Hollywood tips to keep your eyes star-worthy

IMG_6515(BPT) – No matter the season, beautiful and healthy eyes are always in style. How can you make your eyes shine like your favorite stars?

Jennie Garth, mom of three and star of ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ and ‘The Jennie Garth Project’ has joined the Science of Beautiful Eyes (http://theeyesolution.com) initiative sponsored by Alcon to help drive awareness around the importance of taking care of your eyes and making it an important part of your daily routine.

“As an actress, being in front of the camera adds a lot of pressure to keeping your look healthy and fresh,” Garth says. “Picking out the right eye makeup to highlight my eyes isn’t the only thing I think about in the morning. I also make sure that my eyes feel good and look healthy. From personal experience, I’ve come up with a few tips that may help others.”

To keep your eyes looking their best, Garth offers these tips:

1. “Waterproof mascara is great when you need a long lasting product, but when it comes time to washing your face – it could be the biggest battle of the day,” Garth says. “The eyeSOLUTION(TM) Program has great options to consider when cleansing your face, including SYSTANE(R) Lid Wipes. These gentle wipes quickly remove debris and eye makeup that may cause eye irritation.”

2. “You want to see your face when you put your makeup on so be sure to remember that your contact lenses go in before you apply anything to your face,” Garth notes. “And remember to always start with freshly washed and dry hands. This will help prevent bacteria from getting into the eye during the application process.”

3. “During allergy season, my eyes tend to get scratchy which makes me want to constantly rub them,” says Garth. “I use eye drops like Alcon’s ZADITOR(R) Eye Drops to relieve my itchy eyes before applying makeup. It is an easy way to help keep my mascara from running and my eyeliner from smearing!”

4. “Over the years, I’ve picked up tips from makeup artists I’ve worked with, and if I can share one thing it’s to check the expiration dates on your makeup to help prevent irritation and infection,” says Garth. “For instance, mascara and eyeliner should be used for no longer than three-to-six months and then discarded.”

5. “Living in Southern California, it can reach scorching temperatures during the day which can cause my eyes to become dry and irritated. SYSTANE(R) Lubricant Eye Drops provide lasting relief throughout the day,” says Garth.

Combat signs of aging with simple beauty-routine updates

Combat signs of aging with simple beauty-routine updates

(BPT) – You’re probably aware that consuming too much sugar can lead to weight gain, and that sugar is linked to a range of health problems, including diabetes. But did you know that sugar also can make you look old? Or that dehydration can damage your skin? Some surprising factors affect your skin, but some simple changes to your beauty routine can help combat the impact aging has on your body and skin.

Defying your AGEs

Excess sugar in your body creates a substance known as “advanced glycation end-products” – AGEs – which can damage your skin. Glycation occurs when sugars bind with proteins, causing your skin to become stiff and less elastic. These effects can cause wrinkles, crow’s feet and age spots.

In addition to managing your sugar intake, adjusting your daily skin care routine can help combat the effects of AGEs. A popular product is TruAge Skin AGE Therapy Gel by Morinda. Using natural ingredients in a proprietary formula, the lightweight gel promotes healthy collagen and elastin growth, moisturizes skin and also disrupts AGE formation.

“Glycation is responsible for virtually every sign of aging and can have a devastating effect on the skin,” says Kira Davis, product line manager for Morinda. “Improving your skin’s appearance and boosting its protective layer can be as simple as adjusting your daily skin care routine to help fortify its natural defenses against AGEs.”

To learn more about TruAge, visit www.morinda.com.

Maximizing your moisture

Dehydration can cause skin to lose elasticity – so much so that doctors routinely use a simple skin-pinch test to quickly determine if a person is dehydrated. The condition can cause a host of health problems, some serious and some less concerning. Dry, itchy skin, for example, can be caused by dehydration.

It’s important to hydrate your body inside and out. Use a quality moisturizer daily. During summer months – or if you spend a lot of time outdoors year-round – choose a moisturizer that also blocks ultraviolet sunlight. Ideally, you should drink plenty of water. If that’s not possible – or you don’t care for the taste of water – choose non-caffeinated liquids such as skim milk or light fruit juices. You also can help hydrate your body by eating fruits and vegetables that have a naturally high water content, such as watermelon, cucumbers, celery and tomatoes.

Nurturing healthier skin with nutrition

Skin is influenced as much by what goes on inside your body as what it encounters on the outside. If you’re unhappy with how your skin looks, some simple dietary changes can help improve your appearance and benefit your overall health as well.

Free radicals are unstable molecules produced as a side-effect to the body’s use of oxygen. Antioxidants may stop or limit the amount of damage free radicals cause in your body, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. The National Institutes of Health say that fruits and vegetables are good sources of antioxidants such as beta-carotene and vitamins C, E and A. Blueberries and strawberries are high in antioxidants, as are greens such as kale and spinach. Tomatoes contain lycopene and are a wonderful ingredient in a variety of dishes, so be sure to incorporate them in your diet.

Finally, look for foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish, avocados and some types of nuts. One of the many benefits of omega-3s is that they nurture the outer layer of your skin so it can more effectively protect you.

You can’t turn back the clock, but making a few small changes in your beauty routine – such as incorporating AGE-fighting products and boosting hydration – can help combat the effects aging has on your body and skin.