Friday, March 26, 2010

10 ways to look and feel better

You don’t have to make major changes in order to look and feel your best. Read on for 10 easy proven ideas




1. Keep core muscles strong
Strengthening your core will give you better balance and posture, more spine support to avoid backaches, and a tighter midsection.
Not crazy about doing crunches? Use a hula hoop or try Pilates.









2. Brighten up your eyes
Keep a white eyeshadow handy to dab it on the inner eyelid corners for an instant lift. Another trick? Keep your brows groomed. They frame the face and need the right attention, whether you go for a professional shaping or try one of the latest brow kits.







3. Be vigilant about your teeth
To remove plaque, go for regular cleanings according to your dentist’s recommended schedule. Built-up plaque encourages the growth of bacteria that cause periodontal (gum) disease. And eat lots of apples: Biting and chewing an apple stimulates production of saliva, reducing tooth decay by lowering the levels of bacteria in the mouth.







4. Have a protein-packed breakfast
Replace a carb-based brekkie with a protein one containing the same amount of calories, as part of a low-fat diet to maintain or lose weight.











5. Try aromatherapy
Using essential oils from flowers and plants is thought to promote well-being. For a pick-me-up (and a skin refresher), spritz some rosewater on your face. To boost sexual energy, try a blend of jasmine, sandalwood, ylang ylang and patchouli.










6. Master the push-up
It builds your upper-body strength and works a whole array of muscle groups, engaging the arms, chest, abdominals and other core stabilizers. Bonus: You’ll wear that favourite sleeveless dress with confidence.











7. Vow to walk more
Walking strengthens muscles and improves heart health, lowers blood pressure and helps build bones. (Not only that, it’ll give you a shapelier behind.)











8. Consider washing your hair every other day

Allow natural oils to give hair shine. And one shampooing per wash is usually enough (plus it will make your shampoo purchase last twice as long). But if you have very oily hair or use a lot of hairstyling products, you probably will need to shampoo twice.







9. Step out of your beauty comfort zone
Wear an of-the-moment, offbeat nail colour on your hands that everyone will notice (like indigo blue). Just make sure you use a base coat to protect nails and prevent them from getting discoloured.









10. Wear only bras that fit
A poorly fitted bra can not only cause back and shoulder pain, it will also detract from your looks and your confidence. Your bra shouldn’t pinch, slip or cause bulging. If you think you’re wearing the wrong size, get professionally fitted. And experts recommend you get rechecked once a year.

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