There are only a few beauty products that actually live up to their promises and fewer that actually can do so without compromising one’s health. The simple truth is beautiful and glowing skin starts with what you eat!

• Blueberries
  Blueberries may have kept a very low profile but these babies are actually packed with antioxidants! In fact the U.S. Department of Agriculture conducted a study comparing antioxidant activity of blueberries to 40 other fruits and vegetables and blueberries bagged the number one spot in antioxidant activity. Blueberries contain loads of antioxidants that protect the skin from aging prematurely. Munch on some blueberries everyday or add at least half cup of these blue babies to your breakfast cereal or yogurt each day!
• Wild Salmon
  Wild salmon is packed with omega 3 fatty acids and these fatty acids actually help keep the skin moisturised! You’ll have to make sure to pick wild salmon over farm-raised ones. Selenium is also found in wild salmon. This nutrient is known to protect the skin from the damaging effects of UV rays from the sun. Another important nutrient found in wild salmon is Vitamin D, which is essential in keeping your teeth and bones healthy. The great thing about salmons is that there are plenty of ways to prepare them. You can grill, bake or add them in your salads and vegetables. If you are a fan of Japanese cuisine, then you’d love wild salmon sushi!
• Spinach
  When somebody mentions spinach, most of us think of Popeye with his muscles getting bigger as he munches on a can of this leafy green. It is true that spinach has loads of nutrients that can make your body healthier and stronger but one thing that Popeye never mentioned is that spinach is actually great for the skin too! Packed with antioxidants such as Vitamin E, Vitamin C as well as Vitamin B, spinach helps keep the skin youthful and protected from damage! Omega-3 fatty acids are also found in spinach which adds to its skin caring prowess!
• Oysters
  Many consider oysters as an aphrodisiac and if this is true, the debate is still ongoing. However one thing is for sure. Oysters are loaded with zinc and this is what makes them great for the skin. Zinc actually plays a key role in renewing and repairing cells which translates to healthier and more youthful skin!

Moroccan Argan Oil
If there is one product out in the market that you should invest in for beautiful and glowing skin, that would be the Moroccan Argan oil. This oil is loaded with antioxidants such as Vitamin E, Carotenoids, Ferulic acid and Polyphenols which are key to keeping the skin protected and youthful. Argan oil is also packed with essential fatty acids and Sterols which are potent in keeping the skin moisturised! The oil is also a natural extract of Argan nuts and devoid of chemicals that negatively impact your health!

But now that the summer season is over and the cold and dry weather is upon us, such a time can be a nightmare for many people dealing with psoriasis. But this doesn’t mean that you have no other choice but to bear with the uncomfortable and painful symptoms of a flare-up. You should not just sigh in resignation and accept that flare-ups are bound to happen a lot this fall season and especially the winter season. There are certain things you can do to be able to control and prevent your psoriasis from flaring up in the colder months!

Here are some tips!

• Don’t drink alcohol. Alcohol is known to be a trigger of psoriasis so no matter how tempted you may get to drink or even have a few sips of wine to keep you warm, don’t. Just think about how excruciatingly itchy and painful your psoriasis can get when it flares up. Instead of alcohol, drink a non-alcoholic beverage such as tea.
• Wear sunscreen everyday. Since the days would not be sunny, many would be fooled to think that the sun would not do harm to our skin. This is not true. The sun’s UV rays can penetrate through clouds and if you have stayed outdoors for a long time without sun protection, you might just get sunburn and even a mild sun burn can aggravate your psoriasis. Also by exposing under the sun without protection you are increasing your risk of developing skin cancer. So wear sun protection daily. You should also avoid being under the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. as at these hours the sun’s UV rays are at its strongest and most damaging.
• Keep the skin moisturised! Moisturising the skin is an important key in controlling and preventing flare-ups. Dry skin can worsen the itchiness associated with psoriasis and this would start a vicious cycle of scratching and injuring the skin which would lead to another bout of a very itchy flare-up. Keep your skin moisturised with Argan oil. Argan oil is an effective moisturiser because of its Vitamin E, essential fatty acids and Sterols. Numerous antioxidants are also found in this oil therefore the skin is kept protected from the damaging effects of free radicals. Lather on the oil right after taking a shower while the skin is still damp. It is also ideal to moisturise before going to bed and double up on areas that are prone to scaling. You may also want to soak these areas in the oil and wrap them up with a towel or a plastic wrap overnight. Just be sure to rinse the oil away gently in the morning.

Many products contain certain amounts of phthalates, formaldehyde, and parabens, to name a few. When used over time, they can be quite toxic to your skin, resulting in the kind of damage you wanted to prevent in the first place. Furthermore, these ingredients can jeopardize your overall health.

The clear advantage in using natural beauty masks is that you don’t have to worry about slathering harmful chemicals on your skin. Argan oil aptly nicknamed as the liquid gold of Morocco, in particular, is a potent natural oil that slows down aging and provides plenty of nutrition for your skin. Here are some beauty recipes you might like to try instead.

For rough skin
Bring back moisture to your skin with two tablespoons of mayonnaise and one teaspoon of the oil popularly called as the liquid gold of Morocco. Simply smooth the mix onto problem areas like elbows and knees or anywhere else where the skin is dryer than normal. Leave it for 20 minutes before rinsing off.

For dull hair
Take one medium avocado, cut it in half then take out the seed. Spoon out the avocado flesh then mash with 2 tablespoons of honey until you get a thick, paste-like consistency. Lather on your hair and leave on for about 30 minutes before washing off.

For sagging skin
This makes a pretty good face mask. Strain some juice from 1/2 lemon and beat it with one egg white for 3 minutes. Apply on your face and leave for 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

For brittle nails
Say goodbye to nails that easily break. Mix 2 teaspoons of the liquid gold of Morocco, 2 teaspoons of salt, a teaspoon of wheat germ oil and place in a bottle that can be covered or sealed. Use the mixture to rub onto your nails and then wipe off with a cotton ball after a few minutes of soaking Remember to shake vigorously before using. This nail strengthener will last you up to 20 applications.

For cracked lips
Take two tablespoons of Argan oil, half a teaspoon of honey, 3 quarters of grated beeswax and half a teaspoon of pure cocoa butter. Some people may use the contents of a vitamin E capsule to add to the mix, but the liquid gold of Morocco has enough vitamin E and antioxidants to help protect and nourish lips. Mix the oil, honey, wax, and butter, and heat these over a low heat for two to three minutes. After allowing it to cool, add your choice of flavored oil.

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Never Too Early
When it comes to skin care, there’s never a too early time to stick to a proper regimen. Early caring for the skin can actually help prevent wrinkles, age spots as well as melasma from taking over. If you’re not too familiar with the term melasma, this is basically a discoloration on the skin brought about by too much time under the sun. It’s a good idea to practice lathering on broad spectrum sunscreen everyday come rain, snow or shine early on. For every day wear an SPF 30 would be enough while when heading to the beach or when going on an outdoor fun an SPF 45 would be more ideal. The sun’s UV rays are your skin’s worst enemy as they do much damage creating lines, creases and dark spots on your skin.

Prevention is No Longer an Option?
Don’t feel too sad and hopeless when you have not practiced preventive measures early on and you’re seeing fine lines, dark spots and wrinkles on your skin. When this is the situation you’re in you should go on the offense. There are numerous anti-aging serums, lotions, creams, moisturisers what-not out in the market these days. See to it that the product you choose contains ingredients that promote cell regeneration and faster cell turnover. Look for Vitamin E, Vitamin A or Retinol in ingredients as these nutrients are miracle workers when it comes to fighting skin aging.

The Moroccan Argan oil is an excellent choice in anti-aging products. The oil contains a high amount of Vitamin E and other nutrients that promote cell regeneration such as essential fatty acids, Squalene, Sterols and Polyphenols. These nutrients will help minimise the appearance of fine lines, dark spots and wrinkles and protect the skin from further damage.

Get Exfoliating
Exfoliation is one key to smooth and youthful skin. Exfoliate at least once or twice a month to get rid of dead skin cells that have piled up. Doing so will bring out newer and more youthful skin. There are exfoliating scrubs you can get readily available but you can also make your own from kitchen ingredients. Remember to be gentle when scrubbing your skin!

Professional Skin Treatments
If you don’t mind paying a much steeper price to get your skin looking more youthful then you may want to get help from medical professionals. There are various treatments available that can get your skin looking younger. Intensive Pulsed Light skin treatment for example effectively minimises dark spots on the skin. The treatment will take several sessions for you to see results so you’ll need to be patient. Remember to only go to reputable medical professionals.

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Getting a hot oil treatment is an affordable way to bring back some shine to dull hair. Affordable? While most people head on over to the nearest salon for a pricey hot oil session, you can take advantage of all-natural hair oils instead. There are certain natural oils that have been proven to give wonders to the hair. The Moroccan Argan oil has been the talk of the beauty industry these days! This oil is greatly beneficial to the skin and hair! But here are a couple of other oils you can use in combination with it to bring out the best in your tresses.

For fine, brittle strands
Pomegranate seed oil contains punicic acid, which works to rejuvenate tired, dull locks. It also reduces the breakability of your strands, so it’s not as brittle. When combined with Argan oil, the mix makes a nice hot oil treatment you can do yourself, right at home.

For thinning hair
Rosemary oil is high in iron, calcium and vitamin B. Used in combination with Moroccan oil’s own nourishing powers, the oil’s ability to stimulate growth in hair follicles is rendered even more effective. Like Moroccan oil, rosemary oil also contains nourishing nutrients for the hair roots and follicles therefore preventing further hair loss.

For wavy tresses
Sweet almond oil contains plenty of vitamins, specifically A, B, and E. It’s especially good at dealing with split ends and increasing circulation to the scalp, so that hair follicles get their much-needed nourishment. For strands, sweet almond oil removes dullness and leaves hair all shiny. Sweet almond oil and Moroccan oil contain antioxidants that protect hair from UV exposure damage as well.

For rough locks
Combine Moroccan oil with avocado oil to deal with coarse, rough hair. Both oils contain the necessary proteins and enzymes to heal hair cuticles (remember that hair is made of protein) and at the same time provide nourishment.

For thick, unmanageable hair
Thick hair has always been a bit tricky to deal with, but olive oil has often worked. However, studies have shown that Moroccan oil is much more effective than olive oil in maintaining thick hair. Having the highest amount of Vitamin E compared to other oils, the Moroccan oil is able to tame unruly hair. Working together with Vitamin E to keep locks silky smooth are essential fatty acids and Sterols found in the Moroccan oil. The oil also prevents breakability by increasing strand flexibility and both oils used together could raise the treatment’s potency.

For all kinds of hair
If you think your hair is generally fine, but would like a hot oil treatment anyway, try rice bran and hemp seed with Moroccan oil. Like Moroccan oil, rice bran has vitamin E, and both serve to protect hair strands by strengthening cuticles. Hemp seed oil, on the other hand, is loaded with the necessary amino acids, fatty acids, proteins, and minerals that help Moroccan oil restore health to ordinary hair.

This fall’s nail polish trends will have you loving dark, rich reds and minimal shades of white and beige. If you like changing things up, pop art and textured nails help add character to an ordinary outfit.

Rich reds and blues
Give the classic shades a dark, rich tone with burgundy and midnight blue. Trends for this kind of nail polish is picking up, particularly in the strong, feminine line of style. To complement these types of color, trim your nails short, rounding off the corners but still retaining an overall square shape. After applying the nail polish, finish off with two layers of lacquer to keep things glossy.

Minimally light
If you like lighter shades, check out whites and beiges, or creams and soft golds for a clean, fresh look. You can also add a bit of color with light rose shades or similar colors. Try experimenting by topping off the nail tips with faded colors that blend into the lighter ones.

A classic twist
French tips are a staying in trend no matter what season, but you can tailor a style favorite by giving it its own makeover for this fall. A contrast from its usual style, get a French manicure with muted nail bases, usually soft beige or cream and then use bold colors for tips. Try dark red, black, or even silver for really special occasions.

Bold patterns
Experiment with different nail textures. There are several nail art options available at department stores. Choose from croc textures, flowery prints, or rainbow colors—practically anything that catches your fancy. Try to choose patterns that go with an aspect or two of your outfit, just to create some consistency in your look.

Nail care tips
It’s undeniably fun to try out various nail colors and patterns and given the number of cool fall trends we have this year, you might try to burn through entire nail polish collections in just a couple of weeks. Keep in mind that constant application of nail polish will dry out your nail beds and make them brittle.

Argan oil and its rich supply of vitamins and antioxidants will both nourish and moisturize nail beds. In between nail polish applications, make an Argan oil-lemon extract soak and pamper your nails for a few minutes. This homemade nail spa won’t take very long, and it’ll keep your tips healthy and ready for the next shade you want to try.

What are comedones?
Notice your skin feeling a little rough lately? This might be due to comedones—light or dark oil bumps that could indicate a milder form of acne. Comedones are created when microscopic debris blocks the openings of hair follicles, usually by excess oil, skin cells, and sometimes bacteria. They are more commonly known as blackheads and whiteheads, though they can also be called open comedones and black comedones respectively.

What causes blackheads?
If you notice a blackhead or two forming on your face, it’s time to keep a lookout. Studies show that blackheads are often indicative of the first stage of acne. Infection occurs when bacteria begin to clog up pores or hair follicles in skin, resulting in a plug that—when exposed to oxygen—becomes black hence the coining of the term “black head” for this type of comedone. Blackheads may also be caused by your body going into hormone overdrive, a common occurrence in puberty and young adulthood.

What causes whiteheads?
On the other hand, whiteheads tend to be a bit less obvious than blackheads. They are significantly smaller and some of them cannot be easily seen by the naked eye. However, a whitehead signifies that the hair follicles on your skin have been completely blocked, which happens when dead skin cells and bacteria become are trapped in the excess sebum on your skin. The plug on whiteheads is usually white (hence the name) or flesh-colored. On the up side, studies show that whiteheads are easier to deal with than blackheads, as they don’t stay on the face for too long.

What do I do with these comedones?
Commercial products that specialise in comedones often have high amounts of salicylic acid, resorcinol, or sulfur. Salicylic acid prevents the formation of dead skin cells or at least slows down the natural process of cell shedding near the follicles of oil glands at the same time treating any existing inflammation. Resorcinol and sulfur work by actively breaking down both types of comedones.

These types of treatments, while effective to some degree, tend to be a bit strong, especially for sensitive skin types. Certain homemade skin care recipes and natural extracts work just as well. Argan oil, in particular, helps remove bacteria from the skin, at the same time moisturizing and nourishing it with Vitamin E and antioxidants. The oil also contains the necessary components to reduce inflammation. If you have clear skin, regular application of Argan oil will help prevent the formation of comedones, and will help existing ones subside.

Home Caring for Psoriasis

• Keep the skin moisturised!
  When you have psoriasis, it’s very important to have a potent skin moisturiser handy. Dry skin would worsen irritation and itchiness that psoriasis usually brings. When you have psoriasis having dry skin can be a pain as this can lead to itching which would make you scratch like crazy and then this scratching can lead to new patches of psoriasis popping out on your already irritated skin.
  
  
  A great skin moisturiser to use is the Moroccan Argan oil. Heavy with nutrients having potent moisturising properties such as Vitamin E, essential fatty acids and Sterols, the oil would keep the skin well hydrated and moisturised! The great thing about Argan oil is that it is also loaded with numerous antioxidants and skin-nourishing nutrients such as Prostaglandins and Squalene so regular use would mean the skin is healthy and kept protected from damage. Most of the nutrients found in the oil also have anti-inflammatory properties which is why it can help control and prevent psoriasis flare-ups!
• When’s the best time to moisturise?
  Aside from having a potent moisturiser in hand, you should also know when it is best to apply moisturiser on the skin. Right after stepping out of the shower or bath, while your skin is still damp, apply a generous amount of moisturiser on your skin. It is also ideal to moisturise before bed. For those parts of your skin that are heavily affected by psoriasis, super moisturise by lathering on a thick amount of your moisturiser on it and wrapping these areas overnight with a clean bandage or plastic wrap. Rinse away gently in the morning and with regular practice you’ll see that scaling is reduced!
• When bathing…
  You should keep in mind that water robs the skin of its natural oils and this can lead to dry skin. Of course, we are not saying that you should not bathe at all, but you should not have too frequent baths and keep in mind these things when bathing.

• No to hot water – Use lukewarm water instead.
• Don’t towel rub – Pat dry instead.
• Moisturise while the skin is still damp.
• Make bath water skin-friendlier – Add in essential oils or oilated oatmeal.
• Don’t take long baths – Cut them short.

• Have dedication to stick to your care routine
  Although, you may find it hard or a bit challenging to always lather on moisturiser and keep these things in mind but you should have the heart to stick to it since you’ll be saving yourself from total discomfort and pain of having to deal with flare-ups. So stick to your routine and be consistent!
• Get some sun loving but be cautious!
  UV light is a recommended treatment for psoriasis but limit sun exposure to 20 minutes a day at least thrice a week. Too much time under the sun can mean sunburns and this can worsen psoriasis. Also apply sunscreen on areas of skin that are unaffected with psoriasis. It’s recommended that you consult your doctor first

Seeing that your hair and skin are not in a healthy state as much as you want them to be should start ringing your alarm bells. This is a wake up call for you to start paying more attention to them. But by alarm bells ringing, we don’t mean that you start panicking. Don’t ever think that you can’t revive your healthy hair and skin back. Nothing is too late if you start acting now!

Act Now!

• What have you been eating?
  If you’re noticing that your skin is becoming dull and your hair getting dry and brittle, one of the first things you should take a look at is your diet. In all that rush, you may have been feeding yourself pizza, cheeseburgers and everything else from fast food restaurants everyday and this is bad news for your health including the health of your skin and hair. Start a healthy track with your meals.
  
  A balanced diet is recommended. You need to have carbohydrates, protein and fibers in all your meals everyday. You should also load up on fruits and vegetables that are packed with antioxidants such as spinach, kale, broccoli, blueberries and strawberries as they help keep the skin more youthful and at the same time protect both your skin and hair protected from damage. Nuts are also great addition to your diet as they are filled with antioxidants and some having essential fatty acids which are great for keeping the hair and skin moisturised.
• What’s in your beauty regimen
  No matter how busy you are you should spend time caring for your skin and hair. You should check what’s in your beauty regimen as you may be using products that are just not doing your skin and hair any good. Throw out any product that contains preservatives such as Parabens, BHA/BHT, DMDM hydantoin, phenoxyethanol and TEA(triethanolamine) as they have been linked to cause cancer and tumors. Products containng Fragrance or synthetic Parfum and Phthalates should also be avoided as they have damaging effects on the liver and reproductive organs. Other ingredients to watch out for are Triclosa, Petroleum or Petrolatum, Paraffin, surfactants and colorants. All of these ingredients we mentioned have ill effects on the body.
• Opf for Natural Products Instead!
  Natural products that are free from harmful chemicals are ideally the only products that should touch your skin and hair. The Moroccan Argan oil is one such product. Packed with nutrients such as Vitamin E, Carotenoids, Ferulic acid, essential fatty acids, Sterols, Polyphenols, Prostaglandins and Squalene, the oil will keep the skin and hair healthy and protected from the damaging effects of free radicals.

Goodbye dryness!
Some swear by the healing powers of lemons and their ability to restore moisture to your skin, however there is one product out in the market today that is a powerful moisturizer. The Moroccan Argan oil is a potent moisturiser as it is loaded with nutrients having moisturizing properties. Vitamin E and essential fatty acids are known to have great moisturizing effects. However there is still one more nutrient that sets apart this oil from other moisturisers. Sterols are also found in this oil. Sterols lock in moisture to the skin therefore keeping it well hydrated! This addresses the very root of dry skin problem. The skin dries out because of moisture loss and not lack of moisture. Daily application of the oil on skin’s problematic areas like the knees or elbows will spell a lot of difference.

Use homemade facial scrubs
Don’t listen too much on advertisements. The state of your face does not rest entirely on a bottle of lotion sitting on a grocery shelf. While commercial products do help improve skin, they are chock full of extra chemicals that could do their own damage in the long run. In fact, homemade ingredients like baking soda can do just as effective job at exfoliating your face.

To make your own baking soda facial scrub, mix in four teaspoons of baking soda and one tablespoon of water until you’ve formed a paste. Let this alone for about two minutes, and then apply to your face (which should be washed prior). Rinse the paste off your face with cold water to close your pores.

Coffee versus cellulite?
Coffee grounds play a role other than simply to perk you up in the morning. Apply coffee grounds on your skin where there’s cellulite to minimise their appearance. The coffee draws out water, at the same time making your skin smoother. Add in four teaspoons of Argan oil to the coffee mix and we’ve got a real winner.

Fight acne and pimples
Mint—who would have thought it? Pimples respond well to the menthol components in mint, and subsequently the inflammation on skin is reduced. The same can be said of Moroccan oil. Its anti-inflammatory components greatly reduce the amount of redness and swelling usually associated with acne. Its essential fatty acids also bring down over production of sebum which is known to trigger acne!

Dealing with dark circles
To help get rid of dark circles under your eyes, parsley is great for topical application. It’s contains a lot of vitamin K which reduces the amount of blood flowing to the eye. Add some yogurt and Moroccan oil to create a nourishing paste and apply. Leave for twenty minutes before rinsing off.