If It's Good Enough for Sophia...

That's Sophia Loren, I'm speaking of...

There is no dening that she is one of the most beautiful women in the world!

Sophia at 64

at 71

 at 76

( front row at Giorgio Armani 2011 Spring collection in Paris) 

 What's her secret to great looking skin?

Would you believe "the odd bath in virgin olive oil " and eating "pasta".. Yes, you read  correctly! So, once in awhile don't be shy, add 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to your bath water.

As for the pasta, Sophia says " Serve it with a sauce made from tomatoes and unrefined olive oil, with perhaps some shredded carrots added for natural sweetness."  I'll be saying YES, next time Hubby asks "Pasta for dinner tonight?" and I won't be insiting on an alfredo sauce. The homemade tomato sauce will be good enough enough for me ~ after all it's good enough for Sophia!

Why it works...

because it contains omega fatty acids and significant amounts of Vitamin E and Vitamin K, it proves to have excellent hydrating and anti-aging properties. Extra virgin olive oil is worth the extra pennies. While other bottles of olive oil have been chemically processed, extra virgin olive oil is in its purest form with the most health benefits.

Putting your best face forward ~ Part One of Three

As women, we tend to focus on whats happening to the skin on our face ~ after all its visible 24/7 not just to our self , but to the world.

When time becomes short or financial budget requires tweaking, we women seem to put our needs to the bottom of the priority list, and this often includes taking care of ourselves. Or perhaps an illness or injury keeps us from regularly needing to venture outside of the safety of our home ~ and after awhile the little things either from lack of energy, desire or from having to depend on others for assistance start to fall to the side.

So, when the day comes that we [and we all have; are seeing it now or will] actually see those signs of aging, neglect or side effects from stress or medication., instead of rushing to the nearest cosmetic counter for the latest "Magic Potion" that will bring back the skin of our youth take a look at how you are caring for your skin. Evaluate your eating and lifestyle habits. Are you drinking enough water; eating healthy; exercising; using SPF ~ OR are you filling up on soda and caffeine; sugar based foods are a food group to you; exercise is something you watch; and who needs SPF is your motto.

You will also want to be certain of your skin type and what it may be lacking (ie. dry vs dehydrated *) it is worth the time to seek the advise of a professional. Many skin care companies offer complimentary consultations to identify your skin type and needs. If your concerns are medication related you will want to seek the advise of a certified dermatologist, as they understand the side effects medications can have on the skin and how to combat them.

*most people misdiagnose their skin because both feel tight, rough, and uncomfortable. Dry skin is cause by not having enough oils in the skin, and dehydrated skin is from not having enough water in the skin. We require both moisture and hydration for a healthy, radiant glow.

  What small things have you changed in your lifestyle

 to help improve the look of your skin?

In Part Two ~ we'll take a look at the benefit of facials...