posted April 30, 2003 04:02 PM         

First, for shiny hair: Now and then mix a little baking soda in your shampoo before washing your hair. Don't put it in the bottle, just mix some together in your hand. It takes all the product build-up (which causes dulling) out of your hair, and makes it very very shiny! It's really wonderful, and won't harm dyed hair (not sure about the non-permanent hair color though, the kind that washes out, it would probably accelerate the loss of color).

For wrinkles...I have researched this sort of thing for a lot of years, and have learned of a couple natural ways to help with the problem. One is pure avacado oil, you have to keep it in the fridge, it gets kind of solid. Very thick on the face, I have only used it at night.
Another great night time moisturizer: In a wooden bowl (has to be wood!) place a slice of lemon, and pour thick whipping cream over it. For oily skin, add some extra lemon juice. You have to keep this in the fridge too, covered with some plastic wrap.

I imagine the fruits contain pure hyrdroxies that help with wrinkles.

For a quick fix...don't laugh! It works!...use a little hemmoroid (sp?) cream on those wrinkles!! Think about it...smells a little funny, so wear perfume if you use it!

Lately, I've been using the mixture posted in Oranges and Hyacinths...pure vitamin E cream mixed with pure orange oil, only at night because it is so thick. I'm really liking it a lot.
Daytime, my moisturizer is "Kiss My Face," all natural iwth extracts from lemons, oranges, etc., available at health food shops.
Personally, I'm partial to natural stuff on my face, too many chemical scare me.

For gray hair, I've read that yarrow root is excellent, in fact, as I recall, an herbalist claimed that's what President Reagan used, which enabled him to truthfully claim he never dyed his hair!

I love beauty tips...would love to hear more, and will post more as I think of them!

posted May 04, 2003 05:59 AM           

By the way, girls, I found that pure vitamin E oil is best for the wrinkles, the results are visible after only one night! Try it and you'll be amazed!

posted June 02, 2003 03:24 AM           

About shaving legs: My Libra girlfriend taught me that if I run cold water to make my leg get goosebumps and then shave whilst still in goosebump mode, I will get a very good shave. 'Tis true!!! Your shave will last twice as long!

Oxy : My Cancer girlfriend has a similar redness thing going on, but has been able to practically make it go away for good by getting oxygen facials. The results are long-lasting to permanent depending on how sensitive your skin is. Hers is a capillary thing as well as her just being plain ol'sensitive to things. She would get more red after a glass of wine , using lotion, being in the sun, etc, etc. Maybe that would be good to try? I've had oxygen facials too and they are wonderful and you feel energized afterwards from breathing in a bit of the oxygen!

Also, read the thing about eyes and wrinkles. Morgana, I love Vitamin E too! It does work well... and I swear by Dermalogica products for everyday use. I know what you are speaking of with that issue... fine lines that start to show from smiling and expressing and such. Well, I have learned quite a bit about this and I'll share a bit. Alot of wrinkle problems are caused by loss of the collagen layer under the skin. Due to time and environmental stress (and also by not focusing on regeneration ) the collagen layer becomes thinner underneath which in turn makes it appear as if there is more skin (that's really not the case). With "looser skin", you are now more susceptible to your skin making lines when you smile... because what was underneath it before kept it plump while you were smiling/expressing and now it's not there. The problem gets slowly worse unless you do something about it.

The best thing to do is replace/repair your own collagen layer. Naturally, there is Vitamin E, Grapeseed Extract, Vitamin C and Co Enzyme Q10... which are all very good in my opinion. I really like topical Vitamin C products the best... and like I said, I feel that Dermalogica is the absolute greatest for skin health. Also, you need to spend a good half hour to hour everyday focusing on regeneration... basically just telling your body what to repair and do and what not... may seem silly, but it really truly works! You have to try it to believe it, you'll be amazed!

If you want to be more agressive and try science out of curiosity, then I can recommend 2 things. One is Botox, which I've tried once and was suprised at how well it worked. Simple and easy, and extremely result-oriented. Don't believe the hype about frozen faces and such... doesn't happen. Unless you are an obsessed individual with issues... the type that gets lots of unnecessary plastic surgery, that just could never happen. It generally just temporarily prevents "hyper-expressing". You will still be able to squint and smile and express, but the skin won't wrinkle as much. It wears off in a few months, but the upside is that if you are doing the other natural things to strengthen your skin and repair collagen, then you won't need to get it again!

The other thing I have heard of but have never tried is N-Lite, a cool laser light treatment that is done during a lunch hour (10 minutes) and is relatively cheap. Basically, the light penetrates to the collagen layer and stimulates the layer to start producing and renewing your own collagen again. About 3 months later you notice that you are "youthing" on your own! Now, some swear by it and I have not needed to try it, but it sounds cool. Actually, it sort of proves that you can build your own collagen layer back, except instead of doing it with the mind, you use the light!

posted June 20, 2003 05:13 AM           

I don't know if alpha-hydroxy is actually for skin lightening though.

posted August 31, 2003 12:26 AM           

Baby oil or Olive oil (or any unused oil) combined with suger and rubbed on your hands is GREAT! Oxychick suggested similar w/ lemon & sugar. It leaves your hands sooooo smooth!

Rinsing hair w/ cold / tepid water REALLY does work, so so lovely hair!

Pour some milk into a bath. This is so nice for your skin.

I've also heard washing your hair w/ beer is great! These last 2 are a bit smelly but they work!

Thanks Chocoholic and Pearly for shaving suggestions...

Chocolate is good for you too! Not heaps and heaps of it but you need some. That's true!

posted August 31, 2003 12:16 PM           

thanks for the tips!

posted September 12, 2003 11:12 AM           

We know that in the summer time it is really hot! And for us Ladies our makeup will just melt right off, as soon as we leave the house. Well my thing is putting Secret on my face before applying my make up. It has not clogged my pores.. I have been useing this for years.I would suggest to those of you who have sensitive skin to use a mild stick, or what ever you can use normally.

posted October 12, 2003 03:00 AM           

oxy, i get very rosy cheeks too, i have come across some creams you can buy that help to correct the rudiness, they have a greenish tinge, and as green is the opposite colour to red it helps to correct the colour, you apply it under makeup. It wouldnt provent the problem but it may help make it less visable and you feel less concious of it. I havent tried them yet, but i have been meaning to, so i cant vouch for it, but i think most cosmetic lines have them

A few products i love...

Cetaphil. Its fantastic! you can lather it up as a cleanser and wash it all off, or put it directly onto your face and wipe the excess off to leave a thin film. Great as a replacement for soap. Recomended to me from a dermatoligist. Its really gental, makes you feel really clean and really softens your skin, great for getting off make up too, and for after shaving ... though i think its made in Australia?

Just got to most amazing deodorant! Its a common theory that the aluminium in deoderants can be linked to breast cancer. Thats one reason this deoderant is great. also rather than covering up body odour with harsh chemicals it works to prevent it. It has no chemicals, it only contains pot ash alum, which is a pure natural mineral salt. All you do is run it under hot water and apply. And its really really effective, its amazing!!! Its called Econ, errr but its made in Australia too.

one last thing, every now and then i find i need a break from my regular shampoo. I use baby shampoo, just every now and then, because its so gental its great as a breather

I really enjoyed reading this thread!

kisses