Give Yourself a Hand

"They" say we only have 15 seconds to form a first impression. We tend to think highly of someone that dresses well, speaks clearly and makes eye contact. And then there is the hand shake. Have you ever changed your first impression based on a weak handshake or holding clasping dry scaly skin?

Think about it. Is your skin hydrated and smooth? Are Age spots sending the wrong impression? Are your nails clean and well trimmed? Do you shake hands with a firm, confident grip? Depending on your profession, the opinion of your patrons could make or break your career.

Hands communicate more about a person then can be said in a short amount of time. As we deliver our presentation and wave our hands about, they tell how we take care of ourselves. As we prep and deliver food our hands tell how clean the kitchen is. As we point out yet another place a signature is required, our hands tell how we respect our body, and our clients money.

25 years ago in this country a manicure was reserved for the housewife of a wealthy business man and the emerging female business owner. Today 25% of all manicures are reserved for professional men. These men see the manicure as an intregual part of their polished image. Just as woman always have.

Taking care of ourselves should not stop at the neck, wrist or ankle (we'll get to feet in our next blog). Just as we search out proper skin care for our face based on age, season, and skin type, we need to treat our hands with the same respect.
Beyond the obvious of receiving a professional manicure once a month, taking care of our hard working digits is fairly simple.

* Moisturize your hands at least twice a day (am and pm).
* Replace your bar soap with a liquid soap in each bathroom.
* Wear protective rubber gloves when working in the garden and washing dishes.
* Each week when exfoliating your face, exfoliate your hands at the same time.
* Once a week apply your thickest, richest moisturizer to your hands before bed.
* Wear Sunscreen to prevent age spots and sun damage.
* Wear protective gloves in windy and cold weather.
* Eat balanced, healthy foods and stay hydrated!
* Do not bite your nails, or pick at any cuticles or hangnails.
* Always file in the same direction.
* Purchase a good pair of nail clippers.
* Know how you want your hands to look, and keep them that way.

For those of us who are REALLY interested keeping our hands and skin looking young, healthy and strong there are professional treatments that should be considered.
Laser's can remove sun and age spots during your lunch hour. Juvederm and Radiesse are exceptional fillers, used to add volume back into the areas of our hands where aged skin gets stretched thin.

So the next time you dress to impress, give yourself a hand for including them in your basic routine.


http://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-and-beauty/cold-weather-hands.aspx?xid=nl_EverydayHealthAsthmaandAllergies_20100202



http://www.gq.com/how-to/groom/200604/feet-first

Olympic Rings, Beautiful. Circles Under Our Eyes, Not so Much...

The representative symbol of the Olympics is the 5 interlocking ring design. This is recognized world wide as a positive symbol representing strength and limitless possibilities. These 5 rings represent the five continents or major geographical areas of the world. These regions are Africa, North & South America, Asia, Europe and Oceania. The Olympic Charter states the five-ringed symbol "represents the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games." Each ring color represents a flag from the country participating in the Olympics. The colors are vibrant and carry a sense of pride and strength. The Colors are blue, black, red, yellow and green.

The interlacing ring design was conceived by Baron Pierre de Coubertin ands first displayed at the 1920 Antwerp Games.

Circles under our eyes typically don't receive the same respect as the Olympic Rings, yet receive the same treatment worldwide. In fact we try to eliminate the blue, black and purple rings from under our eyes as quickly as possible, not put a trading pin of it on the lapel of our favorite jacket.

So what is the cause of these Rings of discontent? Lack of Sleep? Stress? Heredity? Unfortunately, it could be a combination of these and other factors. The skin around our eyes is very thin and delicate. For some it may be translucent. Capillaries are the smallest of a body's blood vessels and are very close to the surface underneath your eyes. The dark under eye circles are broken and bruised capillaries. Every time we rub our eyes we are "bruising" this tender area.
So what do we need to take into account when working towards brighter eyes, decreasing or eliminating dark circles?

• Lack of sleep may cause our skin to look pale.


• Allergies may cause dark circles in two ways: histamine reactions cause dark smudges to appear under the eyes and the normal response to the allergy 'itch' is to rub and scratch, aggravating the already compromised tissue.


• Poor diet and lack of H2O can cause ruddy, discolored areas across the entire face and decollate.


• Age plays a major part. Our skin becomes thinner, losing collagen and elasticity as we age, thus allowing any dark area, and uneven skin tone to become more pronounced.

Now it is time to get focused, and think of the dark circles as our Olympic rings. So what do we do to achieve the gold medal?

• Eating a healthy diet will help boost your energy and ward off illness. Including a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet and boosting your water intake will do your body good. It’s also a great way to reduce the appearance of dark circles under your eyes.


• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.


• Rest when possible. Close your eyes a bit earlier every night, or simply relax for a few moments after work or school each afternoon.


• Elevate your head when sleeping.


• Be conscience of when and why you are rubbing your eyes, or the eye area. When applying skin care, be very gentle. If you are experiencing dry, itchy eyes, check into soothing eyedrops to help reduce the temptation.


• Check into skin care products that contain zinc and copper to help restore elasticity and build collagen. Glycerin boosts the skin's natural protection by attracting the perfect level of moisture and hydration for the skin.

So unless you are one of those that would rather watch your normal tv shows instead of the olympics, dark circles bad, Olympic Rings, good.

http://history1900s.about.com/od/greateventsofthecentury/a/olympicfacts_2.htm

www.obagi.com

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dark-circles-under-eyes/MY00346