| Wellness / Beauty / Inspiration |
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In this issue:
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Ask the Abbey: Is it true that I shouldn't mix products from different companies?
My philosophy is that you do what works. Here at the Abbey, products are formulated that cover a broad spectrum of needs, and if used together, will produce a synergy of effects, and a variety of active ingredients will be engaged for your benefit. For example, this is the reason we put AHA into all of our toners; it is one of the most beneficial anti-aging and skin repair and renewal ingredients available, and a small dose every day is more effective than occasional high strength peels. (Not to mention that it is an easy way to achieve lasting results.) That said, the bottom line is that you should use whatever produces the best results for your skin. I never advocate fixing what isn't broken.
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| NATURAL BEAUTY: Superstar Antioxidants |
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 What should you know about idebenone, alpha lipoic acid, Coenzyme Q, turmeric, Sea Buckthorn Berry, Vitamin E and Carrot Oil?
Firstly, these are some of the most powerful anti-aging skin care actives available to fight wrinkles, increase elasticity, and promote a youthful appearance. Find any of these in your potions and you know you are using some of the best that nature and cosmetic science have to offer. Effectiveness though is based on concentration. Many cosmetic companies use miniscule amounts of an ingredient that allows it to justify marketing its inclusion in the product, but not enough to produce any significant results. You can make a rough guesstimate of concentration by looking at its position on the ingredient listing, i.e. the lower on the list of ingredients, the lower its concentration in the product. (Some companies get around this by listing active ingredients separately from the rest of the formula.) This is not foolproof though because there are some ingredients that are most useful in very minute quantities, and effectiveness may also be dependent on synergistic effects with other compounds in the formula. However, one indicator that is unequivocal is color. The compounds listed above are all strongly colored, and they are all various shades of yellow. In fact, idebenone and Coenzyme Q are bright orange! You can be sure that any product that is some shade of yellow is one that has an effective concentration of a potent active ingredient. Indeed, here at the Abbey, it is sometimes difficult to temper the color of the product just in the name of aesthetics. Another factor is that nature herself is not consistent. It is not unusual for the intensity of the color in a product like the Yellow Creme to vary somewhat from batch to batch.
The moral of the story: Want smooth skin? Think yellow.
NOTE: Find these superstar antioxidants in the following Abbey potions:
- Idebenone:Face Firming Concentrate
- Alpha Lipoic Acid:Face Firming Concentrate, The Yellow Creme, Essential Eye Crème, The Bleue Creme
- Turmeric: The Yellow Creme
- Coenzyme Q:Face Firming Concentrate, Vitamin A Liposome Serum, The Yellow Creme, Intense Line Relief, Rice & OLIVES Cleansing Serum, Eye Makeup Remover, and Facial Serum
- Sea Buckthorn Berry:Face Firming Concentrate, Vitamin A Liposome Serum, Carrot Repair Serum, The Yellow Creme, Intense Line Relief
- Carrot Oil:Carrot Repair Serum, Face Firming Concentrate, Intense Line Relief, Rice & OLIVES Cleansing Serum, Eye Makeup Remover, and Facial Serum
- Vitamin E:Face Firming Concentrate, Carrot Repair Serum, Intense Line Relief, Vitamin A Liposome Serum, The Yellow Crème, The Bleue Creme, Rice & OLIVES Cleansing Serum, Eye Makeup Remover, and Facial Serum
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| FOUNTAIN of YOUTH QUICK TIPS: 5-10 years younger. Truly. |
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Perception becomes reality and the following suggestions are easy habits of health that make you appear five to ten years younger. Truly. Trust me.
- STAND UP STRAIGHT. This seems too simplistic, but nothing presents an attitude of aging more than poor posture. So put your shoulders back, stand straight, pick up your feet, and develop a purposeful stride if you want to present a more youthful image.
- BRIGHTEN YOUR SMILE.Teeth become discolored with age or from years of drinking coffee and tea. Five to ten years can be removed from your real age by making sure your smile is bright. Once an expensive office procedure, tooth whiteners are widely available. Jump start the process with Crest Whitestrips, which are very effective and take minutes. Whitening toothpastes should be used daily. Add a little tooth whitening gel (Our choice: Plus White 5 Minute Speed Whitening Gel) to your toothbrush along with your toothpaste once a day for effective maintenance.
- BREATHE DEEPLY. Most people are shallow breathers. Whether caused by habit, anxiety, fear, or poor posture, inadequate oxygenation of your cells can lead to fatigue, poor circulation, and thus poor metabolism, which can hinder cellular renewal. The result is dull skin and a worn appearance. Make it a habit to inhale deeply throughout the day. You'll feel more energized and look better.
Hint: Believe it or not, these little things are easy to forget as you go through your day. Post a little sign where you can see it as a reminder. Think of it as a silent nag.
TAKE A DEEP BREATH! WALK TALL! SMILE!
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| SKIN CARE COSMETICS: The #1 Makeup Item for Fall |
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|  Less is Younger ~~ Keep it Natural
Skin that is losing firmness needs less makeup, not more. Makeup tends to slide into and accentuate even tiny facial furrows. Mineral powders applied with a light hand reflect light and minimize wrinkles and sagging.
The word out of the fashion world is that the one makeup item for fall that will add instant fashion savvy and glamour is a fine eyeliner brush with black eyeliner. Most people don't get a perfect line on the first try, so start simple, with a whisper thin line along the upper lashes. Stand back and evaluate. Increase the density and thickness of the line in stages, assessing the effect after each pass. If you are looking for strong drama, add a black line on the lower lid as well.
During October, the Abbey will give you a free fine point eyeliner brush with the purchase of both an Eyeliner Sealant and an Ebony Dust or Black Pearls Colours mineral powder. Just add "Eyeliner Brush" in the message box at checkout.
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| WELLNESS: Shaping Your Shape |
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 Your body shape is genetically determined. (You just knew it wasn't your fault.) It has to do with where you deposit your muscle and fat. If you have been exercising without losing your bulges, you may have been following the wrong plan because your body shape determines the most effective form of exercise (Escape Your Shape by Edward Jackowski). You are most likely one of four types:
- CONE: Approximately 30% of men and 10% of women have a cone body type. Most of your weight is carried in your back, chest, arms, and stomach.
- SPOON: About 30% of women and 10% of men have this body type. Most of your weight is carried in your hips, thighs and buttocks.
- HOURGLASS: About 40% of women and 20% of men have this shape. Weight is carried symetrically in your upper and lower body and there is at least a six inch difference between your chest or hips and your waist.
- RULER: This is 40% of men and 20% of women. Not much difference between your chest, waist, and hips. Your tendency is to put weight on around your middle.
If you can't figure out your body shape, you are probably overweight. You will need to lose a few pounds for it to emerge.
I suspect you already knew where you were going to fit in this schema, so the next step is developing a fitness plan that provides the most benefit for your shape. The goal is to burn fat and deposit muscle in all the right places.
For example, if you are a spoon or an hourglass, you should walk fast on a flat surface, and avoid step or spinning classes, and high impact aerobics. Cones and rulers should walk slower on inclines or hills, join spinning or step classes, or use a stationary bike with moderate to high resistance. Cones should avoid any exercise with hand weights or high levels of upper body resistance. Rulers are encouraged to swim and use moderate to high resistance lower AND upper body exercises. Rulers have it rough; there are no exercises they should avoid.
Alas, there is no plan that will turn a ruler into an hourglass. At least not without surgery. No matter. Being the best you is the best plan of all.
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