Nothing brings on beauty disasters like summertime. Luckily I have some solutions that are relatively inexpensive and easy to use. Some of these products you may already have lying around at home, or are overflowing in some store sale waiting to be picked up.
Dry, stiff hair from swimming in salt water or chlorinated pool—Prior to taking a dip, wet your hair thoroughly with water from the tap. Squeeze or towel-dry until it is no longer dripping but still damp. Apply any hair masque/spa treatment that comes in a tub from roots to tip, and comb through to ensure every strand is coated. Long-haired people may tie hair with a banana clip or ponytail holder. The hair masque will protect your hair from the salt and chlorine, while the intense heat will activate the ingredients and give you the perks of a hot oil treatment.
Suggested products: Any you can afford, or already have at home. Good, reasonably priced ones are Dove, Pantene, Sunsilk, HBC or any Watson’s hair cream. Beauty Snob choices: Kerastase, Schwarzkopf, L’Oreal Professionel, TGI Bed Head. After swimming or before hitting the bed at night, shampoo hair thoroughly with your favorite shampoo to remove all traces.
Dry, dull dead skin that clogs pores, causing breakouts or giving skin a grayish, unhealthy cast. Since your budget for a diamond/power peel/microdermabrasion already went to the vacation you just came from or are still headed to, you may want to try face scraping instead. It costs at least half the price of your cheapest diamond peel and has the extra benefit of removing unwanted facial hair from the upper lip, cheeks and forehead so your foundation application becomes flawless instead of streaky. Even your makeup-free face looks so juicy. It can be done once a month for maintenance. How they do it: A registered nurse will use a scalpel to gently but evenly scrape off dead skin and unwanted hair resulting in a glowing, more even-toned, smoother face. Downside: You have to be serious about sunblock SPF 50 PA+++ or above and reapply every two or three hours as long as there is light outside. Call 0917-8082926 or 8993643 for inquiries.
The bloated, puffy body or few (five to 10) stubborn pounds that refuse to melt away in spite of diet or exercise. I went back to something after a high blood pressure scare. I dropped coffee/tea with caffeine, or at least limited it to two cups from my former six or more. For two weeks now I have been taking a cup of warm water with a tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar with at least two meals a day. I also ingest one tablespoon of virgin coconut oil, either after every meal three times a day or first thing in the morning or before I sleep at night.
These are great for boosting the immune system, aiding digestion, burning fat, and getting better uric acid and cholesterol readings. I get both from the grocery aisles or even some drugstores for the VCO. What to expect: I actually got bad headaches at night and a runny nose in the daytime during the first week as a detox reaction. This indicates that your body is trying to eliminate as many toxins as it can and can barely keep up.
Some people get rashes and sneezing fits, but as the effects taper off, things become more manageable, and there are just the benefits to enjoy, like a weight loss of five pounds for me at the end of the first week and another three after Week 2. I still use the bathroom more often, though. Note: If you are taking any medication, please consult your doctor as this may conflict with absorption or suddenly affect dosage.
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