5 Top Tips to Help Safeguard Your Complexion From Heat of the Sun
By MARY BERKERY
SUMMER can be a difficult time for the skin. Hotter weather, more sunshine and city pollution all take their toll on our complexions.
And it's not just outdoors that creates havoc - air conditioned of fices and homes leave skin feeling dull, dry and lacklustre.
But according to Mary Berkery, a leading holistic beauty consultant, there are five easy steps to take to ensure your skin stays gorgeous and glowing during the summer months.
1. Hydrate your skin
Mary says: "Drink at least one litre of water each day but remember to drink between meals rather than during meals.
"Drinking water with your food dilutes the digestive juices, making it more difficult for your digestive system to function at its best level."
2. Oxygenate
Mary explains: "Getting enough oxygen is crucial for crystal clear skin," Mary explains.
"It helps the dilation of the blood vessels, increasing blood flow to the extremities and improving the condition of the skin."
Mary says there are lots of easy ways to increase your oxygen levels.
"Aerobic exercise, a brisk walk in the open air and even some deep, relaxation breathing will all help to oxygenate the skin.
"Another good tip is to add oxygen based nutrients to the diet - a product like Cellfood, which is available from health food stores around the country, is easy to take and will give city skin a much needed boost."
3. Alkalise the Diet
Mary reveals: "Alkalising the diet is one of the most important steps towards healthy, glowing skin.
"Acidic substances such as coffee, alcohol, sugar, red meat and cigarettes upset the skin's natural balance by stripping it of essential nutrients.
"Increase the alkaline content of your diet with foods like root vegetables and delicious green juices, which offer a myriad of health benefits in addition to great skin.
"Contrary to popular belief, unlike other citric fruits like orange, fresh lemon and fresh lime are not acidic - and adding some lemon or lime to water is a great way to start the day.
"Don't overdo the dairy products as this can lead to dull, doughy skin which is prone to whiteheads and blackheads.
4. Balance your skin by allowing access to the natural elements
Mary explained: "Nowadays, we are increasingly conscious of the dangers of UV rays and we're encouraged to cover our skin.
"This is good advice and an SPF is important. "But the skin also restores its own innate balance and harmony through some exposure to fresh air and to the sun.
"Bathing the skin in natural elements has a renewing effect by increasing stimulation, helping to shed dead skin and providing important nutrients such as Vitamin D. "And of course sunshine creates an increased sense of well-being and inner radiance that is reflected in the complexion.
"The best advice is to avoid the sun's strongest rays - half an hour in the morning or early evening will provide the skin with adequate exposure to the elements."
5. Nurture your skin with natural ingredients
Mary says: "City skin benefits from regular treatments so it is a good idea to arrange a facial once a month.
"Remember to use natural products that are rich in anti-oxidants like plant oils and botanical herbs to help combat the effects of city living and being away from nature.
"Organic, biodynamically cultivated products like Dr Hauschka are best in order to truly feed the skin.
"Choose a skilled practitioner who understands the importance of natural ingredients and effective, soothing techniques for city skin, allowing you to truly relax into the experience.
"For a natural product that you can use at home, try Dr Hauschka Quince Day Cream, available from pharmacies and health shops nationwide, priced EUR19.90, which restores the skin's natural moisture balance."
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Beauty Wise
Now, get trained to be a professional makeup artist, spa specialist and even nail expert!
Jagmeeta Thind Joy
IT’S a sign of changing times. At a time when every other beauty salon provides the services of a spa, French manicures are the done thing and hair extensions are buzzwords, it’s but natural there will be training changes too. Keeping up with the ever transforming beauty and health industry, VLCC Institute of Beauty, Health and Management, a comprehensive vocational training academy has made additions to its menu of courses on offer. ‘‘This year, according to news reports Delhi University received as many as 70,000 less applications as compared to the last couple years. And that’s because youngsters are opting for professional vocational courses,’’ informs Dr G S Kochar, director of VLCC’s education wing, who was in town to talk about the new additions. Interestingly, these short term courses are seen as specializations in the field of beauty or for anyone looking at widening their job prospects. ‘‘The last couple of years have seen a boom in the entertainment, media and fashion industry which in turn has generated a huge number of opportunities for the youth,’’ further explains Kochar who rates the short term courses as self-starters. ‘‘The professional make-up courses for instance are great for those looking at careers in Bollywood. In fact, we ran training programmes for the makeup crew at Sahara television for almost a year,’’ informs the director who also mentions the institute’s affiliation to the UK-based City & Guilds.
‘‘Unfortunately, the beauty industry has been fairly unorganized in the country and there are no benchmarks for quality. That’s where this UK organization helps. Our students can sit for their exams to obtain a globally recognized certificate,’’ adds Dr Kochar. Interestingly, students looking at careers overseas are the ones lining up for these professional courses. ‘‘We often have queries from places like UAE, Dubai, Canada who want trained staff for their specialized beauty treatments,’’ Dr Kochar goes on to explain. And by no means is beauty a business option for the ladies. ‘‘Our advance diploma in cosmetology is one of the most sought after and we have a number of men lining up seeking admissions,’’ sums up Kochar.
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27 June 2006
BEAUTY AND THE BEACH: CELLU-LITE RELIEF
Want to look your best on holiday? Then follow our tips for getting your body in tip-top condition
LET'S be honest, it' s a nightmare being Scottish and trying to pull off having a Mediterranean body.
And no wonder it feels like mission impossible. After all, winter has been long and we've comfort-eaten our way through it. So when those two weeks of summer come, it's a real effort to look good.
So, while we might be looking forward to sunny days on the beach, we also panic when it comes to having to bare a little of our milk-bottle-white flesh.
The main pre-holiday bugbears for women in their twenties to fifties are cellulite, the condition and state of their legs and getting rid of unwanted hair.
Let's start with cellulite. Even Kylie says she has it. And although that statement has always been debatable - what with her fabulous bum and thighs -the point is that even pop divas can suffer from the curse of orange peel.
It's just so annoying to go on I holiday and watch those little foreign gazelles bouncing about the beach with not a dimple in sight. But the good news is that if you're serious and realistic, there are ways of combating the curse of the 21st century.
First off, it has to be said that prevention is better than cure, although this problem isn't irreversible.
You can make a stab at shifting it by cycling or running. And let's be realistic here, you don't have to run five miles a day and cycle another 10 to get rid of it - but a gentle jog or cycle three times a week would be a great start.
On a different note, you should try to reduce your caffeine intake. Coffee is cellulite's best mate and if you can cut down to one cup a day, preferably in the morning, you are beginning to eliminate some of the toxins that cause cellulite.
Fizzy drinks such as diet cola also perpetuate the problem, so start drinking fruit juice or water instead.
Ah, the water subject raises its head again. It's so cheap and simple, but if you keep your body properly hydrated and then flush out the toxins that hang around this area, you're on your way to a less lumpy bum.
There's no doubt that the beauty industry has capitalised on cellulite. They know that we women are a bunch of paranoid pampered pooches who would rather spend a fortune on miracle creams than putting in huge amounts of effort to exercise.
One cream that is great for firming the skin is Guerlain Issima's Ice Lift Body Treatment, £35.50, which promises freshness and guarantees firmer looking skin for a body that seems to be newly sculpted (available from major department stores or call 01932-233909).
Or you can try the latest product on the market to combat cellulite - Biotherm Celluli Peel, £29, the first biological dual-action toning and skin renewal treatment for skin that feels brand new and appears more toned (available on 0800 037 1020).
When it comes to the condition of our legs, it's a good start if they are brown. And you don't need two weeks in the French Riviera to have a St Tropez tan these days.
The trick, though, is to get the fake-tan look right. Go overboard and you'll look like a just tangoed Jordan' panic and you'll look as streaky as the bacon they feed you on holiday.
Yes, putting it on well is the art of a professional-looking tan.
First off, you should exfoliate. Use a body brush or scrub (try Guerlain Issima's Blue Exfoliating Scrub, £23.50) then you should moisturise. Then you can apply the tan.
Some great products to try are No 7's Quick Dry Foam, £11, or No 7's Quick Dry Body Spray, £11, both from Boots. Both dry in five minutes.
Or try St Tropez's Aero Tan Spray, £25, available at major department stores.
Keeping your skin moisturised is a must over summer, so check out the Water range from Clinique.
The Water Therapy Whipped Body Cream, £20, is a real treat. Imagine whipped cream, scrumptious souffl? and silky mousse and you'll get a sense of how yummy this product is (available from Clinique counters at major department stores).
Now to the dreaded area of unwanted hair. There are brilliant products out there that are easy to use but, if you're heading for the beach, why not treat yourself to the works and get all those nagging areas dealt with by a professional?
It's not expensive and then you'll know it will be done properly. Check out the Angel Sanctuary in Clydebank (01389-875850) for a professional service.
To prepare your feet for heavenly satin flip-flops like Ruby & Ed's collection (www.rubyanded.com), try Burt's Bees Foot Care Kit, £14, which contains a natural pumice stone, Coconut Foot Creme and cotton socks, from John Lewis.
And to round off the luxury look, indulge in some wickedly coloured nail polish from Bourjois, £4.50, from Boots.
Now you have no excuse for hiding behind that sarong. Whip it off and show those little foreign fillies us Scots are just as yummy as they are.
Coffee is cellulite's best mate, so try to reduce your caffeine intake.
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Beauty and high-tech combine to innovate the interiors sector
Already global market leader in the crystal sector, Swarovski, through a series of innovative product line extensions, is now bringing a whole new dimension to interior design through the integration of crystal into lighting, bathrooms and textiles.
The Austria based company, which has over a century of experience in the crystal market, has combined the beauty of crystal with the latest high-tech LED technology to create Crystal StarLED, a range of highly creative lighting products that will make their first appearance in the Middle East, Africa and Asia at Index 2006 this November.
'We're delighted that Swarovski have chosen Index to showcase these exciting new products,'said Kim Willis, Exhibition Development Director, dmg world media Dubai, organisers of Index, which has firmly established itself as one of the world's most significant international events for the interiors industry.
The combination of crystal and LED, linked to a collection of crystal colour choices, has resulted in a range of extraordinary lighting effects, all of which will make their debut at this year's Index. Expect to see a wide range of downlights and spotlights which combine precision cut crystals with LED technology to produce a highly effective lighting system.
Fully committed to expand the possibilities that crystal has in interior applications, Swarovski is continually looking for new applications that will enhance modern living, and in association with quality bathroom manufacturer Kludi, has also developed a bathroom concept that demonstrates the unlimited potential of crystal in interior design (The Swarovski Bathroom by Kludi).
The company has a century long tradition as a creative partner in the highest echelons of fashion and jewellery, and since the 1960's this has also included some of the world's leading lighting manufacturers.
These creative partnerships, which include top creative designers such as Ingo Maurer, Ron Arad and Tord Boontje, now also extend to the home couture sector, as designers and architects begin to discover whole new dimensions of creativity through the use of crystal.
Modern technology allows crystals to be fixed to a huge range of surfaces, including wood, metal, latex, leather, tiles, building surfaces and even paper, so there are no limits to how they can be used for decorative and practical purposes.
The glamour of Swarovski Crystal, with its relationship to light, is now being used in home textiles, wall and window decoration and home accessories. 'Index has built a strong international reputation as being a source of inspiration for the regional interiors industry,' added Willis.
'This year, it will once again feature many exciting new products that will enable designers and architects to take interiors creativity to new heights.' Index takes place at Dubai International Exhibition Centre from 7-11 November 2006.
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Mature Beauty
SOS = SAVE OUR SKIN www.second-income-for-goldenoldies.com
Have you ever woken up in the morning feeling one hundred years old and a peek in the mirror has revealed that you look it?
Can the lines at the corner of our eyes still convincingly be described as "laughter lines" or have they become "crows' feet"?
This is the moment of truth and it comes to us all. We have to admit that eventually time catches up with all of us.
Having accepted this unpalatable truth what can we do about it? We can start by considering all the available options for improving the situation. The most drastic and gruesome solution to eliminate sagging skin and wrinkles is a face-lift. This proceedure is not for the faint-hearted or those with financial constraints. A facelift is an operation which lifts the skin of the face and tightens it as well as the underlying tissues and muscles. It can include the whole face or just the eyelids or brow area, the neck or the lower part of the face.
The effects of a facelift can last from seven to ten years in some people. But its' important to have realistic expectations. For example a facelift will not alter the fine lines around the lips.
We also should not overlook the possibility of things going wrong. Facial muscles can be damaged, ears can end up at different heights, there can be permanent hair loss. Some of these complications can be rectified but it involves a further operation.
An increasing number of non-surgical proceedures now exist. One popular treatment is Laser Facial Resurfacing. The results are very discreet and natural. Electrosurgical Resurfacing is similar to Laser surgery but uses electrical radio frequency energy instead of heat.
A chemical peel can improve and smooth the texture of the facial skin by removing its damaged outer layers.
Tissue Augmentation plumps out deep wrinkles with filler to make up for the lack of fullness due to skin ageing.
Botox anti-wrinkle injections are a treatment where botulinum toxin is injected into the facial muscles. It smoothsa out wrinkles. The technique is especially effective with forehead wrinkles and "crows' feet. As this method works by paralysing muscles and it can be performed by a non-medical person it clearly needs a skilled practitioner to carry it out safetly.
Fat can also be transplanted or implants put in which can remedy deep furrows or scars.
The latest injectable dermal fillers use hyaluronic acid gel. This is found naturally in the human body and helps to retain skin moisture. Injected the gel helps fill out wrinkles and can be used for lip enhancement.
While all the treatments described can be highly effective they are all expensive and have their own attendant risks and disadvantages. For all those women, who like me, would be happy with less drastic solutions to help our ageing skin I suggest you visit www.reliability.juvio.com.
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The cutting edge of beauty
By ERICA DANIELLE CHERNOFSKY
All over the world, breasts are getting bigger, noses are getting smaller, waists are getting slimmer and faces are getting younger - all thanks to advances in plastic surgery.Though Israel often lags behind the current trends, Israelis are doing what they can to catch up, and the number of nose jobs done in Jerusalem this year is nothing to sneeze at.
In the holiest city in the world, the meeting point of the three monotheistic religions and the site men fought and died for throughout thousands of years, fixing one's appearance is fast becoming top priority.
"Human nature reigns," says Dr. Binyamina (Bianca) Rosenberg-Hagen, a plastic surgeon who runs a private practice out of Misgav Ladach hospital. "Our society has placed a lot of emphasis on looks, and people want to look young and beautiful."Rosenberg-Hagen estimates that more than 70 percent of her work as a plastic surgeon is cosmetic - meaning anything from breast augmentation and liposuction to face-lifts and rhinoplasty (better known to us as nose jobs) - and that the past five to six years have seen a dramatic rise in the number of Jerusalemites going under the knife.
"When I was younger, I wasn't the prettiest girl," explains one 58-year-old who is recovering from a face-lift, "and I always said that when I got older I wouldn't let myself turn wrinkly and ugly.
"So last year I went and got a face-lift. And yes, it was six hours of surgery, and I was very swollen for a couple of weeks, but now it's amazing. Everyone tells me how beautiful I look."Just last week I ran into someone I hadn't seen since I was younger," she continues, "and he told me I look more beautiful now than I did then!"
Despite the satisfaction of most of her patients, Rosenberg-Hagen says she won't perform every surgery requested of her, and made one patient wait eight years before giving her a face-lift.
"I don't think that every girl with small breasts should get implants," she declares, and adds that she forces all of her clients to watch an in-depth video about cosmetic surgery before they go through with it.
"We are seeing an exaggerated boom in aesthetic surgery," she states. "Years ago people were embarrassed about cosmetic surgery, but today, women show off their breasts to each other in the gym."
Rosenberg-Hagen believes that the reason for the relatively sudden increase is mainly due to advertising. There was a time, she says, when Israeli law didn't allow doctors to advertise their services, but clever businessmen soon realized they could circumvent the law, advertise for the doctors and make a small fortune.
"They developed many small machonim (institutes) for cosmetic surgery - which are usually very unprofessional places with inexperienced or unprofessional doctors," explains Rosenberg-Hagen. "While this drew clients away from the good doctors, it also did a great thing by drawing people's attention to the potentials of aesthetic surgery."
Eventually, the Health Ministry changed the laws and allowed doctors to advertise their services, and the results are clear.
"Years ago, I did more breast reduction than breast augmentation," recalls Rosenberg-Hagen. "But today it's the complete opposite - having big breasts became fashionable."
Rami Neuman, the head of the plastic surgery department at Hadassah-University Medical Center, also attributes the staggering rise to the increased public awareness of cosmetic surgery, but says it's more than just local advertising.
"Awareness grew because of the over-exposure to cosmetic surgery on television, on the Internet and people talking about it on the radio," he says, adding that better results as a result of better technology also contributed to its increased popularity.
And Neuman has the numbers to prove it. This year, 250 breast augmentation surgeries were performed at Hadassah, while eight years ago saw only 50. Forty face-lifts were performed this year, compared to only 15 eight years ago, and 80 tummy tucks, compared to only 20 performed eight years ago.
In fact, the numbers of almost all cosmetic surgery procedures done in Jerusalem have at least doubled, if not tripled, in the past eight years, according to data compiled by Neuman comparing the number of surgeries done in 1998-99 to those performed in 2005-06.
"It's going to keep growing," Neuman continues, "because we have excellent results, and the more people who do it, the more it will grow because everybody tells their friends."
And contrary to popular belief, the phenomenon doesn't restrict itself to women. Rosenberg-Hagen estimates that about 10% of her clients are men, most of whom come in for nose jobs, blepharoplasties (eyelid surgery) or hair transplants, an increasingly popular procedure for males.
Neuman gauges his male patients at closer to 20%, most of whom request nose jobs and rectifications of gynecomastia (enlarged breasts on a man caused by hormonal imbalance).
But more than gender differences, it is the makeup of Jerusalem's population that renders the trend so remarkable.
"People here are more religious, more spiritual and definitely more conservative," admits Rosenberg-Hagen, "but at the end of the day, people are people wherever you are. People want the same things out of life wherever they are - to be loved and appreciated."
The haredi and Arab populations are no exception, and Rosenberg-Hagen claims the number of clients from these communities has tripled in the past few years.
"There is still secrecy in the haredi community," says Rosenberg-Hagen, "but they get special permission from their rav for the woman to undergo cosmetic surgery either to get a shidduch [match] or to make her more appealing to her husband."
Most often, that surgery is a nose job or breast implants, says Neuman. But according to Rosenberg-Hagen, Arab and haredi women are increasingly undergoing another type of surgery, one they definitely prefer to keep secret - hymen reconstruction, a procedure that rebuilds the membrane covering the vagina so no one can detect that the woman is not a virgin.
But there is nothing wrong with cosmetic surgery halachically, says Rabbi Shlomo Vilk, a high school principal and rabbi who lives in Baka.
"Beauty has its place in Jewish thinking," admits Vilk, "and no one would ever say that beauty and how you see yourself is not important."
While taking care of yourself doesn't always include putting yourself through surgery or at an unnecessary risk, Vilk maintains that because there have been so many advances, it's not as risky and is therefore permissible, even in the holy city of Jerusalem.
"Anyone who lives in Jerusalem can't just view it as a holy city - it's also a place where they live, a city, like any other, and its holiness isn't derived by detaching from reality," asserts Vilk.
"Jerusalem has nine out of 10 parts of beauty that God gave the world," he continues. "The Holy Temple was beautiful architecturally, people came from all over the world to see it, and it's important that when people come to Jerusalem they see people are nice on the inside and on the outside - it's holistic and pleasant."
The challenge, he says, is for people not to focus on outer beauty alone.
"Beauty can't be the most important thing," he explains, "and should be used as a tool to be a better person and to positively influence one's inner beauty - to improve security and self-confidence."
Superficiality is dangerous, he warns, because if people only care about themselves and how they look, society will eventually collapse.
"Becoming beautiful isn't bad," Vilk concludes. "It's how we use it that can be bad or good."
Compared to Tel Aviv, those undergoing cosmetic surgery in Jerusalem are significantly more modest and conservative, insists Rosenberg-Hagen.
"Tel Aviv is more hedonistic," she says, citing as an example the fact that women in Tel Aviv ask for larger volumes of breast implants than women in Jerusalem. "It may only be 50 kilometers away, but it's very different. Here, women don't show off as much."
Keren Azo, a 28-year-old Jerusalemite who received breast implants and a nose job this year, agrees.
"Tel Aviv is like Las Vegas, it's the city of sin, so to speak, and people there are more provocative than people in Jerusalem," says Azo. "In Tel Aviv, women get breast implants because they want men to look at them, they want to get more calls on their cell-phone, but in Jerusalem, women do it more for themselves."Azo, a happily married mother of two children, got her breast implants because she was tired of spending hundreds of shekels a year on padded bras.
"I was always self-confident, but I wanted bigger breasts - my chest was very small and I always had to buy expensive padded bras to look good in clothes," explains Azo, who says she went from a small B cup to a C. Though she says the procedure was more painful than childbirth, three months later, she is thrilled she went through with it.
"It was horrible for a few weeks, but then the pain went away, and now I am so happy. It's unbelievable. It's amazing. I have this deep happiness inside - my dream was fulfilled," gushes Azo. "Any woman who loves herself and wants to do cosmetic surgery to make herself more beautiful should know that it's worth it."
And though she loves her new breasts, Azo loves her new nose even more.
"My breasts didn't make me prettier, they made me happier," she says. "The nose, on the other hand, is the center of the face. It's the first thing people see when they look at you. And I think I'm so beautiful now."
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Comfort beats out beauty
More people slipping into these colorful, cheap and 'ugly' shoes
By Wendy Donahue
Chicago Tribune
Tucson, Arizona Published: 06.23.2006
They're the new flip-flop/Ugg/Birkenstock/jelly sandal — all molded into one cultishly popular clog with a heel strap.
Originally intended as a boating shoe because of the slip-resistant, non-marking sole, Crocs launched with the bulbous Beach style in late 2002 at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show.
In no time, these wide-bed, featherweight (about 6 ounces), snow-cone-colored curiosities had clopped into . . .
● Kitchens: Iron Chef Mario Batali famously works in orange ones.
● Locker rooms: The Colorado Avalanche and Pittsburgh Penguins slip into them when the hockey skates are off.
● Hospitals: Staff at Northwestern Memorial in Chicago and on television's "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scrubs" do rounds in them.
● Hollywood: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner and Faith Hill have pumped star power into them.
Now, Crocs have united hippies, preppies, yuppies and kiddies with their comfort. The company credits a proprietary bacteria-resistant material called Croslite, a closed-cell resin that softens with body heat to conform to the feet while locking out the stink.
"We've sold over 1,000 pairs in two months," said Craig Cohen, manager of Alamo Shoes in Chicago. "It's like a late '80s thing with the Jordans."
Arch support, orthotic heel cups, "circulation nubs" and ventilation portholes soothe weary soles.
"Typically, if you were going to wear a piece of rubber all summer, your feet would reek and so would the shoes," Cohen said. "I've taken my golf shoes and Crocs when I go on vacation and left my Birkenstocks and Tevas behind."
In unisex and kids' sizes, Crocs can be wiped clean and hover around $30 a pair.
But, although Crocs claim "Italian styling," "chic" is not one of their chief selling points.
"They're so ugly they're hip," said Carter Kennedy, 44, who owns a firm that trades options at the Chicago Board of Trade, as well as two pairs of Crocs clogs, which he wears mainly around his house. "You can't beat the weight or the comfort for 25 bucks."
Crocs won a Brand of the Year award from Footwear News magazine and have spawned imitators.
And detractors.
Manolo the Shoe Blogger's "Gallery of the Horrors" (shoeblogs.com/horrors.html — an amusing site written in a mock Euro-Latin patois) defames them as the shoes "of a hypothetical dystopian future, one in which the inmates must be dressed in the footwear least likely to be useful in the popular uprising against the re- gime. . . . Manolo asks you, why must the 'comfort' always be the war cry of those who would lead us into the bad shoes?"
Bad or good, lead they have.
Annual revenue for Crocs shot to $108.6 million in 2005 from $13.5 million a year earlier. The company, founded by three entrepreneurs in Boulder, Colo., went public in February.
Look for Crocs of all kinds at every weekend destination this summer.
At the pool, look for children to take Crocs' quirky appeal a step further, by plugging the ventilation portholes of their clogs with Jibbitz, which are rubber charms of letters, flowers and animals (jibbitz.com).
Jana Kooi usually wears narrow shoes that have a heel and pointed toe. In neutral colors.
So she was the obvious choice when we went looking for a Tucsonan to test out a pair of Croc clogs. In bright purple.
Kooi, who is president of Pima Community College's Community Campus, recently agreed to test them out at work.
"There were a lot of surprised faces," she said, adding that the clogs also drew a lot of laughs — and questions.
Admittedly, the clogs were pretty dramatic because we had asked her to dress as usual for work, so the photos would show the contrast in her personal style. We also asked her to bring in some casual clothes that would go with Crocs. "They actually looked cute with the jeans," she said.
Here are some of her observations:
Homework: After agreeing to try out a pair, Kooi checked out the Crocs at www.crocs.com online. "I had heard about them, but had not really looked at them," she said, impressed by the variety of styles, colors and relative low price. (The pair she wore cost $32.27 at Dillard's, including tax.)
Comfort: "They're very comfortable — especially on tile floors or any hard surfaces for standing. They give you a lot of cushion," she said. "I've got tile floors in part of my house. . . . They were wonderful, especially when I was cooking."
Comments she received: "Many of my staff have them, and they love them." Others, male and female, asked to try them on.
Drawbacks: The clogs were a little wide for her feet, which are very narrow. At times, when walking, she felt she was stepping out of them. "Standing still, it was great."
They came in handy: "I had a leak in my front garden that went over the sidewalk, and I could just plow right through without worrying about them getting wet," she said. "I was actually quite thrilled I had them." And, she later added, "They seemed quite durable."
Would she buy a pair? Kooi said she and several co-workers plan to check out the more streamlined flip-flops. "I could see where those would be very comfortable and you could wear them with a lot more things." Kooi, who once lived in Michigan, is also interested in the boots. "I thought those could be fun for tromping around in the rain and the snow."
What color? "I actually kind of liked the purple, but they have a great green . . . I also liked the red and yellow," she said. "I think the colors are fun."
What is "Community Campus"? More than 50,000 students each year attend this campus, which provides all of the college's distance education, workforce training, adult basic education and the noncredit courses.
● Inger Sandal, Arizona Daily Star
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Killer fashion: Looking good never hurt so bad
Tortured toes, sprains and chafing make ER bracelets the new accessory
By Diane Mapes
MSNBC contributor
First, it was the corset. Now, the fashion industry has brought back skin-tight jeans, disco leotards and 7-inch platforms. And for accessories? Look for corns, bunions, sprained ankles, bruises, yeast infections and chafing.
Yes, for many of us, beauty and pain often walk hand in hand. But how far are we willing to go for fashion? For some, it’s all the way to the emergency room.
Heather Swanson, a 33-year-old photographer from Manhattan, broke a bone and ripped a ligament in her foot while wearing her favorite pair of 5 ½-inch leopard-print platforms. “I would always plan on not walking, but then you end up walking more than you think you will. The night it happened, I was on my feet the whole night.”
Until she tripped. Unfortunately, the taller you are, the harder you fall. Swanson’s injury forced her out of her heels and into a cast for six weeks, but that hardly dissuaded her from giving up heels entirely. Instead, she makes do with 4-inch platforms. “I like to wear heels because I feel more confident and therefore more sexy," she explains. "But I’m writing some of this off to being young and retarded.”
Renate Raymond, another 33-year-old woman, this one from Seattle, developed an abusive fashion relationship with her slimming BodyShaper. “The first time I wore it, I had bruises all over my body where it had cut off my circulation,” she says. “But even with the bruising, I put it right back on so I could look good in my clothes. I’m like a battered wife.”
Thong-induced infections, puncture wounds from underwire bras, tortured toes from stilettos — why do women put up with this stuff?
“We’ve all accepted that there’s agony that goes with looking fashionable and attractive,” says Carly Milne, a Los Angeles-based author who says at least a quarter of her closet causes her pain (a puzzle-piece corset even gave her skin lacerations). “If it makes us feel sexy on the outside, we’re willing to make the sacrifice. All we think about is, ‘Holy cow, do I ever look hot in those Manolos.’”
Julie Fredrickson, editor-in-chief of
Coutorture.com, attributes our masochistic relationship with clothing to a style version of Stockholm syndrome.
“The clothes might be torturing you, but you become used to it,” she says. “The heels, the tight skirt, it all becomes a part of your life. They put you in pain, but you think, ‘No, it’s worth it.’”
Suffering for a perceived beauty ideal is hardly new, of course. In China, women endured foot binding to achieve an idealized dainty foot. And up until the 20th century, restricting corsets reigned supreme. But in this era of "The Beauty Myth" and body-positive Web sites like
AdiosBarbie.com, haven’t we moved beyond all that?
Yes and no, says Milne.
“Redefining beauty takes a really long time,” she says. “And we’re in the process of trying to undo centuries of thinking. People are still wearing binding high heels and corsets, only now it’s not so much a mandatory thing.”
Or is it? A stroll through the newsstand or surf through the channels will produce all sorts of dictatorial “fashion don’ts” and warnings about “What Not to Wear.” Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty aside, isn’t the media slowing down our sensible-shoed march toward progress?
“It’s too easy to blame it on the media,” says Coutorture.com’s Fredrickson. “I’m not sure it’s a cultural thing — there might just be innate forms of beauty that we respond to.”
It’s responding to those innate forms — the exaggerated cleavage of the bustier, the curved arch of the high heel — without winding up with bruises or bunion surgery that’s the trick. And in a world where style-makers indulge in haute couture hi-jinks like Glamour’s recent 100-meter Stiletto Run and designers continue to produce women’s clothing based on an hourglass ideal despite the fact that most of our bodies are rectangular or pear-shaped, parsing the fine line between beauty and pain can be as difficult as squeezing into a pair of freshly laundered drainpipe jeans.
What can be done? For some women, like Renee Sedliar, a 35-year-old San Francisco editor who blames a pair of 4-inch red leather sandals for her sprained ankle, it’s a matter of making the tough choice.
“After years of heels, I’ve become almost exclusively dedicated to flats,” she says. “Let’s face it, there’s nothing like walking around in really sexy, fabulous shoes, but if you can’t hide the grimace of pain or oozing blood or swelling toes…”
For others, a common sense approach holds the key.
“The message is not that you should never wear these things, it’s more like have some sense and do it in moderation,” says Dr. Sherry A. Marts of the
Society for Women’s Health Research. “If you’re going to have to walk six blocks to go to a club, slip your heels into a tote and wear flats until you get there. And if you’re going to wear a corset, make sure you can still take a deep breath.”
Diane Mapes is a Seattle freelance writer and author of the recently released "
How to Date in a Post-Dating World."
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Best beauty buys for less
Posted: 06/19/2006 12:15 pmLast Updated: 06/19/2006 12:32 pmMany products promise to erase the signs of aging, but some can cost you a bundle.
However, the good news is, you don't have to spend a fortune.
Best buys in beauty
It's almost overwhelming as you look down the beauty aisle and glance at the many different creams that are making so many different claims.
So how do you know which products really live up to their claims?
Dermatologist Dr. Susan Taylor says you have to check the ingredients.
"One of my first choices is this ROC product. It has retinol and retinol has been demonstrated to help wrinkles and discolorations of the skin and it's very affordable, $19.99," she says.
Dr. Taylor recommends the ROC cream for night. For a day cream, she likes Oil of Olay Regeneris, the perfecting cream. It has an amino peptide complex and is under $20.
"The amino peptides have been shown to help improve the signs of aging, so this is a good one," she explains.
Dr. Taylor says choosing the right cleanser is also important because as we age, our skin often develops dark marks and discolorations.
"I like this Aveeno Positively Radiant cleanser and it has soy and soy has been demonstrated to help with pigmentation and keep our skin even," she says.
The next problem: dark circles and puffiness. Dr. Taylor's pick? Eye Defense by L'Oreal. "It has caffeine in it. Caffeine is an ingredient that absolutely can reduce puffiness," she explains.
How about a good all around eye cream?
Dr. Taylor says a cream made by Nivea is a winner. She says, "It has Q10. Coenzyme Q-10 is another ingredient that has been demonstrated to help lines and wrinkles."
Last but not least, grab a good sunscreen. Dr. Taylor suggests one made by Aveeno. She says make sure there is UVA and UVB protection and an SPF of at least 15.
So, instead of going to the nearest department store for your beauty products, why not head to the nearest drug store, and catch a deal.
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Bea on beauty
By Fina EvangelistaPhylbert
Angellie Ranollo is also the young and beautiful Bea Alonzo of movie and television fame. At 18, this career-minded Filipino-British mestiza, talks much sense for her young age. For one, she values getting a good education in the midst of her busy taping and filming schedules. A senior high at the Angelicum College in Quezon City; Bea fits in completing school requirements by practicing good time management. Quite believable, for she has an almost perfect record in her career appearances.
We interviewed the beauteous star in between a photo-shooting session as a commercial model. Shooting was scheduled for 9 a.m. sharp. Bea’s call slip was two hours earlier to allow for makeup and hairdressing. And with no primadonna ado, this young professional was very much ready and alert for each shooting segment.
Here are excerpts from our interview with Bea on being beautiful:
What do you think are the important things for a person to be beautiful?
First in my list is hygiene. Especially with girls, being always clean is important, not only when you are seen by others, but also off-cam. For instance, when you’re always clean, you avoid getting pimples. And of course leading a stress-free life is also very important.
What does being beautiful as a woman mean to you?
Being beautiful is thinking beautiful. I call it inner beauty. When you think beautiful, you have a happy heart. You won’t have a hard time smiling, because your smile comes from within you. And when you have a happy heart, you have contentment and you’re appreciative of things around you. Of course, fixing yourself well and being presentable is the other part of being beautiful.
What are the things you do as part of your personal beauty regimen?
I wash my face at every break. That’s why I use a facial wash that will not dry my skin. To keep my pores tight, I put ice all over my face, then I moisturize and relax. When I have time, I dip myself in a hot tub of water to relax. Oh, and I am a spa addict. When I want to really relax, I just go to a spa.
Aside from talent fees, what are the things you consider before you agree to endorse a commercial product?
The quality of the product. I have to believe in the product. I have to have a gravitation with the product. I must really use it or at least start using it.
For instance, Céleteque, why did you agree to endorse it as a product or brand?
Because Céleteque products are hypoallergenic and dermatologically-tested.
The facial wash is nondrying. The moisturizer is easy to use—it’s not heavy because it is water-based. I can use it even under my makeup. And it’s safe to use even by girls my age. Like me, my skin easily gets irritated. But I feel safe using Céleteque.
Let’s talk about love. In your opinion, does being in love have something to do with being beautiful?
(Laughs) I guess so! You are what you think, di ba? Like, I’m in love with my craft… I love my work!
Speaking of love, is there a special someone right now who gives you the inspiration to always stay beautiful?
Hmm… none yet! I’m entertaining suitors.
What specific qualities do you look for in your special someone?
I don’t look for specific qualities, basta God-fearing. But mind you, I noticed all my crushes are bad-boy looking! Looks lang naman. (She smiles)
In your opinion, what makes a woman look young longer?
Being always happy… being happy with her life. And physically, proper hygiene. Wash your face thoroughly with a nondrying facial wash like Céleteque.
Then apply Céleteque Moisturizer to avoid facial skin dryness. It’s water-based and oil-free, perfect alone or under makeup ‘coz it isn’t greasy. It won’t clog pores too, so we avoid whiteheads and blackheads.
Let’s talk complexion, how do you maintain a beautiful complexion?
To maintain a good complexion, I use a mild unscented lotion, and a moisturizer. I have a fair complexion, but I want to tan. I don’t have time to go to the beach, I plan to go to a tanning salon.
Do you think, our tropical climate has something to do with maintaining beautiful skin?
Yes, of course. The sun can be drying to the skin. That’s why we need to moisturize… and use a water-based moisturizer like Céleteque. It’s good for Asian skin.
Do you think pricing is important for beauty products?
Beauty products should yield beautiful results. But pricing is important too. Like Céleteque, it is affordable, even for young girls like me. And it yields beautiful results.
What about packaging, what suggestions do you have for your beauty aids?
Smaller packaging would be fine, specially for students like me. And for those in the u-belt. And for office girls too. Something easy to bring when you travel.
After this interview, one thing is certain, beauteous Bea is not just beautiful inside and out… she is definitely a woman of substance—of beauty, heart and brains!
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Beauty Parlor or Pamper Parlor?
Your beauty salon has had a makeover.
Once upon a time, not so long ago, a hair salon was a place to go for a cut and color and maybe a polish change. If you wanted anything more elaborate, your choices were limited.
Now, most salons are no longer just salons. You can have a facial, massage or other body treatment in the same place -- bringing the essence of a spa retreat to a location right down the street. ...
The New Jersey-based Day Spa Association estimates that there are between 12,000 and 17,000 day spas/salons in the United States today. That's a big jump from the 6,000 day spa/salons in business in 1999, and the 70 or so in operation in 1990.
The No. 1 reason for the changing face of beauty salons is a simple one: stress.
Women in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond are looking and feeling younger than they did in the past, and are much more aware of the negative effects stress can have on both their looks and their health.
"Day spa treatments are popularly (and accurately) perceived as great stress relievers," says Hannelore Leavy, executive director of the Day Spa Association. "Awareness of the health dangers of stress has enabled consumers to give themselves 'permission' to enjoy spa treatments, which they may have once considered more pampering."
Everyday stresses inflicted by ringing cell phones, dinner-hour trips to the soccer field, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. workdays have increased an already considerable demand for effective and healthful stress relief, she said.
Increasingly, spa customers view facials, massages and body treatments such as mud wraps and salt rubs as pre-emptive strikes against the inevitable damage that stress -- and the passage of time -- inflicts on our skin. And the fact that these services are performed in a relaxing environment, where New Age music plays, aromatherapy soothes, and cell phones and kids are verboten? Bliss. Need for ContactEven just being touched has a tremendous therapeutic benefit, says Kelly Burns, manager of Chez Ann Salon and Day Spa in Williamsville, N.Y.
"People need to be touched," she says. "It's like getting a hug from your mother."
Kara Klaasesz, owner of Bella Day Spa, a full-service spa slated to open this week in Hamburg, N.Y., says women want help.
"Baby boomers are looking for treatments that will make them look younger and healthier," she says. "They aren't as concerned with price as they are with changing the effects the sun has had on their skin for 20 years."
And in Western New York, the benefits of exfoliating and detoxifying might just be as essential to health and attractiveness as ramping up antioxidant intake or curtailing Cosmo consumption.
According to Brandy Mahon, spa coordinator at En V Us Salon and Spa in Williamsville, N.Y., harsh weather takes a particularly heavy toll on our skin and scalp. Spa treatments work wonders on people plagued by dry skin, as well as on Western New Yorkers whose less-than-perfect diets have left them looking a little rough around the edges.
For true day spa afficionados, a Vichy water shower is akin to a fountain of youth, and a spa visit, even a brief one, is money well-spent.
"Is it worth the money? No question," says Pam Chrzanowski of Williamsville, N.Y.
Of course, there is still a large population of women who cannot imagine why anyone would spend money having her (shhh!) eyebrows waxed when a pair of tweezers could take care of the problem for a one-time expenditure of $10 or so. But as the age range of day spa users stretches from the teens to the 60s, that group is shrinking.
"Spa-goers are much more sophisticated these days," says the Day Spa Association's Leavy. "Spa owners are coming up with many new innovative treatments to attract clients and distinguish themselves from the spa down the street." Shopping AroundAs with any rapidly growing industry, there is a "let the buyer beware" factor associated with the day-spa boom. Some salon operators would say it is splitting hairs, but industry insiders stress that the addition of the words "and Day Spa" to the name does not a day spa make.
There are no governmental regulations that define day spas, but industry guidelines suggest that day spas should offer, among other things, a calming and nurturing environment, licensed technicians, and a wide variety of services.
According to association guidelines, roughly 10 percent of the spas in the United States are truly built on the principles of the traditional spa experience.
"Putting one pedicure bowl in a back room does not make you a day spa," notes Gary Frankino , manager of Atillio's Salon and Day Spa in Kenmore, N.Y. "There's no atmosphere. It's like having a pedicure in a closet."
Comparison shopping is crucial.
The biggest upside of the trend might be that it makes the spa experience more convenient and accessible to customers who would not make a trip to say, Niagara-on-the-Lake, to sample some untried and potentially very personal treatments.
The one-stop-shop factor is also important to a lot of customers, especially those who pop in for a quick treatment on their lunch hours. "You know how sometimes you can take a 15-minute nap and feel rejuvnated? Imagine what an hour of relaxation would do," says Burns.
Cost is another factor that has boosted demand for down-the- street retreats. Although quality spa treatments are by no means cheap, they are generally more reasonable close to home than at "destination spas."
"We can offer a price point that is comfortable, so women don't have to go to an expensive spa and pay for the overhead," Burns says.
Also, visiting a neighborhood shop where she might already know the staff and have a comfort level is far less intimidating for a woman who might get stressed out just by the prospect of not knowing what to expect, how to behave, or how much to tip the technician.
"Aside from the fact that I could walk [to my salon] if, say, there was a driving ban and I just had to get a pedicure, I go to [my salon] because the women are all so down-to-earth and funny," says Chrzanowski. "It's like hanging out with your friends or your sisters."
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Hardy antique roses can add uncommon beauty to garden
Learning about and growing antique roses has interested me for several years. Until lately though, I’ve grown only a few easy-care David Austin roses and a Harris 1935 yellow. Last year when I was able to root another, Katy Road Pink, from a 4-inch stem, the ease of propagation at no cost of this beautiful “ol’-timey” rose to my garden may have hooked me into collecting more old roses. So it’s not surprising that I was happy to learn that Gerlinde, wife of fellow Master Gardener Associate Edwin, has two of these pink beauties in their backyard.
Gerlinde mostly grows antique roses that are repeat bloomers. Tucked into corners, against fences and in formal beds you’ll find her favorites: Queen Elizabeth, loads of pink blossoms; La Marne, fragrant deep pink; Katy Road Pink Rose, a shrub rose discovered in Katy Road, Texas, by the Rose Rustlers — a group that finds old roses in abandoned homesteads, cemeteries, etc., researches their original name, propagates and offers them to the public. Valentine (she has five), a velvety deep rose with lovely shape; Belinda’s Dream, a fragrant pink (lovely form), Maggie, a fragrant bright dark pink rose; Sam Houston, a pink blend; Cecile Brunner, with a good strong aroma, light pink, Mrs. R. M. Finch, a light pink fragrant; Marchessa Boccella, a medium pink fragrant; White Pet, a small white; RiseNShine, a yellow, grows low (not terribly pretty and doesn’t bloom well); Coral Beauty, a bright coral, lovely shape.
Edwin had asked me over to see their 9.5-foot-tall hollyhocks. These lovely pink, rose and white old-fashioned hollyhocks act as a partial screen between the more formal bed of roses, perennials and flower beds and the vegetable garden. I was enchanted with the layout. The numbers and varieties of trees, perennials, annuals, squirrels and birds that co-exist like a happy family in this small enclosure truly are astounding.
Not only is this intimate garden beautiful and tidy, it’s comfortable: a place in which you want to linger. Edwin and Gerlinda use nothing that will harm the wild creatures that visit or come to stay. They are glad to share the bounty: being content with a few imperfect apples or chewed on leaves in preference to poisoning their environment with harmful chemicals.
Picture the evergreen borders that frame the garden, acts as a privacy screen as well as feeds the birds and squirrels. Among the berry- and fruit-yielding plants in the border chosen to feed the birds are: American, Foster and youpon hollies. In the yard proper an Arkansas Black and Douglas apple trees (a robin sits on a nest in the Douglas; a dove appropriated an abandoned robin’s nest in the other) provide food for the squirrels first with plenty left for the couple to share with others. There’s also a large Brown Turkey fig (last year she gathered approximately 300 large sweet figs) and two pear trees.
When mother robin gets too hot sitting on the nest in the Douglas she glides down and cools off in the shade of the other apple tree nearby. After a few minutes she flies directly back to her brooding duties.
The squirrels have plenty of other food besides the apples. There are feeding stations, an acorn tree and three hazelnuts. It’s no wonder then that they’ve become spoiled and lazy. Gerlinde showed me pictures of one of her “pet” squirrels sprawled out flat, legs akimbo, totally content and trusting.
It’s cheap and easy to grow roses from cuttings, especially if you can beg or “borrow” a cutting. Choose a stem about 6 inches long, remove a few leaves from the bottom then push the cutting in a 4-inch pot of sterile potting mix and moisten. Place sticks in the container to hold the clear plastic above the top of the cutting to form a tent-like structure. Secure the plastic with a rubber band, place in the shade and keep soil moist — not soggy. When and if roots form — it may take up to a month — you will see new growth beginning.
Uncover immediately and gradually harden off before placing in the garden. Keep rose bush moist until it takes hold in its new location. Old roses are earth-friendly, tough and easy-care, not like many modern hybrids that need chemical insecticides, fungicides and fertilizers.
For instance, the picture that accompanies this article is an antique rose — name unknown — that once belonged to Edwin Thompson’s mother. The family lived on a farm southeast of Okemah but when they left the farm and moved to Oklahoma City about 1938 they had to leave the beloved rose to the new owners. The rose was thrown over the fence into the bar ditch where it survives today.
About 10 years ago, Edwin dug up a portion of the bush and took it to the couple’s home in Norman where it has a central spot in their circular rose bed. His mother’s beloved rose, so carelessly tossed away so many years ago, not only survived, but flourished in a ditch untended, beset by county graders, weeds, droughts and floods.
Most of the roses mentioned above may be found at The Antique Rose Emporium, Brenham, TX. Call them at 800-441-0002 or visit their Web site: www.weAREroses.com. Jackson and Perkins lists Katy Road Pink. Their number is 800-292-4769 and their Web site is www.jacksonandperkins.com.
Betty Culpepper may be reached at bculpe6769@att.net for comments, questions or ideas for future columns.
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Beauty: Learning your lines
Saturday June 17, 2006By Fiona Hawtin
It's not certain how much eyeliner helped Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren and Edie Sedgwick with their careers, but one thing's for sure - it helped them get noticed. And with the mod look on the comeback trail, now's the time to go in for some liner.
Two things you don't want to do. No liquid liner with the upward tabby-cat's eye flick at the end - so dated and not even retro in an Elizabeth Taylor's Cleopatraf way. And no hard black lines top and bottom - far too Footballers Wives. A softened pencil is the modern way to line eyes.
1. Elizabeth Arden Fling/Flair Dual-Ended Eye Pencil$34 for 1.38g
One pencil, two colours. Clever concept this. The soft metallic flesh-toned pink is best used to wash over the eye, and the flattering shade of army green at the other end is the liner. Soft enough to blend easily.
From selected department stores and pharmacies.
2. Becca Ibiza Line and Illuminate Pencil$50 for 3.9g
First, the creamy, shot-gold sparkly illuminator floats over the lid. Then, for hard-core liner devotees, there's a black pencil that is also kind on the eye area and smudges gently. Edie would have loved it.
From Glamorpuss, ph (09) 524 4741.
3. M.A.C Delphic Fluidline$34
Fluidline is a gel liner and bears no relation to liquid liner other than both are applied with a brush. This gives a lovely, long-wearing and smudgeproof line that, by nature, is soft and smudgy. It almost blends itself. As for the colour, this get-me-noticed turquoise with a splash of silver pearl is pretty special.
From Smith & Caughey's Newmarket and M.A.C Chancery.
4. Chanel Aqua Le Crayon Kohl$47 for 1.4g
As part of the summer collection that pays homage to a girl on the beach, this metallic blue looks amazing with iridescent gold and pink tones. Chanel has thoughtfully included a sharpener, because a blunt pencil won't do you any favours.
From selected department stores and pharmacies from June 18.
5. Lancome Chatagne Waterproof Le Crayon Kohl$42 for 1.2g
What an excellent colour this no-nonsense brown is. It suits just about everyone. The soft pencil, which glides on easily, can be smudged with the angled sponge at the other end of the pencil.
On top of all that it's waterproof, so it's ideal if you're caught in a shower.
From selected department stores.
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The Godiva skin-care campaign shift
‘Be proud of your natural beauty’
By Terrie B. Fucanan
ALTHOUGH nearly every skin-care brand in the market has joined the skin-whitening bandwagon, one of the trend’s pioneers has unexpectedly rehashed its campaign to advocate natural beauty. Hence its new slogan: “Beautiful skin does not have to mean white. The best skin color is the one you’re born with. Be proud of your natural beauty.”
The campaign is positive and promising, but it may be Godiva’s riskiest move as well, given that the 10-year-old local skin-care brand is strongly identified as a leader in the skin-whitening business. It was the first to introduce in the Philippines the licorice extract—an expensive but clinically proven whitening ingredient, through soaps, lotions, toners and creams, which jump-started the trend in the beauty market.
Speculators believe that the new campaign may only shake up the brand’s already strong consumer base, and spark confusion as to its genuine position on the issue of beauty.
Notes young lawyer Anne, a Godiva user: “It’s a vague shift. All its products have a whitening ingredient. The new campaign doesn’t complement the product.”
Says Lyn, a 24-year-old office employee: “Why do I need to use the product then if I should be proud of my natural beauty?”
Godiva president Fred Reyes issued a practical explanation about the company’s campaign shift. On June 8 at the formal launch of the Godiva Natural Beauty campaign, he pointed out: “The whitening rage has gone overboard already. We want to correct it.”
An effective whitening product cannot miraculously transform dark skin to white. But it can lighten and even out skin tone, remove blemishes and discolorations and make the skin clearer and more radiant—depending on the person’s skin type and the frequency of product use.
In a clinical trial report in 2002, licorice showed lightening improvements to skin with melasma in seven days. Vitamin C ranked second, hydroquinone came third, while kojic acid and melawhite came in fourth and fifth place in terms of rate of activity.
Reyes pointed out that some skin-care manufacturers have gone out of control in its inaccurate claims about whitening, with some brands already carrying harmful chemicals in their products that may cause allergic reactions and overtime, even skin cancer.
Such worsening phenomenon, he said, prompted the company to change its marketing position. “Our products use natural ingredients that are proven safe and effective. As we highlight this we also want to tell our consumers to not overdo themselves with whitening products,” Reyes said. “We should all be proud of our own complexion, as long as it is even toned, clear and clean.”
To clearly impart this new message the company signed up a one-year endorsement deal with the actress Assunta de Rossi. Reyes said his company believes the young wife of Negros Occidental Rep. Jules Ledesma would best embody Godiva’s new catchphrase: “You do not have to be white to be beautiful.”
The 23-year-old actress couldn’t agree more. She confessed: “I used to be obsessed with whitening products. I wasn’t happy with my color.”
Several years of trying out various whitening products only gave her frustration. “I realized I should be happy with my olive skin,” she said. “Besides, even if I turn white, it wouldn’t look good on me because my skin’s undertone is yellow. I’d only look yellowish instead of fair.”
Reyes added: “People are born with naturally soft and even-toned skin. But due to stress and harsh elements, the skin loses its natural glow. This is what our brand works to achieve—bring back the best in your natural beauty.”
Godiva Inc. started marketing the Godiva Natural Skin Care product line in 1996 through the assistance of its sister company, Chemworld Marketing Corp. Chemworld was then having difficulty selling licorice extract to local skin-care product manufacturers, for a kilo of its purified form costs P1 million today.
The Godiva skin-care line paved for the wonder ingredient’s penetration into the local beauty industry. In 2000 the company expanded its reach worldwide through the online store www.godivaskincare.com, and in 2004 and 2005 it opened the Godiva Skin Station, a beauty and wellness center at SM Fairview and Makati Bel-Air.
Reyes vowed that his company will stand firm in promoting natural beauty, and the responsible use of whiteners and other beauty aids in the years to come. Finally, he said, Godiva has found its rightful position in the market, beyond the bounds of excessive commercialism.
“It’s about time a beauty product make this kind of claim,” says Jeje Jose, a whitening product user. “It’s honest, straightforward and socially responsible.”
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Inside Out : More wonder cures
First posted 01:38am (Mla time) June 13, 2006 By Cory QuirinoInquirer Editor's Note: Published on Page C3 of the June 13, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
THERE are as many common ingredients or substances one can use for medicinal, beauty and practical purposes as there are days on the calendar. Here are more common health-friendly items:
Ice
In its liquid state, water has its limitless uses. But in its solid state, it is considered an emergency treatment for skin flare-ups/allergies/insect bites and bruises.
Apply in the affected area (wrapped in a towelette or hanky) for 30 seconds every minute for five minutes until the swelling or itch goes away.
For puffy eyes, apply on closed eyes for 10 seconds, resting another 10 seconds and reapplying every 10 seconds. Repeat three times. This is an instant face saver.
Honey
Having antibacterial properties, this golden liquid can be used internally and externally.
As morning tonic, mix one teaspoon in a cup of warm water. Add two teaspoons of apple-cider vinegar (also an antiseptic). Makes for a great tummy-cleansing flush. Safe to take on an empty stomach.
As a skin healer, apply directly on sores/bedsores. Cover up affected area with bandage. For bruises, apply directly as often as possible.
To raise blood sugar or ease exhaustion, simply place a small amount in your mouth. Prevents fainting spells and seizures.
As a sunburn soother, rub on the skin until pain and heat go away.
Salt
A beauty and health aid. As a toxin fighter, should one need to induce vomiting, take one tablespoon in a cup of warm water.
If you’re suffering from sleeplessness or insomnia, you may have too little or too much salt intake.
Sodium enhances adrenalin, a hormone that causes excitement, so too much of it close to bedtime may make you restless at night. If you feel that your salt intake is too low, add three to four pinches of salt to your diet every day.
Lemongrass (tanglad)
Nervousness/restlessness can be eased by this herb. Make tea by steeping two blades of leaves in a pot of boiling water. Sip slowly. Also good for dizziness, headaches and stress.
Should you feel feverish or like you’re coming down with a cold, sip the tea slowly. Take it as often as you can until symptoms are eased.
As a relaxing bath, place some leaves or pour five cups of the tea in a bath tub of hot water. Soak for seven minutes.
Coffee
This is called an old Italian secret. As a drink, strong coffee can fight indigestion and acidity.
As a beauty regimen, use natural coffee as a body scrub to enhance exfoliation and detoxification. Mix five tablespoons with two teaspoons of oil (any kind will do). Rub the skin gently but firmly.
Mind set: Throughout the rituals of using natural substances, remember it isn’t only the ingredient as it is your state of mind that counts. These are just aids, but the biggest helper of all is yourself and your openness towards healing.
Your affirmation: “May I be well!”
Love and light!!
Reference: “A Treasury of Natural First Aid Remedies From A-Z,” by James Kusick
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Natural shampoo and skin care products
Organic cosmetics are increasing in popularity, but are they always best?
Karen Gram, Vancouver SunPublished: Monday, June 12, 2006
Standing at the base of a lodgepole pine tree in North Vancouver, Anthony Gollner reaches in and up toward a bulbous growth that has spread around a branch just above his head. Poof. Spores from the tree explode all around him, leaving him covered in dark orange pollen.Too polite to swear, he jumps back and swiftly brushes the powder from his head and jacket, then returns with renewed determination to that growth he covets.
Actually, it's not a growth. It's a pine-sap deposit that seeped from the innards of the tree, possibly to protect it from a wound or from over-production, and accumulated here. The wound has healed and Gollner sees his chance to scrape the hardened mass into his bucket. The tree's medicine, he says, is also medicine for human skin and hair problems.
Gollner is president of Carina Organics, a mom, pop and son enterprise (Anthony is the son) that makes and sells natural hair, skin and pet products using plant materials gathered in B.C.'s own backyard.
The Gollners are part of a growing industry producing cosmetics from, if not fully organic, at least all-natural products, hoping to cash in on a growing population looking for alternatives to synthetic cosmetics.
Getting spore bombed is the cost of doing business, he says. Luckily, he's not allergic.
Pine, douglas fir, cedar and hemlock saps can do wonders for people suffering from eczema, psoriasis, cradle cap or dry skin, he says. First nations people knew this, he adds, long before his father Helmut discovered it while developing a tonic to ease the itchy scalps of his clients.
Helmut learned to make his own hair tonics while apprenticing to become a barber in Germany. But his real inspiration came from an old bar of pine-tar soap he found in a cupboard of his Vancouver barber shop while cleaning up. Now the Gollners have a whole line called Botanical Theraputics that use the essence of the tree saps in place of synthetic, chemical-based ingredients.
The saps also act as effective preservatives and anti-microbial, anti-fungal agents. That means Gollner's products also don't need the chemical preservatives used in most cosmetics -- chemicals such as parabens that can cause severe allergic reactions and are tentatively linked to cancer. An English study found high dosages of parabens in 18 out of 20 breast tumours studied.
Consumers are switching to organic or botanical cosmetics for a variety of reasons including the protection of the environment, but also to protect their bodies from the cumulative effects of toxic interactions, says Dr. Leslie Baumann, a Miami-based cosmetic and author of The Skin Type Solution.
While a lack of research showing their effectiveness prevents her from wholeheartedly endorsing botanicals, she does advise avoiding ingredients like parabens and toluene, a chemical found in many brands of nail polish that has been shown to have detrimental effects on males in utero. Toluene can also cause a skin rash, characteristically on the eyelids, in people who use nail polish containing toluene.
Still, Baumann says some synthetics, such as retin-A for wrinkles or acne, are far superior to any botanical alternative. Moreover, neither natural or organic products are necessarily the best for the skin.
"For instance, many natural and organic brands contain certain fragrances and essential oils, which can cause dermatitis," she writes in an article on her website about organic products. "Oil of bergamot and balsam of Peru are both highly allergenic, so even an organic product containing them could irritate sensitive individuals."
Similarly, peppermint or rosemary may irritate or inflame skin if it is sensitive, and even chamomile can cause allergic reactions in people who are also allergic to wheat.
But for Baumann, the bottom line is whether or not the product works for your skin. Soy is a good example, she says. It has some properties that help treat and prevent dark patches or melasma on skin, but organic soy has estrogenic properties that can make melasma worse.
Aveeno and Neutrogena removed the estrogenic properties in some of their soy products. It can't be called organic, (it's called active soy), but it's actually better for the skin, she says.
"Basically, in this case, non-organic soy is better. The same can be said of another Aveeno ingredient, feverfew," she says, noting feverfew can cause blisters if it hasn't been distilled.
On the other hand, green tea is an excellent antioxidant that slows aging, and if you can get that in an organic form, so much the better. Baumann says consumers who prefer organics but still want effective products may have to seek out products that are mostly organic but have added synthetic ingredients to make them work.
Sylvie Punguntzky, the body care manager at Finlandia Pharmacy, says certified organic cosmetics are rare, partly because the market has yet to provide enough demand and partly because many products, such as the anti-aging ingredient hyaluronic acid, are either synthetic or animal-based.
"It can't come from a plant, which makes it very difficult to be certified organic," she says.
As well, emulsifiers -- even plant-based ones like palm oil -- just aren't available organically or they cost way too much, she says.
It's better to seek out products that do not use harmful chemicals, she says.
For example, most mainstream shampoos use a form of sodium lauryl sulfate as the surfactant or soap. It has a nice foamy quality to it, but it can cause skin irritations, rashes, hair loss, dandruff and allergic reactions.
Gollner uses a blend of vegetable oils and corn sugar, which when heated becomes glycerine, as his surfactant.
For shiny hair, many products use silicone, says Gollner. But he uses, among other things, the gelatin derived from horsetail ferns. He collects wild sword fern from the local forests for its astringent qualities.
He also used to collect wild chamomile, nettles, echinacea and clover to infuse into their products, but now he buys those from an organic farmer. Most of his tree sap comes from the Okanagan now.
Punguntzky, who procures all of Finlandia's cosmetic products, has a few general rules she tries to follow. For the most part, she believes in the principle that natural is better than synthetic, but that's not always the case. Vegans may prefer a synthetic to an animal ingredient, she says, and while petroleum is a natural product, it's not a good one for skin. "Petroleum products prevent perspiration," she says, which is essential to cool the body.
Punguntzky also avoids synthetic fragrances and opts for products that use essential oils or are fragrance-free. Mineral-based skin-care lines are good for people with allergies, she says. But some minerals, like aluminum, should be avoided because research shows they can cause skin irritations and sensitization and may increase the risk of breast cancer.
German products are generally excellent, she says because the industry is strongly regulated there. She likes products made by Laverna, Dr. Hauschka and Weleda. Another local producer of natural products is Vitamoor.
Without your own private researcher it will be difficult to know until November what is in a product, because until then, Canadian cosmetic labels do not have to say what is in them. Those who want to steer clear of potential skin problems should seek out natural product lines that say they don't contain harmful chemicals, says Punguntzky. There is also a great book called A Consumer's Guide to Cosmetic Ingredients by Ruth Winter (Three Rivers Press, $25) that Punguntzky says is her bible.
"You really have to do the research," she says. Look at the company's reputation, products, ingredients and philosophy, she suggests. Gollner recommends using the National Institutes of Health website -- www.nih.gov -- where you can search an ingredient and get a toxicology report on it, but not all ingredients been tested. Baumann recommends an online safety guide (based on ingredient research data as well as data gaps) at www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep2/info_about.php. Or go to her website, www.drbaumann.com, for non-biased informative discussion.
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Revolutionary Skin Care Technology Reinvents Wrinkle Reduction North Dallas Dermatology Associates Premiers Portrait® Skin RegenerationDallas, TX (PRWEB) June 8, 2006 -– North Dallas Dermatology Associates, P.A.
www.northdallasderm.com introduces Portrait® skin regeneration, the first and only clinically proven technology delivering true skin regeneration. Now patients can benefit from reduced wrinkles, tighter skin and improved skin tone and texture, all at the same time with the Portrait® procedure. Surface blemishes, discoloration and benign skin lesions are also effectively treated by Portrait®. Portrait® skin regeneration is a dramatic leap forward in the science of beauty. It is a plasma energy technology never before used in the cosmetic field.
Compared to other treatments that only improve skin at the surface, Portrait® works both at and below the surface. The results seen following treatment get better over time with clinical studies showing continuing improvement a year later. This is a unique and significant advantage that distinguishes Portrait® from all other skin treatments.
The Portrait® procedure creates the right conditions and natural growth factors for new collagen and continuing skin regeneration. It reduces wrinkles and improves the overall health and appearance of the skin. Clinical study patients across the board have given their improved skin tone and texture very high ratings in post-treatment evaluations.
“Portrait® skin regeneration is a brand new technology with very unique capabilities,” explains Dr. Hurley. “Other treatments like chemical peels, dermabrasion and laser work by taking things away from the skin surface, so they can only do so much. Portrait® works very effectively at the surface but it also activates and stimulates collagen growth deeper within the skin causing new, healthy skin to emerge naturally. It’s an entirely different mode of action and the results are exceptional.”
Portrait® is a simple procedure that takes 15 – 20 minutes for a full face treatment. Backed by years of clinical research, it is safe and effective, giving patients the results they want with an optimized downtime relative to the desired outcome and without the risks associated with other treatments. Please visit
www.northdallasderm.comPractice Description: Dr. Hurley received her undergraduate degree with honors from Vanderbilt University and her medical degree with honors from Tulane Medical School. She completed her residency at UT Southwestern where she served as Chief Resident at Parkland Hospital. She practices medical and cosmetic dermatology and is on staff at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. She has been listed in D Magazine’s listing of “Top Docs in Dallas” since 2003.
Portrait® skin regeneration is a dramatic leap forward in the science of beauty. It is a plasma energy technology never before used in the cosmetic field. Compared to other treatments that only improve skin at the surface, Portrait® works both at and below the surface. The results seen following treatment get better over time with clinical studies showing continuing improvement a year later. This is a unique and significant advantage that distinguishes Portrait® from all other skin treatments.
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Beauty tips for women from 50 and aboveOnce upon a time, turning 50 for a woman in Nigeria was like reaching the end of the line. You are a grandma and was expected to act as one. But, today the picture is totally different. The new 30 is now 40 should I say 50 Nigerian women are waging what look like a successful wear against aging. Consequently, more awareness is being created on ways to look young.
Beautiful skin, a beautiful body and a beautiful sense of style does not have an end once you hit 50s. Women are looking better and feeling better than their mothers did at their age, and more women are staying active in their later years. So I say embrace your age and all of the experience and wisdom that comes with it, and learn some new beauty tips below for women over 50.
Your diet and your bodyThere’s very little difference between the recommended diet and exercise habits for a 20 year old and that of a 50 year. In fact, the only difference, a healthy diet and regular exercise are more important than ever. During the aging process, the key to keeping your body properly functioning and in shape is to eat healthy and stay active. Sure, you are set in your habits and may not be able to run 5 miles with as much ease as you could in your 20’s, but you are not doing yourself any favours if you don’t do anything.
Include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and low fat diary product in your diet and avoid high-fats, high-sodium foods; meaning you should reduce the amount of salt you put in your meals. Eat plenty of fibre and get dawn on alcohol.
At 50 and older, most adults are still capable of completing most exercises. Exercising can mean taking daily 40 minutes walk with your partner or alone, enjoying exercise videos at home. Don’t be intimidated to join a gym either and don’t forget to add in strength training with weights to keep your muscle active, bones healthy and to tighten up any saggy skin. Exercise, not only for the physical benefits, like maintaining a healthy weight or improving circulation, but also for a healthy and happier attitude for healthy aging.
Make up tricks for aging skinAt 50, women shouldn’t use so much make up, unfortunately this is exactly what our society women splurge on. Women at 50 and over, slap on red lipsticks with dark penciled eyelids, assault our sense of propriety each time we open the pages of a soft sell magazine.
If you love make up you don’t have to stop altogether. And if you’ve never worn make up, now is a good time as ever to start. When applying make up the correct way, you can take years off by softening your face. For your skin, first use a facial mask once a week to give your skin a more tightening appearance, you must ensure that you use an anti-aging skin care product that rejuvenates the skin at the same time. Then moisturize! Moisturize! Moisturize!!! Keeping your skin well hydrated is one the best make up tricks for aging skin because, it provides a better surface for make up application and reduces a dry appearances.
Your hands, neck and eyes are often the first victim of aging. For your hands, use an SPF hand cream with vitamin E everyday. While washing your face or applying cream to your skin, don’t ignore your neck. Massage the product into your skin with upward strokes from the bottom up, around to the neck and even behind your ears. For your eyes, be faithful to eye cream which reduces swelling.
Fashion for older womenAt any age, certain fashion tricks can make you appear slimmer and these might be especially important for those ladies over 50. Most women gain weight as they get older, especially in their mid-section which can be tough to get rid of. Some great visual tricks include wearing a monochromatic outfit, using darker colours like black on the body part you wish to hide, choosing vertical stripes, V-neck tops, hip-length, lightweight shirts and jacket and carrying larger purses. Luckily, being African we are not as pressured as Caucausun women, so, many of us hide behind boubous and Iro and buba. But times are changing. Now, 50 years old are wearing plunging neck lines and iycra tops.
For great fashion trick for women at 50 and older, check out Ageless Fashion Sense. Older women can especially pull off accessories well. Beautiful jewelry like pearls or bright- coloured stones and beads add a wonderful and age-appropriate accent to any outfit, as well as rich silk scarves tied in your hair or around your neck.
If you didn’t take good of yourself, as you should when you were younger, it’s time to start right now. Luckily, there are plenty of beauty tips for women over 50 that can make any woman look and feel younger and healthier. But don’t forget to embrace your age and your own personal aging process, and don’t forget to smile and show off your well-deserved smile and lines.
Beauty essentials
True beauty is a combination of looking your best on the outside and feeling your best on the inside. Refresh and renew your most unique feature your face. Be a regular at the Beauty palour. At least once a month go for a facial. Also very important, here your beauty sleep and to support your body nutrient needs take a multivitamin capsule for 50 and above. Let your beauty shine through from the inside out!
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Revolutionary Skin Care Technology Reinvents Wrinkle ReductionNorth Dallas Dermatology Associates, P.A.
http://www.northdallasderm.com/ introduces Portrait® skin regeneration, the first and only clinically proven technology delivering true skin regeneration. Now patients can benefit from reduced wrinkles, tighter skin and improved skin tone and texture, all at the same time with the Portrait® procedure. Surface blemishes, discoloration and benign skin lesions are also effectively treated by Portrait®. Portrait® skin regeneration is a dramatic leap forward in the science of beauty. It is a plasma energy technology never before used in the cosmetic field. Compared to other treatments that only improve skin at the surface, Portrait® works both at and below the surface. The results seen following treatment get better over time with clinical studies showing continuing improvement a year later. This is a unique and significant advantage that distinguishes Portrait® from all other skin treatments.The Portrait® procedure creates the right conditions and natural growth factors for new collagen and continuing skin regeneration. It reduces wrinkles and improves the overall health and appearance of the skin. Clinical study patients across the board have given their improved skin tone and texture very high ratings in post-treatment evaluations.
“Portrait® skin regeneration is a brand new technology with very unique capabilities,” explains Dr. Hurley. “Other treatments like chemical peels, dermabrasion and laser work by taking things away from the skin surface, so they can only do so much. Portrait® works very effectively at the surface but it also activates and stimulates collagen growth deeper within the skin causing new, healthy skin to emerge naturally. It’s an entirely different mode of action and the results are exceptional.”Portrait® is a simple procedure that takes 15 – 20 minutes for a full face treatment. Backed by years of clinical research, it is safe and effective, giving patients the results they want with an optimized downtime relative to the desired outcome and without the risks associated with other treatments. Please visit
http://www.northdallasderm.com/Practice Description: Dr. Hurley received her undergraduate degree with honors from Vanderbilt University and her medical degree with honors from Tulane Medical School. She completed her residency at UT Southwestern where she served as Chief Resident at Parkland Hospital. She practices medical and cosmetic dermatology and is on staff at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. She has been listed in D Magazine’s listing of “Top Docs in Dallas” since 2003.
Online Yoga CourseYoga Teacher TrainingAlways Smell Your Best
Moving Back To The Nature Through Aromatherapy Skin Care
By Bryan Josling
In the mid east, there is the custom of wearing hijaab among women. It is a kind of veil that covers the entire face. Though it has taken many a connotations with time (largely controversial), the very basic purpose of it was to protect the facial skin from the sun.
Skin care, as can be seen, has been accorded wide importance at all times. In addition, it has been an ubiquitous phenomenon as no part of the world is unaffected with the concern for their skin. Skin care with herbs and plant extracts is finding growing popularity in recent years. This is termed as aromatherapy skin care.
Aromatherapy skin care is not a recent concept. Only that we were so engrossed in artificial and synthetic products that we forgot the huge resource of our nature. Artificial skin care products are easily available. This was the primary plank on which these became the order of the day.
For the natural remedies for skin care, one had to visit their source, i.e. the forest. This was an impossible task for a common person. So, artificial moisturizers, artificial lotions, artificial sunscreens, and several other artificial skin care products almost enveloped the market.
It was because of constant research on the subject that people understood the adverse effects of artificial products. Now, people who are concerned about their skin and are willing to spend that extra buck for the correct remedy for their skin, have voted for natural skin care products and aromatherapy skin care.
If seen from the point of view of cost, then aromatherapy skin care will turn out to be the cheapest. If one wants then he can prepare an all-natural skin care preparation at home. Does this demand time? No! Devote your weekend to skin care (your skin truly deserves that). Many preparations last for a few days to certain weeks. So, one may keep them for use during the weekdays. This will ensure that you do not get late for office while readying your skin for the day.
Simple techniques are involved in aromatherapy skin care. While taking a bath, sprinkle two drops each of lavender, bergamot, and cedar wood. This will keep you refreshed all day. If you are feeling nervous, then use of essentials oils of geranium and basil is recommended. Similarly, there are baths aimed at relieving people of insomnia or fatigue.
If using a skin softener, look for sweet almond oil in the product. Being rich in Vitamins A, B1, B2, and B6, your skin will glow. Exposing ones skin to steam is also helpful. This helps open the pores in the skin and thus prevents skin inflammations. A cleanser too works in the same manner. It helps keep the skin clean. Always use a chemical free and soap free cleanser. One may have a vast choice from natural cleansers available in the market.
All these attempts to keep your skin healthy and glowing will go waste if you are stressed. Stress shows on your face (unless you are a master deceiver). Go for a spa and rejuvenate yourself.
Bryan Josling is working with the Horticultural Research Station in Adelaide. He has also been involved with research on plants. To find romatherapy essential oils,Aromatherapy Skin Care,essential oils wholesale visit
http://www.ndaroma.comAlways Smell Your BestOnline Yoga CourseYoga Teacher Training
From: Cheryl Levesque
March 2006
First of all let me again welcome you to AmbrosiaServices.com. I
hope that you will feel relaxed and comfortable visiting with me.
AmbrosiaServices.comThe idea to start my own web site came to me one snowy day this
past winter. I had planned on shopping this particular day for
some gifts. You know how it is, the list of relatives just seems to
keep growing and growing. Well, who wants to go shopping in the
middle of a snow storm or when there is just so much more that
has to be done around the house.
Just like most people I work 5 days a week, and I have a family
that just seems to always have needs or wants me to do
something with them. Or I really have to tackle the house work
that has to be done. Wish there was a robot that could clean or
cook the way that I like things done. With the internet getting so
big it just seemed like I would much rather shop from the comfort
of my own home, nice and snuggly, without having to deal with
the calamity of the out side.
AmbrosiaServices.comThe 2 most important things that I wanted to offer are value and
quality. With AmbrosiaServices.com I only sell genuine, authentic
name brand products. These are not testers or samples and I offer
them at the best possible price.
As I started to set this site up I realized that there were just so
many different fragrances available that I had to limit myself to
how many products I could have on my web site. Also, I checked
out, and made arrangements with, warehouses to carry products
for me and ship them where and when I wanted. Plus, if you are
interested in trying a sample of some of well known products,
maybe you want to feel a little different about yourself, just check
out our SPECIALS PAGE to see how to get samples for
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Right now there are over 900 items listed and many more
available in the warehouse. There are also cosmetics that go
along with some of the name brand fragrances that I am unable
to list at this time. If you don’t see the fragrance or what you
are looking for please feel free to contact me and I will personally
check the availability and price and get back to you.
AmbrosiaServices.comWhy pay full price at department stores?
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AmbrosiaServices.comWhy waste fuel, especially at the cost of fuel today, going
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Save time and money shopping with AmbrosiaServices.com.
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