American Beauty

10 Beauty And Health Resolutions Every Woman Can Keep
By Victoria Winston, Mon Dec 26th

So you can't lose those extra 20 pounds in 30 days - or hit thegym three days a week like you wish you could. But that doesn'tmean you can't face the New Year with some resolve to be abetter, healthier, even prettier you in 2006.

In fact, Yale professor Dr. David Katz says we should lighten upon strict resolutions and approach the New Year with reasonableexpectations. Doing so will not only help you stick to yourresolve, but the small changes you make can lead to biggerchanges down the road - and an ambitious desire to improve yourlife in many more ways.

"If you let the small things add up they will add up tomeaningful changes in the overall pattern of your life, " saysKatz, director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center,and co-author of "Stealth Health: How to sneak age-defying,disease-fighting habits into your life without really trying!"

To help get you started on those small but meaningful changes,here are 10 fast and easy health and beauty resolutions - littlethings you can do to positively change the way you feel -and theway you look - in 2006! Try one - or all ten - and I promiseyou'll see the difference way before spring!

1.Never go to bed wearing make-up. No matter how tiredyou are, no matter how late it is, take just 2 minutes toslather on and tissue off a facial cleanser and your skin willthank you. Not only will it help remove surface bacteria thatcould encourage breakouts, most make up is drying to the skin soremoving it will help reduce wrinkling while you sleep. If youcan squeeze in 30 more seconds for a quick application ofmoisturizer, you'll see a definite difference in your face in 7days or less!

2.Never leave the house without sunscreen on your face.I know . . .you've heard it all before. But I promise you thattaking this two minute step will not only yield enormous healthbenefits (like reducing your risk of skin cancer) it's also thesingle most important anti aging skin care step you can take.It's true - the sun IS the number one cause of wrinkles andaging skin. And sunscreen - well it's the biggest gun in yourwrinkle defense arsenal! To make using it easy and automatic,look for either a moisturizer or a foundation with an SPF 15.

3.Protect your lips - and look younger and sexier! Want those juicy, sexy, full Angelina lips? You can have themwithout a lot of muss and fuss IF you protect your pucker with alip gloss or balm containing sunscreen. When lips are hydratedand protected they will automatically look fuller - and you'lllook younger! You can capitalize on the protection if you swapout a matte lipstick for a high wattage gloss in a medium warmpink tone.

4.Whiten your teeth. If you haven't done it yet, thisis the one resolution you MUST try! Not only is it the quickest,most inexpensive way to take years off your appearance, it canboost your confidence and give you that polished, well groomedlook rich girl - for just pennies a day.

5.Clean out your make-up bag/ bathroom drawer/ vanity -and toss any products you've had more than a year. Not onlycan this help prevent potentially serious eye or skininfections, it will force you to re-evaluate your make up needs- and every woman needs to do that at least once a year! Whenyou head out to the stores to buy items, step out of the box totry a new color or a new make up product. If you always

worelipstick, try gloss, if you only use neutral shadows try adeeper shade for a smokier look. Mix it up - and have funfinding a new look!

6.Keep up with your hair coloring. The 2 inches of"roots" look popularized on "Sex and the City" is going, going,gone! In it's place is more natural, highlighted color . Ifyou're wearing a shade you just can't bear to change, make sureyou touch up those roots every 4 weeks. If the time - or theexpense - doesn't permit that kind of attention, then thinkabout having your hair professionally highlighted and lowlighted - a mixture of many shades and tones of basic colorslike honey blonde, or chestnut brown. The look lasts for up tosix months without a touch up.

7.Trade in your shower gel for a moisturizing bar ofsoap. Did you ever wonder why the ingredient label on yourshower gel is 2 inches long and filled with chemical terms youcan't pronounce - while the ingredients on an average bar ofbeauty soap is just one sentence? Most gels contain chemicals,dyes, foaming agents, and lots of drying alcohol - all thingsyour skin doesn't need. Try a daily shower with amoisturizing soap instead - and see your entire body complexioncome alive in just 14 days or less. And - you'll save a ton ofmoney too!

8.Wear a bronzer all year long. Most gals think of apowder bronzer as a summertime treat. But it's also theHollywood secret that keeps many an aging starlet from lookingher age - or letting on how little sleep she really gets! Just aquick pouf of powder on the bridge of your nose, the tops ofyour cheers, and round the outer rim of your forehead will giveyou a glow that will leave everyone wondering . . .is she inlove . . . again ?

9.Take a calcium/vitamin D supplement every day. Whilemany women believe calcium is only important if you're pregnant- or post menopausal - the truth is gals of all ages need thisvital mineral to maintain a strong and healthy skeleton - andprotect against broken bones. What you may not realize: Studiesshow women in their 20's need this protection as much as womenin their 50's! But that's not all! The latest research showsgetting adequate calcium may also help keep skin looking youngerlonger! And since we're all staying out the sun, the vitamin Dis essential to make sure the calcium you take is absorbed. Tryit for a month - you'll see a difference!

10. Wear fragrance every day! Even if you're justspending the day doing laundry or cleaning the bathroom, studiesshow that wearing your favorite fragrance is a great way to liftyour mood and keep energy levels high. Starting your day with adousing of fragrance will also make you feel special - and thatcan affect how you act and react during the entire day. If youcan't afford to use your favorite pricey designer fragranceevery day, look for scented body lotions or anoint your pulsepoints with a fragrant bath oil. For an inexpensive scented bodypowder purchase any corn-starch based baby powder, pour into anair tight plastic container and spritz the contents severaltimes with your favorite fragrance. Close the lid, shake it -and voila - when you open it you'll have a whole container ofperfumed talc for pennies!

About the author:Victoria Winston is a former runway model and now the styledirector of Http://www.CountryDutchess.com - a fabulous fashionand beauty outlet.