Women have always been confused about early pregnancy symptom. Confusion can lead to complacency, which in turn can lead to a miscarriage.

It is a well-known fact that 75% of fetus loss at an early stage of pregnancy occurs, as women do not recognize early pregnancy symptom. Pregnancy can be confirmed at an early stage in many ways. Here are some of them.

Early Pregnancy Symptoms

Fatigue – Owing to hormonal changes in the body of a woman, most women experience fatigue during the first few weeks of pregnancy. It is very difficult to distinguish between fatigue that takes place due to a change in hormone levels and tiredness that is associated with physical exertion. However, one can understand that one is pregnant if fatigue occurs without exertion or too much travel. This is early pregnancy symptom.

Missing A Period – Missing a period is another sign of pregnancy. All women have a period every month if they are not pregnant. If in a particular month a woman misses a period, then it is an obvious early pregnancy symptom. In most cases, this is a sure indication of pregnancy. Missing a period is also sometimes associated with cramping in the legs with a feeling that periods may start anytime. Back pain accompanies cramping in most cases.

Nausea and vomiting – Also known as ‘morning sickness’, nausea is considered as one of the earliest early pregnancy symptom. Women usually fear it as a bout of food poisoning or an attack of cold! It is also the most annoying symptom of pregnancy. Most women start to experience this very common complaint, after a month of pregnancy. However, morning sickness can attack as early as the first week of conception in some women too.

Frequent Urination – Frequent urination is another annoying early pregnancy symptom. It usually starts soon after conception, due to the reducing size of the urinary bladder, as the uterus grows larger to accommodate the baby. It can also be the result of the release of the pregnancy hormone progesterone, which stimulates the bladder muscles to give a feeling of fullness, which in turn prompts one to urinate more often.

Constipation – This is an irritating sign of pregnancy. Constipation is usually followed with an urge to eat large quantities of sour and spicy food.

Even though you might experience one or all of the early pregnancy symptoms as given above, it is advisable to consult a doctor and take a few pregnancy tests to confirm a pregnancy. One of the first tests to confirm pregnancy is the HCG test of your urine. This test not only confirms pregnancy but is also a signal to remind you that you need to take an appointment with your health care consultant soon. You can take this test conveniently at your office or you can take it at any other time during the day too. Moreover, this test is usually 100% accurate and hence quite dependable to confirm good news.

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Some times, it is hard to diagnose when you are pregnant. At times, there is no sign of pregnancy, yet you are pregnant, and at other times, one is not pregnant, and it seems that one is. How do you differentiate between the two? Early pregnancy symptoms can easily be confused with normal illness.

Look For Early Sign Of Pregnancy

The missing of period in a particular month is considered as an early pregnancy symptom. Although there may be many other reasons of missing a period like stress, losing or gaining weight, too much exertion etc., but usually missing a period cycle in a month is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. Irregular periods can also be the result of polycystic ovary syndrome where the monthly period cycle can have an erratic gap. Therefore, you must look into other symptoms of pregnancy as well for confirmation.

The changes that you experience in your torso also point toward another sign of pregnancy. As you enter pregnancy, your breast begins to swell and the nipples become tender which suggest your first steps toward motherhood. If you miss observing this early sign, you may not get a second chance as this softness of the breasts disappears after a few weeks of pregnancy. Some women also experience a sharp tingling sensation, as the body gets ready for breastfeeding. These changes are the result of the hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), which is produced in the body along with implantation of the fetus. It is this hormone it self that is responsible for the changes in the breasts. As a result of the release of this hormone, the breasts may also feel fuller. Once the body becomes used to the hormone chemistry, the feeling of tenderness and fullness in the breasts also disappear gradually.

As the embryo implants itself into the wall of the uterus, which takes about 4-5 days after the conception, sometimes a light spotting or bleeding which may be pinkish or brownish in color is seen. Some women experience slight cramps around the loins as well. The spot created may also be a light yellowish vaginal discharge soon after implantation. This is another sign of pregnancy.

Frequent urination is also a sign of pregnancy. It can start even before you miss a period. The reason as reiterated earlier, is the change in the hormone (HCG), at the time of implantation.

As already mentioned, pregnancy can be mistaken for other physical ailments, which result from food disorders and intake of other products. Therefore, pregnancy tests should be tested properly and confirmed with consultation with the doctor. We must understand that the health of the baby depends on the health of the mother. About 75% of pregnancies are lost because of failure to recognize the early sign of pregnancy.

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Most women know that even if they wear the skimpiest of clothes, if they don’t have good skin, it’s all over. Skin care is one of the most important components of personal grooming. In a bid to help our readers who have trouble with their skin, we are giving some basic tips on how to keep your skin young and sexy.

Firstly a healthy skin needs a rich diet, hence you should eat food stuff which is rich in proteins, mineral and vitamins C, B and E. Fruits, nuts, and vegetables are also needed for good skin. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water, as it not only keeps your skin hydrated, but also will prevent dark circles from forming under your eyes. Besides right eating, overall fitness along with regular exercise (going to a gym full of hunks) definitely helps your skin to remain young.

If you go out in the sun often, put a sun screen lotion, else your skin will get tanned and you will start developing wrinkles (you would not want that at a young age, would you). Further also start putting night cream, but make sure that you only apply night cream, not any other cream, for the former has special ingredients which allow your skin to breath. Scrub your face at least once in a week and apply fruit or milk protein packs, as this will make your skin glow.

Visit your salon at least once every month for a clean up, if you have oily skin or black or white heads, (just think what your guy will feel, if you turn up with them).

WAX YOUR HAIR

Since most girls nowadays wear real short dress, waxing your hair is a real must, so try cold wax at home, it’s an easier option; alternatively, if you have the beard, go in for permanent hair removal (get relief from the regular hassle of waxing). Massage your body once a month either with almond or olive oil, add some drops of lavender to the oil, as it will relax your body. For the extra oomph, ask your hubby to rub the oil in, after you applied it on, and enjoy a blissful massage and you know what later. If you go for massages outside, go to a masseurs who knows how to activate your pressure points, it will really exhilarate and you will feel like a new person.

To take care of sexy hands and feet, most salons offer manicure and pedicure, if you want something extra, go in for bleaching. Some women also go in for hand and body scrub and later apply packs for that extra shine. Since men are also frequenting salons post the metro sexual age, both you and your guy can go to the salon together and spend some quality time together.

Remember genetics also affects your skin, so if your parents have bad skin, beware and start taking extra precautions, for it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Even if you have good skin, keep working on it, for who does not want excellent skin. It’s wrong to believe that only actress and models have good skin, some of them really have bad skin, trust me; I have met them without make up and virtually missed them.

Stress, the bane of modern times, also affects our skin, so try to cultivate a positive attitude and daily sit in mediation for at least 10 minutes. Yoga and other stress- busting techniques should also be adopted , for if you are stressed out, it will show on your skin, no matter how much you try to cover it up with make-up. Stress also affects your blood circulation, which is bound to mess up your skin.

Before heading for that all important party, cleanse your face and apply moistures before putting foundation, you can also rub ice cubes on your face, which will open your pores and make your face fresher. Make sure that your foundation suits your skin type, neither too light nor too dark. Test it on your hand; ideally it should be one shade lighter than your hand shade.

Your eye make-up, should be such that, it should make your eyes more attractive (remember your eyes talk a lot) then comes the lipstick, its colour shade should be such, that your guy is attracted towards your lips, also try a great lip gloss. Last but not the least, wear a sizzling perfume and set the party ablaze.

When you return from the bash, however drunk or tired you are, chicks, please remove your make-up, before you hit the sack. Use an eye make remover to remove your eye make-up and cleanser to remove your face make-up.

Age always takes it toll and woman above the age of 35, have the real problem of wrinkles on their face and body, don’t worry, try anti-wrinkle creams, apply it for 20 minutes and then wash it off, but please don’t go out with it.

Having done with the make-up and skin, now we come to yet another important topic i.e. clothes and skin. Make sure that the colours of your itsy-bitsy, cleavage-showing outfits match your skin, if not you will end up looking horrible and your fashion rivals will never let you live down this mistake. Hence, if you have a whitish complexion, then your dress should be in bright tone. Choose colours such as offwhites, yellows, reds, greens, olive or aquas.

Similarly, if you have olive skin, then you would be best attired in browns, rusts, burgundys, pinks, blacks and other warm tones. Last, but not the least, if you are the sexy fair skin babe, try out beiges, sands, black, peaches, olive and other muted tones. In closing, all we can say is that your skin is very important to your overall appearance, so please take good care of it.

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The online place for designer handbag rentals. Rent your favourite designer bag for a fraction of the retail price! Kiss My Bag is the hottest place online in the UK to rent designer handbags. Get bags from Chanel, Fendi, Gucci, Chloe & Prada etc.

Ooh la la… The Chanel classic quilted handbag is true Parisian chic, it just oozes class and sophistication and no matter what the current trends are, has a classic timeless design that has lived through many a fashion era. There’s something about that soft stitched leather and gold metal chain that has created a signature style icon for women all over the world.

So let’s go back in time to when it first began…

In 1955, Chanel introduced the Classic Quilted bag with the shoulder strap, THE bag that shook the fashion world. It became so popular the first year she had to decline numerous requests due to the lack of time to painstakingly manufacture each one by her skilled artisans. The bag is known in industry shorthand as the 2.55, after the month and year it was introduced.

Chanel’s signature quilted fabric has a “secret” quilting pattern sewn at the back to keep the material strong. This material is used for clothing and accessories alike.

Throughout the key fashion decades, the Chanel 2.55 handbag miraculously hasn’t changed much. Unlike other fashion design houses who have altered their bag styles to appeal to the temporary whimsical demands of fashion trends, the Classic Chanel 2.55 has stood it’s ground. In fact, in 2005, the fashion house celebrated by re-releasing the classic just as it was.

The classic Chanel bag will never die. The latest versions out this year of this classic bag are awe striking in lambskin and ostrich leather.

Can you believe that this bag is over 50 years old?

Rent this bag at http://www.kissmybag.com

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A woman-centred psychotherapist explores the impact that the media has on our self-worth and offers healthy alternatives to feeling good about yourself regardless of what you see in magazines and on television.

Who would have thought that there would come a day when my mother and me would meet as two strong, healthy, and brilliant women; delighting in each other’s company and challenging and supporting each other in the quest to make our individual and collective dreams come true?

Certainly not me.  There was a time (not so long ago) that I was in the throes of a life threatening eating disorder- a time when the chasm between mother and daughter seemed insurmountable. She wanted desperately to help but didn’t know how. I needed help but didn’t have a clue about how to ask for it.

Fast-forward fifteen years to the present. Today I am a successful psychotherapist who empowers women who feel stuck to rid themselves of the chains that bind them into self-destructive behavior patterns- mostly in the form of eating disorders.  At the age of 36, I am in awe of the life I have now and am blown away by how far I’ve come on my journey to health and well being.  Free of an eating disorder which once consumed me for many of my young years, the hell that used to be my life way back when, seems now like a distant memory.  Now I help others who are where I used to be…I never in my wildest dreams would have imagined the life I have now back then…

It’s a sunny, muggy Ontario spring morning as I step into the airporter bus from my mother’s driveway, choking back tears. I have just spent the past five days with a woman I find increasingly wise and fascinating, who also happened to give me the gift of life.

We have both come so far and enjoy celebrating our successes as women. It seems fitting to me that I have just spent such a pleasant and healing time with my mother directly after attending a conference in Toronto put on by NEDIC (National Eating Disorder Information Centre).  The conference title was, “Shades of Grey: Body Image and Self-Esteem” and was the first of its kind in Canada.

While the topic of disordered eating is vast, I will limit myself to one facet for the purposes of this article.  I plan on elaborating on many others in future so stay tuned…

One issue that always pops up in my therapy work with clients experiencing disordered eating is how the media makes them feel bad about themselves by projecting an ideal beauty standard that is impossible for us to attain.  To help women increase feelings of self-worth, I encourage clients to become ‘media savvy’, so that they can become critical of the messages they are being sent which are aimed to sell products, not to help women feel good about themselves.

On this note, I will highlight one of the keynote presentations from the NEDIC conference entitled, “Re-shaping Reality: Media Impact on Body Image and Self-Esteem” by Shari Graydon.  Shari was the President of Mediawatch for many years; an invaluable resource which empowers Canadian citizens to speak up and out against harmful advertising.  She has written two fabulous books in this vain, which I urge you to check out on her website:
www.sharigraydon.com

Here is a summary of the presentation she gave at the conference:

1. Media messages don’t cause eating disorders (or we’d all be suffering), but they fuel insecurities and nurture vulnerable mindsets.
2. It’s natural to want to be attractive, but despite the impression created by commercial media, there’s no single definition of beauty.
3. The beauty industry wants us to feel lousy about the way we look; they benefit when we believe we’re in need of a makeover or constant improvement.
4. The emphasis on thin ideals for women, and muscular physiques for men reflects fundamental power issues, reinforcing on a subtle level the notion that women should take up as little space as possible.
5. The media ideals we’re surrounded by are physically unattainable; they’ve been so significantly art directed and Photo-shopped that not even the models featured can achieve the degree of perfection represented.
6. Suffering is optional. We can choose not to buy into appearance myths; instead of doing battle with our own bodies, we can fight destructive media practices.
7. The less time we spend immersed in commercial media, the less exposure we have to messages designed to undermine us, and the less likely we are to consciously or unconsciously judge ourselves inadequate for failing to measure up to unattainable ideals.
8. We have the power to decline to consume products that in any way promote irresponsible attitudes and behavior, to encourage our friends and colleagues and communities to do the same. We can make media producers responsible for the toxic material they are disseminating through the power of complaint; we can communicate our decisions not to embrace media, products and services that do physical, psychological, emotional or environmental damage.
9. We can cultivate the assets that really count: focus on what we can do and how we can contribute, as opposed to how we appear.

To start letting go of the power the media has over how you feel about yourself, I’ll leave you with five things you can do to take your power back and increase feelings of self-worth:

1. Stop buying fashion and beauty magazines and instead, buy reading material that makes you feel good instead.  For instance, I buy spiritually enlightening and socially conscious magazines.
2. Find alternative media that celebrates women instead of demoralizes them.  Some magazines I particularly like are BUST and Herizons.
3. Watch less television and Hollywood movies!  These mediums of ‘entertainment’ glorify a very narrow definition of female beauty and success and promote low self-worth to their viewers.  Instead, find a relatively obscure foreign film or a low-budget documentary that focuses on who we are inside; not what we look like on the outside.
4. Make one day out of the week a “no make-up day”.  C’mon- rebel a little against the fascist beauty ideal you’re expected to live up to.  Bask in the delightfulness of a nude face!
5. Wear something that makes you feel beautiful, confident, and sexy; regardless of whether it follows current fashion dictates. Enjoy being a fully alive, healthy woman in whatever shape and size you happen to come in.

And if all else fails, say this mantra that I learned at the conference over and over again:

I AM MUCH MORE THAN WHAT YOU SEE.

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Who ever heard of an andalusite gemstone? This article provides a description of its amazing beauty, diverse and changeable personality and a resource for viewing it and other similar semi-precious gemstones.

Andalusite is a beautiful semi-precious gemstone with a diverse and changeable personality. It is often used in art objects and jewelry. Andalusite was first discovered in Andalucia, Southern Spain from which it gets its name.

There are some good reasons for its artistic popularity. Andalusite is known for its pleochroism. Pleochroic minerals reflect different colors resulting from the absorption of different wavelengths of light traveling through the crystal from different directions. Mother Nature produces andalusite in brown, green, red, yellow, greenish-brown and brownish-green.  Other gemstones that share pleochroic characteristic include carletonite, elbaite, iolite, kunzite, tanzanite and zoisite. 

Asterism is another light effect that occurs in some gemstones. Some andalusites benefit from this phenomenon. The Greek word aster means star. When some crystal gemstones are formed, minute needle-like mineral deposits form a star or cross shape in the gemstone. This variety of andalusite is called chiastolite and contains the dark mineral strips of carbon or clay, which form an X or cross. These andalusite gemstones are sometimes used in the creation of inspirational items and jewelry. Check out http://www.tigereyejewels.com to see a magnificent multi-gemstone Rosary featuring andalusite. Star Sapphires, star rubies and star rose quartz are all the result of asterism.

Another gemstone effect that is similar to asterism is called cat’s eyes. It is caused by the same inclusion of minute mineral crystals imbedded in gemstones and reflecting light. However, with the cat’s eye affect the imbedded mineral shimmers from top to bottom. Andalusite is one of the most common cat’s eye stones. The cat’s eye effect is also known as the chatayancy, which comes from the French word for cat (chat – pronounced, shot).

Relating cats to gemstones is an ancient trend that we still enjoy today. Tiger eye gemstone has been popular since ancient times and just as andalusite has its particular beauty expressed in terms of cats. You can see the two gemstones elegantly combined at http://www.tigereyejewels.com.

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Infertility message boards have proven to be an effective method for gaining emotional support and advice for those suffering fertility issues.

Infertility message boards bring together like minded people suffering similar problems and provide an avenue of support for people looking for answers and hope. The ordeal of going through infertility issues can take it’s toll on even the strongest-willed individuals and in the end, there is only so much comfort and support you can get from family and friends.

In fact, finding support in the form of a stranger on an infertility forum is an option many prefer to take.

Can Anyone With Fertility Issues Join A Forum?

The benefit of an infertility message board is not only can you find the loving support and distance that you need to share your worries and thoughts, but you are interacting with like minded individuals all willing to help each other overcome a stressful situation. Anything related to child conception is acceptable and no question is out of bounds. The purpose is to offer women a place where the eyes of those they love and see every day cannot pry and inquire as to their worries. As stressful as it might be to share with those you’ve never met the pain of your situation, these message boards are designed for just that purpose.

The Supportive Nature Of An Infertility Message Board

Infertility has a language all of it’s own. When people are suddenly faced with the prospect conception may be a pipe dream, they react in different ways.

Infertility forums offer the supportive understanding and care you require simply because there are thousands of other people in your shoes. Not everyone who has fertility issues will be found on a message board but many of those who are, have been through the personal crisis of not being able to conceive and are only too happy to pass on valuable advice to others.

Miracles do happen, especially in the world of infertility and you can bet if someone who had resigned themselves to never conceiving, suddenly becomes pregnant and goes on to have a child, then they will be more than likely to share their good news and pass on any information which may provide some hope to another couple.

Infertility message boards deal with issues such as treatment options; people can discuss what has or hasn’t worked for them. People can discuss infertility insurance issues which is a major one and a drawback for many couples who seem to be denied the option of having more expensive treatment because they cannot get insurance. Or simply, people may just want to discuss infertility and the impact it has had on their lives.

Infertility Facts

Forums are available all over the internet. If you are concerned about anonymity, remember, you can sign up or register under a pseudonym. Many message boards contain experts in the area of fertility while some forums will be run simply by people who have either gone through the issues you are experiencing or just want to be able to give something back after having success in conceiving a child.

Keep Your Doctor In The Loop!

A great way to utilize an infertility message board other than for emotional support is to seek out any new ideas or methods which you may not be aware of. Why? Because making a list of these and then discussing them with your physician may be an effective way of stumbling across any ideas worth implementing. If you have exhausted just about every avenue available to

you, then certainly this could be worth a try. Your doctor should quickly be able to determine the merits of anything you present to him/her.

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Learn why cubic zirconia has been recognized as a beautiful synthetic gemstone that has quickly become a desirable substitute for diamond. Knowing the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia can help you make better purchasing decisions and in turn, save you time and money.

So what is the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia? Why is cubic zirconia (CZ) quickly becoming more popular as a desirable substitute for diamond? Gemologists can agree that CZ comes closer than any other gem material to matching the characteristics of a diamond.

Most people, even trained gemologists, cannot tell the difference between diamond and CZ, with the naked eye. Moreover, to the untrained eye, CZ looks identical to a good quality diamond. However, under closer inspection, CZ appears to have slightly less brilliance (or sparkle) than a diamond, and more fire, or flashes of color.

CZs were originally developed by the Russians, for their space program. They were developed as an alternative to diamonds that were used in the optics of their lasers. CZs have a refractive index, dispersion and hardness so close to a diamond it’s uncanny.

So what are some key features that can guide you in telling the difference between diamond and CZ? Do keep in mind, though, in order to accurately distinguish the two gems, gemological equipment such as microscope, or loupe, must be used for testing and verification.

To start, let’s take a look at the hardness factor: Did you know CZ ranges between 8.5 to 9.0 on the Mohs’ hardness scale, whereas diamond, one of the hardest materials known to man, is rated 10, lying at the top of the hardness scale?

Furthermore, glass (or sand) is rated approximately 5 to 6 on the hardness scale, therefore, dust and dirt will not scratch CZ. Indeed, CZ can scratch glass just like regular diamonds, making it more resistant to chipping.

One great difference between diamond and CZ is weight. CZs are heavyweights in comparison to diamonds; a CZ will weigh approximately 1.75 times more than a diamond of equivalent size. So basically, a piece of CZ the same size as a one-carat diamond weighs about 1.75 carats. Well…isn’t that interesting?

Contemporary production of CZ is virtually flawless, whereas diamond usually contains impurities and inclusions, or have some sort of defect, be it a feather, included crystal, or perhaps a remnant of an original crystal face (e.g. trigons).

In regards to color-more precisely, the lack of color-only the rarest of diamonds are truly colorless, as most have a tinge of yellow or brown to some extent. By comparison, CZ in most cases can be made entirely colorless, equivalent to a perfect “D” on diamond’s color grading scale.

Also, under close inspection with a loupe, the facet shapes of some CZs appear different from diamonds. Both gems disperse light a little differently. Dispersion is just a scientific term for the breaking up of light into its spectral colors. With a dispersive power greater than diamond (0.060 vs. 0.044), the more prismatic fire of CZ can be seen by even an untrained eye.

Dispersion occurs based on the gem’s refractive index. In this case, refractive index simply indicates how much a beam of light will bend, based on the direction in which it is traveling when it passes between two materials of different optical densities (such as between diamond and air; or between CZ and air). Being that CZ has a refractive index of 2.176, compared to a diamond’s 2.417, diamonds are therefore said to be brighter than CZ.

Another difference between the two gems is that CZs are thermal insulators-meaning, they reduce the rate of heat transfer-whilst diamonds are among the most efficient thermal conductors-meaning, they allow heat to easily pass through them. Without testing the gems’ heat conductivity, it can be difficult to tell them apart.

Remember, it is a 50/50 guess to identify a gem by visual inspection; it is not a scientific method of authentication. That is why even certified and degreed gemologists use gemological equipment for testing and verification.

You will also be glad to know that CZs are not only durable and inexpensive, but just like diamonds, they come in any color of the rainbow, making them even more desirable.

There have been many instances to see if jewelers can tell the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia, just by examining the gems with the naked eye. Over and over again, it was inconclusive; jewelers could not tell the difference just by looking at the gems. So you can now understand why the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia rests in the price, and in the mind…

© 2007 Pennybest.com. All rights reserved. Reprinting or republishing of this article is allowed provided the author’s information including copyright and resource link is retained to accompany the article.

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Cleaning cubic zirconia jewelry is much easier than you think! So take advantage of these simple tips that will keep your precious jewelry sparkling and lustrous-so you can enjoy them for years to come.

Like diamonds, the precious cubic zirconia (CZ) gems need to be cleaned to maintain their original brilliance and luster. Many variables in our surrounding can dull the shine of precious gems: body lotion, perfume, hairspray, perspiration, or just simply, normal everyday wear.

All lotions and soap film are some of the more difficult materials to remove. Just a little of any of these materials on your CZ stone, will take away much of the visual brilliance of the stone. So it is vital to keep your CZ clean to maintain its sparkling diamond look.

A convenient way to clean your CZ jewelry is to use a small brushing device with soft bristles (preferably a toothbrush), along with warm to hot water mixed with a mild liquid dishwashing detergent (such as the brand, Joy), and brush as well as possible to remove any scum build-up.

Then, rinse well in warm to hot water, pat dry with a clean cloth, and take a look. If more cleaning is needed, soak the jewelry piece in hot water, with about 1/3 detergent to 2/3 hot water. (The mix is not critical.) Then, just brush again. When you’re done cleaning your jewelry, be sure to dry it well so to keep its brilliant shine.

Avoid exposing your CZ jewelry to abrasive substances such as household chemicals when cleaning with bleach or ammonia, or when swimming in chlorinated water, as these chemicals can damage your jewelry. Although most abrasive cleansers will not damage a CZ stone, they will, however, take the lustrous shine off the metal in which the stone is set.

Gemologists can agree that CZ comes closer than any other gem material to matching the characteristics of a diamond-it’s uncanny. As CZ is quickly becoming more popular as a desirable substitute for diamond, it’s important to care for it the same way you would a diamond.

So if for some reason you cannot remove the dirt off your CZ jewelry, take it to a jeweler and give it a high-pressure steam clean, as would be done to a diamond. This will remove almost any scum off your jewelry.

When we clean a customer’s jewelry and inspect it for wear, and loose or missing stones, we find the jewelry needing repair is most often a jewelry piece that has never been cleaned by the owner. Persistent dirt gets between the metal settings and the stones, causing abrasive wear and eventually, perhaps a loose stone.

One of the most basic rules of jewelry care is to apply all lotions, make-up, hair spray, etc. first, before you put on your jewelry. To minimize scratches and other damage, store your jewelry either in a cloth pouch or in a separate compartment in your jewelry box.

Now that you know how easy it is to care for your CZ, be sure to clean your CZ jewelry regularly-depending on how often you wear it; if you wear it everyday, cleaning it once a week is sufficient.

Follow our simple tips on cleaning cubic zirconia, and you can be certain your CZ jewelry will not only maintain its original brilliance and luster for years to come, but it will continue to sparkle radiantly for you when you wear it, and show it off!

© 2007 Pennybest.com. All rights reserved. Reprinting or republishing of this article is allowed, provided the author’s information including copyright and resource link is retained to accompany the article.

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Does adding a couple of key natural ingredients to a skin care product make it natural? Certainly it is not considered so by many consumers. This article outlines the benefits of truly natural products on our skin, bodies and the environment.

The term “natural” is somewhat misleading with regard to use in cosmetics. In Australia and the US manufacturers can add 5% of a natural ingredient to a synthetic and call a product natural. This is generally regarded as “greenwashing” and such products aren’t considered natural at all. So what do you look for to get the REAL benefits from truly natural products?

1. Truly natural products contain no synthetic ingredients such as artificial colours or fragrances. Artificial fragrances are amongst the most irritating ingredient in skin care with the ability to cause or significantly contribute to irritating skin conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, rashes and hives. You will notice the difference in your skin when you avoid such ingredients.

2. Natural products contain no potentially harmful ingredients such as petrochemicals, mineral oils, sodium lauryl sulphate and propolene glycol. According to Skin Deep, an Environmental Working Group in the US, many of the synthetic ingredients used (in the US and Australia) in everyday skin care are potentially toxic to humans.

3. Natural skin care is formulated to support the healthy functioning of our skin from within and without. Humans absorb up to 60% of any substance applied to our skin. It has been calculated that the average women can absorb up to 2kg of different chemicals through their skin each year. By using natural products you ensure that what you are absorbing is benefiting your skin and body, promoting radiance and health.

4. Our bodies have to break down, detoxify and excrete any substance we put on them. This puts an extra burden of toxicity on the body and is of particular concern for young babies and children whose organs of elimination are not fully developed. Reduce your toxic burden by using whole, unrefined natural products.

5. Natural skin & body care products contain nutrients, including naturally occurring antioxidants, amino acids, botanical extracts, pure essential oils and essential fatty acids in their holistic form which is more compatible with our skin and bodies. This includes nutrients such as grape seed (rich in phytochemicals that support the skin), rose hip oil (rich in vitamin C), Carrot oil (rich in vitamin A), pumpkin seed oil (rich in zinc), olive oil (rich in squalene) to name but a few. These ingredients promote healthy skin by nourishing from the outside in.

6. Natural cosmetics are more active. Excluding water, often contain up to 95% active ingredients rather than 5% active ingredients in a 95% inert (non-active) base as in many of everyday personal care products and cosmetics. You will notice a difference when you use natural products.

7. Wholly natural products are not tested on animals.

8. Many of the suppliers of natural skin care are local and cottage industries. Buying these products supports sustainable manufacturing processes, the ability to maintain quality control by hand making small quantities in order to provide fresh product, small business enterprise and local communities.

9. Natural products are environmentally friendly. Recent studies have shown that the chemicals and toxins found in most skin care products have a harmful effect on the environment as well as they take longer to break down than whole, unrefined ingredients.

10. Value for money. Natural products are often cheaper than synthetic products as they don’t have to compete in the hyped brand focused market. You are also paying for active rather than inert ingredients. When considering the benefits available form natural skin care the value of natural products outweighs anything else on the market.

For more information about natural and organic skin care products contact Ananda at http://www.vitalenatural.com.au or at info@vitalenatural.com.au

Ananda Mahony ND has been involved in the natural skin care industry for many years. This article outlines the benefits of natural skin care over their synthetic counterparts. Please include this credit if you use this article.

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