Summer Beauty Tips

Fall's the time to repair the price paid for ?fun in the sun? and prepare for cooler, dryer air. Then experiment with the season's new looks!

As healthy as being outdoors can feel, the ultraviolet rays of the sun can damage skin cells through sunscreens and sun blocks.** Chlorine and other chemicals in hot tubs and pools, salt water at the beach, and super-conditioned air can leach away nutrients and cause dryness. What to do? Have some fun ... create a ?spa? environment in your bath area and follow these simple steps.

Step one in reversing the effects of summer is to remove the dead surface skin cells that have built up. For your face, select a mask or microdermabrasion product that?s appropriate for your skin type (dry, normal, combination, oily, blemish-prone). Also pick an exfoliator made specifically for the lips. For your body, choose a scrub or buffing cream. If you have sensitive skin, avoid scents and perfumes since they can be irritants. Then follow the product directions for application and use, massaging gently.

Step two is to moisturize the newer, younger skin you've revealed. Liberally apply a facial moisturizer (paying special attention to the neck and d?collet?), eye cream, lip balm, and body lotion (or cream), allowing time for the products to be absorbed into your skin. You want to replace the moisture that?s been stripped away during cleansing, restore what?s been lost during the summer and start to protect against cold weather and dry indoor heat.

Now, after each cleansing, apply moisturizers and, if necessary, increase the intensity of the products. At night, use a specially formulated product for your face that works while you sleep. For problem areas such as elbows, knees, hands and feet, put on extra lotion or cream (wear mitts and footies to bed, as needed). During the day, continue to wear sunscreen or sun block to protect your skin from ultraviolet rays.

As sun exposure or a tan fades, adjust your foundation and/or powder to a lighter shade. Test the shade along your jaw line to blend with both your face and neck; watch to see if it ?disappears? into your skin.

The lighter, sun-kissed colors of summer typically transition to darker, earthier colors in fall. If you?re trying to adapt the season's shades or find the hues that work best for you, try these tricks.

For eyes, eye shadows with a base or elements of color opposite that of your eyes (on the color wheel) will make your eyes stand out the most. Consider a wide spectrum of the colors that are in style. If teal?s fashionable, experiment with different tints of blues and greens and blue-greens. Mix colors or tone them down with neutrals until you find the ones that complement your face and wardrobe.

For cheeks and lips, the most flattering colors are usually the ones that pick up the natural warm tones in your face.

Once you're ready, enjoy the season!

**For skin abnormalities, please consult a board-certified dermatologist.

? Copyright 2005. Charlotte Maddox. All rights reserved.

Charlotte is an experienced independent beauty consultant with Mary Kay Inc.

Register on Charlotte's Mary Kay Inc. web site to receive a monthly email newsletter, Beaut-e-News(tm), with tips & techniques and a seasonal mailing of the The Look catalog with free samples plus the latest in skin care and color looks (complete privacy ensured).

http://www.marykay.com/charlottemaddox

Electric fan once was an essential heatstroke prevention item in summer for many families. Though the number of families that use electric fans has somewhat decreased due to the popularity of the air conditioner, staying in an air conditioning room for too long can cause the immunity of our body to drop, some can easily catch cold, get a fever, contract allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma, and more. These are all because of the bad air quality caused by almost no circulations in an air conditioning room, which in turn multiples the cause of disease microorganism. Since electric fan is convenient to use, it blows naturally, and does not pollute the air, from the environmental protection and health point of view, it should be the first choice when it comes to heatstroke prevention.

The question is: how should we use an electric fan scientifically?

1. Do not get too close to the fan
When using an electric fan, some people prefer to stay very close to the fan and let the wind fiercely blow on them, especially after having strenuous exercises. This may cause the body get indisposed, feeling weary, sultry, incapable, hands and feet may feel aching and limp. In worse case, it may result in headache, fever, cold feeling, or even lead to other diseases. In summer time, the perspiration, radiation, and temperature adjustment of a human body are all mainly through the skin. When sweat evaporated, our body then cools down. But long time blowing in front of an electric fan will cause the surface temperature of our body to quickly drop. This will block the pore, which then causes heat to be kept in our body and makes us feel sultry.

2. Do not chill with the fan for too long
It is especially not healthy if you let the fan runs all night long. Skin surface temperature of any spots that are exposed to the blowing for excessively long time drops, while epidermis blood vessels are still diastolic, this will cause abnormal blood circulation, which in turn will affect excretion of sweat, result in the adjustment of nerve center to lose balance. The internal organs and nerve system must then strengthen their work, consequently fatigue and headache may appear.

3. Use middle or low speed as much as possible
Speaking of the usage of a fan, the bigger the fan blades, the higher the power it requires, then the more energy it consumes. Power consumption of a fan is in direct ratio to speed of its blades. The energy used in 1 hour at the fastest speed would allow the same fan to run nearly 2 hours at the lowest speed. Choose high speed only when necessary, turn to low speed after cooling down, this will reduce consumption of electricity. Use head turning, low speed, natural blowing options in general, choose sleep (if this option is available) at bed time.

4. Put fan at door or window if possible
In summer evenings, put fan at places near a door or a window when possible. This is good for air circulation by blowing cool outdoor air to indoor. Let the fan blow with the wind will increase the efficiency of lowering the temperature.

5. High speed to low speed
When turning on a fan, the switch should be set at high speed first, then change it to the middle or low after it runs at full speed. This is to avoid unnecessary longer motor starting time. Fans with manual tuning options are already set up in the way so the high speed has to be on first. But make sure it is at full speed before switch to lower speed. If you sense any burning smell, turn off the fan and unplug immediately.

? Copyrighted: You may freely republish this article as long as author bio and active hyperlinks are kept intact. Thank you.

Jacklyn Chen - Webmaster of news-blogs.com, satellite info, and emobile-news.com. She is a full time mom who works very hard to make living with multiple web sites.

When the temperature tops 90 and the soles of your shoes sizzle on the sidewalk, cold therapy is a necessity for summer first-aid. Whether it is ice from your freezer, a bag of frozen vegetables or a convenient commercial cold pack, ice therapy has many more uses than treating bumps and bruises.

Here are five summer first-aid tips for cold therapy:

Chill heat-related illnesses.

During the hot summer months, heat exhaustion and heat stroke can be a problem. Symptoms of exhaustion can include dizziness, weakness, a feeling of nausea, excessive sweating and a shallow, quick pulse. With more serious heat stroke, the skin is hot and dry, and mental confusion can occur along with a loss of consciousness. Cold packs can be used to keep the body cool in excessive temperatures, helping to prevent heat exhaustion. Many athletes cool down after a summer event with an icy cold pack on the back of their necks. If symptoms are present, ice packs along with hydration can be used to lower the body temperature to a safe level. Always seek medical attention in the case of heat stroke as this condition can be sudden and deadly.

Ice bug bites.

Let?s face it, insect bites are a nuisance, causing swelling, itching and sometimes pain. Icing a bite immediately will keep the bug poison from spreading to other parts of the body, reduce swelling and inflammation, and numb the area, lessening the need to itch. Use ice therapy on mosquito, bee, spider, fire ant and centipede bites. If an allergic reaction happens or it is a serious bite, such as from the poisonous Brown Recluse Spider, immediately seek medical help.

Keep pets cool.

Even pets can suffer in the summer heat. Keeping them cool can be tricky. An ice pack wrapped in a towel or beneath a thin blanket might do the trick if they decide to snooze on top of it. Ice cubes are a cool treat that some animals enjoy. There are also commercial products made specifically for horses to ice their legs down after a ride. Special caution should be taken to never use a product containing toxins or one that might easily break, endangering a pet if they decide it would be more fun to play with the ice pack than lay on it.

Cool a Burn.

Getting too much sun or being careless around an outside grill can result in summer burns. For minor first degree burns caused by brief contact with a hot object, water or steam, and sunburn, cool the skin by first holding it under running water, then apply a cold pack to numb the pain. If blistering occurs (second or third degree burns) seek medical help.

Cold treatment for night sweats.

Hot summer evenings can mean intense night sweats for menopausal women. A great natural approach to cooling off when awakened by a wave of heat is to tuck a cold pack into the pillowcase so that it lies at the crook of the neck. Within a few minutes, the heat wave will subside, allowing for a restful night?s sleep.

Make sure you have at least one or two cold packs in your freezer for summer first-aid. Chill out and be prepared!

Disclaimer: This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical treatment or consultation. Always consult with your physician in the event of a serious injury.

About The Author

Louise Roach is the editor of on-line health and fitness newsletter, NewsFlash*SnowPack. She has been instrumental in the development of SnowPack, a patented cold therapy that exhibits the same qualities as ice. Her injury prevention and treatment articles have been published on health and fitness websites. For more information visit http://www.snowpackusa.com or NewsFlash*SnowPack at http://home.netcom.com/~newsflash/

snowpack@ix.netcom.com