SkinAgain Blog

March 15, 2010

Calm Your Feet – Calm Your Day

Every week, I take care of my elderly parents and one necessary inclusion in this routine is their weekly feet grooming.  Now, I’m not going to go into details about what this requires, but I will say that it is a true act of love!  Trust me, if I wasn’t already taking care of my feet with regular pedicures, this ritual has engrained into me how we should never take our feet for granted and always make sure they get regular TLC!

Without consciously being aware of it, we give our feet a beating every day.  From hitting the pavement, flexing, bending, carrying the weight of our lives and then, of course, our oh-so-cute shoes . . .

In ancient times, gratitude for these funky body parts were a daily ritual, and they knew what they were doing.  They somehow knew that treating these kind ‘supporters’ of our souls did more than just prevent soil from entering the home.  They knew that the footbath unwound the stress, cleared scattered energy, grounded them and prevented some very unwanted side-effects later on in life.

Simple immersion into warm water can be an effective way to calm not just the feet and body, but the mind as well.

For maximum benefit, you can tailor your soak to the season.  In winter, just the warmth can do the trick.  For Spring, add Epsom salts to boost detoxification.  In Summer, add peppermint oil to boost circulation and energize your spirit.  In the Autumn, add a teaspoon of almond oil and light some candles.

To conclude any sole-soaking ritual, always use an all-natural moisturizer like SkinAgain’s pHo-tone Energizing Healing Serum, to hydrate the skin.

March 8, 2010

Women’s Love/Hate Relationship with the Media – Part 4, The Mirror

It’s definitely good to maintain high standards. After all, especially when it comes to your body, health & skin, you want to be the best you can be.

The problem: The best YOU can be is not the same as the best I can be.  We’re all different, but like in the many episodes of “Seinfeld,” both George and Jerry are seen breaking up with women because they are a “low-talker,” another had “man-hands,” one used Jerry’s toothbrush, another had a weird toe. These women got the axe because they didn’t meet the impossible standards of these comical and neurotic characters.

As we women (who have a love/hate relationship with the media) know, these sitcoms, movies and advertisements really do set standards high.

Did you watch the Academy Awards? At 46-years-old Demi Moore is the very image of age-defying beauty – (but it’s no secret that Mrs. Kutcher has indulged in the odd nip tuck over the years).   In a bizarre real-life case of the Benjamin Button effect, Demi seems to have aged backwards.  Stepping out on stage Demi’s face, body and skin appeared plumper, tighter and smoother than it has in years.

Would you say she is the best SHE can be?   I would say ‘yes’.  She can afford it.  But all of us fellow 47 year olds now have to work really hard on feeling good about the best ‘WE’ can be (knowing that if we stood next to Demi we’d look like her mother!).

The media . . . love/hate. . . do I have to say more?

January 25, 2010

Accepting Our Imperfections – Part 4

As a woman who has been blessed with ample curves from a very young age, I have watched my mother spend countless, frustrating hours trying to find flattering outfits. It is as if fashion designers are completely clueless as to what the plus sized woman is looking for. (After all, she couldn’t possibly be looking for the same thing that skinny women look for – right?) There were only two choices. If she wanted something colorful and fun, her choice was the largest and gaudiest of floral muumuus. If she needed something subtle and dressy – well – black was the only choice.

(And the fact that these same decision makers think it’s acceptable to label this clothing, “2X” or even the words “plus size” is an issue that really needs some discussion. . . )

But, my mother had class and she knew how to find classy clothes for her voluptuous body. She always envisioned herself at her best and found sexy ways to dress herself.

My mom is 84 years old now, barely walking with a walker and has breast cancer. She’s still a “plus size” (I really hate that term!). I guess you could say she has every reason to be depressed, but instead, every morning she looks into the mirror and says to herself: “I’m still alive and I’m still a woman!” Then, she proceeds to apply her lip gloss and tie her little scarf around her neck and pin her broche on her sweater. And, my 85 year old dad still swats her in her back-side when she passes by him.

I think Maya Angelou must have been referring to my mom when she said: “It’s the fire in my eyes, and the flash of my teeth, the swing in my waist, and the joy in my feet.” Or Mae West when she defined the word ‘curve’ as: “The loveliest distance between two points”.

To all of you beautiful big girls out there, we would love to hear where you like to shop, what your favorite article of clothing is and perhaps a few words about being sexy and voluptuous.

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