When you're healthy, it shows. However, it's not just your muscles you need to take care of -- what about your skin?

Luckily for all you fabulous 40+ ladies out there, this week's Fit Beauty giveaway is a fabulous assortment of Emerita skin care products, all formulated specifically for your skin. Because, let's face it -- wrinkles aren't the only skin issue women of a certain age face, right?

This really is a fantastic prize, valued at about $280. Even if it's not something you need for yourself, I bet you have a mom, aunt, neighbor, or someone else who would just love to find these products under her tree. Am I right? So head on over and enter -- it's super easy, and it just might be your lucky day!

If you missed our daily postings this past week, we invite you to take some time to catch up on our prior week's news and gear up for a new week of healthy living information and inspiration.

Summer's hit its halfway point. Have you reached all of your summer fitness goals? Let this week's post lead the way toward a healthy and fit you.

• Rigel shares how to get soda out of your life for good by drinking healthy, tasty substitutes instead.
• Could you have diabetes and not know it? Martha tells us about three surprising symptoms.
• Eating a dish with white pasta? Chris tells you why you should add a little yellow curry to your dish.
• Meredith Vieira doesn't need an anti-aging secret, Jacki shares with us.
• Want to pick up the pace on your daily walk? Maggie tells you how.
• Is your skin showing signs of summer skin problems? Kristen will help bring that beautiful skin back.
• Chris shares his recipe for a homemade energy bar.
  
  

Have a great week, everyone!

Follow these three tips for buying better makeup brushes to give your beauty routine a boost and help the planet at the same time.

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A good friend of mine came back to our home town for the Fourth of July. She's pregnant -- due at the end of August. She warned me that she "was huge." She said that people either think she's ready to deliver at any minute, or they guess that she's having twins. But she looked beautiful, as I fully expected she would. She's going to try to work right up until her delivery date, but she's dealing with some discomfort. The fact that it's summer -- and quite hot and humid -- doesn't help matters. Revolution Health has some tips for the discomforts associated with pregnancy:

• Swollen feet. Opt for flat, slip-on shoes and let your feet "breathe" throughout the day as much as possible. Check out the post I wrote that has other ideas for swollen feet.
• Exercise. Get your doctor's thumbs up first, but barring any complications, there's no reason you can't exercise. Try exercising in the morning or late evening to beat the heat, or exercise in the comfort of your air-conditioned home or gym.
• Drinking water. Drinking water is always important, but especially so when you're pregnant and in the heat. Don't worry about getting 8 servings or any other certain number -- everybody's hydration needs are different. Gauge it more on your thirst -- a dry mouth and dark-yellow urine are other signs that you're not drinking enough water.
• Skin care. Pregnancy can lead to facial blotchiness and the summer sun can exacerbate that condition. Wear sunscreen every day -- even when it's cloudy. Also, avoid itchiness loose-fitting, light-colored clothing in breathable fabrics.

Check out the full list for more tips. And be sure to visit AOL Health for more pregnancy information.

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During the summer, my son goes to day camp . It's an awesome camp -- very structured, very active, and he always comes home with stories of the fun things he did that day. Last Thursday they went on a field trip to the beach. My son came home prickly and hot from a sunburn. (They applied sunscreen on all the kids when they got to the beach, but never reapplied throughout the day. I bet there were a lot of sunburned kids that day!)

But what exactly happens to your skin when you get burned? After exposure to the sun, your capillaries dilate, causing the skin to appear pink. Then, skin cells release a chemical that triggers inflammation. Within 12 hours, skin cells begin to die and the inflammation reddens. A tan forms when your skin cells release a pigment to help block your skin from UV rays. (And, no, you shouldn't consider a tan "protection" from the sun. Burn or tan, it all boils down to one thing -- skin damage.)

So take steps to protect your skin from the sun. If you do get burned, Bethany has some tips.

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Throughout your life, your skincare needs change. As you entered puberty you required certain products to combat acne, and as you entered adulthood, perhaps the acne was no longer an issue, but you started having dry skin issues. That's totally normal.

Also normal is a change in your skincare needs as you age. You experience a decline in hormone levels, which affects your skin, causing it to dry out -- these changes generally begin to take place as a woman enters her 40s. Dry skin isn't the only problem, however -- at the same time, women begin to see more wrinkles, sagging, and age spots. Needless to say, the cleansers and moisturizers you used in your 20s are no longer the most effective choice.

My friend, Debbie, had the opportunity to try out some products by Emerita geared toward the specific skin problems of mature women and was very happy with the results, which is saying something because she has sensitive skin and is prone to allergic reactions. And so, for today's Fit Beauty feature, I thought I would share her experiences with you.

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I used to work at a large software company. There was a woman who worked in a different department and I always was impressed with her appearance. She was in enviable shape. Also, she was just always so put together and nice looking. I guessed she was in her late 50's or so. Later on I found out that she was only 31. 31! Her hours upon hours (or years upon years) in the tanning booth had wreaked so much damage on her skin that she had aged herself by 20 or more years.

Today it's common knowledge that we should apply sunscreen and practice other sun safety measures. But if you're of a certain age (ahem... my age) you remember the days of slathering baby oil on and laying out in the backyard for hours. If you used to worship the sun and your skin is showing signs of damage, there are things you can do:

• Use sunblock every day -- whether it's sunny or not.
• Apply cleansers or moisturizers with antioxidants, glycolic acids, and retinoids.
  
• Use a night repair product.
• Eat healthfully and exercise (it really can improve your skin).

If you have any particularly worrisome spots or irregularly shaped patches of darker skin, be sure to see your doctor.

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Ever hit the sack without washing your face? You might want to rethink your habits.

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Would you consider your job stressful? Do you blame your career for any of your skin problems and signs of aging? Are you having a hard time finding a skin routine that really works?

I realize that stress comes from all different areas in life, but I swear that 90% of mine has always come from my work. I'm 30 years old and just started to finally get really serious about skincare, and I would love to know just how many of my wrinkles were first formed somewhere back in my employment history. I just know that those 12-hour nursing shifts and that boss who used to turn bright red while yelling out commands must account for at least half of them!

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SELF magazine and Neutrogena are teaming up to spread the word about summer skin care. Choose from four e-card designs and send messages about sun safety to your friends and family. They're keeping a state-by-state tally of how many e-cards were sent -- more cards equals more donated money for skin cancer charities.

Stay in the shade when possible, but even when the day seems overcast, don't forget your sunscreen. Remember to wear sunglasses that block UV-A and UV-B rays as well. Wide-brimmed hats and clothing that protects your skin are also good options. Check out the gallery for more summer sun safety tips.

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My mom is one of those hard-to-buy-for types. She and my dad are, thankfully, in a position where if they need or want anything, they can go out and get it. But when birthdays and holidays like Mother's Day roll around, it leaves my siblings and me with very few options. This year, I think I'll try to give my mom something in keeping with her healthy lifestyle. If you're thinking along the healthy lines for Mother's Day gifts too, here are some ideas to consider:

• A day at the spa. Moms rarely take time for themselves. Give your mom a gift certificate for the spa and help her relax.
• Skin care. Whether you give a face mask, moisturizer, hand lotion, or cleanser, skin care gifts are always appreciated.

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It may be a bit premature to start talking about sun safety, but it will be summer before we know it. Well, that's not entirely true -- the calendar is a pretty good indicator of when summer is here, so we'll be quite aware. Oh yeah, plus the temperature will jump up to the 80's and 90's (maybe even higher, depending on where you call home), so I think it's safe to say that summer will arrive just when we expected it to.

With that being the case, part of being prepared for the solstice is knowing how to protect yourself against the elevated risk of skin cancer during this time of year.

Start by limiting your exposure to only 15 to 20 minutes of direct sunlight. This doesn't mean that you have to be a vampire, waiting until dark to leave your house because you've already been outside for 20 minutes. What it does mean is that you would do well to not fall asleep while lying on your beach blanket. Next, be sure to drink plenty of water. It will help prevent dehydration and also protects the skin. You may also want to drink some coffee, since caffeine was shown in laboratory studies to reduce the risk of UV-induced skin cancer in mice. And lastly, don't forget that sunscreen -- as effective as it seemingly is -- does not last forever. A good sized glob of SPF15 will only last about 30 minutes, at which point you should apply more and/or head for some shade.

When things get hectic and crazed around my house, my old stand-by dinner is invariably whole-wheat spaghetti and marinara sauce with added veggies. It's quick, easy, always a hit with my son, and passable nutrition-wise. It turns out my "old faithful" dinner also has benefits for the skin.

Researchers have determined that antioxidants in tomatoes help protect the skin against UV rays. Lycopene, one of the antioxidants found in tomatoes, has previously been linked to a reduction in prostate cancer risk. The skin benefits are just the icing on the cake... or the sauce on the spaghetti. Participants in the study ate up to 55 grams of tomato paste daily. In addition to the UV protection, lycopene may also be linked with anti-aging properties.

Lycopene is found in many other red fruits and vegetables including watermelon, guava, and pink grapefruit.

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It amazes me sometimes how technology is always searching to create new chemicals and compounds to help us look younger and take better care of our skin when sometimes the best products are based on the most natural things.

Have you ever considered lily extract for soothing and balancing out problem skin? I admit I haven't, or at least hadn't until I read this article over at Natural Health. Most commonly used for its fragrance, lily extract also has antioxidant and antiseptic properties that make it a natural for skin care. It moisturizes, softens, clarifies, and even minimizes pores.

Look for for "lily extract" or "tincture of lily flower" on the label.

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In most parts of the U.S., the sun is starting to shine a little more brightly, encouraging us to come out and play. Not only does the warm weather get us all frisky and ready to tackle all kinds of fun outdoor activities -- a change of season is also a reminder to take a look at our current skincare routine to make sure we're still meeting our skin's needs.

It should go without saying, but I'm still going to say it -- first and foremost, make sure you're applying sunscreen every time you go outside. Hats and sunglasses will help protect your face from sun damage, too, but it's a good idea to get into the habit of applying a moisturizing sunscreen every morning.

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