Liquid Gold Thirsty?

Sip one of these four wonder drinks
Beverages get a bad rap as sources of empty calories and/or nasty chemicals, but that's true only if you're downing sugary drinks or diet sodas. Reaching for the right bottle can help add disease-fighting nutrients to your diet. Women's Health nutrition advisor Lisa Drayer, swears by these extraordinary elixirs.

Cranberry-Grape Juice
Whether you buy it premixed or make it yourself, this blend bursts with benefits. New research shows that antioxidants in grape juice lower the risk of heart disease by slowing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, a process that leads to blockage in artery walls. In fact, in a recent ranking of the antioxidant content of 1,100 foods and beverages, grape juice came in 11th, second highest of all drinks studied (coffee was sixth). Cran is no slouch either, protecting against urinary tract infections, tooth decay, and E. coli bacteria — and boosting good HDL cholesterol. To cut calories, choose "no sugar added" versions like Apple & Eve Cranberry Grape 100% Juice

Iced Green Tea
This little leaf that could revs metabolism and may help you live longer. According to a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, women who quaffed just over 3 ounces of green tea daily had a 31 percent lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease than those who drank less. Scientists credit the high levels of the antioxidant EGCG in green tea. When summer heats up, try Crystal Light Green Tea on the Go packets in raspberry and honey lemon flavors which each provide 55 milligrams of antioxidants. Or brew your own: Steep four green tea bags per cup of boiling water, then chill.

Fruit-Spiked H2OOf course water is good for you, but did you know it curbs cancer? In one study, women who drank six-plus glasses each day had a 45 percent lower risk of colon cancer than those who drank fewer than two. And then there's the pretty factor: Water hydrates skin, keeping your complexion smooth and glowing. Problem is, gulping the recommended eight daily glasses can feel like a chore — especially if you're craving something sweet.

Light Soy Milk
Like skim cow's milk, light soy milk is rich in protein and vitamin D and has no saturated fat. But at only 70 calories per cup (versus 80 to 90 in fat-free milk), soy also delivers half the recommended daily value of energizing B vitamins. Plus, soy's isoflavones may keep you out of the hospital. One study of 65,000 women found that 16 grams of soy protein daily — about 2 cups of soy milk — reduced risk of heart disease by 75 percent and heart attack by 86 percent. The plain light kind has a delicate, nutty flavor.

Homemade Facial Masks - Make your own facial mask ! Face masks for every type of skin.

Below are some simple yet efficient homemade face masks that you can make and use in minutes.

Homemade Facial Masks for dry skin

Mask 1. Mix 2 tablespoons honey with 2 teaspoons milk. Smooth over face and throat. Leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Mask 2. You will need:
2 oz/60g ripe avocado flesh
1 oz/25g orange juice
1 tsp/5g pure acacia honey
1 tsp/5g molasses
5 drops chamomile essential oil
Put all the ingredients in a blender, or mash by hand in a bowl. Add extra orange juice if the mixture is too thick. Use your fingers to spread the mask over your face and neck and leave it on for at least 30 minutes, preferably longer, before removing. Use a warm flannel to rinse off the mask - this will help gently exfoliate skin as well as clean your face. This mask will keep for a day or two in the fridge if you don't use it all.
Mask 3. Mash apricots mix it with warm olive oil to form a paste. Apply it on your face and leave it for 10 minutes, then wash off.

Homemade Facial Masks for oily skin

Mask 1. It works wonders - Grate an apple finely and then add about 4 tablespoons of honey. Mix it well apply it to your face wait 10 minutes and rinse.
Mask 2. You will need:
1 egg white
6 drops witch hazel
6 drops lemon juice
Whisk the egg white until it's stiff, and then add the remaining ingredients. Gently apply the mixture to your face, avoiding your eyes. Leave to dry for 15 minutes or so. Rinse well with warm water.
Mask 3. Tomato Mask: For oily skin, mash up a ripe tomato and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse with warm (not hot) water.

Homemade Facial Mask for sensitive skin

Mask 1. Warm a small pot of honey in a double boiler, then test a small amount on your hand to make sure it's not too hot. When warm, apply the honey generously over your entire face. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm, then cool water.

Homemade Facial Masks for normal skin

Mask 1. Lettuce leaves are best home remedies for normal skin. Dip two large lettuce leaves in olive oil and sprinkle on them a few drops of lemon juice. Place them on both sides of your face, and then cover them with a paper towel dipped in mineral water. Wipe your face with a cotton ball soaked in warm milk, then rinse with boiled warm water.

Homemade Mud Masks for your face

You can mix Kaolin, Fullers earth or any cosmetic clay with a suitable liquid to form a mud mask. Mix the clay with the liquid to form a paste. Wash your face Pat dry your face Apply the paste on your face Leave to dry Rinse off completely.
Liquids to use:
Distilled Water
Spring Water
Rose Water : For sensitive skin
Witch Hazel : For oily skin
Herbal Tea : To treat your skin conditions
Aloe Vera juice : To nourish skin and moisturise
Egg white : For firming the skin
Egg Yolk : For nourishing the skin
Honey : For attracting moisture to the skin

More homemade facial masks

To loosen blackheads : Combine equal parts baking soda and water in your hand and rub gently on your skin for 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
Firming Facial Masks :
1. Whisk together 1 tablespoon honey, 1 egg white, 1 teaspoon glycerin and enough flour to form a paste. (Approximately ¼ cup). Smooth over face and throat. Leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.
2. BANANA MASH. Mash up a very ripe banana. Add just enough honey to make a soft pulp. Apply over face and hair. This is such a great firming mask that aging movie stars have been known to put it in the cups of their bras to make their breasts "perky."
Marie Antoinette's homemade facial mask : This wife of King Louis XVI of France was a legendary beauty. Many believe that this mixture was the secret of her clear and glowing skin - so much so that it's still used as a popular facial treatment in France. This mask is suitable for all skin types, but the witch hazel and lemon can be harsh on dry skin. If you indulge, be sure to use your regular moisturiser afterwards.
You will need:
1 egg
Juice of one lemon
4 tbsp cup non-fat dry milk powder
1 tbsp witch hazel
Put all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and mix well. Alternatively, you can blend them together by using a fork or a wire whisk. Apply the mixture to your face, neck and chest and allow it to dry for around 15 minutes. Use the remaining cream as a cleanser to remove the mask. Then, rinse your face thoroughly with warm water and pat dry.
Honey Cleansing Scrub : Mix 1 tablespoon honey with 2 tablespoons finely ground almonds and ½ teaspoon lemon juice. Rub gently onto face. Rinse off with warm water.
These homemade facial masks will make your skin glow from the inside. So go ahead... try them out and all the best!! Ideal for both men and women of all ages.
Homemade face mask for blemished skin: Take a chopped tomato, 1 tbsp of instant oatmeal, 1 tbsp lemon juice. Blend all ingredients just until combined. Apply to skin, making sure the mixture is thick enough to stay on blemished areas. Add a bit more oatmeal to thicken the mask. Leave on 10 mins. Wash with warm water.

8 Remedies for Under-Eye Dark Circles

Nothing says exhaustion and strain like dark circles under your eyes. The problem is, you may be getting plenty of sleep every night and still wake up with puffy raccoon eyes. Now what? Read on to find out why you get under-eye circles and how to reduce their appearance or get rid of them altogether.

Causes of Dark Circles

Dark circles are often a heredity trait. The skin around our eyes is the most delicate and thinnest skin in the body. Dark circles under the eyes are blood vessels that can be seen through the skin, producing the bluish tint.

Allergies are another common cause of dark circles. When you rub and scratch your itchy eyes, it irritates the skin and can break tiny capillaries beneath the skin, causing puffiness and discoloration. If allergies are the root of your problem, simply treat them or avoid what you're allergic to. If your dark circles or puffiness are constant, you may have an undetected food allergy or an allergy to a chemical in your surroundings. Consult an allergist to determine what you may be allergic to.

Chinese medicine considers dark circles as a sign of weakness in the kidney network. Kidney weakness is due to exhaustion and overstrain coupled with lack of rest and relaxation. Since the kidney network in Chinese medicine governs the hormonal system, it affects the pigment melanin. It is said that unhealthy and depleted kidneys produce pigment deposit under the skin around the eyes and other parts of the face.

Many cosmetic problems can be attributed to vitamin deficiencies. Dark circles and puffiness are often thought to be due to vitamin K deficiency or a lack of antioxidants in the diet.

It is also believed that lack of the mineral iron can cause dark circles. An iron deficiency may point to anemia, which is a potentially serious medical condition that requires treatment. If you believe you may have anemia, see your family doctor to schedule blood work. 5 Sep ?Alicia?

Dark circles occur more frequently and are more noticeable with age, because as we get older, our skin loses collagen and becomes thinner and more translucent.

Under-eye Remedies

Reduce the puffiness and lighten your circles with these all-natural solutions.

1. For starters, be sure you are getting seven to nine hours of sleep every night.

2. What you eat counts! Eat a healthy, balanced diet, drink plenty of water, and make sure you are getting all your vitamins and minerals. Be sure to get plenty of fruits and vegetables, especially cabbage, spinach, and other leafy greens. Eat at least 2 cups of organic fresh spinach everyday. Additionally, eat a handful of raw almonds (unsalted and unroasted) between meals. Avoid salty foods, as salt causes the body to retain water, which equals bloating and puffiness that is particularly noticeable under the eye.

3. Asian pear is a juicy and crunchy fruit that has long been prized by Chinese herbalists as a way to lighten under-eye circles. Asian (or Fuji) pears are packed with copper and vitamin C, antioxidant nutrients that help protect you from cellular damage caused by free radicals. When free radicals damage enough skin cells, signs of aging begin to appear. Copper is an essential component of superoxide dismutase (SOD), an enzyme that attacks these harmful agents when they enter the body via air pollution and other toxins.

4. Treat your skin while you sleep. Just before bed, lightly wet a washcloth with cold water and place over your eyes as you sleep. By morning, you should see an improvement.

5. Apply cucumber slices or cool tea bags to your eyes. Cucumber slices are famous for their ability to reduce puffiness, and the tannin in tea bags has been found to reduce swelling and discoloration. Lie down, close your eyes, and place fresh cucumber slices or cool, damp caffeinated tea bags over your eyes for about ten minutes every day.

6. Gently apply almond oil under your eye every morning and evening until you see improvement.

7. New skin-care technology has become available through years of intensive research; it is now possible to find creams and other products that can help you combat under-eye circles. A product I suggest is an all-natural anti-aging eye cream that lightens dark circles under the eye.

8. Avoid smoking, as it causes vascular problems that not only threaten your health, but also make your blood vessels appear more prominent under the skin.

Treating your skin will help, but there may also be an underlying cause. Imbalances in your life show up on your face and skin. You may consider seeing a doctor of Oriental

Medicine to uncover the root imbalance and improve your overall health.

I hope you will take these tips and put your best face forward.