8 MASCARA MAKEUP TIPS & TRICKS

by Loren Ridinger

I’ve picked up so many mascara tips from beauty experts over the years being in this industry. And while I don’t wear makeup every day if I’m working from home, my quick and easy routine always includes playing up the eyes with mascara (and using concealer and blush!). Here are my top eight mascara tips and tricks to make the most of your fringe for a standout set of peepers. xo

8 Mascara Makeup Tips & Tricks

• To look extra awake, curl your lashes before applying
• Try a lash primer to strengthen and condition lashes
• Don’t forget to make sure that the inner and outer corner lashes are coated
• Black is universally flattering but you will be surprised how blue or brown mascara can make your eyes pop. Experiment!
• I don’t always use mascara on my bottom lashes. Blend a great concealer underneath the eye with volumizing mascara on the top lashes for a fresh, brightening effect
• Unless you’re going for a spidery look, clumps are a no-no. Brush them out with a lash comb for a more natural appearance
• Save your waterproof mascara for important events or a night out.
• Use an eye makeup remover with antioxidants to nourish the delicate surrounding skin

Why Omega-3 Fatty Acids Are Important to Your Health

Are you like me with a goal to always be the #1 advocate for your own health? Then read this post. You have probably already heard about omega-3′s, which are “essential fatty acids” we all must consume for consistently good health. The problem is that our bodies do not make omega-3′s on their own, leaving it up to us to actively seek omega-3 fatty acids through our diet and supplements.

Foods That Fight Inflammation

Why Omega-3 Fatty Acids Are Important to Your Health

• Reduce inflammation in the body
• Lower lipids in the bloodstream
• Inhibit thickening of your arteries
• Improve the body response to insulin, which can regulate weight and metabolism
• Help prevent cancer cell growth

If you’ve been dealing with depression, chronic pain, heart disease, clotting issues or hormone imbalances, talk to your doctor about focusing on your intake of omega-3 fatty acids. I rely on this fish oil supplement as well as organic foods like walnuts, salmon and flaxseeds (which naturally have omega-3′s) to cover my bases!

Do you take a fish oil supplement? Have you noticed any benefits?

The Benefits of Berries

 By Ryan Saba

Berries have been shown to be some of the healthiest foods on the planet.  Low in calories, high in fiber, and containing vitamins and mineral your body needs to function optimally, berries are nutritional powerhouses.

Extremely powerful antioxidants, berries protect your body from inflammation.  With their high oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values – a method of measuring antioxidant capacities – berries help to prevent negative effects on the body by turning off inflammation signals, making them a vital part of our diet. These little power foods may be simple but they have been shown to poses a variety of amazing benefit from protecting the heart all the way to enhancing vision. Try Isotonix Maximum ORAC 

Heart Protection
One of the primary benefits of berries is their ability to improve heart health and blood flow throughout the body.  One way this is done is by reducing the buildup of harmful plaque on blood vessel walls, which reduces the risk of arteries hardening.  By keeping arteries clean and avoiding the buildup of plaque, the heart can work more efficiently, reducing the potential of heart attacks and other heart disease related conditions. 

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Below is Dr. Steven Lamm a practicing internist, faculty member at New York University School of Medicine, and the Director of Men's Health for NYU Medical Center discussing Pycnogenol and its amazing benefits in Isotonix OPC-3

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Also, incorporation of berries into your diet has been shown to reduce oxidation of LDL – or “bad” – cholesterol. Oxidation, the process by which cells and tissue break down, is a key factor in heart disease because oxidized LDL can inflame arteries and increase the risk of heart attacks. Reducing the oxidation levels of LDL cholesterol not only improves overall heart function, but also reduces long term risks of heart disease. Learn more about an exclusive isotonic form of Pycnogenol in (OPC-3)

Powerful Antioxidants
Even though taste is often what we like most about berries, their color is what makes them so good for us.  The rich blues, deep purples and bright reds are a result of a group of phytochemicals called flavonoids. These pigments help to counter cell damage in our bodies caused by free radicals.  Over time, free radicals contribute to disease and are one of the primary factors in the aging process.

Antioxidant compounds protect our bodies from the oxidative damage that is caused by everything from poor diet, environmental toxins and even vigorous exercise.  By neutralizing free radicals, flavonoids may help to reduce the risk of cancer and aid in memory and other brain functions that begin to decline as we age.

Vision Enhancement
Various forms of berries contain lutein, a carotenoid important for healthy vision. Reduced eye function and the degeneration of vision are some of the most common problems associated with aging.  With the ability to protect against glaucoma and cataract progression, berries have been show to promote overall eye health. Berries have also been shown to enhance vision, especially at night, by supporting the regeneration of rhodopsin in the eyes.  This process helps the eyes to adjust better during periods of darkness and also reduces the permeability of the fine blood vessel walls throughout the eye. Berries have also been shown to protect against retinopathy, a condition the leads to impaired vision and blindness due to blood accumulation in the retina.

Sometimes the simplest things offer the best benefits.  Berries are some of the most powerful (and delicious) disease-fighting foods available. Introducing them into your diet – ideally two or three types each day – can improve various areas of health and overall well being.

Nutritional Support for Nagging Headaches

by Crystal Shelton

Headaches are a very common ailment and most everyone experiences one at some time in their life. It is estimated that 45 million Americans suffer from headaches, and over 60% of those specifically suffer from migraines. Among the other classifications (tension and cluster headaches), migraines are the second most common and are typically much more intense and painful. While many use prescription medication to help with their symptoms, there exists a nutritional alternative that has also been studied and shown to be beneficial.

The mineral magnesium is getting a lot of attention for its numerous health benefits, most recently being called “the new calcium”. As a supporter in over 300 enzymatic reactions within the body, magnesium is a necessary nutrient that many do not get from their diet. Its varied roles include positive effects on muscle cramps and promoting optimal nerve function. Additionally, magnesium serves as an important component of bone, promotes the normal regulation of blood pressure and also helps facilitate normal platelet activity. It may be this role in blood vessel health that helps explain its effects in providing relief of headaches.

Headaches and migraines can be caused by many factors, including stress, neurological imbalances, food allergies and the list goes on. Normal blood flow is supported by blood vessels that are strong and resilient. When these characteristics are compromised by blood vessel constriction, blood flow is reduced. Magnesium works to stabilize the walls of blood vessels promoting normal blood flow.

Additionally, blood platelet aggregation has been shown to be altered in migraine patients, suggesting that it plays a role in migraines. When platelets aggregate, they release serotonin and other active chemicals which can cause the blood vessels to constrict. Magnesium works to decrease platelet aggregation, which in turn reduces the formation of these inflammatory mediators that factor in to migraine occurrence. Clinical studies shown oral magnesium also helps reduce migraine frequency while lowering the duration and intensity of the attacks.

Isotonix Magnesium 

Low brain levels of magnesium are strongly correlated to headaches. Evidence suggests up to 50 percent of migraine patients have decreased levels of magnesium during a migraine attack. Magnesium is also an important mineral for promoting healthy sleep quality. It has been noted that regular sleeping patterns are also very important to migraine sufferers.

While magnesium’s health benefits are far-reaching, its roles on blood vessel health and platelet aggregation make it a noteworthy candidate specifically for the control of headaches and migraines. With a magnesium deficiency being so common in many migraine sufferers, it makes sense to make sure this mineral is at sufficient levels in the body. It serves as an adequate nutritional alternative with proven safety and efficacy.

Isotonix Magnesium provides the body with 100 percent of the recommended daily value of magnesium in a highly-bioavailable formula. Thanks to its unique formula, which includes two different types of magnesium to increase its absorption by the body, Isotonix Magnesium helps maintain normal blood pressure and supports bone health and sleep quality, while promoting head comfort and optimal muscle health. Learn more here