1.    Everybody’s body chemistry is different. No skin care regimen or product is right for everyone. That’s why we provide a variety of solutions for beauty and personal care issues. We’ve collected generations of wisdom on Oldenbuzz.com, and we invite you to experiment—with normal prudence and common sense—and find your own “holy grail” products or recipes. If one recipe or procedure doesn’t help you, another may be just what you’re looking for. Don’t give up!

2.    A complementary approach of old and new treatments offers a way to look and feel our best. In health care, people are combining traditional healing practices with cutting-edge modern medicine for an East meets West synergy. The same can be done in the area of personal care. Oldenbuzz.com doesn’t take a stand on whether old or new is better. The choice may depend on the situation and the person.

3.    Beauty and health are interconnected. Many old beauty books dealt extensively with the importance of sleep, exercise, diet, relaxation, and even positive thinking. The advice in these volumes may be more relevant than ever, in light of today’s long, stress-filled days of sedentary work. A life out of balance will show on our skin and in our hair. In many cases, getting rid of the source of the problem will do away with the need for cover-ups. A healthy glow from within is always more beautiful than preparations applied on the skin.

4.    Beauty and luxurious experiences should be accessible to all, regardless of income. Some advertisers would like us to believe that beauty can’t be achieved without their $500-an-ounce serum. Not true. Many high-end treatments are derived from or based on traditional botanical preparations. It’s often safer and more effective to use the whole natural compound rather than an isolated component or a synthesized version. You can make shampoos and conditioners at home that are far more gentle and nourishing than even the expensive salon brands. Even more money can be saved by buying bulk ingredients with friends, neighbors, or a co-op group. Oldenbuzz.com offers free books, recipes, and articles for anyone’s personal (noncommercial) use.

5.    Enhancing our appearance should not make us sick. With all the alternatives available, including the resources here on this site, we should not have to turn to products made with ingredients that threaten our health or the environment. Some personal care items that contain synthetic and toxic substances can enter our bodies and the ecosystem. By choosing products wisely, or by making them ourselves, we can reduce this exposure.

6.    Each culture has its own traditional definitions of and approaches to beauty, and the more we know about these global and historical ways, the more complete our appreciation of beauty will be. While it is easier for Zelda Oldenbuzz, who lives in the U.S.A., to find information from North American and European publications, she actively seeks information from other sources and has already included some on this site. If you have any suggestions, please contact me.