First, you must be religious about it and use a lot of self-discipline, so set aside a time which is yours only. Poor primping habits can lead to bad skin, dull hair, and even a bad attitude which reflects back to you when you pass that mirror on the wall.

Beauty begins from the inside out, so start developing a positive mental attitude about life. From your library get some self-help books and that old standby, The Power of Positive Thinking. When I lived in Texas, one of my favorite things to do was pack a picnic lunch, spread a blanket on the grass in the park, away from everybody, read a book and listen to soft music on my headset. Then I made notes of things I had to do all week. I would only stay two hours before I cycled back home, but I felt rejuvenated with a sense of accomplishment.

Stress is the antithesis of beauty; it exacerbates allergies, and immunologic changes can lead to the body releasing histamines in your skin. I lead a hectic life, and live out of a suitcase when I travel around the globe, and sometimes people can be annoying. I always pack a bottle of lavender oil which I mix in to my favorite moisturizing lotion and massage the back of my neck and temples before I go to sleep. Keeping a pretty handkerchief doused in lavender oil is also nice to put under your pillow while you breathe deeply.

Visit your health food store and buy a bottle of 100% Almond Oil to rub on your heels and elbows; also, some Tea Tree Oil, which is a great antiseptic for cuts. In my next articles I will pass on to you some helpful hints about packing. There are ways to pack a suitcase, travel and still look fantastic and keep your sanity.

Don't rub you eyes when you are tired, it will stretch that extremely sensitive area. Instead, cut two cucumber pieces, put them on each eyelid, lie down and inhale the lavender. Remember to get plenty of sleep, you cannot look radiant without it. Another trick of mine, for four a.m. wakeup calls, is to keep a bowl of ice water near the sink and dip a white facecloth into it to really wake me up.

Hair is my nemesis. I never have time to fuss with it, so I travel with hair pieces and wigs. Then I don't have to worry about whether it rains or how I will look when I go out to dinner. After a shower, I pull my clean hair back in a ponytail and wear a piece. Great time saver! The easiest way to revive dull hair is to put one teaspoon of baking soda into a capful of your favorite shampoo.

Smoking is the worst thing you can do for your health and beauty. It is unhealthy and is associated with many illnesses, diseases and cancers. Smoking directly affects the healing of tissues by decreasing the amount of oxygen delivered, and replaces oxygen with carbon monoxide. The chemicals in tobacco narrow the diameter of the blood vessels and decrease the amount of blood flow into the tissues. It took us six years with ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) lobbying in Washington, but finally we got federal laws passed about no smoking on airplanes. Also, most restaurants here in Florida no longer permit smoking. I encountered some problems with restaurants and pubs permitting smoking in Europe.

As a singer, I need every breath I can manage. That is why it is so important to get fresh air into your lungs. Go for a walk at lunch time. Invest in an air purifier. I keep one by my bed. Also, I refuse to let friends smoke near me. At parties I have a big sign on the window, Smoking Section, with an arrow pointing to the garden. A friend of mine kept stink bombs in his pocket. The kind the kids use at Halloween, and every time somebody lit up a cigarette he would drop one, then say, "if you have the right to smoke and pollute my fresh air, then I have that same right to pollute your air. How do you like it?" I won't tell you about the ensuing altercations with Cubans smoking cigars during their coffee at the next table when we had not yet started the first course. But after going up against the tobacco lobby, I figured I could stand up to any publisher!

When I return to Florida from a trip, I usually indulge in a massage. Pure heaven! Stimulating nerves that send happy signals to the brain is very therapeutic because it increases levels of serotonin which is a natural antidepressant. Every now and then I permit myself to be bad and eat chocolate. I never, repeat never, go anywhere without a bottle of water. The brain must be kept watered; when we become dehydrated we become confused and irritable.

Use a glycolic face wash to exfoliate dead skin cells. Better yet, if your budget allows have a facial. If you sit at a computer for hours do isometric exercises. Stand up every hour, roll your shoulders from back to front, flap your arms and remove your shoes and wiggle your toes. Repeat this routine several times a day and also look away from the screen to reduce eyestrain. If irritated, have a cup of tea. Slowly drinking hot liquids calms you down and say a prayer or mantra.

I need not tell you how important it is to work out since I am a physical guru. I do have a personal trainer, but when he had me working on 40 pound weights and I started developing muscles I changed routines. Now I have switched to another exercise program which consists of cycling, then jumping in the pool to swim. I alternate days with jogging and swimming, or dancing and yoga. Every now and then I will revert to ballet because I love the music, and also gardening, which helps me connect with nature. In winter my favorite sport is to go snow skiing with the Miami Ski Club, ice skating and long walks in the snow. If you can't do any of this, I recommend water aerobics in the summer because it is easy on the joints and yoga with a class in the winter time.

Last but not least, SMILE. Even though you have nothing to smile about. Do it anyway. Smile at your pet or at yourself in the mirror. Habits create daily habits and we build beauty routines on good habits. Always have something to look forward to. Buy concert or movie tickets in advance; or plan things with friends. When you have something to look forward to you improve your outlook on life.

Never say never! Yes, you can lose weight, yes you can change the color of your hair. Yes you can find a man - if you want one that is - you can do whatever you set your mind to do, but first you have to change that mind-set.

Let's have a new you for Christmas and you will be surprised at all the attention you will receive. Get out of that rut you are in and enjoy life! I know it takes planning, but draw a blueprint for the new you in 2005. Start now. If you have any beauty questions, I will be happy to answer them for you, if I can. If not, I can always call an expert.

Alinka