Change of Seasons

Nature can teach us alot about ourselves.

Depending on where you live in the world you may witness drastic changes in scenery as the earth rotates and the seasons change.  Obviously if you live on a Tropical Island or in the Antarctic you will not experience all  four seasons.  But for many, experiencing the gradual transitions of nature’s awe inspiring events from Winter to Spring and Summer to Autumn are welcome occurences.

Not only does the climate go through changes but wildlife; plants, trees and the sky all transform seasonally into distinctive and stunning panoramas before your very eyes.

Are there Seasons of your Life also?  Yes

SPRING: Like a newborn chick hatching, it is the spring of life.  

Spring is when the wide array of colorful flowers bud, and start to bloom.  Life is awakened from the cold of Winter.  New life springs forth all around us.

For humans this phase of life starts from birth to our teens, when life is new, filled with wonder and excitement.

SUMMER:  Summer is the time of fun in the sun, where the growth of spring  slows down and stabilizes.

Just as Summer temperatures start to rise, hormonal changes start affecting our bodies and our minds, this phase lasts from our teens to thirties.  These are our reproductive years.

AUTUMN:  Autumn is the turning point of life.

The air starts to cool, just as our bodies become more sensitive to temperature changes.  This is the mid point of life between our forties to sixties.   As the leaves change color and start to fall, our bodies too start changing.  It is the time of menopause, reversingthe affects of adolescence.

WINTER:  Nature becomes dormant.

As Winter approaches the sky turns cloudy gray like the hair on our heads.  The brisk cold affects our our bones like the bare limbs of the trees.  This is the time when physical beauty fades, but in its place a true sense of self, an appreciation for all of life’s precious moments emerges.  A reflection of past accomplishments and failures, of loves gained and lost.

Each season of your life has its own unique and beautiful attributes, the object is to enjoy whatever season you are in and make it the best time of your life!

Enjoy every Season for what it is, share your experiences, your knowledge, wisdom and your dreams.

Have no regrets, live life every day as if it is your last.

Look forward to the next as a welcome occurance of change and growth in the Seasons of Life.

How Long Does It Last?

Ever wonder about expiration dates?

Aren’t you glad there are labels to warn you when your milk is about to spoil rather than finding out the hard way, after you’ve poured it on your favorite breakfast cereal, and took a big sour spoonful?   That is IF you read it before you drank  it. 

Well actually milk has a “sell by” date stamped on it (see picture above), this is for stores to know how long they can display a particular product. If you keep the item refrigerated it will usually remain drinkable for about one week after the “sell by” date on the package. The date tells you how long the product is likely to remain at its best quality when unopened.  But it is not a safety date.

Most products have the “use by” or “best” date stamped on them, after these dates have passed, you will start to notice changes in the product’s texture, color, or flavor.  But as long as you’ve been storing the item properly, you can generally consume it a little beyond this date (depending on the specific product).   The best way to gauge the quality is by smell or taste.  Always discard foods that have developed an off odor, flavor or appearance (like green fuzz growing on it is pretty obvious), for your health and safety.   

 “Use by” is like an expiration date on medicines, and taking them after the date listed is not recommended.

But how about your skin care and makeup?  Do they have expiration dates? 

Since you can’t smell or taste them how do you know how long they will last?

There is currently no law requiring similar labeling on cosmetics.

But all cosmetics do have a shelf life, as to how long they can stay good while unopened, and  how long they remain safe once opened.

When either of those periods ends, spoilage can begin, and reduce a product’s effectiveness, allowing bacterial growth that can cause irritations or infections.

It is best to replace any of the following products that are past these expirations:

 

Eye Cream  6 Months

Mascara   6 Months

Lip and Eye Pencils   12 to 18 Months

Lipstick   12 to 18 Months

Concealer  2 Years

Powder   2 Years

Liquid Foundation   2 Years

Powder Blush   2 Years

Cream Blush  2 Years

Moisturizer   2 Years

Sunscreen   2 Years

Face Cream    2 Years

 

It is also a good idea to clean your makeup brushes regularly (every month or two) with a mild soap, baby shampoo works great. 

Just put a little in the palm of your hand with water and swish the brush around.  Then rinse it until soap residue is gone.  Squeeze out excess moisture and let dry before using.  Never immerse brushes in water, as the bristles are glued to the base and will come apart (even the most expensive ones).

You should also throw away any broken containers or ones that are missing caps.  Powder blushes and pressed powders that have broken are hard to use and should also be trashed.  Then you can make space for your newer, fresher, shelf life items.  Here is a suggestion when you purchase new products:  put little stickers on your lipstick, concealers etc… with the recommended expiration dates, so you won’t have to guess later down the road.

Don’t cry over sour milk, or expired beauty products, just replace them when needed to keep yourself healthy and beautiful!

For great vitamin enriched makeup and skin care: www.colormedirect.com/triciat

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Aging Gracefully

Remember when you couldn’t wait to turn 21 to get asked to show your ID?

After 50 the opposite is true, it hits you hard when someone asks if you qualify for a senior discount when you are not even 55 yet!  Ouch that hurts!  I say that from experience.

I’ll be the first to admit that aging sucks, but there are some great ways you can actually look and feel younger than your age, without botox or plastic surgery.

The now aging Baby Boomer generation is obsessed with youthful appearance (thanks to the Media).  Why do you think the Plastic Surgery is such a booming industry? 

But think about it, do you really want to look like Joan Rivers, whose had so much plastic surgery she looks like she’s been in a boxing ring and lost?  She can barely smile anymore!   Recently stars, like Julia Roberts are voicing their oppostion of using Botox and Plastic Surgery because of the negative impact it could have on their career, with changes of their facial expressions, and overall appearance.  Good for you Julia!  Remember the comedian Roseanne Barr?  After her plastic surgery, even though it improved her looks, people couldn’t relate to her any more, and her career took a nose dive.

There are so many plastic surgery nightmares that have ruined women’s lives more than enhanced them.  People don’t think  of the future, really would you like to have boobs like Pamela Anderson at age 80?  Yikes, that’s a scary thought!

How about all those grandmas with tatoos and piercings?

Generations before us knew how to grow old gracefully (without the aid of Botox or face lifts), we could learn a lot from them.

Let’s look at what Happens to our Skin and Hair as We Age: The effects of sun exposure, smoking, diet, and heredity become evident on our skin as we get older. Stress, gravity, and obesity also affect how well skin looks. And as we age, our skin doesn’t produce new cells as quickly as it used to. Skin gradually becomes less elastic and prone to dryness. Something similar happens to the cells that give our hair its color. Hair pigment cells become less efficient at renewing themselves, which makes our hair turn gray.

Here are some great tips on how to take care of your skin, to help you look and feel 10 years younger:

Stay out of direct sunlight when the sun’s rays are the strongest (bet. 10am -4pm). If you have to be outside, wear a hat and sunscreen or an anti aging moisturizer with SPF 15 and both UVB and UVA protection. Damage to the skin from excess or unprotected sun exposure causes wrinkles and an uneven skin tone, and worst case of all skin cancer.

Eat right and hydrate. Good nutrition helps the body repair skin. Drink lots of water to keep the skin hydrated from the inside out.

Use anti-aging products. For women over 40, anti aging creams and lotions can enhance natural beauty by rejuvenating your skin. Look for products with Pentapeptides that help prompt skin cells to produce more collagen, which is the support structure that gives skin a firmer look.

If you smoke, stop. Research shows that smoking prematurely ages your skin.

Quotes on aging from some wise and famous men:

“Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul ” –Douglas MacArthur

“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years”. — Abraham Lincoln

Here are 10 of my personal tips for Growing Old Gracefully, the More or Less of it:

Stress Less, Smoke Less, Eat Less, Complain Less, Criticize Less

Smile More, Laugh More, Exercise More, Play More, Love More

Enjoy Life to the fullest no matter what age you are because you only have one life to live!

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Judging a Book By It’s Cover

You’ve all heard the phrase 

“You Can’t Judge a Book by it’s Cover” 

But yet we all do it. 

Just think about it,  when you’re browsing in a bookstore aren’t you attracted to a book by how interesting the cover is?   They may be colorful, or have some unique picture or phrase that grabs your attention so you’ll pick it up to find out more, right?  They are designed that way, that’s marketing. 

Believe it or not it is the same with people! 

Did you know that you only have three to seven seconds upon meeting someone to make an impression on them?   In this short time, the other person will form an opinion about you that is based on your appearance, your body language, your demeanor, your mannerisms, and how you are dressed. 

That means you will be  judged before you can even open your mouth to speak!  

This is done on a subconscious/emotional level of the brain.  So there is nothing you can do about it, or can you?

As Will Rogers once said “You never get a second chance to make a first impression“

Like it or not, you need to grab people’s attention right away by your appearance. 

Though your true beauty is on the inside, your personality will take time for people to see.

“It’s beauty that captures your attention; personality which captures your heart.” ~Anonymous ~

There is only one that does not judge you by your looks, that is God.  “…for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Sam. 16:7b. 

But when dealing with people how you present yourself will determine if someone will want to be your friend, consider you for a job, or feel that you are trustworthy, and so on.

So what can you do to make a good first impression that will last?   How important is your appearance? 

Your clothes, your hair, and your mannerisms all play a part in the impression you make on others.  

Let’s start with the way you dress. 

What is the best way to dress for the meeting or occasion?  If it’s a business meeting, a job interview, or a first date even, think about  what is the appropriate attire?  Also ask yourself what other people will be wearing so you are not over or under dressed for the event. 

Wearing the correct Season of colors for your specific skin tone, eyes and hair is crucial in making the best impression and feeling confident about your appearance.

If you have confidence in yourself others will notice right away.  A polite and courteous behavior helps make a good first impression.  

How about your personal grooming?   Cleanliness is next to godliness!  Nicely styled hair, neat and clean clothes (not wrinkled like you wore them to bed the night before), and appropriately applied makeup are all important.  Oh yeah and take it easy on the perfume!  Too much can be just as offensive if not more so than none at all.

Project a positive attitude, even when you are nervousness, and remember to smile,  it’s contagious!

People will “read” you on the outside before getting to know you on the inside, so strive to be the most beautiful you can be both inside and out.

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Beauty Only Skin Deep?

I’m sure you’ve all heard the phrase,

“Beauty is only skin deep” 

Although your “True Beauty” lies within you, people will never get to know your inner beauty until they meet you and accept you on the outside first.

Your beautiful appearance starts with your skin.  All the makeup in the world cannot hide skin that is poorly maintained.  Proper daily skin care makes a hugh difference in your appearance. You can not only see, but feel the difference when your complexion has a natural radiant glow.

The Skinny on Skin:

Did you know that your skin is the largest living organ of your body?  It covers your whole body and protects everything inside.

But it is also one of the most neglected and unappreciated parts of the body.

The skin has three main functions:

1.  Protection (from germs and injury)

2.  Temperature control (through perspiration, to aid in keeping the body’s internal organs close to our normal internal temperature of 98.6° F.)

3.  Perception (nerve endings in our skin give us sensations of touch, pain, heat, and cold)

The skin is made up of three cell layers:

The Epidermis (outer layer)  Though you can’t see it happening, every minute of the day we lose about 30,000 to 40,000 dead skin cells off the surface of our skin.   A substance called Melanin gives skin its color. The darker your skin is, the more melanin you have. But even though melanin is mighty, it can’t shield you from the sun’s UVA rays. Protecting your skin can help prevent skin cancer when you get older.

The Dermis (middle layer) You can’t see your dermis because it’s hidden under your epidermis. The dermis contains nerve endings, blood vessels, oil glands, and sweat glands. It also contains collagen and other materials vital to the skin’s strength, its ability to repair itself and fight off infections.

The Subcutaneous tissue ( bottom layer)   It is the border zone between muscle and bone tissues on one side, and the dermis on the other,  serves as insulation, a food reserve and binds the skin to your body.

Skin is also the site of the body’s natural production of vitamin D, stimulated by exposure to sunlight.

Now that you know the important functions your skin plays in your overall well being how important is it to take care of your skin?  

Let’s face it, your face is your interaction with the world, so shouldn’t that be one of the most important parts to take care of? 

Proper daily skin care is essential to your overall health, and beauty. 

There are basically three skin types: Normal, Dry and Oily or a combination of Dry and Oily.  

This is important to know in order to use the right products for your specific type. 

Darker skin tones tend to produce more oil.  Fairer skin tends to be dryer, fragile, and is more susceptable to sun damage and skin cancer. 

Did you know that the ultaviolet rays from the sun cause 90% of all signs of aging?  This is why you need to protect your skin (especially your face) when being exposed to the sun for extended periods.

Bottom line is if you take good care of your skin it will take good care of you!

 

For some awesome Adrien Arpel skin care products:  www.colormedirect.com/triciat

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