Healthful Elements

I’ve talked some about color and its affect on our mood, health, and spiritual state, but I wanted to give you some additional tips on how to use it to enhance your lives. I truly believe when you make your living and work space not only comfortable and beautiful but active with life-giving features, you can add to life-fulfillment.  Some of the info may be somewhat duplicate to that in a precious post about color, but it’s all good stuff worth repeating.  Because this concept is still so much a part of my life and has aided in my own health journey, I hope it helps you find your color bliss!

Bring a Rainbow Inside

There are several elements to the concept that make it special. The first one involves color, the topic of today’s article.  The theory that color affects our mood and even our health is not a new one; however, many people have no clue as to how to use it in this way.  You know how you feel when you see a rainbow?  Inspired.  Joyful.  Special.  There’s a distinct reason for the elation.  You have experienced the seven colors of the rainbow passing through your eyes.  This event triggers hormones that actually correct imbalances and create harmony in your body!  OK, so how can we get the same “rainbow” love in our homes?  I have the answer.

Simple track lighting can be your ticket to experiencing the health benefits of a natural rainbow. All you have to do is affix seven light fixtures and either place colored bulbs in them or find gels in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.  Hang the track somewhere where you can sit and relax for a nice chrometherapy session.  Instant rainbow!

What Does Each Color Do?

• Red – This is the color of vitality. It promotes energy, will power, sexuality, strength, and alertness.  It can be helpful for those with anemia, impotence, and low blood pressure.
• Orange – The color of optimism. Useful for building confidence, positive thinking, and energy reserves.  Color therapists use it to treat depression, hypothyroidism, lung problems, as well as kidney issues.
• Yellow – Known as the intellectual color. A well known, brain stimulator, yellow awakens latent mental activity.  It’s used to aid in digestion, left brain activity, as a nerve builder, and organ cleansing.
• Green – The balancing color. Green is the most predominant color on the planet and is considered the color of nature itself.  It is calming and soothing and can aid in insomnia, anxiety, and high -blood pressure.
• Blue – The color of peace. Blue is said to promote feelings of bliss and peace.  It is also used to help throat ailments, headaches, migraine, and insomnia.
• Indigo – Known as a color of purification. There is deep healing properties with indigo; such as, total body rejuvenation, cleansing, spiritual healing, and blood purification.
• Violet – A color of higher body/mind/spirit connection. Violet is a special color that brings clarity to our higher mind and can help develop a sense of whole being balance.  It is said to bring self-respect and may aid in overcoming feelings of hopelessness.

I love the study of color and the valuable information we can put to use in our lives. Have fun with adding various colors to your home and wardrobe.  The best way to discover how you respond to each color is to do an experiment that puts you in front of each one for at least five minutes.  Write down your initial reactions (emotionally and physically), and then your concluding ones at the five minute mark.  You can extend your exposure time if your lifestyle allows for it.  I will talk more about the Elements Design concept over the next few weeks.  Until then, be well-be beautiful-be happy.

For additional reading on Chromotherapy, see Holistic Online.

***The content of this post is not intended to replace professional advice from your health care provider.  All Things Chic, it’s authors, associates, commentators, or linked sites do not claim that any information will diagnose, treat, improve, or cure any disease or condition.

Get a New Bra

If you are 20, the thinnest part of your torso may be your waist, with nothing obstructing the view. If you’re “older,” the thinnest part is most likely just below the bazooms, at the ribcage. And something, two somethings, may be obstructing the view. Making the effort to be properly measured and investing in a quality bra in the correct size will give you the lift to expose this thinnest part of your torso.

The same young, thin celebrity looks thinner on the right.

Stand Up Straight

Osteoporosis has been getting a bad rap. We’ve always thought it was the brittle bones that made you stoop. Nope. My doctor says they’ve found that our stooping has caused the stoop!! You start stooping, your vertebrae has a hard time supporting you, then you stoop some more….etc. It’s a treadmill you can step off right now before it starts going down hill.

Which one of these looks thinner and younger?

Get a Good Haircut

Please go get a good, contemporary haircut. Throw away your scrunchies. In general, if you are older, a shorter haircut looks better. Long hair can drag your features downward, and we’re trying to fight gravity here! Showing your neck and bringing attention to your face, away from your less-than-svelte waistline, can make you appear thinner. Look at these great make-overs from Oprah.com and see how the years have been taken off:

In general, when you're older, shorter is better

If you keep it long, try strategic layers that accentuate your features, like this one from Stylist.com:

If you keep it long, try layers

Three easy steps without the stair-stepper or a scalpel!  I’d love to see your before and afters!

For me a baggy t-shirt and baggy shorts are neither comfortable nor motivating. I need workout clothes that won’t distract me with the sound or feel of fluttering material hitting my shoulder blades or the back of my thighs as I am working hard to reach my goal of walking two 10-minute miles on the track or pressing 200 pounds on the seated press.

I need my workout gear to be made from material that wicks away moisture and is chafe free. Of course, I also need my workout gear to fit well. I like my tops to be long and completely cover my belly and even part or all of the tush because plumber’s crack is a big NO, NO!

I also like long pants that massage the legs while feeling like a second skin. I guess I need and want a lot.  Which is why I love, love, love Zella workout gear.

Check out these Zella “Live-In” Leggings in Black.

More Zella…

And this Zella “Radiance” Racerback Tank.

The Zella workout clothing line meets all of my needs and so much more. I started wearing Zella when I returned to the gym after my second child. I had an umbilical hernia that made my belly poke out and Zella was the only clothing that made me feel comfortable. When I wear it I feel secure and motivated because it holds in, lifts up and looks good.

One of my favorite tops. I have had it for over a year and it wears wonderfully.

I loved my blue Zella "Radiance" Racerback Tank so much that I finally bought another one in pink. I am also wearing the Zella "Live-In" Leggings.

I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for the same thing. The sizes range from 0-16 and extra small to extra large. They have products in a wide array of styles, colors and fits. The prices are $30-$40 for the tops, $40-$70 for the bottoms and $70-$100 for the jackets and are sold at Nordstrom in both the store and online at Nordstrom.com.

Please note that I was not compensated in any way for this review.  I just really, really love this workout clothing line.

Did you know that sugar, particularly refined sugars and simple carbs that rapidly turn to sugar in your body, such as pasta, potatoes, and bread, can adversely affect your skin?

Read more at the Therapon Skin Health blog.

Because our cuticles tend to get dry and rough, its common to clip them to keep them in check. But this just perpetuates the cycle. When you clip them, they grow back even more jagged. It never fails, when I leave the salon they look great, but two days later they are amuck with hang nails and rough edges. So I started instructing my manicurist to push them back without clipping them. Then I come to find out, its actually healthier that way.

Read more.

But those weeks that I do exercise a lot, it’s always a pain to wash, blow-dry, and straighten my hair daily – not to mention the havoc all that washing and heat damage wreaks on my hair.

Enter waterless shampoo.

It seems all the fitness magazines I read rave about the wonders of waterless shampoo. So when I came across the TRESemmé Fresh Start Waterless Foam Shampoo on Alice.com, I just had to try the $4.59 miracle.

The label claimed that the shampoo would “zap oil and odor in between washes with this new dry shampoo. The unique formula gives hair a clean look and feel with gorgeous volume, even when you don’t wash.”

And it did. Kind of.

Today, instead of washing my hair, I applied several foam pumps of this waterless shampoo. It did liven up the strands and ends of my hair, but my roots remained oily. The result is a fresh-looking ponytail on what appears to be a hairsprayed and combed head of hair.

Not bad, but definitely not enough gorgeous volume to have left my hair down today.

Have any of you come across dry shampoos that add life and volume to your roots?

Cita is a Peruvian-born, Floridian-bred, aspiring Michigander. Recently wed to the most handsome man on earth, she blogs anonymously on Cita Online.

Well, Marika Miracles was invented so you can feel good about yourself in your workout attire. Sounds too good to be true, right? I suppose an article of clothing can only do so much, but this new shape-enhancing stylish activewear is on the right track. Their exclusive ELASTA-TIGHT fabric supports those parts that need to be supported and lifts those parts that need to be lifted. The bras, tanks and pants help shape and contour your body with two-way stretch material so you feel comfortable and look good, and we all know that feeling good is half the battle.

I received the Miraculous Waist Cincher Tank and the Miraculous Butt Booster Capri with Tummy Control to try.

I can’t say I looked quite THAT good but it really does what it says it does. In my Marika Miracles activewear, my tushy is lifted and tight, and my waist and stomach certainly don’t look like I’ve had three full-term pregnancies. I am impressed with the thick, high quality fabric, and it’s comfortable for whatever activity you’re dishing out. I can wear it running, doing Pilates, doing the Shred, or just chasing the kids around the neighborhood on their bikes.

Do yourself a favor and update your workout wardrobe. If you’ve been struggling with motivation, it might just be the incentive you need to get back on track. And if you’re a faithful workout queen, reward yourself with something fresh and new.

As a part of my quest for greater health

Toxic Ingredients 101

I hate it when the list of ingredients on the bottle is so long and so hard to read that you either have to seek out translation from a chemist or, more likely, give up trying to understand it. Let me tell you; I’m done with that. Allow me to share some startling info with you.

Are ingredients in personal care products actually harmful?

“While some companies make products that are safe to eat, other companies choose to use known human carcinogens or developmental toxins. Nearly all these chemicals can penetrate the skin, and some we ingest directly from our lips or hands. More than one-third of all personal care products contain at least one ingredient linked to cancer. When risky and unstudied chemicals are used in cosmetics, the stakes can be high — unlike trace contaminants in food or tap water, chemicals in cosmetics are base ingredients,” as stated on cosmeticsdatabase.com.

What’s the Big Deal…or the Big Word?

Propylene Glycol – Propyl-what? You should actually know this one because it’s in almost every personal care product you use; including, shampoos, shave gel, KY personal lubricant, and even some baby wipes. Though it’s one of the better ones (a lessor of many evils), it still has been linked to some scary conditions…like cancer, organ toxicity, and skin irritations.

DEA (Diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), TEA (Triethanolamine) – That’s a mouth full. The three chemical musketeers (or three homicidal overachievers) are hormone disruptors and make cancer-causing agents. What’s bad is these are found in bubble bath. Yes, that stuff that you and your kids soak in for a long time. And get this; it is easily absorbed by our skin. Another common place you will find them is in your facial cleanser.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate – Another common one that some companies claim is safe for humans. Well, it might be if you only came in contact with it a couple of times; unfortunately, if it’s in your shampoo and cleansers, you’ll experience the hazardous effects over and over. Some concerns include, cancer, skin irritations, and organ toxicity.

Parabens – One of the easy ones to pronounce, this common preservative and fragrance additive is considered highly toxic. In addition to being linked to cancer, it has implications in reproductive/developmental problems that include infertility, birth defects, organ cancers, and developmental delays in children. Scary…

FD&C Color Pigments – Don’t let them fool you by listing these at the bottom; they are killers. “For example FD&C Red #4 is no longer used in foods because of the known threat to the adrenals and bladder.” (Quoted from Suisskin.com.) But they still use it non-food items. You’d think they would just ban it altogether.

Alright, I think that’s enough scary stuff for now. The point is you NEED to read every line of the labels before you buy! Ask questions; do research; be proactive in learning about what your skin comes in contact with on a daily basis. You may not be able to avoid every chemical, but you can make better choices for yourself and your family. For more information on this topic, see Dangerous Beauty at Womenslifelink.com.

Resources: Cosmeticsdatabase.com, Suisskin.com

Photo by Shadow Stealer

For the past few years I’ve been complaining about my skin and my nails, and I’ve spent more time and money than I care to count trying different products to combat my weak, peeling nails and dry, rough skin. In fact, the history of my quest for healthier hair, skin and nails is well documented in the archives here at Chic Critique.

I’ve complained to my mom over the past few years, and she always told me to consider my diet. She pointed out that what you put IN your body is even more important than what you put ON it, and your skin and nails (and hair) are usually the first to show signs of malnutrition. It’s not that I didn’t believe that, but I thought I had a decent diet and I could never remember to take a multi-vitamin. So I kept trying products, hoping to find a miracle cure, and put my mom’s admonitions in the back of my mind.

Then I began researching whole foods, and I discovered the benefits of Cod Liver Oil. I decided to try it, hoping that it would help my mood and to prevent osteoporosis, which runs in my family. To be sure I would take it consistently, I put it with my thyroid and gastritis meds in one of those weekly medication organizers like my grandma always used.

My moods actually HAVE been better, but the real surprise came in my nails and skin. My nails are suddenly growing like weeds, and they’ve stopped splitting for the most part. My skin is looking better too. I can’t think of anything else that I’m doing that would make such a dramatic difference.

Perhaps when Old Man Winter comes to town and the dry chilly air takes its toll on my body (and my moods), I’ll have to eat my words. But for now, I’m taking my Cod Liver Oil religiously. I’d love to know if anyone else has tried it with such remarkable results.

I only began applying sunscreen daily within the last couple of years.

I have olive skin, which means I tan without even trying. Burning has never been an issue for me. And, for years, I never gave sun damage a second thought.

Until I turned 30 and looked in the mirror.

Ah. There it was. All my hours of sun worship taking up residence on my face in the form of hyper-pigmentation and even a few wrinkles.

All that to say, I’ve been on a bit of a mission to preserve what’s left of my skin. Which brings me to the point of this post: not all sunscreens are created equal.

There was a time, not too long ago, when buying a “good” sunscreen meant choosing one with a high SPF number. Well, in recent years they’ve discovered that while UVB (burning) rays are responsible for sunburn and most non-melanoma skin cancers, it’s the UVA (aging) rays that penetrate the skin more deeply causing the majority of wrinkles and photoaging, as well as the more aggressive skin cancers. (As a side note, tanning beds primarily use UVA rays, one of the many reasons to avoid them.)

SPF only measures UVB protection. So, if you’re buying sunscreen based solely on the SPF number, you may not be as protected as you think you are.

What’s needed is a broad-spectrum sunscreen. One that blocks out both UVA and UVB rays. However, even if the bottle says “broad-spectrum” you’ve got to check the ingredients. Federal regulations allow sunscreens and daily moisturizers with sun protection to be labeled “broad-spectrum” even if they provide only partial UVA protection. They are working on a UVA rating system that will eventually be implemented. Until then, here’s what to look for:

1. an SPF of 15 or higher for UVB protection

2. contains at least one of the following: Mexoryl, Helioplex, avobenzone (aka Parsol 1789), titanium dioxide or zinc oxide

While all the above ingredients block out some degree of UVA rays, the only one that blocks UVB, plus all (meaning long and short wave) UVA rays is zinc oxide. It’s the closest thing to a “total sunblock” available.

The good news is that zinc oxide has come a long way in the last few years. The latest formulations use a micro-fine form, which means you won’t end up looking like Casper at the pool. What’s more, zinc oxide is non-irritating (there are no known adverse reactions) and it’s safe for sensitive skin (it’s the only thing I use on my kids).

Another added benefit is, because it is a physical block (like titanium dioxide), you don’t have to wait 20 minutes before going out in the sun. Once it’s on, you’re protected.

Invest in a good sunscreen this summer. Apply it liberally and often. And be sure to protect your neck and chest, as well as the back of your hands as part of your daily routine — whether you’re at the pool or not.

When it comes to sunscreen, the old adage holds true: an ounce of prevention truly is worth a pound of cure.

Originally posted in May 2008 at Life with Three.