Diet

Red Carpet Beauty Secrets

Who doesn’t love watching the award shows? The celebs all dressed up in stunning gowns looking absolutely radiant with their glowing skin.

It’s mind blowing to see many of the same celebrities year after looking as if they haven’t aged, in fact they appear to be looking younger every year. How do they do that?

Often times, celebs have personal chefs, trainers, and their dermatologists/estheticians/plastic surgeons on speed dial. Good news girls…You don’t need to be rich and famous to have the same privileges…

As an expert in the world of beauty for 20 years working as a celebrity makeup artist and skincare expert I am here to tell you that there is a DIY approach that will bring you some pretty close results.

My secret beauty routine that I’ve designed for myself as well as my clients; Healthy Diet + Exercise + Breakthrough Skin Care Technology

Diet:

Get rid of the toxins. Our skin is our largest organ. Healthy skin is a direct result of a healthy lifestyle. We are what we eat. Alcohol, Cigarettes, fast or fried food are all a sure fire way to detract from your goal of good health- and good skin.

Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day. I know you know this…so are you doing it? Water is the best way to hydrate internally as well as flush out those impurities. Add some lemon if you aren’t a fan of the plain taste. You want that glow, right?

Eat lots of fruits and veggies! I make green juice everyday consisting of fresh fruits and vegetables high in vitamins and anti-oxidants. My faves are Kale, Spinach, Cucumber, Apple, Carrots and anything else I desire. My skin has improved immensely since incorporating this into my beauty routine…not to mention- my immune system is kicking!

Exercise increases the oxygen in our blood which gives us a healthy glow- not to mention keeps our weight down so we feel better in our clothes. Hate the gym? Take a dance class! Get moving!

Skincare:

The best foundation is beautiful skin. I have packages arriving at my door weekly from some of the top skincare and makeup lines on the planet- asking me to try their products. Not to mention, I am a product junkie always searching for the latest in skincare technology… and I too have a few Dermatologists on speed dial.
So many of you are probably thinking…okay then…spill! Alrightly then…

Modern technology has made so many advances that can help us improve our skin and help us reclaim a more youthful appearance- without plastic surgery. Amen!

Laser

If you can afford it, it’s worth it. Many of my clients starting having laser treatments about five years ago and when I saw the results, I started too. Fraxel or Co2 lasers among many others will help rebuild collagen and improve elasticity, considerably. To know what’s best for you, schedule a consultation with a reputable dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Cost is about $1000 dollars and up. I have laser once a year. LOVE!

Exfoliate. Our skin’s naturally exfoliates every 28 days…until we start to age. Yikers…when the process slows down, we have some build up going on. And dead skin is not pretty. Therefore, we need a little assistance getting that process to speed up. Every two months, I visit my esthetician for a facial and a glycolic acid peel. If facials are a little costly, you can give yourself facials at home and use an exfoliant a couple times a week which contains glycolic to keep those pesky dead skin cells from building up. Our moisturizers aren’t work as well if we have a layer of dead skin. EWE!

Retin A. Recently I asked my Dermatolgist about the Retin-A “craze”. Is it really that big of a deal? She said yes. Retin-A or retinoids play a huge role in speeding up the exfoliation process and building collagen! Retin-A is only prescribed by a doctor. However there are many products that contain vitamin A or retinoids…very similar. The presription is obviously going to be stronger. I only use it a couple times a week. Warning: use once or twice a week to begin with because it can make your face peel a bit more than usual.

Anti-oxidants. We are exposed to environmental elements that damage our skin and in most cases we have already had some damage done. In order to rebuild and protect…Anti-oxidants are a must. I recommend that you choose a serum or daytime moisturizer which contains vitamins such as C, E, and A (remember the importance of vitamin A?)- along with an SPF! Sun damage is up there on that list with smoking as the fastest way to looking older, not to mention putting yourself at risk for skin cancer.

Eyes are the windows to our soul and we sure don’t want them to look old and wrinkly, do we? Think of the skin under your eyes being as thin as tissue paper and your face like construction paper. Which one is going to break down first? Again, protect your eyes daily with a good eye cream.

Night time is when our skin repairs itself. Think about it, we sleep we recharge, restore and renew. So does our skin…so give your face, neck and declotee the best chance to boost it’s moisture and restore.

Good health along with Skincare and technology= Show stopper! Here’s to the DIY Celeb Glow! We don’t need to be rich and famous to look and feel amazing, do we girls?

Wellness and Joy

By Megan Alice Arterberry

I have a great appreciation for the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, “the science of life,” and have seen and felt the profound effects firsthand with its gentle, nurturing healing power. A practioner neatly put it “Ayurveda meets the individual where they’re at and guides them back to their true nature.”

In Ayurveda, diet, yoga, meditation, body oils, and medicinal herbs are the cornerstones to balance and health. It is recommended to do a self massage everyday with oil (great after dry brushing), which will not only feel great and make your skin look great, but will calm your nervous system, which is crucial for reducing stress. The use of herbs is a plant-based internal holistic medicine. In my own experience struggling with acne, holistic medicine was the only thing that got to the root where I saw and felt real and lasting results. I also changed my diet, going organic, and used getting out into nature as a healing force (walks at the beach and hikes in the mountains). Diet and exercise are often used as a punishment by those seeking to look better. But, this type of approach will never make you feel better, so is counterproductive because, when you feel good, you look good. Eating nourishing, flavorful, fulfilling foods that bring you health and joy along with enjoyable exercise is a realistic lifestyle change that has real staying power.

Wellness is and should be a joy!

How Love Extends Your Life

By Dr. Wendy Walsh

393096_7738 You might think that life expectancy is in your genetic code, but research says you have far more control than you think. In his best selling book, Blue Zones, National Geographic researcher, Dan Buettner, looks at five areas on the planet where an astounding number of people live to be over the age of 100, and then he looks for lifestyle commonalities. While you might think the read is a diet and exercise book, it includes good news about the life extending benefits of healthy relationships. Nearly all the centenarians in Buettner’s work have solid life-long partners and active sex lives.

A study by researchers from Michigan State University and the University of Cincinnati supported the idea that married and cohabiting individuals live longer. The odds of a married individual living longer than a never married individual are 60 percent. The odds of mortality for married people are 40 percent higher than widows, and 30 percent higher than divorced or separated persons. In addition, married individuals have a lower mortality rate than cohabiting individuals.

And, married people experience fewer health problems and are less likely to take part in risky health behaviors like smoking, excessive drinking and unhealthy eating. The National Health Interview Survey showed that in the young age range of 19-44 the leading causes of early death among those who never married were infectious diseases (researchers presume HIV) and external causes. Cardiovascular and other chronic diseases plague middle aged and older unmarried men and women. In contrast, married individuals have greater heart health, and attain shared employer benefits, which means great health, eye and dental care. Marriage is also one of the greatest protectors against poverty, one of the least healthy situations a person in the United States could be in.

Many married couples will complain about how their partners are “slowly killing them” or “giving them more grey hairs”, in some marriages this may be true, but, contrary to popular belief, most spouses are not soul suckers; they are more of a life giving force. Those who marry are more likely to be socially active, rather than withdrawn or introverted. Social interaction is necessary for human beings to build relationships, relieve stress and live happier, healthier lives. The ultimate committed relationship, marriage, just lends an extra helping hand to extend that lifeline into a blissful future.

Read this and other great articles by Dr. Wendy Here

Mind, Beauty, Spirit with Celebrity Makeup Artist Michelle Phillips

We are among the first generations of women who have the ability to be or do anything we want. The women before us fought long and hard so that we could lead countries or corporations, or stay home as mothers and lead our families and communities. We are stronger and smarter . . . yet we are lost! We’re stuck between what we could be and what we think we should be, searching to balance that with our femininity. We’re grasping to attain our ideal of beauty with the belief that if we could just find the right hairstyle or finally fit into the latest fashions, everything else in our lives would fall into place.

I believe there’s something more to achieving the balance between inner strength and outer beauty. You just have to know where to look. . . .

If you’ve lost touch with the woman you wanted to become physically, emotionally, or spiritually, it can affect every aspect of the way you look. Let’s not waste time on a makeover, though—let’s go for a transformation. Are you ready to create your ultimate life?

It’s time to make the connection between your outer appearance and your deep inner self. By doing so, and expressing it in all of your everyday actions and choices, you’ll radiate a beauty that can’t be outmatched. I believe that by rediscovering and defining who you are on the inside and what you most want out of life, you will reveal to the world what makes you uniquely beautiful. This is the basis of the Beauty Blueprint. Every woman has one, but not every woman recognizes what hers contains.
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I spent the first part of my career behind the scenes of TV and movie sets as a celebrity makeup artist and learned quite a few lessons about true “beauty” in the process. As my career progressed and I moved in front of the camera, speaking to women’s groups, I learned even more. What made the deepest impression on me was the realization that the nature of what makes us beautiful goes well beyond our exteriors. It’s passion and compassion . . . it’s our love, laughter, tears, and sorrow, and how we combine it with a nurturing strength of spirit. Our beauty shines when we allow ourselves to revel in these qualities and share them with the world. It’s in these moments that we are all radiant and exquisite. But how do we women reclaim this authentic beauty?

I started to discover the answer to that question while on my own journey. Through my experiences, a shift of awareness occurred. That’s when my mission in life became crystal clear: I had to share what I’d learned by helping other women rediscover and express their true beauty. And so, as part of my dream to inspire others, this book was born, a “Beauty Blueprint” that would allow me to help women experience their own profound shift.

By creating and living your unique Blueprint, you’ll find that once again, or perhaps for the first time, you will walk out the door every day with your head held high. You will be more confident about who you are, what you stand for, and where you are heading. In turn, people around you will take notice and deeply appreciate you for all your beautiful qualities.

Change is always possible—in fact, it’s inevitable. My first question for you, then, before we get started, is this: Are you going to fight change or embrace it? Because you can become whomever you want to be. Believe it! You can become the woman who doesn’t just turn heads—you’ll become a woman who touches hearts as well!

To achieve this, I’ve included the three things needed for change and growth: a plan, support from others, and inspiration. Join my network and I’ll help you put together your own Blueprint, which is your plan. I’ll also show you how to establish your own support system, and I’ll provide a healthy dose of motivation and encouragement in the process.
Along the way, I’ll share the inspirational stories of friends and clients who have identified and attained the goals they deeply desired, in spite of the obstacles that cluttered their paths.

Now, if you’re ready to transform beyond anything you could have dreamed of, let’s get started. It’s time for you to become the woman your granddaughters will tell their granddaughters about. It’s time for you to become an extraordinary woman from the inside out!

Go to http://www.michellephillips.com and sign up for the Mind, Beauty, Spirit Network to receive free classes, videos, and articles to support you in creating the life and look of your dreams!

Getting back on track

Every January we start off with the best of intentions. We make goals for better health, financial security or any number of things but by this point in the New Year a lot of people have fallen off of the resolution wagon. So do you just give up and try again next year? I say NO and here are some ways to keep you going…

First off, how do we get off track?

Anytime you set out on a new course there is always a chance that things may not work out the way you planned. Unfortunately, when we get fixated on how we think success should look and how fast it should come, we tend to give up at the first speed bump. Then we feel as if we have failed and it’s a vicious cycle of beating ourselves up…and feeling worse off than we did before we set the goal…

How do we stick with our new goals?

Plan on falling off track! It’s normal. The trick is to say, no worries, I am going to start over with more determination this time

Set goals that are more realistic this time around. I think we set huge goals for ourselves and when we don’t see results right away, we get frustrated and quit. Set the big goals but with milestone goals along the way to continually feel a sense of accomplishment while keeping your eye on the prize.

When you write down your goals, does fear come up for you? Write down the fear. Then once you look at that fear, write down what doesn’t scare you about it. (Like when you lose 20lbs you will feel better, have more energy, not to mention a huge sense of accomplishment).

The important thing is to not be unnecessarily hard on yourself. You’re human, with the best of intentions, but lending your voice to the chorus of negative voices in your head will definitely not help encourage you towards your goals. This year, take small steps to create your most beautiful life! If you need some support, call me on the radio and we will work through it together.