Are You "Overcleansing " Your Skin?

Your skin naturally acts as a barrier, meaning it keeps out what it's supposed to (dirt and free radicals like environmental pollution) while keeping in the good stuff (moisture and yes, some oils). When you over-cleanse your skin, you strip your skin of the oils that keep skin healthy and balanced.

While you should wash your face every night to get rid of that dirt and those free radicals that can clog pores, you should be careful of over-cleansing skin so that it feels taut and tight. Be careful of cleansers with alcohol which will strip skin of its essential oils. Skin that feels taut and tight after cleansing is a clear sign that you may be over-cleansing or using too harsh a cleanser for your skin type. Some effects of over-cleansing include:

• Rashes. Products that should sit on the skin (think sunscreen) will permeate skin if skin's natural barrier is damaged.
• Adult acne. Cleansing your skin more than twice a day can trigger a panic response and send your oil glands into overdrive. Plus, if moisturizers don't soak into the skin -- instead sitting atop skin -- then you may be prone to acne.
• Seborrheic dermatitis (flaking red scales around the scalp and on the t-zone).

The key here is balance. You want your skin to feel "dewy." Taut and tight is bad, dewy and moisturized is good.

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Beauty Secrets of the 'Desperate Housewives'

Society has come a long way now that TV's hottest stars are (gulp!) over 40. Finally Hollywood has learned what many of us have known all along: Women are sexy at any age. Since 'Desperate Housewives' came out, America has been transfixed. So how do these women manage to look so hot at 30, 40 and older? We've collected all their beauty bits and pieces from TV, magazines and more and here we share them with you.

Teri Hatcher's beauty secrets. US Weekly reports the secret to Teri's look is the old adage, 'less is more.' Since Teri is 40, less makeup makes her look fresher. Her makeup artist and hairstylist, Don Malot, adds a luminescent liquid to her foundation to make her skin 'dewy and glowy.' He also uses a brown shadow with shimmer to make Hatcher's brown eyes stand out.
How to get her hair. Although Hatcher has naturally wavy hair and wore soft curls on the red carpet the night she won the Golden Globe, she prefers it straight. Since even wavy hair can look flat (and flat, straight hair is not 'in' at the moment), Malot gives it extra body by applying Redken Spray Starch to damp strands before drying Hatcher's hair straight.
How to look 30 when you're 40. Hatcher has grown out her hair since she sported short hair in 1986, which is a great tip for those of you over 40: don't go for short-short hair or over-coiffed do's. Instead, opt for a shoulder-length shag with layers. Avoid the blunt cuts.
Plastic Surgery: Has she or hasn't she? The UK's Daily Mail puts Hatcher under the plastic surgery microscope. Experts debate whether she's had an under-eye lift (Hatcher tends to have baggy eyes), Botox and a nose job. Hatcher admitted to using Botox on Oprah in April, 2006. See photos from then and now and then judge for yourself.
Eva Longoria's beauty secrets. Longoria, the only star on the show under 40 (she's 31) tells Us Weekly, "I don't overdo the hair and makeup." Like Hatcher, she knows the secret to looking young is to not pile on the makeup. Instead, Longoria adds color to her dark looks by adding a bit of gold shimmer cream from Girlactik to her cheeks & forehead.
How to look 20 when you're 30. Do highlight your best features. Longoria, for example, shows off her legs, not her cleavage. If it's your eyes, play them up. If you have full lips, show them off with a gloss or dare to go red. Don't use a thick concealer, it will settle into fine lines highlighting your flaws. For a dewy glow, try Longoria's favorite foundation, Laura Mercier Foundation .
Marcia Cross's beauty secrets. More than the other stars on the show, Cross is known for her porcelain complexion. How does she keep her skin so gorgeous at 43? Us Weekly reports Cross uses the ultra-luxe and super-hydrating Crème de la Mer to keep her skin soft. She then applies a creamy foundation and tops it all off with a pressed powder. For lips, she uses glosses by Dessert Beauty (try Desserts Deliciously Kissable Plumping Lip Gloss in Dreamy.
Want Cross's hair on 'Housewives'? Newsweek reports that when Cross showed for the photos for the magazine's article in late 2004, she balked when asked to pose as Bree Van Der Kamp. It seems Cross didn't want to pose in her character's trademark 'do, the flip that has helped make her famous. But if you want the look it's easy to do, simply blow dry your hair straight but flip the bottom up with a round, steel brush. The aluminum barrel on these brushes rely on the heat and act as a curling iron for your hair.
Nicollette Sheridan's beauty secrets. Us Weekly reports Sheridan treats her face to monthly customized Super Performance Facial Treatments ($200 a pop) at L.A.'s Jim Wayne salon. These facials help treat her skin (which is dry & sensitive according to her facialist, Octavia Ellington). As for her hair, Jim Wayne cuts her trademark blonde locks in long layers for a 'young, sexy, hot look,' he tells Us. The makeup artists on 'Housewives' use pink tones on the actress, who is reportedly a 'gloss maven' and prefers Jessica Simpson's Dessert beauty line.
Has Sheridan or hasn't Sheridan? Whether or not Sheridan has gone under the knife has been under debate for years. Her post-Knots Landing face drew notice from gossip columnist Liz Smith, who dubbed it 'startlingly exotic' & 'a little transgendered-esque.' Sheridan immediately fought back with a statement that called Smith's allegations, 'malicious and patently false rumors… sprung whole cloth from ... feverish, overactive and inaccurate imaginations.' She even had plastic surgeon Frank Ryan examine her face without finding a single scar.

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Beauty Secrets of the 'Desperate Housewives'

Society has come a long way now that TV's hottest stars are (gulp!) over 40. Finally Hollywood has learned what many of us have known all along: Women are sexy at any age. Since 'Desperate Housewives' came out, America has been transfixed. So how do these women manage to look so hot at 30, 40 and older? We've collected all their beauty bits and pieces from TV, magazines and more and here we share them with you.

Teri Hatcher's beauty secrets. US Weekly reports the secret to Teri's look is the old adage, 'less is more.' Since Teri is 40, less makeup makes her look fresher. Her makeup artist and hairstylist, Don Malot, adds a luminescent liquid to her foundation to make her skin 'dewy and glowy.' He also uses a brown shadow with shimmer to make Hatcher's brown eyes stand out.
How to get her hair. Although Hatcher has naturally wavy hair and wore soft curls on the red carpet the night she won the Golden Globe, she prefers it straight. Since even wavy hair can look flat (and flat, straight hair is not 'in' at the moment), Malot gives it extra body by applying Redken Spray Starch to damp strands before drying Hatcher's hair straight.
How to look 30 when you're 40. Hatcher has grown out her hair since she sported short hair in 1986, which is a great tip for those of you over 40: don't go for short-short hair or over-coiffed do's. Instead, opt for a shoulder-length shag with layers. Avoid the blunt cuts.
Plastic Surgery: Has she or hasn't she? The UK's Daily Mail puts Hatcher under the plastic surgery microscope. Experts debate whether she's had an under-eye lift (Hatcher tends to have baggy eyes), Botox and a nose job. Hatcher admitted to using Botox on Oprah in April, 2006. See photos from then and now and then judge for yourself.
Eva Longoria's beauty secrets. Longoria, the only star on the show under 40 (she's 31) tells Us Weekly, "I don't overdo the hair and makeup." Like Hatcher, she knows the secret to looking young is to not pile on the makeup. Instead, Longoria adds color to her dark looks by adding a bit of gold shimmer cream from Girlactik to her cheeks & forehead.
How to look 20 when you're 30. Do highlight your best features. Longoria, for example, shows off her legs, not her cleavage. If it's your eyes, play them up. If you have full lips, show them off with a gloss or dare to go red. Don't use a thick concealer, it will settle into fine lines highlighting your flaws. For a dewy glow, try Longoria's favorite foundation, Laura Mercier Foundation .
Marcia Cross's beauty secrets. More than the other stars on the show, Cross is known for her porcelain complexion. How does she keep her skin so gorgeous at 43? Us Weekly reports Cross uses the ultra-luxe and super-hydrating Crème de la Mer to keep her skin soft. She then applies a creamy foundation and tops it all off with a pressed powder. For lips, she uses glosses by Dessert Beauty (try Desserts Deliciously Kissable Plumping Lip Gloss in Dreamy.
Want Cross's hair on 'Housewives'? Newsweek reports that when Cross showed for the photos for the magazine's article in late 2004, she balked when asked to pose as Bree Van Der Kamp. It seems Cross didn't want to pose in her character's trademark 'do, the flip that has helped make her famous. But if you want the look it's easy to do, simply blow dry your hair straight but flip the bottom up with a round, steel brush. The aluminum barrel on these brushes rely on the heat and act as a curling iron for your hair.
Nicollette Sheridan's beauty secrets. Us Weekly reports Sheridan treats her face to monthly customized Super Performance Facial Treatments ($200 a pop) at L.A.'s Jim Wayne salon. These facials help treat her skin (which is dry & sensitive according to her facialist, Octavia Ellington). As for her hair, Jim Wayne cuts her trademark blonde locks in long layers for a 'young, sexy, hot look,' he tells Us. The makeup artists on 'Housewives' use pink tones on the actress, who is reportedly a 'gloss maven' and prefers Jessica Simpson's Dessert beauty line.
Has Sheridan or hasn't Sheridan? Whether or not Sheridan has gone under the knife has been under debate for years. Her post-Knots Landing face drew notice from gossip columnist Liz Smith, who dubbed it 'startlingly exotic' & 'a little transgendered-esque.' Sheridan immediately fought back with a statement that called Smith's allegations, 'malicious and patently false rumors… sprung whole cloth from ... feverish, overactive and inaccurate imaginations.' She even had plastic surgeon Frank Ryan examine her face without finding a single scar.

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Karolina Kurkova's Missing Belly Button

Karolina Kurkova walks the runaway during the 2008 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on November 15, 2008 in Miami Beach, Florida

Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images

There's buzz this week that model Karolina Kurkova, named the "Sexiest Woman in the World" by E!, is missing her belly button. But is it true? See the close-up photos (including some that may have been doctored!?!) of Kurkova on the Victoria's Secret runway and decide for yourself.

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Top 10 Sunscreens

I've done the research on sunscreen and compiled the best sunscreens on the market. Organic sunscreen, sport sunscreen, sunscreens safe enough for baby and the Best Sunscreen in the World. Research shows 90 percent of wrinkles are caused by the sun's UVA light and sun damage is the #1 cause of premature aging in women and men. The best sunscreens provide broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB-sunburn) protection. Look for either zinc or titanium minerals in your sunscreen.
More lists:

• Best cleansers
• Best moisturizers
• Best facial scrubs

The Best Sunscreen in the World -- La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL, SPF 40

This is arguable, of course. But even dermatologists we've read tout La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Lait SPF is the best sunscreen in the world. I've read many who say they use it themselves. Why does this sunscreen work so well? Because of the chemical "Mexoryl," well-known all over the world to protect skin from wrinkle-causing UVA rays. (Most sunscreens only protect against UVB rays). How good is Mexoryl? "It produces a product which gives us almost perfect protection against sunshine," said Dr. Vincent DeLeo, chairman of dermatology at Columbia University to ABC News.

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14 Best Facial Moisturizers for Every Skin Type

I rate the best moisturizers on the market today from cheap to steep and for every skin type: Dry, oily, combination and more. Every moisturizer here has passed with high marks the exacting standards of the best makeup artists, beauty editors and dermatologists in the business.
More on skincare:

• How to keep your body moisturized
• My best dry skin tips in one spot
• 5 skin do's & 5 don'ts
• Should you splurge or save on moisturizer?
• 20 secrets to gorgeous skin

Great Drugstore Night-time Cream: Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream

A huge favorite, this moisturizer is an ultra-rich formula that's beloved because of its secret ingredient: hyaluronic acid. This works to moisturize dehydrated skin while diminishing fine lines and wrinkles. An Allure Magazine 2010 Readers' Choice Award winner.

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Best Cleansers for Every Skin Type

You don't have to spend a lot of money to find a good cleansers (find out what you should splurge on).
You can get a great basic cleanser for any drugstore, but if you want the very best, you can pay for it. Here I run down the best face cleansers for 5 different skin types: dry, oily, combination, sensitive and blemished. This list includes some of the yearly picks by the staff of 'InStyle' magazine plus the tried and true picks selected by myself other beauty experts.
More bests:

• Best moisturizers
• Best facial scrubs and peels
• Best eye creams
• Best face masks

Best Basic Cleanser for All Skin Types: Purpose

My beauty cabinet is full of cleansers from some of the priciest boutique brands, but the cleanser I use every day doesn't cost $60 or even $30, it costs $6 at the average drugstore. When my friend Laura spotted my bottle of Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash in my bathroom, she emerged laughing. She couldn't believe THIS was my cleanser of choice. I had to explain that you don't need a lot of bells and whistles in a good cleanser.
This soap-free, oil-free liquid lathers away dirt, makeup and oil but doesn't leave skin so dry it reacts by overproducing oil. Purpose makes most of the "Best" lists in magazines and is recommended by dermatologists, including the expert I turn to, Dr. Maryann Mikhail.

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Does drinking 8 glasses of water a day keep my skin moist?

Question: Does drinking 8 glasses of water a day keep my skin moist?

Answer: No. Despite years of having this drummed into our heads, this is not true. It is good to keep your body, including your skin, hydrated, however the outermost layer of skin does not absorb water since it is made up of dead skin cells. Moisture level of skin is not determined by internal factors, but rather external ones, such as cold or hot air, dry heat and by the number of oil-producing glands you have. So if you want to hydrate your skin, exfoliate it weekly with a sea-salt scrub or other exfoliator to remove dead skin then apply a rich moisturizer while skin is still damp. Want to hydrate your insides then by all means, drink your 8 glasses of water a day.

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How To Soften Dry, Cracked Heels

hazard, it can happen all year-round. If you can't afford a fish pedicure, get rid of dry heel syndrome with this 5-step process I cobbled together and use myself from time-to-time.

You can skip parts of this process if you choose. If you continue to wear the foot mask every night for a week, your problems should be solved.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 15 minutes

Here's How:

1. Soak feet for 5-10 minutes in a warm foot bath made with 1 cup milk and 5 cups warm water.
2. Create a homemade foot scrub by putting 4 tablespoons salt or sugar in 1/2 cup oil. Baby oil, sweet almond oil or coconut oil or even vegetable oil works well.
3. Massage the homemade foot scrub in a circular motion into bottoms of feet.
4. Scrub bottoms of feet with the pumice stone. Rinse and dry feet.
5. Before you go to bed that night, try this tip from beauty guru Paula Begoun: rub a Stridex pad over dry areas of feet. Stridex, a product found in the acne section of any drugstore, contains 2 percent salicylic acid so it's a great exfoliant for the feet.
6. Apply moisturizer thickly on feet (do not wash off Stridex). A super-rich moisturizer like cocoa butter, Eucerin (my favorite) or even Vaseline works best. For even better results, apply a thin layer of Keralyt Gel, an OTC salicylic acid, on your feet along with a dollop of Vaseline.
7. Pull on socks and keep them on throughout the night for at least 4 hours.

What You Need

• 1 cup milk
• Sugar or salt (either will work)
• Baby oil, sweet almond oil or coconut oil
• Pumice stone
• Stridex, found in the acne section of any drugstore
• Thick moisturizer or a salicylic acid cream
• Socks

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Splurge or Save? Skincare, Makeup & Haircare Products

Cetaphil, a great drugstore moisturizer

Save on both cleansers cleansers and moisturizers. Surprise, surprise. There's no reason to open your wallet wide for quality cleansers and moisturizers. In fact, even the fanciest dermatologists and skincare specialists recommend basic drugstore cleansers and moisturizers to clients. "There have been no studies to support that expensive face creams do better than a good mid-level brand," says Rebecca Kazin, medical director at Johns Hopkins Dermatology and Cosmetic Center at Green Spring Station in Lutherville, Md. in the Huffington Post. "Typically a moisturizer is a moisturizer."
Miami Beach dermatologist Leslie Baumann's favorite moisturizer is an $11 bottle of Cetaphil (according to O Magazine). In Vogue Magazine, Manhattan dermatologist Lisa Airan (clad in Manolos, a Hermes bag in hand), mentioned her cleanser of choice is Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash (less than $6). This happens to be my favorite cleanser as well, which recently caused my friend Laura to exclaim, "I can't believe you're a beauty expert and you use a cleanser made by Johnson & Johnson!" I explained to her that basic drugstore cleansers do an excellent job of removing excess oils and dirt. You don't need fancy ingredients for that.
When considering moisturizers, you'll want one for body and one for face. Consider your skin type for facial moisturizer -- products are formulated by skin type. For body lotions, consider your needs. Do you have ultra-dry skin that needs super hydrating, or are you looking for a light moisturizer that will soak in fast? Either way, you can find a great buy for under $10 at a drugstore. There's no need to dump $44 on a bottle of Kiehl's Creme de Corps (a body lotion I'm partial to)-- unless you just love the product (I do love Kiehl's lotions).

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What Type of Skin Do You Have?

There are five basic skin care types: Oily, combination, sensitive, dry and sun-damaged. Your skin type is determined by how much -- or how little -- oil your skin produces. Genes, diet, stress level, medication and even your skincare regimen all determine how much oil your skin produces.

Rona Berg, in her book, "Beauty the New Basics," details the five different skin types. Here's how to tell what skin type you have.

Berg suggests you take the "skin test." Wash your face, pat it dry, then take a few pieces of rice paper or lens-cleaning tissue paper and press on different spots on your face. If your skin is oily, the paper will stick, pick up oily spots and become translucent. If the paper doesn't stick or pick up any oily spots, your skin is dry. If it sticks in your t-zone (forehead, nose and chin) then you have combination (or normal) skin. About 70 percent of women have combination skin.
Here are the five different skin types and their characteristics.

• Type 1: Oily Oily skin tends to shiny with enlarged pores, and is prone to blackheads and blemishes. You might experience some tightness.
  
• Type 2: Combination/normal This skin type has medium pores, a smooth and even texture, good circulation, healthy color, may tend toward dryness on the cheeks while being oily in the t-zone.
  
• Type 3: Sensitive Sensitive skin tends to be thin, delicate with fine pores. It flushes easily, is prone to broken capillaries, is frequently allergic and can be rashy.
  
• Type 4: Dry Dry skin feels tight, especially after cleansing. You have a tendency towards fine wrinkles, flaking and red patches. In women of color, skin may appear ashy or dull from dead skin buildup.
  
• Type 5: Aging or sun-damaged This skin also feels tight with visible wrinkles, slack skin tone -- especially around the cheeks and jawline -- with leathery texture and broken capillaries.

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Make Your Own Homemade Face Masks & Scrubs

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Why pay for a face mask when you can use basic ingredients found around the house to make your own simple, hydrating masks and scrubs? If you have oily or acne-prone skin, mud or clay-based masks are great for balancing out your skin. Dry skin will benefit from hydrating masks made from glycerin, honey and oils. Ginseng or green tea masks are great for soothing sensitive skin. Scrubs are great for getting rid of the dead skin. Try one prior to applying a face mask.
Masks (homemade or storebought -- see my list of the Best Face Masks) should stay on for 10-15 minutes. I strongly recommend following my Basic At-Home Facial to get the full benefit of a facial mask.

All Skin Types

Egg White Face Mask for All Skin Types
Model Shalom Harlow calls this face mask, "so moisturizing and soothing." The best part? It only has 2 ingredients.
Oatmeal and Yogurt Mask for All Skin Types
This is a great basic face mask that includes just 3 basic ingredients.
White Sugar Scrub for All Skin Types
Sugar is a preferred exfoliant to salt because it tends not to tear at the skin. When dead skin collects on the surface of skin, it's important to slough it away. Use oil instead of water if you have dry skin.
Coffee & Cocoa Facial Mask for All Skin Types
Use coffee grounds and cocoa powder to brighten a dull complexion and decrease puffiness in your face. Tailor this recipe for your own skin type. Excellent for dry, oily and dehydrated skin.
Rejuvenating Pumpkin Mask for All Skin Types
Pumpkin pulp is full of antioxidants. This recipe is adapted from one in Vogue Magazine that was created by a well-known Santa Monica facialist.
Homemade 'Cat Litter' Mask for All Skin Types
We got this recipe off a TV show years ago. The beauty expert (Diane Irons) swore cat litter is made of the same ingredients as special clays found in $100 spa facials. We tried this and loved it.
Yogurt Face Mask for All Skin Types
This refreshing face mask is made up of only 2 ingredients.
Homemade Clay Mask for All Skin Types
This clay mask will make skin super soft. Natural skin brightener recipe from India (July 2008 Cosmopolitan Magazine) Mix a tablespoon of turmeric powder in 1 cup of plain yogurt. Leave on for 5-10 minutes, then rinse off.

Oily, Acne-Prone Skin

Banana Mask for Oily Skin This recipe requires super-ripe bananas and a bit of honey. Aspirin Mask for Healing Pimples, Acne Crush aspirin and mix in water/oil/honey for a mask meant to dry up pimples. Makeupalley.com users swear by this mask (out of 2030 reviewers at the time of this writing, a whopping 85 percent said they would "try it again").

Strawberry Mask for Acne-Prone Skin Strawberries are a natural source of salicylic acid. Recipe from Janice Cox, author of "Natural Beauty at Home."
Simple Mask for Oily, Acne-Prone Skin
Recipe adapted from Paula Begoun's "The Beauty Bible." Green Clay Mask for Oily Skin Types
This clay mask will help draw out excess sebum from pores.
Homemade Clay Mask for Oily or Acne-Prone Skin
Clay masks help neutralize skin. You can pick up clay from any health-food store.
Homemade Juice Mask for Oily Skin
Strawberry and lemon juice contain natural astringents.

Dry, Chapped Skin (Recipes Also Good for Mature Skin)

Homemade Face Mask for Dry Skin
Avocados and honey are particularly moisturizing. Homemade Milk Mask for Dry Skin
Milk works beautifully to moisturize dry skin.
Brown Sugar Scrub for the Face
Brown sugar is a wonderful natural exfoliant that works for all skin types. I adapted this recipe from one suggested by Lena Korres, founder of Korres Natural Products, and makeup artist Jemima Kidd, in the July 2008 issue of Cosmopolitan.
Video: Dark Chocolate Face Mask for Dry Skin
Who says chocolate is bad for your skin? The cocoa solids in chocolate are excellent for moisturizing, so this mask is the perfect remedy for dry skin. This video shows you how to make a dark chocolate face mask at home.

Combination Skin

Homemade Face Mask for Combination Skin
A rose-based mask is perfect for balancing out the oily and dry areas of your skin.

Sensitive Skin

Homemade Face Mask for Sensitive Skin
This soothing mask is great for chapped, sunburned or irritated skin.

Treatment for Hands

Paraffin Wax Treatment for Hands
Treat yourself to a luxurious wax treatment like they do in posh spas around the world. Dip hands into warm wax and then peel away leaving hands soft and supple.

Treatment for Dry, Cracked Feet

How To Get Rid of Dry, Cracked Heels
Dry, cracked feet are never sexy. While this tends to be a summer hazard, it can happen all year-round. If you can't afford a fish pedicure, get rid of dry heel syndrome with this 5-step process I cobbled together and use myself from time-to-time.

Hair Masks & Hair Rinse Recipes

Hair Mask: Homemade Hair Mask & Hair Rinse Recipes
Why spend money on a store-bought hair mask or rinse when you can make your own hair recipes using ingredients found in your kitchen (or your backyard). These do-it-yourself recipes for the hair are great for different hair textures and types.

Make Your Own Sugar or Salt Scrub

Body Scrubs: How to Make Salt and Sugar Scrubs
Head to a posh spa and you can treat yourself (for a mere $100-$300) to an all-over body scrub. Or you can spend up to $50 on a fancy body scrub. Why buy when you can make a homemade body scrub out of basic ingredients yourself? All you need is salt or sugar, body oil and a nice, warm bath.

Make Your Own Sugar Wax

How to Make Your Own Homemade Sugar Wax
In this economy, why spend $30 or more on a leg wax when you can do it yourself? I have many friends who wax their own legs and I discovered a recipe for a sugar "wax" on the Double X Website for women. Editor Hanna Rosin shares her family's recipe.

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10 Dos & Don'ts to Help Slow the Aging Skin Process

You can reverse the aging process

Photo courtesy of Aveda

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Maybe you're in your 20s or early 30s and you think you can't possibly have (gulp) aging skin yet. Well, you're wrong. Your skin's "youthfulness" has less to do with age than how it's been treated. If exposed to excessive sun, smoke and stress, your skin can start "acting old," losing its collagen, glow and elasticity. Lines may develop prematurely and your skin may look dull and "blah." It's easier to prevent damage than to repair it, but the good news is you can put the brakes on premature aging and get your skin back in tip-top condition with these 10 tips and tricks.

5 Dos and 5 Don’ts to Help Slow the Aging Skin Process

• Do stop smoking. Ever notice the skin of a lifelong smoker? It can appear as wrinkly as a squashed paper bag. I can spot a smoker by the lines above the mouth that tend to form from constant lip pursing. The lines always seem to point to the mouth as if saying, "insert cigarette here." Smoking is the 2nd biggest cause of skin damage after sun exposure. Why? Nicotine constricts blood vessels and decreases the flow of oxygen to the skin. Not good things.
  
  
• Do use a retinoid every day or every few days. A daily application of a prescription retinoid lotion (such as Retin-A or Tazorac) can erase years from your face. In fact, dermatologists claim retinoids (see "Is this product the secret to looking young?" are the one anti-aging product that really works. Before I used Retin-A, I suffered from dull skin. My complexion had a white cast and a dull pallor until I bought a tube of Retin-A over-the-counter in Mexico. I had friends who swore by the stuff. After using the product for a few weeks (and going through the annoying period where my skin turned red and peeled), all of a sudden I had dewy, glowing skin and people began complimenting me on my skin.
  AHAs used properly not only rids your face of dead skin, but can seem to take 10 years off as well by reducing fine lines. (Keep in mind these products do NOT shrink pores. Your pore size is completely hereditary, so don't believe promises of permanent reduction). Over-the-counter options such as RoC Deep Wrinkle Night Cream are good, but prescription creams work the best. Extra tip: You must stay out of the sun if you use retinoids. You are extra-susceptible to sunburns.
• Do give yourself a facial once a week. If you follow my Basic At-Home Facial I guarantee your skin will never look better. My facial takes only 30 minutes and includes cleansing, exfoliation via a facial scrub, a hydrating mask, a quick steam and moisturizer.
• Do wear sunscreen every day, rain or shine. My NYC dermatologist recently told me I had great skin, especially "for someone who grew up in Texas." It turns out he sees a lot of sun damage in his office. We decided the 8 years I spent in Seattle helped, as did the fact that I've worn SPF 40 sunscreen every day rain or shine for 10 years. You’ve had it ingrained in your head since youth, but seriously, even in winter it can take just 20 minutes of unprotected sun exposure to damage the skin. Here's a list of great sunscreens, including what I believe to be the best sunscreen in the world.
  By the way, it's a MYTH that 80 percent of your lifetime sun damage occurs before age 18, according to O Magazine. Katie Rodan, MD, adjunct professor of dermatology at Stanford University School of Medicine, says in O that this myth stands officially debunked and studies indicate we get only 23 percent of total UV exposure by age 18. Of course it gets worse as we age. So you CAN prevent sun-induced aging by wearing sunscreen.
  
  
• Do shield your windows. The average commuter gets 200 hours of sun exposure each year and 80 percent of sun exposure is through car windows, according to Boston dermatologist Ranella Hirsch in Harper's Bazaar. To protect your skin against sun damage (the leading cause of aging skin), invest in a window shield like Solar Gard. Shields with SPF 285 can block UVA and UVB rays by 99 percent.
  

  You saw the 5 "dos" for perfect skin care. Now here are 5 don'ts:

• Don’t pull and rub your skin. Aging skin has been under attack by UV rays, stress and carbon monoxide so don't stress it more by pulling on it.
  
  
• Don’t forget to moisturize. While it's a myth that wrinkles are caused by dry skin, moisturizing can improve the appearance of lines by temporarily plumping them up. Also consider a good eye cream. Eye creams are controversial because some pros claim they don't really do anything, but many women swear by them. Extra tip: Moisturizers are best used on damp skin. They lock the moisture in. Dr. Dennis Gross doesn't use tap water when washing skin because of harsh minerals found in many city water sources. Instead, he rinses off with Evian water.
  
  See my list of the best moisturizers and the best eye creams.
• Don’t ignore your neck and chest. The neck and chest are first to show the signs of aging (they have fewer oil glands than the rest of your body), yet most of us ignore them. Look for moisturizers that have age-fighting ingredients like vitamin A (retinols), kinetin, copper or vitamin C.
  
  
• Don’t tan. Even if wrinkles haven't shown up yet, you need to stop tanning now because they will. Once signs of aging appears, you'll be spending a lot of money to reverse it. So if you do have sun damage? You can reverse the damage with photorejuvenation such as pulsed light treatments. Many spas and dermatologists provide these pricey fixes. If you do have brown spots, treat them with lemon juice diluted with water, according to NY dermatologist Jessica Krant in Harper's Bazaar. Krant suggests applying the mixture with a Q-tip nightly, gradually increasing it twice daily until sun spots fade away.
  
  
• Don’t sporadically take care of your skin. It's important to cleanse your face every night not only to avoid clogged pores, but also to wash away all the pollution your skin has been prone to. As for anti-aging regimens, you need to keep it up for best effects. You may suffer redness and a bit of peeling at first, but this is normal. To get the full effects of acid peels, retinoids, AHAs, and moisturizers you have to keep at it. The initial benefits will go away if you stop using them.

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Dry Skin? 25 of My Best Itchy Skin Fixes

time during the year, but is most prevalent in winter (hence the term, "winter itch"). Find out why your skin tends to be dry in winter and how to solve dry hands, feet, body, face and lips year-round.

See my list of homemade facial masks.

Why Do I Suffer From Dry Skin in the Winter?

In winter, low temperatures, low humidity and strong, harsh winds deplete skin of its natural lipid layer, which keeps the skin from drying out. The dry air from furnaces and other heating sources also suck the moisture out of skin. To keep skin soft and supple, your goal is not to add moisture to skin, but to keep moisture in. These 25 tips show you how to do this.

Dry Skin Tip: Keep Water Lukewarm, Not Hot

Hot water robs skin of moisture causing dry skin, so it's best to shower in lukewarm water. If you can't bear this rule -- I can't -- try to keep your showers short and try showering only once per day. This also means skipping hot tubs (another rule I simply cannot bear). The hot, hot temperature, combined with drying chemicals, is torture on dry skin. The same rule applies to hand-washing: Wash hands in lukewarm, never hot, water (this is a rule I firmly abide by). If your skin turns red, the water is simply too hot.

Dry Skin Tip: Moisturize After Showers or Hand Washing

Your skin will tell you when it's dry. If your skin feels tight and taut, it's time to add moisture. There are so many tips to moisturizing skin that I created an article on it. See Body Moisturizer Tips: How to Keep Skin Moisturized.

Dry Skin Tip: Exfoliate on a Weekly or Semi-Weekly Basis

Moisturizer is much more effective on properly exfoliated skin. Use a salt or sugar scrub in the shower and exfoliate your face with a mild scrub made for the face. See "How to Exfoliate" for tons of fun information on exfoliating your body and your face. Also, check out the best facial scrubs and the scrubs for the body.

Dry Skin Tip: Invest in a Humidifier

Ever notice how older people in desert climates look like leather? The moisture in the air is actually good for skin. If you live in a low-humidity climate or you are around furnaces in the winter, invest in a humidifier. I once read that your skin needs more than 30 percent humidity to stay properly moisturized. A room heated by a furnace can have as little as 10 percent moisture. In the winter, consider sleeping with a humidifier in your bedroom. Keep doors closed so the moist air doesn't escape the room.
Shop for a humidifier online:

Dry Skin Tip: Skip the Drying Soaps

Soaps can be drying. Stick with a creamy moisturizing cleanser that contains glycerin or petrolatum, such as Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash for the body or Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash (my current drugstore pick) for the face. Extra tip: Simply can't skip the bath? Skip the bubbles, which can contain harsh foaming ingredients and opt for bath oils or oatmeal scrubs, which are great for soothing itchy skin.

Dry Skin Tip: Baby Your Hands & Feet

Hands and feet can suffer terribly from dry, itchy skin. Put on moisturizer and gloves BEFORE you head outdoors in the winter, and consider lathering up your feet in thick moisturizer and sleeping in cotton socks at night. Extra tip: Cover feet in a thick moisturizer, wrap feet in Saran Wrap, then pull on a pair of socks for a couple hours. Try to sit or lie down while the moisturizer soaks in or risk sliding into a full split and pulling your groin muscles. The same treatment can be done on hands, except try plastic bags and keep hands in a pair of socks. A half-hour should do you.

Dry Skin Tip: Don't Forget Your Lips

Licking your lips will not moisturize them and instead will help dry them out. Lips retain less moisture than other parts of the body, so they tend to dry out more quickly. A simple lip balm helps but if you have the bucks, try: Kinerase Lip Treatment (about $38). My favorite lips trick is one I learned from "Seventeen" magazine when I was in high school. It works brilliantly. See How to Get Rid of Scaly Lips.

Dry Skin Tip: Protect Your Face, Too

If you have super, duper sensitive skin, consider avoiding rinsing your face with tap water, which can contain harsh minerals that are especially drying to the skin (Dr. Dennis Gross once told me New York water contains a lot of harsh minerals, while Seattle water, for example, does not. Go figure). Instead use a cold cream like Pond's to cleanse your face or use bottled spring water.

Consider Fish Oil Pills

New studies show omega-3 fish oil pills may soothe super dry skin. Patients who took fish oils pills in a study reported in Allure magazine, saw significant results within a few weeks. "You can see, within six weeks, the skin, hair and nails improve markedly," according to skin expert Dr. Andrew Weil in Allure. Ever since I started taking fish oil pills in March, 2007, I have received numerous compliments on how amazing my skin looks. So there you have it.

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How To Do The Basic At-Home Facial

can be expensive. To maintain your healthy skin between professional treatments or to do them yourself, try this basic at-home facial once a week. This basic facial works on oily, dry and combination skin.

And don’t worry, I’m not going to make you whip up a batch of egg-whites and oatmeal, but you will save money if you do your own mask. I list a bunch of organic, natural Homemade Face Mask Recipes for every skin type. But if you don't want to whip up your own, you can buy a great mask at health food stores or even your local drugstore.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 25-30 minutes

Here's How:

1. Cleanse the skinYou’ll want to wash the face, neck and ears with a good facial cleanser to remove any grime or dirt. I recommend some great options in my list of the best cleansers.
   Don't forget to remove makeup with a makeup remover. My hands-down favorite is Clinique, but Neutrogena's eye makeup remover is a great drugstore option.
2. Exfoliate Using your fingers, rub a gentle exfoliating facial scrub in a circular motion on your face. Concentrate on the areas around your nose and forehead or if you have combo skin, work harder on the areas that tend to be "greasy." Rinse your face well since exfoliating scrubs tend to be drying.
   See my list of the best scrubs or make your own using white sugar mixed in with extra virgin coconut oil.
3. Steam There are several ways to steam your face. You can fill your sink with warm water, dip a washcloth in and press to your face repeating 2-3 times or you can take it further by boiling water over the stove, then turning off the stove and putting your head over the water with a towel over your head, letting the steam seep into pores for a good 5 minutes. My favorite steam trick is to actually use my clothing steamer. I turn it on, put a towel over my head and put my face a good foot above the steamer. Works like a charm. But be careful: Do not burn yourself.
4. The mask For oily skin, use a clay-based face mask. For dry skin, go for a hydrating gel or cream mask.
   Apply the mask, avoiding the areas around the eyes. Keep it on for 10-20 minutes (or, according to the directions on the product). Rinse completely. You can even make your own face mask.
   Get recipes for every skin type in 23 Homemade Face Mask Recipes.
5. Moisturize Smooth on a soothing, basic moisturizer over your face and neck. See my list of the best facial moisturizers.
   Tip: Stay away from strong moisturizers containing retinols or acids. These will over-exfoliate your skin.
6. For another great facial, try my friend Janine's "When You Can't Afford the Spa Teapot Facial." It's only 3 steps and Janine's been doing it for years and I tell you the girl looks a good 10 years younger than she is.

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Skin Care: My Best Tips to Make Your Skin Look Younger

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To keep your face looking as youthful as possible, you need to properly cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize your skin while never leaving the house without at least 30 SPF sunscreen. I've dubbed this process "The Basic 4-Step Skincare Regimen," which I outline in this article. But before we go there, how you care for your skin is utterly dependent on the type of skin you have: oily, normal/combination, dry, sensitive or sun- damaged. Find out what skin type you have.

The Basic 4-Step Skincare Regimen Step 1: Cleansing

Simple is key here. You need to find a good cleanser that your skin responds well to, and stick with it: See the best cleansers for your skin type. You can find a good cleanser at the drugstore. There's no need to spend $40 on a fancy wash. Avoid bar soaps as they tend to dry out the skin. According to Rona Berg, in her book, "Beauty," a French cosmetics executive once told her, "Soap should only ever touch your skin from the neck down." I agree. Choose a creamy cleanser if you have dry skin or a clear cleanser if you have oily skin.
Be careful not to cleanse too often, you risk over-cleansing skin, see signs you are overcleansing your skin. You really only need to wash your face at night to remove makeup and sunscreen, which can clog pores. If you have dry skin, consider cold cream like Pond's, which the French use. Simply apply cream, then wipe off, no water needed (if you have hard water, it can be especially harsh on skin). Most women prefer the water method: Use warm water to loosen dirt and clogged pores. Use a dime-sized bit of cleanser, then rinse with cool or lukewarm water. I personally swear by my Clarisonic Mia, as does pretty much everyone I know who has one.
Make sure to remove eye makeup with a proper makeup remover. The area around the eye is delicate so don't pull or rub too hard.

In the morning, a splash of lukewarm water is all you need (I find it's great for removing excess oils from your nightly moisturizing). Never wash your face with hot or cold water (both can cause broken capillaries).

Step 2: Exfoliate

Exfoliation is the step most people skip in their weekly skincare routine. But trust me, if you start properly exfoliating your skin, you will notice an almost immediate difference. According to Berg, one of the reasons men's skin looks more youthful than women's is because men tend to exfoliate daily when they shave. I use a facial scrub weekly to exfoliate my skin, but I also find using a washcloth when I cleanse my skin works just as well. I simply put a dab of cleanser on a damp washcloth and massage the cleanser into my skin in a circular motion. After a quick rinse, any sign of dead skin is erased. You can also exfoliate skin via microdermabrasion, chemical peels and retinoids. In my article, How to Exfoliate, I share all my tips and tricks to proper exfoliation. Including why you should throw out the loofah.
See my list of the best facial scrubs and microdermabrasion kits.
Scrubs work by removing the top layer of dead skin cells that tend to dull your complexion. We find exfoliating skin once a week with a microdermabrasion kit keeps skin glowing year-round. Make sure you use a gentle scrub with tiny grains. Big grains in cheap scrubs can tear skin and cause more harm than good. My favorite microdermabrasion kit is made by Lancome.

In the hour it takes to get a chemical peel, you can take off five years from your face. Can't afford the price tag for a monthly peel? Try some over-the-counter peels that work over the course of a month. I prefer MD Skincare's.
Retinoids (such as Retin-A or the more moisturizing Renova) also work by removing the top layer of dead skin cells while also generating collagen in the skin. "Collagen is the skin's structural fiber," dermatologist Dennis Gross said in O Magazine. "As we get older, it breaks down, creating lines and large pores." Skincare experts disagree on all sorts of things, but most of them consider retinoids to be a miracle skin saver. I'm addicted to Retin-A, which I pick up in Mexico on my yearly jaunts.

Should you use a toner? Some people swear by toners, but many beauty experts do not (I once read a skincare expert claim, "toners are only for copy machines"). Toners are meant to remove all remaining traces of oil, makeup and dirt, but a good cleanser should do this. I firmly believe it's up to you. If you like the way your skin feels with a toner. Buy it. Use it. Enjoy it.

Step 3: Moisturize

While I know of at least one famous beauty editor who swore skin doesn't need moisturizer, basically everyone else I've read disagrees and is an adamant believer in it. A basic rule of beauty is that if you have dry skin, you should invest in a basic moisturizer. So how much should you moisturize? Your skin will tell you. When your skin is tight, it's crying out for moisture. Be careful not to over-moisturize -- this can clog pores. See my list of the best moisturizers on the market.

Are eye creams necessary? Well maybe. Some beauty experts strongly recommend eye creams. Why? The skin around the eye contains no fatty tissue and is therefore very thin and susceptible to wrinkles. Special eye creams are formulated to "thicken" this area. Yet other experts (including the beauty editors of Allure in their new book) claim your daily lotion works around the eyes just as well.
See my list of the best eye creams.

Step 4: Apply Sunscreen

The #1 cause of wrinkles is sun damage, so it's important to use a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF from your early years on even in winter and on cloudy days. A great trick is to purchase two moisturizers: One for night and one for day that includes UV protection. Don't use moisturizers with sunscreen at night, the ingredients are not meant to be used 27/7 and can aggravate skin. When choosing a sunscreen, make sure it contains Mexoryl (found in my favorite sunscreen La-Roche Posay) or Helioplex, found in Neutrogena products.

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