I picked up an excellent book a couple of weeks ago at the drugstore that I couldn’t put down called The Antioxidant Miracle by Lester Packer, Ph.d.  Dr. Packer is a scientist who specializes in antioxidants and how they function in our bodies.  He is the director of the Packer Lab at Berkley, California State University, and who for the last few decades has focused on 5 key antioxidants that when combined produced increased effectiveness than when just taken by themselves. The network antioxidants include Lipoic acid, CoQ10, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Glutathione. 

If you are interested in reversing or preventing the signs of aging, keeping skin supple and wrinkle free, preventing cancer, diabetes, gum disease, increasing your energy, not to mention your sex life! as well as reversing bad genes you need to read this book.  Even though it’s been years since it’s been written the information still holds true and knowledge is power and if taking antioxidants will keep you healthy and strong way into your older years then we all need to know about it.

Lester Packer goes on the explain the benefits of each antioxidant in the antioxidant network.  His main focus was on the effects of lipoic acid and even though I won’t go into too much detail here on each I will touch upon what he mentions… sorry too much information to write in one post.  Firstly, in order to understand antioxidants you need to understand their opposite side “free radicals”.  Free radicals are in all of us and they are necessary - they can be helpful or hurtful.  When free radicals attack we need antioxidants to neutralize their effects.  Antioxidants are basically stopping the free radicals from destroying your healthy cells.  Now since the antioxidant has stopped the free radicals and eaten it up it is able to recycle and regenerate itself with the help of other network antioxidants. I find this completely amazing.  With age our body does not produce enough antioxidants to do this therefore it is necessary to supplement.  Certain antioxidants are not even produced by the body such as Vitamin C so taking a daily dose is recommended especially if you are not getting it from nutritional sources. 

Through Dr. Packer’s work, Lipoic acid was shown as being the most powerful antioxidant in the entire network - it actually helped to increase the levels of effectiveness of Glutathione, Vitamins C and E and CoQ10.  In another post we will go on to discuss each of these antioxidants, their importance and how it affects the other network antioxidants.  But I highly recommend picking up a copy of The Antioxidant Miracle since the information is so vast but easily read and understood.

Ok, this stuff works!  I just mentioned N.V. Perricone’s latest product in another post the Ceramic Eye Smoother but yesterday i went to Nordstroms because i have a gift card I wanted to use and was looking for some new anti-aging products - well I asked the girl if i could try out a sample of the N.V. Perricone Ceramic Skin Smoother .  I rubbed it on my face and said ok thanks and went off to check out another product.  I didn’t buy the Ceramic Skin Smoother but i wish i would have because now I have to go back!  I guess i could buy it online too.  I got home looked in the mirror and couldn’t believe how even toned my face was and not only that,  I had such a nice youthful glow happening.  I read a lot of reviews from different websites and everyone only had good things to say about this product and the results they had. They were right.  It’s very light in consistency, oil free and works great with makeup.  Nothing like a flawless finish.

There are many methods of getting rid of unwanted body hair such as waxing, sugaring, tweezing, threading, photolight hair removal, laser hair removal, electrolysis and the epilar system - which epilar has worked for me - there has been very little regrowth and it’s been well over a year since i used it.  I’m sure if i continued the treatment it would be completely gone. Here’s the post incase you want to check it out. For the epilar treatment however you do need to go to a spa offering this since it cannot be purchased for home use.  Typically costs will be slightly less then having a laser done but more treatments will be needed and of course no chance of scarring. 

If you are looking for a more permanent method of hair removal you may want to do electrolysis.  In order for hair to be permanently removed - gone forever - the hair bulb needs to be destroyed and electrolysis is considered to be the only method of permanent hair removal.  There are three methods: Galvanic, which uses a direct current and causes chemical decomposition of the hair follicle; Thermolysis, which uses high frequency to produce heat to destory the follicle; or Blend, which is a combination of both systems and sends an electric current through a fine needle.  Electrolysis can also be done in the privacy of your home if you don’t want to go to a spa and pay which can get costly over several treatments.  The Verseo ePen makes this easy and inexpensive.  Using the same technology used by professionals in the beauty industry it safely removes hair from lip, face, bikini, back and pretty much anywhere — it may ouch a little but just think no more hair! 

Kinerase has some really good skin care products that actually do what they say.  Their latest is the Brightening Anti-Aging System which are two separate products that work together. The Brightening Serum formula consists of 7 natural key ingredients that work together to give your skin a brighter more even toned complexion working to reduce the appearance of dark spots and giving an overall more even skin tone.  The spot treatment which is the pen style product has a higher concentration of the brightening ingredients and helps to target specific areas of skin discoloration or dark spots.   I just really wish these 2 were sold separately.  I would really love to try the concentrated spot treatment since i have plenty of brightening products and plus i don’t want to spend $140! I definitely recommend using some type of face brightening serum so if you don’t already have one this may be a good spend for you. 

I was just reading Allure magazines Feb. edition featuring Sarah Jessica Parker. Firstly I want to say that I absolutely LOVE her!  I once had a friend who reminded me of her so much, but unfortunately we lost touch. She had and probably still has such a wonderful fashion sense, petite but totally sexy, not the typical beautiful looks but definitely attractive … people always took notice.  Back to Sarah.. I wanted to mention how Maxim magazine totally dissed her.  They actually named her the “Unsexiest Woman Alive”!  How dare they.. have they seen her lately or even in the last few years.. did they not watch every single episode of Sex in the City!  Even though Sarah doesn’t have those “model looks” she does have a beautiful presence, an original character, great personality and not to mention an awesome body.  Combine all this and you have one very sexy girl! 

Looking for a hot new hairstyle or hair color? Or maybe you’re too afraid to make that cut? Now you can try it out first and see what it will look like on you at TheHairStyler.com. Just upload your picture and try out the thousands of hairstyles available - everything from your favorite celebrity to something simple.

After spending alot of time researching online and off for the best skin brightner and dark spot reducer I finally dropped into Sephora and picked up a bottle of the Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum. Even if you do regular peels like me it’s still important to use products that will keep your complexion looking radiant and if you are prone to hyperpigmentation or dark spots it’s even more neccessary to get it under control now before it’s gets worse and not to mention darker. 

The Vinoperfect Radiance Serum got some really great reviews so i thought I would give it a shot and trust me at $78 for a bottle I wanted to make sure i wasn’t wasting my money.  Caudalie research is all about the grape. The grape seed has powerful anti-oxidant polyphenols and the stalk and stems stimulate cell multiplication to prevent premature aging.  The combination of the active ingredient viniferene with other powerful nutrients helps to fight against free radical damage from the sun, pollution in the air, smoke as well as other culprits which cause a staggering 80% of our skin’s aging.  If only i would have known this years ago I may not have these dreaded brown spots now!  The Vinoperfect Serum has been scientifically proven to fade dark spots or hyperpigmentation and all within 4 weeks of use.  The serum does not contain any hydroquinone, which i’m hearing this year is going to be taken off the shelves and will only be available by perscription due to the long term side effects that can occur from it - anything from skin irritations to liver damage - isn’t worth the risk. One really great review I want to share with you that I came across on this product was from Emakeup.com.  I suggest you take the time to read it if you are looking for a new skin lightener and brightner.  I’ll check back with you in a few weeks to give you the update on how it’s working for me.

I am all about fast, immediate results and that includes detoxing my body.  I write about detox products alot… detox foot pads, detox foot bath, detox diet, and only because I use them and am a big believer in different ways to detox your body so it’s in prime optimal condition.  This liquid detox is a new one available from Verseo - the 48 Hour Cleanse.  A purifying and revitalizing formula made with natural antioxidants that offers a fast acting way to cleanse your body of waste and regenerate it with powerful nutrients.  This natural colon cleanse is fortified with fruits and vegetables.  The perfect aid to your new diet or to just detoxify and cleanse your body.  Feel healthy fast. Visit Verseo for more info.

I love going to events where I can try out free beauty samples.  Unfortunately though this one I can’t attend but anyone who is in New York City stop into Saks Fifth Ave on January 17 for the kick off of Wellness Week.  Eboost, an all natural immune booster used by celebrities like Heidi Klum, Paris Hilton and Molly Sims will be giving out free samples to try. Other participants offering wellness items such as Self Magazine and Equinox will be there also.  Event runs from 5 -8pm.  Don’t be late!

I hate it when i don’t get enough sleep and wake up with dark circles under my eyes not to mention the ones that are there when i do get enough sleep! Your eyes are your main focal point and whether it’s an age thing or not enough sleep thing they tell all.  So why not tell a bright, fresh story in an instant with N.V. Perricone Ceraminc Eye Smoother.   The latest in anti-aging benefits for younger, brighter eyes.  The Ceramic Eye Smoother contains a visible tint that will bid bye bye to the shadows and instead offer a luminous effect, not to mention it also fills in lines and wrinkles. Oil free, very hydrating and works great under makeup.