Want Better Looking Skin and Tips That Get Results? Glowing Skin for the Holidays   The holiday season can be one of the best and most magical times of the year. Everyone wants to look their best for family, friends, gatherings and office parties. Of course, all those parties, the shopping, the bustle and busyness can interfere with your skin care routine. There are several things you can do to keep your skin glowing for the holidays.   First, think about nutrition. True, it's not always easy to eat right during the holidays, but whenever possible, make smart, healthy choice. However, we know that temptation is around every corner, so it's a good idea to take a vitamin and mineral supplement to make up for the healthy meals you may miss, and for all those cookies you are probably going to eat.   Second, get plenty of exercise - exercise helps clear your pores, increases metabolism and increases your heart rate, which will bring additional oxygen to the skin. Exercise also releases endorphins which boosts your immune system, an important consideration during cold and flu season. It will also help burn off some of those cookies we mentioned before.   Third, detoxify. All those rich foods (and cookies) are going to put some toxins into your system. Drinking more water will help flush out the toxins, as will adding additional fiber to your diet. Some foods that have the highest fiber content include: bran cereal, beans (especially lentils, lima beans and black beans), rolled oats, avacado and grapefruit.   Finally, maintain your skin care routine. Regular facials, microdermabrasion treatments and peels can shave years off your looks, but daily care is critical. If you aren't sure what products are right for you, feel free to contact us directly at 602-295-0378 for a personal and complimentary skin consultation.      The Benefits of Chamomile   Chamomile is a flowering plant in the daisy family, native to Europe and Asia. The flowers are used medicinally and have some amazing benefits for the skin. You can find it in capsule, liquid and tea form, and it is a frequently-used ingredient in many skin care products. The active ingredients of chamomile have anti-inflammatory properties, wound-healing anti-carcinogenic properties and help to treat all these other discomforts. •         Indigestion •          Anxiety •          Insomnia •          Canker sores •          Colic •          Conjunctivitis, eye irritations •          Crohn's disease •          Diarrhea •          Eczema •          Gingivitis •          Hemorrhoids •          Menstrual disorders •          Migraine •          Irritable bowel syndrome •          Peptic ulcer •          Skin irritations   Make it your New Year's resolution to add a little chamomile to your life. You skin will thank you!   While rosy cheeks might be flattering to your looks, it's also a sign that it is time get in out of the weather. Rosy cheeks are actually a danger sign that your skin is starting to take damage. The beginnings of frostbite often show up as a mild blush on both cheeks, and while it isn't life threatening, it can lead to frostbite if your skin is overexposed to the cold.   Here are some tips to help avoid that rosy glow and damage to your skin during the winter months: •          Step inside and warm up at regular intervals. •          Dress appropriately and whenever possible cover your cheeks, ears and nose. Good winter gear will wick water away from your skin while protecting it from cold and wind. •          Think about wind chill. Wind causes the skin to lose moisture even more quickly, so in blustery weather, stay indoors, or if you have to be outdoors, protect your skin from moisture loss. •          Moisturize! Cold air carries less moisture/humidity than warmer air. That's why your skin gets dry in the winter. Find a good moisturizer and diligently follow your skin care routine.    Stay Hydrated   To remain healthy, your body needs to take in as much liquid as you expend through daily excretion, perspiration, exercise and other bodily functions. A raging debate continues over just how much liquid you should take in daily. The old standby is 8 8-ounce glasses of water a day (a plan I find still works best for me). In truth, we get about 2/3 of the liquid our bodies requires from the solid food we eat. So it is hard to say exactly what your body may need. You will probably require more liquid if you live in a hot climate, your job is physically demanding or your exercise routine is strenuous. The simple rule of thumb is, when you feel thirsty, drink something!    Contrary to popular opinion, your liquid doesn't have to come from water. The body is able to process the liquid out of coffee, tea, milk, juice, soda - just about anything in fact. However, everything besides water is likely to have some advantages and disadvantages. For instance, while doctor's are now saying that a little caffeine each day is actually good for you, caffeine can have other medical side effects and may actually aggravate certain medical conditions, so check with your doctor to make sure caffeine intake isn't interfering with any medical condition you may have. Soda with sugar definitely isn't good for you and will pack on the pounds and diet sodas with artificial sweeteners have chemicals which the body has to work harder to process or eliminate. In short, water is probably the purest thing you can drink to remain hydrated.