How to achieve skin that glows - Natural beauty secrets for a Hollywood face

What are the secrets of a healthy skin? In this article you'll discover how to step up your skin care regimen to get a skin that glows.

Our skin is a fingerprint of what's going on inside the body. This is why nutrition and detoxification beat cosmetics hands down. Here are seven tips to nourish and protect your skin naturally:

Sauna. This centuries old ritual detoxifies the body and increases blood flow to the skin. As a result - and this is important - your subcutaneous and surface tissue gets more nutrients so the quality of your skin gradually improves.

Carotenoids. Dull and pale skin in the winter? The easiest thing you can do is to consume fruits and vegetables rich in carotenoids. A recent UK study led by Dr Ian Stephen revealed that these substances give skin a natural healthy color and golden glow. "We found that, given the choice between skin colour caused by suntan and skin colour caused by carotenoids, people preferred the carotenoid skin colour," explains Dr Ian Stephen. Carotenoids can be found in carrots, tomatoes and spinach.

Water. Drinking adequate amounts of purified water is essential for optimum skin health. Chronic dehydration will make your skin look older and less smooth.

Vitamins C and E. Our skin reacts well to certain vitamins. For example, vitamin C protects fibers that support skin structure - elastin and collagen - by reducing free radical damage. Vitamin E is another powerful antioxidant that protects you from damage caused by sun exposure. Both vitamins are present in fruits and vegetables.

Omega-3 fatty acids. Essential fatty acids reduce inflammation and allergy-related eczema. Omega-3s can also be used to keep your skin moist and flexible.

Silica and zinc. Both silica and zinc are vital for the maintenance of youthful and healthy skin. Silica deficiency may lead to reduced skin elasticity and promote wrinkles. Zinc is essential for skin regeneration and oil content control. You can find these trace minerals in pumpkin seeds and shellfish (zinc) or green beans, cucumber and strawberries (silica).

Sleep. Most people need seven to eight hours a night. Allowing adequate time for sleep will improve bags and tired eyes.

Our nutrition and lifestyle are the keys to healthy looking skin. Focus on creating health from the inside out and you'll soon achieve youthful, smooth and healthy skin.

Are you worried about your skin turning dry and dehydrated? or looking to boost your skin's defences and natural shine?

then try the highly recommended Vitamin E massage at Little Jasmine Therapies in Brighton

Treat Yourself with Natural Homemade Spa Treatments and Recipes

In today's often hectic world, all some of us really want to be doing is sitting in a spa. Spas, however, are often known for outrageous prices, but the good news is you can make many simple spa treatments right in your own home. Even better: many spa treatments offer health benefits, aside from a relaxing afternoon and break from the madness of the outside world. Plus, when we're relaxed we tend to be happier, which influences every interaction we have.

Brighton Spa Packages

Natural Salt Baths
Natural salt baths are a great way to relax and as a bonus, each of the baths below helps detoxify us too. Epsom salt baths are well known to relax the muscles while neutralizing acids in the body at the same time. Baking soda baths are known to remove radiation as well as alkalize the body. Quality sea salts are especially beneficial as they clear negative energy from our bodies - which is particularly helpful after a stressful day or encounter. With any of these, just add one or two cups to any bath - and jump in and relax.

Essential Oil Baths
Essential oils can also be added to any bath, and some popular ones include lavender, rose, rosemary, or tea tree oils. Lavender is known for relaxation, rose for reducing nervous tension, and rosemary for mental invigoration. Tea tree is great for skin problems, including acne, fungal and bacterial problems. Use about fifteen drops of essential oil in each bath.

Relaxing Spa Waters
One of the best things about being at a spa is the waters they often have available. They're often tinted with cucumber or lemon and are a delight to drink. Cucumber water can be easily made at home using a half gallon of purified water and a thinly sliced cucumber. Just combine, refrigerate and let sit overnight before consuming.

Another delicious spa water can be made using whole jasmine flowers. Just pick a large handful of jasmine flowers (that haven't been sprayed with chemicals), stir them into a half gallon of purified water, and let sit for four hours or more before consuming.

These spa waters are delicious, refreshing, and especially nice to hydrate in. Jasmine is known to lift poor moods and heal the female reproductive system, while cucumber is great for the skin and has cooling properties.

Homemade Body Scrub
Sea salt and coconut oil body scrubs are invigorating and exfoliating at the same time. Just use a couple tablespoons of quality sea salts with a tablespoon or two of coconut oil in the shower as a full body scrub. Wash before using and just rinse the scrub off, without using soap. Afterward, your skin will likely feel better than you can remember, but be careful of any slippery surfaces with the oil.

Enzyme Treatments for the Skin
Enzymes are a popular exfoliant in spa treatments but because enzymes are hard to keep alive, using fresh fruit is often better than an expensive jar based potion. There are many ways to prepare enzyme-rich facial and body treatments, and most of them start with papaya or pineapple - or both. Just blend a little pineapple and/or papaya and add any of the following optional ingredients below that you like.

Aloe: Hydrates the skin.
Oatmeal: Acts as a scrub.
Lemon juice: Lightens the skin and age spots (as does papaya).
Honey: Moisturizes and offers antibacterial protection.

Then, rub your mixture on your face or entire body and leave it on for ten minutes before washing it off with a washcloth.

If you are looking for affordable Brighton spa packages that do not compromise on indulgence, then Little Jasmine has a range of treats that you will find hard to resist. We specialise in a fusion of Thai spa treatments based on Eastern tradition and Western practice at our tranquil treatment rooms in central Brighton. Spa packages are an exotic mix of deep tissue, body scrubs, Thai herbal, aromatherapy and traditional Thai spa treatments, uniquely adapted to promote a happier, healthier and more energised life. Book a Heavenly Experience, Ancient Delight, Experience of Siam and many more packages online now, or give us a call and we will help you choose the right treatment for you.

Three simple tips - How to live a longer life with less stress

Sometimes it may seem like the strains and demands of modern society exceed human abilities. However, that is usually far from the truth. This article outlines how you can take things down a notch with three simple tips that will help you shrug off stress and anxiety, induce deep relaxation, and make harmful levels of cortisol plummet.

The way we respond to stress has a bigger impact on our health than we previously thought. In 2009, the Nobel Prize in Medicine went to Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider and Jack Szostak, who discovered a link between chronic emotional stress and telomerase (an enzyme responsible for repairing telomeres - the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes in cells that control aging). What they found was that people who feel more stressed are more likely to have shorter telomeres and lower levels of telomerase, which suggests that prolonged stress may actually shorten our lifespan.

If that wasn't enough, chronic stress has also been associated with a host of health problems - ranging from inflammation, heart disease and rashes to headaches, insomnia, hemorrhoids, varicose veins and loss of concentration. The following relaxation techniques for dealing with stress and anxiety will allow you to grab the reins, indulge in positive thoughts and inhibit sympathetic nervous activity.

#1 Tip: Sauna and steam-baths

Sauna and steam-baths cleanse the body and relax the mind by generating abundant sweat. This is achieved with a 10-20 minute session in a room warmed to 180+ degrees Fahrenheit.

However, relaxation and contentment are not the only health benefits sauna is offering. The heat releases poisons so that your body is able to get rid of them via perspiration. During a sauna session, we go through artificial fever state, which stimulates the immune system and supports the body's natural healing process. Plus, the increased blood flow to subcutaneous and surface tissue gradually improves the quality of the skin.

#2 Tip: Deep breathing

In modern society, the impact of breathing on our health goes largely unnoticed. It's a shame because when you breathe correctly, your body reacts in many positive ways.

Deep breathing reduces high blood pressure, raises our energy levels, relaxes muscles and improves athletic performance. It also helps us release tension and reverse the body's fight & flight reaction to stressful situations - no health club membership required.

#3 Tip: Massage therapy

Many people view massages as luxury splurges with no real health benefit. That is, however, far from the truth. This hands-on healing is terrific for removing blockages as well as for dealing with stress, migraines and neck pain. Another wonderful side benefit of massage is improved quality of sleep.

Both everyday experience and scientific research suggest that there are few things you can do to impact your life more powerfully and profoundly than learning how to cope with everyday stress. All you need to do is take the first step by taking enough time to slow down and relax.

Massages for all causes

Massage in Brighton by Little Jasmine Therapies

Massage therapy is a good way to relax muscles, improve circulation, increase range of motion and help prevent sports injuries, and Competitor magazine lays out what types of massages target what aspects of muscle and body health.

 Details

• Swedish massage is one of the most common types of massage and focuses mainly on relieving stress and relaxing the body by applying pressure to the client's muscles and bones.
• Using light to firm pressure with hands, palms and loose fists, it doesn't get down as deep into the muscles and tissues as some other types of massage.
• Clients receiving Swedish massage shouldn't experience any pain or discomfort.
• Most massage therapists recommend clients come in for Swedish massage about once a month.
• As the name implies, deep-tissue massage works on the layers of soft tissue and muscle that lie deep within the body.
• Because athletes typically perform repetitive motions while training, those muscles can become overworked and sustain injury.
• "The typical client is a runner or cyclist who has had multiple problems or injuries and has a lot of lactic acid built up," Benjamin says.
• Sports massage is a type of deep-tissue massage that targets the specific muscles that the athletes use in their particular sport.
• Through massage therapy, Freedman is often able to identify a problem area before the client even realizes the problem has developed.
• "A shiatsu uses the pressure of the therapist's body, so you can get much deeper into the muscle tissues than you can with your hands," says massage therapist Dori Chouhad.
• Because of the amount of pressure applied, Chouhad says the ideal candidate for this type of work is at least 5 feet, 8 inches and 170 pounds.
• The idea behind reflexology is that all of the body's nerves end in your hands and feet, and by massaging these areas, the rest of the body benefits.
• Piltch emphasizes that it is important for a massage therapist to be familiar with a variety of massage techniques.

For a great massage in Brighton visit Little Jasmine Therapies in the North Laines

Prevent back, neck and shoulder pain from prolonged sitting and bad posture

Introduction

Back, neck and shoulder pain is the natural result of prolonged sitting at work behind a computer, as is bad posture. This can cause headaches and excessive tension in neck, shoulders, arms, forearms, wrists, back, hips, thighs and legs. The result is increased fatigue to the muscles and ligaments supporting the lower back and this can eventually lead to tissue injury and spinal joint dysfunction. Avoid these problems by posture correction, exercise and correct use of equipment.

 Symptoms of back problems due to excessive computer use include:

* Back and neck muscle spasm and pain
* Back and neck soft tissue inflammation
* Back, neck and shoulder pain on movement and involvement of other muscles as a reaction
* Referred pain to buttocks and thighs or up the spine

Preventing back and neck pain while sitting is not an exact science as there are many differing opinions on the subject. However, there are some common denominators on which most chiropractors and other medical professionals agree:

Tips to Prevent Computer Related Neck and Shoulder Pain

Do not slouch in front of the computer or lie in bed and work on a laptop.

Do not work for hours in front of a computer without breaks.

Do not ignore back twinges and back pain, hoping that the problem will resolve itself.

Avoid taking pain or anti-inflammatory medication when in pain from using a computer. This will serve to mask the symptoms but can lead to serious injury or permanent nerve damage in the long term.

Do not sit on one leg or sit with legs crossed as this causes additional strain to the back.

Do not perch a laptop on the lap and stare down at the screen - this places extra strain on the neck, spine and arms.

Buy a chair that encourages you to use your back muscles, such as a stool chair with no back or arm rests. Lower back pain can be reduced or eliminated by strengthening the lower back muscles through active sitting exercises.

Buy an ergonomic keyboard and mouse and ensure that the height is adjusted appropriately.

Have a break every hour and do stretching exercises like neck rolls, chin tucks, cupping head in hands behind the head and extension exercises.

Visiting a Chiropractic Clinic

A chiropractor is a medical professional who treats spinal column dysfunction. Back and neck pain may be the result of the back being badly aligned and the chiropractor sets out to relieve the problem by manual manipulation, exercise, massage and the application of heat, cold and light.

Massage Therapy to Relieve Back and Neck Pain

If done correctly, massage therapy can help to relieve back pain and tension. It is best to find a therapist trained in techniques that address back pain issues and has a knowledge of muscle imbalances relating to back pain, such as sports injuries. Massage therapy should never be considered a substitute for proper medical attention where there are serious back problems.