The skin is the largest organ of the body and, according the ancient Chinese, our third lung.  Not only does taking good care of this vital organ make us feel better, but it also increases our natural beauty.  The daily stress of life causes the skin to look older and less vital.  Although reducing stress doesn’t always seem possible, there are steps to take to reduce the impact that stress can cause.  Beautiful skin truly does start from the inside, and by following these suggestions, you can improve the way you look and feel.

*Start by getting enough beauty sleep.  During the restful periods of sleep, the skin has a chance to regenerate collagen, elasticity, and healthy cells.  This is also the time when the body starts to balance the hormones and chemicals from the day.

*Drink plenty of water or eat foods high in water.  Consuming 64 ounces of water a day is the minimum. Increasing that amount by just a glass or two more can help the body to clear out extra toxins that start to build up over time.

*Exercise not only increases overall health, but also improves circulation and helps to detoxify the body.  The increased blood flow helps pump more blood to the skin’s surface while sweating helps to release extra toxins.

Regardless of the routine you follow, remember that true beauty lies within and is greatly accentuated by being comfortable in your own skin.  Being true to yourself, smiling, laughing, and embracing your natural beauty will lead to a more gorgeous you.

Ugh!  Is that a pimple coming up?  No matter what age, pimples seem to be a perpetual plague.  Those pesky skin blemishes make it difficult to feel beautiful, but achieving clear skin isn’t impossible.  These easy-to-follow beauty tips can help clear up that complexion:

*Cleanliness is key, but don’t over clean.  Washing your face first thing in the morning and right before bed at night is plenty.  Try to use an antibacterial facial soap which can be found to meet any income.  Over-cleaning and over-scrubbing your face can dry out the skin and cause pores to produce more oil.

*Moisturizers are an essential step in skin care and should not be skipped, even if skin is very oily.  Oil-free moisturizers can help to balance and even out the oiliest of skin.  ALWAYS choose a moisturizer with an SPF of 15 or higher, no matter what time of year it is.  The sun can still cause damage even in the winter.

*Non-comedogenic products are a must for clear skin.  Whether choosing a moisturizer, foundation, powder, or other make-up products, be sure the label says “non-comedogenic” which means that it won’t clog pores and create more blemishes.

*Carefully apply makeup to cover blemishes until they heal. Don’t over-apply your makeup foundation, or you’ll end up drawing more attention to the area than it would have had in the first place.

*Finally, listen to your mother and NEVER squeeze pimples!  Not only will the act of squeezing the skin cause bruising and possible scarring, but opening up the skin can spread bacteria and cause even more pimples.  Don’t do it!

Nothing dulls the complexion or hampers feeling good about oneself quite like dry, rough, flaky skin. To help keep skin supple and touchable, exfoliate once or twice a week to remove dead skin cells that tend to build up over time. Some areas such as hands, feet, and elbows require more frequent exfoliation, especially during the dryer times of the year. Using the Ayurvedic method of dry brushing the skin once a week will help to remove the dead skin cells with the added bonus of some detoxification of the body.

Other natural ways to exfoliate include rubbing elbows and heals with a half a lime or lemon (the citric acid will eat away some of the dead skin build-up) or mixing sweet almond oil with salt or sugar to create a homemade exfoliant. This mixture can be used to slough off dead skin cells anywhere on the body. Start by rubbing this concoction the desired areas in a circular motion, rinse, and follow up with a rich moisturizer. To get the most benefit from exfoliating and moisturizing, follow these steps right before bedtime and then cover the treated hands and feet with socks while sleeping to help lock in the moisture. Skin will be baby soft in the morning!

Beautiful Body Care — When we think about beauty, most of us concentrate on the face, but what about the body?  How you feel can greatly affect the amount of beauty you put out into the world.  Your body deserves just as much tender loving care as your face and hair.  If you aren’t feeling your best about yourself and how you look from the neck down, some small changes can create a large impact to help energize you and improve your life.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be a burden or overwhelming.  Small changes to your diet and minimal, but regular, amounts of exercise can help you feel more confident about your body.  In addition to keeping the muscles in shape, there is a lot of skin covering that body of yours.  Look for body washes with anti-aging ingredients and deep moisturizers.  These products can help reduce the look of fine lines in dry skin and restore some of that supple, youthful glow.

Don’t disregard your underarms…especially during tank-top season.  Choose a deodorant with moisturizers and soothing ingredients like soy and acai berry or chamomile.  These will reduce redness and condition dry, irritated skin.

If you find yourself struggling with dry or dull skin, you can use a lemon-honey mask by mixing equal parts of lemon juice, honey, and olive oil.  Leave on for 5-15 minutes and rinse with warm water.  Adding a half of a cup of lemon juice to your bath an create an all over brightening effect when you’re getting ready to show off a little skin.  Be sure to take some time to pamper yourself and take care of your body.

No matter what products you use or believe in, nothing is more beautiful than well-cared for skin.  Taking better care of your skin and knowing which products are right for your age and skin type are two of the most essential steps in looking and feeling beautiful.  Quality products don’t have to cost a fortune and great skin care shouldn’t break the bank.

Spend some time researching products you think might meet your needs.  Advice from the beauty counter specialists is free, so spend a little time chatting with them.  Keep in mind that well-hydrated skin will soften the look of fine lines and hydration comes from both inside and out.  Increasing your water intake by just a glass or two a day can create a noticeable difference in no time.

When choosing products for your skin, remember that serums will penetrate more deeply than lotions or creams.  Look for anti-aging products that have a higher concentration of active wrinkle-fighting ingredients, are lightweight, and contain the vitamins and antioxidants needed to repair some of the environmental damage you’ve already endured.

A hint of mint will not only make you feel refreshed, but will help your skin if you are prone to oiliness.  If you are struggling with blackheads and larger pores, try rubbing lemon juice over the areas with the most visible blackheads right before going to sleep at night.  The citric acid will dissolve the oils in the blackheads and after a few nights you should see significantly less spots.  Whatever skin care route you choose to take, consistency is key.  Your skin is your largest organ and deserves daily TLC.

Who has all of the time and money that they can use?  Not many of us.  There are several quick and easy things you can do to save both.

For instance, most of us don’t use all of the conditioner before running out of shampoo.  Instead of throwing it away, try using the extra conditioner to shave your legs.  You’ll save money by not buying shaving cream, and your legs will be super silky.

To help save time when getting ready, clean out your makeup stash regularly, at least every 6 months.  This will help keep quality items organized and your make-up fresh for the changing seasons.

Another timesaver is to find products that do multiple things at once, like using an anti-aging cream with SPF and sheer coverage.  You only have one application but you’ve completed three steps in your beauty regimen.  Use some shortcuts, stay organized, and find new uses for products you already have, and you will see the time and money start to add up.

Since this is a website about obtaining free makeup samples and free makeup tips, I don’t normally promote products that are expensive unless I really feel strongly about them.  This skin care product is one of those times!

Recently I have been using  SkinCeuticals Retexturing Activator at the recommendation of my sister.  And if you can’t trust a sister, then who do you trust!!  It was expensive (it retails around $70 for a small bottle).  I found it at the link above for much less than that.

Anyway, this product is in a small bottle, but you don’t need very much since it is a serum. In fact, some users complain that it makes their skin feel sticky. I think that is because they are using too much of it. The instructions say you only need 4-6 drops for your entire face. If you stick to that, then it really does seem to do a good “retexturing” job.  My skin feels smoother than it has in a long time, and it gets rid of the dryness too.   My regular makeup goes on much smoother too and lasts longer.

I think I am going to get more than my money’s worth from this skin care product. Here’s the link if you want to take a look! SkinCeuticals Retexturing Activator

“I’m just too tired to worry about skin care.. or anything at all!” How many times in your life have you thought something similar? I thought so. When you get tired, you simply don’t want to worry about any of those little old beauty issues. It’s easy to fall back on, especially after a long day at work. If we were able to convince ourselves to at least do one or two simple things before heading to bed, our skin would begin to adore us.

First, no matter how tired you are, you should always wash your face. Getting off all of that makeup really helps out your skin. It lets it breathe, which is never a bad thing! All it takes is a few minutes in the bathroom, a bit of warm water, and a hint of gentle soap. You don’t even have to use a fancy scrub or wash (though I encourage you to, if you have the time!) to do the job.

Second, a moisturizing cream should take a place next to your bed. As you climb into your comfy covers and get ready to lay down, just grab that cream and massage it into your face. No need to get out of bed for this one! It will make your skin feel incredibly soft by the morning, which will feel like a special treat, considering that you didn’t even have to move from your bed to make it happen.

In exchange for just a few minutes before you head to that wonderful dreamland, your skin will reward you with feeling better than it has in awhile. So the next time you’re ready to crash without doing anything, just remember how fast and easy it will be.

When you think about clearing up your skin, for most people, it immediately brings to mind things like Proactiv or expensive acne treatments. Some people spend years of their lives trying to find something that will give them that silky smooth complexion that they crave. Surprisingly though, it may be more than within your reach.

St. Ives is a product that you have probably seen in the store. More than likely, you may have dismissed it as something cheap and ineffective. You can even find it hiding in some dollar stores! The great thing about St. Ives though, is that they make something of a miracle cream — their apricot scrub. It doesn’t sound like much, but if you make sure to get it in a blackhead specific formula, it will help clear your face up in no time.

If you just can’t stand to spend money on a product, wash your face each day in the morning and at night. Make sure all of your makeup is off before you head to bed. This will help keep your pores clean, and prevent things from popping up! A gentle soap can help you in this process.

Have you ever walked out of the house only to notice that your foundation didn’t quite match your skin tone? It’s actually very common! Many people put on their foundation, make sure that it is blended well, and generally do everything right… and then find out that they’ve been using the wrong shade. Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us! Each company has a different palette of shades that they use.

The trick to a great base is finding out which shade matches your skin tone. It may sound tough, but it isn’t. Actually, one of the best ways to do it might even be fun! If you have access to a local mall, you can get a bit of help; a second opinion. The workers at the makeup counters can assist you in finding that perfect color. And how do they do this? By testing.

Before you pick any foundation, you should test it out. Put it onto your skin and see if you can tell where it went on. If it blends in perfectly, you have your color! It sounds simple, but hundreds, if not thousands, of people have a problem with it each day.