Testimonials on Permanent Makeup
I first thought about getting permanent eyeliner because I had problems with getting it on and getting it to stay on. I was very nervous about having something ‘permanent’ done. But I went ahead and looked into it. I went on line and found several web sites on permanent make up. Nancy’s web site was the best I saw, she had a lot of before and after photos, and several great credentials listed. I called Nancy and she was very informative and I could tell she knew what she was talking about. Nancy made me feel comfortable with my decision to get permanent eyeliner. (She told me I would love it, and I do!)
I loved her work and the way she worked so much that I wanted to get my lips colored. Nancy helped me to decide on a good lip color for my skin and now I don’t even need to wear lipstick! Nancy again did an awesome job!
Well there was only one thing left, my brows. I was a bit nervous about having my brows done, but I trusted Nancy’s work. I now have my brows done, and of course they look great.
The Mindful Shopper: Learning From Fashion Trends
July 16, 2007
Are you a fashion trend watcher? Do you spend a lot of time flipping through magazines and analyzing the wardrobe choices of others? Do you buy trendy items only to despise them–and yourself–later?
Trend-watching–and, more precisely, observing our trend-watching–gives us tremendous opportunities to create awareness of the traits we hope we have but are not sure we do. In fact, being frustrated, embarrassed, or depressed that we have succumbed to a trend is a perfect chance to discover what we value most.
It usually comes down to this: creativity and confidence. If we find ourselves buying that trendy little bag or those must-have shoes, that little voice inside us shouts "Sell-out!" and we start to feel that perhaps we’re not all we’d hoped to be. After all, a truly creative person would buy–or even make–something unique, and a confident person wouldn’t hesitate to go against the current trend and head in a completely different direction, or choose to buy nothing at all.
And thus begins a soak in the self-loathing tub, followed inevitably by an abandoned item at the bottom of the closet.
To avoid this, you must pay attention to it.
Permanent Makeup and the Fear of Pain
July 15, 2007
Nobody likes pain, but who said it has to hurt? This is the 21st Century. Might scientists have created something that numbs so well that pain is not felt? The answer is a profound "YES". There are many topical anesthetics available for the technician to numb the area prior to permanent makeup. The topical cream is applied before the permanent makeup procedure; the timer is set for 15-20 minutes and bingo ? numb! Topical anesthetics usually contain any combination of the following: Lidocaine, Tetracaine, Benzocaine or Epinephrine, in an emollient base. Since the effects of pain can include swelling, bleeding and delayed healing, it’s important to both technician and client to alleviate pain. The safest topicals have a pH balance close to human tears which is 7.5. These products numb so well, that the procedure is very tolerable and that’s why so many people are having this done!
Eyebrows
As time goes by, many women begin to lose their eyebrows. Or, if they tweezed or shaved them in the ’80’s often-times they didn’t grow back. With permanent makeup, beautiful brows can be yours without the fuss of pencils that wear off or smear. The "After" photo shown on Nancy’s website, noted in the bottom paragraph of this article, shows how color can be placed behind the brow hairs giving a more sophisticated, polished, finished look.
