Brighten Up Your Eyes

There is nothing worse than waking up in the morning and taking a look at yourself in the mirror when you have lacked adequate sleep. Sadly, this is the case for me almost every morning. I have two main reasons for the lack of adequate sleep. First, I am teetering on the edge of menopause. I have been dealing with premenopause for several years and now it seems I am following in my mother’s footsteps. She was completely through menopause in her early 40’s. Trouble sleeping is something that usually goes along with this stage in a woman’s life. I … Continue reading →

At Home Laser Treatment For Wrinkles Approved By FDA

Many women, myself included, would like to look as youthful as we can for as long as we can. Although we can’t do anything about gravity, by exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and taking advantage of the latest anti-aging products, we don’t have to look old before our time. I have no desire to look 20 nor act 20, but I do want to feel confident in the fact that I’m doing what I can to hold back the hands of time. My kids think I’m a bit OCD when it comes to wrinkles, but I grew up in … Continue reading →

Turn That Frown Upside Down And Look Younger Instantly

I’m a people watcher. I guess it comes with the territory of being a single mother and an author. Many times I’ll get ideas for characters just by sitting and observing people while at my local coffee shop, doctor’s office, or wherever I happen to be that day. Something I’ve noticed is that people who smile more tend to look younger. We use approximately 17 facial muscles to smile yet 43 to wear a frown. Is it no wonder that people who constantly wear a grim look on their faces tend to age years before happier people? I’ve heard some … Continue reading →

My Mother’s Hand Came Out Of My Sleeve

This year I’ll turn 45. That doesn’t worry me since I’m far healthier than anyone in my family was at my age. My great grandmother died at 73, my grandmother at 63, and my mother at 53. Since I made it past 43, I feel I’ve broken the family curse of each woman dying a decade earlier than the one before. Through exercise, stress reduction, staying busy, and eating as healthy as I can, as often as I can, I have hopes to live longer and look younger than anyone in my family ever has. I’ve been mildly OCD about … Continue reading →

Easing the Fear of Haircuts

My first haircut was done by my grandfather, a barber by trade. But as I got older, I went to the beauty salon with my mom. I always enjoyed the experience — especially having someone wash my hair — but not every kid does so well in the hairdresser’s chair. There are plenty of kid-focused salons out there, where stylists and staff go out of their way to make parents and kids feel more comfortable about the hair cutting experience. Here are some tips from a local kid-focused salon here in the Portland, Oregon area. Tip number one: watch what … Continue reading →

Conditioner Makes the Difference

I have unruly hair. It’s thick and curly and I really do like it… but it can be difficult to handle. Dealing with my hair isn’t really that bad… as long as I use conditioner on a regular basis. I have two different types I like: one is your usual in-the-shower conditioner and the other is a leave-in conditioner. The leave-in is nice because it’s like wearing “product” (gel or mousse or something) without actually using gunk in my hair. I was in a rush yesterday while getting ready for work. So, while I’d intented to use my leave-in conditioner … Continue reading →

Long Hair vs. Short Hair: the Smackdown

I’m a short hair girl. It suits my face (I think), it’s easy to care for, and looks good on short notice. I’m used to it. I’m comfortable with it. Heck, I even cut my own hair most of the time! With curly hair, if it’s a little uneven, it’s hard to tell. (Things would be a little trickier if I had straight hair.) But every once in a while, I get the urge to let my hair grow. I can count only two times in my life when my hair has been below shoulder length: once when I was … Continue reading →

Reading Beauty Labels: Citric Acid

We can figure this one out from the name, right? Citric, as in “comes from citrus fruit”? Acid, as in “has a pH level less than 7.0“? Citric acid is naturally found in citrus fruits. Lemons and limes are among the fruits with the highest concentrations of citric acid — and this is what gives lemons and limes their sour taste. Oranges and tangerines are sweeter, and have less citric acid than their sour cousins. Citric acid is also found in some berries, like raspberries and blackberries. If you’re a label reader like I am, you’ve probably seen citric acid … Continue reading →

Six Winter Skin Savers

Many people have a harder time with their skin during the winter months than any other time of the year! Here are some tips to help keep your largest organ happy during cold weather. Number one: keep up with your moisturizer… especially in the places where you tend to have problems. For me, I find my winter problem spots are the forehead, the knees and elbows, and the feet. And I’m good about applying lotion to my face after I shower… I’m not always so good about the other spots. And they show it! Number two: keep wearing your sunscreen. … Continue reading →

Reading Beauty Labels: What is Stearic Acid?

Normally, I’d say it’s a bad idea to put any kind of acid on your face or body. But if you start reading the labels on your favorite health and beauty products, you’ll probably run into this one: stearic acid. Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid, also known as octadecanoic acid. (That’s a mouthful and a half, so I’ll stick with calling it “stearic acid” thank you very much!) Fatty acids are a good thing for the body. They are the acids produced when fats are broken down. Fatty acids are not highly soluble in water and can be … Continue reading →