Martha Stewart

It is rumored that this soup was a favorite with a Chinese empress and the concubines in the Forbidden City.

Related: Simple Steps to Beautiful Skin


Yield:

Makes 4 servings


Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 
  
• 1/4 cup wheat berries
• 
  
• 1/4 cup barley
• 
  
• 1/4 cup brown rice
• 
  
• 1/4 cup buckwheat kasha
• 
  
• 1 pound watermelon rind cut into 4-inch-long strips (about 3 cups of watermelon rind)
• 
  
• 7 1/2 cups spring water
• 
  
• 1/2 cup rock sugar broken into small pieces
• 
  
• 2 green tea bags

Related: Natural Beauty Remedies You Already Have at Home

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan, combine the five grains, watermelon rind, and 6 cups of spring water. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low, and simmer until the liquid is reduced to 4 cups, about 50 minutes.

2. In a small saucepan, combine the rock sugar, tea bags, and 1 1/2 cups of spring water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, then simmerRead More »from The Secret Soup Recipe that Made Chinese Empresses Beautiful (You'll Never Guess What's in It!)

Martha Stewart
Get smooth, soft hands and beautifully glossy nails without going to a high-priced salon.

Hydrate Rough, Cracked Hands
Whether you're an avid gardener or just genetically predisposed, chapped hands are nothing to applaud. To keep skin flexible and to prevent painful cracks, avoid washing with alcohol-based cleansers or chemical solvents, which will strip natural oils. Instead, use a product that relies on citrus like Permatex Fast Orange Pumice Lotion Hand Cleaner, $2.50 for 7.5 oz. In the shower, massage palms with a gentle sugar scrub to whisk away dead cells and calluses that'll keep products from penetrating, then apply a reparative cream loaded with glycerin, which helps skin retain moisture. For an even deeper treatment, coat hands in cream before bed then swaddle your paws in breathable cotton gloves.

Related: Simple Steps to Beautiful Skin

How to Strengthen Brittle Nails
While weak, brittle nails can be attributed to heredity and normal aging, there are a few external

Read More »from 10 Tips and Tricks for Cheap, Beautiful Manicures & Pedicures at Home

Source: Beauty Essentials to Pack For Your Honeymoon Destination

When you've finally gotten to the honeymoon portion of wedded bliss, the stress of making it to "I do" is well worth it. But packing can be a whole other project. Passport? Check. Lingerie? Check. But what about all those other beauty necessities you might need to feel as beautiful and sexy as you should on your honeymoon? We've rounded up everything you need to stay gorgeous, no matter your destination - plus, some things you can leave at home to lighten up your suitcase.

• General Necessities to Pack: No matter where you're headed, these are the essentials to stow in your luggage.
  • Deodorant
  • Razor and shaving cream
  • Makeup essentials: foundation, powder, blush, mascara, lipstick, and travel brushes
  • Face cleanser
  • Face moisturizer
  • Brush or comb
  • Hair spray, mousse, or antifrizz products
  • Hair accessories: hair ties, clips,

Read More »from Beauty Essentials to Pack for Your Honeymoon Destination

Source: How to Fake a Professional Blowout at Home

When you stop into the salon for a professional blowout, your hair just seems to behave better. Women with thick hair get the polished look they crave, while ladies with flat strands get the volume they desire. Save time and money with these at-home blowout tricks that won't have you blasting your hair with heat either.

Full-on volume: If you just can't contort your arms into the perfect position to get a great blowout at home, you're better off trying hot rollers. Roll large sections using medium to jumbo rollers. As they cool down, you'll get the same root-lifting effect of a round-brush blowout (without all the exercise). Opt for a flexible-hold hair spray and brush through with your fingers, so the curls fall out for a more natural bounce.

Sleek and smooth: Let your hair air dry until 90 percent of the moisture is gone, then blow-dry hair with a round brush until sleek. Use a flat iron to smooth roots, and spritz hair with dry

Read More »from How to Fake a Professional Blowout at Home

Source: Skin Care 101: Sunscreen For Your Skin Type

It's Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and we all know how important sunscreen is for preventing not only skin cancer, but also the photodamage that causes signs of aging in your skin. No matter what season it is, sunscreen is an important step in your daily skin care regimen. Keep reading to find out what sunscreens are best for your skin type, then shop our editor's picks here.

Why You Need It: Sunscreen blocks UV rays from penetrating your skin. This helps prevent skin cancer and even signs of aging, including dark spots, change in texture, and fine lines and wrinkles. Every day our skin is exposed to UV radiation - even on a cloudy day - which is why sunscreen should be an essential part of your morning skin care routine. For best results, here's what you should look for in finding the right formula for your skin type.

For Oily Skin: Go with an oil-free option. Also, physical sunblock ingredients (such as titanium dioxide and zinc

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Source: Chemical and Physical Sun Protection: What's the Difference?

Since May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, SPF is naturally on the brain this time of year, but it's a skin care must all year long. Although the list of sun-protectant ingredients is relatively short, making sure your product contains chemical and/or physical ingredients is a necessity. But what's the difference between these two formulations anyway?

Chemical: "Chemical blockers (ingredients like oxybenzone and avobenzone) protect the skin at a cellular level and need to interact with the skin cells to be effective," explains chemical and biological engineer Jasmina Aganovic (who founded Stages of Beauty skin care). Because of this, she recommends applying chemical SPFs on bare skin (under moisturizer) and waiting about 30 minutes before heading outside. If you have sensitive skin, though, then you might want to avoid chemical blockers, which may cause irritation. But if you'd like to steer clear of the white cast

Read More »from Chemical and Physical Sun Protection: What's the Difference?

Source: How You Can Nail the Natural Makeup Look

It's easy to look like you're wearing makeup - not that that's a bad thing - but we've all wanted to achieve that perfectly natural look, too. The catch? Most of us need a little makeup to look like we woke up looking effortlessly radiant. You can get that no-makeup makeup look with these easy tips straight from the pros.

• Skin Care Is Key: "Having great skin is a result of having a skin care regimen that works for you," says makeup artist Jeannia Robinette. "One benefit of having great skin is easier makeup application," she says, so make sure you're using a great cleanser, exfoliator, and moisturizer for your skin's needs.
• Smooth Out Flaws: You can fake a smooth complexion. "To help provide a smooth surface to apply makeup, use a primer to cover pores and blemishes," Robinette says. She recommends Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer ($52).
• Use the Right Foundation: "It's a toss-up between tinted moisturizer and

Read More »from How You Can Nail the Natural Makeup Look

by Lauren Bernstein


courtesy of Victoria's Secret
We've talked about how to get Victoria's Secret model hair, Victoria's Secret model eyes, and Victoria's Secret model lips. So when we found out Victoria's Secret was launching a new fragrance, Bombshell Forever (online now and in stores May 8), we couldn't resist getting VS model Lily Aldridge's perfume tips. Here's what the California native had to say:

Spray fragrance in your hair. "When people hug you, you smell great."

Switch to lighter scents. "I think a body mist is best for summer--it's not as strong as an actual perfume. I spray it and walk into the fragrance."

See more: 15 Hair-Color Makeover Ideas to Try in 2013

Try before you buy (and get a second opinion). "Some people spray perfume on the little pieces of paper, but I think you need to put one fragrance on one wrist and one on the other and smell--it changes once it hits your body, which is crazy! I'll spray it on myself and go home and see if my husband [Kings of Leon front man Caleb Followill]

Read More »from How to Smell like a Victoria's Secret Model (and 4 More Summer Beauty Tips from VS Angel Lily Aldridge)