Everyone needs a change sometimes. Whether you’re just tired of your normal look or you’re feeling like you need to freshen up your life, makeovers are a great way to change how you feel about yourself and your appearance. And you don’t need to head to a makeup counter or department store to do it either. You’ve probably even got the tools in your home right now.

Changing the way you look at makeup

In some cases, makeovers aren’t even necessary – but makeunders are. Instead of adding to your current makeup style, you can try subtracting from it to see what kinds of results you get. Here are some ideas:

By removing some of the harsher and heavier styles of makeup you use, you can soften your overall appearance – and start having more time in the morning.

Great ideas for anyone that wants a change

There are several new looks that are around the fashion magazines that you might want to try on yourself.

The natural look – Try using browns and peaches to highlight your face and eyes. These look great on everyone. Try shading your eyes at the crease with a darker shadow and then highlight the brow bone with a lighter tone – this makes your eyes pop out. Use neutral colored mascara and some shimmering facial lotion; add a clear or neutral lip gloss and you’ll look polished without looking over done.

The glamour look – If you’re the kind of person who already prescribes to the natural look and you want to do something wild; try going glam for a night. Start by lining your eyes with a dark liner. Try the top lid first and then half of the bottom lid. Smudge the lines slightly and then add a steel gray or silver eye shadow to your lid. Add a lighter toned shadow to the brow bone as an accent. Apply two to three layers of black mascara. For your lips, try a deep raisin color, nothing too exciting because of your dramatic eyes. If you feel you need blush, add just a little to the apples of your cheeks.

The keys to making over your look

Remember that as the seasons change, your makeup and style should change too. Warmer months call for lighter makeup and clothes while the cooler months call for heavier clothes and deeper makeup colors. Each season, you may want to try one new trend to see if it works for you. But if it doesn’t, sticking with neutrals is always trendy – just add a bright lip color to stand out.

Beautypopular.com – Beauty Directory and information on the web.

Phoenix Cosmetic Dentist – Dr. Arthur Chal practices cosmetic and implant dentistry in the Camelback corridor between Phoenix and Scottsdale.

The essentials of hand care

Your hands are the parts of your body that work the hardest. Because they’re always exposed and generally taken for granted, they can also be the parts of your body that need the most loving care. In order to treat your hands as well as they treat you, you need to learn about some simple hand care methods to keep them in shape.

Moisturize ‘em

Your hands are generally the parts of your body that will be exposed to water frequently during the day. This might be through frequent hand washing, dish washing, food preparation, etc. When your hands become wet, the water that’s on your skin will then evaporate, leading to a feeling of dryness. To combat this, you will want to choose a heavy lotion that will coat your hands from fingertip to palm at night, but a lighter lotion that you can apply frequently during the day. In fact, you may want to keep a bottle of hand lotion near the sink where you will be washing your hands so you can apply the lotion immediately after drying them. At night, coat your hands with a heavy lotion and then cover them in cotton socks to help keep the moisture in as you sleep.

Protect ‘em

A lot of people forget that they hands are in the sun just as often as their face. In the winter, in the summer, and in every season, they are out doing things and getting exposed to the harmful UV rays. What you need to do is remember to always put sunscreen on the backs of your hands whenever you apply facial sunscreen. This will protect your hands and lessen your chances of premature wrinkling as well as age spots. You don’t want your hands looking older that you, do you?

Treat ‘em

But you can also think of hand care as taking care of your nails as well. You use your nails for so many things, but often they can become brittle and weak. To keep them healthy, you’ll want to use a clear polish on them before you add any other nail color. This will help protect you from staining of darker polishes, plus leave you with a finished look for your everyday style. Make sure to use a nail brush to keep them clean and fresh looking as well as a nail trimmer to keep them from becoming too long. If you really want to treat your hands right, why not invest in a manicure every now and then? These professionals know how to make your hands look great.

Other ways to help your hands

There are a number of new products on the market that can help you maintain a youthful appearance for your hands. Many lotions are now formulated with all day moisturizers so that you can feel silky and smooth as long as you’re awake. You can also invest in soaps and hand cleansers that include lotions so that you’re not drying out your hands every time you wash them.

Heard about waxing?

Waxing is a great alternative to lotions, creams, shaving and tweezers. The results are temporary but in general last anywhere from three to eight weeks as of the time you remove the hair. When the hair does grow back it tends to be finer and less noticeable because the entire hair root is removed unlike lotions and creams, which only remove the hair above the skin. Creams and lotions only last for a few days to a week and the hair tends to grow back coarse, much like shaving. Eventually, some areas of repeated waxing like the eyebrows and legs might stop growing back all together.

Waxing is offered at a variety of places from your cosmetologist to your local day spa. In general prices can range from as little as $5.00 to upwards of $100 depending on where you go and what you are having waxed. Just about anywhere on your body can be waxed, the only areas of exception are your eyelashes and inside the ears and nose which should never be waxed. Some of the most popular places to wax are eyebrows, upper lip, chin, under the arms, bikini area and legs but you can also wax your arms, fingers, toes, back, shoulders, chest, stomach and lastly, the male and female genitalia (referred to as a Brazilian).

By now you might be wondering how waxing is done. Wax is applied to the area where the hair is to be removed, once the wax is on the esthetician or cosmetologist will apply a strip of cloth to the wax and then quickly remove the strip and wax by pulling in the opposite direction of the hair growth to effectively remove the entire root. As an added bonus it removes dead skin cells in the area too. Can it be painful? Yes! However, depending on the area you are having waxed the esthetician or cosmetologist will sometimes apply a pain reliever to the area prior to and after waxing. It might also be helpful to take something like ibuprofen about an hour prior to having a sensitive region waxed.

Just like lotions, creams, shaving and tweezing, waxing can be done in the comfort of your own home with a little practice. Wax for hair removal can be found in many drug and beauty supply stores as well as online retailers. Prices vary depending on which type of at home waxing method you decide to try. Keep in mind that you should never attempt to wax male or female genitalia including nipples at home!

There are certain drawbacks to waxing. For starters, it can be anywhere from minimal discomfort to a very painful experience; depending on the area you are having hair removed from. It is not a permanent solution to hair growth because the hair removed will grow back in about three to eight weeks and it is more costly than the other forms of temporary hair removal. Waxing is not suitable for everyone, including people who suffer from diabetes or have varicose veins because they are more susceptible to infection and those who are taking certain types of medications for acne. If you are unsure about whether you fit into one of these categories, please consult your physician before having waxing done.

If you’re looking for a way to freshen up your face without a major cosmetic procedure, microdermabrasion might be the answer you’re looking for. By gently refining the skin and creating a more even tone, you can change your overall look without completely changing your natural features. Why not help your face instead of resorting to drastic and permanent surgeries? That’s where microdermabrasion comes in.

What is Microdermabrasion?

Microdermabrasion is a cosmetic procedure often done under the care of a physician or a licensed technician. What the technician does is uses small particles to gently buff away dead skin cells that may be giving you a dull and unhealthy look. These skin cells will then be replaced by tighter, fresher skin cells that are underneath, but now revealed. You can also have dermabrasion, while uses a buffing tool to perform this procedure, and that process utilizes larger and deeper skin sloughing.

What can it help?

Microdermabrasion is great for those that want to freshen up their skin and help to minimize the effects of sun damage and fine lines. However, it is not a good option for those that are looking to remove or correct deeper lines, as microdermabrasion focuses on the outermost layers of the skin’s surface. For those that simply want to soften their facial features, this is a simple and generally risk-free way to do so.

Are there any side effects?

Because the process doesn’t use harsh chemicals or ingredients, microdermabrasion is generally safe for everyone to try. If you already have open sores or wounds on your skin, it is not recommended, but for generally normal healthy skin, it’s a great option. Some patients do report that they have some redness and irritation after the procedure, but this can be handled by taking over the counter pain medications and following the post-procedure instructions as given to you.

How often can I do it?

Many patients will return for microdermabrasion every few months as they see fit. Since the skin constantly replaces itself, you will be able to maintain the results of your procedure for a certain amount of time, depending on your skin’s repairing abilities – but eventually, you will need to repeat your procedure in order to get the look that you had in the beginning.

Can you do this at home?

There are a number of microdermabrasion kits that are now available for you to use in your home. These kits are mild and can give you an instantly brighter look when you follow the instructions. Some kits will contain a cream with small particles to remove dead skin and then another cream that will sooth the newly polished skin. The results are almost equal to that you would get in a salon, so the price can make it the better option for some.
Microdermabrasion is a great way for women (and men) to create a more youthful appearance without having to have a drastic procedure. And since you can now do it in your own home, no one ever has to know.

Your skin is under constant attack. It is exposed to the air, chemicals, pollutants and toxins. On the inside, skin cells are constantly dying and being pushed to the surface. The result is skin that has poor texture, fine lines, wrinkles or poor elasticity. Facial skin resurfacing, or peeling, is an answer to the attack. Peeling removes the old skin, letting new skin breathe.

Uncovering The Truth

There are several purposes that can be achieved with facial skin peeling.

The truth is that peels are not facelifts. They are intended to remove layers of damaged facial skin, exposing the more youthful skin lying below the surface.

Plan Of Attack

There are several different kinds of skin peels.

A laser peel is where a medical laser instrument is used to remove skin layer by layer. A laser peel has relatively rapid healing, so if you are a busy person, you might consider this method of peeling. It is used for removing deep acne scars, lesions and sun damaged skin layers. It must be repeated several times.

There are three kinds of chemical peels. The chemical peel is done by coating the face with a special solution and then removing the lotion and skin it sloughs. The solution used is caustic, which can cause mild irritation or burning.

Chemical peels are also not a facelift. They improve skin appearance and remove outer skin deformities or inconsistencies.

Dermabrasion is a skin resurfacing technique often used to treat acne scars. Anyone with acne can tell you about the negative effects on self-confidence that acne scarring can produce. Dermabrasion is a common procedure and considered very safe. Dermabrasion is done by a dermatologist or surgeon and involves controlled surgical facial skin scraping.

Microdermabrasion is where a small medical sandblaster is used to spray tiny crystals onto the skin. A vacuum then sucks the crystals and dead skin off the face. It is a successful procedure for skin refreshening.

Facial Campaign

Skin resurfacing is a common dermatological procedure. It is up to each individual to decide which technique is most suitable for his or her skin repair purposes. Some people are uncomfortable with the fact that chemical peels use a caustic solution. Others decide on a laser peel, because it can be done with a facelift. It is important to understand that none of the procedures prevent aging. Peeling is a way to remove layers of the epidermis that are damaged. People with skin damage are encouraged to get regular peels because skin cells that are pre-cancerous are removed during the procedures. Whatever peeling process you choose, the end result will be the appearance of newer skin.

Nothing can more painful than shoes that don’t fit right. On top of that, they create callouses that are unsightly and uncomfortable. High heals pinch toes, sandals expose feet to the elements and athletic shoes cannot completely protect feet from the pounding they take during exercise or sport sessions. You take care of your fingernails with a manicure. A pedicure is just a manicure for your feet.

Out Of Shape

We know our bodies can be out of shape, but did you know feet can be pinched long enough to cause deformities. Wearing shoes that are the proper size and shape for your foot is critical for the health of your feet. A pedicure is not just pampering. It is a way to make sure the skin on your feet is kept soft and healthy for proper growth.

A Spa For The Feet

It used to be that pedicures were for rich people to have and for the rest of us to envy. That is so far from the truth today. Pedicures are affordable at a salon. But if you cannot bring yourself to buy a pedicure, you can giver your feet the spa treatment at home. A pedicure follows a certain routine that anyone can do.

Doesn’t the whole process sound marvelous? A pedicure is a gift to yourself. It is pampering with a healthy purpose. A regular pedicure is advised for men and women.

Tools Of The Trade

There are certain tools you need if you are going to do your own pedicures. The basic pedicure kit includes the following.

There are so many options available in foot creams and lotions. Feet get very dry, and unless skin is kept pliant, can crack open. This is a common problem in the dry air of winter. Feet creams often contain soothing herbal ingredients such as eucalyptus and menthol for relief. There are also sloughing lotions that remove dead skin without harsh abrasives. If you decide to do your own pedicure, go online and find professional advice on the correct steps to follow.

A pedicure is no longer inaccessible. You can buy a kit with all the necessary tools, purchase the lotions and creams to soften your feet and then feel the relaxing effect of slipping your feet into warm water with soothing eucalyptus. Or you can go to the salon and let a professional pamper your feet. Either way, the end result is healthy feet.

Xenna Corporation – Natural products for discolored toenails and fingernails, dry, cracked heels and curly hair (chemical-free relaxer).