#BEAUTY TIP OF THE DAY--LEMON

We all know we’re supposed to exercise to stay fit. Some people enjoy feeling the burn; some of us exercise even though we really, really hate doing so. Still others don’t bother to exercise at all. If you fall into this last camp, ignore this post.

Whether you’re an exercise lover or a reluctant exerciser, the one thing both groups have in common is sweat. It’s easy to jump into a quick shower after exercising and wash the sweat off your body, but it’s not as easy to deal with the greasy hair and scalp sweat that exercising causes. Unless you have a wash-and-go hairstyle, you probably don’t have the luxury of time needed to wash your hair every day after exercising. If you do, this post isn’t for you, either. It’s for the rest of us who have to spend precious time we often don’t have with blow dryers whenever we wash our hair.

I recently came across a great tip for dealing with scalp sweat, a main cause of greasy hair. Take half a lemon, remove the excess pulp, and squeeze the juice from the lemon (you can set the juice aside for your morning tea or smoothie.) Now blot your hairline and your part with the squeezed lemon. Sounds odd, doesn’t it? However, the natural fruit acids in the lemon will aid in absorbing oil and clearing away dirt. And as an added benefit, your hair will smell citrusy fresh.

BEAUTY WITH NICOLE - SOOTHING EYES

The eyes are the windows to the soul...and also a dead giveaway to your recent past, whether you pulled an all-nighter with a sick kid, drank too much the night before, are suffering from allergies, or succumbed to a crying jag over a jerk of a guy or a tear-jerker of a movie. Whatever has made your eyes puffy and red, there is help as close as your freezer.

Grab a bag of frozen veggies. Lie down if you can, but if not, sit in a comfortable chair with your head back. Place the bag of veggies over your eyes for ten minutes. This will decrease blood flow and reduce swelling. You'll look better and feel better.

For added benefit, while the veggies are working their magic on your eyes, take calming breaths (see yesterday's blog post from health editor Janice Kerr,) to help relieve the stress in your life.

BEAUTY WITH NICOLE - GUACAMOLE SKIN CARE

Giving yourself a guacamole facial is a great idea, but did you know that eating guacamole can also reduce signs of skin aging? Add salsa, and you add wrinkle-reducing antioxidants. Party on!

GUACAMOLE FACIAL

1. Scrape half a large avocado or a whole small avocado into a bowl and mash with a fork until the consistency is creamy.

2. If desired for oily skin, mix in a tablespoon of olive oil or honey or a raw egg white.

3. Wash your face with warm water to remove make-up and dirt.

4. Apply a thin layer of the avocado paste with your fingertips, rubbing the paste into your skin until your face is completely covered. Be careful to avoid eyes and hair.

5. Leave the avocado mask on your face for 15 minutes or until the mixture is completely dry.

6. Rinse your face with warm water to remove the mask. Don’t scrub. Splash cold water on your face once all the mask is removed to close your pores. Pat your face dry with a towel.


Readers, post a comment for a chance to win a book from our Book Club Friday guest author. -- AP

BEAUTY WITH NICOLE - DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT

Beauty editor Nicole Emmerling talks about an essential summer beauty product today. -- AP

There are some essential beauty items you should always carry with you. Lip gloss or chap stick is a must no matter the season. In summer, I always keep a packet of blotting papers in my purse or tote. Shine happens, especially in the T-zone area of your face and especially when it’s hot outside. Blotting papers take care of the shine in an instant, absorbing the moisture that can clog your pores and cause blemishes, while leaving your make-up intact.

BEAUTY WITH NICOLE - DE-STRESS FOR BEAUTY

Did you know that stress can age you? I figure I must be 726 years old by now. (Don’t believe me? You obviously haven’t read Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun and Death By Killer Mop Doll.) Today, beauty editor Nicole Emmerling offers a simple beauty tip for de-stressing. -- AP

That’s right, Anastasia. When we’re stressed, we tend to clench our jaw and grind our teeth. Not only does this tension cause jaw pain, tooth pain, and headaches, it can also cause wrinkles. Here’s a two minute beauty treatment to help you relax those tense muscles.

Cut two slices of cold cucumber. Lie down and place the slices on your eyes. The cold will help soothe your strained eye and face muscles, thus relaxing your face. It also fights puffiness and inflammation.

While you’re lying with the cucumbers on your eyes, use your index fingers to press down firmly and make circular motions up and down your jaw between your ear and chin.

BEAUTY WITH NICOLE-- TAMING THE FRIZZ MONSTER

If you live in a part of the country where summer mean humidity, you know frizzy hair season is just around the corner. Today beauty editor Nicole Emmerling has some tips to tame the frizz. -- AP

Does the woman in the picture look familiar? That’s Claire Littleton (played by actress Emily de Ravin) from Lost. Poor Claire. When she disappeared, she didn’t have time to pack her conditioner, and the jungle humidity did a number on her hair.

Why does hair frizz in humid weather? When the air has more moisture in it than your hair, your hair acts like a sponge, sopping up moisture anywhere it can get it. And the nearest moisture is all that humid air outside. Your hair is thirsty. It starts drinking, and the next thing you know, it’s expanding, and turning you into something out of a horror movie.

There’s a simple fix to frizzy hair, and that’s to make sure your hair has enough moisture so that it won’t need to soak up anymore when you go outside. Make sure the conditioners you use are alcohol free. Look for conditioners with amino acids and nourishing oils like avocado oil or almond oil, and you’ll be able to tame the Frizz Monster.

Here in NJ, we fight a daily battle with frizz throughout the summer. What about you? -- AP

BEAUTY WITH NICOLE-- FLOSS AWAY WRINKLES

What do teeth flossing and wrinkles have in common? Beauty editor Nicole Emmerling is here today to tell us. -- AP

Sounds a bit far-fetched, doesn’t it, Anastasia? We all know that flossing is good for your teeth and gums, but a daily flossing can also help prevent wrinkles.

Not flossing can lead to gum recession and bone loss, which in turn will eventually cause your lips to deflate and make the wrinkles around your mouth more prominent. So if you’re daily routine doesn’t include flossing, start now to prevent wrinkles down the road. Not only is it part of maintaining a healthy body, it’s a lot cheaper than Botox.

Wow! Who knew? Post a comment. You could win the book giveaway from this week's Book Club Friday guest author.-- AP

BEAUTY WITH NICOLE--HAIR SPRAY TIP

Beauty editor Nicole Emmerling has a great tip for us today. -- AP

Thanks, Anastasia! Raise your hands. How many of you have tossed out cans of hairspray before they’re empty due to clogged nozzles? I’ll bet every one of you has suffered that wasteful frustration at one time or another. Well, guess what! You don’t have to ever again. Here’s a simple solution for unclogging that nozzle.

Pour a little rubbing alcohol in the hairspray can’s cap, enough to cover the nozzle. Pull the nozzle off the can, and let it soak in the alcohol for a bit. Rinse the nozzle, and insert it back into the can. Voila! Your can of hairspray is as good as new!

Thanks, Nicole! I would imagine this tip might work for other spray can products as well. I’ll have to give it a try the next time one of mine clogs up. What about the rest of you? Do you have any special tips to share? Post a comment to the blog this week, and you're entered in the drawing for a free book from our Book Club Friday guest author. -- AP