Top 5 Foods for Healthy Skin and Hair

You truly are what you eat. I’m a chocolate lover and unfortunately indulging in my favorite dark chocolate treat which is typically followed by ice cream, candy or some other sweet loaded with refined sugar, always leads to my skin breaking out and my energy level at zero. When I’m not treating my body right through a healthy diet and exercise I notice the difference in the health of my skin and hair.

You can use the best natural and organic products on the market to cover up your beauty blunders but it all boils down to what’s going on internally that will have the biggest impact on the outside.

Check out my list of the top 5 foods that you should begin to incorporate into your diet for healthy skin and hair.

1.     Dark Leafy Vegetables – Turn up the heat on kale, spinach, collards and broccoli packed full of vitamins A and C

2.     Omega-3s - Load up on wild Alaskan Salmon (safer from mercury poisoning), nuts, chia seeds and walnuts that help to keep skin hydrated and glowing.

3.     Anti-oxidants – Fight free radicals and aging with natural anti-oxidants like blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and mangoes.

4.     Natural Oils – Olive oil and coconut oil provide healthy fats for the body internally as well as the skin and the hair. Cook your favorite foods in them or sprinkle them on salads.

5.     Eggs – Eggs are full of healthy protein and biotin, a B vitamin that promotes healthy hair growth.

Skin Care Tips For Busy Women

Keeping skin healthy and beautiful doesn’t have to take a lot of time. In fact, if you’re trying to balance a career, a relationship and your social life, chances are you barely have time to eat lunch let alone spend hours each week tending to your skin. Fear not: We’ve put together a guide for busy women just like you who are short on time but still want great skin.

Get organized.
Take a look at your bathroom counter. Can you even see it under all the products piled up around the sink? If you want to streamline your skin care routine, make sure the only things within reach are the items you need and use daily. Just looking at clutter can cause stress -- the last thing you need first thing in the morning. Rather than waste time searching for your cleanser (and accidently grabbing the toner), keep your main skin care must-haves neatly lined up in the order that you use them. Everything else (hair elastics, weekly-use items, other bottles and jars collecting dust) should be housed under the sink or in a pretty wicker basket on the back of the toilet.

Multitask.
Bring your facial cleanser and exfoliator into the shower with you, so all you need to do is hop in the shower to get your whole body (face included) squeaky clean. Other ways to multitask include using products that do more than one job -- cleansers that also exfoliate, 2-in-1 shampoos or even makeup items with multiple uses (i.e., cheek stain that can double as lip color). The less you need to do in the morning and at night, the better.

Use less.
Don’t feel like you need to put a full face of makeup on every time you leave the house, especially if you’re short on time. A little goes a long way when it comes to looking great, and the right products can cut your morning routine in half.  Trade your heavy foundation (which takes time to apply properly) for a tinted moisturizer, which is applied quickly and easily and is virtually foolproof. Simply swipe on as you would any moisturizer. Add concealer only where you need it most (under eyes, around nose) and set with translucent powder. A cheek stain (mentioned above) can also be used on lips and layered for easy, streakproof color. Say goodbye to your epic get-gorgeous routine, especially in the summer when you really don’t need a lot of makeup.

Sleep & eat well.
The best way to save time on skin care is to make sure your complexion looks good without having to do much work:
Get enough rest. Six to eight hours a night gives skin adequate time to repair itself.
Stay hydrated. Not drinking enough water leads to skin that looks dull and as tired as your body feels without ample hydration.
Eat well. Ditch the salt- and sugar-laden processed food, which can sap vitality from the skin over time. Instead, opt for a diet packed with produce, whole grains and good fats, such as those found in olive oil, nuts and avocados.

Get monthly facials.
Another way to minimize the time you have to spend on your skin is to get monthly facials. If you can afford it, a facial every four to six weeks acts as a tune-up for your complexion, leaving you with a clear skin canvas for the remainder of the month. Your skin will be smooth and free of pore-clogging debris -- and ideally, all that work done by your esthetician means you won’t have to spend much time worrying about minor skin care concerns.

How to Get Naturally Beautiful Skin

Knowing your way around a makeup kit is a good thing, but the ultimate goal is to look naturally gorgeous -- without piling on the products. Happy skin is healthy skin, and achieving that much-coveted natural glow means making choices that serve your skin well. Here we look at 10 simple tips for getting and keeping healthy, gorgeous skin.

Sleep tight.
How much sleep you get -- or don’t get -- makes a significant difference to your skin. Up all night working on that presentation for work? Your skin will look pale and dull the next morning, with uneven tone and dark circles under your eyes. A full night’s sleep -- 7 hours will do -- nets you a brighter complexion and natural glow. The healing power of sleep works wonders for natural beauty.

Take it easy.
Stressed out? Your skin will show it with redness, breakouts and dry, flaky patches. Squeezing in some weekly yoga may not be possible, but do try to minimize stress as best you can. Have a cutoff time for work (no laptops or smartphones in bed, please). If you can, take 10 minutes every night to stretch, sit quietly sipping your favorite herbal tea, or doing whatever else takes your mind off the chaos of life.

Stay hydrated.
Naturally beautiful skin needs moisture from the inside out. Ditch the sugary soda for plain water or, if you’re bored by basic H20, add a splash of lemon or lime. Staying hydrated keeps skin looking supple and plump, versus that dull, sallow look that happens when you let yourself get dehydrated or forgo water for coffee. To remember to drink water, buy yourself a pretty reusable bottle in your favorite color, keep it filled up and sip throughout the day.

Get moving.
Think about that natural glow you get after a brisk walk or jog. There really is no natural complexion booster quite like exercise, so get moving! Even if you just commit to one 30- to 40-minute fast-paced walk four to five times a week, the fresh air will revive tired skin. All that movement will get your blood flowing and heart rate up, giving skin that gorgeous, flirty flush.

Eat well.
Diet has a profound effect on how the skin looks.  A diet full of refined flour, sugar and processed foods is a major culprit in uneven tone, breakouts and general lack of brightness. Giving your skin the nutrients it needs will help you get your glow back. This means saying sayonara to sodium-filled snack foods and pre-packaged meals, and instead getting lots of leafy greens, fresh fruit, colorful vegetables and whole grains.

Wear sunscreen.
A recent survey by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery found that only one in five people (20 percent) wears sunscreen on a daily basis, even though 94 percent of Americans know that prolonged exposure to the sun can cause skin damage and cancer. Forgoing sunscreen also causes the fine lines and other signs of aging that can really hinder your natural glow.

Less is more.
If you have itchy, irritated skin, the products you use could be to blame. Before you buy, check the list of ingredients on the back of the package. How many are listed? If the entire back of the box is covered with words you’ve never heard of, choose something else that has fewer ingredients. The less that goes into making the product, the less chance there will be for irritation. Skin can’t be naturally beautiful when it’s fighting redness or irritation from unnatural substances.

Exfoliate.
Regular exfoliation sloughs away dead skin cells and unclogs pores to reveal fresher, brighter skin. Choose which type based on your skin type: scrubs for oily skin, chemical exfoliators for dry or mature skin, and enzymes for sensitive or reactive skin.

Go organic.
Chemicals on your skin are just as bad for you as chemicals in your body, so it follows that products made with the purest ingredients (rather than that long list of ingredients you don’t understand) are better for your skin. Look for the Natural Products Association's  Natural Seal, which certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly natural.

Butt out.
We all know smoking is unhealthy, but it also wreaks havoc on the complexion and speeds up the aging process.  So if you want to look naturally gorgeous, do your best to quit smoking. Your face -- and your body -- will thank you.

How To Get Silky Hair

Women love to change their hairstyles often. They go according to the latest fashion which is buzzing. Hairstyles suit only certain types of face cuts. So before you sport a new hairstyle it is important to ask your peers and close ones their suggestions.

Silky hair is one common type of hairstyle among youth and working women. It is easy to maintain and does not consume a lot of time.
Today, many women go to beauty parlors to either straighten, curl of make their hair straight.
You can make your healthy hair silky at home if you follow these easy beauty tips.

1.Aloe Vera is one such ingredient that is highly nutritious. Mix a little amount of aloe Vera gel along with shampoo when you wash your hair.

2.Apple pulp or apple juice also helps to make the hair silky and shiny. Apply apple contents to your hair and rinse after half an hour.

3.Make a mixture of mustard oil, curd and lemon. Apply this mixture to your hair and wash off after half an hour. This makes your hair silky and shiny.

4.Mix olive oil and two whole eggs together and apply it to your head. Let it be for about 20 minutes and then rinse well.

5.Massage your head with almond oil. When you massage your head on a regular basis, blood circulation on your head improves and thus helps your hair to stay healthy.

Apart from all these hair care tips to make your hair silky and smooth. Keep in mind not apply unknown products to your hair as it will cause hair loss and damage.

The Best Diet for a Woman

The best diet for a woman has many benefits. It gives her sufficient energy, suits her mood, maintains her weight, and improves her appearance. The right kind of food can reduce premenstrual syndrome, boost fertility, make pregnancy and nursing easier, and ease symptoms of menopause. Regardless of the age, a healthy diet can help her perform her duties well and enjoy life. There are many people who have a faster metabolism than most, and this means that gaining weight is particularly difficult for this group, but by increasing calories and healthy fats, and working out everyday, it is possible to gain weight.

Making The Right Food Choices
Foods that are high in bad fats and cholesterol only serve to produce an unhealthy body. To gain weight the right way, it is essential to choose the right foods. Eating the wrong foods will increase chances for heart disease, gallstones, diabetes and other health ailments that no one wants. So the right foods are absolutely crucial for a healthy body and the look you are striving for.
Protein is a good way to start building muscle. By building muscle, the body will look lean an toned, and this is the look you want. Eating improperly will give the body a flabby look.
Protein is an excellent way to increase amino acids in the body. Amino acids are crucial for building muscle. Include foods like chicken, turkey, fish, cottage cheese, yogurt and eggs for a healthy way to include protein into your diet. Whey protein powders are readily available at most health stores, and are a great way to get your protein in before and after a workout.

Don't Skip The Carbs
Carbohydrates are needed. Most find this hard to accept because they have been taught that carbs are bad. This is not true. Not all carbs are bad, some are quite healthy for you and your body needs them for energy. Brown rices and whole grain pastas are a great way to include healthy carbs. Also fruits are a good source of natural sugars and a great snack for when you want a sweet treat.

Healthy Fats
Fats are good for you. Another fact that is hard for some to believe. It is thought that fats make you fat, and this is true if the fats come from an unhealthy source. Good fats are those that are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated and come from foods like raw nuts and olive oils. Include flaxseeds on your food and eat fish like tuna and mackerel for a good amount of essential fatty acids.

Eat Often
For those looking to gain weight it is necessary to increase caloric intake. Eating five to six meals a day is the best way to keep energy levels at optimal rates while making sure the body has enough calories for building muscle. Eat 700 calorie meals three times a day, and 400 calorie meals three times a day. Make sure to choose from the healthy foods discussed.
Choosing the right types of food is crucial for gaining weight. When following a diet plan to gain weight make sure to weight train three or four times per week for muscle building. Eat foods that have good carbohydrates, fats, and protein for a healthy body with a lean appearance.

Tips For Achieving Beautiful Young Skin

We all want to look youthful and gorgeous throughout life, and if you follow a few simple young skin tips you will definitely look much younger. Use these natural ways of keeping face young as a guide to aging gracefully and do what you feel most inspired to today.

1. Proper Skin Care
When it comes to maintaining healthy skin, perhaps one of the best things that you can do is make sure you are taking the steps necessary to ensure that you are washing your skin properly. This can include a number of different things from avoiding overexposure to excessively hot water, to making sure that you are not wiping away the essential oils that your natural complexion contains.
Properly caring for your skin might also include providing protection from every day things that can damage it such as the sun. Overexposure to the sun can leave the skin dry and damaged; so you might want to consider applying generous amounts of sun block and other protective lotions while in the sun.

2. Avoid Harmful Products
Another tip that can help you achieve or maintain beautiful young skin is to avoid products that contain harmful chemicals and toxins that can leave your skin damaged and irritated. Many different skin cleansing products contain high amounts of alcohol and other harmful ingredients that you want to avoid excessive use of. Instead, consider using products that contain healthy all natural ingredients that help achieve the same goals as other harmful products.

3. Healthy Diets
Your diet is also something that can affect and greatly influence the condition of your skin. A diet that is full of unhealthy foods can leave your skin looking excessively oily and unhealthy. Consider maintaining a diet that is filled with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and many other healthy food items that contain healthy vitamins and minerals that can promote healthy and youthful looking skin.

4. Positive Disposition

Positive approach to life helps to reduce stress, thereby preventing premature aging. Take life easy and have fun; laughter also helps to keep one's mind and body healthy. You can always find something to laugh about, even if it means laughing at your idiosyncrasies.

5. Anti-Aging Skin Care Products
There are a number of wonderful anti-aging skin products out there that can help provide you with beautiful young skin by giving you a wonderful source of essential vitamins and nutrients that your aging skin needs. Many of these products contain antioxidants and ingredients such as active keratin, which can help repair damaged skin cells in order to give you healthier and beautiful young skin once again.