skin care

Take note
when you buy a perfume bottle most of the cost goes to the packaging
advertising
sales profit and tax. Only a small percentage
actually around ten percent
is dedicated to the costs of the scents.

So why buy when you can make your own perfume. Not only will you be able to save some money but you'll get a blast from the pursuit of the perfect perfume.

One of the greatest advantages of making your own perfume is that you don't have to worry about having chemicals and preservatives going onto your skin. Since you're more likely going to work with natural
you don't have to worry about the possible effects of synthetic materials on your body.

However
care should still be taken when using various essential oils. Some people might still have particular allergenic reactions to specific types of oils. It is therefore important to know or be familiar with your own body chemistry first before trying experimenting with blending perfumes.

First
let's differentiate between the various types of perfumes. Basically
a perfume is a mixture of aromatic compounds and diluted in alcohol and water. The amounts of aromatic oils dissolve in a blend determine if it can be called a perfume or a cologne. Arranged from highest concentration of oils to lowest the sequence would be: perfume
eau de parfum
eau de toilette
eau de cologne and body splash.

When we say perfume
the blend of aromatic oils is from 25 to 40%. Eau du parfum
meanwhile
are 15-30% aromatics. Eau du Cologne has even lighter aromatic oil contents. This type of scent usually has around 5-15% aromatic compounds. Toilet water or sometimes referred to as body splash has only 3-5% aromatics. Body splash are ideally used after you take a bath or shower.

When you make your own perfume
you get to choose which solvent you would use to dilute the blend. Available at your disposal are either jojoba or alcohol. Both have distinct differences and benefits. Jojoba is great for perfume blends because it never turns rancid.

When you have created your own perfume blend
it is best that you use the perfume only on your pulse points. Anywhere more and you might overdo the scent. For diluting the blend the traditional way
you use grain alcohol or a high grade proof of vodka. Alcohol makes the blend more volatile. The problem with alcohol is that you have to let the perfume blend evolve. If you don't the scent will smell more like an alcohol rather than a perfume. Usual proportions of alcohol and perfume blend is about three or four ml of the blend combined with five or 10 drops of alcohol.

Making your own perfume should be fun. Don't delve too much on the technicality of blending perfumes. Explore and try to make combinations that are unheard off. You never know
the resulting blend might be perfect to your body chemistry.

Scents and fragrances react differently when applied to your body. Choosing one that fits you is like choosing the right color of dress or the right pair of shoes to wear. Perfumes cannot just be worn arbitrarily. The resulting scent might be catastrophic. That's why you need to experiment more when making your own perfume. Try various combinations of scents until you find the perfect one for you.

For most women
part of the morning and evening routines involve a skincare regimen of applying creams
moisturizers
tonics
lotions
and the like. Why do women put themselves through this? They do it primarily to combat the signs of aging
and to maintain youthful looks and beautiful skin! It is a safe bet
however
that most women haven't put much thought into what is in the products that they are using.

Some women probably do not realize that what they are putting on their skin may actually be undermining what they are trying to prevent to begin with. In fact the average woman puts twelve products on her skin daily
most of which contain harmful chemical preservatives. Dr. Myron Wentz
founder and chairperson of USANA Health Sciences
has this to say about beauty in the company magazine's June/July 2005 issue: "Some say that beauty is only skin deep. Nonsense! I believe that true beauty is a reflection of true health
and true health begins deep inside each and every cell in the body. But true health and true beauty have an outer component
which is why we require protection from environmental insults such as solar radiation
pollutants in our environment and the drying effects of air. . . The fact is you simply cannot contain a healthy body if your skin isn't healthy. And your skin can't be healthy if your are subjecting it to toxic substances that are ultimately absorbed into your body."

So
what can women do? How can they combat environmental pollutants
the affect of solar radiation
and the drying effects of air? How can they be sure they are using the very best products on their skin so they can be healthy inside and out? Here are 7 tips to assist in this process:

1. Be very aware of what is in skincare products. Use products that are all natural as much as possible.

2. Look for products that contain Dermal Surface Renewal Technology. DSR smoothes away existing signs of aging such as laugh lines
crows feet
and dullness.

3. Use products that have regenisomes. Regenisomes penetrate the skin to speed cell renewal after sun exposure. They also use the light of photosomes to undo sun damage
and have ultrasomes to renew skin while sleeping.

4. Find products with Proteo-C and Proflavonol-T. These two vitamins protect the skin from premature aging caused by the sun
pollution
and other environmental factors. They also provide advanced nutrition to the skin to keep it appearing smooth and firm.

5. If possible
use products that are paraben free. Parabens are synthetic chemical preservatives that are widely used in personal care products such as shampoos
conditioners
hair styling products
make-up
facial masks
skin lotions and creams
and deodorants. They also are typically ingredients in baby lotions
shampoos
and other personal care products for infants and children. In addition
parabens are in many foods and pharmaceutical products. Researchers are beginning to find parabens in benign and malignant human breast tumors. While some studies have challenged their toxicity in many products and question their long term affect on humans
using products that are paraben free can eliminate the risk of exposure to this harmful chemical.

6. Drink plenty of water! Water hydrates skin and hair as well as flushes toxins out of the body.

7. Limit stress or learn to manage it effectively. Stress is harmful both emotionally and physically. Find that stress reliever activity that works best and use it on a daily basis!

Follow the above 7 tips to true beauty and health.