Blog Posts by Carol Belanger

Rosewater for bathing, skin care and hair care dates back to the days of Cleopatra and is prevalent in skin care and bath and beauty products today. The benefits of rosewater in skin care are many and it is beneficial for all skin types. Listed below are some of the magical benefits of rosewater:

Antioxidants - rosewater is full of vitamin A and C which aides in reviving tired skin by stimulating the cell regeneration process. The antioxidants in rosewater offer protection from free radicals and sun damage.

Restores pH balance - Rosewater is good for all skin types as it balances sebrum. Balancing sebrum is an important step in the reduction of pore size as it is the oil that clogs the pore thus streching out the pores.

Soothing and nourishing - a natural astringent with anti-inflammatory properties and hydrating properties. Rosewater has a calming effect on congested skin conditions such as acne, dermatitis or eczema.

Soothes insect bites and sunburn - a natural way to

My first impression when I applied the Lubriderm Daily Moisture lotion was the scent. The scent was quite strong upon application but it wasn't bothersome as I Lubridermreally like the smell of lavender and jasmine. I was impressed by how long the scent lingered. In fact when I first used the lotion after my bath my husband mentioned how nice the smell was. Apparently he liked the scent too.

I also liked the added ingredient of Shea Butter. Shea has great moisturizing properties and usually doesn't irritate sensitive skin. At least it didn't bother my sensitive skin.

The lotion did as it claims in soothing dry skin. Living in the North Country my hands are always dry and I suffer from occasional dry patches of skin on my hands and legs. I felt that this lotion really soothed those dry areas.

The lotion absorbs well and left no greasy feeling behind. I would recommend this product and I use it faithfully. This product retails at about $7.99 in the store which to me is comparative

We all know that no matter what age or skin color, the skin needs moisture to stay plump and supple. However, with all the skin care moisturizing products available selecting the right moisturizer that is best suited for your skin type can be quite confusing. Furthermore, all skin types need protection throughout the day from free radicals and sun damage.

Therefore, the next time you are shopping for a moisturizer consider the following guidelines:

Sensitive Skin - The most common form of irritation for those with sensitive skin are: fragrances, dyes, lanolin, and the preservatives parabens and formaldehyde. Additionally, even natural ingredients such as aloe, almond oil, etc., can cause allergic reactions and/or topical skin dermatitis. Therefore, always do a patch test prior to slathering your face with a cream or lotion.

Sensitive skin can be dry, oily or a combination of both thus following the suggestions below will help you identify the right moisturizer, however be

Baby Lips by Maybelline of New York is a repairing lip balm that offers a nice tint or clear finish. Although I never use lip balms, I must say I loved this product. I would say it is a lip balm breakthrough in offering cell regeneration of the lips thus making lips more smooth and supple.

After the first application my lips felt smooth and silky and didn't give that greasy feel like some balms do. I tried Cherry Me and the color was nice and the smell fantastic. The lip balms come in four tints (Cherry Me, Pink Punch, Grape Vine, Peach Kiss) and two clear (Quenched, Peppermint).

Maybelline Baby Lips

Maybelline indicated that this product has been clinically tested and the results after 4 weeks of use were:

94% less rough lips
82% better moisturized look
77% smoother
77% more supple

I must say that I am inclined to agree.

The product also boasts a 20 SPF and has natural ingredients such as natural shea butter and aloe, and power anti-oxidants, vitamins and a Centell

We often hear about the importance of vitamins such as Vitamin D, A, and B complexes' in our diet and the importance of minerals such as iron and calcium. However, there is one mineral that is often overlooked that is essential to good health. This mineral plays an important role in overall bodily functions such as muscle control, energy production and the elimination of harmful toxins. Have you guess what mineral it is?

If you guessed Magnesium you are correct. Most of us are deficient in magnesium. Over processed food, industrial farming which as depleted magnesium from the soil thus the produce, and the over concentration of calcium in our bodies also depletes calcium in our bodies.

Symptoms of magnesium deficiency are: Insomnia, anxiety, hyperactivity, restlessness, constipation, muscle spasms, twitches, soreness, difficulty swallowing, nack aches, headaches, chest tightness and difficulty breathing, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, extreme fatigue, and

This recipe is guaranteed to give you the perfect pie crust! It is absolutely no fail and produces a nice flaky crust.

Ingredients:

4 cups flour
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 ¾ cups shortening
1 egg - beaten
1 Tablespoon vinegar
½ cup water

Combine flour, salt, sugar and shortening. Cut the shortening into the flour with pastry cutter or knife until it is crumbly. Pastry cutter works best though.

Mix in the beaten egg, vinegar and water into the flour.

Take a handful of the mixture (about the size of a softball) and roll out onto floured pastry cloth - a pillow case works wonders!

Place pie tin face down over the rolled out dough and then flip over to place the crust into the tin or just fold in the crust in half and place in pie tin and unfold.

This recipe makes 4 crusts. If only making one pie you can freeze the remaining crust recipe.

Miscellaneous notes:
Add a little water if dough is to dry or a little

Braun Satin Hair Brush w/Ion TechnologyThe Braun Satin Hair brush with ion technology is wonderful! The brush does not pull at my hair like my inexpensive brushes do and the ion technology leaves my hair smooth.

I have thick, wavy, and coarse hair that is prone to frizz, so I usually use a leave in conditioner after washing it to tame the frizz. Additionally when I use a flat iron on my hair I always end of with those flyaway hairs. So with that in mind, I put the hair brush through some tests. First I washed my hair as normal and did not use a leave in conditioner to tame frizz and just let it dry naturally. After my hair was dry I brushed my hair with the Satin Hair brush and it really made a significant difference by smoothing out the hair, reducing frizz and added much needed shine. The second test was to see if it would reduce flyways after using a flatiron and sure enough it worked.

I really like the brush and found it easy to handle, however you have to be careful not to cover the ion jet with your

On the September 21st Today Show, Ms. Linda Wells, editor and chief of Allure magazine revealed the best of the best beauty products for 2011. Below are the products they featured on the Today show. So what do you think of these products? Have you tried any of them and if so do you think they are the best of the best? I would love to hear your thoughts.

For more product reviews pick up the October issue of Allure magazine. It lists 193 products they consider to be the best of the best.

Also, stop by Complete Skin Care Therapy and read more about skin care and hair care or visit my Shine blog (just click on my avatar below). Also test your skin care knowledge with this online interactive crossword puzzle!