15 Health and Beauty Benefits of Water!

Copyright (c) 2011 Ann Sandretto

Whether you're looking for younger skin, a healthier body, or shinier hair (or all 3) pure, clear water is the world's best elixir.

Here are 15 ways that water can benefit your health and beauty:

For Younger Looking Skin:

*Firm your skin - For centuries, people in Eastern Europe have gone to bathhouses for water therapy to detoxify and tighten their skin. The proces (which involves a steam room session to open pores, followed by a cold-pool plunge to shock the skin) is easy to replicate at home. Just soak a washcloth in steasming-hot (but bearable) water, then lay it over your face for a minute. Next, wash with your favorite cleanser, then rise with warm water. For your "plunge", splash with cold water about 15 times. According to a beauty expert, "This might sound "old-school" but it really works to invigorate and tighten your pores.

*"Smooth Lines - Wrinkles are less noticeable when skin cells are well-hydrated, accrding to the author of "The Water Secret: The Cellular Breakthrough to Look and Feel 10 Years Younger". He suggests using a moisturizer with humectants, which help attract water to skin cells.

*Add Radiance - Hydrating from the inside makes skin more luminous, nutritionist Keri Glassman says (author of "The O2 Diet") To see results, drink eight glasses a day. "It sounds like a lot but many women need that much to see a difference in their skin."

*Correct Your Complexion - No matter what your skin issues, there's a natural water source from around the world that can help - and a closer-to-home product with the same effect!

- Icelandic Glacial Water -soothes sensitive skin (find it in Skyn Iceland Pure Cloud Cream) - Dead Sea Water - can improve elasticity (find it in Ahava Protective Moisturizer) - Spring water - heals damaged skin (find it in Avene Cream for Intolerant SKin)

Brighten Your Eyes

- A cold compress helps reduce under-eye inflammation but you can get a similar effect with H2O water. "As water evaporates from the skin, the surface becomes cooler", according to cosmetic chemist Ni'Kita Wilson. For a long-term solution, trying a cooling, water-rich eye gel, suchas Vichy Aqualia Antiox Anti-Fatigue Eye Stick with brightening citrus polyphenol.

For A Healthier Body

De-Dimple Legs - Losing weight improves the look of cellulite, but hydrating fromt he inside out is the number-one natural way to plump skin so underlying fat cells are les snoticeable. You can hydrate and slim down, by eating water-rich foods and vegetables. One study in Japan showed women who got their H2O this way had smaller waits andlower BMIs than those who sipped their fluids. Some of the water-richest foods are now in season - Watermelon, peaches, and cucumbers.

Tone Muscles - Water is about 12 times more resistant than air, so it takes more effort to move while submerged. This means exercises you do in a pool are extra-effective muscle sculptors. Any easy one to try is - stand in water up to your neck, then move your arms and legs as if you're cross-country skiing for one minute.

Improve Your Sleep - Soaking in a hot bath before bed can help you transition into a deepr, more restful sleep.

Reduce Anxiety - Zen Buddhist monks have incorporated water features in their meditative gardnes for hundreds of years because of their soothing sounds. And studies show listening to nature (particularly running water and waves) helps reduce anxiety.

For Shinier Hair

Add Shine - Hairdressers will tell you that rinsing in cool water leaves hair glossier. The cool temperature constricts the cuticle layer of your hair so it lies flatter, making strands smoother and more reflective.

Prevent Damage - You probably already know that chlorinated or salty water can turn healthy hair into a frizzy mess. But the fix is very easy - rinse your hair int he shower or under a hose before swimming. The strands will absorb their fill of clean water, so they won't be able to soak up as much of the damaging water When you're done in the water, coat your hair with condiitoner for extra protection frm the sun.

Cleanse and Condition - Too much seawater can dry out your hair, but oceans are good for something - their nutrient-rich support marine botanicals (like sea kelp) that can clenase, repair, and detangle. Look for shampoo contaiingsea lettuce and red algae and conditioner with sea kelp (can be found at Drugstore.com)

Tame Your Hair - Soft shower water leaves hair more manageable becuse there are fewminteral salts. If you have hard water, install a water-softening shower filter. It can also help your color from fading.

Create a Lasting Style - Conditioners contain ingredients like dimethicone and plant oils that smoothand detangle your hair. But that slippery feeling can actually make your hair harder to style. You can fix this problem by misting a water-based primer after detangling but before applying styling products. It absorbs some of the oil and rebalances the moisture level of yoru hair so the style you create will hold longer.


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