I’ve done a bit of research into how we can keep our face’s youthful looking with exercise!!

It seems that we don’t have to spend a fortune on facial products just to stay looking young.  I’ve already given you some really good home made facial products so now lets look at our exercise routine and see if we can all look 18 again!

With a regular facial fitness routine – ie exercising the muscles of your face, we can build up the muscles of our face and keep them toned and firm. Regular exercise can keep the muscles lifted enough to remove the sags and the skin can become smooth enough to reduce wrinkles.  Also, the blood circulation to the face will enable the tissue to repair itself.

You only need to take a few minutes a day with a routine (you could even do it watching the T.V if you don’t have anyone else watching you, he he!).

Here goes …..

Forehead  -  This will help smooth the wrinkles of the forehead. Place your fingers just above your brow. Then, with your fingers, pull the skin down. At the same time, try to raise your eyebrows. Repeat this 10 times.

Eyelids –  To deal with crows’ feet at the corners of the eyes, put the thumbs at the corners of the eyes and then shut your eyes tightly. Then, with your thumbs, pull at the skin towards the forehead. Repeat 10 times.  If you suffer with sagging eyelids then hold your index fingers close to the brow bone. Afterwards, raise your eyebrows. At the same time, try to close your eyes and repeat 10 times.

Cheeks –  Form an O with your lips and try to push them forward as fast as you can. Then release and smile as widely as you can. Repeat 10 times and have a laugh at how daft we probably look!

Chin  -  None of us want a double chin so,  push your lower lip upward as high as you can. You can also press your thumb on the bone just under your chin and then push your tongue against your lower gums as if it is trying to meet your thumb. Also, massage the flesh under your chin with your thumb with strokes directed towards your neck.

Neck  –  Arch your neck backwards and place your hand on your neck just under the chin. Let your hand slide downward and push at your collarbone.

Ok, so this isn’t going to work straight away.  As with any exercise programme you need to stick at it for a bit!  But, if you preserve a few minutes twice a day, five times a week, you will definitely notice a difference in a month or two.  Definitely worth it but I think I will do mine in private.  I think my husband and my 19 year old son would definitely think I’ve lost the plot!

So, the sun’s shining, we are starting to get a bit more daring with showing the flesh and we want to look tanned and healthy!  We’ve been covered up all winter but we want to look like we have just stepped of a plane from Barbados!

Time for the fake tan!  As we all know fake tanning became the preferred method of giving our skin a healthy glow when we all eventually began to understand the damage that the sun could potentially do to our skin.  When I worked in a salon/beauty therapy centre years ago we had people queuing up for their fake tan before they went away.  We always used to use St Tropez but now there are literally hundreds to different fake tans to choose from, from foam and spray applications to slow tanning lotions right up to spa, salon and air brush applications.

The primary ingredient in the majority of fake tanning products is dihydroxyacetone, or DHA, and they work by reacting to amino acids found in our skin cells.  This interaction is what provides the “tan”.  Please bear in mind though that these products will not protect your skin from the sun so sunscreen protection is still needed.

One of the most popular applications today is the airbrush tanning methods.  These are most successful when done in a tanning salon, but there are new methods available on the market, that allows users to apply them at home.  These can be costly, however and often, the results aren’t as dramatic as those you would get in a spa or salon setting.  With this tanning technique you will need to persevere with a bit of trial and error to find the right one for your complexion, as you definitely don’t want to end up with the dreaded orange look.  Always start of paler and build on it.  Its safer and wont give you that drastic overdone look!

It’s important to do your research on the application methods.  Airbrush tanning might be the new ‘in thing’ but it’s not the only method.  Every product has its own merits and obviously the prices will vary greatly as well.  Keep your budget in mind, especially if you’re new to fake tanning products. Don’t spend a fortune then find it’s not the right one for you.

I’ve tried applying fake tan myself and ended up in a right mess.  Dark patches around dry areas which just look hideous. With St Tropez you can buy their own exfoliating and moisturising lotion which works well with the product.  Always pay attention to those dry areas such as your knees and elbows especially if we haven’t looked after them like we should have in the winter!

I find the moisturisers with tanning in them the best, personally I use Johnson’s, its fab, it smells good and I can put it on at night and the results are great in the morning! (Doesn’t look good when it’s been put on after a couple of glasses of wine though!)

Don’t Forget the plastic gloves unless you want to look really daft with tanned palms!

And, lets face it, if the tans done right and looks good you will feel like a million dollars x

Did you know that the first mascara was invented by Eugene Rimmel in the 19th Century and that the word ‘Rimmel’ also means mascara in many languages.  It was also Max Factor who were the first to create mascara with a wand application that we see today.  (I bet you didnt know that!)

    Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara £14.50

     Max Factor Lash Extension Effect £7.99

     Clinique Lash Building Primer £10.00

    Estee Lauder Lash Primer Plus £16.00

      Rimmel Magnifi’eyes Mascara £6.99

These items can all be found online at Boots but this is just a small selection of what if available so check out their website and see what you can find!

Happy Shopping x

1.         Try using an eyelash curler prior to applying your mascara to open up your eyes and give natural curve. When using an eyelash curler, squeeze your lashes onto the curler pad, then release slowly, then pull the curler away from your eyes.  Its not a good idea to release and pull away at the same time as you might pull some eyelashes out (ouch)!   Be very careful if you need to use the curler again after you’ve applied your mascara as the mascara can cause the lashes to stick to the curler.

2.         Treat yourself to a good eyelash primer.   A lash primer or lash conditioner provides a base coat for your mascara.  It will condition, thicken and strengthen your lashes all in one step – even before you apply your mascara.  Just brush the lash primer onto your lashes and let them dry completely prior to putting your mascara on.
 
3.         Apply mascara to your upper lashes from the base to end of the lashes.  Why not turn your mascara wand upright and just tip the ends of your eyelashes with the end of the mascara wand. This will give the very ends of your lashes a good coating of mascara which will help them to appear longer.  You can do the same step to your lower lashes, but be careful and use sparingly, as too much mascara underneath the eye can make you look tired.  Use a clean lash brush to comb through your lashes if they need to be separated.  Let each coat of mascara dry completely before applying additional mascara to the lashes.

4.         To help the base of your eyelashes appear thicker, use a very thin line of high-pigment eyeliner, either pencil or liquid, whichever is preferred.  But be careful not to smudge, you don’t want to look like some king of witch!
 
Personally, I have to be really careful when doing my eyelashes as they are extremely long!  Lucky you, I hear you saying.  But, to be honest, they clump together and I am forever getting spots all the way along the top of my eye shadow, as when I put my mascara on, they just roll back and blot everywhere.  I am forever redoing my eyes!!

     I’m really keen to see the new Morgan Freeman movie ‘Invictus’.     The film tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa’s rugby team, Francois Pienaar, to help unite their country.   Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid.  Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa’s underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship match.  Sounds fab and I love watching Morgan Freeman, he is just brilliant as an actor.

    I did manage to get to see the 3D Avatar movie just over a week ago and I have to say it is absolutely amazing!  Definitely worth watching.   Avatar is the story of an ex-Marine who finds himself thrust into hostilities on an alien planet filled with exotic life forms. As an Avatar, a human mind in an alien body, he finds himself torn between two worlds, in a desperate fight for his own survival and that of the indigenous people.  I can certainly see why it’s the biggest box office seller of all time, it is truly stunning!   Try and catch it if you can before the run at the cinema ends.

   Another film that I think is definately worth seeing (I thoroughly enjoyed it, probably because of Robert Downey Jr. yummy) is Sherlock Holmes.  In a dynamic new portrayal of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most famous characters, “Sherlock Holmes” sends Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson on their latest challenge. Revealing fighting skills as lethal as his legendary intellect, Holmes will battle as never before to bring down a new nemesis and unravel a deadly plot that could destroy the country.  The effects are brilliant and the banter between Holmes and Watson is just hilarious!

Whatever you decide to do (or see!) at the weekend, have fun x

There are literally thousands of different ‘best’ anti aging products available on the market today and a few which are especially worthwhile. You have to find anti ageing solution that works for your skin type, that is effective and safe, high quality, natural, and which is best suited to your own specific needs.

Advice on what to look for …….

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA’s) are derived from plant source or milk and are very effective in any anti ageing product. They work by breaking down the intercellular glue that holds dead skin cells together, thereby helping to increase skin cell turnover rate and revealing brighter, smoother and softer skin.

Glucosamine is an alternative to these AHAs and is also important to look for in an anti ageing product. Glucosamine is a molecule that is made of glucose and amine, and which is produced naturally in the body. Glucosamine works by stimulating cartilage cells to produce two particular proteins that help to hold joint tissue together, thereby helping the skin to retain its young and youthful appearance.

When looking for an anti ageing product you should also look for essential oils as part of the ingredients.  Essential oils work tremendously by healing, cleansing, balancing as well as being antifungal. The stimulating properties of these essential oils work by oxygenating the blood and energizing cells.

Vitamin C is also incredibly effective as an anti ageing ingredient, and potentially Vitamin C can benefit the skin in two important ways, one for the synthesis of collagen and secondly it is an antioxidant which can help to reduce skin damage caused by free radicals.

It is vital when choosing an anti ageing product that you choose one that is going to be effective and best suited for your skin.  I’m going to take a bit of time with my searching around and maybe I can find the perfect anti aging product and keep my skin ‘youthful and fresh’!

Im winding down for Christmas now, the kids have broken up from school/college, hubby breaks up soon too and I am looking forward to some quality family time!

I hope everyone has a really good Christmas and New Year and I look forward to speaking to you all in January!

Love Lisa x

The winter 2009 trend for belting everything from baggy tops to dresses to cardigans means that leggings are the perfect accessory, no matter what a woman’s age.

I have always considered leggings to be out of bounds if you are not in your teens and ‘20s any longer. They look absolutely great on my 16 year old daughter with her long legs.  However, the more research I do the more I am finding that attitudes are changing. These days leggings can be and are being worn by anyone over 30, 40, or even 50 providing they suit your body shape.

The secret to making them look good is to accessorize well and never wear them above the bulge of the calf. Always make sure they are ankle length. Bear in mind fabric, colour and patterns too. High-fashion leggings like neon’s and dramatic patterns are best left well alone. I also think it is probably best to leave wet and metallic silver/grey looks to the likes of my daughter and her friends who haven’t got a clue what it was like the first time round.  

Originally designed by the American designer  Liza Bruce, this season sees fashion shows over run with leggings in every single feasible colour and pattern from leather to lycra. The biggest look for this season being the leather look with high leg boots.

My daughters favourite pair at the moment are her jeggings, she lives in them.  But the metallic look leggings are making a huge 80’s style comeback.  There is also the ‘treggings’, (I can hear you all saying “WHAT”)  apparently a cross between jeans, trousers and leggings, which may be a good place to start for those who are not sure.

Personally,  I think I might try a plain black pair (I always play it safe) and see how it goes!

For more great ideas why not browse my online store, it includes such things as a Digital Camera, the size of a credit card, a Bosch Cordless hammer drill for the DIY expert in the house, the great new Apple ipod Touch (my husband is permanently attached to his!) and a few other little gems.

Ok, so Christmas is just around the corner, Again…..

Dont know about you but hasnt it come round quick.  Or is it that the shops just bring it around alot quicker!

I’ve been looking at doing a lot of my christmas shopping online and spending some time trying to find the bargains.  I have a four year old little boy who is into everything from Ben 10 to Dinosaurs to Pirates so shopping for him is quite a challenge.  Finding value for money is also quite difficult!

I sometimes wonder whether prices seem to go up around this time of year or am I just being skeptical!

Anyway, have put together a bit of a shop if you are interest in seeing what I have found for my son and numerous nephews and nieces.

Feel free to have a browse and have a good Christmas! ]]> http://www.lovebeingawoman.net/2009/11/14/christmas-gift-ideas-for-kids/feed/ 0