Whatever else you do to slow down the aging process may be less effective if you don’t get enough sleep. We need sleep because it restores and heals. Your body uses energy and resources to repair your body when you sleep that would not normally be used to repair your body during normal waking hours.

Image: istockphoto

Sleep Cycles & Stages
We go through four to six “sleep cycles” every night. Consisting of five stages ranging from very light sleep (stage 1) to very deep sleep (stage 4) and the rapid eye movement stage during which you are most likely to dream.

Figure out what time you should go to bed in order to get a good night’s rest. On average, sleep cycles take around 90 minutes. You can also figure out what time you have to go to sleep by counting backwards 7.5 hours. Of course, some people need six hours of sleep, while others need nine.

Complicating matters further, sleep cycles can range from 90 minutes to two hours. Requirement is based on lifestyle and need, each person is different.

Since the quality of your sleep is very important, consider the following:

Don’t eat any later than two hours before bed. It may give you indigestion due to the fact that your body is working on trying to digest the food. It also makes you gain weight because your metabolism slows down.

Add a little noise. If you’re like me and going to sleep in complete silence and darkness unnerves you, try music, soothing tapes, “white noise” or other sound distractions. I also find that meditating an hour before bed helps me relax.

Do some quiet activity instead of watching television before bed. (I’m not very good at following my own advice on this…lol).

Always remember that sleep is one of the best anti-aging tools out there – along with exercise and good nutrition.

Get enough sleep. I promise you’ll both look and feel better. Then you can really rise and shine!

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Follow these guidelines in order to make sure that your skin stays calm:

Image: istockphoto

• Make sure to use one product at a time so that if there is skin irritation, you can determine which product caused it.

• Generally speaking, antioxidants should be worn during the day and retinoids should be worn at night. Remember to never mix benzoyl peroxide (used to treat acne) with retinoids.

• Rotate products! You don’t have to use every product every day in order to see all the benefits. Use a retinoid one day and exfoliate the next.

• It is very important to use gentle ingredients in the morning and stronger ingredients at night. This way, you have the entire night to recover from any irritation.

• Know your skin type! Is it dry or oily? Thick or sensitive? Pinpoint your skin type so that you can choose the best method to anti-aging for your type of skin. If you don’t feel comfortable judging your own skin, seek out a health care professional or dermatologist.

• Remember that even though there is no magic potion to stop the skin from aging, there is actually a lot you can do to fight those wrinkles and look younger.

• Be consistent, without getting obsessed, with whatever treatment you choose to rejuvenate your skin.

• Don’t be intimidated by the incredible amount of anti-aging products.

• Keep up with the latest trends and newest treatments (by reading Aging Fabulous everyday).

• Adopt a proactive approach to your skin care routine now so that you can produce significant results for years to come!

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Banana Against Wrinkles

• Mash 1/2 banana and 1 Tablespoon of milk until very creamy.
• Spread mixture all over your face.
• Lay back and read a magazine for 20 minutes.
• Rinse off with warm water, followed by a splash of ice cold water.

Lemon-Egg Mask

Image: sxc.hu

To even out your skin tone and banish age spots, nothing beats this treatment.

• Beat one egg white in a small bowl.
• Mix in the juice of 1/2 lemon.
• Spread evenly over your face and leave on overnight.
• Rinse in the morning with warm water.
• Repeat weekly.

Banana-Avocado Hair Mask

• Blend 1/2 banana, 1/4 avocado, 2 Tablespoons honey and 1 Tablespoon yogurt.
• Apply generously to hair from root to tip.
• Leave in for 20-30 minutes.
• Rinse with cool water.

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Image: AminoGenesis Skincare / nuNAAT

But your face isn’t the only place that can show your age — you need to treat your hair too. nuNAAT’s Karite Special Intensive Hair Mask nourishes and protects your hair with Shea Butter to leave it silky soft and healthy.

This week at Aging Fabulous, you have the opportunity to win both the new AminoGenesis Instant Wrinkle Filler and nuNAAT’s Karite Special Hair Mask.

To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment on this post with one beauty tip. Your comment will automatically enter you into the contest, which ends on Friday, November 20, 2009 at 11:59pm ET. We will select one random winner to receive the products.

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Image: Phyto

It is very important to strengthen the scalp in order to maintain the hair’s natural balance and vitality. Beginning at age 30, hair often becomes weaker and more fragile. Over time hair becomes more porous, less resistant and weak. Lacking in density and elasticity, weakened hair becomes dry and thin.

Using PHYTO Paris Phytodensium Anti-Aging Serum for Lifeless Hair replaces lost elements, helping to re-strengthen and protect your hair and scalp’s natural defenses leading to increased suppleness and shine.

Gataline age-defense derived from a carefully selected walnut extract, with anti-free radical properties, prevents hair damaged caused by the aging process and protects the hair from harmful environmental factors.

Blackcurrant seed oil, rich in omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, regenerates the hair. Birch and horsetail leaf extracts restore minerals to the hair fiber. A botanical protein complex increases the hair’s level of resistance and elasticity by forming a protective film over the surface. A tyrosine derivative helps boost the level of melanin and inhibits the appearance of gray hair.

Apply PHYTO Paris Phytodensium Anti-Aging Serum to clean towel-dried hair. Massage into the scalp and hair. Do not rinse and style hair as usual.

Start PHYTO Paris Phytodensium Anti-Aging Serum for Lifeless Hair before the holiday season is on full fledge and give yourself the gift that tops every girl’s wish list….the gift of beautiful hair!

Get more information and find a Phyto Salon near you by visiting phyto.com.

This serum is made in France and is reasonably priced in the USA since you pay $32.00 for 1.7 fl. oz., which should last you several months.

Bonne chance!

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Image: DermaVio

The brains at Ageless Research Labs think that the true villains behind the aging process are the tons of free radicals that assault your skin throughout the day. According to the people behind the product, free radicals aren’t free because they cost your skin its youth! For that reason, Ageless Research Labs has created a serum and capsule supplement that should help you to avoid these dreaded free radicals.

DermaVio anti-aging capsules hit the scene in 2006 and received great feedback from customers that experienced wonderful results with the product, their skin growing more youthful and radiant. Ageless Research Labs did more research, discovered the most important part of the capsules, and turned it into a skin cream and the rest is history.

The DermaVio Solution is clinically proven to prevent the signs of aging by reducing wrinkles, hydrating the skin, forming collagen, reducing fine lines, and, of course, protecting from free radicals. The secret ingredient, though, is the L-Hydroxyproline, which is the part that sets the DermaVio Solution apart from the other products on the market.

With the economy how it is, DermaVio is a great and affordable way to get intensive skin treatment without having to get any kind of cosmetic surgery! DermaVio shows results on the first application and I was very impressed!

You can find the product online at DermaVio.com. Right now, they have a 2-month supply of the serum and capsules for $89.00 plus free shipping. DermaVio is also available at americarx.com and other retailers. The DermaVio Solution is not the cheapest product on the market, but you can be sure to see results!

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Image: Cor Silver

Lately, Cor Silver Wrinkle Serum seems to be doing the trick for my skin! While each wrinkle serum on the market looks the same as the next one, Cor’s Silver Wrinkle serum has many qualities that set it apart from the competition.

Cor’s Silver Wrinkle Serum is made to fit every individual person’s anti-aging problems, containing specialized ingredients that help to slow the aging process considerably. This serum has time-released properties that help to hydrate and moisturize your skin from the inside out throughout the entire day.

The Silver Wrinkle Serum gets its name from the silver that Cor puts into its wrinkle cream. It also contains unique molecules that have been shown to help the skin continue its natural rejuvenation process. These molecules restore the dermis layor of the skin, giving your skin a healthier and more youthful appearance. The best part is that the serum does this naturally, without having to paralyze your skin like many everyday creams do.

When I put on Cor’s Silver Wrinkle Serum, I can almost feel the product starting to reverse the signs of aging! In just minutes, my wrinkles look less pronounced and I have the confidence to go out without worrying that my skin looks my age.

Anybody can use Cor’s Silver Wrinkle Serum because the serum works with all types of skin, even very delicate skin. If you want to naturally reduce the appearance of wrinkles, try Cor’s Silver Wrinkle Serum!

You can find this product and more information online at corsilver.com. The price of the serum is $120, which may be expensive but this product packs a punch!

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Image: Raw Essentials

Carol Alt is one of the most well-known supermodels in the world and has also managed to lead a respectable acting career as well. She created the Raw Essentials line after suffering from chronic illness and discovering that the artificial chemicals in skin products are mostly absorbed into her skin. Carol Alt decided that a Raw lifestyle is the only way to go.

The Raw-Juvenate Eye Recoup cream contains a stunning 82 percent pure aloe, an ingredient that hydrates, moisturizes, and soothes skin while keeping it firm and tight. It also contains virgin coconut oil, which contains powerful antioxidants, and mushroom extract, a natural skin lightener. Price: $22.50.

The Raw Vita Eye Serum helps to reduce the appearance of tired eyes, containing 84 percent pure aloe and virgin coconut oil. However, it also contains Tamanu oil, which is a Polynesian beauty secret that heals and smoothes skin. This product is great to use in the morning or evening. Price: $19.95.

Raw-Activate Facial Moisturizer contains the same ingredients as the Raw Vita Eye Serum, but it also contains pure citrus oil for a scent that is refreshing and revitalizing. The balance of the ingredients allows the skin to absorb the product more easily. Price: $29.50.

Raw-Finish Rigorous Face Scrub gently exfoliates the skin without creating micro-scratches by using Jojoba microbeads. This face scrub offers amazing results without the use of harsh chemicals. Price: $19.50.

Raw-Scue Night Restore Cream is a great natural product to use on your face at night. Since there are no harsh chemicals in this product, you can leave it on your skin all night without worrying about absorbing strange things into your bloodstream! Price: $26.00.

I feel comfortable using all of these Raw Essentials products because I know that everything I am putting onto my skin is something I could find in my garden – well, for the coconuts, I may need to go back to the Dominican Republic!

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Image: Quality of Life Labs

Two supplements that are backed by pages and pages of scientific research that I have started taking, though, are Oligonol and VitaPQQ. VitaPQQ contains PQQ, which was discovered in 2003 and is the first new vitamin to be discovered since 1948, and Oligonol is the world’s first commercially produced low weight molecular polyphenol.

PQQ has many wonderful functions in the body: it improves mitochondrial functions, which are the power plants of the body, it inhibits memory loss, and reduces the risk of neurological and immunological defects.

Oligonol is a supplement that comes from the lychee, an exotic Asian fruit, and it has many positive benefits as well, reducing fatigue, helping vascular relaxation and cardiovascular health, and slowing the process of skin wrinkling.

Taking these two supplements is a great way to help your skin and body look and feel so much younger. PQQ helps your body from the inside out, protecting the mitochondria in such a way that helps to slow the aging process, especially since some studies have suggested that mitochondrial damage is one of the main causes of aging.

Scientists have done many tests with Oligonol and these tests show that Oligonol has helped many people get rid of fine lines near their eyes, to smooth out wrinkles, and to help balance the complexion of the skin.

The science behind these two products is very convincing! Try these two products: you will be surprised.

You can learn more about these products from Quality of Life Labs at q-o-l.com.

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1. Get enough Omega-3. Omega-3 fatty acids can help to heal your dry, rough skin, patches of psoriasis and other skin problems. They also help your skin at the cellular level by protecting collagen, plus keep skin lubricated and hydrated. If you aren’t getting enough Omega-3 in your diet through oily fish and other foods, add a supplement of  fish oil capsules (~ 1,200 mg) into your daily routine.

2. Pay attention to your neck. Avoid turkey neck, which is caused by a breakdown in collagen, by using firming products that tighten saggy skin. Look for skin products containing retinol and peptides.

3. Rid yourself of spider veins. Spider veins on your legs, arms and other parts are a sure way to show aging. Consider a sclerotherapy procedure at your dermatologist’s office that collapses these tiny veins with a very fine needle. It will take a couple months of treatment, but reportedly 80% of spider veins can be cleared.

4. Cover eye circles - Don’t just slap on extra foundation under your eyes and think you have your circles covered. Instead, use a yellow-based concealer that is lighter than your foundation. Apply with a concealer brush as lashline as possible and blend downward, as well as on the side of your nose. Perk up droopy eyes by curling your lashes every day and using a plumping mascara.

5. Skip the powder. As you age, skin gets less oily, so you don’t need as much face powder as you did in your 20s and 30s. If you notice that powder is causing your fine lines and wrinkles to be more pronounced, switch to a cream-to-powder or liquid foundation and forgo the powder altogether.

Image: sxc.hu

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