Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Should You Make The Switch to Natural Make-Up?

Should you make the switch to all-natural make-up? There are plenty of companies, advertisements, and “experts” who could probably give you a very convincing argument either way. Dr. Roberta Palestine, who did her residency at the Mayo Clinic in dermatology stated, “Natural isn’t always better. Synthetic isn’t necessarily worse. Poison Ivy is natural, but that certainly doesn’t make it good…a chemical is a chemical, what matters is your skin type.” There are certainly a lot of skin types out there, and you can bet for every type there’s a number of make-up products for that particular kind.

Women who suffer from allergies and have been limited on their choices in make-up now have more options as more companies come out with products that are gentle on the skin and hypoallergenic. It should be noted that “hypoallergenic” has no medical definition, as it is yet to be determined what ingredients reduce allergens. So are natural make-up products all that they are cracked-up to be? A quick look at the ingredients list will tell the consumer what the main ingredients are on a product because they are listed in order of volume ratio. Often times, the ingredients will be listed on the packaging the make-up came in.

Often women will be allergic to a product and not even realize it. Over the years, women get used to dry, irritated skin that comes from repeated use of the kinds of make-up they wear out in public and to work. Women who wear a foundation make-up to even out the skin tone on their faces will dry out and aggravate their skin so each day is a little worse. Women with sensitive skin should avoid products with fragrances, mineral oil, formaldehyde, and alcohol. These chemicals will all dry out the skin and cause irritation.

When switching make-ups often times the skin will have to undergo an adjustment period. So women who are thinking about switching to natural cosmetics should go with it 100%. By doing this, the skin only has to go through the adjustment phase one time. If you are thinking about making the switch, it is important to consider the ingredients in a product that claims to be all natural. Do some research before trying out a new make-up line to see if it is a reputable company that uses quality ingredients and stands behind the products they produce. So should you make the switch? It’s a matter of personal choice but if you think the products you currently use are affecting your skin, at least consider it.

About the Author

Michael Usry is the author of the online instructional articles "Beauty and Health in Plain English" and a top affiliate of skin care one of the premier women's health websites.

800cc Breast Augmentation Translating the Jargon and Getting the Breasts You Want

Many women say that they would like bigger breasts without really considering precisely what 'bigger' means to them. Even the ones who know exactly the look they aspire to - and have seen it modelled perfectly on their favorite celebrity - think in the terms that have been familiar to women since they bought their first training bra: cup size. But when it comes down to the nitty gritty of breast augmentation, surgeons generally use different terminology, and while the words '800cc breast augmentation' means something very specific to a plastic surgeon, the women that the things are going into are thinking, 'What on earth?'

Many women, when contemplating breast surgery, have a particular vision of what they would like to look like post operation, but achieving the desired look is not always straightforward. While women will think in terms of cup size, the implants that a surgeon will use to augment your breasts do not operate according to this kind of measurement. Implants are filled with liquid, usually saline or silicone gel, and so they are measured accordingly. It is estimated that each cup size you would like to increase is worth approximately 236cc, but unfortunately, this is not the exact science we might imagine it to be.

An 800cc breast augmentation, for example, will not result in the same look when implanted in different women. While an implant of that size will unquestionably result in a breast of significant size, there are many other factors that will contribute to the overall look of the augmentation. Apart from the different types of implant that are available, including shapes that can be round or teardrop shape, much of the final look will depend on the woman herself, and her original shape. For this reason, it is important to choose a breast implant based on cc measurements alone - the same implant can look vastly different when inserted into different women, depending on many factors including the patient's weight, the amount of original breast tissue present, and the shape of the patient's chest cavity. This is why it is immensely important to take seriously the opinion of your surgeon. He or she is a medical professional who, through experience, will be best qualified to indicate the implant most likely to achieve the look you want.

If you have a precise image of how you would like your breasts to look post surgery, it is best to provide your surgeon with visual aids, as words can create vastly different images for different people. Before your surgery, collect photos of breasts that look the way you would like to appear, so that your doctor can translate this into the material, shape and ccs that give you the breasts you've always wanted.

About the Author

Jeff Lakie is the founder of Plastic Surgery Resources a website providing information on cosmetic surgery

Whole Grains Prevent Weight Gain

Research from Harvard, recently published in the highly respected peer-reviewed Journal of Clinical Nutrition, has now proven that women who eat the most whole grains lose more weight and maintain that weight loss better than women who eat the least amount of whole grains.

In a twelve year study of over 74,000 nurses, ages 38 to 63, the researchers discovered that women who ate the most whole grain foods weighed less than those who ate the least. The Harvard scientists concluded that the high whole grain group of women had a 49 percent lower risk of gaining weight. The women eating the most whole grains also had a much lower risk of heart disease and diabetes.

For many years now, nutritional research has recommended the consumption of nutritious whole grains because they're rich in vitamin E and other essential oils, B complex, protein, minerals and high quality fiber. But, this is the first time that whole grains have been proven to have such a major effect on both weight loss and optimal weight management.

Although some popular diets lump all carbohydrates together, this study proved there is a major distinction. As I've said before, "All carbohydrates are not created equal." In the Harvard study, women who ate large quantities of processed, refined grains tended to be obese, whereas women who ate the most whole grains weighed less than all the other women in the study and had less tendency to gain weight.

So, be sure to include 100% whole grain breads and cereals in your weight loss program. Read the labels. Look for the coarsest, least processed whole grains. Sprouted and stone ground are best. And make sure that high glycemic sweeteners are not high on the ingredient list. European style rye bread or hearty rye crackers are also good choices. The coarser the grain the better. The same goes for cereal. Old fashioned oatmeal should be your choice rather than oat flakes or "instant' hot cereals. Avoid 'puffed" cereals also, even though they might claim to be 100 % whole grain. My favorite breads are "Ezekiel" from Food for Life. They can usually be found refrigerated at most major health food stores.

This latest research shows that you can eat hearty whole grains, enjoy these low glycemic carbohydrates and stay trim and healthy. Because now we can say for a fact that whole grains help prevent weight gain.

About the Author

Moss Greene makes it easy for you to create buoyant, vibrant health. Learn the simple things that make a big difference in how you look and feel. To receive your free newsletter visit: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art3859.asp