Just Say No: the Anti-Fake-Bake Campaign

Just like smoking, tanning wreaks havoc on your health, yet people just can’t seem to quit. Which just may be why Jergen’s is helping the cause.  At www.jergens.com the company has started the “Glow in the Dark” initiative: For every pledge it gets from consumers who promise to practice sun safety, it gives one dollar to the Skin Cancer Foundation. With actress Rachel Bilson as its spokesperson, maybe she can help convince the masses that fake-baking is a thing of the past.

Fitting in Fitness

Making time to workout can be an impossible task. These days, I have issues even fitting in an hour a day for myself, let alone time to workout. With my full-time Master’s program and freelancing jobs, I barely have time to sleep at night. But I have learned that anything helps. Even if you hve ten minutes a day, a little somthin’ is better than nothing at all.

According to Web MD, you don’t have to do all your exercise in one stretch – you can dividie it up as you see “fit” (pun intended) to get 30 – 40 minutes in by the end of the day.

How, you ask? Do it in ten-minute increments. Go for a ten-minute run when you wake up. At lunch, do some yoga stretches and lift hand weights. In the evening while making dinner in the kitchen, do leg lifts and squats.

If you work at it throughout the day, you will burn calories and utilize muscles that will otherwise just sit there hour after hour. Every little bit helps!

It’s a Dark World

Most women have to deal with dreaded dark circles that cast a spell over their eyes, mostly from lack of sleep, too much stress, and an unhealthy diet and lifestyle. But if you are lucky enough to have this problem, there are some solutions out there that may be able to help. Deborah Moss of Shape Magazine gives some helpful tips for reducing undereye circles and darkness, including sleeping with your head elevated and drinking lots of fluids. Getting enough sleep is also clutch in making the dark  circles fade. Read all of her tips here. http://www.shape.com/lifestyle/beauty/Getting_Rid_of_Undereye_Dark_Circles.html?c=y

Turning imperfections to gold

We all worry about fine lines and aging as we reminisce about the days of our youth, but the wide range of products to choose from can help ease the blow. You can win the gold in this case – quite literally – with La Prairie Cellulare Treatment Gold Illusion Line Filler. The primer product is a  gold-infused potion creates a flawless base for makeup while hydrating and nourishing skin, so it leaves behind just a touch of subtle shimmer. Check it out here http://shoplaprairie.com/whats_new.asp?gclid=COXR0e-17pkCFeRM5Qodsl2tSA

Goop invades inboxes of active, health-concious women

There are a plethora of health and beauty-related sites that are saturating the market. But  i got particularily excited when organic guru Gwynth Paltrow launched her own weekly newsletter called GOOP. Offering everything from healthy cooking, recipes, fave restaurants and diet cleanses, Gwynth dishes on it all. As someone who is knowledgeable on the subject of health and very into being good to her body, I think the site offers great tips and tidbits. Check it out here www.goop.com

Mission Statement

My blog will be a go-to place for all things beauty, health and fitness related. With so many products on the market and so many different choices in food, beauty and exercise out there, its hard to keep it all straight. I will sift through the mess of content and find the best of the best in these topics, for women to live their healthiest, most beautiful lives – from mascara to vitamins and the latest in aesthetic treatments.

Online communities interested

There are a ton of beauty groups on facebook, online communities of people interested in beauty. http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/s.php?sid=85bbdd16d8ddd77c1951ffa9d2d0121a&init=q&sf=r&k=200000010&n=-1&q=beauty.

The same applies to healthy living and wellness. http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/s.php?sid=85bbdd16d8ddd77c1951ffa9d2d0121a&init=q&sf=r&k=200000010&n=-1&q=healthy%20living

Skincaretalk.com http://www.skincaretalk.com/?gclid=CN7lrp3m3ZkCFSAgDQodvXGYWw offers an online discussion place for people to chat about all things beauty related.

Meanwhile, beaty heaven http://www.beautyheaven.com.au/?gclid=CPi-567m3ZkCFQgNDQodozujXA is an online haven for members to blog, discuss and learn quick tips and tricks on beauty.

Web sites releated to my blog

www.health.com

www.shape.com

www.self.com

www.beauty.com

http://www.nytimes.com/pages/health/nutrition/

Hot Topics

My blog will be related to health, beauty, fitness and healthy living. I found this article that discusses a new “miracle fruit.” This relates to my one of the subjects I can follow for ten weeks; new, healthy foods and healthy eating.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/25/miracle.berries.weightloss/index.html

I also found an article on America’s healthiest diet tips, leading to an ongoing discussion on this blog about healthy and non-healthy habits women take part in to look good. What’s safe, what’s not? From fad diets to normal everyday sugar busts. http://slideshows.health.com/slide_shows/10408/slides/11679

Finally, as my generation starts aging and technology increases, what new trends are on the market in skincare, and non-invasive to invasive plastic surgery treatments. Facials? Microdermabrasion? Which is best and for what?

My profile

I am a fourth-quarter magazine grad student at Medill’s School of Journalism and am currently in the magazine project. I also currently write a weekly fashion, beauty and celebrity column for Cheeky Chicago and write regularly for People magazine, People.com, CS Magazine, DailyCandy, CS Brides, The Men’s Book and Modernluxury.com. I am from Wisconsin originally and now live downtown Chicago in Old Town.