Get Beautiful Skin

Olay Total Effects body wash claims that you will see improvement in the elasticity and skin firmness in just one use. Now, I can't say I saw a difference in one use-- but in three uses (this free sample contains 5- 10 uses depending on how much you use at once), my post-pregnancy skin was definatly getting some of its prepregnancy oomph back. Olay Total Effects is certainly a force to be reckoned with.

Other tips for increasing skin elesticity and firmness:

Maintain lean muscle mass and avoid bulky fat by doing about 20 minutes of aerobic exercise (this can be as simple as walking briskly) at least four times a week, and a muscle-toning activity such as calisthenics, weight machines at a gym, yoga, or pilates at least three times a week.

Reduce cellulite by eating raw: Consume raw fruits and vegetables as much of the time as possible. Choose grilled over fried and frozen over canned. This will decrease your sodium to potassium ratio. When you eat carbs, make sure they're whole grain. Never eat red meat (beef, ham, pork, bacon, veal, hamburger, etc) more often than once a week. If you can, choose fish over chicken or turkey, and always choose grilled over fried.

Consume plenty of antioxidants that reduce the signs of aging, such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits and green leafy vegetables; it is better consumed in its natural state than in a supplement. Vitamin E is found in avocados, and it can easily be taken in a supplement.

Use a rich lotion often. In the top 5 ingredients, 'water' and 'alcohol' should not appear. These substances dry out your skin. Look for ingredients such as cocoa butter and  shea butter. It's not enough that they advertise 'With Shea Butter!' on the label; read the ingredients. If one of these butters isn't in the top 5 ingredients (or better, is the top ingredient), skip it. Apply lotion after your shower, and one other time day (morning or night), using deep massaging motions, working from your extremeties towards your lymph nodes to help your lymphatic system to move toxins in the right direction and (theoretically) reduce cellulite.

And, of course, take care of your skin. Protect it from the sun. Some lotions contain an SPF; this may be good to invest in, especially during the summer months or if you live in a climate where you wear shorts and short-sleeves often. Otherwise, use an SPF in addition to your regular lotion on the parts of your skin exposed to the sun. Many women remember their faces, but forget their neck, decolletage, and hands: some of the first places to show signs of aging. Also, consume plenty of red fruits, such as tomatos and papaya. These contain lycopene, a nutrient shown to reduce incident of skin cancer among individuals who consume much of it. Think about equator cultures where there is a lot of sun and the people have been very tan for centuries: Central America, Greece, Italy. These cultures all use tomatoc extensively in their cooking. In fact, the people of Greece live longer and healtheir lives than so much of the world, it may be well worth your time to imitate their eating habits.

And remember: You may be young now and think that these things don't apply to you, but you will not be young forever. You only have one body, and you want it to last, right?

If you're not convinced, read my article on quality versus quantity.