Medtopicwriter

Editor’s Note: Please help me welcome Amy Shoultz, PhD, to the Medtopicwriter family. She specializes in medical writing for a numerous clients in the healthcare industry. We know you’ll enjoy her fresh, friendly, and informative posts. Amy will author regular contributions to Medtopicwriter and will also collaborate on our sister site, Freelance Writing Dreams, to launch September 2011. Her considerable talents and passion for words will add even more glitter to our sparkle! To learn more about Amy, please take a peek at her profile on LinkedIn.

Revive your life with a relaxing home spa day. (photo credit: omahaku dot net)

Ahhh….“Spa-Day”—something about it just sounds right.  Right?  Spa-Days always sound indulgent, in theory.  And, maybe that’s the problem.  Very few Americans routinely indulge in therapeutic spa treatments.  Between video-conferencing (yes, that’s a verb now), soccer practice, and running marathons, you are busy people!  For our contemporaries in Moscow, Seoul, or Istanbul, however, regular spa visits are scheduled by rote.  Massage on a Monday?  Of course!  Full-body salt scrub mid-week?  Why not?  For those times when you want a little spa-lift but can’t wrap your brain around a trip to the spa, try these natural beauty ideas right from home.  Look no further than your fridge or spice rack for a quick skin fix!    

• Wake up on the wrong side of the bed?  For the instant face-lift, whisk egg whites and apply directly to clean skin on crow’s feet, laugh lines, or entire face for a quick tighten-up.  Leave on for 15-20 minutes.  Egg whites contain an age-defying amino-acid, Lysine, that boosts collagen production and works instantly.
• Ever wonder why women from India appear to have a natural glow? Look no further than your spice rack for a well-seasoned shimmer… After you exfoliate, grab your ground turmeric and apply directly to your skin in circular motion and your skin will look exotic and smell aromatic.  Leave on skin for 5 minutes and off your GLOW!  VERY IMPORTANT: unless you want yellow fingernails, wear plastic gloves.
• Want to maximize your time in the sun without damaging over-exposure?  Plan ahead before your Spring-Break-Bake and begin eating carrots a couple of weeks before you leave for Cancun.  Mexican women-in-the-know munch on carrots at the beach all summer long—the beta-carotenes help you tan deeper and extend your bronze longer.
• Make your own lip exfoliator and smoother by adding cinnamon to your lip balm.  Not only does it slough away dry skin around your mouth, it tastes delicious and cinnamon is a natural remedy for not-so-pleasant breath.  So, if you’re worried about what to order for dessert on a hot date—go for the cinnamon ice cream so you’ll be extra fresh when he leans in for the big kiss.

If you really want to relax, consider going wire-less for a day.  Tune-out the static and tune-in to yourself.  Okay, start small, shoot for one-hour blocks of tranquility and work your way up.

Author: Amy Shoultz, Ph.D.