Clear Skin

Hey Everybody! Hope you all had a great 4th of July! I know I had lots of fun.

I recently purchased a bottle of acneadvance from my local health food store. I'm always on the lookout for things that will reduce breakouts, and this caught my eye. Now, it says on the box that it helps balance hormones, and I know that most of my acne is hormone related (which means it's really hard to get rid of with topical treatments). Since I'm all for natural remedies, I bought a bottle. I'm about a month in, and I'm amazed. I've been able to cut back on my harsh topical treatments, plus it's helped clear up some of my scarring too.

That being said, I've seen mixed reviews about it online. My thoughts are that this will help if your acne is due to a vitamin deficiency, or a hormone imbalance. If it's more an issue of oily skin, or clogged pores, there may be a topical treatment that gives better results. But for under $20 it's always worth a try, the only way to find what works for you is to experiment.

Diet Friendly Breakfast

We've all had it pounded into our heads, eating breakfast is healthy, and can help with weight-loss. However, so many breakfast options do more harm than good. Even an innocent sounding scone can be hiding 500 calories, and often leave you unsatisfied. And who really has the time or money to whip up the ideal healthy breakfast every single day?

I found my breakfast savior at Starbucks. Coffee and an oatmeal. Quick, simple, cheap, and incredibly satisfying. Ideally I should get a black coffee and plain oatmeal, an 8 oz cup of black brew has all of 2 calories in it, and a plain bowl of oatmeal has under 100 (not to mention all that fiber!). But seriously, where's the fun in that. Go ahead, add some toppings! Just not all at once. Get the fruit one day, the brown sugar the next. Try it with Splenda as the sweetener, who knows you may just like it. And as for the coffee, adding a little sugar and skim milk will add minimal calories, and the milk is a great source of calcium.

And for those of you who simply MUST have a latte, try Starbucks' Breakfast Pairing. It's only $3.95 for an oatmeal and tall latte. Getting it with skim milk will keep your calorie count down, and if you must have more coffee try adding an extra shot rather than upsizing.

Give it a try! You'll find yourself more satisfied, and maybe it'll even help you shed a few pounds!