Blog Posts by Whole Living

As you read this, your body's busy making new skin: "It takes a skin cell 28 days to move from the dermis, where it's created, to the top layers of skin, where it's naturally sloughed off," says Francesca Fusco, M.D., a New York City dermatologist.

Exfoliation kick-starts your skin's renewal system, removing dead cells and uncovering the fresher skin that's waiting underneath. So buff, scrub, and peel your way to a smoother summer these handmade scrubs.

For the Face
There are two kinds of exfoliators: physical ones (oats, crystals), which remove dead skin by literally scrubbing it away, and chemical types (glycolic, fruit acids), which dissolve the bonds that hold skin cells together, allowing them to slough off more easily.

Limit exfoliation to once a week until you know how your skin reacts. Then, you can scrub up to three times if your skin isn't showing signs of irritation.

DIY Oatmeal-Lavender Face Scrub

1 cup ground oatmeal
1/2 cup dry lavender flowers, stripped of stalks

Welcome back to Freak-Out Fridays, where wellness experts weigh in on just how much you should worry about modern health saboteurs. This week, we talked to two doctors with differing views, so that you can make an informed decision. Struggling with your own quandary? Send it to freakoutfridays@marthastewart.com.

Q: I'm traveling a ton this summer, and going through multiple full-body scanners at airports. Should I be worried about the radiation?

One doctor's take: I travel a lot, and no matter how much of a rush I'm in at the airport, I never go through the full body scanners -- period. I think the safety data on these scanners is very inconclusive, and scientists at major research institutes have raised serious concerns about their potential risks.

We're exposed to cosmic radiation when we fly at high altitudes, so with this in mind, it's important to minimize other forms of radiation. With cosmic radiation, however, exposure is low-grade and gradual, intensifying slowly over the

Kick off your shoes and leave them in the mudroom or foyer tonight. You'll avoid tracking in not only dirt and allergens (such as pollen), but possibly even pollutants. A study published in Environmental Science & Technology found that apartments in buildings whose parking lots were sealed with coal tar had significant concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, a known carcinogen. Switching to socks (or bare feet) will keep floors clearer and prolong the life of your air and vacuum filters, as well as keep you healthier.

More ideas for cleaning and greening your home.

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More Healthy Living Ideas:
The Bad Habits That Will Shorten Your Life
10 Aging Myths
10 Foods to Fight Aging
12 Ways to Prevent Food Waste at Home
How to Forage for Food
Top 10 Green Myths

Flirting, poor hygiene: Veteran instructors share some of the yoga class faux pas they could do without.

1. Cell Phones
"People come to yoga to get away from their stress," explains Sandy Blaine, cofounder of the Alameda Yoga Station in Alameda, California, "and it just follows them in the door unless they remember to turn off their phones."

2. The In-Class Caffeine Fix
"The worst?" says Seane Corn, creator of the Vinyasa Flow Yoga DVD series. "When students sip on lattes between poses."

3. Arriving Late
"People should look in and check to see if it's okay to enter, so that they don't disrupt the class in progress," suggests Baxter Bell, M.D., yoga teacher, physician, and medical acupuncturist.

Plus: What's the Best Yoga for You?

4. Chewing Gum
"In addition to the obvious safety issue," explains Blaine, "it interferes with the natural flow and rhythm of the breath in practice."

5. B.O.
"It's an intimate atmosphere," says Judith Hanson Lasater, president of the California Yoga

There are more ways than ever to support your local farmers and take back dinner. When you join a CSA (Community Sponsored Agriculture) you essentially buy a share in a farm and then receive a portion of each crop that is grown. While this used to mean huge boxes filled with mixed produce there are now others CSAs to consider.

Market-Style
Each week the farm sets up at a central location, such as a farmers' market, where members select the offerings they actually want and skip over those they don't.

Crop-Specific
If you can't get enough Asian greens, there might be a CSA near you specializing in them. More farms are offering niche shares like exotic ingredients (think ginger and daikon) or stone fruits.

Beyond Vegetables
Some CSAs have become a one-stop shop by teaming up with local creameries and pastures. For an additional fee, members can upgrade to milk and cheese, meats and seafood, even fresh flowers.

Plus: CSA Inspired Recipes

Meat Share
Join forces with a neighbor (or

Your shades do more than just make you look cool; they're essential for protecting eye health year-round. If you're in the market for a new pair this summer, keep in mind these shopping parameters from the experts.

The Lens
Look for a UV protection rating of 400, and get darker shades if your eyes are light-sensitive, says Andrea Thau, M.D., spokesperson for the American Optometric Association. Shatterproof polycarbonate plastic is inherently protective, and gray lenses distort color the least.

Plus: The Best Sunscreens

The Bridge
Glasses should rest between your brow and cheekbones, says Gail Royal, M.D., of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. So if you've got a narrow nasal bridge, opt for nose pads.

Plus: 10 Aging Myths

The Fit
The lenses should cover your eyes and the delicate skin around them. Pick frames that are as wide as your face, with a snug (but not tight) fit behind the ears.

The Frame
Sweat, makeup, and sunblock can cause chemical reactions in frames that

We always love finding the next great thing when it comes to beauty, but sometimes true comfort and results come from returning to our roots. Here, six women share their ancestral beauty secrets.

Naoumie, Cameroonian
Is there an iconic Cameroonian beauty aid? If there's one cure-all for everything from scratches to dry patches, it's palm oil. I have memories of my grandmother using it on me when I was very little.

Which part of the palm tree is the oil from? The kind that's good for skin comes from the kernel, which you mash after removing it from the middle of the fruit.

Have you found palm oil in the States? The pure oil is harder to find, though it's added to some beauty products. But since arriving here, I've mostly switched to olive oil. While similar, it's lighter and less oily -- and you can use it on cuticles, scalp, hair, and limbs for all-over softness.

Are there times when you still have to use your palm oil? In the dead of winter, when you're more scales than skin,

Noel Schroeder, a Boston-area yoga teacher and co-creator of the DVD "Notice Your Experience," designed the following pose-a-day yoga plan as a powerful antidote to life's daily stressors. Use it to ease into your day or to undo tension in the evening -- or both.

Monday: Take a Deep Breath One minute, you're enjoying your Sunday coffee, lounging on the sofa. The next, it's Monday morning and your alarm's going off. The weekend has come to a screeching halt, but the transition doesn't have to feel like whiplash. This posture helps you greet your week head on, with a clearer, calmer perspective. Seal Pose What It Does: Stretches the belly and aids digestion; restores the curve in the lower back; helps protect the spine from long hours of sitting How to Do It: Lie on your stomach with your legs and feet relaxed. Then, reaching your arms forward along the floor, straighten them just enough to lift your torso into a gentle