posted December 23, 2003 05:44 PM            

I am a Sag (also with a Virgo rising). I like to keep myself up and fit. Meaning, I do take time to do my hair and makeup as well as exercise and do yoga. I don't like to just be a blob, but I can rough it just as easy...as long as I am clean and I have my makeup. LOL....

My philosophy is that you only have one face and one body so you should be careful how you care for it and present yourself to the world. You never know who you will meet when you are outside.

posted December 23, 2003 08:42 PM              

I think I'm vain, but maybe in a different way.

I work hard at making myself physically and spiritually beautiful from the inside, and it shows on the outside. I wear very little make-up if any at all, unless it's a special night out.

In other words, I take very effective herbs, eat right, stay active, and oh yeah, I use a GREAT skin line which changed my entire appearance. I used to have a ton of dark blotches on my face from my younger days at the beach, and I would break out even when I was older.

None of that anymore when I do all the above consistently. As for hair, I've had a cosmetology license since 1990, although I do other things too. Take it from someone who's worked on many heads, and knows what guys like too.

Clean, healthy, simple, shiny hair, (unless you're vamping up for a special occassion.)

So there's a good product line with the BEST protein which makes your hair stronger, e.g. healthy and shiny. I use a couple other things after I wash to just give my straight hair a little more manageability, and I'm off. Don't blow dry hardly at all or use hairsprays either.

And NO smoking! It contracts your blood capillaries to your skin and also causes wrinkles!

I'm also vain in that I'm very comfortable in the nude.

And oh yeah, I let myself sleep as long as I need it. Not only does your body repair itself, you actually burn a TON of calories!!

I'm selfish and vain about being good to myself. Did I just talk about myself for that long?

.gloria

posted December 24, 2003 06:28 AM              

Sure thing...

The skin line is called Obagi and is available by certain dermatologists, estheticians or plastic surgeons. I use two things. The Blender which you mix with the Retin-A they prescribe for you (or you can get the cheaper generic Tretinoin Cream, USP).

You apply that at night.

I wash my face in the morning with the Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Face Wash, which you can find at any health food store or GNP's. It's not expensive.

The other Obagi product is applied during the day called Clear.

The Blender thing speeds up cell replacement and the Clear is kind of a bleach thing, but it's not like those over the counter junks. This is amazing. Both of those Obagi products are about $55 each, but lasts a REALLY long time. You don't need too much. I think each lasts me about 6 months.

I also recommend a chemical peel which the doctor will do. It's about $150, but there's nothing which will come close to the results you will get. It's a wonderful transformation. The skin on my face used to be thick as leather, now it's translucent and my pores very tight.

I've been using above for a few years now, but I was still getting that ONE boil on my chin at "that time of the month".

I've been taking every herb in the book for that, and FINALLY hit the jackpot. Virtually eliminated the monthly visitors 100%. 1000 mg of Evening Primrose Oil a day. I really shop around for herbs for good quality at a good price. Do you have a Whole Foods market nearby? The Whole Foods Brand of Primrose is great.

If not you can check out there prices at wholefoods.com. Cheapest prices on herbs anywhere.

I too have a sensitive stomach, so the herbs I take and the amount I take go well with me. And nothing makes me jittery of anything crazy like that. Here's what else I take every day:

Spirulina Herbal Diet by Rainbow Light
2 pills in the morning
It discourages you from craving junk food!!
Keeps your system pure.

Calcium + by Rainbow Light
Includes the right amount of magnesium so the calcium is absorbed by your body.
Also incudes other goodies like bee pollen.

A Centrum.

A good B-complex which includes ALL the B's.

Ginseng Gotu-Kola by Solaray
2 in the morning.

Amino Fuel - Mass by Twinlab
Amino Acids are MANDATORY.
This one has a good potency.
It will actually tone your muscles, and the more muscle you have, the more fat you burn.
I mean, even if you don't exercise you feel toned.
I take half of what the bottle says because it's a tiny bit more costly.
Amino Acids are the building blocks for cells, so it works on many levels and makes you feel totally "there".

As for hair, the BEST protein (and I mean, I've tried a million different products on a million different people, is a protein called cationic triamine complex.

There are two product lines which use it in some of there products. You'll have to read the ingredients to be sure. But if you use the purest form of it, basically liquid cationic triamine complex, it will be in Integrity by Joico, and CAT by Redken.

Check it out. Women with fine blond hair who could never grow their hair past their shoulders because it would always break, used this product and their hair grew longer than they ever dreamed, and it was strong and thicker.

Then, in these two lines, that protein may also be included in shampoos and cream conditioners and even styling products.

I've tried everything in the Redken line, but I prefer to use Joico because they use this triamine complex protein in their styling products, which work really nice too. Like the Travallo hairspray is light and you can still run your fingers through your hair. So can yo maaaan.

As for shine, there are a lot of products out there. I've been into the Bed Head line cuz it gives my thick hair that silky, dewy, shiny look. And I'm actually going to try the stuff Demi Moore uses. Have you seen her hair shine?

It's called oh, I have to find it again. Trek something.

The pure shine products like shiny sprays or glosses are usually really expensive, so you'd have to experiment. I use a really cheap one that I mix with the Bed Head Control Freak Serum #3. I buy it at the Sally's Beauty Supply, called Shine by Queen Helene. Really gives your hair a polish and a little goes a long way. It's like less than $5.

Well, I can go on and on. I do advise women AND men on beauty products and make-up, etc., and I enjoy it, so if you want to know anything else, I'm like the "master of none".

with love & support,

.gloria

posted December 24, 2003 12:40 PM            

My favorite is the Moisture Maniac and Control Freak line. I love the serum and also the shine products. After party is great for that sleek straight look!!!!! For the cool pokey look I use the Bed Head paste (can't remember the name right now and I am too lazy to check it out..LOL)

My other favorites....I like the intense Abba shampoo and conditioner that has a bit of mint in it. Makes me tingle

posted December 24, 2003 01:29 PM              

(Wych - too funny)

The other thing about hair, the #1 thing I tell everyone NOT to do is a hot oil treatment. Why?

Well, if you've done it you'll notice the first day your hair looks fabulous darling. But the next day, when you wake up, it's looks like s***!! Ever notice that?

The reason is that the oil molecule is way too plump for your hair to absorb. So all it's doing is covering your hair BUT it's also blocking out any moisture in the air from getting to your hair!!

The same with any product which uses mineral oil and cholesterol, etc. Those molecules are too big. The protein I mentioned is so excellent because it fully binds with the hair. Each strand of hair looks very scaley under a microscope. The good protein molecule fills in the spaces around the scales, hence, your hair follicle is stronger, which makes it smoother, which makes it stronger and shinier.

Have we lost all the dudes from this thread? Probably...

As for herbs & supplements, read some of Deepok Chopras stuff on healing the body. Supplements HAVE to be taken every day. Each part of the body has a lifespan. The skeleton you had over a year ago is no longer. It's been completely replaced. Organs renew every few months, and the skin every day.

I'm into all this stuff, and THEN some.

Pixelpixie. Do you know of a really good yet reasonably priced exfoliant for the feet? I even have access to the professional shops.

OH!!!! And drink lots of water. I drink a gallon a day. Good for the skin and helps you lose weight.

Good Day Holiday

.gloria

posted December 24, 2003 01:35 PM              

Look at Lisa Marie. She's always changing her look. She's Aquarius with a TON of Pisces, BUT Leo Rising!

.gloria