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Donkey Milk - The Secret to Eternal Youth?

A short while ago, the world's oldest woman passed away at 116 years of age. Her name was Maria Esther de Capovilla from Ecuador, and her longevity was put firmly down to the wonders of donkey's milk. Donkey milk? This was news to me. After all, I seek out new beauty anti-aging products like I'm going to die tomorrow. I've never heard of donkey's milk as the secret to beauty and longevity.

For centuries, donkey’s milk has been recognized and revered for its exceptional anti-aging and regenerating qualities. It was Cleopatra’s secret to eternal beauty. Very famous were the baths of Cleopatra who used to travel with hundreds of donkeys to fill the royal bath tubs. It is rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, and C, D and E and minerals and the high proteins in the milk help the skin to feel smooth and silky.

Why donkey milk? According to CosmeticsDesign.com, "The milk also has 60 times the vitamin C content as cow's milk, as well as containing vitamins A, D and E, and is a rich source of calcium and phosphorous, making it highly beneficial, both for consumption and skin care applications."

I know the next question... where to find it. There are Web sites devoted to the burro-juice, such as bohemia-style.com, or www.kickingdonkeyproducts.com. IF anyone has used a product with donkey milk let us know what you think.

Posted by Nancy Nehlsen on October 02, 2006 at 10:12 AM in Beauty | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

The Perfect Brow

I've mentioned before that one of the inevitable signs of aging is losing your eyebrows. There are worse things you could lose, however, a good pair of eyebrows set the stage for makeup by opening the eyes up, polishing the look and even making you appear 10 years younger.

Now there is hope of recreating some of that younger glamour. Eyebrow Groomer for the Stars Anastasia Soare has a great line of eyebrow makeup and shaping techniques that have amazing results. It's almost foolproof and there's a 30 day guarantee.

Posted by Nancy Nehlsen on August 03, 2006 at 11:08 AM in Beauty | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Has Anyone Ever Used A Face Bra?

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'll try anything.

FacebApparently during an episode of Ally McBeal, Elaine - played by Jane Krakowski -invented a Face Bra.  I don’t know whose Face Bra came first, Elaine’s or Vicki Southard’s, but both are amusing. However, I think I got far more out of the amusement provided by Elaine’s Face Bra than the one I purchased from the Face Wrap web site for $79 (which included the minerals, hair cover and basting bottle).

The Face Wrap/Face Bra is an elastic cotton contraption that supposedly removes impurities in the skin by keeping the proprietary minerals in constant contact with your skin, thereby lifting, firming, smoothing, softening, and anything else your skin needs to be stunningly beautiful.

And you can use it as often as you like! That is, if you have an engineer in the family to help you figure out how to get it on. Then you must either lie in the tub, or find some other way to keep your surroundings dry, as you continually “baste” the bra with the mineral solution.

The Face Bra may actually work when used properly. Vicki promises results after four or five uses.  I wrestled with it twice, enduring my children’s laughter and my husband’s ridicule, hoping I would see something – ANYTHING – to make the process worth the $79. I admit it: I’ll try anything.  But I also admit: if it’s time-consuming, difficult and embarrassing to use ... I’ll quit.

Posted by Nancy Nehlsen on July 29, 2006 at 02:42 PM in Beauty | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

Simple, Non Surgical Ways to Give Yourself a Beauty Boost

We can have our eyes lifted, Botox our crow’s feet and exfoliate our faces back to infancy, but there are several undeniable signs of aging that will give you away despite your surgeon’s best efforts. 

  1. Discolored teeth
    Even those over-whitened smiles that are obvious products of cosmetic dentist add brightness to the entire face. Tooth whitening is an easy fix. There are professional bleaching solutions, lasers, and even over-the-counter products that work. I used one of the early professional bleaching systems that required having the dentist take impressions of my upper teeth, then wearing a mouthpiece filled with a nasty tasting bleach to bed every night. Hated the taste - loved the result.
  2. Back of the hands 
    If only white party gloves would make a comeback. Bulging veins, loose skin and age spots have made me want to hide my hands in public for years now. The Boomers have forced the cosmetic industry to find answers to “old hands." Peels, tretinoin creams and lasers can remove the tell-tale spots. And now plastic surgeons are even using fat injections to restore the original contour of your hands.
  3. Thinning, dull hair 
    I remember the days when I would swing my head from side to side to show off my bouncy, shiny hair – of which there was an abundance.  Now my scalp shows through in places if I fail to use the hand mirror when styling. First, we must say goodbye to Lady Clairol. Aging hair needs professional coloring.  Dimensional color gives the appearance of a fuller head of hair.  Professional conditioners, spray on glosses and balms with shine added make hair look youthfully healthy. In cases of severely thinning hair, The Hair Club offers non-surgical hair enhancement – custom designed hair additions that are attached with surgical glue and look completely natural.
  4. Elastic waistbands 
    Okay, this is one you can definitely do something about. I don’t care how comfortable those pants are, elastic waistbands and pastel prints (including any kind of fruit, ladybugs, or any other species of insect) tell the world you have lost your sense of style. Don’t dress like your daughter, but don’t dress like your grandmother either.
  5. Too-dark eyebrow pencil 
    Young girls rarely overdue the eyebrow pencil because young girls generally have eyebrows.  Along with thinning hair comes thinning eyebrows. I thought about permanent makeup until I heard a warning that made perfect sense to me: I was told that permanent makeup will stay in the same place it’s applied even when your eyebrows have slid down below their original location – leaving you with two sets of eyebrows. I want more eyebrows, but only in one spot.
  6. Sensible shoes
    Fortunately the extreme pointy toes and stiletto heels began to lose popularity about the time my hammer toe popped up providing a solid barrier to pointy toes and my ankles refused to support my body propped upon such a spindly base.  That doesn’t mean, however, that I have switched to orthopedics.  It takes more work to find fashionable shoes that actually feel good on deformed feet, but it can be done.

Most of us are somewhere in between “I’m ready for the extreme makeover” and “I’m not quite ready to give up yet.”  Simple fixes may keep us away from the final frontiers – the knife, the needle and the wardrobe consultant – for a little while longer.

Posted by Nancy Nehlsen on July 21, 2006 at 04:15 PM in Beauty | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Wrinkle and Facial Line Lowdown

Apparently there are a lot more facial/wrinkle fillers out there than Restylane - check out the list on this Web site, Realself.com, about skin treatments and techniques. Another nice thing about this site is that they have a comment section.

Posted by Nancy Nehlsen on July 06, 2006 at 08:18 AM in Beauty | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Mature Means Better!

One of our WP50 readers sent me an email that I have to share because I'm finding that there are a lot of men out there that think older women are hot (YES!!!) along with the fact that they aren't defining beauty on outer appearances alone. Thanks John!

Dear Nancy:

   I'm a man who is almost sixty and am enjoying your blog site. I used to get my hair cut by Lucille. Lucille found a wonderful man who lovers her, and unlike her first husband, does not curse at her or berate her. One day while waiting for my appointment I saw, in a magazine, a beautiful model. She was about my age...she had a pretty face and gorgeous legs.

    "Lucille," I said. "Why is it now that I'm older the younger women do not turn me on as much. Look at this beautiful model!" Lucille looked at me and smiled. "YOU GREW UP!" she said.

    Lucille talked to me about women's worries. "Who gives a damn about cellulite? At our age with our glasses off (or contacts out) you don't really notice it in the bedroom."

   "So a woman's breasts began to sag. At least she doesn't have breast cancer...and if she does loose a breast, she is glad to be alive!"

   Lucille told me why I like older women. She went on and on about how "mature" meant "better." My pseudo son, Shawn, thinks I'm nuts when I point out a "good looking" babe. I always have to tell myself "Shawn is only twenty three."

I once took Shawn to the laundromat and we did our wash together. He was shocked that I fold my tee-shirts. Shawn phoned his father in Florida and told his Dad that I showed him how to do wash. His father told him to "stay away from John" washing is a woman's job!" I told Shawn that at twenty-three he shouldn't depend on his mother or sister to do HIS wash. Shawn's sister applauded me!

    Let's face it...a beautiful woman is one who can "TAKE CHARGE." Yes, she must also realize she has a feminine side as well. I walked into a store and held the door for an attractive woman. She took the door and said "My arm isn't busted!" (I told myself "She had a bad day!")

    Anyway, I love your forum Nancy. Older babes are HOT babes!

    Kind regards:   John

Posted by Nancy Nehlsen on June 27, 2006 at 07:55 AM in Beauty | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Natural Ingredients in Anti Aging Products: The Pomegranate

We've heard a lot about the health benefits of pomegranate juice in protecting the brain from free-radicals, curbing prostate cancer and cleaning out your arteries. Now we can start to look for pomegranate oil extract in anti aging moisturizers. Key studies from the Cosmetics Design Industry (read clip here) show that the oil extract has several benefits in helping mature skin maintain skin elasticity, which in turns helps to prevent fine lines.

The ingredient is also said to contain anti-inflammatory properties which should prove popular in a variety of other skin care formulas, particularly for medicated products. Dr. Howard Murad has also published a study on the benefits of the pomegranate for skin care and has a few products available on his Web site that contains his own special pomegranate extract blend.

Posted by Nancy Nehlsen on June 22, 2006 at 08:37 AM in Beauty | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Hands Show Telltale Signs of Aging

Appearances don't stop at the face. How often do you look at a person's hands? What do you notice about them? I tend to admire nice looking hands and well manicured nails, and equate those characteristics with a more youthful appearance.

Here's an interesting article from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons about the youthful appearance of hands.

Posted by Nancy Nehlsen on June 14, 2006 at 08:03 AM in Beauty | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Time in a Bottle

How many products do we try that promise "Youthful Skin" or "Magical Anti-Aging" properties that will guarantee the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles in two days or less? If one of those cosmetic companies just offered the ability for us to freeze time in a bottle we would surely go to the ends of the earth to seek it.

A Website that reports on beauty industry topics, Happi.com, recently published an article on what kind of products the cosmeceuticals retail marketplace is going to develop in the coming year. Granted, we don't want to look "Cher-ifyed," but there are companies like Estee Lauder, Nivea and Oil of Olay that truly want to provide women (and, yes, MEN!)  with the best anti-aging, youthful, firming, glowing face cream available.

D'vine, a company in Iowa has developed wine-based skin care products that will give us less preservatives and more anti-oxidants with "higher percentages of botanical ingredients to fight free radicals, promote elasticity, stimulate collagen production and improve the skin’s integrity" all while nourishing and calming the skin.

As new products become available I'm looking at ways to determine if something truly does work or if it's quackery. Please continue to share your comments and experiences!

Posted by Nancy Nehlsen on June 01, 2006 at 07:18 PM in Beauty | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Skindulgence Indulgence

When I first met Sheree DeWulf I was interested primarily in her story of fighting Stage Four cancer and winning. It was a fascinating and inspiring story. But even as you listen to Sheree describe the endless treatments, her setbacks, determination and victory over her disease, you can’t help but be struck by her outstanding looks. She looks radiant, healthy and strikingly pretty. For someone who has undergone years of illness, chemotherapy and radiation, only to be told she would not live another five years, the beautiful tanned skin and dazzling smile just don’t fit.

How does she do it?  “Well, I eat better now than I did before my illness. I take pretty good care of myself. When it’s ‘learn to take care of your body or die’ – you learn.  But I do have a wonderful secret,” she smiles and hands me a box with three plastic bottles in it. “Try this,” she says.  “You’ll be amazed.”

I bought the Skindulgence cleanser, mask and moisturizer; took it home; and painted the mask on my skin immediately. I wanted to look like Sheree. But I’ll let her tell you how she found this marvelous product and what it’s done for her:

While vacationing in Mexico I was introduced to a fantastic product called Skindulgence 30-Minute Non-surgical Facelift. The woman who told me about it was from Hawaii.  She was beautiful and her skin was radiant. It was hard to believe she was 49 years old. Her name is Swan and she owns and operates a Modeling Agency on the Big Island.

The majority of Swan’s models are over 35 and they all use this product – including Swan. Swan’s traveling companion, Cammy, uses the product in her massage therapy practice, charging $90 for a facial and 30 minute massage. It sounded too good to be true. But my skin was showing its age, and the effects of a long and difficult illness, so I was ready to try anything.


I was celebrating my wellness, which included too much sun, too much fun and not enough sleep. I bought the system and tried after a night out. I could hardly believe the results. All the tiredness disappeared from my face. My skin looked great, my makeup went on smoother, and because I looked better – I felt better.
The rest of my body peeled and flaked from the sun, but my face and neck (where I had applied the Skindulgence) looked great.
 

Swan and I kept in touch and after several weeks of my success using her products, she asked if I would like to sell Skindulgence as a part time business. I didn’t want to work full time – my illness had made my personal time with family and friends too important to me. But I began selling Skindulgence to friends and I love it. The product sells itself and I wouldn’t be without it!  If there’s anything I can do to help women look and feel better, I want to do it.

Throughout the years I spent battling cancer I believed strongly that if I looked good, I would feel at least a little bit better. Every time I went for a treatment I would put on full makeup, do my hair and dress as fashionably as possible. People would say, “You look great”, and that gave me such a lift that I believed it added to my positive attitude during the process. Looking good really does help as much on the inside as it does on the outside.

I’m using the Skindulgence products and the response from my staff has been positive. However, they’re all wanting to borrow mine before they make the investment for themselves. It costs $129 for the kit and lasts 90 days.

Sheree’s web site is www.mylexxus.comshereedewulf. We taped an interview for the Well Past 50 video series that we will be posting soon. I can't wait until you see how terrific she looks!

Posted by Nancy Nehlsen on May 11, 2006 at 09:55 AM in Beauty | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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