Words to remember...

AQUARIUS

You are on the threshold of a major shift in your life as joyful Jupiter enters your sign next week to spend most of 2009 expanding your world. But you must be willing to change and to grow in order to make the most of whatever opportunities are offered. This can be challenging for you if you are reluctant to let go of the past.

Don't hold on to what you have or you won't be able to grab on to what comes next.


Bring it on :)

My Daily Chi Kung regime

This is what Al told me I should be doing everyday... Thanks Al, wherever you are now.

• Praying position with forehead on triangle finger base on floor to still the mind, to be done until thoughts stop racing
• 10 minutes of kidney breathing
• 5 minutes of water shifting
• 15 minutes of standing
• 10 choi curls

Moo

Apparently cows in a field tend to align themselves naturally in a north to south direction.

Huh.

Recommended Products for Your Hair

More from the Oprah website and Paula Begoun:

Best shampoos for dry, damaged hair:
*AVEDA Damage Remedy Restructuring Shampoo

*Neutrogena Triple moisture cream lather shampoo

*Pantene relaxed and natural Intensive Moisturizing Shampoo

Best conditioners for dry, damaged hair:
*Pantene Relaxed & Natural Breakage Defense Conditioner

*Bumble + bumble Creme de Coco Masque Nexxus Humectress *Luxe Ultra-Moisturizing Leave-In Spray

Best flat irons:
*Remington Wet 2 Straight Flat Iron
*BaByliss Pro Porcelain Ceramic Flat Iron

Best blow-dryers:
*Vidal Sassoon 1875 Watt Quiet Hair Styler Vs750

*Revlon RV544 1875 Watt Tourmaline Ionic Lightweight Dryer

Best products to protect from heat damage:
*Got2Be Dazzling Shine Spray

*Citre Shine Color Prism Anti Frizz Serum

Paula Begoun's Makeup Recommendations

Again, from Oprah's website- and Paula's book!

Best foundations with sunscreen for normal-to-oily skin:
*Almay TLC Truly Lasting Color 16-Hour Makeup SPF 15
*L'Oreal Paris True Match Super Blendable Makeup SPF 17
*Chanel Mat Lumiere Long Lasting Soft Matte Makeup SPF
*Cle de Peau Beaute Refining Fluid Foundation SPF 24

Best foundations with sunscreen for normal-to-dry skin:
*Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Custom Face *Perfector Cream Compact Foundation SPF 18

*Revlon New Complexion One-Step Compact Makeup SPF 15
*Giorgio Armani Designer Shaping Cream Foundation SPF 20

*M.A.C. Select SPF 15 Moistureblend

Best foundations without sunscreen for normal-to-oily skin:
*Clinique Superfit Makeup

*Cover Girl TruBlend Liquid Makeup

*Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

*Lancome Teint Idole Enduringly Divine and Comfortable Makeup

Best foundations without sunscreen for normal-to-dry skin:
*Bobbi Brown Moisturizing Cream Compact Foundation
*Laura Mercier Moisturizing Foundation
*Lorac Satin Makeup
*Trish McEvoy Even Skin Foundation Moisturizing

Best concealers:
*Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Concealer

*L'Oreal Paris True Match Concealer
*Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Double Face Perfector

*Chanel Quick Cover

*Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer

*M.A.C. Select Cover-Up

Best concealers with sunscreen:
*Prescriptives Flawless Skin Total Protection Concealer SPF 25
*Lancome Photogenic Skin-Illuminating Concealer
*Revlon Age-Defying Concealer SPF 20

*L'Oreal Paris Visible Lift Line-Minimizing & Tone-Enhancing Concealer SPF 20

Best way to prevent cracking feet:
*Neutrogena Comforting Butter Body Cream, Butter Cream

*Stridex Essential Care Triple Action Acne Pads with Salicylic Acid, Regular Strength
*Sally Hansen Gel Cuticle Remover

*Socks

More from Paula Begoun

Again, it's all from Oprah's website so this is just here for easy future access:

Best body lotions:
*Clinique Deep Comfort Body Moisture
*Olay Age Transform Body Crème Serum
*Olay Quench Body Lotion Normal to Dry Skin with Green Tea
*Aveeno Advanced Care Moisturizing Cream
*CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion

Best hand creams:
*Boscia Daily Hand Revival Therapy SPF 15
*RoC Retinol Correxion Hand Repair SPF 15
*Aveda Hand Relief
*Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Age Shield Hand Cream SPF 30

Best sunscreens for hands and body:
*Almay Sun Protector for Body SPF 30
*Banana Boat Kids Tear-Free Continuous Spray Sunblock SPF 30
*Clinique Sun Care UV Response Face Cream SPF 30 (great nongreasy option for hands)
*Estée Lauder Multi-Protection Sun Lotion for Body SPF 30
*Jason Natural Sunbrellas Active Sunblock SPF 40
*Peter Thomas Roth Uber-Dry Sunscreen Cream SPF 30

Best body exfoliants:
Paula's favorite: a clean washcloth
*DermaDoctor KP Duty Body Scrub (DermaDoctor is sold at Sephora)
*Peter Thomas Roth Botanical Buffing Beads

Best body washes:
Any of those from Dove, Olay, Caress, St. Ives or Neutrogena are effective, gentle and readily available. Dove offers a fragrance-free option.

Recommended skin products

This article is from Oprah's website; I'm just repeating it here for easy access:

With so many beauty products out there, what's right for you? Paula Begoun shares her 25 years of experience testing them.

Best cleansers:
*Almay Cleansing Lotion for Dry Skin with Cucumber
*Clean & Clear Foaming Facial Cleanser Sensitive Skin
*Kiehl's Ultra Moisturizing Cleansing Cream (for sensitive or rosacea-prone skin)
*Laura Mercier Oil-Free Gel Cleanser

Best toners:
*Bioelements Calmitude Hydrating Solution
*Estée Lauder Verite Soothing Spray Toner
*Remede Alchemy Toning Lotion

Best moisturizers for dry skin:
*Jason Natural Ester-C Lotion Anti-Oxidant Regenerating Moisturizer
*Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Intensive Night Cream
*B. Kamins, Chemist Redness Defying Lotion, for Normal to Ultra-Sensitive Skin
*Babor HSR Lifting Décolleté Cream
*M.A.C. Strobe Cream (a good moisturizer for boosting radiance and giving skin a "glow")
*Remede Complete Treatment Anti-Aging/Maximum Moisture

Best moisturizers for normal to oily skin:
*Clinique Moisture In-Control Oil-Free Lotion
*Clinique Super Rescue Antioxidant Night Moisturizer for Combination to Oily Skin M.D. *Formulations Moisture Defense Antioxidant Hydrating Gel
*Prescriptives Intensive Rebuilding Lotion
*Peter Thomas Roth Environmental Repair Hydrating Gel

Best antioxidant serums for all skin types:
*Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum, Fragrance-Free
*Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Supplement
*Chanel Age Delay Rejuvenation Serum
*Cosmedicone MegaDose PM Skin Fortifying Serum
*Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate Recovery Boosting Treatment Re-Nutrive *Estée Lauder Intensive Lifting Serum
*MD Skincare by Dr. Dennis Gross Hydra-Pure Antioxidant Firming Serum
*Z. Bigatti Re-Storation Deep Repair Facial Serum

Best facial sunscreens for normal to dry skin:
*Kiss My Face Face Factor + Neck SPF 30
*DDF Protect and Correct UV Moisturizer SPF 15
*Prescriptives Anti-Age Advanced Protection Lotion SPF 25
*Cosmedicine Primary Care Multi-Tasking Moisturizer SPF 20

Best facial sunscreens for normal to oily skin:
*Almay Daily Moisturizer for NEstéemal/Combo Skin with Grape Seed SPF 15
*DDF Matte Finish Photo-Age Protection SPF 30
*Neutrogena Age Shield Sunblock SPF 30
*Prescriptives All You Need + SPF 15 Continuous Action 24-Hour Moisture for Oilier Skin
*Estée Lauder Future Perfect Anti-Wrinkle Radiance Lotion SPF 15 for Normal/Combination Skin

Best facial sunscreens for sensitive skin:
*Clinique City Block Sheer Daily Face Protector SPF 25
*Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunblock Lotion SPF 30
*Clinique Sun Care Body SPF 25 Sun Block
*Kiss My Face Sun Screen SPF 18
*Physician's Formula Sun Shield Extra Sensitive Skin SPF 25

Best retinol products:
*Skinceuticals Retinol 0.5 Refining Night Cream with 0.5% Pure Retinol
*Alpha Hydrox Retinol Night ResQ
*Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer SPF 20 (provides retinol plus broad-spectrum sun protection and a sheer tint)
*RoC Multi-Correxion Night Treatment
*MD Skincare by Dr. Dennis Gross Hydra-Pure Radiance Renewal Serum

Best vitamin C products:
*MD Skincare by Dr. Dennis Gross Hydra-Pure Vitamin C Serum
*DDF C3 Plus Serum
*Skinceuticals CE Ferulic Combination Antioxidant Treatment

Best eye creams/gels:
*Kiehl's Light Nourishing Eye Cream
*Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Intensive Night Cream
*Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum
*Kate Somerville Line Release Under Eye Repair
*Perricone MD Cosmeceuticals Advanced Eye Area Therapy

Best lip balms with sunscreen:
*Blisslabs Super Balm Lip Conditioner with SPF 15
*B. Kamins, Chemist Lip Balm SPF 20
*Shiseido Sun Protection Lip Treatment SPF 36 PA++

Best lip balms without sunscreen:
*Aquaphor Healing Ointment
*Prescriptives Lip Specialist Triple Action Therapy
*L'Oreal Paris Bare Naturale Gentle Lip Conditioner

How to prevent age spots

More from Dr Oz:-

Besides using a sunscreen that is right for your needs, Dr. Oz says there are three other things you need to do to make sure your skin is beautiful.

The first key is making sure you get plenty of vitamins A, C and E—through diet and nutrient-rich creams. "Those are the key antioxidant vitamins. But they're also important, especially vitamin A, because they block some of the bad things happening underneath," he says. "And they help rejuvenate—turn on cells that make more collagen, make more elastin—to give you that bounciness that you want."

Dr. Evans says vitamin A is especially important for healthy skin. "It can make real transitions in the beginning. In fact, some of the damage you've already done—it can turn back the clock," she says. "You see it in retinol forms. Pretty much anything like a retinyl or retinoic acid or retin is a form of vitamin A."

Another nutrient you need is niacin, which prevents melanin from reaching the skin and reduces the production of the staining compound. Dr. Oz says you can also use natural licorice extract to slow the creation of melanin.

The third key part of a healthy skin routine is exfoliation. "Sun spots are stuck in the skin, so if you stop making new ones, your body rubs off the old levels," Dr. Oz says. "That's basically what exfoliation is, but you do it naturally. We shed dozens of pounds of skin a year. … And your body will shed those sun-damaged areas."

Essential ingredients in skincare products

According to Dr. Oz...

Among the hundreds of ingredients in skincare products, only a few make a real difference. These three have the best scientific backing:

Vitamin A (retinol, retinoic acid or Retin-A, retinyl propionate, and retinaldehyde): In its various forms, vitamin A increases elastin, collagen, and the natural moisturizer hyaluronic acid in the skin. It's the only thing you can apply to repair sun damage, giving you a smoother, less wrinkled complexion.

Vitamin C: Also stimulates collagen and elastin growth and helps thwart free radicals. (Vitamin C rapidly breaks down when exposed to light and oxygen, so the jar should be opaque and kept sealed.)

Vitamin E: An antioxidant, vitamin E acts to slow wrinkle production. Some research suggests it may also help protect against skin cancer. (Must be in the form of DL-alpha-tocopherol to make a difference, so read the ingredients on the label.)

Skin products don't have to be expensive, Dr. Oz says. "Most of the products we recommend are $10 or $12. Don't go for the marketing blitz," he says. "If there's retin in it, it has a vitamin A compound that we like. 'Ascorbic acid' is the word for vitamin C, and 'tocopherol' is the word for vitamin E. Those are the key ingredients to nourish your skin."

23andme.com

This is a website started by two women with a vision who hired a bunch of scientists. They've developed what TIME magazine hailed as the Idea of the Year in 2008.

You buy a kit from them, which they send to you, and then you spit in the tube they supply and return it to them. 6-8 weeks later you log in to their website and they have a complete gene analysis ready for you. This is what the kit looks like- nothing to be scared of!

This analysis can highlight medical conditions you may be a carrier for, diseases you may be prone to falling victim to, indicate what conditions your future children may be susceptible to, analyse your ancestry- all sorts of cool and interesting things.

Here's the link: https://www.23andme.com/