A New Decade, A New Skin Care Regime

Have you been going through the motions, doing the same skin care steps everyday for years now? Your skin is a living part of your body that changes all of the time. Your skin care needs now may be different than they were last week, last year and definitely are different than the last decade!

97% of dermatologists agree, "The best way to treat and protect your skin, throughout your lifetime, is to start a daily anti-aging skin care regime as early as possible."

What is a skin care regime? Quite simply, it's your daily routine. Each morning and evening begin with a cleanser to clean out your pores, remove impurities and prepare skin for moisturizers and treatments. For daytime protection, apply a day cream with SPF sunscreen. In the evening, use a night cream. Choose from the same category as your cleanser- both will hydrate your skin and reduce signs of aging. Treat your eye area with an eye treatment. Each is designed to complement your day and night creams and treat the vulnerable eye area with extra care.

Which anti-aging regime is right for you? Take this short quiz. For each question, check one statement.

Does your facial skin have:
a. No or few lines
b.Wrinkles & some expression lines
c. Wrinkles & deep expression lines

Is your skin's elasticity:
a. Very firm & resilient
b. Beginning to lose firmness
c. Sagging, with loss of cushion & volume

Is your skin texture:
a. Mostly smooth and even
b. Occasionally dry & flaky
c. Uneven, rough & very dry

Is your skin tone:
a. Slightly uneven, but uniform
b. Discolored and blotchy
c. Uneven, with dark age spots

Is your eye area:
a. Tired looking, with fine lines & slight puffiness
b. Filled with dark circles, fine lines & wrinkles
c. Deep wrinkles & under eye bags

If you mostly answered with mostly (a) answers, check out Avon's ANEW Rejuvenate line.
If you answered with mostly (b) answers, try Avon's ANEW Reversalist line.
If you answered with mostly (c) answers, get Avon's ANEW Ultimate line.

Shop online at www.youravon.com/jbarker0004 or call me to get free samples of the product that's right for you. Lowest priced skin care line with a 100% satisfaction guarantee- honest!

Treating Hair Damage

No matter how careful we are, hair damage happens. Changes in the weather, blow drying, the use of hair straighteners and curling irons, can have adverse affects , creating small and sometimes major problems. Subtle damage signs are when hair feels dryer and tangles more easily. It can also be less manageable- not keeping its curl or shape. More significant damage is when your hair actually breaks off, leaving frazzled ends.

pictuerd at left: Avon's Advanced Techniques Intense Repair Moisture Mask- $4.99

Bring Out the Big Guns

Whether your hair is in dire straits or just needs some TLC, a deep treatment conditioner can be the solution to getting it back in top shape. Daily conditioners are lighter and just stay on the surface of the hair. Deep conditioners are designed to penetrate the cuticle and go to the core of the hair shaft and target the strength and elasticity.

Take Your Time

If you're giving yourself a deep treatment, remember it takes time to work properly. After shampooing, towel dry hair so the conditioner can work to its full potential. Apply enough so that a heavy coating covers the entire head. If you have coarse hair, run a wide tooth comb through your hair to distribute it more evenly. Then- sit back relax and let the product work for at least 5 minutes. Last- rinse thoroughly.

Know Your Needs

Start out with a once a week treatment for mildy damaged hair. If you think you need more- try applying it every other wash for one week. Over doing it can cause limp hair.

What do you do to keep your healthy and looking great?

A New Year-A new beginning

Has your life seemed out of balance these past few weeks? It's easy to do with the many demands the holidays put on you. But think back to before the holiday rush- were you always running late to appointments? Were you beating yourself up because you forgot to bring the snack you were supposed to bring to your child's soccer game? Or is your out of control To Do List keeping you away from the gym- and up all night worrying? It's astounding how quickly our lives tumble off-kilter. "When you start feeling tired, irritable, tense or resentful more often than you feel relaxed, happy or content, it's time to reassess your life and priorities,"says psychologist and life coach, Jessica Hinz, PhD. and co-author of Learn To Balance Your Life: A Practical Guide To Having It All. Tipping life's scale in your favor takes effort, but the pay off- a happier, healthier you- is worth it! Take these steps to regain your footing:

Plan Your Days
Optimize your time by breaking your day into manageable chunks-say , "before work", "at work", "family time" and "me time" - with a short must do list for each section. To make sure the list isn't overwhelming, Dr. Hinz suggests asking yourself, "Do I really need to do this?" If the answer is yes, then ask "Is there someone who can help me?" Not sure you want to commit? Sleep on it.

Make Time To Play
If you can't find time to do the things you love, like gardening, painting or reading- then join a club. It might seem crazy to commit more time to others- but doing so forces you to spend more time pursuing your passions. Ask yourself- "What would I do if I could spend my time doing only those things that bring my life meaning, passion and purpose?".

Unplug
Tweets, calls, emails, texts- call you away from what's really important.You become an "absent presence" in the lives of those who matter most- your family and friends. The solution is simple and yet difficult for many- silence your phones at important family gatherings, stop checking email after a certain hour, and don't feel pressed to get back to everyone right away.

Kiss Guilt Good Bye
Just because your friend called you at the last minute to go see a movie doesn't mean you should give up your plans to curl up and read a good book. Don't allow feelings of guilt or obligation to steal away your coveted down time. Being selfish isn't always a bad thing. You need to take care of yourself before you can tend to others.

Glowing Skin, All Winter All Winter Long

Banish dry skin this winter with these tips:

1. Choose a heavier moisturizer. If you are using a lighter moisturizer in the summer months, choose a heavier one now to prevent the cold winter air from drying out your skin. Make sure to apply it before bedtime too- especially in dry, flaky areas. Also use an eye cream and lip balm before you go to sleep to keep those sensitive areas supple.



2. Exfoliate. Gently remove old skin cells by exfoliating with a moisturizing scrub. Wipe away scrub with a washcloth for an easy way to remove it and is not harsh on your skin.

3. Embrace creamy makeup. Cream foundations are best in the winter because they are more emollient. Make sure to use a make-up primer first and finish off application with a powder to keep make up set in place.

4. Remember sunscreen in the winter too. Apply right after your moisturizer.

5. Raise your moisture content inside and out. Use a humidifier in your home and remember to drink plenty of water.

6. Fake a warm winter glow. But don't subject your skin to the danger and damage of tanning salon equipment. Use an applied self-tanner. Make sure to exfoliate first to get a even application. And don't forget to wash you hands afterward- orange palms are a dead give away!

Merry Christmas!

While I am enjoying the holiday time with my family, I want to pause and thank you for your business this past year and wish for you a holiday filled with joy and love.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

De-stress Your Holiday

Holiday shopping, present wrapping, party planning, and decorating are enough to make even the jolliest of us say bah humbug! Fortunately you can keep from turning into the Grinch this holiday season with these stress-busting tips.

Work in a work-out.
Exercise soothes stress. If you don't have time to head to the gym- power walk in the mall and make a mental note of the stores you want to hit when you are done. Or bundle up and head outside for a walk with your dog or head for a play day in the snow.

Turn in early.
It's tempting to stay up late to wrap just one more gift or address one more card- but losing precious sleep isn't worth it. Lack of rest increases grouchiness and tension.

Simplify gift giving.
For a group of friends or family members, draw names for a gift exchange. You'll only need to buy one gift- saving time and money. If shopping at the store is tressful, buy gift cards or gifts online. Or skip the gifts entirely and donate to a charity that your loved one is passionate about.

Step away from the buffet table.
Holiday goodies can wreak havoc on your diet. Sweets will zap your energy and those empty calories will have you stressing about weight gain. Nosh on more healthy options that provide energy such as vegies, fruit and nuts.

Learn to say no.
If you are feeling over-extended during the holidays- then it's time to start graciously excusing yourself from obligations. If the mere thought of going to event makes you tired and stressed out, it's okay to say no!

Delegate.
Let the kids address envelopes (my son is a whiz on the computer at making address labels!). Enlist the help of your spouse to clean and run to the grocery store. They may not do things exactly the way you would do it- but let it go and instead relish the extra time you have.

Change your mind-set.
Stress often comes from wishing things were different. Instead of fuming over something that is beyond your control, make a mental list of the things you are grateful for. Take deep, cleansing breaths and soak up the festive surroundings. Things may not turn out perfect, but they'll probably go well enough. Try to be flexible and keep your sense of humor.

Have a peaceful and blessed holiday with your family and friends!

Take control of your finanaces!

Are you concerned about the economy? Having a tough time making ends meet- or even finding a job? Have you thought about Avon? Avon is easy to sell because it has been a recognized American icon for over 100 years! You can earn money for the "extras" in life or to pay your bills. And best of all- you can't get fired, you can't get laid off- it's your own business. And the initial investment is less than the cost of a meal at Burgerville! If I have sparked an interest, please give me a call and I can let you know how I got started.