Femme Power

Archive for the ‘Health & Beauty’ Category

You’re exhausted from a day’s work.   Your head hurts, your back aches.   You could take a pill…OR a soothing massage.

In a world so rich with wellness options brought about by modern science, natural therapy refuses to take a back seat.  In fact, natural therapy continues to be an “in” thing today.

That’s evident as spa facilities continue to mushroom in every city and more hotels and resorts now offer spa services to keep abreast with the market demands.

Some people have resorted to yoga, a healing system of theory and practice.   It’s so popular it has become a billion-dollar business in America alone.   Yoga is said to treat certain diseases, improve resistance to psychological stress, and promote well-being.

While there’s no arguing that modern medical developments are a priceless gift to mankind and that it is imperative not to self-diagnose and self-medicate like our doctors always advise us, natural therapy still lingers on as an alternative to wellness.

One great place to check out when referring to self help ideas for mental health and self improvement is Chris Butler the Jagad Guru.

Also, for more ideas on finding your life purpose Jagad Guru can be found here.

Are bad teeth keeping you from flashing that perfect wide smile?

Unsightly gaps, crooked and stained teeth are few of the common problems that keep us from letting out a wide beam like a movie star.   Often, we cover our mouth to hide teeth imperfections when we can’t hold ourselves from bursting into a hearty laugh.

How liberating it would be to be able to smile without holding back because of bad teeth.

Whatever the causes, not everybody is blessed with nicely-shaped teeth.   But anybody can do something about it.

People close to California get porcelain veneers in San Diego and do away with teeth cracks, discoloration and deformities.   Porcelain veneers are thin, handcrafted shells custom ordered for every patient so they look uniquely stunning.  And they are permanent!

Studies say that to get that perfect smile, one has to work on it by doing the following:

1. Brush teeth twice or thrice a day using a fluoride toothpaste.   Prioritize brushing in the morning and before bedtime.

2. Have a healthy lifestyle.   Minimize sugary food intake, alcohol and smoking.

3. Get regular trips to the dentist, once or twice a year.

4. Floss once a day.

A healthy, nice-looking set of teeth positively impacts not just our overall health but our self-confidence as well.

As for me, I’m gonna start setting aside budget for my next trip to the dentist.   I’ll have that perfect wide smile again soon!

I was walking along a narrow street going to my daughter’s school. When I came into a curve, I was shocked to come face-to-face with a woman whose half of her face was covered with what I presumed to be a black birthmark.

Much as I wanted so much not to react, I was extremely surprised that I almost took a step back.

Seeing her unfazed by my reaction (or maybe she tried so hard not to show me that she was affected), I’m positive that she gets a lot of it and that she’s used to people taken aback by the sight of her face.

The woman was young, probably in her early 20’s. Now as I look back, I realized that she was pretty if not for that dark mark covering half of her face.

She could have been exposed to taunting, rejection and unfair treatment among friends and employers. Or she’d probably find it hard to land a good job or a romantic partner. Her self-esteem and her relationship with other people are likely affected. But I hope I’m all wrong.

Given that finances were not an issue, facial plastic surgery can very well revert that face into a flawless image.

Not only will it change her physical makeup, but probably her entire life ahead as well.

When was the last time you stood in front of a full-length mirror and inspected every minute detail of your own body?

Chances are, you’d notice some changes…and some of them may not be pleasing at all.

It’s been a couple of months since I noticed that my tummy has started to reinvent itself. My! it started to bulge! Yet, I’m pretty sure I’m not pregnant. I figured that I have to do a little crunching to get my tummy back into shape or I’d look so cartoonish being skinny and yet heavy on the belly. Yikes!

So here I am on red alert doing sit-ups in the morning. Wanting to learn other ways to lose this lousy bulge, I surfed the net and here’s what I learned:

1. Overdoing of crunches will give me not a flat tummy but a bad posture.

2. Contracting my abdominal muscles 10-15 times a day is the better way to do it rather than forcing my upper torso up doing sit-ups.

3. I may do abdominal muscle contractions whenever I’m sitting down, walking, or even in the shower. It’s done by sucking your gut when exhaling.

4. Exercising alone is not enough. Along with it should come a balanced diet of dark green veggies, non-fat dairy products, whole wheat, lean meat, egg white, among others. Thing is I need to cut down, if not fully eliminate, my fondness (well, a little short for addiction) for soda and a lot of sweets. Oh no.

5. There’s a fast and efficient alternative to get a fabulously flat tummy. No need to do crunches, nor sweating it all out until your body aches. It’s called abdominoplasty or tummy tucks, a plastic surgery procedure that gives you the abs that everyone will envy.

Being a full-time mom is not an excuse for me to stop caring for my figure.

I don’t hope to be an Uma Thurman. But who knows? Hahaha!

Let’s face it - we’re not getting any younger.

While each passing year adds up to our already mounting reservoir of experiences, knowledge and maturity, it also adds up obvious signs of aging. And age usually shows up most obviously on our face, neck and elbows.

Although I’m not a beauty expert, but I’ve had my own share of experiments to keep my skin from giving away my age. So far, new friends usually guess my age younger.

However, what works for me may not work for some other people. Our skin solutions depend on our respective skin problems and our type of skin, not to mention budget.

One primary beauty rule is never to sleep with a dirty face. Either wash it or dab some cleanser or makeup remover before you doze off. Dirt could accumulate in your pores and could cause more problems like blackheads or pimples.

Let’s close down on wrinkles. In this modern day, we have a lot of options around. Apart from Vitamin E and a healthy diet of fruits, veggies, lots of water and fruit juices here’s a few more to help you out:

Anti-wrinkle creams and soaps are very accessible and probably some of the cheapest. They are everywhere even in supermarkets. In my case, I had to try several brands and products first before I found the right items that suited me best - a cucumber eye cream that relieves puffiness and wrinkles around the eye area; a cucumber moisturizing cream; and soaps with either collagen or placenta enzymes.

Cosmetics may hide some imperfections but they’re not meant to be corrective. However, there are cosmetics now that are vitamin-enriched or have UV protection to shield your skin from the damaging rays of the sun. Remember, sun exposure hastens the appearance of skin aging.

Dermatologists offer several products and services like diamond peel, microdermabrasion, skin peeling, skin rejuvenation, among others. And if you have the budget, you may even opt for the proven-effective facelift.

Food supplements like metathione and glutathione abound, which are believed to be rich in anti-oxidant making skin not only look fairer but also younger. But beware of some restrictions. They’re not advisable for pregnant women and hypertensive people. To be sure if you’re safe to take these food supplements, better consult your doctor first.

Most people see the effects of these food supplements in about 3-5 months of regular intake (1-2 caps a day, depending on dosage and/or doctor’s prescription). I’ve tried two brands and they proved to be effective in skin lightening and improving skin elasticity. Though marketing efforts of these products project that they have enormous positive effects on your health, I can’t really attest.

Signs of aging need not be a problem anymore. Whether you’re a working professional, a businessperson or a full-time COO of your own household, you deserve some skin pampering.

Just pick your choice. And do it now.