Summer is the time when we all live in shorts, skirts, and bathing suits. While these are the very things that allow us to be comfortable through the summer months, they are also the items we feel the most self conscious wearing! Who wants to put on a bathing suit if we=re plagued by cellulite or skin that=s not in the best of shape?

For me, as May rolls around, I begin to panic. I count the daysYhow much time do I have left until I have to REALLY be in shape? This year, instead of waiting until the last minute to tone up and get my skin looking bare-able, I started early. (I also consulted some experts for some great tips!)

I=ll share with you my strategies as well as tips for eliminating scars and stretch marks. And lets not forget about great beauty ideas! Read onY

Cellulite, Stretch Marks, and ScarsYIs there anything we can do?

Well first of all, all of these things ARE difficult to treat. However, I=ve found that while we can=t always completely ELIMINATE the problem, there are steps we can take to lessen them! Starting with everyone=s favorite, CelluliteY

Cellulite is a naturally occuring condition in women causing hips, thighs, and buttocks to take on an unsightly bumpy appearance. It occurs even in women who are naturally thin, which is one reason it=s so frustrating - it can appear even when exercising and eating right. So, what can we do? Doctors have found that cellulite can be controlled and even improved by doing several things: First, diet and exercise DO play a role. Cellulite occurs when our bodies are retaining fluid, so avoiding salt it important. (Obviously we can=t totally eliminate salt, but cutting down is important.) Eating lots of fruits and veggies, as well as drinking lots of water, is also very important. These cleanse the body of unwanted toxins, which store themselves in our fat tissues. (I drink Fortune delight throughout the day from Sunrider, which I=ve found does a terrific job of cleansing my body of impurities. It is a great cellulite preventor!)

Next, exercise is key. Improving circulation throughout the body is very helpful. At least 2-1 hr. of aerobic activity 3 times a week is best. You must significantly elevate your heart rate and keep it evelvated for at least 20 minutes straight. (Please check with your doctor before beginning any new exercise regime) AStrength training@ for the affected areas is also imprtant. Try 10-15 minutes 3-5 days a week. You should see improvements within 6 weeks.

Creams as a miracle cure? No, not really. There are so many creams on the market that promise you=ll never have cellulite again, but according to doctors, these claims are false. What these creams CAN do is smooth skin, and sometimes give the TEMPORARY appearance of less cellulite. Usually they are very expensive, and the key ingredient is caffeine. I recommend saving your money, and instead massaging some coffee (coffee grounds) into the affected areas. It=s messy, but worth a try. I=ve heard mixed results - some models swear by this, though I=ve heard from others it=s ineffective.

One thing does seem to help, and that=s deep tissue massage. Massaging your own legs can help, but won=t work as well as having someone else do it. A lymphatic drainage massage is best (Talk to a masseuse), as it encourages natural circulation. This helps to stop fluid retention and allow your body to flush the fat out naturally. It does need to be done on a fairly regular basis, and I understand that it can be a bit painful at first, especially if cellulite is moderate to severe.

So, to sum things up, cellulite is best dealt with by a combination of diet, exercise, and massage. Implement all three for a month and you should see results!

Now to SCARSY

I am asked, on an almost daily basis, how scars can be faded. It seems everyone has them somewhere, whether they are from acne or an accident. Here are some techniques that might help:

1. For facial scars, apply an alpha hydroxy acid cream or gel every evening before bed. If scars are severe, talk to your doctor about possibly using retin-A.

2. Wear sunscreen every day, which can prevent scars from worsening.

3. Apply a bit of cocoa butter to affected area, whether on face or body. For scars on the body, apply 2-3 times daily. For scars on the face, you may want to stick to just the evenings, as it can be a bit greasy.

4. For certain types of scars, a silicone strip may be used to improve appearance. The pad is placed on the scar daily until fading occurs. Talk to your doctor to see if you=re a candidate!

5. I really believe scars heal more quickly when we eat well. Include flax oil, vitamin E, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin C and Zinc in your diet.

Stretch Marks

Stretch marks occur when we either gain or lose weight-they can also appear in puberty when we are growing. Another tricky condition to completely get rid of, they can be faded. Again, cocoa butter, alpha hydroxy acid, and retin-A are all helpful. Be sure to use a good moisturizer every evening before bed (and even morning). Olive or sesame oil work wonderfully. Just be sure to be faithful - apply treatments every single day, and eventually you will see results!

Now on to prettier subjectsY.

June Beauty

The summer months take a huge toll on our hair-there=s nothing like heat and chlorinated water to leave us with dry, dull locks! However, there are things we can do to combat the abuse. Here are my favorite strategies:

1. Apply a bit of conditioner to hair before shampooing, concentrating on ends. Leaves hair manageable and soft.

2. Be sure to get a trim every 4-6 weeks to keep ends healthy.

3. Once a week, use a deep conditioner. I have several Akitchen favorites@. Try mashing a ripe banana with a tablespoon of almond oil. Apply to hair after shampooing, let sit for 10-20 minutes and rinse thoroughly with cool water. Or, apply 3 tablespoons of olive oil to dry hair. Let sit for up to an hour, wash thoroughly. Leaves hair super shiny and soft!

4. For extra dry hair, comb through your favorite conditioner before bed and braid. Wake up with soft, silky hair!

5. Hair needs protection from the sun just like the skin. Be sure to use a shampoo and conditioner that contains sunscreen. This is extra important if you color your hair-sun can cause highlights to become brassy looking. If I=m going to be at the beach or outside for an extended period of time, I=ll even comb through some sunscreen from the bottle along with a dab of conditioner. The heat from the sun makes the conditioner work terrifically, while the s.p.f. keeps locks protected!

6. Once a week (or more!) rinse hair with distilled water. The days I do this, my hair is incredibly soft and shiny!

7. Before going swimming, rinse hair with cool water. (You can use the hose outside.) This prevents hair from absorbing any chlorine in the pool!

And about those nails...

Our hands and nails take a beating in the summer as well. With a few simple precautions, you can keep yours looking great! Try these ideas:

1. Apply an alpha hydroxy acid treatment specifically for nails morning and night. I like the one by Sally Hansen. This keeps cuticles soft and nails white and healthy.

2. Never use metal tools on your nails. Instead, file nails whenever they start to get a little long. Don=t file back and forth-start in one direction, then move the other way, going in only one direction at a time.

3. Before bed, massage some cream (or alpha hydroxy acid) into cuticles and nails. The massage stimulates circulation, keeping nails strong and helping them to grow.
4. Skip dark, garish colors this season. Summer is the perfect time to wear pastels or opt for clear polish.

UPDATES

As many of you know, we=ve added a modeling page at the website for those of you interested in the business. If you haven=t already, please check it out! I always love your feedback. As promised, I will begin including occasional Atips@ in this monthly newsletter. This month=s tip is...

June's Tip of the Month:

When going on Ago-sees@, (the models equivalent of interviews), wear your hair pulled back so the agent can see your face. Also, wear very little make-up; they will want to see the real you!

As promised, we=ve really made some changes to the ASeasons Favorites@ section of the site. Every season you will find pictures (like these!) giving you examples of inexpensive looks you can achieve easily. I will be your Apersonal shopper@, and list the price of each item I=m wearing along with where it was purchased. Again, I=d love to hear what you think of the changes. And if you have any bargin fashion finds you would like to share with me, please drop me a note!

Well, that's all for this month. I hope you all enjoy the new format! As always, feel free to write to me with any questions you may have - I look forward to hearing from members! Until next month...

Wendy