Greetings and Happy New Year!

To start the year off, I am working with the theme of Body, Mind, Spirit for 2008. I'm doing this because life truly is wholistic (my unique spelling); it is composed of the whole of who we are: body, mind, spirit. And the same is true (really!) for healthy skin.

Without healthy lifestyle habits (which are controlled by your mind), spirit or nature in your life (to feed your soul), and of course healthy Skin Care habits (body), you won't truly enjoy healthy skin...or not for long.

BODY (SKIN)

Do you have a PLAN for your skin in 2008? How about trying to tackle just ONE thing. And one of the most important things you can do to improve your skin, now and throughout the year, is to EXFOLIATE!

Exfoliation is simply removing dead skin from the surface of your face, and this can be done several different ways:

1. Using Yonka-Paris' wonderful Gommage (303 or 305). This is my FAVORITE exfoliator, and one I recommend using at least once or twice per week.

2. A facial scrub is a common way to exfoliate. Less effective than the gommage, it will still get rid of a layer or two of dead skin. Use it in the shower to avoid too much mess.

3. My least favorite, although very popular, are AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) products. My concern is they can cause redness in the skin.However they do remove dead cells without having to do much more than apply the product.

MIND (HABITS)

No matter what you choose to use, exfoliate more often! This will help with the hydration and texture of your skin all year round!

Starting new lifestyle habits is synonymous with January 1st of any year. No matter when you are starting or ending habits, I recommend going S L O W L Y. Why? Neither deprivation nor overdoing it works, historically. Isn't that true for you?

If you aren't drinking enough water, for instance, don't go for eight glasses every day at the start. Try doubling what you are doing to start with- or even less. If you are drinking two glasses of water a day, try to get in four. If you drink four, try for six.

Eventually you can graduate to the levels you want in your daily life...whether adding or subtracting habits. Going slowly will give your body time to adjust to the (healthy) change. And your mind won't feel like it's having to make drastic changes while you're making new choices.

SPIRIT (NATURE)

Spending time outdoors, in nature, is an important component to healthy body, mind AND spirit.

The main reason I moved to Boulder this past September was to be close to the mountains...close to nature. Truly, "nature" is everywhere. So you don't have to live in the mountains and go hiking every day to enjoy being outside.

Being out of doors....out of the confines of the office, home, or wherever inside, is as important to your health as being inside protected from harsh environments. You don't have to exercise out in a snow storm, but do try to get out and enjoy the great outdoors...even in weather that isn't picture perfect.

If you don't have a lot of time, try to get outside for even 5 or 10 minutes. The more fresh air you can get, the better, and...something is better than nothing.

Are you sensing a theme here? Selecting just one thing to change at a time, changing slowly to ensure a habit's success, and do something rather than nothing, even if it isn't as much as you'd like to do.

Taking smaller steps may be a better way for you to succeed in making the changes you are looking for in 2008.

Wishing you ALL THE BEST IN 2008! May happiness, health, wisdom, and lots of love follow you throughout the new year and beyond!

BE WELL,

Carolyn Ash

Integrative Skincare www.carolynash.com

healthy skin...for a lifetime

BE WELL,

Carolyn Ash

Integrative Skincare www.carolynash.com

healthy skin...for a lifetime

Signup for my monthly e-newsletter and receive discounts on Yonka Skin Care products as well as all products on my website store. You'll also receive helpful tips and information on Skin Care. So, signup now and get your January discount right away! http://www.carolynash.com

Look for more discounts throughout the year along with a new and improved website and the addition of teleseminars, helping you understand how to achieve healthy skin...for a lifetime.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and your loved ones!

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