Wednesday 27 February 2013

DIY Heart Friendship Bracelet

heart1

DIY Heart Friendship Bracelet

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As the month of love approaches, we thought we'd combine friendship and hearts into one Valentine's Day themed tutorial: a heart patterned friendship bracelet! Using some candy-

10 Ways to Reuse Your Thanksgiving Leftovers (That You Haven't Heard Of Yet)

Thanksgiving Turkey Image GalleryAccording to an American Farm Bureau survey, in 2008, theaverage Thanksgiving meal for a party of 10 cost $44.61 [source:American Farm Bureau]. To get the most out of yourThanksgiving budget, don't toss the leftovers, reuse them. Instead of simply reheating your leftovers for a second Thanksgiving dinner, getting creative can turn your leftovers into new family favorites. In this article, we'll look at specific dishes from your Thanksgiving meal and show you how to pair them with other ingredients to make new and innovative dishes.
First, let's take a look at the bird.

Top 5 Ways Your Kids Can Help with Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving Turkey Image GalleryThanksgiving is a joyous occasion that marks the beginning of the holiday season. The day brings families and friends together across America to commemorate an important time in the country's early history. (It also gives everyone the perfect excuse to stuff themselves silly.) However, the cook doesn't have the luxury of lounging on the couch, snacking and watching football all day. He or she recognizes Thanksgiving dinner for what it really is -- a whole lot of work.
Pulling off a delicious multicourse meal for a crowd is made all the more stressful with bored children underfoot. Fortunately, HowStuffWorks has put together a list of ways to accomplish two seemingly impossible feats: making the meal preparation process easier and keeping children entertained, all in one fell swoop.

5 Scrumptious Thanksgiving Appetizers

Holiday Noshes Image GalleryThanksgiving is a day full of opportunity. It gives many of us the chance to express gratitude for good fortune, family and friends. It also provides the opportunity to break out the stretchy pants and ingest more calories in one sitting than we do in most normal days. Almost as important as the turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, soufflés, yams, pies and stuffing are the appetizers. As the prelude to the feast, Thanksgiving appetizers are designed to be flavorful warm-ups for the stomach. Hundreds of appetizer options exist, making it a cinch for the chef to whip up something to please even the pickiest eaters.
We've compiled a list of delicious Thanksgiving appetizer ideas that are sure to stave off the hunger pangs just long enough for the turkey to finish roasting.

10 Ways to Use Canned Pumpkin (Besides in a Pie

Pumpkin Patch Image GalleryIs any food more comforting than pumpkin pie warm from the oven? Pumpkin pie is so much a part of our American heritage that other uses for pumpkin tend to get overlooked. But don't ignore this gourd! It's high in fiber and packed with vitamins A and C, riboflavin, potassium, copper and manganese. It's also low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. Canned pumpkin is a wonderful addition to smoothies, pasta dishes, soups and cakes. It's incredibly versatile, a perfect match for cinnamon and nutmeg in dessert recipes and for sage and thyme in savory dishes. It also makes a great parfait when layered with honey, almonds or walnuts and yogurt.
Pumpkins are easy to grow and a cinch to roast and mash if you're into home gardening and canning. Plus, they have a long shelf life, so they'll keep for a while after harvest time if you're not ready to preserve them. As you salivate over these 10 delicious ideas for using canned pumpkin, you may find yourself stocking up on the store-bought version or searching for a space in your yard to grow your own

Tuesday 26 February 2013

Neutral Eyes, Dewy Skin, and More of the Best Beauty From LFW

Antonio Berardi
London has officially come to a close and we can honestly say we were surprised by the big beauty trends. London is always reliably insane and while there were a few expected crazies among the bunch, the majority of looks subscribed to a neutral palette with sepia toned eyes, bushy brows and artfully teased hair. Here are ten of our favorite looks from this past week

Petal Pinks and Nudes Sweep the Beauty Looks at the Oscars

Amy Adams
I think we always set our sights too high for beauty at the Oscars because it's by far the most mainstream awards show and as a result, most celebrities opt for safe (read: boring) looks instead of daring ones. That said, there were a few significant trends in play last night. With only a few dark lips in sight, we saw more pink lips than ever before, which solidifies the color as the lip of the season. We also saw a lot of nude lips and while some could have benefit from a bit more color, some worked the look to their advantage. Here are some of the most notable looks of the night: 

After the Oscars: Party Fashion Roundup

Lily Collins at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
After all the coveted awards are handed out, the stars head to a variety of after parties. From Vanity Fair’s annual affair to Elton John’s viewing party, countless celebs stylishly celebrated Hollywood’s big night. Young actresses like Lily Collins and Emma Roberts really impressed, while some of the Oscar attendees switched out of those red carpet gowns into new eye-catching ensembles. Here’s a recap of some of the fashions from the party circuit.

Oscars 2013: Red Carpet Fashion Review

Jennifer Lawrence
The stars definitely dressed to impress at this year’s Oscars. Several celebs took significant risks that fortunately paid off and neutrals along with metallics seemed to be popular choices. Bright pops of color, most notably in shades of red, pink and purple, also graced the red carpet. Cut-out accents and peplums appeared in small doses, while embellishments in the form of sequins and ruffles reigned supreme. Here’s a breakdown of some of last night’s more memorable fashions.

Look of the Day: Nina Dobrev Sparkles in White Michael Kors Ensemble

Nina Dobrev Film Independent Spirit Awards 2013 Santa Monicaelebrity FashionWho: Nina Dobrev

Where: Film Independent Spirit Awards 2013 Santa Monica, California

Why we like it: Nina’s golden embellished Michael Kors Spring 2013 white sleeveless top and shorts fit in perfectly at the relaxed award show. The Vampire Diaries actress polished off her look with a ring by H. Stern and matching Jimmy Choo sandals.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Nina’s golden embellished top and white shorts fit in perfectly at the relaxed Film Independent Spirit Awards.

10 Ways to Reinvent Your Wardrobe

A Trendy Collar
Even the biggest fashion fanatic can fall into a style rut or get in the habit of creating a "uniform" each season. You buy a new blazer, a top in the season's biggest color, and those pants that make your butt look great in four colors and voila! — you can mix and match a week's worth of outfits with what's already in your closet. But how about instead of buying your basics in a new cut or color, you invest in some items to take your look somewhere new and exciting

10 Restaurant Secrets to Creating an Incredible Meal

Easy Weeknight Meals Image GalleryA restaurant meal is a special, often celebratory experience. With many people trying to cut expenses these days, commemorating an achievement with a night out at a restaurant might not fit into the budget. But life's special moments should be honored and enjoyed with good food and good company. The tips, advice and secrets in these pages will help you create incredible meals at home, so that you can mark those milestones both big and small.

10 Easy Bread Recipes

Ultimate Cake Off Image GalleryIt's hard to beat a loaf of freshly baked bread. The aromas that fill your house, the steam rising off the right-out-of-the-oven loaf as you stuff a butter-slathered slice in your mouth. Bread machines do a great job of doing the work for you if you aren't a skilled baker, but using a machine isn't quite as rewarding as making a loaf from scratch. Bread baking can be a little tricky, with factors such as humidity and elevation playing a part in the science of baking good bread. But you don't have to be a pro to make some of the following bread recipes. The secret to easy bread is to find recipes that don't require kneading. Here are 10 easy recipes to give you a good start.

For 64 Percent of Kids with ADHD, Food is the Cause

It's scary to think that over 5 million children in this country are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and of those children, 3 million are medicated each year. ADHD is a problem with inattentiveness, over-activity, impulsivity, or a combination. It's the most commonly diagnosed disease among kids, in fact between 3 and 5 percent of kids are said to have it.
Many parents are hesitant to medicate their children because the side effects of medications like Ritalin can be quite drastic. From a lack of appetite to the inability to sleep, and in some cases, depression, the downside is real. The idea of having such a huge population of young children medicated like never before in any society in itself seems downright frightening. And a new study published in the Lancet and reported on Civil Eats, sheds some light on what many of us have been thinking for a while. It's the medication that we take three times a day that can really make a difference and that medication is our diet.
The study's lead author Dr. Lidy Pelsser of the ADHD Research Centre in the Netherlands said this to NPR:
"Food is the main cause of ADHD." The study found that in 64 percent of children with ADHD, the symptoms were caused by food. "It's a hypersensitivity reaction to food."
This is good news for parents, especially when you hear the long term impact that Ritalin can have on some kids. Civil Eat's Kristin Wartman, pointed to one study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in 2007 that said "[a]fter three years on Ritalin, children were about an inch shorter and 4.4 pounds lighter than their peers

Lucky Charms Video Games and McWorld? Marketing Junk Food to the Next Generation

Food marketing toward kids has become an ever growing issue because much of the food that's marketed to kids is unhealthy junk foods like sugary cereal, chips, candy, soda, and fast foods. Parents are in a world of hurt trying to teach their kids good eating habits when they're up against the likes of McDonalds and General Mills. They've got billions to spend on making lifelong customers out of kids. What's more, we're becoming well aware that foods have a real impact on how kids perform at school and in life.
But it used to be television and maybe a few radio ads that parents were up against. But not anymore. The world of junk food marketing is now armed with a host of viral tools to reel in kids. Marian Nestle explored some of the tools companies are using on the Atlantic.
From LuckyCharms site, these multi national conglomerates are using online interactive games, bright colors, and whimsical Web sites in addition to television marketing.
According to the New York Times and seen on the Atlantic:
Like many marketers, General Mills and other food companies are rewriting the rules for reaching children in the Internet age. These companies, often selling sugar cereals and junk food, are using multimedia games, online quizzes and cellphone apps to build deep ties with young consumers. And children like Lesly are sharing their messages through e-mail and social networks, effectively acting as marketers.
But who's fault is it? Is it the parents for letting their kids online or is it unscrupulous marketing on the part of these companies. I think it goes both ways. We can't expect the parents of the world to shut kids off from the digital age. But on the other hand, kids should be outside rather than spending every moment they have playing games online. But tricking kids into foods, many of which are seriously unhealthy with Web sites loaded with tons of interactive bells and whistles has gone too far don't cha think?

10 Top Food and Health Trends in 2013

Find out which top food and health trends you can expect in the new year.

Remember cupcakes? Bacon? Food trucks? Those are soooo 2012. Not that the darlings of last January’s trend blogs are exactly over but they are kind of like year-old Louboutin heels or day-old baguettes: not quite so hot-and-fresh anymore. So what’s new for 2013? Fortunately, a slew of smarter, healthier foods are appearing on restaurant menus and on market shelves. And our shopping, cooking and diet patterns are changing too. So, what’s hot for 2013? Drum roll, please

WebMD Home Fitness & Exercise Center Fitness & Exercise Feature Stories Email a Friend SavePrint Article Fitness & Exercise Fitness 411 Create a Lean, Strong BodyKnee Ligament Injuries Free Fitness Tracker 6 Exercises for a Better Butt Asthma Health CheckFatigue-Fighting Fitness Tips The Truth About Exercise and Your Weight Find out how fitness really factors in

young women in aerobics classThe truth is you may need a reality check about what to expect from exercise.

1. Exercise is only part of the weight loss story.

There's no getting around your tab of calories in and calories out.
The obese patients Robert Kushner, MD, clinical director of the Northwestern Comprehensive Center on Obesity, treats often tell him they're not seeing the results they want from exercise.
"They will say, 'I have been working out three days a week for 30 minutes for the past three months, and I have lost 2 pounds. There's something wrong with my metabolism,'" he says.
Kushner tells patients that exercise is very good for them, but for weight loss, he emphasizes starting with a healthy diet. "First, we've got to get a handle on your diet," Kushner says. "As you're losing weight and feel better and get lighter on your feet, we shift more and more toward being more physically active. Then living a physically active lifestyle for the rest of your life is going to be important for keeping your weight off."
Other experts have had success including physical activity early on. But they stress that the amount of exercise is key.
James O. Hill, PhD, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado at Denver, says it's easier to cut 1,000 calories from a bloated diet than to burn off 1,000 calories through exercise. "But there are many, many studies that show that exercise is associated with weight loss when done in enough volume and consistently," he says. "It depends how much you do."
For Pamela Peeke, spokeswoman for the American College of Sports Medicine's "Exercise is Medicine" campaign, fitness is a crucial part of a weight loss program, but it's for reasons that go beyond calorie burning. She praises its mind-body benefits, which will help with motivation over the long haul.
Peeke asks her patients to start walking as a way to "celebrate" their bodies with activity. "For years, they've blown off their body," Peeke says. "By them actually using their bodies, they can begin to integrate them back into their lives and not use them  as a source of torture or torment or shame."

2. Exercise is a must for weight maintenance.

"I come back to this over and over and over," Hill says. "You can't find very many people maintaining a healthy weight who aren't regular exercisers. What we find is that people who focus on diet aren't very successful in the long run without also focusing on physical activity."
Hill warns that people can be "wildly successful temporarily" at losing weight through diet alone. But there's plenty of data that show that those people regain the weight if they aren't physically active.
Timothy Church, MD, director of preventive medicine research at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La. says, "When it comes to weight, you can't talk about diet alone, and you can't talk about exercise alone. You absolutely have to address both issues at the same time

6 Tips for a Photogenic Smile

taking photo with cellphone
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Smile Tip #1: Wear a "Parade" Smile
Photogenic smiles are gentle and natural. Lily T. Garcia, DDS, MS, FACP tells her patients to smile as if they are in a parade. In other words, strike a smile you can hold for a long time. When you smile gently, your face looks relaxed. Your mouth opens slightly, and your lower lip matches the curve of your upper teeth.
"You’ll feel the edges of your upper front teeth gently touching your lower lip," says Garcia, president of the American College of Prosthodontists. Your cheeks may rise a bit, but not too much. It’s the opposite of the quick smile that flashes across your face when you see an old friend. That kind of jumping-for-joy smile makes your eyes squint and your neck muscles tense -- which can make for an awkward-looking photo.
Smile Tip #2: Nix the Double Chin
More worried about your chin than your smile? It’s all about posture. "If you slouch or your head is too bent forward, you won’t like how your smile looks," says Pamela McClain, DDS. She recommends turning your head slightly and dropping your chin so your face is not completely square with the camera.
Smile Tip #3: Make Lipstick Your Friend
If you are a woman, select a lipstick that works with your skin tone. "The right shade of lipstick can make teeth look whiter," Garcia says. Shades like cherry red, wine, berry, plum, or rosy pink are your best bet. The blue-based or pink-based undertones will minimize any yellowish tones in your teeth.
On the other hand, Garcia says that the wrong color, especially one that’s too dark or too red, can detract from your smile. (Psst. Lipstick sticking to your teeth? Might be a sign of dry mouth or excess plaque.)
Smile Tip #4: Work With What You Have
You don’t need perfect teeth to have a camera-worthy smile. Just look at Tom Cruise and his off-center ivories. Garcia points out that the line between his two front teeth, which should line up with the center of his nose, is off to one side. It’s a rather obvious fluke but when Cruise smiles, few people notice it.
Smile Tip #5: Prime Your Teeth and Gums
Getting your teeth and gums camera-ready requires a bit of behind-the-scenes preparation.
If your teeth have yellowed with age, you might take time to try a whitening product from the pharmacy or visit your dentist. Correcting cracked, broken, or missing teeth will likely mean some time with a dental professional.

Top 10 Foods for Healthy Hair When it comes to healthy hair, it’s not just what you put on your tresses that counts -- it’s what you put in your body, too


It can take longer to notice changes (both good or bad!) in your hair than in your skin. For example, "just one week with a poor diet can yield acne flare-ups or dry, sallow skin within days," says New York City dermatologist Cybele Fishman, MD, "but with hair, it can take a few months for a nutritional deficiency or the effects of a crash diet to show up."
The nutrients you eat today help fortify the hair follicle -- from which each strand is born -- and the scalp that surrounds it. "Healthier follicles? Healthier hair. Healthier scalp? Healthier hair!" Drayer says.
Of course, there's more to your hair than what you eat. Smoking, hormonal imbalances, and not enough sleep can also affect how your hair looks and feels. No magic nutrient can make up for those concerns.
Still, you have a lot more leverage than you might think. If you eat a balanced, varied, protein-rich diet that focuses on the following 10 foods, you'll be giving your hair the TLC it needs and deserves.

1. Salmon

Besides being rich in protein and vitamin D (both are key to strong hair) the omega-3 fatty acids found in this tasty cold-water fish are the true superstar. Your body can't make those fatty acids, which your body needs to grow hair. About 3% of the hair shaft is make up of these fatty acids, Drayer says. Omega-3s are also found in cell membranes in the skin of your scalp, and in the natural oils that keep your scalp and hair hydrated.
Other options: If salmon doesn't thrill you, you can also get essential fatty acids from fish like herring, sardines, trout, and mackerel, as well as avocado, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts (see below for more wonderful things about walnuts.)

2. Walnuts

These are the only type of nut that have a significant amount of omega-3 fatty acids. They're also rich in biotin and vitamin E, which helps protect your cells from DNA damage. Since your hair rarely gets much shielding from the sun, this is especially great, Drayer says. Too little biotin can lead to hair loss. Walnuts also have copper, a mineral that helps keep your natural hair color rich and lustrous, Fishman says.
Other options: Try using walnut oil in your salad dressing or stir-fry instead of canola or safflower, Fishman say

Monday 25 February 2013

Fried Wontons


Fried Wontons Photo
Fried Wontons
YIELD Makes 4 dozen
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INGREDIENTS
1ounce dried mushrooms
1pound boneless lean pork
4ounces fresh spinach, stemmed
1‑1/2tablespoons dry sherry
4teaspoons soy sauce, divided
1/4teaspoon black pepper
48wonton wrappers (about 1 pound)
1can (6 ounces) pineapple juice
1/2cup distilled white vinegar
1tablespoon ketchup
1/2cup sugar
1‑1/2tablespoons cornstarch
1/4cup water
1/2cup Chinese Mixed Pickled Vegetables(recipe)
Vegetable oil for frying
Pineapple leaves for garnish
PREPARATION:
  1. Place mushrooms in bowl; cover with hot water. Let stand 30 minutes; drain. Squeeze out excess water. Cut off and discard stems.
  2. Finely chop mushroom caps, pork and spinach with food processor or cleaver. Transfer pork mixture to large bowl. Add sherry, 2 teaspoons soy sauce and pepper; mix well.
  3. For wontons, work with about twelve wrappers at a time, keeping remaining wrappers covered with plastic wrap. Spoon 1 rounded teaspoon pork mixture onto center of each wonton wrapper. Gather edges around filling, pressing firmly at top to seal; cover and set aside.
  4. Combine pineapple juice, vinegar, ketchup, sugar and remaining 2 teaspoons soy sauce in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
  5. Blend cornstarch and water in small cup; stir into pineapple mixture. Reduce heat to low; simmer until thickened, about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in Chinese Mixed Pickled Vegetables; keep warm.
  6. Heat oil in wok or large skillet over medium-high heat to 375°F. Add eight to ten wontons at a time; cook until golden and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels. To serve, pour pineapple mixture over wontons. Garnish, if desired.
  7. Fill 5-quart stockpot or Dutch oven 1/2 full with water. Bring to a boil. Add all vegetables. Remove from heat. Let stand 2 minutes.
  8. Drain vegetables in large colander. Spread vegetables out onto clean towels; allow to dry 2 to 3 hours.
  9. Pack vegetables firmly into clean jars with tight-fitting lids. Pour Pickling Liquid into jars to cover vegetables. Seal jars tightly. Store in refrigerator at least 1 week before using. Serve garnished, if desired

Pork with Three Onions


INGREDIENTS
1/3cup teriyaki sauce
2cloves garlic, minced
1pound pork tenderloin
2tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil, divided
1small red onion, cut into thin wedges
1small yellow onion, cut into thin wedges
1teaspoon sugar
1teaspoon cornstarch
2green onions, cut into 1-inch pieces
Fried bean threads* (optional)
Pork with Three Onions Photo*To fry bean threads, follow package directions.
PREPARATION:
  1. Combine teriyaki sauce and garlic in shallow bowl. Cut pork across the grain into 1/4-inch slices; cut each slice in half. Toss pork with teriyaki mixture. Marinate at room temperature 10 minutes.
  2. Heat large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil; heat until hot. Drain pork; reserve marinade. Stir-fry pork 3 minutes or until no longer pink. Remove and reserve.
  3. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in skillet; add red and yellow onions. Reduce heat to medium. Cook 4 to 5 minutes until softened, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with sugar; cook 1 minute more.
  4. Blend reserved marinade into cornstarch in cup until smooth. Stir into skillet. Stir-fry 1 minute or until sauce boils and thickens.
  5. Return pork along with any accumulated juices to skillet; heat through. Stir in green onions. Serve over bean threads, if desired

Spicy Orange Chicken

Spicy Orange Chicken Photo
INGREDIENTS
2oranges
1/4cup mild-flavored molasses
1tablespoon soy sauce
2teaspoons cornstarch
3/4cup all-purpose flour
1/2teaspoon salt
1/4teaspoon baking powder
3/4cup water
1pound boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
Vegetable oil for frying
1teaspoon chili oil
4whole dried chili peppers
2cloves garlic, minced
1‑1/2teaspoons finely chopped fresh ginger
Orange and chili flowers for garnish
Hot cooked rice
PREPARATION:
  1. Remove 1/2-inch wide strips of peel from 1 orange with vegetable peeler. Slice peel into 1-inch pieces; set aside. (Remove colored portion of skin only; white pith has a bitter taste.)
  2. Juice oranges to measure 1/2 cup juice. Combine juice, molasses, soy sauce and cornstarch in small bowl; set aside.
  3. Combine flour, salt and baking powder in medium bowl. Whisk in water to form smooth batter. Add chicken; mix well.
  4. Heat about 3 cups vegetable oil in wok over medium-high heat until oil registers 375°F on deep-fry thermometer. Shake off excess batter from 1/3 of chicken; carefully add chicken to wok.
  5. Cook about 4 minutes or until chicken is golden brown and no longer pink in center, stirring occasionally to break up pieces with spoon. Remove chicken with slotted spoon to tray lined with paper towels; drain. Repeat 2 more times with remaining chicken, reheating oil between batches.
  6. Pour off all oil from wok. Reheat wok over medium-high heat until hot; add chili oil. Add orange peel, dried chili peppers, garlic and ginger; stir-fry about 30 seconds to 1 minute or until fragrant.
  7. Stir cornstarch mixture; add to wok. Cook and stir until sauce boils and thickens. Return chicken to wok; mix well. Transfer to serving platter; garnish, if desired. Serve with rice.

Use Kool-Aid to Dye Your Fabrics?

I remember growing up my deep love for that sugary syrup, I would wait with baited breath for my mother to finish making it and I would slurp up the neon colored liquid until it had more than formed a mustache on my upper lip. Oh yummy Kool-Aid, who knew that the dyeing job it did on my upper lip could be put to good use today as a dyeing agent for all your favorite fabrics. That's good for a few reasons.
First, you really shouldn't drink it, though I did love it as a child, my mother should have known that the reason that I ran at a full sprint around the yard and would never come in for dinner wasn't because I just couldn't get enough tag, it was because I had just ingested a cup of sugar. Not good for keeping your kids in line and really too much sugar for them to have in the first place. Second, you already have it likely somewhere deep in the pantries of old and you won't have to go out and buy it. And third, it's much less harsh than those powder dyes that you used to tie dye your shirts in the backyard with during the teen years. Enough of me rambling back to the good ole' days let's get dyeing.
This method works best with silk and wool but not well with cotton. Oh and you can dye your hair this way as well.

Sunday 24 February 2013

5 Things Your Skin Needs Every Day


With about 2 square yards (1.7 meters squared) of exposed skin to care for, it makes sense that many people's medicine cabinets are crammed with skin-care products [source:iVillage]. But for most of us, using more than two or three of those products on a daily basis is unnecessary -- and may even be doing more harm than good.
The exposed layer of skin we're slathering with lotions, creams, toners, scrubs and cleansers is called theepidermis -- it's the outermost of the three layers of skin. The epidermis is the most vulnerable to environmental damage, typically UV light that can leave it discolored and old-looking; and skin in general undergoes an aging process that can leave it looking dull, wrinkled and dry. Enter the hundreds of "scientific" skin-care products on store shelves -- some costing upward of $100 an ounce -- intended to clear, plump, de-wrinkle, brighten and just generally beautify all different skin types.
In reality, it's not rocket science. Skin only needs a handful of simple, inexpensive "treatments" to get and stay healthy -- and healthy-looking. And many of those treatments are the same ones the rest of your body needs to operate at its optimum level. Adding additional, expert-recommended products into a skin-care routine isn't necessarily a bad thing, and can in some cases be quite beneficial; but for most people, effective skin care is actually a pretty simple process.
For more information about skin regimens, read Skin Regimens: Fast Facts.
In this article, we'll find out what everybody's skin needs every day, why those elements are so important, where you'll find them, and which supposed "necessities" might really be harming your complexion.
The first daily must is the most obvious: Healthy skin has to be clean.