This guest post is written by Benjamin Castillo

The next time you gaze at your reflection in the mirror, take a minute to think about all that goes into making the unique and attractive person that is you. Clothing and accessories may be the icing on the cake, but your true beauty is an outward manifestation of who you are and how you choose to live your life. Yes, as trite as it may sound, anyone who has gone to one of the many found cooking schools online can confirm you are, at least in part, what you eat. All of us want to enhance our physical appearance as much as possible, as well as maintain our natural gifts. What we feed ourselves are the foods that our bodies use to replenish our constantly changing cellular structure. Therefore, it makes a great deal of sense to eliminate the destructive and accentuate the beneficial. To this end, here are ten of the worst offenders. Steering clear of them can help you make the most of your appearance, as well as your overall health.

1. Sugary drinks. According to the Mayo Clinic , a 12-ounce can of non-diet soda contains about seven teaspoons of sugar and has 140 calories. Although sugary carbonated beverages and iced teas may taste good, they contain no nutritional benefits. Instead, they can lead to weight gain, suppression of the immune system and skin breakouts. You’re much better off hydrating your entire body with a delicious glass of water.

2. White bread. When you gnaw on that fluffy, soft piece of white bread, you are definitely soothing your hunger. However, according to the United States Department of Agriculture Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, eating processed grains such as those found in white bread is actually depriving your body of the many benefits that eating whole grains can bring. Instead of getting the fiber found in whole grain bread, you are settling for a pale imitation that does not include disease-fighting and beauty-enhancing fiber.

3. Processed lunch meats. We’re not just talking about the bologna or ham you may buy at your supermarket’s deli counter. Your breakfast bacon and sausage also fall into this category. Unfortunately, these foods are very high in fat and sodium, meaning that they may well lead to unwanted weight gain, heart disease or a spike in your blood pressure. When any of these get out of control, your entire system suffers, including your self-esteem.

4. Salty snacks like chips, crackers and french fries. Even if the label proclaims your snack to be low fat or trans fat-free, you should still avoid consuming the product. All of these temptations contain loads of empty calories, unneeded salt and often fat as well. Your best bet is to ban them altogether from your house.

5. White rice. Remember what we said about white bread? The same applies to rice. It is a nutritional lightweight compared to brown rice, its whole grain cousin. Avoiding white rice can help you decrease your risk of type II diabetes. Moreover, switching to a whole grain alternative can boost your daily fiber intake, which can lower your chances of heart disease, hypertension and digestive troubles.

6. Sugary fruit yogurt. Yes, yogurt can be a healthy alternative to high-fat delicacies such as ice cream, but you are much better off enjoying the plain variety. Most of the fruity types contain fat and sugar that will undermine your healthy eating intentions.

7. Canned tomatoes. Although it may come as a surprise to you, the linings of the cans used to hold these products contain a synthetic estrogen chemical that has been linked to several disturbing medical problems, including reproductive issues, heart disease and obesity. Over time, these chemicals can accumulate in your system, eventually reaching dangerously high levels. Using fresh tomatoes or those in glass jars will help you avoid this health threat.

8. Microwave popcorn. There are times when convenience makes sense, but not in the case of popcorn. According to Shine some of the chemicals used in the lining of your microwave popcorn bag have been linked to fertility problems in humans and various cancers in animals, including liver, testicular and pancreatic. Since many of us consume a fair amount of this crunchy, salty treat over several years, the detrimental effects could be cumulative.

9. Farm salmon. Not all salmon are created equal. In fact, there is a huge difference between farm-raised and wild salmon. Did you know that so-called cultivated salmon are fed a diet of hydrolyzed chicken feathers, poultry waste and soy? Needless to say, this is far from their natural diet. As a result, eating farm salmon not only gives you less of the vitamin D you need, but also exposes you to a number of unhealthy contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), flame retardants and pesticides like DDT.

10. Fried foods. Whether it is a doughnut for breakfast, Chinese food for lunch or fried chicken for dinner, it’s hard to get away from fried foods in our culture. Yet, according to the Mayo Clinic as well as just about every board certified doctor practicing medicine today, they do you nothing but harm. A diet high in fried foods is highly correlated with obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. In addition, your complexion can even take a hit if you over-indulge in this way. Increasingly, restaurants and grocery stores are recognizing the detrimental effects of fried foods on American consumers, making it just a bit easier to find healthy choices.

It is these daily choices, made one at a time and through the use of a great deal of will power and a dose of education, which can help you take control of your eating habits. Believe it or not, these choices will also be vital in promoting your physical beauty, your mental keenness and your overall sense of well-being. After all, a healthy person is strong, confident and has self-esteem to spare. Making the conscious decision to avoid foods that are bad for you and replace them with beneficial ones will help you to radiate your beauty, confidence and glowing health to everyone you meet.

It sometimes may seem that nothing is easier to do than put on a facial mask. But there are many nuances that impact the effect you will get from the mask, as well as the pleasure of the experience.

1. Cleanse. – One fact is clear – a face that is free from dirt will absorb the nutrients more effectively. Cleanse your face with a scrub or a tonic. The easiest way to do this is to wash your face with oatmeal.
2. Prepare. Before preparing your facial mask, carefully find out exactly how and in what proportions ingredients should me mixed. Do not experiment on yourself, based on rumors that you heard about what should be mixed together. Otherwise, instead your skin may end up irritated instead of glowing. If you bought a mask, strictly follow the instructions. Do not add any other active ingredients, unless you really know what you are doing.
3. Choose a zone. There are places where the mask in can’t be applied for a variety of reasons. For example, the delicate skin around the eyes and lips should be avoided. Moreover, it is recommended to protect the eyes, the best way to do this purpose is to use a cotton pad. So that they fit tightly, slightly moisten them in water and put them on the eyes. You can also use slices of cucumber or raw potatoes, which are great for puffy eyes.
4. Apply. The easiest way to apply masks is with your hands. However, it is more hygienic to apply a thick mask with special spatula, or if the mask is sufficiently liquid, apply it with a cosmetic or artistic brush.
5. Relax. Some women continue to do different chores while wearing a facial mask. However, this is unacceptable. With mask, your face should be relaxed and motionless. The mask will penetrate into all wrinkles and pores this way. So during this pleasant procedure, give yourself a little bit of free time and lie down or at least sit, leaning back in a chair.
6. Wait. To work well, a mask needs time. The most optimal time for the mask is about 15 – 20 minutes. After you remove the mask, it’s advisable not to go outside for about two hours.
7. Remove. Remove the mask with a wet cotton pad or a towel. It is strictly forbidden to scrape, tear, or wait until the mask goes away by itself. After removing the mask, put on cream that is best for your skin type.

Did i miss something, ladies? Share you thoughts on the ways you apply your facial mask to make them work better.

A note from Victoria:

Today’s guest post is by Katherine McKenney. Katherine McKenney is a natural beauty blogger who is studying Aromatherapy. When she’s not studying essential oils, or mixing up natural beauty products in her kitchen, she can be found hosting Natural Beautee Parties at her Natural Beautee blog.

Everywhere you look these days essential oils are turning up in your moisturizer, shower gel, and even your laundry detergent. Part of me is pleased that people are becoming increasingly aware of essential oils but the other part of me is worried that without the proper education people may not realize the full potential that they have, or even worse misuse them which can be dangerous.

If you look at the word “aromatherapy,” there are two obvious components to the word but I get the impression that generally people associate aromatherapy more with the “aroma” component and less with the “therapy” component. In fact, aromatherapy is a serious complementary therapy which uses essential oils to treat the individual through three different methods: inhalation, topical application, and orally. So how does it work?

Aromatherapists treat the individual in a holistic sense, by doing diagnostics through questioning and using the feedback to blend the different oils to suit that individual’s needs. Then depending on the ailment, the aromatherapist will select the appropriate method. For example, colds, depression or anxiety might be treated through inhalation, whereas skin and muscle conditions might be treated through blending and applying the oils through massage.

In the US and UK, essential oils are not prescribed to be taken internally, although in France some doctors are actually trained in this. Note: Unlike synthetic chemicals and drugs which are built in a lab to have a very specific physiological action, essential oils have wide ranging and multiple actions. This is why they can treat both on a physiological, energetic, and emotional level.

Essential oils are highly concentrated plant and flower essences made through either distillation or cold pressing processes. They are extremely potent, so only used in small quantities (usually a few drops per bottle of product). Generally your body will let you know whether or not a certain essential oil is good or bad for you. If you hate the way an essential oil smells, that’s your clue!  For example, neroli is an amazing essential oil for skincare. It helps replenish and repair dry, damaged skin, is great for mature skin, treating scars and stretch marks. However, try as I might, I can’t make myself like the way it smells. Sadly, neroli is just not for me. The best essential oils to use are those which are organic. This is because no pesticides have been used in the farming of the plants so you get a more pure oil.

Often, natural beauty products will be laden with essential oils and it can be hard for the beginner to figure out which oil or oils aren’t agreeing with them. A good way to start out is by making a trip to your local health food store and sniffing some of the essential oils. If you want to try your hand at mixing up something, a good product to make first is a facial oil.  Make sure you adhere to the right ratios, and when in doubt contact a local aromatherapist. When it comes to essential oils, less is more: start with less, as you can always add more!

I think part of the reason why aromatherapy may not be taken as seriously as it deserves as a complementary therapy is because of the confusion between the usage of essential oils. If you consider that about 95% of the world’s essential oil production is for the perfume and pharmaceutical industries then it’s no wonder because aromatherapy is a tiny part of the essential oil market share.

The majority of the time essential oils are in a product to make it smell nice as opposed to therapeutic purposes. I often see essential oils in share care products that are actually really inappropriate for skin care (for the record, the best essential oils for skin are lavender, german chamomile, geranium, palmarosa, and sandalwood). That’s not an exhaustive list but they are the first to go to when using essential oils in skincare.

There are a lot of interesting internet debates on what constitutes aromatherapy. I saw a particularly heated one between some poor lady who had bought a lavender soap and was trying to tell an aromatherapist that her soap was aromatherapy because she smelled the lavender when she took a shower. Well, if you don’t know what you’re talking about and you enter a debate with someone who has spent years studying and practicing the topic, it’s just not going to be a fair fight. What I did find interesting however was that the aromatherapist contended that using a soap could not be aromatherapy because the individual was not inhaling a high enough amount of essential oil to have a therapeutic effect.

The aromatherapist definitely had some points apart from dosage like the fact that the lavender wasn’t selected for any particular reason but I felt a little sad for the lady that the aromatherapist was trying to rain on her parade. The fact of the matter was that for the lady smelling lavender made her feel happy and relaxed so even if her emotions were due to the placebo effect, we shouldn’t judge her or try to exclude her by saying her soap wasn’t aromatherapy.

What do you all think? Can a soap be aromatherapy?

Recently in my post Report from DIY skin cream workshop I asked you this question “I have provided you with lots of cream recipes during last few weeks. Have you tried any?” Since I haven’t received any responses so far, I am guessing that you were too lazy and perhaps no one has tried any of the recipes yet . But I will not give up! I will update you with some new facial cream recipes soon, so stay tuned.

In case you’ve missed my posts about how to easily create facial creams at home, please find them below:

• Practical Tips on How to Make Your First Facial Cream
• Secrets to Making Homemade Skin Cream Based on Lecithin
• List of Homemade Face Creams for Dry Skin
• List of Homemade Face Cream Recipes for Oily Skin

However, today I wanted to ask you another question. How do you moisturize?

Maybe you are using a facial oil blend, or a homemade facial cream? Are you using a great (or not so great ) product from a company specializing in natural or organic skin care products? Or you are using conventional creams?

So how do you moisturize? Please share your thoughts.

Hello my beauties! Finally I’m back to civilization and I am so glad that I can update you with few words about my trip.

But first I would like to welcome our new readers, who subscribed to my newsletter and entered the completion of Softlips giveaway. Let’s all say a warm hello to them!

In case you are wondering why there is such a profound silence at MyHomemadeBeauty.com, I’m traveling across Europe. Sometimes it’s really hard to find an Internet connection at places I’m visiting. But more about my trip and few useful tips for the road can be found in the article 6 essential beauty tips for the road.

The Most Beautiful City in Europe

At last I reached the center of Europe. To be more specific, i’m in Vienna. I’m here just for one day and i’m so, so deeply sorry that I can’t stay here for a longer period of time. We are in accelerated mode as we are traveling to Italy to catch the warm and sunny weather there.

Vienna is a cultural haven, with a district full of art museums and theaters. Music lovers can attend Vienna State Opera concerts. Dance lovers can visit famous Vienna balls. Ballroom life in the Austrian capital does not stop all year round! So if you come here for the weekend, you can find tickets to one of the balls without any problems.

Unfortunately, we haven’t had a chance to visit the ball, because we had only one day to check out Vienna. We decided to walk on the ancient streets of Vienna and pamper ourselves with local delicacies. We will experience the cultural life of Vienna next time.

Sweet sweet pleasure!

Besides that the beauty of Vienna you can admire for ever, the city is also known for its delicious pastries and, of course, chocolate. I was hoping to enjoy a cup of coffee with the famous Austrian strudel when we went to the most famous chocolate house in Vienna, “Demel”. Oh! It is a paradise for those who have a sweet tooth, like me. I could just eat everything there!

In addition to eating of all sorts of goodies, you can watch how these deserts are prepared. The kitchen is behind a large glass window, so when you sit at a table, you can see the virtuoso chefs work on the pastry.

Of course, I could not resist buying a bunch of sweets and cakes for friends, and, of course, myself. You can see my beauty on the photo .

Unfortunately, my cake made itself known, and I got some pimples. So now I need to apply my 5 Secrets on How to Clear Sudden Acne Breakouts Quickly. I am really happy that I whipped up these creams from the workshop before I left; they are really helping me at relieving my breakouts too.

What next?

Well, tomorrow we are going to the famous Austrian Alps. We rented a little house right in the mountains at an altitude of 1500 meters above the sea level. I do expect that the road there should be very, very beautiful. So as soon as we get to our destination, I’ll try to come here and share a few photos .