Time on your hands

In your 20s:
Prevention is better than cure.Get into the habit now of applying sunscreen to the back of your hands after you've applied it to your face. When you're driving, your hands are constantly exposed on the steering wheel, because UVA penetrates through glass.
By protecting your hands now, you'll prevent pigmentation blotches later, which can be time-consuming and costly to erase.
Products to try:
Revlon Nail Care De-Aging Hand Cream with SPF 10 R59,95.

In your 30s:
Beautiful hands in a hurry.Keep a tube of hand cream next to your hand basin, next to your bed and in your car – and apply it often.
But if your hands seem beyond repair, book a specialised manicure: Warm oil is massaged onto your hands and then they're dipped in paraffin wax to boost the effect (your hands heat up in the wax). It's the best way to get beautiful hands... fast.
Products to try:
Essie The Cuticle Pen R137. No bottle, no spills, so keep it in your handbag to apply to dry cuticles. Jessica Nail Whitener R99. A quick coat gives nails a groomed, glossy appearance. Medisan Waterless Hand Cleanser R8,95. Keep this product in your bag to clean your hands anywhere; it won't leave them feeling parched.

In your 40s:
Banish blotchy pigmentation.Regular exfoliation will keep your hands looking smooth and youthful. It removes dry skin, and also improves the appearance of superficial blotchiness caused by pigmentation.
A hand cream that contains antioxidants, retinol or hydroxy acids will also help, but it needs to be applied regularly.
Cape Town dermatologist Dr Ean Smit recommends microdermabrasion to treat pigmentation. IPL is another option. You should see results after the first of these non-invasive treatments, but subsequent treatments might be necessary if blotches are large or numerous.
It is very important to apply a sunblock after IPL or microdermabrasion to prevent pigmentation from returning or intensifying.
Products to try:
Sally Hansen Age Correct Retinol Hand Créme R81,95.

In your 50s:
Help for bony hands.With age, the layer of dermal fat that gives the skin its cushioning diminishes, so hands and feet look bonier and blood vessels become more obvious. Fat can be injected into the hands to soften the boniness, but respected South African plastic surgeon Dr Gavin Morrison recommends caution. 'One needs to be careful with hands, as their primary purpose is function. Also, because fat takes best where there is some subcutaneous tissue in which to site it, the risk is irregularity.'

Nails Care. Avoiding Skin & Nail Allergies.

Applying cosmetics can be a problem for women with sensitive skin when some cosmetic products can cause skin irritation and unsightly breakouts. Many of these women respond to the problem by avoiding make-up altogether.
But a leading dermatologist says some simple cosmetic suggestions and reminders can help protect women with sensitive skin.

There are some recommendatuions how to avoid Skin Allergies:

1. Choose powder when possible. Powder cosmetics are not only great at removing shine, they have very few preservatives and contain minimal ingredients that can cause skin and nail irritation. This means powder cosmetics are much less likely to cause problems for women with sensitive skin than their liquid counterparts.

2. Check sunscreen ingredients. Dermatologists recommend daily use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor 15 or higher. For women with sensitive skin and nails, this sunscreen should only contain the physical sunscreen ingredients zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Unlike chemical sunscreen agents which absorb UV rays, it is impossible to be allergic to physical sunscreen ingredients since they deflect the rays rather than absorb them.

3. Use products that contain no more than ten ingredients. Simply stated, the fewer ingredients in a product, the less likely it is that the product will cause a problem.

4. Avoid nail polishes. In addition to being easily smudged and chipped, wet nail polish can be transferred to a person's eyes and face before it dries. This casual transfer can cause problems for women with sensitive skin if they find the polish irritating or have an allergic reaction to any of the components of the polish.

5. Use foundations based on silicone. While powder is preferred to protect sensitive skin, women choosing a liquid foundation should look for one with a silicone base. Liquid facial foundations based on silicone do not cause acne, and silicone has a very low incidence of skin irritation.

Posted by Beauty Girl

How to get great hair & nails - naturally - includes list of 20 top supplements for hair and nails - Health & Beauty Aids

As with skin, the beauty of nails and hair begins with good nutrition, adequate rest, and good personal grooming habits. And, although a beautiful head of hair and well-manicured nails are not necessarily essential to good health, when they look good, we feel good.

Sometimes, in our efforts to beautify our hair and nails, we may do more damage than good. Here, let us take a look at how we can make our tresses and tips look great, gently.

In an interview with Better Nutrition, Karen Hansen, a cosmetic-marketing consultant to the natural products industry, said that if you choose to paint your nails, it's especially important to keep your cuticles well moisturized. Both nail polishes and removers are very drying, so she recommends applying natural, penetrating types of oils which are thin in consistency to keep your cuticles moist.

As far as fake nails are concerned, Hansen's recommendation is to avoid them. "They're horrible. Not only do they weaken your own nail bed, but they can cause fungus infections to develop in many people, as well."

Basic nail care is the same for both men and women, according to Hansen. She advises investing in a few basic "tools" to keep nails looking good:

1) A good nail brush: First and foremost, nails should be kept clean.
2) Moisturize: Use a good hand cream and/or oil to keep your hands and cuticles moist.
3) File, emery board, scissors, clippers: Use one or a combination of these tools to trim and smooth nails. Just as the ends of hair need to be trimmed, overly long nails can look "scraggly," too.