Beauty Tips and Advice

Tipping Etiquette Question

2006-03-13T20:41:00.000-05:00

Question:

I found your site after an awkward situation with the owner of a salon: I received a leg waxing treatment from an Esthetician who owns and operates her business. It's a one-woman show, so to speak. Anyhow, I was always taught not to tip the owner of a business. I did receive good services from her, purchased products from her, and had every intention of going back. However, at the end I paid by credit-card and she asked if she should "charge this amount." I said yes. Then realized after that she was referring to a tip. I'm confused by this because she owns her business and it seems strange to tip the owner. Isn't purchasing product and repeat business the goal of a business owner?? Doesn't she build profit into her pricing? But she did do a great job and I would hate to have offended her if I'm out of the loop on current tipping practices. Should I have tipped in this situation? Thanks.

Answer:

I agree with you that the owner ought not to have expected a tip. However, that rule is understood in the US by people who were raised in our culture. Your Esthetician may not have been from this country and perhaps she is not aware of this etiquette tradition. It can be very awkward dealing with newcomers to the US, but you do not have to feel that you offended her because she was not aware of our customs. If she's new in business, she'll encounter this situation frequently and she'll eventually learn the rule. Tipping is a complicated ritual because it implies a class-consciousness we like to pretend doesn't exist in the US. Many businesses today have Tip Cups on the counter for workers who don't actually provide personal service as it is usually understood -- I think it's often used to augment the low wages the business owner pays the staff but it is not our duty to subsidize the owner's payroll costs. Tipping is a difficult topic to discuss openly, but if you are ever again in this situation when someone is waiting for a tip that you don't think is proper, it would be perfectly appropriate to ask questions to clarify: "Aren't you the owner of this salon?" You could be educating someone to avoid future embarrassments with other customers.I hope I've eased your anxiety a bit, and thank you for visiting www.askabeauty.com.

Restore Glow to Dull Skin

2006-02-21T16:11:00.000-05:00

Question:
I am very upset because I am not attractive to my husband. He ignores me and I also feel tired all the time and my face looks dull. What should I do? I want to be fresh and glowing as I was before married. I have 2 kids and I want to be beautiful with glowing skin. Please help me.

Answer:

Thank you for visiting www.askabeauty.com. I think I can help you.

It sounds to me as if you're very stressed and tired. Taking care of children can exhaust the most healthy person. When you look in the mirror, you are probably seeing a tired woman who does not take as much care of herself as she does her family. An easy way to add a glow is to wear light colors so that the natural light is reflected back to your face and lights it up a little.

Also, smile even when you don't feel like it. A smile will release a hormone in your brain that will make you feel happy. There have been many studies that prove that when you contract the muscles in your face that are involved in smiling, your brain reacts with pleasure. Plus, every face looks better with a smile.

Here are some more tips:

1. Be sure you get enough sleep. Your skin will only look as fresh as your body is. When you sleep, sleep at night in a quiet, cool room. If there's too much background noise when you try to sleep, your sleep will not be restorative and that's another reason for a dull complexion. Our bodies have a circadian rhythm that modern life has jolted out of sync. Humans are meant to be awake when the sun is up and to sleep when the sun is down. People who must work late at night suffer from all kinds of minor ailments, and a dull complexion is one side effect. If you work at night, be sure to have a dark, quiet place to sleep during the day.

2. Drink 6 cups of water a day. I prefer mineral water but it can be expensive. Be sure the water you drink is clean. Any impurities in the water will dull your skin.

3. Do one thing everyday that makes you happy or makes you laugh. It can be a small thing like watching a beautiful sunset, or holding your pet cat while he purrs, or listening to a favorite piece of music, or dancing to a romantic song. It can be a quick thing like remembering your favorite relative who makes you smile, or smelling a fragrant flower. The important thing is to treat yourself well with something for YOU.

Be kind to yourself, and your happiness will be reflected in your complexion.

Audrey Rose

Skin Lighteners and creams

2006-02-14T18:32:00.000-05:00

Question:

Dear Ma’am:

When I was a child my skin was very light but now that I am 25 my complexion is dark. Please tell me some tips to lighten my skin. I shall be thankful to you.

Answer:

Thank you for visiting my website, www.askabeauty.com. I will do my best to give you a complete answer.

I receive many, many letters from women in India and Pakistan asking me to recommend products or home preparations that will make their skin lighter. I’ve also received letters from mothers who worry that their daughters are getting too dark, and the daughters are only 8 years old! It makes me angry that movies and fashion magazines have made women think that only light girls can be pretty.

The movies and fashion magazines create a false ideal of beauty that only matter to other women. The actresses and models need an army of people to help them look good: hair stylists, make up people, lighting specialist who know how to aim a light to best flatter a face, special camera filters that hide wrinkles and flaws, and lots of post-photography fixing. I have found that most men are not interested in how actresses and models look like; they prefer women who are kind and who look like real people.

There are many products that will lighten your skin like Stillman’s Freckle cream, Arche Pearl cream, Fair N Lovely, Betnovate cream. Some women mix these creams all together to increase their potency. You put these on your skin at night and wash it off in the morning, and some women claim they see a difference in a week.

I am skeptical that these creams work, and I suspect they might not be very healthy for you. These products contain strong chemicals that will indeed lighten your skin but will take a toll on your face. After awhile, you will lose your youthfulness and your skin will look worn out.

Also, most lightening creams contain mercury, a deadly chemical that will slowly kill you. Light skin is not worth dying for. In the 18th century, women in Europe and America used to use arsenic and lead-based cosmetics to achieve a pale complexion, but the women were poisoning themselves.

Newer facial methods, like chemical peels, lasers, and bleaches make your skin very sensitive to the sun and weaken the collagen that holds your skin together. This damage cannot be repaired. The short-term result may be what you seek, but in the long run you’ll end up looking older than your years.

However, you can achieve the illusion of having lighter skin by wearing colors that reflect light back onto your face, which will make you look paler and younger. White clothes around your face will always lighten your appearance. In fact, I always advise every woman over 35 to switch to light colors around the face regardless of their natural complexion -- fair, dark, or anything in between. Also try cream, beige, and yellow.

Avoid dark colors like black, purple, blue and indigo -- they absorb the light and make you look older as well as darker than you are. If you wear a dress of those colors, always wrap a white or light-colored scarf around your neck as an accessory instead of jewelry because the light color will lighten your face.

If you are unhappy with your skin color, consider your diet and habits. Vitamins A, C & E are very good for your skin. Follow a good skin care routine with a mild soap followed by a moisturizer, and drink water to keep your skin healthy. Think beautiful thoughts, relax, get plenty of sleep, and please be happy with the color of the skin you were born with. You will be beautiful only when you believe you are beautiful.

Audrey Rose

Facial excercises

2005-12-19T18:58:00.000-05:00

For more Beauty Tips, please visit www.AskaBeauty.com

Question:
My cheeks have started sagging and with the result I look older. Is there any remedy to restore the elasticity of the cheeks?

Answer:
Thank you for visiting my website www.askabeauty.com. I think I can help you.

The French have a saying: At a certain age, a woman must choose between her face and her derriere. What that means is that to maintain a youthful face, you have to restore some fat in your face by putting on extra weight allover, which will make your behind look bigger. If you choose to keep a small behind, then your face will look shrunken.

As we age, we lose fat deposits in our face and muscle tone decreases. I don't recommend botox or other fat-substitute injections. Facial exercises can help restore a little of the lost tautness. I can give you some exercises that have worked for me.

a) Drop your head back so you feel the skin on your throat tighten. Then, pretend you're a wolf who is baying at the moon and make a gentle "O" with your mouth. You'll feel your throat muscles and the muscles under your chin tighten. Slowly count to 3, relax, and repeat. Do this 10 times at least once a day. I do this exercise in the shower.

b) Keep you forehead line-free by working your forehead muscle (called the frontalis muscle) in all directions. First, gently frown, then move your eyebrows up and count to three. Relax, and repeat this 10 times.

c) To reduce those faint horizontal lip lines you see on many older women, and to reduce the smile lines around your mouth, keep the orbicularis oris taut with this exercise: curl your lips into your mouth and bite down with your teeth to make sure your lips stay together, then blow through your mouth. Since your mouth is closed, the forced air stretches the muscles around your mouth like a balloon. Slowly count to 5, relax, and repeat 10 times.

Thanks for visiting www.AskaBeauty.com

Audrey Rose

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Do Eyelashes Grow Back?

2005-12-17T19:14:00.000-05:00

Question:
Do eyelashes grow back?

Answer:
Unless there is an underlying medical condition, yes, eyelashes will grow back in about 9 months. Your body sheds hair all the time from every follicle, and most of those hairs will re-grow.

Thank you for your question, and thank you for visiting www.askabeauty.com
Audrey Rose

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Eyebrows Maintenance

2005-12-17T19:13:00.000-05:00

Question:
My eyebrows are unruly. Do you know how I can make them look flat, neat and going in one direction? Is there a product that will tame the unruly hairs?

Answer:
I don't know of any product specifically designed for taming eyebrows. But I can help you.

I would suggest you use hair conditioner to soften the hair while you shower or bathe. After you dry off, use a brow brush to brush the eyebrow hair in the direction you want them to go. I use a toothbrush to control my brow -- I prefer a soft bristle toothbrush.

Also, you can trim long hairs with either a scissors or remove them with tweezers. Perhaps all you need is to remove the stragglers so the shorter hairs will lie flat and in the direction you desire.

I describe a technique on my website called "threading" that you can find at www.askabeauty.com/hair-removal-threading.htm. In New York City, threading is a very popular method for shaping eyebrows.

Thank you for your question, and thank you for visiting www.askabeauty.com
Audrey Rose

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Grey Hair Turns Yellow

2005-12-17T19:04:00.000-05:00

Question:
How can I stop my natural gray hair from yellowing after a Mizani perm?

Answer:
First, we have to define our terms. The hair you refer to as "gray" is actually white -- that is, devoid of color. We call it "gray" because that's the impression it makes when you mix the white hair with dark hair.

White hair has a totally different composition from colored hair (i.e., hair with melanin). Personally, I like my white hair and I try to protect them when I color my hair. I'm a natural redhead, but I prefer a lighter color now that I'm a woman of "a certain age" (as the French say). My white hair blends better with blonde than with red. Please consider keeping your naturally white hair as is and use it as a accent.

However, if your white hair is mingled evenly through your head, then my suggestion to use it as an accent is not helpful. There are two reasons that I know of to explain why white hair turns yellow:

1) Sunlight and atmospheric pollutants can interact with the natural chemicals in your hair to make it appear yellow. Wear a hat or a scarf when you're in the sun. Also, put a moisturizer in your hair when you go out; this will be an added layer of protection from the sun.

2) Chemicals in the water will affect your hair when you wash it. You can use distilled water when you wash your hair to ensure that you're using the least amount of chemicals.

Thank you for visiting www.askabeauty.com .
Audrey

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Vitiligo

2005-12-17T18:58:00.000-05:00

Question:
I seem to have a white area above my lips and to the bottom of my nose. Make up doesn't seem to cover this area. Any suggestions?

Answer:
Any patch of skin that is noticeably paler than the rest of your skin could be an indication of vitiligo. (Vitiligo usually appears on your hands, but I guess it can manifest anywhere.) I am not qualified to make any suggestions regarding proper care without first eliminating a medical explanation. Only a doctor can determine if you have this medical problem, so I urge you to visit your doctor.

Thank you for visiting www.askabeauty.com .
Audrey Rose

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Threading for Eyebrows

2005-12-17T18:41:00.000-05:00

Question:
How are you? How are the threads packaged to keep them sterile and where in the UK can therapists train for this technique? Please reply it is an assignment.

Answer:
I'm not sure threads used to remove facial hair needs to be sterilized because the threads are discarded after every use. Most technicians use 100% cotton thread directly from a spool, exactly like what you'd find in the notions section of a fabric shop.

Threading is a technique that Asian women (especially in Indian and Pakistan) have done at home for generations. If you want to train on this technique, I'd go to an Indian or Pakistani neighborhood in your town, walk into any beauty salon, and ask the manager for a recommendation. In New York, where I live, threading is taught at the many Indian-run shops. I'm sorry, but I don't know the UK's licensing requirements.

I hope I've helped you. Thank you for visiting www.askabeauty.com .

Audrey Rose

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Uneven Breasts

2005-12-17T18:36:00.000-05:00

Question:
Thanx for your email I'll try my best to follow your advices. I wanna ask you one more thing I had never discussed with anyone even not with my mother: I feel shy that the size of my left breast is smaller
than right one. What can I do?

Answer:
Every woman I know, including me, has different sized breasts. Our bodies are not identical on each side. Your feet are probably slightly different sizes, as are your hands, ears, and eyes. The difference is
probably too small for anyone to notice, but we know our bodies so well that it seems like the difference is huge. Don't worry too much -- as you get into your 20s and 30s, your breasts will even out a bit more.

Women are much more critical about our bodies than men are. They don't notice details the way we do. Most men will never notice that we are not symmetrical because they're just thrilled that we're there, willing to love them.

Feel free to ask anything you're wondering about. I did not talk much to my mother when I was a teenager.

Audrey

(Note: Audrey has had several exchanges of email with this young woman. Audrey's website is www.askabeauty.com . )

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Breast Enlargement Exercise

2005-12-17T18:35:00.000-05:00

Question:
Hello, plz solve the how can i enlarge my breast, plz give me solution in a natural way like some exercise e.t.c. thanks a lot. byee

Answer:
There is no natural way to enlarge your breasts. Your breasts are made of fat and you have to add fat to them the make them bigger. You can exercise the pectoral muscle to make your breasts appear more pert, but that will not make them bigger. That is, your bra size will not change.

Sadly, the only ways to enlarge your breasts are by either gaining weight so that more fat is stored in your breasts, or by cosmetic surgery.

Thank you for visiting www.askabeauty.com .
Audrey Rose

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Breast Enlargement Pill

2005-12-17T18:34:00.000-05:00

Question:
I would like to know about natural ways of breast enlargement. I have heard of tablets that can do this without seeking plastic surgery. I have recently become ill and run down and have lost weight and also had a change of bra size. I don't know would you specify in this but it really would help as I would find it quiet embarrassing to go to a G.P.

Answer:
Yes, there is a breast enlargement pill available by prescription (or by mail from those friendly Internet doctors), but their efficacy depends on who you are.

Breast enlargement pills are for pre-operation male-to-female transsexuals. It takes between 4 to 6 months to see any change. The pills contain estrogen to stimulate breast growth on people (like biological men) who have always known they were meant to be women but for some developmental reason, womanhood didn't happen.

If you are a biological female, there is no proof that these pills will enlarge your existing breasts because you already have estrogen in your hormonal makeup.

But more importantly, tell me how you are now. You said you "recently become ill and run down and have lost weight" . . . How are you now? Are you eating? Do you still feel run down? My advice is incomplete unless I know more about you.

Thank you for visiting www.askabeauty.com .
Audrey Rose

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Post-Pregnancy Skin Care

2005-12-17T18:05:00.000-05:00

Question:
Dear madam,
I am a 25 year old housewife and mother of a 1.5 year baby. I have become a little fat after my delivery. After my delivery I have not taken care of my body very much. Would you please help me with some tips to improve my skin? I have oily skin and have some pimples and acne on my face. Can you suggest some simple exercises that I can do at home. Please help me.

Answer:
A change in your skin is a natural byproduct of pregnancy. Acne/pimples grow from the inside of your skin, not as a result of fatty foods or dirt. Scrubbing your skin will not reduce acne if you're genetically predisposed for it, so spare your skin from rough scrubs.

Treat acne with benzoyl peroxide, an antibacterial, combined with salicylic acid (also known as beta hydroxy), an exfoliant. Benzoyl peroxide comes in a soap or ointment, like Clearasil or Stridex - these are products sold in any drug or grocery store in the US but I don't know if they are available in your area.

Salicylic acid derives from aspirin and comes in a cream form, like in Propa pH. Neutrogena soap contains both salicylic acid and a little benzoyl peroxide. These are for teenage acne and they dry out the skin. You can also get topical antibiotics such as erythromyacin or tetracycline from your doctor.

Try this facial to remove oil: Peel the skin off an overripe tomato and crush the tomato into a mash. Tomatoes contain oil-absorbing acids that are natural exfoliants. Spread the tomato mash on your clean face and leave it on for fifteen minutes. Rinse with warm water.

After a blemish has gone, dab a bit of honey on the affected area to deep-clean the pore and draw out bacteria. Let sit for ten minutes, then rinse with warm water.

Do you have stretch marks? Stretch marks are caused by the breaking down of skin's connective tissue in deep skin layer due to the loss of collagen and elastin. They are basically scars. You can't get rid of them, but you can minimize them by blending them into the surrounding skin for a more uniform appearance. Try these home remedies which are good for every type of skin because they are non-abrasive:

1. Before you shower, massage your stretch marks with
a lubricant. I love the smell of cocoa butter, but it
doesn't matter what you use, it only has to be greasy.
The lubricant is not the important part; the important
part is your rubbing the affected area.

In the shower, gently scrub your stretch marks in a
circular motion with lufah sponge or other firm brush,
to stimulate circulation. Bringing blood to the area will
make the skin less rigid. Remember, stretch marks are
very much like scars.

2. Vitamin E might also help if you apply it directly
on the marks. You can find gel capsules of vitamin E
almost anywhere: the grocery store, the drug store,
the health food store. I'm not sure what concentration
is best, so use whatever fits into your budget. Do
this once a day, and massage it into your marks in a
circular motion.

3. Eat beets, brown rice, bell peppers, soybeans,
leafy green vegetables and whole grains. These are
supposed to help create collagen. Beets are a
fabulously healthy vegetable.

Try these suggestions for at least 6 weeks.

I hope I've helped, and thank you for visiting www.askabeauty.com

Audrey Rose

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Nail Care for Boys

2005-12-17T17:38:00.000-05:00

Question:
hello I'm 12 years old,
I was wondering if you could tell me how to take care of my nail like how to keep them clean and healthy because you seem to have missed it out when you where talking about nails.

Answer:
Fingernails are made of the same stuff as your hair -- keratin, a protein. Make sure you eat a balanced diet and take a vitamin supplement if you don't eat a lot of vegetables and fruits. Dark green vegetables like broccoli are the best foods you can eat for stronger nails.

To keep the nails clean, use a nailbrush when you take a shower. Don't scrape the dirt away by poking an object under your nail because you risk cutting the sensitive skin underneath the nail.

Use manicure scissors to trim the nails, and an emery board or nail file to round off the ends. To avoid ingrown nails on your feet, don't cut the nail straight across. That's the worst advice I keep seeing all over the place! File your toenails at the ends so they are curved, just like your fingernails.

I think these tips are appropriate at your age. If you work with your hands as a mechanic or an artist or an athlete, you'll need to take additional care, but that's a few years away for you.

Thank you for visiting www.askabeauty.com .

Audrey Rose

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Coloring Grey Hair

2005-12-17T17:33:00.000-05:00

Question:
Dear Sir/ Madam,
I use hair color every 15 days as I have a lot of grey hair. My hair has become rough and dull. So what to do to have a long, healthy & silky hair?

Answer:
Grey hair (more accurately, white hair because of the absence of color) has different properties than your non-grey hair: it is more dry and has a rough, wavy texture. Grey hair will not respond to dyes and creams the same way as the rest of your hair. Unfortunately, it is difficult to make grey hair "silky".

The best suggestion I have is to use a moisturizing after-drying product to smooth the grey hairs. I like Farouk Systems BioSilk. Look for a product that has "silk" in its name and you'll know it's designed to make your hair more manageable. But don't expect that this will make your grey hair totally like your natural hair.

Good luck, and thank you for visiting www.askabeauty.com .

Audrey Rose

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Lose 10 Pounds for Your Wedding

2005-12-17T17:30:00.000-05:00

Question:
hi ,
I want to know from you how can I reduce my weight at least 5kg (10 pounds . I have used already many things but nowadays I just doing exercises and drinking Zera water (a homeopathic medicine). Plz help me to reduce weight a simple way.

My marriage date is coming soon, before this ceremony I want to reduce. Plz tell me the easiest way and tell me the exercises and yoga for tummy and thighs. Send me this mail urgently.Thanks a lot.

Answer:
Take your weight loss slowly and you'll be able to keep that 5 kg off for a long time. Be sure to treat your self well because you want to be beautiful on your wedding day, and you can only be beautiful when you're happy.

If you want to lose 5 kg, it will take a minimum of 3 weeks. Don't do anything drastic -- that is, don't completely change your life to lose 5 kg. I have some suggestions for you that will help you lose weight gradually in a healthy way:

1) Drink only water -- no teas, coffees, Coca Cola, juices, etc. Water has zero calories and will help you body flush out the excess fat as you lose weight. I am not familiar with Zera water, but if it has zero calories, go on drinking it.

2) Eat the same foods you always eat, but eat only 1/2 as much as you usually eat. I have found that you will not lose weight by making a big change to your diet. By eating the same food but only 1/2 as much, you will be able to enjoy your usual diet but you will reduce the amount of calories you ingest. You must eat to give your body fuel to keep it working, so fasting is NOT the way to lose weight. In fact, when you fast, your body over-reacts to the food deprivation and will change your chemistry so that it will hold on to your fat for protection. If you are too hungry when you cut your food by half, try eating 2/3 of your usual portions. YOU MUST EAT TO STAY HEALTHY.

3) To tone your thighs, take long, brisk walks. Your pace should be faster than normal but not as fast as running. You want to get your heart pumping a little faster than normal but you do not want to put too much stress on your heart. You should walk for about 45 minutes to an hour a day, and if you can find a few gentle hills, your walk will be additionally slimming. Going up and down hills is a great way to tone your legs.

4) To tone your tummy, try this twice a day:

* While sitting in an upright position on your chair, tighten your abdominal muscles and breathe in.
* Hold this position for 10 seconds.
* Breathe out and release the abdominal muscles.
* Repeat this exercise 30 times.

Good luck, and thank you for visiting www.askabeauty.com
Audrey Rose

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Mature Bride

2005-12-17T17:12:00.000-05:00

Question:
I m women of 35 years and going to marry next month. That's why I'm bothering you. I have stretch marks and brown mole on my breast and legs. Moreover my breast has become saggy, droopy and deshaped.

Could you please guide me to get a firm, smooth, clean and
tightly shaped breast, and advise any product to get rid of stretch marks and moles also, in a short period?

Answer:
Congratulations on your pending marriage. I hope you have a long and happy union. Please remember to take time for yourself during these hectic days so you don't get too stressed. Stress can affect your health and make you overly critical of yourself.

To answer your questions:

1) Stretch marks are caused by the breaking down of skin's connective tissue in deep skin layer due to the loss of collagen and elastin. They are basically scars. You can't get rid of them. But you can minimize them.

There are a few treatments to minimize stretch marks, but they can be expensive because you need to repeat the treatment many times. Also, I think many of the known treatments use Caucasian skin as the norm and I don't know how they affect non-Caucasian skin. I don't know your ethnic background, and the appearance &
treatment of stretch marks will be influenced by the amount of
melanin in your skin.

Laser and dermabrasion have been used for awhile and they will show some fading of stretch marks. However, "success" is defined by how the marks fade on Caucasian skin. If you have more melanin than a Caucasian, these treatments will not help you as much. Lasers and abrasions might aggravate scars on non-Caucasian skin.

To minimize stretch marks, you have to meld them into the surrounding skin for a more uniform appearance. Try these home remedies (which are good for every type of skin because they are non-abrasive) before you invest in an expensive round of treatment:

* Before you shower, massage your stretch marks with
a lubricant. I love the smell of cocoa butter, but it
doesn't matter what you use, it only has to be greasy.
Butter, Crisco, or cold cream will do. The lubricant
is not the important part; the important part is your
rubbing the affected area.

In the shower, gently scrub your stretch marks in a
circular motion with lufah sponge or other firm brush, to
stimulate circulation. Bringing blood to the area will
make the skin less rigid. Remember, stretch marks are
very much like scars.

* Vitamin E might also help if you apply it directly
on the marks. You can find gel capsules of vitamin E
almost anywhere: the grocery store, the drug store,
the health food store. I'm not sure what concentration
is best, so use whatever fits into your budget. Do
this once a day, and massage it into your marks in a
circular motion.

* Eat beets, brown rice, bell peppers, soybeans,
leafy green vegetables and whole grains. These are
supposed to help create collagen. Beets are a
fabulously healthy vegetable.

2) Moles can only be removed by cutting or burning
them off. DON'T do this at home. You don't need to
see a specialist -- a general practitioner can do
this is the office.

3) Sagging breasts may be the result of a recent
weight loss or the natural consequences of aging. To
restore their firmness, you have to add fat under the
breast muscle by either putting on more weight or you
can have them surgically lifted/enhanced. You could
also do exercises to tone the muscles, but the
improvement would be minor and would take a long time.
Many women choose the surgical option, but that's a
drastic step.

I know you'll be a radiant bride. All women look
beautiful on their wedding day.
Thank you for visiting www.askabeauty.com
Audrey

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Body Beauty for Wedding Day

2005-12-17T17:03:00.001-05:00

Question:
Hello! How are you doing. I visited your web site and see a lot of tips over there but I could not find out any tip or treatment for body beauty. I have a problem. I am 20 yrs old. I became ill about 2 years ago but now I am healthy, having normal weight but my figure (chest) shape is not good. Can you suggest any good lotion having no side effect or a normal diet through which I can have a good figure. My wedding is in March and I am feeling very guilty.

Answer:
I receive many, many letters from young women about to marry who are worried about a beauty problem. This time of your life is very stressful and you can easily obsess about something that is not really a problem. . There are no creams or lotions or pills that will change your body -- save your money.

If I understand your letter correctly, you are worried about the size of your chest. You are still young -- 20 -- and you body is still changing. Continue to eat a balanced diet (drink water, eat vegetables and fruits, limit the amount of bread and rice and pasta) and exercise about 30 minutes a day. This is the best way to give your body the nutrients it needs to develop. The exercise will help you feel better.

Also, remember to relax. Do one thing every day that makes you smile. It can be a small thing like watching a beautiful sunset, or holding your pet cat while he purrs, or listening to a favorite piece of music, or dancing to a romantic song. It can be a quick thing like remembering your favorite relative who makes you smile, or smelling a fragrant flower. The important thing is to treat yourself well with something for YOU.

These tips will help you feel better and look better, and your body will thank you for treating it well

Thank you for visiting www.askabeauty.com .
Audrey Rose

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Wedding Stress and Beauty

2005-12-17T17:03:00.000-05:00

Question:
Hi;
Im a 23 year old gal with loads and loads of problems and Im about to get married in about 2 months so please help!
Hair: I had beautiful, thick, black shiny hair which Ive damaged with perms and straightening and now it looks pathetic very fine, rough and lifeless. No shampoos have helped. I have dandruff and Im the victim of extreme hair fallout. I have less than half the hair I used to have.
Skin: Ive got acne blemishes all over my body with thick hair on my legs.
Please help me with these problems. Im Asian.

Answer:
I can tell you're under a lot of stress about your upcoming wedding. Stress will affect every part of your body, and can change the way you look. I suspect that some of the blemishes you're noticing on your body may be caused by stress.

I would advise you to be sure to take some time for yourself. To help ease your stress, do one thing everyday that makes you happy or makes you laugh. It can be a small thing like watching a
beautiful sunset, or holding your pet cat while she purrs, or listening to a favorite piece of music, or dancing to a romantic song. It can be a quick thing like remembering your favorite relative who makes you smile, or smelling a fragrant flower. The important
thing is to treat yourself well with something for YOU.

The second thing you can do to ease your stress is to make sure you are getting enough sleep. You will compromise your health by failing to rest your body. Most people in their 20s do not get enough sleep because they are busy with careers, friends, family
responsibilities, or from staying up too late with all of the entertainment options available -- TVs, PCs, iPods, email, etc. Planning a wedding and having anxiety about your new married life are activities that certainly can keep you up at night if you let them
overwhelm you.

Now, to answer your specific beauty problems:

1) Hair

Your hair needs to recover from all of the chemicals and processing you've done to it. I think you need a deep conditioner to help restore some of the moisture and oils you've lost from the perms and straightening. Deep conditioners are products that are meant to be left on the hair for 30 mins, then rinsed out. They have thick emulsifiers, waxes, and oils and are effective for dry and damaged hair. Although a deep conditioner will repair the shaft, its not permanent and must be repeated. Some over-the-counter deep
conditioners are: Jhirmacks Nutri-Pak, Clairol Condition Beauty Pack Treatment, Sassons Protein Pak.

As for a tip about making your hair grow faster: Human hair grows at a pretty consistent rate of about half a millimeter or so per day, or about half an inch every month. It may grow faster or slower depending on your age, your genetics and your hormonal state, but half a millimeter per day is a good average. Stress, poor health, and a poor diet will retard growth, so the advice I gave you in my earlier letter will help you keep your hair healthy and growing.

2) Pimples

Pimples, also called acne, grow from the inside of your skin, not as a result of fatty foods or dirt. Scrubbing your skin will not reduce acne if youre genetically predisposed for it, so spare your skin the
rough scrubs.

The best you can do is to treat your blemishes gently. Use warm water in your daily bath or shower. Don't scrub your skin too hard or use too harsh a soap -- use a mild soap like Neutrogena (which contains both salicylic acid and a little benzoyl peroxide) with a soft cloth to remove the excess oil.

Treat acne with benzoyl peroxide, an antibacterial, combined with salicylic acid (also known as beta hydroxy), an exfoliant. Benzoyl peroxide comes in a soap or ointment, like Clearasil or Stridex. Salicylic acid derives from aspirin and comes in a cream form,
like in Propa pH. Neutrogena soap contains both salicylic acid and a little benzoyl peroxide. Also try Oil of Olay Age-Defying Lotion or Clinique Turnaround Cream. You can also get topical antibiotics such as erythromyacin or tetracycline from your doctor.

3) Thick hair on your legs

I urge you to see a doctor whenever you notice a change in your body. The thick hair on your legs, if it's new and not something you've ever had before, could be an indicator of some kind of body chemistry change that a doctor may be able to explain. After you see a doctor and she/he says theres nothing wrong, the best course is to shave it off. Contrary to what many believe, shaving does not change the texture, color, or rate of hair growth.

Please try to enjoy this time of your life and don't fret so much! If you're healthy and happy, you'll look beautiful on your wedding day.

Thank you for visiting www.askabeauty.com.
Audrey Rose

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Seeks Perfection for Wedding

2005-12-17T17:02:00.000-05:00

Question:
I visited your website. I think it is the perfect site for girls. There is a wedding of my cousin in 2 months. I'm 16 and my height is 5 feet 4 inches and my weight is 68 kilo (about 150 pounds). I want a perfect figure and health for the wedding. Can you tell me a perfect routine to be perfect?

Answer:
I've received many letters from women, and I have a good understanding of the stresses women around the world feel. We take of everyone else in our family and we neglect to take core of ourselves.

The best tip I can give you to be "perfect" is to keep yourself healthy. Get at least 8 hours of sleep every night, eat green vegetables, do not smoke, and make sure you take time every day to do something that helps you relax.

Teenagers actually need about 9 hours of sleep because your body is going through complex changes. Not only are you getting taller, but your body chemistry is changing, too. You've probably noticed that your feelings are up and down a lot, and you might find
yourself worrying about school, family, and friends. That's all very normal.

An easy 15-minute relaxer is to run a hot bath with a few drops of lavender. Lower the lights and put on some soothing music. Then sit back and let your mind flow along with the lavender and the music.

And smile -- a smile will release a hormone in your brain that will make you feel happy. There have been many studies that prove that when you contract the muscles in your face that are involved in smiling, your brain reacts with pleasure. Plus, every face looks better with a smile.

Relax, take care of your health, and smile: this is the root of beauty.

Thank you for visiting www.askabeauty.com.
Audrey Rose

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Looking for a Revlon Hair Care product

2005-12-10T12:55:00.000-05:00

Question:
I've been looking all around for Fermodyl's Fermo Caresse but I can't find an outlet for it in my town. Can you help me??
Desperate in Connecticut

Answer:
Fermodyl Fermo Caresse, a conditioning shampoo, is distributed by Revlon in the United States. Revlon acquired an interest in the company that manufactures this product in 2000. I suggest you go to Revlon's Home Page and write an e-mail to the company asking for a local distributor. I've often contacted a source manufacturer when I could not find a retailer.

Or, you could call the Revlon Hotline at (800)473-8566 and ask for a local retailer.

Or, why not write Revlon's CEO Ronald O. Perelman directly? Businesses truly like to hear from a dedicated customer, and writing to Ron might get someone's immediate attention. (I doubt Ron will personally read your letter but every company has a protocol for responding to letters addressed to their Big Guy.) Revlon's HQ is at 237 Park Ave, New York, NY 10017.

Thank you for visiting my website where you can find many more beauty tips and advice: www.askabeauty.com.

Audrey Rose

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cuticles

2005-10-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

hi,

i am a beautician and i work in united arab emirates ,i would like to ask you one question.

Here there are lots of filipinos girls who work as manicurist but they cut the cuticle , which is damaging the nail.

My question is :

IS it right to cut the cuticle, if its wrong as i have learn .please help me how i can advise the clients not to allow anyone to cut their cuticle.

thank you very much in advance .

There is no generally accepted rule about cutting the

cuticle during a manicure, but my preference is like

yours: I would not want a manicurist to do it. The

cuticle acts as a seal to the nail bed and protects

nails against infection. Instead, I'd use a daily

cuticle cream to keep the cuticle moisturize and use

an orangestick to gently push back the cuticle.

Also, cutting skin can draw blood, and if the

manicurist does not make sure to thoroughly clean her

tools after very use, then the customer risks

contracting batreria infection from unclean tools:

* Hepatitis B

* Hepatitis C

* Fungal infections (athlete's foot and nail fungus)

* Bacterial infections (psuedomonas, staphylococcus,

and streptococcus)

I hope have helped you to educate your customers

against allowing their cuticles to be cut. Thank you

for visiting www.askabeauty.com

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Hair

2005-10-21T09:22:00.000-04:00

hi, my natural hair colour is dark> blond (I think) its been so long, my hair is a bit past my sholders and i kind of want my hair to be a nice shiny brunett colour kind of in between dark and light but I dont know if I can get this now cause my hair has a bit of bleech in it, the style I want is sleek and easy to manage

Thnak you for visiting www.AskaBeauty.com

The bleach in your hair will alter the color results from a dye, and only a hair professional will know how to balance the ingredients to get the color you want. However, to have shiny hair, I suggest frequent deepcondioning, particularly before your next coloring. Deep condioning is very important if you have colored your hair. Also, try using a Farouk Systems has Biosilk, a product that can help to keep your hair smooth duringdrying and can also be used on dry hair afterward. Redken's Smooth Down Heat Glide will also act as asmoother. You use these prodcuts sparingly: you don'tneed to douse each strand. Audrey

Vitamins and Skin

2005-10-21T09:16:00.000-04:00

Dear Audrey, Hope you are well, What do you think of using vitamin E or A oils over the skin? I have vitamin E capsules that I break over my face and cover it with, does it help in skin repair? Thank you.

Thank you for visitng www.AskaBeauty.com.

Vitamin E helps in cell regeneration and it is a greataid in healing wounds, cuts, abrasions, etc. Manywomen also use it to retard wrinkles. You don't say what kiind of repair you are using Vitamin E for, but Vitamin has few side affects and will not harm you ifyou're not allergic to it, so go right ahead and keep using it. Vitamin A is more of a dehydration agent. If you want to remove facial oils, it will help that process. I donot know how Vitamins A and E would mix together; I would keep it simple and use only one. Thank you for visiting www.AskaBeauty.com and for writing to me. I hope I've helped you. Audrey