Exfoliate Your Skin Naturally - for a Soft, Supple, Glowing Complexion

As we age, exfoliation is vital for smooth, supple, healthy skin; however it is the one step that is commonly skipped in a skincare regimen.

Exfoliation

To loosen, remove and slough away dead skin cells on the outer layer of the skin, the epidermis. Our skin continually exfoliates itself, a naturally occurring process that slows down as we age. Administering a mechanical (sugar, salt, crushed nuts, luffa, pumice, etc.) or chemical (fruit enzymes, salicylic & glycolic acid, etc.) exfoliation helps to accelerate the process. This article will cover natural mechanical exfoliation.

Benefits

Exfoliating exposes the supple layer of smooth skin and promotes new cell regeneration. Usually, a single treatment will produce results; your skin will be soft, smooth and free of, or display less dry patches and rough spots. During and after a treatment the pores can be more thoroughly cleansed and skin is properly prepared and more receptive in receiving skincare products. Select an exfoliation product that fits your skin type; this may differ throughout your body.

Facial Exfoliation

Gentle natural facial exfoliation products may contain mild clays, soothing colloidal oatmeal, soft fruit seeds & powders, herbs and other non-abrasive ingredients. A natural exfoliating facial masque can be quite soothing for tender skin.

When choosing a cleanser or scrub, take care not to over work/scrub your face. Begin with wet skin and apply the product using a light pressure, moving around the face and neck in a gentle circular motion being careful not to tug or pull on the skin. Do not use around the delicate eye area.

Below the Neck

A good multi-tasking exfoliating product for the rest of the body is a sugar scrub, which can also be used for shaving your legs. Sugar Scrubs will not burn if you have any little nicks or cuts, as a salt scrub would. You would not want to use a salt scrub for shaving. The smaller the granules, the easier it will be on your skin and of the two, sugar is better suited for sensitive or delicate skin.

A natural scrub with an oil base not only exfoliates, but also conditions and moisturizes the skin, which eliminates the need to apply moisturizer afterwards. When choosing a natural sugar scrub, look for healthy ingredients including organic sugar, cold pressed oils and essential oils; avoid products made with fragrance oils. If you find the scrub you are using leaves you feeling more moisturized than you would like, simply give a quick wash after you have exfoliated. A bath mat is suggested when using oil based products.

Feet

While it is perfectly fine to use your body scrub on your feet, it is also okay to use a product with an intensified scrubbing action, should you have extra dry or harder skin there. Ground pumice, luffa and finely crushed nuts, such as walnuts or almonds are all good natural choices for feet.

Length of time between Treatments

Refer to the product label instructions, keeping in mind that they are common guidelines, every one's skin may respond differently to the same treatment. Listen to your skin, if it feels sore or raw after a treatment, stop using it immediately. People with sensitive facial skin may only want to exfoliate one or twice per month with a very gentle natural product. The rest of your body may do well with a weekly treatment, again if this is too often for your skin type, cut back to a couple times each month. Take charge of and personalize your own beauty care regimen, make sure that it suits you.

Design Editions: Gap's New Euro Must Have

Paris - One new line seemingly sure to be a commercial and critical success is Gap Design Editions, a capsule collection for the global retailer by French designer Pierre Hardy that was unveiled this week in Paris.

 

Part Asia Zen, part French chic, part little pain at the cash register for lots of panache, the mini collection is one good reason for inveterate North American shoppers to cross The Pond; Gap Design Editions, you see, is only available in Europe.

Gap had already launched Hardy's debut trio of women's looks for fall/winter 2007/2008, which hit retail shelves on November first in the UK. But this week in Paris, Gap presented a fuller collection of spring/summer 2008 models, which will retail for prices ranging up from 55 pounds Sterling, or $110 at current exchange rates.

The debut trio featured a low cut, slim line pointy slipper style ideas in black patent, gold Napa or two-tone leather; ballet flats with buckled cut-outs in hues like petrol blue or berry red; and super black patent leather platforms with square buckles, mid way between Edith Piaf and posh punk.

"Nothing gives me greater pleasure than seeing my creations. And I have to admit that does not happen every day of the week on the street. I would not have done this project just for any price. But I know the people who take care of design at Gap and I knew they would not distort my style," Hardy told FWD.

The fuller spring/summer 2008 selection seen in a Marais showroom expands to include some great Geisha looks in naïve floral blue fabrics with wooden sides, bulky wooden platforms with sturdy olive hued cotton straps and sea view villa owning rock star sandals in aged gold. All of them looked great and as if they cost twice the price: in a word, hip realism at a bearable cost.

"The idea was to respect my standards of quality, even at that price. In return, I integrated the price restriction and a certain realism, like not making too high heels… In the end, having limits proved to be stimulating," added Hardy, one of the world's most acclaimed shoe designers, who first grabbed attention in the Eighties, creating footwear for Christian Dior.

Oddly, though Gap initially announced that the new line would be named Gap by Pierre Hardy, the collection has ended up with the title Gap Design Editions.

Hardy also created some neat men's looks including very natty all white canvas and suede sneakers, Roman Ibiza sandals and classical gents Portofino aperitivo leather loafers – to be worn without socks, naturalmente.

Gap has previously collaborated with hipster designers like Roland Mouret, who created some rather swish looks for the retail chain. Gap also used Hardy in its European ad campaign, shot by Mikael Jansson, who focused on iconic Gap products worn also by Amanda Harlech, Iman and Coco Rocha.

Hardy, who has also designed men's and women's shoes for Hermes, launched his own label in 1999, adding men's shoes two years later, and opened his first Pierre Hardy store in Paris in 2003. Currently, Hardy is also responsible for the shoe collection of Balenciaga, whose show invitation is probably the most exclusive in the world of high-end runways.

How to Breastfeed

As natural as nursing is, it can prove difficult for some women. We show you how to get it right.

A mother nursing her baby -- it's one of the most beautiful images nature could create. It's also one of the simplest. Breastfeeding is so natural, in fact, that we've been doing it for millions of years. (Indeed, without it, the human race wouldn't have survived.)

But don't be fooled: For some women, the first few days or weeks of breastfeeding are a challenge. "Breastfeeding is natural, but it's a practiced skill, almost an art form," says Corky Harvey, R.N., M.S., a lactation consultant and co-owner of The Pump Station, a breastfeeding-support center in Santa Monica, Calif. "You could read a book about playing the flute and learn a lot about the instrument," she explains, "but you won't really learn how to play the flute until you actually do it." Breastfeeding is no different. As with learning to play a musical instrument, success comes from a combination of motivation, knowledge of essential skills, and practice.

 

latch: step a		latch: step b

And as the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Use the photos here as your guide to the techniques and positions you need to know for successful breastfeeding.

latch: step c		latch: step d

The latch
Any good lactation consultant will tell you: Latching is everything. Here's how to do it:

• Position the baby on her side so she is directly facing you, with her belly touching yours. Next, prop up the baby with a pillow, if necessary, and hold her up to your breast; don't lean over toward her.
• Place your thumb and fingers around your areola (see step a).
• Tilt your baby's head back slightly and tickle her lips with your nipple until she opens her mouth wide (see step b).
• Help her "scoop" the breast into her mouth by placing her lower jaw on first, well below the nipple (see step c).
• Tilt her head forward, placing her upper jaw deeply on the breast. Make sure she takes the entire nipple and at least 1 1/2 inches of the areola in her mouth (see step d).

THE HOLDS

1. cradle
Position your baby on your forearm, her head in the crook of your arm. Support her bottom with your other hand. Pull her in close to you, belly to belly, with her ear, shoulder and hip in a straight line.

Cradle		Football

2. football
While useful for all women, this position is particularly helpful for mothers who have had a Cesarean section. Place your baby on a pillow, tucked close to your side. Rest your arm on the pillow to bring your baby's mouth up to your breast; support her head with your hand.

Side-lying

3. side-lying
This position is also helpful if you had a C-section or want to rest while nursing your baby. Lie on the side you will be breastfeeding on. Place your head on a pillow and draw your baby in close to you, using your arm to support her bottom. Use your other hand to bring your breast up to baby's mouth.