Natural vs. Commercial Methods:
The Battle For Making People Beautiful Rages On!

Beauty is what catches the attention first. A lot of people spend quite a big part of the day (and their earnings) to make up, most especially in the morning before the day starts. To look good means to feel good. Acne, dry skin and scalp, oily skin and scalp, dry hair, rough hands, calloused feet, proper diet and weight loss are the frequently faced problems in beauty and fitness today.

People want fast results. So they choose beauty products that could give them the result they want in just weeks or less. People rely on the commercials that promise satisfactory results in no time. Most of these products are chemically based to act on the body, skin and hair fast. However, some people who have ultra sensitive skin and hair would sometimes find it difficult to choose the right type of products to use because even hypoallergenic products are still irritating.

There are already a lot of people who turn to more natural ways to enhance beauty. There are more natural ways to be fit, healthy and beautiful. Most of these products are not seen on commercials. They are found right at home, mostly in the kitchen. They do not contain chemicals but they can guarantee fast and amazing results like those of commercialized beauty products.

Take for example a papaya. A lot of commercialized soaps, lotions and other beauty paraphernalia feature papaya as their secret ingredient. Papaya is one of those natural beauty enhancers that can easily be found in the kitchen or the nearest market. Papaya is a great whitening agent and just recently, experts found out that green papaya is even more effective.

Many famous people, although they endorse top-rating line of beauty products are even quoted to use natural ingredients such as castor oil and cranberry juice for the hair, olive oil for the nails, and even a potpourri of fruits and vegetables for slimming down. But the ultimate cleaning agent, for the majority is water. It cleanses not only the outside of the body but also the inside.

Thorough cleaning of the body is very important especially at the end of the day. You would not want to go to bed with dust and grime clinging to your hair and skin, would you? Cleaning your body does not only mean ridding of dirt, but it is also one way to relax tired muscles. There are secrets to experience spa-like treatments even when you are just at home. Taking care of your body means loving it and often pampering it.

A hot bath would be one of the best ways to soothe the knots from the shoulders to the feet. But, for more calming and relaxing bath, you could add milk and lemon juice to achieve silky smooth skin after. Or, you could give your skin the vitamins it needs without actually taking tablets or syrups orally. Instead of swallowing the vitamin E capsules, just poke them with a pin and squeeze out the oil to the tub along with regular sea salt and drops of your favorite essence oils for an invigorating soak. Complete the setting by lighting some candles or lamps with your favorite aromatherapy oils. Once inside the tub, you might forget that you are in an expensive spa instead of just in your own bathroom.

In the busy world of today, going to the beauty parlor for a makeover is a privilege. Most women do not have the time to indulge having to juggle career, family, kids, studies and other extra-curricular activities. It would be quite advantageous for them to be familiar with natural beauty secrets that can be done alone at home even in the late hours at night, when they can be sure that nobody would bother them in the bathroom or in the kitchen.

It would be marvelous to wake up the next day already looking gorgeous without going to the beauty parlor. Starting from the crowning glory - the hair, give it a boost, a life! A homemade shampoo of egg, hot water and an ounce of fresh rosemary would do the first trick. Rinse. Then follow up with deep conditioner of mayonnaise and avocado. Rinse. Then, finally, give your hair the energy it needed with olive oil and vitamin E liquid combined in boiling water. Cover with a hot towel and leave on for 30 minutes.

After having dealt with your hair, you need to pay attention to your body by giving it a good, relaxing soak in the tub for a peaceful rest. If not, experience a through exfoliation by giving your body a scrub in the shower. A combination of finely ground oatmeal and almond oil can leave your skin refreshed. If your skin hates summer, worry no more. Exfoliating with a combination of sea salt and olive oil would surely make your skin be friendly with summer.

When a trace of pimple is showing on your face, prevent it by placing an ice cube wrapped in saran over the threatening pimple. A mask made of mashed ripe banana and honey will give your face a new, vibrant feel. When going somewhere, you might want to highlight your eyes and cheeks for more stunning effect without really going through extensive alterations. You can bring out the natural beauty of your eyes and cheeks by putting the perfect shade of foundation, eye shadow, blush on and lipstick properly. The trick here is to know your skin type and skin color and to determine the colors that would compliment the shape and type of the face. And at the end of each day (or night) do not forget to remove make up. One secret is to mix castor oil, light olive oil and canola oil. Then with a cotton ball, apply tenderly over the eyes to remove make up. To reduce unwanted shine, use lemon juice mixed with cold-water toner. Found some wrinkles? Combine vodka, fennel seeds and honey (let sit for 3 days) and apply as toner with a cotton ball. Retain the freshness in your face.

Don't forget your feet! It has suffered so much for the whole day having to carry you from one place to another. Give it a treat! Give your feet a deodorizing bath with Epsom salts, white vinegar and warm water. Then exfoliate it with a mixture of strawberries, olive oil, kosher salt and finely chopped almonds. For smooth and soft feet overnight, smear on a mixture of banana, honey, lemon juice and natural margarine. Wear thick socks to bed and rinse the next day. Follow with a foot deodorizing powder made from baking powder and drops of your favorite essential oils. Your feet will love you.

And after doing everything, your hands need the last attention. Make sure that you have done the last of your chores so that your hands could get the treat they deserve. A hot oil hand treatment could leave your hands feeling soft and gentle. Heat olive oil in a dish and soak fingers to soften cuticles and strengthen nails. Combine cold cream, honey and slivered almonds to make a scrub then leave on for 10 minutes. Wrap hands in hot hand towels tightly for 10 minutes. Remove the rinse and apply leftover olive oil. Wrap hand again in toweling or inexpensive cotton hand gloves. Then put plastic over gloves and seal with rubber bands and let stay for 10 minutes. You'll feel the moisture as it creates a terrarium effect.

With these guidelines, you are ready to succumb to a peaceful sleep. You are going to face another bout with grim and dirt the next day.

But staying healthy does not only involve cleaning up. It is also important that you be cautious about what you eat and how you burn what you have just eaten. The day's work is actually an exercise already. Every time you put your body into action, calories are being burned. But sometimes, you eat more than what you burn.

Getting in shape does not necessarily involve back breaking and expensive weight loss programs. Aerobics such as walking, jogging, biking, hiking and dancing, if done regularly, are good exercises to stay in shape. For those who seek for more rigid workout, do not forget to begin exercises with warm-ups so as not to shock the muscles and the joints. In every exercise, you do not have to hurry, it is good to start slowly and increase pace as you go along the program.

Exercises and workouts are not necessarily done at a gym only. The desk or behind the wheel are good places to workout for flat abs by tensing the muscles in the abdomen area, or firming your buttocks by tensing for about 5-10 seconds with 8 repetitions. You do not need a wide space or heavy gadgets to trim down. A little floor space in your bedroom could be perfect for crunches and curls in the morning upon waking up. What matters the most is the interest and motivation to move the body and stay in shape.

If you have been exercising regularly, make sure that you have enough strength to go through the activities for the day. Do not overeat, or you might gain unwanted weight. Do not deprive yourself to starvation or you could get sick. You can eat everything you like as long as it is in moderate measurements. It is actually the overeating that causes weight gain. From time to time, give in to your cravings - half a slice of that sinful chocolate cake would do no harm as long as you are working out. In preparing food, it is not necessary to eat tasteless food. Cut the calories and fats but not the taste. Cut the meat and add more vegetables if you're preparing a meat and vegetable dish. It is better to have fruits for snacks rather than sweets and pastries. Avoid beverages such as sodas and have water instead.

With these tricks, you could add a new room in your house: your very own beauty parlor. You do not have to worry about the hairdresser or the beauty expert who can't give you the looks you so wanted to have because you, yourself, can decide what style looks good on you. You do not need to pay extra to get the smooth and silky skin you dreamed of because you can have it and maintain it without spending a fortune. All you need is right in your kitchen. You can indulge in the long refreshing soak in the tub without worrying about how long you stay or how much you'll pay. You also do not need to worry about harmful chemicals because the products you use simply do not have any. They are all-natural and can be used for all types of skin and hair. You could be your own beauty and health expert too. This way, you can be familiar with your body, you'll know what it needs and you can provide it without spending so much. Be naturally healthy and beautiful right at your home. You can see results for yourself as soon as overnight.

About the author:
The writer, Caryl B. Grecia, works for Sphinx Cyberworld Ventures whose website features the e-book for natural beauty secrets entitled "1001 Beauty Tips - Bring Out Your Natural Beauty". This e-book provides comprehensive and proven natural treatment tips for acne, skin care, hair care, make up guide, effective work out and weight loss program and scrumptious but totally healthy recipes. This is your total health guide.