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The world is a big place and there are many different cultures, Europeans, Scandinavians, Asians, Africans, Hispanics and many, many more. Each of these cultures tends to have certain characteristics such as eye colour, hair colour, skin colour, etc,. Inherent with cultural backgrounds is a difference in skin types. For example, western cultures such as the central and northern Europeans have a tendency to fair complexions, hair and eye colour, while southern Europeans dent to have darker hair, brown eyes and darker, olive skin tones.

Africans and African Americans, have very dark or almost black skin, usually dark or black hair and brown eyes. Genetically, this skin type is less susceptible to the UV rays, although their skin can still get burned.

Asians on the other hand have a yellowish skin tone and can have brown or blue eyes but have mostly dark or black hair. Yes, genetics does have its opinion on how we look. The cultural differences are reflected in the skin and the genetic factors play an important role in how well our skin looks, how ?tough? it is and how vulnerable it is to certain skin problems.

For example, cultures that have a tendency to body hair, also have a tendency to oily skin and therefore have a potential problem with blocked secretory glands resulting in pimples and other skin problems. On the other hand, the Irish, who have a tendency to red hair and very fair skin, have less of a problem with oily skin, but they do tend to get burned easily and thus stand a greater risk to skin cancers. Similarly the Scandinavians and other central and northern Europeans and Americans.

Below are some generalised characteristics of various skin types from different cultural backgrounds:

Skin Characteristics of people with Anglo-Saxon origins

• Fair, dry thin-skinned
• Scars heal well
• Signs of aging appear earlier
• Burn easily in the sun
• Bruising more obvious
• Increased chance of skin cancer

Skin Characteristics of people with Southern Mediterranean origins

• Oily, olive dark complexion
• Signs of aging appear later
• Cartilage tends to droop
• Darker, thicker scars more common
• Wrinkles appear later and in more localized areas
• Skin cancer is rare

Skin Characteristics of people with Northern European origins / German and Scandinavian

• Fair, blue-eyed, blonde
• Thin skin
• Scars heal well
• Signs of aging appear early
• Bruising more obvious
• Greater chance of skin cancer

Skin Characteristics of people with African/African-American origins

• Signs of aging appear very late
• Very little fine wrinkling
• Formation of keloids is possible
• Pigmentation changes may occur
• Thicker cartilage hard to change
• Skin cancers are very rare

Skin Characteristics of people with Northern European/Irish and northern England

• Ruddy freckled complexion
• Red hair
• Scars usually thin
• Signs of aging appear later
• Bruises easily
• Pigmentation problems
• Skin cancers are most common in this type

Skin Characteristics of people with Asian origins

• Signs of aging appear late
• Fine wrinkling does not usually occur
• Pigmentation changes may occur
• Skin cancers are very rare

Skin Characteristics of people with Southern European origins

• Dark, oily brunette complexion
• Signs of aging appear later
• Fine wrinkling less common
• Bruising lasts longer
• Scars may be thicker and darker
• Skin cancers are less common

Identifying the correct, natural skin care system for your skin's characteristics is essential and may need to be adjusted depending on your specific genetic influences, as within each of these groups, there is a wide range in skin tones, which tend to overlap from group to group.

Each of the different categories of skin characteristics has various advantages and disadvantages specific to that group. However, the overall structures and functions of our skin are very similar and are therefore cared for in very similar ways. Knowing your skin?s particular strengths and weaknesses, you can tailor your skin care approach to your particular skin-characteristics.

Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.

Join our Natural Skin Care Newsletter ? it?s fun, free and Informative and you receive a free eBook on natural skin care.

Wildcrafted Herbal Products 2006

When it comes to matters of the skin on your face, you think you have dry skin, and yet you are not sure. Perhaps your skin is not very dry at all. Perhaps only a few areas of your skin are dry and others are not. Or maybe you have a few dry areas and other places that are oilier. You are not sure how to treat it because doing one thing for all areas of your skin may have bad results on certain areas while helping others.

So what gives?

It is most likely that you have both you have dry skin and another skin type. This mix of skin types means you have one specific skin type. Combination skin. Tricky, because not only must you find good ways of treating your dry skin, but you must also tailor your skin care regimen to normal or oily skin.

Frustrating yes, but before you start stressing (as stress has never done anything good for anyone, especially the skin), take a deep breath and remember that not having overall oily skin can mean less acne outbreaks for you, and not having overall dry skin can mean less work in trying to get it to be soft and moisturized again.

The most common format for combination skin is to have an oily T zone, or the areas of your forehead, nose, and chin, and to have dry cheeks and eye areas. Take comfort in knowing at least your face is not a patchy battleground of confusing skin types and instead the areas are localized, which makes them much easier to treat. You may even be comforted to know that your T zone is probably not as oily as a person with overall oily skin, and that your dry skin is not as bad as some people with overall dry skin.

So what do you do with this combination of dry and oily skin types? You simply have to adjust your skin care routine to accommodate for both dry skin and oily skin. There are many products out there that tailor to each skin type, or you might even be interested in looking into products that are made specifically for combination skin.

As with any skin type, there are certain things you will want to perform whether you have dry or oily skin, so find the right product for each and begin treating your skin.

Cleanser. No matter if you have oily skin or dry skin, you still want to cleanse. Make sure that your cleanser will not remove all the moisture from your face, because then your dry areas will be worse off and your oily areas will only produce more oil, thus counteracting everything you have just tried to do for your skin.

Exfoliation. Dry skin means flakes of dead skin cells that can get caught in your pores. Oily skin means dead skin cells have a better chance of getting caught in your pores. A good exfoliate will help clean your pores and keep your skin free of dead skin cells.

Moisturize. This applies mostly to your dry skin, as it will more than likely need the moisture. You can leave your oily areas out of the moisturizer loop, as they do not need it. Be sure to give you dry skin all the moisturizer it needs, and use more if necessary.

Sunscreen. Whether you have dry skin or oily skin, the sun will do damage to your skin without a sunscreen to protect it. Find a good sunscreen that both your skin types will be able to handle and be sure to put it on at least 20 minutes before heading out into the sun in order to give it time to absorb into your skin.

Anti pimple cream. Both dry skin and oily skin can be prone to the occasional pimple or two, so have a cream or other anti-pimple product on hand to help zap blemishes before they get out of control.

Keep YOURSELF looking and feeling great with these great FREEBeauty Tips from http://www.NaturalElements.co.uk In just seconds you can access over 36 beauty topics that will keep you looking younger and more radiant.You can now get the very latest information on Dry Skin Care Relief by subscribing with RSS

In the movies, cats love a bowl of cold milk. In the real world, giving a cat milk can do more harm than good.

While milk might seem like a natural choice for your cat, the truth is that cow?s milk offers no nutritional value for cats, and it can cause digestive problems in many. The reason is that most cats develop intolerance to lactose shortly after they are weaned. This means that they are unable to digest the sugars that occur naturally in milk. This causes problems that include diarrhea and other unpleasant digestive problems.

Some people think that cats need to have milk in order to get all the necessary nutrients. This is not true. In fact, cow?s milk does nothing to meet a cat?s nutritional needs. If a cat was fed only milk, it would not be able to survive. Feral cats provide proof that cats do not need milk to be healthy, as wild cats do not usually have the opportunity to drink cow?s milk.

As long as your cat is eating a high quality food, and has access to clean fresh water, she is getting all that she needs. Milk alone is not a sufficient diet for any cat, and should never be given in place of food OR in place of water. Replacing a cat?s food or water with milk can cause your cat to become malnourished.

Many cats do seem to enjoy milk, and this causes a dilemma for many cat owners who love to give their cat treats that they enjoy. While most cats are lactose intolerant, some are not. For these cats, milk as an occasional treat is fine. The only way to know how your cat will react to milk is to feed her some. If she does not develop diarrhea then it is safe to assume that she is not lactose intolerant, and you can continue to give her the treat she loves. Again, milk should never be given in place of food, but as a treat.

If your cat IS lactose intolerant, but still seems to crave a bowl of milk now and then, there is a way to satisfy her without upsetting her digestive system. Milk substitute that is specially formulated for cats is sold in most pet food stores. Like regular milk, it should only be given as a treat and not as a replacement for meals. Even if you feed this ?cats milk? on a regular basis, a high quality cat food and fresh water should always be available. Another option for lactose intolerant cats is to give lactose-free milk. This milk is available in the same aisle as regular milk in most grocery stores.

In addition to cat?s milk, there are a lot of other ways to treat your cats to special food.

If your cat normally eats dry food, give her some wet food once or twice a week as a special treat. Many makers of dry cat food also make wet food, so you can stick with your favorite brand if that is important to you.

Another way to treat your cats is to find ways to make their dry food special. Pet stores sell special gravy that can be poured over dry food. Several flavors are available, so you can offer your cat a variety to keep her from becoming bored with her food. Another version of this is to pour the water from a can of tuna over the dry food. You can also feed your cat some tuna, in place of wet food, as an occasional treat.

Take a trip down the treat aisle at the pet store, and you will see row after row of treats. While most of them are fine for your cat, keep in mind that treats should be given as such, and should not be fed to your cat in excess as this can cause an unhealthy weight gain.

Kittens, unlike full grown cats, DO need milk, but the milk they need is their mother?s. The mother?s milk is full of all the fat, protein and antibodies that a kitten needs to grow and survive. Until a kitten is weaned, approximately four weeks after birth, a kitten should have only milk. NEVER give a kitten cow?s milk. Obviously, the ideal milk is that from the kitten?s mother. If this is not possible due the kitten being abandoned or orphaned, you will need to feed a substitute that should be available at your local pet store. The kitten will need to be fed this milk substitute several times a day. While the pet store personnel can probably answer most of your questions about caring for abandoned kitten, you should consult a veterinarian to be sure that the kitten is getting exactly what it needs.

The bottom line is that milk is not necessary for a cat, but as long as she seems able to tolerate it, an occasional bowl isn?t going to hurt.

David Beart is the owner of www.professorshouse.com. Our site covers cat information, household finances, family forums, recipes and other household issues.

Life is much more fast-paced nowadays than centuries ago. Although there are many appliance and new technology that make life easier, people are more fatigued and stressed more than ever because of multiple jobs and great demand for financial security. In addition, the increasing popularity of junk and fast food has made a lot of people deficient in the necessary vitamins and minerals for healthier bodies.

As a result of increased stress and fatigue, and low level of nutrition, many different vitamin supplements have sprouted. Currently, the vitamin supplement that is increasing in popularity is the liquid vitamin supplement. If you want to learn more about this new innovation in the vitamin supplement industry, read on and see for if this form is ideal for you.

Pros of Liquid Vitamin Supplement

The major advantage of liquid vitamin supplement over those that are in the form of capsules, tablets or pills is the ease of taking it. Anybody, even those without teeth can take liquid vitamins without any hassle. Many people find it hard to swallow tablets or capsules. Sometimes big pills and capsules may even get stuck in the esophagus for a while before going down the stomach, causing major inconvenience. Just imagine the trauma that someone with small or tight esophagus need to suffer just so he or she can take his or her daily vitamin supplement.

People also prefer liquid vitamin supplement than the other forms because it tastes more pleasant. Since liquid vitamin supplement makers have come up with different flavors, this type of health supplement have risen in popularity.

Since it is in fluid form, liquid vitamin supplement are easily absorbed, according to the makers, proponents and supporters of this form of vitamins. It usually takes a longer time for pills, tablets and capsules to be absorbed because they have to be broken down in the stomach before being absorbed by the body.

Drawback of taking liquid vitamin supplement

It is true that liquid vitamin gets easily absorbed in our digestive tract but, some say that the juices in the stomach can potentially destroy a huge percentage of the liquid vitamin that you ingested. Thus, you might end up not getting the amount of vitamins and nutrients that you have hoped for.

Guide to proper usage of liquid vitamin supplements

In order for you to take full advantage of the benefits of this form of health supplement, you need to carefully read the label and follow the instructions printed on it. The first thing you have to remember is to shake the container well before you pouring out the supplement.

In order to maximize the effects of liquid vitamin supplement, it is advisable to take them either 20 minutes before or 60 minutes after meals. Moreover, most liquid vitamin supplements should be placed in the refrigerator after opening.

If your liquid vitamin supplement is not flavored, you can mix it with your juice or water to make it more palatable. Diluting the supplement with juice or water will not affect its potency.

Lastly, before you buy or take any supplement, it is wise to consult your doctor, especially if you have serious medical conditions. Also, ask your doctor to check the liquid vitamin supplement that you intend to use. Your physician will know if the liquid vitamin supplement you are planning to take has questionable ingredients or unknown manufacturer.

Remember, when it comes to health, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For information on the best natural vitamin supplements or nutritional vitamin supplements checkout his website.

Your Dog's Nails
How to cut a dog's nails is one of the most frequently asked question when it comes to grooming dogs.

Knowing how to cut a dog's nails is so important and if you're wondering how to trim a dog's nails - you need look no further. As usual, we?ve done all the research for you and presented you with a step by step guide on this delicate procedure.

Knowing not only how, but also when to cut a dog's nails is so important. Your dog?s nails grow constantly and how often they need to be clipped will depend on your dog?s lifestyle. If you dog does a lot of his walking on hard surfaces, he may very well need little or no extra help in keeping his nails short as his nails will be naturally worn away through friction.

However, if like our dogs, your dog mainly stays on grass, sea sand and woodland tracks, clipping dog nails becomes an essential part of his or her grooming and it becomes important that you know how to clip dog nails.

Not knowing how to cut a dog's nails and failure in clipping dog nails will lead to crippling pain in your dog?s paws and could lead to permanent damage and malformation.

If clipping dog nails is really not your strong point, take your dog along to your vet or groomer. They know how to cut a dog's nails ? and it is amazing how much less of a prima donna your dog will be with total strangers!

When To Start
Dogs are often reluctant to have their nails clipped, therefore, starting the process at a very young age is a good idea.

Initially, get your dog accustomed to you simply holding and stroking their paws. Then progress to applying light pressure on their paws and nails - lightly pinching their nails between your finger and thumb. Reward them for allowing this.

Then, after a lesson from your vets in how to cut a dog's nails, lightly trim a couple of nails a day. Just trim off the tips - this lessens the chances of you cutting too deep and frightening your dog off.

Talk to your dog in a soothing voice all the time and reward him with his favorite treat and a romp straight after. He will gradually grow accustomed to this unpleasant procedure and learn to at least put up with it.

Tools You Will Need
When you're wondering about how to cut a dogs nails, there are a variety of nail clippers and trimmers on the market. The guillotine type is my favourite tool when trimming dog nails, though a strong claw cutter may be required for the bigger breeds and basset hounds ? they have incredibly large claws!

Sometimes you may want to use a small file or a dremel tool to file down any jagged edges after trimming a dog nails, but frankly, my dogs can't wait to get away from me, so I'm happy to let them round off any rough edges in the normal course of their everyday walks.

It is also advisable to keep a styptic pen handy just in case you clip into your dog's quick - but we'll discuss this later.

Anatomy Of A Dog's Nail
Knowing how to cut dog's nails is easier when you know the anatomy of a dog's nail.

A dog?s nail is constructed of a hard outer cover, which protects the quick which is the inner soft part containing blood vessels and tender nerve endings. In dogs with light coloured nails, the quick can often been seen as being faintly pinkish in color and is thus easy to avoid cutting into.

In the more common black nailed variety, the quick it totally invisible. Therefore, knowing exactly how to cut a dog's nails in this case is imperative. In these cases, trimming off little nibbles instead of large slices is more advisable.

Keep checking the clipped part of your dog's nail and look out for a dark spot in the middle of the newly clipped area ? this shows the start of the quick ? do not cut too far into this. Taking just tiny nibbles, you will then start to see a pale third inner circle. Stop there - or else you are likely to hurt your dog.

Also, don't forget your dog's dew claws. Growing on the inside of his legs and not in contact with the floor, these do not get worn away and will sometimes curl completely over causing your dog to get snagged in undergrowth, his bedding, etc. This can be very painful, so do keep those neatly trimmed too.

Best Way Of Clipping Dog Nails
The best way how to cut a dog's nails is to have the dog lying on a raised table or other surface. Do remember to put a non-slip mat for your dog to sit or stand on so she doesn't slip and hurt herself. Having someone strong hold your dog in their arms while you quickly clip a couple of nails is another effective way of doing this.

However, your dog may be as good as gold and let you cut their claws with no fuss at all ? in which case you are a very fortunate person!

Carefully read the instructions for the nail clipping tool of your choice. For example, with the guillotine, you need to cut from the underneath of your dog's claw upwards. Never clip downwards.

Position the tool in the right place, wait for an opportune moment when your dog stops wriggling, double check that the clipper is in the right place and squeeze firmly and smoothly - the nail will just pop off.

When wondering when and how to cut dog's nails, little and often is the best policy. Just nibbling off the ends of each claw will be less stressful for your dog ? and yourself! The point to aim for is to trim off any bit that protrudes over your dog?s pad. Thus, when he stands, your dog?s claws should not touch the ground.

The good thing is, very much like our own nails, the more you trim your dog?s nails, the more the quick will recede. Therefore, clipping dog nails doesn't have to be done all at once ? take your time.

Oooops! You've Cut Into The Quick!
However experienced you are in knowing how to cut a dog's nails, accidents will happen.

Clipping into the quick will cause your dog to yelp in pain ? I hate it when that happens. And, just as would happen if you cut into your quick, a fair amount of bleeding will occur. As much as you try to not let this happen - it will at some stage - so it is best that you learn to deal with it.

Please, let me reassure you that it is not half as dramatic as it looks. Keep calm, deal with the situation and give your dog a big cuddle and his favorite treat when it is all over.

If learning how to cut a dog's nails is all a bit much for you, take your dog to a groomer (some will even come to your home) to have her nails trimmed. It doesn't cost very much and at least your dog wont hold it against you if her nails should accidentally be cut too deep!

If bleeding does occur, you have three options -

Baby does not have to be “left out” of Holiday meals just because she is an infant. The Holidays are a wonderful time for baby to explore foods and share in the family celebration. Pull baby's high chair up to the dinner table and watch her joy and wonder as she takes part in the Holiday meal tradition. With some creativity, your baby can have a Holiday dinner similar to what the big kids and adults are eating! Bring your food mill along and grind up some Holiday Foods for your little one!

Below you will find our ideas for how to serve up a Holiday Dinner for your baby or toddler. Please ensure that the combinations and foods suggested are age appropriate for your child! These “recipes” have been found at our Tips Recipes page since we began our baby food website and we look forward to “taking them out” every Holiday.

“Holiday Dinners for Little Ones” For Beginners (younger than 7months old)

Squashy Sweet Potatoes Take a small scoop of that baked acorn or butternut squash and mash in some sweet potatoes

Baby Apple Pie If you will be offering your baby cereal at Thanksgiving, make him a Baby Apple Pie - mix some applesauce together with oatmeal or rice cereal

Pumpkin Pie Baby Pumpkin Pie is easy, simply blend pumpkin puree together with oatmeal or rice cereal

For the Intermediates (7months to 10 months old)

Spicy Squash Add some cinnamon and/or nutmeg to baby's squash

Green Beans and Potatoes Green beans and mashed potatoes are a staple of many Holiday meals, for your baby, make a blend of white potatoes and green beans

Baby's Turkey Dinner Serve your baby a yummy Holiday Turkey Dinner m?lange. Take some turkey, applesauce, sweet potato and squash blend it all together for a yummy meal. If your baby is eating finger foods, simply cut the turkey into small pieces and arrange in baby's dish with the squash, sweet potato and applesauce.

Tofu Dinner If you will be offering your baby tofu at the Holiday Dinner table, you can make your baby's tofu meal fitting and festive too. Blend or dice the tofu into manageable bites and blend with squash or sweet potato for a yummy meal. You can also arrange the tofu bites in baby's dish with squash, white potato and another veggie like carrots or green beans.

Sweet Potato Pie Mix sweet potato, yogurt, cereal and a dash of cinnamon, top with powdered Cheerios or Oatie O's and mix well. For additional fun and enjoyment, let your baby do the blending of her own Sweet Potato Pie!

Apple Pie Combine cereal, yogurt and applesauce together adding a dash of cinnamon, top with powdered Cheerios or Oatie O's and mix well. For additional fun and enjoyment, let your baby do the blending of her own Apple Pie!

Pumpkin Pie Combine pumpkin puree together with cereal, yogurt and add a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg, top with powdered Cheerios or Oatie O's and mix well. For additional fun and enjoyment, let your baby do the blending of her own Sweet Potato Pie!

For the Experienced Palate (11months old +)

Use all the recipes above only serve as “finger” meals if baby is eating chunky foods.

Arrange dices of turkey, dollops of sweet potato and squash and add some white potato along with green beans.

Offer your baby some “real” apple pie at this age (if you don't mind the sugar that is!)

Is it ok to Offer My Baby Cranberry Sauce or Cranberries? Cranberries tend to be acidic and as such, are not recommended as a “starter' food for babies. As cranberries are not related to strawberries or other “berries” such as blackberries or raspberries, they do not follow the “no berries until 12 months old” rule. You may wish to introduce cranberries between 9 and 12 months old so as to avoid any possible reactions due to the acidity. Reactions may occur in the form of rashes around the mouth or bottom. Always keep in mind that a bite of a food may not prompt a reaction however a “full” serving may. Read our article for more information>> Cranberries for Baby Food

Can My Baby Eat the Family Pumpkin Pie? Pumpkin Pie typically contains whole eggs and evaporated milk. Many pediatricians will say that for the non-allergic baby of 8 months or older, baked goods with whole eggs are fine. The same advice is true for milk products. Milk in a baked good recipe is fine for the non-allergic infant of 8 months or older. (Please remember that milk is NOT appropriate as a replacement for breast milk or formula until a baby has reached the age of 12 months or until your baby's pediatrician indicates this is appropriate!) If you would like your baby to have a Thanksgiving treat and wish to serve him a wee bit of pumpkin pie, consider the above and as always, consult with your pediatrician!

Is Gravy Ok to Offer my Baby? Our inclination is to not offer babies gravy during the Holidays. Homemade Gravy is made of starches and the fatty drippings from the Holiday Turkey pan. Jarred or canned gravy contains a variety of un-pronounceable ingredients that may not be good for your baby.

Keeping in mind the above, if you wish to offer your baby a small drizzle of gravy during Holiday Dinner then feel free to do so. If you bay is prone to digestive upsets, we would recommend using a very small amount or none at all.

As always, you should consult with your pediatrician about offering your baby foods that may not appropriate for baby's stage!

Margaret Meade is the Editor of http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com and is the mother of 3 boys. The boys were raised on all Homemade Baby Food and since Mommy had been studying nutrition for many years, she knew homemade was best! Visit the Wholesome Baby Food and find out how easy it is to make your own baby food. Once you begin, good healthy eating habits will automatically flow!

Kids' bath accessories make up a huge part of the total market for bath accessories. Kids' bath accessories of sea and beach themes are big. The Little Mermaid bath accessories continue to be popular (2007). Penguin bath accessories and rubber ducky items are fun, too.

Disney princesses on bath accessories, however, seem to be a classic. Snow White, Cinderella, Jasmine, Aurora, and Sleeping Beauty ? every little girl wants to be a Disney princess at some time. And many want bathrooms with Disney princesses on bath accessories.

Fairytale Spa

Disney princesses on bath accessories can turn a little girl's bath into a fairytale spa. After you paint the walls Bibbidi Bobbidi Blue, hang a dreamy Disney princess shower curtain. Shower curtain hooks come in hearts of pink, each heart framing a Disney princess face.

Find Disney princesses on bath accessories like these, too:

1. Disney princess plastic waste can

2. Disney princess towel set

3. Disney princess dispenser, soap dish, and toothbrush holder

4. Disney princess bath rug

The Disney princesses on bath accessories are not all the same. You can choose from the “Love's First Kiss” collection, “Forever” collection, or “Stardust” collection. Chances are good that your little girl has a favorite.

With Bedroom to Match

Adults tend to think a small bathroom full of Disney princesses is enough, but little girls may want to carry the theme into the bedroom, too. A good idea is to use the same basic color scheme, but fewer princesses.

Not a Princess

Some little girls may think Disney princesses are fine, but they would rather not have Disney princesses on bath accessories. They would rather have ballerina bath accessories ? or “Backyardigans” bath accessories.

Kids' Bath Accessories in Sea Themes

Kids' bath accessories must take a different turn if the bathroom is to be shared with a boy. While you could add a Prince Charming, it might be better to create something entirely different.

Kids' bath accessories in sea themes are a good option. With careful planning, you could combine the Little Mermaid bath accessories and Finding Nemo bath accessories, as long as you keep each to a minimum.

Begin with a shower curtain featuring a sea and beach theme: seashells on an off-white background. Use bright fish curtain hooks.

For safety, apply fish-shaped no-slip appliqu?s to the bathtub floor. Add one mermaid. Purchase her towel set with the Little Mermaid design, his with a Finding Nemo design.

Hang fish and mermaid robe hooks on the door or wall. Use similar hooks for towels. Surround a plain mirror with alternating fish and mermaids, and hang it at the children's level.

The Little Mermaid bath accessories and Finding Nemo bath accessories can identify whose tumbler is whose, and keep individual soap separate.

Use plastic bath accessories for safety.

Other Children's Bath Accessories

Other themes for children's bath accessories might include these:

1. Jungle: Use green ? perhaps a wallpaper jungle mural on one wall. Hang a couple of live plants. Use wild animal bath accessories: monkey, leopard, bear, elephant, etc. Add safari tan towels.

2. Rubber Ducky: This is a bright, clean theme. Rubber ducky bath accessories are easy to find. Use soft, vivid colors. Blue sets off yellow duckies.

3. Pond: Think green frogs, yellow duckies, lily pads, and water lilies. You might include a fish aquarium with other bath accessories that feature the relaxation of a garden pond.

Disney princesses on bath accessories or penguins and dolphins, all can be used to create a place that children will enjoy.

?2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about bath accessories at http://www.easybathroomremodeling.com. Anna has also posted articles on that site about bathroom decorating. If you want to learn more about bath accessories in birch bark, you won?t want to miss her article on the subject.

If you can make soap at home, you should find candle-making a breeze. Again, it should be easy to find the supplies you need close to home. Look for beeswax or wax, Kemamide release powder, candlewick, a gasket sponge, metal washer, and wick bar, as well as the coloring agent or fragrance oil you prefer. Have silicone spray, a candy thermometer and ice pick handy, and vegetable oil. In terms of equipment, you can use the kitchen stove, a double boiler, and a candle mold.

Spray the candle mold with silicone spray. Break the block of was into small pieces the best idea is to put on safety goggles, and use a hammer inside a box to keep chips from flying. Weigh the wax chips, to make sure you have one pound, then put the chips in the top half of a double boiler and fill the bottom half with water.

Keep an eye on the wax?s temperature! Most waxes have a flash point at about 400 degrees F, which means this is the temperature at which they can catch fire, but the wax won?t heat beyond 200 degrees F on a double boiler. Add a spoonful of release powder, and let the wax sit in the double boiler for half an hour.

Prepare the siliconed candle mold. Cut wick, tie a slipknot in it, and use a needle to poke a hole in the gasket sponge. Insert wick?s unnoted end of the wick into the metal washer, and slide it along to the slipknot slide the gasket down to rest against the washer. With the candle mold upside down, slide the wick?s unnoted end into the wick hole, and then pull it taut until the gasket comes to rest at the bottom of the mold. After you turn the mold right side up, slide the wick?s unnoted end into the wick bar?s hole. Settle the wick bar at the top of the mold, and pull the wick taut.

Add scent to the wax. Stir the wax, to make sure that the scent is well distributed throughout the wax. Pour the wax into the mold. As the surface of the wax shrinks, pour more wax without exceeding the top of the first pour. Let the candle cool eight hours.

Untie the slipknot, and slide the washer and gasket off the wick. Until the wick from the wick bar, and slide the wick bar off the mold. Gently pull on the wick to remove the candle from the mold. Cut the wick off flush from the bottom of the candle, and trim it on top. But kept he unused wax, you can use it again for your next candle!

For more on handcrafted herbal soap making as well as candle making and other do-it-yourself crafts visit the soap making resources center at Pure and Natural Soaps where you'll find articles, recipes, instructions, ideas and tips.

To discuss these and other craft projects visit the Soap Making Forum - a community message board for soap and candle making as well as other crafts and do-it-yourself projects. Discuss techniques, share ideas, learn new methods, post your favorite recipes and meet new friends.

Soaps are notorious for causing skin problems. The first recommendation for anyone with dry skin, eczema, acne, psoriasis, rosacea or just about any other skin problem is usually to avoid soap as much as possible and to ensure that whatever soap you do use is mild. The truth is: all soaps dry the skin somewhat and, no matter how mild the soap may be, you need the protection of a dry skin and eczema treatment product that will not wash off when you wash - for which thousands of doctors now recommend a shielding lotion. However, some soaps do cause less damage than others and you should know how to recognize them.

Here are the parameters:

* One of the most important factors is the pH level. Look for a pH of about 4 - 6: Skin has a more acid pH than the rest of the body to help neutralize bacteria. The packaging will either display the pH level or will say “pH balanced” - which means it has been balanced specifically for the skin. If the information is not displayed on the package, try checking on the Internet. The correct pH level is vital for soaps, as well as any other dry skin or eczema treatment you use.

* Buy soaps that are unscented. Some substances used as fragrance are highly irritating and are common allergens. Unfortunately, manufacturers don't usually display the details on the packaging - they're more likely to simply list 'fragrance' as an ingredient - so it's best to stick with unscented varieties.

* Stay away from antibacterial soaps. Problem skin is more susceptible to infection than healthy skin, so it's logical to think that an antibacterial soap would be effective as dry skin and eczema treatment. However, nothing could be further from the truth: anti-bacterial soaps usually contain triclosan, a chemical that is toxic to our bodies and the environment. Not only does the EPA list Triclosan as a toxic pesticide, giving it the highest scores regarding risk to human health and the environment, the manufacturing process of Triclosan is suspected of producing dioxin - the hormone-disrupting chemical in Agent Orange, widely used in chemical warfare during the Vietnam War. Agent Orange scorched 25 percent of Vietnam's forests, increased the risk of death from cancer to 30 percent for those exposed to it, and produced an estimated 50,000 deformed children of parents who were either directly sprayed with it or exposed to it through contaminated food or water. Today, 30 years later, three million Vietnamese and tens of thousands of U.S soldiers still suffer the effects.

* Look for natural ingredients rather than simply a huge list of chemicals and nothing else. Look for substances like aloe vera, sea buckthorn oil and others that are known to have healing properties and read up on the chemicals in the list.

The second recommendation for dry skin or eczema treatment is usually to keep the skin slathered with moisturizers. The truth is, most moisturizers are worse than soap: effective dry skin and eczema treatment requires that you retain moisture and protect the skin from chemicals and other irritants. Traditional moisturizers usually contain chemical ingredients that make the skin feel smooth, but actually cause further irritation while robbing the skin of natural moisture. A good shielding lotion is your best bet because it will not irritate the skin, locks in moisture and keeps chemicals out.

Eighty percent of dry skin and eczema are caused by contact with irritants - take the hint: Get rid of soaps and moisturizers that exacerbate the condition and stick with natural soaps for cleansing and shielding lotion for dry skin care. These changes may be all you need to get rid of your dry skin or eczema, and it could be the end of your endless search for something that works.

Author, Gloria MacTaggart, is a freelance writer who contributes articles on skin care for 21st Century Formulations. For more information, visit http://www.SkinMDNatural.com

Do you want to give your handmade soaps that uniqueness thatothers will marvel at? Want to create soap for special needslike moisturizing?

Then, you need to understand the various soap making oils andlearn what they can do for your soap. To get you started, let'stake a look at some very poplular ingredients that you can useto make your soap extra special.

Avocado Oil…

Avocado oil is produced by mashing the pulp of the avocadofruit. This oil is a good choice for making moisturizing soaps.

Coconut Oil…

This oil is the partially solid fat obtained from the flesh ofcoconuts. It affects the hardness and amount of lather in thesoap, but can be drying to the skin.

Olive Oil…

Olive oil is harvested from olives by pressing them and thenusing solvent extaction. Soap made with olive oil tend to beextremely hard, but are mild for your skin. These soaps tend toproduce a lot of lather and last a long time.

Vitamin E Oil…

Many people like this oil for facial soap in that it preventswrinkles by soothing and contributing to regeneration of skin.

Palm Kernel Oil…

This oil is harvested from the kernels of the palm tree, thusthe name. Soap made using this oil will be mild and have a richlather.

Palm Oil…

Similar to Palm Kernel Oil, this oil is actually harvested fromthe pulp of the palm fruit. More common than Palm Kernel Oil,it produces a finish that is soft, mild and has a rich lather.

Almond Oil…

Almond oil is used as an emollient because of its ability tosoften the skin. Extracted from almond nuts, this oil also hasa nice, sweet fragrance.

Okay, that should give you a few soap making tips thatyou can use to make great soap.

There are many, many really neat oils available for creatingvery special kinds of soap. By learning about the variousingredients you can make your own unique soap have the exactcharateristics you want.

Just remember…

You could be making your own favorite soap right now. Make itfor yourself… or make it for beautiful, unique gifts forfamily and friends.

If you're in a hurry to learn much, much more about all theunique oils you can use to make your soap, check out soap makingoils for more expert information on creating wonderful soapproducts.

Dave Cushion makes it easy for you to begin making your own beautiful hand-crafted soap. Learn the 7 essential keys to beginning your soap making craft. To receive your free 8-part mini-course visit the soap making tips website.