Happy Lunar New Year!!!!

This year is the year of the Ox, also known as the buffalo. Back home in Vietnam, the buffalo is a simple of strength, hard work ing with a focus on moving forward to complete the job. Our ancestors said that when God made the buffalo, it was created solely for the purpose of clearing the rice patties of grass so that the farmers could spread the seeds to grow rice. So He made the buffalo trong, focused, very hard working and only knows to move forward, not backwards, which is one of the traits we humans sometimes lack. If you ever try to walk the buffalo backwards, it will turn around so that it's head is always moving forward. :)

Images of the buffalo are ingraned in the Vietnamese culture in poetry, stories and art. If you have a chance to visit Vietnam you will find this to be true. Back then Vietnam was very much a vast argriculture farm land and almost every house hold was growing rice, sugar cane, pigs or cows. Growing up, a little boy's first job would be to ride the buffalo through the farm so it could clear the land of grass. Often this would take an entire day so the boy would sleep on the buffalo's back, sometimes the buffalo would take the boy back home before he was awake. I didn't have the priviledge of riding the buffalo because my grandparents were growing pigs instead so I had a piglet for a pet growing up. Those were fond memories that I cherish for always.

On this occassion, I'd like to wish everyone a wonderful Lunar New Year, the year of the OX. May you find joy in hard work, focus in your goals and always move forward like the Ox to achieve happiness and success!

Love,

Lisa

Never Too Old To Get Acne

Since the start of 2009, I've been doing many things to plan out the year with special projects both personal and professional. And I have to admit, this process has been quite stressful. For me, each time I get this stressed, I develop pimples on my face of all places, especially around my chin :(. It's very unattractive...

The last time it was this bad was during my university days when I followed an irregular diet and had very little sleep due to the study load. I developed many pimples around the face that I visited my doctor once every couple of weeks. But a perfectionist I've been, I was not happy with the red patches I had from using acne oinment my doctor gave. So I went to libaries to research on the perfect skincare regiment to control my then acne condition. One day I was watching Oprah and heard Paula Begoun spoke about her own skincare experience and how she managed to over come it herself. I was hooked to the TV set for her segment and jotted down her recommendations, and I have never looked back since. Her strategy to controlling acne was simple and cost effective.

1. Waters-soluble cleanser
2. Baking powder and Cetephil as a facial scrub to remove dead skin cells and eleviate redness around the pimple area
3. 3% Hydrogen Peroxide to prevent pimples scar
4. An exfoliant - AHA or BHA to smooth out the skin
5. Sunscreen to protect the skin of premature sun damage

I have followed her routine for over 10 years now and though my skin has cleared up almost completely I still go back to this routine when my pimples return. Paula now has developed her own skincare line and she's on the web so you can read all about her solutions to different skin conditions. I have been her loyal fan so I completely endorse her products. If you are having breakouts like me :(, visit her site and read up on her suggestions on how to control your acne. You don't have to buy her products but you will get suggestions on equivalent products that you can get at a store near you.

To beautiful skin,

Lisa.