BEAUTY

Two-thirds of the earth is covered in water, and roughly 70 percent of the human body is made of water, so if nature is any indication, keeping your body hydrated is essential. We have all heard the general rule of drinking eight to ten glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. There are numerous medical reasons to hydrate, but we're not diving too deep into the pool of reasons; rather we're going to be a little bit shallow and focus on one of the best reasons to hydrate yourself: hydration increases your level of beauty!

From healthy, fresh skin to relaxed loose muscles, and beautiful hair, this list of ways hydration can help you achieve and maintain beauty is limitless. So be sure to drink up and compliment your hydration with a healthy diet. Of course, there is no such thing as a fountain of youth, and that includes drinking fountains. While hydrating is an essential step to beauty, it is not a one-step solution. There are still other ways to be proactive and to develop a great beauty routine that will keep you healthy and beautiful for years to come.

For a preventative skin care approach, working with a dermatologist to find the right products and plan for your skin is essential. Advance Dermatology, in Spokane, offers dermatology services as well as Botox and skin resurfacing. Many of the products and procedures they offer provide dramatic before and after results. Sitting down with someone from their office, you can discuss your specific concerns and needs, and have them share their expertise to help you select the best service for your health and beauty needs.

It's been said that pale is the new tan, but people don't seem to be buying it. Basking in the sun, soaking up the rays and achieving the perfect golden tone still seems to be the pastime of choice for most Americans. With so many lakes in our neck of the woods, summer time is sun time. Sadly, for many people who religiously tan, there is a price to pay when years down the road skin begins to show the signs of aging with discolorations and a leathery and dehydrated appearance. Not to mention the risk of cancerous growths! If sacrificing your skin's health for a glow isn't worth the risk, consider going the route of a spray tan, like the ones you can get at Sunny Buns on Spokane's South Hill. With all the beauty, none of the dangers, it is the perfect way to keep your skin looking sun kissed, without paying a price down the road.

If you are seeking a day of pampering, a spa is a great place for you to go re-energize, freshen up and come away feeling beautiful. If it is something more involved than pampering that you are looking for, make sure that you seek treatment at a properly licensed and reputable place. For anything that involves microsurgery or more, a medical spa or a medical clinic is the best route to go. Dr. Carole Hathaway is one of Spokane's most well-known experts in the field of plastic surgery, which is why so many clients seek her services at Essentials Medi Spa on Spokane's north side. She provides a number of medical-based services including, but not limited to Botox, chemical/micro peels, laser hair removal, and wrinkle and vein treatments, in addition to reconstructive surgeries. Rockwood Clinic's Plastic Surgery Center, part of Spokane's long trusted Rockwood Clinic, is another place to seek medically-based care for your beauty regime. Surgeon Kaiulani Morimoto, M.D. focuses on reconstructive and cosmetic surgery, including breast reconstruction, while other services are also available at the center.

Highland's Day Spa, located in Post Falls, is the perfect getaway for a little relaxation, rest and pampering, and we all know how necessary a little pampering is to one's beauty routine. In addition to regular spa services, Highland's Day Spa offers a deliciously affordable option not found at many spas. On the lower level “complete and affordable modern spa treatments as well as clinical and relaxation massages given by AICM (American Institute of Clinical Massage) students.”

Sometimes it is not the pampering, but simply the relaxation of tight, strained muscles that is needed. Finding a place like Back In Touch Therapeutic Massage, which offers a variety of massage styles, can help you narrow down the type of massage that works best for you. Back In Touch offers relaxation, deep tissue and hot stone massages as well as manual lymphatic drainage.

One way to feel better, be healthier and look more beautiful is to maintain a healthy weight. Easier said than done, isn't it? For anyone who has struggled with weight loss, or simply wants to have a partner in the process, Ajuva Medical Spa offers medically supervised weight loss programs, under the supervision of Debra Ravasia, MD FACOG. With a plan specifically designed to meet each client's individual needs, the oversight of a medical professional and a team approach, it s no wonder clients of Ajuva Medical Spa have seen such great results. In the last year and a half, their clients have lost a combined total of over 14,400 pounds.

One of the easiest ways to make yourself feel more beautiful is to manage your mane! Whether it is a haircut, a color and highlights, or a completely new style, caring for our hair is something that can significantly contribute to our overall sense of being beautiful. If you have multiple hair concerns or are unsure what products will work best for your type of hair, seek out a stylist who can give you expert advice. At Salon Tonya, in Spokane's Valley, stylist and owner, Tonya Tangvald,uses her skill and talent gained during well over a decade of styling, to create beautiful styles. Hair comes out of her salon looking and feeling healthy and well as beautiful.

 

Have a good hair day every day - without paying the price
(ARA) - The following tips can help you to save some money and still have a good hair day:

* Be kind to the strands
Bad hair days are often caused by damaged hair. When the hair cuticle, or the hard outer surface of the strand, is damaged, the inner fibers of the strand are exposed, resulting in frizzy, flyaway or lackluster hair. Any care routine or products used should be gentle enough to maintain the structure of the hair fiber and cuticle.

* Brush up on your hair brush
Plastic brushes with wide-spaced needles work the best, and don't cost as much as boar bristle brushes, which put a lot of friction on the hair going against its natural grain. Boar bristle brushes can cause a considerable amount of damage.

* Bring the color treatment home
Hair color found on store shelves is basically the same product used in the salons, meaning you can save considerable money enlisting the help of a friend for quick touch ups. If you do choose to use a store-bought color, test a small amount on the skin behind your ear 24 hours earlier to make sure you don't experience a reaction to the chemicals.

* Finding a full look
If limp hair has you pulling it back into a ponytail every day, consider blow drying your hair upside down and using a shampoo that adds volume. These are the first steps you can take for a full, luxurious look.

For additional information on keeping your skin, hair and nails healthy, visit the American Academy of Dermatology's Web site at www.aad.org.

(Courtesy of ARAcontent)