Beauty is in the eye of the age holder

By the ‘KITCHEN BEAUTICIAN’

One good thing about growing old is that everyone has to do it. It’s not a segment of life a person can simply opt out of.

Yet it is comforting to know that even though you are gaining a few extra pounds and wrinkling up a bit, so are all of your friends, neighbors and relatives.

Some of us are more fortunate than others; the Kitchen Beautician lucked out when it comes to dark baggy circles under the eyes but she can thank her family for the premature grey hair. The grey hair is an easy fix with a little bottle or tube of magic, but dark circles are sort of difficult.

According to a KB reader potatoes work wonders on dark circles and a little research showed potatoes have an enzyme that naturally lightens the skin.

Take a small, kind of flat potato and cut it in half. Place each cut end below the eyes and hold for 10 minutes. Do this treatment a couple of times a week. Take care not to get any of the potato juice in the eyes.

There are extreme treatments like surgery, medical crèmes and laser surgery for severe cases, but tricks like a cosmetic concealer in peach will neutralize the blue hue and skin care products with vitamins and retinol are helpful for that delicate skin under the eyes. A cold compress, an extra pillow to elevate the head and sunscreen are some valuable tips, although a good night’s sleep is probably one of the most beneficial.

Growing older has its advantages. Things like wisdom and knowledge are worth a couple crow’s feet or a pinch of hair loss here and there. Whatever condiment your body selects to dress you in during your aging process, it is important to remember that the body you are wearing is merely a covering for the real person inside. Don’t let the suit determine the beauty.

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Rest your eyes

Do you ever wish, on stressful days, that you could close your eyes and everything would disappear? All your troubles would melt and your worries would fade, and when you open your eyes you would have a fresh clean slate?

Sorry to say the Kitchen Beautician cannot work miracles. But she can give you a recipe to rest your eyes at the end of a hard day.

The heart of essential oils

By the ‘KITCHEN BEAUTICIAN’

Staff writer

The lights are low, notes of music frolic gently in the background and you’re lying limp with arms to your side. Your body sinks into the cushioned bed; the room is filled with the pleasant aroma of lavender or rose while a rhythmic massage soothes every muscle in your body.

Of all the uses for essence of oil the Kitchen Beautician recommends a massage. Whether it’s at home with your significant other or in a salon or parlor; a massage is a perfect way to unwind after a long week.

Want to hear a secret?

By the ‘KITCHEN BEAUTICIAN’

Staff writer

Come here. A little closer, shhh…

I’m about to share a secret. You don’t have to be as tall as a supermodel or have the face of a movie star to be beautiful. Beauty really is only skin deep. It’s not about the color of your hair, whether you’re pear or apple shaped. It’s not even about how straight your teeth are.

It’s all about your interior groove; your heart’s beliefs and the personality of your soul.

Yellow as the sun

By the ‘KITCHEN BEAUTICIAN’

Staff writer

What would you say is the happiest color, the one that brings the most smiles?

Yellow, right.

Yellow reminds us of the sun and that brings memories of a beautiful summer day. A bright sunny day can enhance a mood, therefore making us happy. Perhaps it’s the smiley emoticon we tuck in our emails as an electronic display of our own happiness or as an Internet-borne wish for a friend to smile. Or it could be the yellow in a shiny gold coin that makes you happy. Just remember, money can’t buy happiness.

Did you know the color yellow also increases metabolism and builds up frustration, dampening our mood? Yellow can fatigue the eyes and become quite an eye sore.

Speaking of eye sores, do you or anyone you know experience yellowing fingernails? Do you know what causes it?

Well, the Kitchen Beautician offers a few suggestions and tips.

First, make sure the yellow nails are not caused by a medical condition such as liver, kidney or lung disease. Sometimes a lack of zinc or iron can account for a yellow tinge in the nails. So can fungus of the nail and it is easy to diagnose. It can be yellow in color but most often the nail turns brown, flakes or possibly falls off and has an unpleasant odor.  Some simple explanations can be excessive cigarette smoking or using too much nail polish.

Be sure to rule out those health concerns. Fortunately, our bodies have many natural, built-in indicators of good health and proper function. We should never ignore them.

If you polish your nails, then also realize good nail health depends on a good polish regime. Always use a clear coat of polish prior to using colored and try to avoid polishes with formaldehyde in the ingredients.  

Once health concerns have been ruled, and you've begun using care in decorating your nails, try out this KB home recipe to lighten and brighten your nails:

Lemon Nail Whitener

• ¼ cup of lemon juice
• ½ cup of hot tap water
• 2 denture tablets

Pour the lemon juice in a bowl or dish large enough to hold both hands. Then add the water followed by the tablets. Soak your fingernails for about 10 minutes, rinse treatment off and pat dry.

This treatment can be used as often as you like and it will work wonders on your nails so you can save the color yellow for gold coins, smiley faces and beautiful sunny days.

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Put it there

The occupation of the human hand is about as extreme an undertaking as it gets. Hands endure the most mistreatment of any part of the body. They are exposed to the elements through every season and their job description includes an abundance of physical activity and labor. They even have to work to relax, for example to massage lotion on.