Beauty Tips For Pregnant Women

Pregnancy is an amazing and wonderful thing with some added bonuses that come along with it and also sometimes some not so amazing things that come along with it. Your hormones go a little crazy, and your body is ever changing. And some things just don't seem to bounce back like they used too. Here are some great hair, nails, and skin tips to help with some of the changes going on, and to make life a little bit easier on you so you can enjoy your pregnancy even more.


1. Help Avoid Stretch Marks. Stretch marks are your bodies reaction to your stomach growing inside of you. Some women get them without even having children and they are 100% normal. If you want to help avoid stretch marks, you can apply body oil after you shower every day. Use something more natural like coconut oil. It will help improve the elasticity of your skin for that growing bump. Focus on your hips, belly, boobs, and thighs since that is where your body will stretch the most. Keep this up even after delivery for a few months, while your body starts to return back to its post baby shape. It will also keep your skin nice and soft.

2. Fight Off Acne. Usually once you get past the teen years you no longer have to worry about getting breakouts as much. There are people who have adult acne, and any time your hormones change, you can cause get acne when you are pregnant or not. Fight acne with mild cleansers. Your hormones are going crazy, so this may cause your skin to produce more oil and cause breakouts. Wash your face with a mild cleanser twice a day. Avoid anything with harsh scrubs so it doesn't irritate your skin because skin tends to be more sensitive while you are pregnant. Finish with a light weight moisturizer that has SPF to prevent any sunburns. If you need to, use a spot treatment, like tea tree oil, to zap those stubborn pimples.


3. Remove Under Eye Circles. As you get farther along in your pregnancy, you start to retain more water, which can result in under eye circles and puffiness. This can also come from lack of sleep. To help, one way is to drink more fluids. The more water you drink, the less your body will retain so try to drink 2 liters of water a day. For a simple fix, you can use two used tea bags on your eyes for 10 minutes or two chilled slices of potatoes or cucumbers for the same amount of time. This can give you a few minutes to relax. It will also help with any puffiness around the eye area. 

4. Embrace Your Hair. Since you are taking all of these prenatal vitamins, I am sure your hair is growing like CRAZY! And I highly doubt you want to wash and blow-dry it all the time. Time to put down the blow-dryer, curling iron, and straightener, unless you have an event or something special going on, and start to rock your natural hair or put it in a trendy braid, ponytail or bun. Also, do not be afraid to color your hair. If a pregnant hairstylist can still color hair, then you can still get your hair colored. It is perfectly safe. If you are still a little unsure of the idea, ask for an ammonia free hair dye. Then you won't have to worry about the smell being as strong. And since your hair is growing so much, this would be a good time to try out a color or cut that you have been wanting. You can see if you like it, and if you don't it will start to grow out pretty quick.

5. Have Pretty Nails. Some of us are not fortunate enough to have nice, long, and strong nails all the time. Another perk to prenatal vitamins is having nice nails, that grow like weeds! Have fun and paint your nails often. If you are concerned about the polish, they do make a couple all natural nail polish lines. Get regular manicures and pedicures. It is one thing you would rather have someone do for you, then try to do yourself, especially when as you are getting closer to your due date. Avoid getting any acrylic or gel nails. The fumes are very strong and not good for you. They can also make you sick, so avoid going to places that do them as well just to be on the safe side.

6. Pale Skin. Some pregnant women tend to feel like they lose the color in there face, or a have a more pale complexion. To give your skin a little boost, use a cc cream. CC cream stands for color correcting cream. You can apply it to your skin, and it will add evenness to your skin tone,  cover any imperfections, and give it a brighter, glowing appearance. You can add a bit of blush or bronzer to give that little extra color you might be missing in some areas as well.

 

Try out these tips and hopefully they help to make your pregnancy changes easier. Congrats on becoming a mom, and enjoy this time in your life. 

~aphrodite

Which Massage Is Right For You.

A good massage has more benefits then relieving stress, working out tired muscles, and helping the body relax, it also can improve the overall health of your body. All great massages increase blood flow and lymph circulation. Lymph is a fluid that helps to rid your body of toxins and waste. A massage is great for people of all ages. They can help to heal sports related injuries like sprains, or pulled muscles, help with headaches or migraines, promote healthy skin, improve your immune system, good for people with arthritis and even help enhance your metabolism. Massages also help improve sleeping habits, increase energy, reduce anxiety, as well as increase strength and flexibility. Here are some of the most common types of massages and the benefits of each one to help you decide which massage sounds the most helpful to you. 

1. Swedish Massage. A Swedish massage is the most common type of massage. It is offered just about every where and is a good massage to get if you have never had one before. The massage consists of long, smooth strokes, kneading, and circular movements on layers of the muscle. The Swedish massage will improve circulation and relieve muscle tension. It also helps clear waste and lactic acid which helps to reduce pain and stiffness in joints and muscles. The Swedish massage is a full body massage that starts on the back, working on the shoulders, arms, and legs, then flips you over to work on the front side of your legs, arms, and neck. It can be any where from 60 to 120 minutes. This is a great massage if you a looking to relax and if you have never had a massage before and are looking to try one.

2. Aromatherapy Massage. Aromatherapy massage combines the massage with essential oils for relieve of stress, headaches, pms, back pain, and some digestive disorders. The essential oils are used in the room to help relax the mind, and in the lotion or oil to relaxing the muscles, and joints. Different scents will be used to fit the specific needs of the client. The scents will be used to calm the body, uplift you, energize you, cleanse your body, and as decongestant. This massage is 60 to 90 minutes long. It is a great massage if you are in stressful environments or your prone to allergies or sinus headaches.

3. Hot Stone Massage. The hot stone massage is one of the most popular forms of massage. It is used to relieve muscle tension in specific areas of the body. The stones are immersed in water and heated. The client is first massaged with oil, so the stones smoothly glide across the skin. The client is them massaged over the arms, legs, and back with the use of hot stones. The heat from the stones helps improve circulation, while calming the nervous system. The heat will go deep into the muscles, to help relieve any tension and soreness. To relieve any excess tension or stress, the therapist will then massage without the use of stones, that way they can work deeper into a certain area. A typical hot stone massage is between 60 and 90 minutes. This is a great massage if you are physically active, or you have a lot of back pain.

4.Oncology Massage. An Oncology massage is a highly individualized massage treatment designed to comfort, nurture and support someone living with cancer. The massage can greatly help relieve some of the side effects related to the treatment phase. Nausea, pain, depression, fatigue, and anxiety can be lessened with regular massage. The Eastern massage incorporates warm stones, ayurvedic oils, marma points and specialized music to help support the organ systems affected by chemo and radiation. These massages are usually 45 minutes long, and are done by an oncology trained therapist. It is great for someone that has cancer or is newly in remission from cancer.

5. Deep Tissue Massage. The deep tissue massage focuses on slower and deeper movements in areas of pain. Deep tissue massage breaks down rigid tissue in muscles to relieve pain and restore movement. A deep tissue massage may cause some pain for people, because it works from deep inside the muscle outwards. Be sure to tell the therapist if you experience any pain. The massage will release toxins into your body, so drink plenty of water to flush any out. This massage is recommended for people who are in constant pain, have had a previous injury or that are athletes. It is too much for the average person. This massage is usually 30 to 90 minutes long. 

6. Pregnancy Massage. Pregnancy massage is not like other massages. It is designed specifically for pregnant women with the health and safety of them and there unborn child in mind. It is unsafe for a pregnant women to lay on there stomach, so they are propped up comfortably on there side with pillows and blankets. You can not use any deep tissue work, and you have to avoid certain areas of the body such as the stomach, . The massage can reduce stress, swelling of the body, and pain in your muscles that otherwise would not be relieved. The massage is concentrated mostly on the arms, neck shoulders, back, legs, and feet.The feet are the most important part because they are caring the majority of the bodies weight and stress. The massage is found very comforting by most pregnant women, and the touch from the massage itself can help reduce anxiety. Avoid the massage if you are in your first trimester of pregnancy. The massage lasts from 30 to 90 minutes.  

7. Reiki Massage. Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind, and spirit. In this form of energy healing, hands are placed just off the body or lightly touching the boy, as in "lying on of hands." Disrobing is not required. Reiki massage uses life's energy force to tell if your energy force is high or low in your body. If it is low, you are more likely to get sick and feel stress. If it is high, you are more capable of being happy and healthy. This massage does not involve actual massaging. It is used to reduce stress, and promote relaxation and healing. This takes usually 30 to 45 minutes.

8. Reflexology. In reflexology, you apply pressure points that correspond to organs in your body. The tips of your toes and the ball of your foot correspond with your heart, the arch of your foot are with the liver, pancreas, and kidneys, while the heel  is with the lower back and intestines. The whole massage is a combination of stretching, pressure points, and a Swedish massage that helps balance the nervous system, help reduce pain and stress, promotes relaxation and encourages overall healing. A reflexology massage is usually 15-30 minutes, and is considered an add on service. If you go to a good spa, the pedicures massage is normally a shorter version of a reflexology. This is a great massage for relaxation, and if you are on your feet a lot at work.

9. Sports Massage. A sports massage is for anyone that is physically active. The goal is to help prevent injuries as well as treating injuries and enhancing the performance of muscles. The massage is a combination of a Swedish massage, and lots of stretching techniques. This will help loosen muscles and increase overall flexibility by focusing on areas that are overused and stressed. A sport's massage doesn't have to be just for athletes, it is great for people who have a specific injury or problem that they want the therapist to focus on. This massage can be anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes. 

10. Lymphatic Massage. Lymphatic massage is a form of very light massage that encourages lymph flow to the body. It is particularly good for detoxification, edema, pre and post op plastic surgery, pre and post op any other form of surgery, and post liposuction. Lymphatic massage consists of circular pumping movements, producing a soothing and relaxing effect. The massage can help your bodies overall health, and help its ability to heal. The massage is normally 60 minutes long. 

11. Back Massage. A back massage focuses on relieving back pain. The massage can be deeper or lighter depending on your pain tolerance. It may also include a neck and shoulder massage. The back massage focuses on relieving pain and tension from everyday life. A back massage will increase the overall circulation, helps with healing, can help improve sleep, relieve stiffness, improve flexibility, and relax the body and mind.  A neck and shoulder massage helps relieve tension and help reduce migraine pain. This massage is normally 30 to 45 minutes long.

These are some of the most popular types of massages. They are not all offered everywhere, and are done by trained professionals only. To improve your overall health and well being, you should get a massage at least once a month, more if you can afford it. You will notice a lot less pain in your body, a better ability to focus, and hopefully less stress. Treat your body and mind by booking a massage today.

~aphrodite

How To Make Your Make-up Last During The Summer Heat

Nobody wants to be half way through there day and trying to reapply their make-up at the beach. You also don't want the sweat lines from your foundation running down your face. Here are some great ways to keep your make-up looking great through the hot summer days.


1. Use A Primer. Primer's will make your make-up go on smoother, moisturize your skin and last much longer then your make-up would without it. They also have an SPF in them as well. But be sure to reapply sunscreen if you are going to be in the sun all day.

2. Avoid Heavy Foundations. Most liquid and cream foundations contain oil in them which will sweat off in the sun giving you a streaky look. Try using a powder instead. If you would rather have something with more coverage, use a cc cream. They moisturize your skin, contain an SPF and provide great coverage. The coverage is so good because it soaks into the skin, so it doesn't sit on top of it and it works for all skin types.

3. Use A Brush And Nix The Sponge. Sponges apply make-up much heavier then a brush will. When using a powder you want a light hand to apply an even coat. Using a brush will give you a lighter, more natural finish.


4. Make Your Eye Liner Last. For the summer, liquid liner is too much, and crayon liners will melt off. To have great eyeliner, apply with a pencil liner 1st then top with an eye shadow of the same color. It will make the liner pop and stay on longer. Make sure to use an eye shadow primer 1st.


5. Stick With 1 Shadow Color. If you are going to an event or something special, then play up the eyes with one of your normal looks. But for an every day summer look, keep it simple. Stick to one color on your lids. 

6. Avoid Dark Lips. Dark lipstick is gorgeous, but harder to touch-up. While you can help seal it in with a powder or by lining your lips 1st with a lip liner, it's just best to switch to a lighter color. They are easier to fix and you can wear them all day a lot easier.

7. No Lip Gloss. Did you know that lip gloss attracts sunlight, which can lead to sun burnt lips? Well, it can! Ouch! If you are looking still to have a hint of color, try a tinted lip balm instead. You can apply one that has SPF so you won't have burnt lips.



Summer days are some of the best days. All the fun and memories you make, shouldn't be with half smeared make-up on your face. For all of those who love to go bare faced, more power to you. For those of us that prefer a little something, hope these tips help!

~aphrodite






Tips From: Reader's Digest
Article: Summer Make-up Tricks: 9 Ways To Make Your Make-up Last In The Heat

Flatter Ab Foods

Losing those inches off your waist line can be pretty difficult. You have probably heard about different foods you can eat to reduce that belly fat like salmon, avocados, and nuts. Those are all great for you, but check out these new foods to try.



1. Coconut Oil. Lets be honest, coconut oil is good for everything. It keeps your hair soft, and shiny, and your skin nice and moisturized but it does other wonders for your body. Coconut oil when eaten daily, can help reduce your waist line! It contains lauric acid, which your body burns quickly to produce energy. You can eat a tablespoon a day and use it to replace vegetable oil in cooking.

2. Red or Purple Produce. By snacking on things like grapes, tomatoes, and eggplant, over time you will gain less belly fat then those who snack on green, yellow or orange fruits and veggies.  This doesn't mean you should stop eating those, it just means limit your snacking on them.

3. Vinegar. By including one ounce of vinegar into your daily routine, you can help reduce your belly fat. Vinegar contains acetic acid which helps stimulate the enzymes that burn fat. Try adding apple cider vinegar to your water or a salad to get the burning process going.

4. Whole Grains. People who eat whole grains like brown rice have less belly fat then those who eat the white grain. Making the switch to having 3 servings of whole grain a day helps with appetite control and the fiber in them helps to discourage fat storage in your belly.

5. Beans. Beans contain tons of fiber, especially lentils, black and lima beans. Eating 10 grams of fiber a day can significantly help reduce your rate of gaining belly fat. So you can eat 1 cup of only those types of beans a day and get over 10 grams of fiber.

6. Chia Seeds. Chia seeds are the wonder seed. They have protein and fiber, as well as a fatty acid that you might not know about called ALA. What is does is it helps keep fat away from your organs in your abdominal area. They expand in liquid, so you can use them in anything. Eat 1 tablespoon of them a day.

7. Cinnamon. The active ingredient in cinnamon is cinnamaldehyde. What that does is it helps to burn fatty tissue. Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon into your diet everyday. It will help reduce your belly fat in one month.

8. Turmeric. Known as an Indian spice that has a lot of bold flavor. It helps pull out the sugar in your body, and burn it for energy instead of becoming fat. Use 1 teaspoon into one of your flavorful dishes. You won't really notice the taste but you will notice the difference in your energy levels.

9. Dark Chocolate. Dark chocolate is the best type of chocolate for you. If it is 70% or higher of cacao dark chocolate, it will help reduce stress hormones. Stress hormones can cause people to gain weight. Eat a one ounce serving a day to help reduce stress and hit that sweet tooth craving.

Snacking isn't always bad for you, especially if it includes one of these things. Try them out for a month and see if you notice a difference around your mid-section or in your energy levels.

~aphrodite

How To Properly Apply Self Tanner

Everyone has seen that one person who obviously has self tanner on and it looks a little funny. You can usually tell because not all areas of the body are evenly coated, some might not even be covered at all. Or the worst, it turned out kind of orange. If you are looking for that summer glow and are more of a DIY person, then here are some steps to show you how to apply self tanner and have it looking great.



1. First start by exfoliating your entire body. This will remove any dead skin, so you have an even slate to start with. If you have any dry areas such as knees or elbows, apply a moisturizer after exfoliation. You want you skin to be moisturized so the tanner takes properly. Drier skin has a harder time fully taking the color.

2. If you are using a gradual tanner, stick to once or twice a week. Using it too often will make it turn weird colors and its meant to darken over time not immediately.

3. Don't shave after you used self tanner. Shaving removes hair but it also tends to remove the top layer of skin. Doing this will leave you patchy. Shave a few hours before apply the tanner and then wait 48 hours or so till you shave again. This gives the product plenty of time to fully soak in.



4. Using too much. If you are applying a full tanner, you can do it every 10-14 days. Anything more than that is too often and will leave you either too dark or turn you orange.

5. When getting coverage on your hands and feet, apply it to the hands and smooth it to the fingers and same for the feet. This will give a more even coverage.

6. To get the most natural looking results, use gloves.

7. To keep your hands from washing off, avoid washing your hands for at least 1 hour after applying tanner. The longer you can wait, the better.

8. Always do a patch test first. This will allow you to see what color it turns to so you can decide if the color is right for you.

9. Make sure you rub moisturizer into your hairline. If you don't, one of two things will happen. You will either have a dark circle around your hairline or a light circle where nothing it. Just use a little lotion to keep this from happening.

10. Never skip an area. This will make it obvious that your tan is fake. Make sure you cover your ears, upper lip, hands, feet and neck. Use a mirror to double check your coverage.

11. Avoid using the same products on your face and your body. They make different formula's because the body ones tend to be heavier and will clog your pores and the face ones are lighter to help prevent that.

12. Don't sweat your tan off. Nothing looks worse then watching your tan slowly sweat and run down your body. To keep your tan strong, apply baby powder to your armpits, chest and any other areas your sweat a lot in. This will help you avoid a streaky, blotchy, mess of a color.

13. Always moisturize daily. Keeping your skin moist is the key to making your tan look fresh and to keep it lasting longer.

Its summer time so try out this tips next time you apply your self tanner! I am sure you will notice a big difference in how it goes on and looks.


~aphrodite

Know Your Sunscreen

Protecting yourself from UVA and UVB rays is extremely important, especially now that its warm out and most people are going to be spending a ton of time outside. If you do not use sunscreen it will lead to premature aging, skin spots, and possibly even skin cancer. Here are some things you need to know and some products with SPF in them that you may want to try.



1. Never Skip. Put applying sunscreen into your daily routine. Whether it is actual sunscreen or a moisturizer with SPF in it, be sure to apply it every day. Any time you forget, that is aging your skin by creating fine lines and wrinkles. 

2. SPF 30. Every day before you leave, make sure you apply an SPF of 30. That is the daily recommendation by the American Academy of Dermatology. Use a nickel sized amount for your face, so you get optimal coverage. Most people tend to use less then that.  

3. Chemical & Physical. There are 2 different types of sunscreens chemical and physical. Chemical absorbs into your skin, which can take up to 30mins to fully soak in. This one is great to apply at work on your break so your skin has time to fully soak it in. Physical immediately starts protecting your skin as soon as it is applied. This is great if you are at the beach or outdoors and need to reapply. You should apply sunscreen when outdoors every 2 hours.

4. Nothing Is Completely Water Proof. Even if you use waterproof sunscreen, it doesn't last. Once you are out of the water, you should put it on again. Even if you are just running errands, the sunscreen can sweat off. Apply every 2 hours.


5. Roll on SPF. They make a balm or roll on SPF that is great for applying to your face, ears, neck and lips. This are areas that you might not think about burning but they do, and it hurts.

6. Spray Sunscreen. The spray versions are a quick and easy way to apply sunscreen. Make sure you rub it in and spray every where. When you don't rub it in properly, it can lead to a disaster.

7. BB or CC cream. BB and CC creams are tinted foundations that you apply to your face and neck. They also have moisturizer and SPF in them. This is great if you are going to an outdoor event. They give even coverage, and a smooth, even skin tone. 

Be sure to always protect your skin from the sun, don't forget your SPF.

~aphrodite

How You Are Accidentally Damaging Your Hair

For most people, their hair is everything to them. You cannot fathom the thought of something happening to it. Did you know there are every day things you could be doing to hurt your hair? Well there are! Here are some things you are doing to damage your hair and how you can fix it.


1. Sleeping With Wet Hair.
Your hair is the most fragile when wet. When you go to sleep with wet hair, the tossing and turning through out the night can cause breakage. To prevent this you can shower earlier in the evening about two hours or more before you go to bed so your hair can air dry mostly. Another option is investing in a satin pillow case. Satin pillow cases are smoother so they minimize friction. 

2. Blow-drying Your Hair When Its Soaking Wet. 
When you blow-dry your hair when its completely wet without towel drying it or putting any products into it you are allowing the heat to constantly be on your hair. This in return will cause the hair to be dryer, more frizzy and you will get more split ends. When you 1st get out of the shower, ring your hair out so you get rid of as much excess water as possible, then brush your hair through. You can put it in a towel for a few minutes to ring out more water before applying your products. You should apply a serum for frizz and that has a heat protector in it. It is also good to apply a leave in treatment at this time. Then rough dry your hair about 75-80% of the way before round brushing. It will keep your arms from tiring out easily.

3. Over Flat Ironing.
When you flat iron your hair make sure it is 100% dry. Then apply a heat protecting serum of spray to your hair other wise you are going to damage your hair. Then straighten, never more than 7-10 times per a section, especially if you have it on high heat, you do not want to burn your hair off.

4. Brushing From The Top To The Bottom.
Knots start at the bottom of your hair, so when you brush your hair from top to bottom, you are just ripping at the knots or you could be making them bigger. If your hair gets knotty easily, then try spraying a leave-in conditioner on your hair to help the brush get through easier. Start at the bottom and work your way up the hair shaft. Once you have all the knots out, you will be able to brush your hair from scalp to ends.

5. Wearing Hair Up All The Time.
Wearing your hair up can put a lot of strain on the hair strands. It causes tension in the hair which can lead to breakage, especially in the crown and around the hair line. If you have noticed some thinning in that area, it could be from wearing your hair up and so tight. Try wearing your hair down more or if you do put it up, add a little oil to loosen the strands up and do not wear your hair so tight.

6. Over Doing The Dry Shampoo.
I am sure some of you are HUGE fans of dry shampoo just like I am. I live with it in my hair. The only problem with it is that you can't constantly use it every day. It will clog up the hair follicles on your head and dull your hair color. So if your about to go on day 3 of using dry shampoo, it is probably time to wash it with shampoo and conditioner. Your hair and scalp will thank you.

7. Using The Wrong Conditioner. 
Don't get me wrong, your hair needs conditioner especially if you over color your hair. But your hair may be getting too much protein. Putting protein in your hair is great, but over time too much can damage your hair. Try to avoid using the ones that say strengthening and switch to the moisturizing ones. 




When using shampoo, conditioner, and hair products please avoid buying them from a drug store or grocery store. These products are not always what they say they are. It is best to use what your hair stylist recommends for you and purchase it from them. When you use the right stuff, you will actually not have to use as much as you would if you use the wrong stuff. Pay the extra money. Believe me, its well worth it, and your hair will thank you.


~aphrodite


MSN Article: 8 Ways You Are Accidentally Damaging Your Hair
from PureWow