Hemp Seed Oil Gives You High Hair

Hemp seed oil is legal, so let's get that out of the way. In fact, hemp oil is now commonly used in a number of beauty treatments---shampoos, hairsprays, conditioners, etc. It's got good properties in it, that can strengthen your hair. And don't worry, your hair will get high in volume, but not high off the THC, because there is not enough of it in there to get you stoned.

Marijuana and industrial hemp both come from Cannabis sativa L, but the plants are cultivated in very different ways. Industrial hemp makes use of the seeds and fiber, whereas pot plants are harvested for their flowering tops and leaves.

When hemp seed oil is extracted from the hemp seed itself, it comprises 35% of the total seed weight. It is full of essential fatty acids.

Naturelle Hemp Haircare, distributed by the Zotos beauty company, offers a lovely line of hemp seed oil hair styling products. I found them at:

http://www.sallybeauty.com/

http://www.harmondiscount.com/.

Naturelle features: Hemp hydrating shampoo, Hemp hydrating conditioner, Hemp volumizing shampoo, Hemp volumizing conditioner, Hemp Firm Hold Shaping Spray. and my fav:

Naturelle Hemp Volumizing Root Lifter ($6.49, 8.5 oz., aerosol can). This stuff rocks! I'm always going on and on about big hair and big volume. The can is shaded a pretty green with a pot, er, hemp leaf on the front.

The root lifter gives you "vital amino acids and proteins to nourish and reinforce your hair against damage." Plus you get volume and thickness, shine, style memory, and a special humidity resistance factor, all-in-one.

You can use the hemp seed root lifter on towel-dried hair or dry hair. Just shake, spray at roots, blow dry, air dry, or use a diffuser for maximum fullness.

Why not try a product that truly comes from nature, where everything, including the seeds and fiber, can be formulated into such wonderful beauty treatments.

Oil Blotting Papers Zap Away Shine And Grease

Oil blotting papers have been around for many years now, and with good reason. There are plenty of brands on the market to choose from. And these tiny squares that resemble tracing paper, are a valuable beauty item.

You know you need oil blotting papers when you have very oily skin. And that's easy to identify. You have greasy skin with lots of unattractive shine, and you feel like washing your face every couple of hours. Some of it is genetics, and some of it has to do with your menstrual cycle. And some of you might just produce too much sebum. In other words, your sebaceous glands are working overtime.

You often hear about the 'T-zone,' when it comes to oily complexions. The 'T' area involves the forehead, nose and chin. That zone has the most oil-producing ability on the entire face. And many of you probably notice more breakouts and or acne in the T-zone.

The best oil blotting papers to buy, are the ones with flaxseed oil in them. Linen and rice paper are also wonderful oil absorbers. These three are able to mop up the shine and grease, and leave your face looking matte and pretty again. It would be wise to stay away from oil blotting papers made of mineral oil or powder, because those can clog your pores.

Oil blotting papers usually come in a little compact. You take one out at a time, and simply press these small sheets against your face, and watch the oiliness lift away. They're convenient, too, easy to tuck away in a purse or pocket to be used throughout the day.

One to try is Jane Iredale's Natural Facial Blotting Paper Compact made with flax seed ($11, for 100 sheets). Fore more information, visit:

http://www.janeiredaledirect.com/product_Facial+Blotting+Paper+Compact_8797.htm.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids To The Rescue

There are so many skin care words being floated around these days, that it really gets dizzying to the average customer. AHA, tretinoin, glycerin, alpha lipoic acid, DMAE. And on and on.

Today, we are going to concentrate on AHAs or Alpha Hydroxy Acids. The AHAs are commonly referred to when re-building skin. In other words, these chemical formulations are designed to improve roughness, uneven pigmentation, lines and wrinkles. But these AHAs can also do a number on your skin, if you aren't cautious. Alpha hydroxy acids are not for the faint of heart.

Alpha hydroxy acids are actually made from gentle ingredients like fruit and milk sugars. The beauty of using an AHA on your face is quite appealing. These acids are able to penetrate deeply into the skin. Their main focus is to exfoliate, or remove dead skin cells, and increase cell turnover. In the end, AHAs return the skin to a smoother texture, firmness, and healthy appearance. The skin is rejuvenated, and the big bad wrinkles and sun damage start to slowly fade away.

There are five major AHAs found in skin care treatments (use concentrations of 10% or under). Higher concentrations are best applied by dermatologists, since the side effects can be tough going:

Glycolic Acid....made from sugar cane
Lactic Acid.......made from milk acid
Malic Acid........made from pears and apples
Citric Acid........made from lemons and oranges
Tartaric Acid...made from grapes

AHAs are great for thickened, oily, pimpled, and sun-damaged skin. When applied, their formulations can dry out the skin, but can also cause burning, itching, peeling, redness, and even scarring, if the acid is too harsh. You must be very careful when applying an alpha hydroxy acid because of the irritation and sensitivity to sunlight. If you don't arm yourself with a good sunscreen, you will turn red, and yes, even your face can hurt with a stinging senation.

If you can get through the nasty side effects, your face will love you back. Alpha hydroxy acids can work wonders and rescue damaged skin, as long as you gradually work up to their applications, be smart in the sun, and let your dermatologist work along with you.

Here's one of the more popular AHAs to try:

M.D. Forte® Skin Rejuvenation Lotion I ($55).

It combines Alpha Hydroxy Acid with a boost of Vitamins A and E to renew and rejuvenate the skin reducing the visible signs of skin aging. Helps diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles, defend against future skin damage, and promote healthy looking skin. Consult your physician prior to use.

Artefill Is The Hottest New Injectable For Wrinkles

It's quick and somewhat painful, so they say. And it lasts longer than Restylane and Juvederm. It's called Artefill. And it's the hottest new injectable for facial wrinkles and folds. Artefill was launched in February of 2007, and so far it's been clinically tested and labeled safe by the FDA. It was formulated especially for its staying power. Patients and physicians have been hoping for a longer lasting wrinkle filler. That way you save money, stay wrinkle-free months longer, and maintain your youthfulness.
Artefill is an injectable made of purified collagen with some tiny, smooth microspheres in a gel base. According to information from http://www.artefill.com/, the gel becomes absorbed by the body while these tiny microspheres provide a permanant backbone or support structure for your skin to keep it smooth and wrinkle-free. Artefill is actually injected under the wrinkle, deep into the skin and right above the fat layer. Results are immediate. And your skin gets better and better with each passing month. Wrinkles, like smile lines, iron out to a smooth surface.

A skin test is required before receiving an Artefill injection. Doctors want to make sure you are not allergic to bovine collagen gel.

How safe is the hottest new injectable around? So far, a 5-year follow-up study has been conducted by Artes Medical. And independent experts concluded that, "Artefill safely maintains significant correction of smile lines at least five years post-treatment."

For more information, visit http://www.artefill.com/, and speak with your dermatologist about this new injectable for wrinkles.

Wii Fit Balance Board Helps You Lose Weight

This game disc is huge in Japan. And now it's gaining by leaps and bounds here in the United States, since it was launched by Nintendo at the beginning of June. We're talking about Wii Fit, the $90 video game package that comes with a game disc and a sturdy, 10-pound platform that you stand on and choose from 40 virtual activities to do. You CAN lose weight with Wii Fit.

You can row, squat, ski, and hula hoop your way to fitness. Even leg-extension exercises! In addition, the really cool aspect to Wii Fit, is its technological ability to weigh users and calculate their body mass (BMI) .

The platform or Wii Balance Board, allows the user to stand on and shift their weight from side to side, to control their in-game characters.

Training falls into four fitness categories:

Strength Training
Aerobics
Yoga
Balance Games

What a fun and fit way to play! Get off your couch and off your butt! And that's exactly what Wii Fit enables the user to do---move, exercise, lose weight. Young and old can use the video game and it's family-friendly. Bonding physical activity to video games is a challenge for game companies, but this time, Nintendo has scored big. And with more than 40 physical activities to select from, you won't be bored easily.

For more information, visit: www.nintendo.com/wiifit

Top 10 Anti--Aging Foods And The 10 Bad Ones

USA Weekend had an interesting feature by Jean Carper, about food, and how strongly it can affect aging of the body.

Don't believe it? Well, there is so much research out there about the beneficial role fruits and vegetables play. And there are also tons of studies done on the damage too much red meat and sugar can do to your body. We've all heard the science.

According to Ms. Carper, we all need to do four things to age slowly and fight chronic disease:

Get Plenty of Anti-Oxidants
Infuse Your Body With Omega-3

Control Blood Sugar
Maintain a Normal Weight

Here are the Top 10 Anti-Aging Foods, according to Ms. Carper:

Apples

Popcorn, unsalted
Blueberries

Nuts, especially almonds, walnuts
Spinach, dark, leafy greens

Legumes, including peanuts
Salmon and sardines

Green Tea
Whole-grain cereals

Extra-virgin olive oil

Here are the 10 Terrible Aging Foods, according to Ms. Carper:

Bacon

Sugary processed cereals

Hot dogs

Sugary soft drinks

Potato Chips

Red meat

White bread

White potatoes

Corn oil

Doughnuts

I don't know about you, but I follow the top 10 anti-aging foods, and some of the 10 bad foods. Just food for thought here.

Rejuvenating The Delicate Eye Area

If you want to guess someone's age, take a look under their eyes, and around them. That's where the damage begins. That is where you can readily observe fine lines and wrinkles.

Why? As most skin specialists will tell you, the eye area contains the thinnest skin in the body. It is delicate and easily damaged. Unfortunately, the eye area also holds the biggest challenge for rejuvenating, or making look youthful again.

Sure, we see all the eye creams and serums lining store shelves and expensive skin salons. We are constantly bombarded with promises of younger, wrinkle-free eyes. No more bags. No more undereye circles. Etc.

But 'rebuilding' the eye area without cosmetic surgery is not impossible, but if you've enjoyed the sun for a number of years, well, you've got a task on your hands.

According to Dr. Loren Pickart at http://www.skinbiology.com/, what we wear on top of our skin and how we cleanse it, can destroy the delicate skin, too:

"The use of many color cosmetics and makeup, with their high concentrations of dyes and metal salts, can produce extensive skin damage and sagging. This skin is often chronically irritated and may be in a condition of sub-clinical inflammation.......Many cleansers used to remove makeup cause further irritation by stripping away protective lipids from the skin. "

Dr. Pickart suggests using his own Skin Biology skin care line.

"Rebuilding this skin area is complicated. Use of progressively stronger remodeling system works best. This method was developed by our clients. Most clients start with Super GHK-Copper Cream($39.95) or Super GHK-Copper Serum, CP Night Eyes Premier (relatively mild cream), then move to CP Night Eyes Regular($24.95). When this skin is somewhat thicker and more protective, most clients move to using Super CP Serum, and finally Super Cop($29.95)."

Avon is also boasting about its new Anew Ultimate Contouring Eye System($30) . It's formulated to restore firmness around the eyes, reduce saggy skin under the eye, and rebuild skin's cellular structure.

For more information, visit: http://www.avon.com/