Taking Care of Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin is characterized by skin that reacts adversely to changes to the environment, such as too much sun, extreme temperatures, or reactions to certain cosmetics or other pharmaceuticals. Sensitive skin can react by becoming swollen, red, itchy or dry. Sometimes, sensitive skin can be confused with skin disorders such as eczema or rosacea. If you think you might have sensitive skin, you may want to consult a dermatologist, who can determine if you’re suffering from a skin disorder. Sensitive skin can vary from mild to severe, but it can be managed with good skin care. Here are a few tips for taking care of sensitive skin.

Cleaning and moisturizing your skin are very important parts of your basic skin care regime, and those with sensitive skin should use products that are as pure as possible. Choose products that are fragrance-free, color-free, and preservative-free. Clean your face twice a day with a very gentle cleanser and follow up with a water-based moisturizer. Avoid moisturizers that are oil based and contain lanolin or mineral oil, as these can block the pores and cause pimples or black heads. The best kind of moisturizer will contain a sun block with an SPF of at least 15.

If you use makeup, be sure to use products that are hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic. You may wish to avoid products that are mineral based, as these can prompt an allergic reaction. Always be sure to remove makeup when you wash your face at the end of the day. Also, try to avoid washing with very cold or very hot water and avoid very hot baths, as these can over dry the skin.

Exfoliating is an important part of the skin care regime, and just because your skin is sensitive doesn’t mean that you have to skip this step. Use a very gentle exfoliant once a week to remove old skin cells and help your skin breath, keeping it looking healthy and fresh.

source:beauty-tips.net

Get Ageless Eyes

In your 20s
Start using an eye gel, serum or light cream every morning. After moisturizing face, dot the product under eyes, on lids and near the outer corners. Note: The skin around eyes is delicate, so gently blend using your ring finger – never rub!

Choose your eye creams wisely: Try antioxidant-rich products, like H2O+ Sea Results Eye Defense Fortifying Serum, far right. Formulated with gotu kola extract and Vitamin A, it helps fight free radicals that age skin. Also try ones with jojoba oil (a natural fatty acid) to moisturize skin.

In your 30s
You need to be diligent about taking care of the skin around your eyes. Be sure your eye cream contains SPF 8 or more prevent photo-aging.

Skin gets drier as we age, so switch to cream formulas if you’ve been using gels or serums. Look for hyaluronic acid – an ingredient that plays a vital role in cell hydration.

In your 40s
Since the skin around the eyes is thinner and less firm than other areas, it shows age quicker. Try new creams formulated to lift and tighten.

Brighten tired-looking eyes with creams that contain mica and optical diffusers. Layer over firming eye products, or use alone if they claim to tighten too.

source:beauty-tips.net

How to Make Your Eyes Beautiful?

Make-up on your eyes is an art. Pencils, eyelashes and eyeshadows can show your trumps and hidden your defects.

Eyes wide spaced
When eyes are too wide spced from the top of nose, inside niches you should paint more darkly than outside. Accent should go to a moving part of a upper eyelid. You sholud paint dark marks with your eyepencil on a upper and lower eyelids, along eyelashes and in inside of your eyelid, by making a strong line from inside niches to the half of a length of an eye. By using eyelash mascara curl your eyelashes strongly to the upper side.

Eyes close spaced
Eyes looks like they were pieceing together at the top of a nose. To spread them up optically, inside part of your eyelids sholul be lighten with eyeshadows and outside part dimmed quite intensivelly. The darker eyeshadow put on a one third of a length of a moving parts of your eyelid. Along lower and upper eyelashes paint lines reaching to the same piont as the dark eyeshadow. Eyelashes curl with by using eyelashes mascara.

Eyes deep set
These kind of eyes usually look like tired. To stop them looking like that, the only thing you should do is to make them look brighten. The moving parts of your eyelids paint with a very light, white or beige, eyeshadows. On the middle of it put more shiny kind of an eyeshadow. On curves put some dimmed eyeshadow. To make your eyelashes look thicker, paint between them dots by using grey or light brown eyepencil. On the inside part of a lower eyelid paint white lines. Curl strongly your eyelashes.

Convex eyelids
To make your eyelids smaller and less convex you should paint lines around them by using dark eyepencil. Also by using dark eyepencil you should darken your inside edge of the lower eyelids. To moving parts of upper ones put dark eyeshadow steady and the most strongly in the outside niches. Non moving parts of your eyelids you can lighten a little bit under your eyebrow curve. Eyelashes curl gently by using eyelashes masacara, so they look naturally.

Eyebrows Make Your Skin Look More Expressive

You tend to forget about them concentrating on your eyelashes. That’s a pity, because it is eyebrows which help your eyes look deeper, reshape your face outline adding "character" to it.

The most important thing you have to remember when shaping your eyebrows is to make them look natural. Thin eyebrows sharpen the face, whereas bushy (similar to those of the Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo) are suitable only for women of the southern type. You have to match the shape of your eyebrows to your appearance, face oval and eyes span.

Beauticians’ advice

Perfect eyebrows can hide some defects. I recommend you have a professional do your brows first to set a "blueprint", then all you have to do is pluck where the hairs grow in. Look what shape your eyebrows must have depending on your face oval.

• Square face – rounded eyebrow ridges should be thicker at the beginning and thinner at the outer edge;
• Long and oval face – eyebrows should be as natural and as long as possible;
• Rectangular face – eyebrow edges should rise a bit up to temples;
• Sloping eyelids – eyebrows shorten and rounded a bit;
• Small and closely set eyes – eyebrows a little moved back, without hair growing near nose base;
• Widely set eyes – eyebrows shortened, ending at the outer edge of the eye;

At the beautician’s

You can do henna – you can choose among a couple of tones. You get a natural effect which lasts for about three to four weeks. If your eyebrows are not very expressive, you can make them thicker. The beautician will insert a special natural pigment under your skin. This pigment will look like your natural eyebrows. This method is very long lasting – it will stay for about 3 to 5 years. This treatment is totally safe.

How to make a perfect ridge

Use a liner and make small lines as if you were drawing particular hairs, which will make eyebrows look like yours. Sweep the lines with a little brush. Instead of a liner you can use an eye shadow. The shadow or the liner should be a tone fairer than your natural eyebrow colour. If you are blonde, choose grey or brown. Avoid chocolate and black which will make your face look sad. Fair complexion but dark eye frame looks good in pastel brown. It’s worth to apply gel on the eyebrows to make them glossy. You have to use gel when your eyebrows are bushy and difficult to arrange.

How to pluck eyebrows

Shape your eyebrows using metal tweezers, with good light, in front of the mirror (do not use a magnifying mirror as you may pluck too many brows). The procedure is not long; you may do it once in two weeks.

• Pluck brows after the bath, skin is soft and it hurts less. If you are afraid of pain, "anesthetize" skin with an ice cube wrapped in foil. Use a liner to draw a shape you want to have. Remember to round the ridge at about two thirds of its length. To mark the beginning and the ending of an eyebrow you have to make a so-called "pencil test".
• Make sure to pluck hairs in the direction they grow and don't grab too many hairs at a time. To make it easier, hold skin taut as you pluck. Do not pluck hairs growing above the ridge. Once you're done plucking, you can apply aloe vera gel, which will calm the redness right away. Comb eyebrows with a brush up to the outer edge.

source:beauty-tips.net

Do You Want to Look Like a Star?

Are you going to the party? We will tell you how to look gorgeous even if you are exhausted.

Our professional advice will change you into a star.

You have to start at least 1.5 hours before leaving. Do not hurry – it may spoil the pleasure and effect. If you plan a date, take an aromatic bath and lit candles. But if you plan a crazy evening on a dance floor – choose an energizing shower. Play your favourite music to get into a proper mood. Remember about face scrub – makeup looks better on fresh skin.

Slowly and carefully

This is the basic rule in evening makeup. Apply foundation with a sponge or your fingers, choose a tone similar to your skin colour. What dominates in this season is strong eye makeup.

Robert, an expert, says: "Emphasize eyes with an eyeliner. If you draw a line at the bottom of eyelashes, they will look thicker and it will 'open' eyes. You can use dark glossy shadow on your upper lid (use some also on a bottom lid). If you don’t want your eyes to look like panda’s after a few hours, always use powder eye shadows. Creamy ones smudge more easily. Apply three or four layers of mascara, beginning at the bottom of eyelashes so they appear thicker. Now it’s time for blush – lively (e.g. pink, apricot or peach) and glossy to make you look bright. How to apply it? Smile widely and brush raised part of cheeks."

Lips – choose a lip gloss so they will seem bigger and sexier. Lip gloss is also easier to make corrections than a lipstick. You prefer a stronger makeup? Choose a red tone.

To make your hair use something which increases volume and raises hair at the bottom.

Remember about nails (it’s obvious that you have to do the manicure earlier) – use dark enamel, and about eyebrows. They must be plucked and coloured to make your face more expressive. Use a liner or a shadow similar to your hair colour.

Experts’ advice

• Do you want to have bright relaxed eyes – apply special drops or make a compress: add a teaspoon of chamomile and dill to two glasses of water, boil for 3 minutes. Drip cotton pads into the brew and put on eyes for 10 – 15 minutes.
• Before applying mascara, use eyelash curler – your eyes will seem bigger. If you use a white liner on the inner part of your bottom eyelid, it will also hide redness.
• Avoid orange lipstick or lip gloss – they make your teeth look yellow. Do not get rid of spots before a party (at the same day) – it will look disastrous. Use a concealer instead.
• Do not pluck eyebrows or remove hair before the party – do it one or two days earlier. Solarium and bronzing cosmetics are also risky – they may live patches. Use bronzing powder instead. And the most important thing in order to look gorgeous – have enough sleep (at least eight hours, similar to top models before going on a catwalk).

How are Blackheads and Papules Produced?

Blackheads and papules are external symptoms of acne. They are the result of excessive sebum production and hornification of sebaceous glands excretory duct. Horny layers of the epidermis overlap, fill the excretory duct and close its opening. A blocked opening of a sebaceous gland canal with a plug of sebum and horny cells creates a so-called blackhead, which is a non-inflammatory form of acne. In the case of excessive production of sebum and horny epidermis some bacteria, always present on the skin surface, develop well. In such environment they breed like in a hatchery. They cause inflammatory process, which can result in cracking of excretory duct wall and the development of inflammation near sebaceous gland. Papules become big, red and painful.

Non-inflammatory and inflammatory forms of acne may appear in their neighbourhood. The method of treatment depends on the form and seriousness of the illness.

The Magic of Makeup (Foundation)

Everything you should know about foundations

What is foundation?

Makeup has been popular for ages. In the ancient times to hide skin defects women rubbed lead dust onto skin. In the 30s of the 20th century the forefather of today’s foundation came into existence.

Creamy powder soon became an inevitable part of woman’s life and her basic cosmetic. New types of foundation at the beginning of the 21st century changed it into the second skin and people do not believe anymore in tales connected with its harmful side-effects (e.g. about blocking up pores).

The foundation or base is the first and most important step in makeup application. Despite color pigments they also include special dyes for colour products reacting to light, light elements of silicon as well as important protective ingredients which supplement and support facial cream. Foundations protect skin against ultraviolet, frost, air pollution, contain anti-solar filters and substances catching free radicals.

Choosing the right foundation

The foundation you will choose depends on how much you are ready to spend and on your skin type and color.

To choose the best foundation apply a couple dots of each color on areas of your jawline (the inner wrist or hand aren't the best spots, contrary to popular belief).Take a good, long look -- near a window. Ask to borrow a hand mirror and stand near a doorway, or step outside, to see which foundation looks best in the natural light. The right shade is one that you can't see because it blends in so well.

There are two main color tones – warm and cold which are suitable for women of warm or cold look (for more information see: The appearance type). In warm tone these are yellow, peach, warm beige and brown which dominate, whereas in cold tone – pink, grey, cold beige and sandy beige.

Here is my advice about choosing the right foundation:

• If your vessels are chapped, choose cold beige; peach color skin likes warm, preferably golden tones;
• Pink foundation will brighten up grey, tired skin;
• Skin with dilated pores does not like dark foundations, no matter the consistency. Avoid brightening foundations;
• If you have wrinkles, try lifting foundations – you will get rid of lines for a few hours;
• If you’re nubile, use fair or pearly beige foundations containing mica which refracts light;
• If you don’t like your freckles (although I believe they are one of the natural wonders) and want to hide them, remember that freckled skin combined with too fair foundations will seem earthy and unhealthy;
• If you suffer from melanoderma, use foundations with yellow pigment taking into account the fact that darker foundations will conceal defects;
• Have acne scars? Do not apply those products that contain brightening ingredients – they will emphasize rough places;
• Each skin type needs different foundation;

How to apply Foundation?

Having chosen perfect foundation, you have to learn how to use it properly. No matter the brand or ingredients when you cannot apply it correctly.

The right foundation will even out your skin tone and give you the appearance of flawless skin. But you have to do it right, otherwise you risk looking like a ... clown. Follow these steps for a flawless complexion.

There are two methods of applying foundation. The first claims that you should do it with the tips of your fingers as it quickly reaches the right temperature and gets into skin. The latter is in favour of a sponge which is said to "know" how much foundation to use on your face (the rest will stay onto the sponge without leaving trails on your skin). Liquid foundation will be better applied with fingers.

Foundation is a great but extremely difficult product. You cannot hurry when using it. It needs patience and precision, so save a couple of minutes before leaving home to apply foundation. If you use liquid foundation, do not put it just after using face cream – the cream will dilute the foundation and its layer will become too thin.

• Remember not to use two layers of foundation, especially near eyes. If you use cream or brightening toner, apply less foundation.
• Always apply the foundation in one and the same direction – from the middle parts (nose and chin) to outer parts, pressing it gently.
• Do not cover bottom eyelids, especially when you’re over 30. Used under eyes it will highlight even the slightest wrinkles (which are normally difficult to notice).
• But it’s advisable to use a drop of foundation on your upper lid – combined with loose powder it will be an ideal basis for eye shadows which will be easier to apply, last longer and won’t gather at the lid bending. If you have dilated pores, don’t smudge foundation, but press it.
• Having used protective cream, get rid of it beforehand – otherwise it will roll out.
• It often happens that foundations divide into layers in their containers. To avoid it, shake container before using.
• Be careful with the tip of the nose – apply foundation twice as precisely.
• You may also use makeup on your ears. It’s especially advisable during winter when your eyes become red because of cold.

source:.beauty-tips.net

Your Dream Wedding Makeup

The big day is coming – take the chance and be the most beautiful. How much time do you still have? Not much since he proposed. Try the wedding dress on for the last time. Everything already arranged. What about special makeup?

No matter your experience or lack of experience in the field of makeup, it is the inevitable part of the preparations. You are wondering whether to count on yourself or look for help at the beautician. It is up to you, but remember – you don’t have time for experiments. If you hasn’t treated your skin properly before wedding, there is nothing you or a professional can do. You do not have to visit solarium before the ceremony, especially if you hasn’t used it before. It’s better to match dress’ colour to your skin than have your skin irritated by artificial light just before the wedding. But when you insist on having a suntan, go to the beautician to try out the latest invention – Air Brush which provides a nice coulour by applying pigment in the form of mist. Compressors, spray guns, bronzing fluids – these are the things the beautician needs to create perfect tan without spots or patches. The tan will last up to 7 days.

What’s your dream wedding makeup? Delicate or extravagant? Remember that wedding makeup is aimed at making you more beautiful not changing you. If you do not use makeup at all or your everyday makeup is delicate, do not decide on extravagance and the other way round.

What to do to be able to cry with happiness without worrying about your makeup? Personally, I advise to rely on a professional beautician. Let her be responsible for the overall effect. If you can afford it – do not hesitate.

If you still have doubts, let yourself be put to the wedding makeup test. It isn’t obligatory – especially if you know the beautician and trust her. During the test I always make a colour analysis which my clients can use for their whole lives (it isn’t an additional but totally professional service). For me it’s a clue how to make the bride’s face (and the whole wedding stylization). Therefore, the test lasts longer than applying the makeup on the wedding day.

During the test I analyze the individual colouring of my client. I examine what colours emphasise her appearance type. Finally, I propose a set of the most suitable colours. You may use the set later on when buying clothes or cosmetics. If you haven’t had the chance to undergo a colour analysis – do it now, before your wedding. Proper colours will make your physical appearance more important than your clothes.

Wedding makeup should be delicate, radiant and fresh. The colours depend on your appearance type, your wedding dress and accessories you’ve chosen. If you want a little extravagance – remember it to be balanced and match your look!

What is not suitable, according to me, is Your Dream Wedding Makeupdark lipstick which tends to make people look older (especially when brown or purple). Don’t be afraid of "controlled glow" – you’ll look young and fresh thanks to it.

I often meet women who do not use eye shadows or a lipstick. They are afraid they won’t look natural or their partner will be displeased, as he always says: "You look best without makeup". If he pays such a compliment just before the wedding, do not treat it too seriously. Take care of yourself just as women do – men won’t understand it anyway. But they admire final effects!

If you don’t like strong makeup, I have good news for you. Modern makeup should be invisible. A woman ought to look fresh, natural, elegant, so makeup is just a complement of her image. Natural makeup will emphasize your beauty, and you we’ll be well groomed and more confident.

So, a Bride to be, I wish you looked the most beautiful in the world not only on this very special day, but throughout the whole life.

source:beauty-tips.net

Blush

You can do a variety of things using blush – make your skin more beautiful, make yourself look younger, "reshape" your face. Without even a slightest amount of blush, your makeup will not be expressive enough.

How to Reshape your Face

You can make your face look shorter or longer, rounder or more delicate. You should only know where to apply blush. Sit in front of the mirror, be careful to have right light. Decide what your face shape is and what you want to achieve, and then…practise. You will see how quickly you’ll master it.

Round
In order to prolong the face, you have to apply blush on both sides from the temple (beginning from the outer edge of your eye) to the corner of your mouth. You should finish two centimeters above mouth.

Square
If you want your face to look rounder, you should use blush to draw an irregular triangle on both cheeks. Its longest leg should be placed along an ear, and the remaining legs should join in the most raised point of your cheek.

Triangular
In order to make the face look soft rather than sharp, you should use blush to draw two horizontal rectangles placed from the side of face up to the middle. They have to be applied with a brush in a very precise way next to the jaw line.

Oblong
If you want your face to seem shorter, you have to emphasize the parts from ears towards the nose. You have to draw wide lines of colour – beginning at the middle of ear, finishing in the centre of cheek.

Oval
In order to emphasise this classic shape, draw two small triangles on both cheeks – their shorter legs should lie along ear just under temple, the remaining should join toward the corner of mouth.

Match blush with skin colour

Blush should go with your skin and hair colour.

• Women of blond and ginger hair with olive complexion should use blush of orange tones.
• Dark-and auburn-haired women with fair complexion will look perfect in pastel blush, called powdered.
• When your skin is pale or grey, use salmon, coral and pink blush.
• Women with wheat blond hair or bright ginger hair and radiant complexion will look nice in peach and golden brown blush.
• Dark, almost brown skin matches well with plum, fuchsia or chocolate blush.

source:beauty-tips.net

The elegant choice of lipstick

It is not as easy as you may think, when it comes to choosing your lip stick. Some times you will find a killer shade of lip stick on a celebrity or a model and you get it for the extreme price it is sold at. Now when you come home and apply the shade on your lips, you realize that it is not enhancing your complexion at all. That particular lip stick turned out to be a total waste of money for you. Learn from our beauty tips how to choose the right lip stick.

You can avoid this with the help of a good cosmetic salon where they will help you in finding the right choice for you. Let them work for you and offer you shades. Try them out until you find the right shade for you. This way you will not be losing any thing.

Lip Plumper Tips
Every woman dreams of sexy full lips, at least once in a while in their life. There are some options for you to achieve this either by implanting collagen or tattooing some out lines around your lips. But none of those will give you satisfactory results. And there are much more simpler, practical and cheaper alternatives available to get you the same results. You can follow the four steps given below and obtain sexy full lips.

Step one: Lip balm babe
First step is to use lots of lip balm on your lip. This will avoid your lips becoming cracked or frayed. This is really important in the cold winter months to care more on your lips. You will lose moisture from your lips much faster in winter. Wait for a while to get the lip balm to sink in to the lips. If you do not let the lip balm to sink in, then the lip liner will not work properly.

Step two: Line and define
Outline your lips, right around your lips, with the help of a really natural lip liner. If the line gets uneven any where, wipe it out and do it over again. If you leave an uneven line people will notice it. Once you have the out line done clearly, fill all of your lips with the same color.

Step three: Now add some shine!
Now is the turn of lip gloss; to add some glamour!! Choose a natural lip gloss. Never choose any lip stick which is too dark or too light for your lips. Even if lip gloss looks better on your lips, they do not last like lip stick. You need to have some lip gloss handy, to apply during the day.

Step four: Plump them up
Now this last part is a bit difficult to do. But it is not too hard to do either. Apply a white shimmery eye shadow or eye brow high lighter right in the centre of your lips. You need to do it real carefully and blend it in. The coloring has to be natural and the shade should be lighter where your mouth opens. This will make your lips look fuller and beautiful. Your dreams will never end. People always dream of some thing which they do not have. So until you start dreaming of your next big one, show your new sexy lips off!! Enjoy all the admiration which comes your way as well!!

Red Lipstick

How do you use red lipstick?

The big question is, will it look good on you or not?

You have bought red lip stick before. After applying it, you found out that it is not the right shade for you. It may have been too bright on your skin color.

You can reduce the brightness of the red lip stick by mixing it with a little brown shade. After playing around with it a while you may find the perfect color that is totally yours alone!!

Once you found the right shade for you by mixing different shades on your own, and if you no longer feels like doing it over again, you can take this shade of product to a mall and find a shade very close to the one you created.

source:easygrooming

how to apply lipstick and lip liner

 

A. Do Liner First
It is not necessary to use lip liner. In case you do, do it before applying lip stick. Never use a lip liner with a darker shade than your lip stick, as the out line may be the only thing left on your lips, if your lip stick fades and lip liner do not. The lip liner should be either neutral or matching to the lip stick’s color

Draw a line to each outer corner of your lip from the middle of your upper lip, along the natural outer edge of your lip line.
If you prefer really lasting lip stick, apply color all through your lips.
NOTE: You can get sharp edges if you leave the lip pencil in the refrigerator for a few minutes before application.

B. Lipstick
You can increase the life of your lip stick by applying a foundation or some talcum powder under the lip stick. Both of these will give you drier lips and hence use some kind of creamy lip stick.
Keep your lips stretched and spread the colors from the middle part of your top or bottom lips towards the outer corners. To get longer lasting color, repeat the application and blotting a few times.
NOTE: Use a lip brush for the most accurate application of lip stick.
Fuller upper lip
Are you not happy with your upper lip?
First use a pencil with the same color as your lips and out line your lips. Now, draw another line using a brown pencil in the middle of your upper lip. When you apply lip color all over your lips now, it will give you much more fuller lips and the brown line will blend in with the lip stick.

source:easygrooming

How to get a Good Night Sleep

Are you getting enough sleep? If not, you are not alone. A recent study has found that one in every two Indians (46 per cent) sleeps less than six hours. A busy work schedule, a hectic social life, household chores and children’s worries leave little time for sleep. Modern life builds up so much stress and anxiety that when we do get to bed, most of us find it difficult to sleep well.

Adults need at least seven to eight hours of sleep every night, to perform optimally. Children need even more sleep. Less sleep causes morning headaches and daytime fatigue, leading to poor concentration and performance.

Insomnia includes the inability to sleep, frequent awakenings during the night and not being able to go back to sleep, or waking up too early. Women are more likely to suffer from chronic insomnia – the ratio is about two women to one man. Working women, in particular, build up a large sleep debt over the years.

To a large extent, we can control the quantity and quality of our sleep. The key to a restful night’s sleep is to calm down your brain rather than rev it up.

What you eat affects how you sleep. Some food slows down nerve traffic and calms the brain and contributes towards a restful sleep; such food are called sleepers. Other perk up the brain and keep you awake; such food are called wakers.

Sleepers contain tryptophan, an amino acid that makes up protein, which produces the sleep – inducing substances, serotonin and melatonin. Food that contains tryptophan or make more tryptophan available to the brain make us sleepy.

Ideal sleepers are food which contains moderate amounts of carbohydrate stimulates the release of insulin which clears amino acids that compete with tryptophan making it more available to the brain. At the same time, protein contributes tryptophan directly to the brain.

Great snooze food includes; dairy products (paneer, cheese, milk and curd), meat, poultry or seafood, whole grains vegetables and pulses (including soyabeans).

Indian dinners usually have a fair share of these types of food. However, our traditional cooking practices include a lot of fat and spices, both of which in terferes with sleep.

Calcium helps the brain use tryptophan; this explains the soporific effect of a glass of milk at bedtime. Foods containing caffeine such as tea,coffee, colas and chocolates are wakers. a high-protein meal without carbohydrates contains the amino acid, tyrosine, which perks up the brain.

An all carbohydrate snack, especially one high in sugar, is less likely to help you sleep. It will raise blood sugar and inhibit sleep. Later, when blood sugar drops too low, you might wake up and not be able to fall back asleep. Also, you will miss out on the sleep-inducing effects of tryptophan.

source:healthtips.in

How to Overcome STRESS

Try out juices of grapes, watermelon, banana, jack fruit, lemon and pineapple during summer.

STRESS cannot be done away unless the cause itself is removed. Good health and stress free life is all that one craves for. According to the American Dietary Association, the main hazard of stress is not that we need more nutrients, but that anxiety or pressure can cause us to neglect proper dietary habits. Prolonged periods of stress lead to depletion of Vitamin C, B and D. Food changes our brain chemistry in a way that it influences our moods.

The key to our emotion lies in certain chemicals in the blood stream. These are called neuro-transmitters. These are produced from the nutrients in the food. Hence, the need for nutritious and balanced diet is a must to free ourself from the physical and mental diseases and relieve stress. A balanced diet should be defined from the nutritional point of view. As one which contains different types of food in such qualities and proportions; the micro-nutrients like minerals and vitamins and macro nutrients like proteins, fats and carbohydrates is adequately met. And a small provision is made for extra nutrient to withstand short duration of leanness (infections in the body).

Depression Prevention Tips

Depression explained

Depression is a common experience. We have all felt 'depressed' about a friend's cold shoulder, misunderstandings in our marriage, tussles with teenage children - sometimes we feel 'down' for no reason at all.

However, depression can become an illness when:

• The mood state is severe;

• It lasts for 2 weeks or more; and

• It interferes with our ability to function at home or at work.

Signs of a depressed mood include:

• Lowered self-esteem (or self-worth)

• Change in sleep patterns, that is, insomnia or broken sleep

• Changes in appetite or weight

• Less ability to control emotions such as pessimism, anger, guilt, irritability and anxiety

• Varying emotions throughout the day, for example, feeling worse in the morning and better as the day progresses

• Reduced capacity to experience pleasure: you can't enjoy what's happening now, nor look forward to anything with pleasure. Hobbies and interests drop off.

• Reduced pain tolerance: you are less able to tolerate aches and pains and may have a host of new ailments

• Changed sex drive: absent or reduced

• Poor concentration and memory: some people are so impaired that they think that they are going demented

• Reduced motivation: it doesn't seem worth the effort to do anything, things seem meaningless

• Lowered energy levels.

If you have such feelings and they persist for most of every day for two weeks or longer, and interfere with your ability to manage at home and at work, then you might benefit from getting an assessment by a skilled professional.

Having one or other of these features, by themselves, is unlikely to indicate depression, however there could be other causes which may warrant medical assessment.

If you are feeling suicidal it is very important to seek immediate help, preferably by a mental health practitioner.

source:healthfreetips

Allergy Prevention Tips

Air Conditioning and Allergies
To help alleviate problems with pollen, molds and dust mites, air condition your house and car and, if possible, add an air cleaner to your central air conditioner.

Anaphylactic Shock
Anaphylactic shock, the most severe allergic reaction, is most commonly associated with bee or fire ant stings. If welts (hives) erupt following a sting, this is a warning flag to seek prompt medical attention.

Attic Fans
Don't use your attic fan during allergy season. The fan sucks pollen into the house.

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Avoid Dyes
Avoid dyes, especially the ones in toilet paper. Use white to wipe.

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Bedding and Dust Mites
If dust mites give you trouble, seal your mattress, box springs and pillows in allergy-resistant plastic covers available at most discount stores.

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Carpeting Causes Allergy Problems
Allergy experts recommend you dump the carpeting and use throw rugs instead. Since most people enjoy a carpeted home, try the new allergy care carpet treatments now available.

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Cheap Fungicide
Clean humid areas, such as the bathroom and basement, with a fungicide (mold-killer). A cheap and effective one is bleach. Use a solution of 3/4 cup bleach to one gallon of water, let stand 5 minutes and rinse.

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Choose Antiperspirants Carefully
Aluminum chloride, aluminum sulfate and zirconium chlorohydrate in antiperspirants often cause dermatitis, especially after shaving. Try to choose antiperspirants that contain the anti-irritants allantoinate, zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, aluminum hydroxide, or triethanolamine.

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Cold Compresses for Allergy Relief
Are your allergy eyes giving you fit? Try a cold compress for 15-20 minutes. Wet a washcloth with cold water and place over your eyes.

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Common Allergens and Allergy Symptoms
A listing of common allergens: pollen, mold spores, dust mites, animal dander, feathers, foods, medications, and insect stings. Common allergy symptoms: watery, itchy eyes, sneezing, and a constant runny nose.

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Common Pollens
The most common pollens causing allergies include: tree pollens (April - May), grasses (June - July) and ragweed (August - October).

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Dandruff and Shampoo Dyes
Dandruff sufferers may be allergic to the dyes in the shampoo they use. Even dandruff remedy shampoos often contain dyes.

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Decongestants and Blood Pressure
If you are hypertensive, over-the-counter decongestants are a big no-no. Decongestants raise blood pressure and can lead to heart attack or stroke.

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Dehumidifier and Allergies
Keep the humidity in your home below 45%. To measure the humidity level, buy an inexpensive hygrometer available at many discount stores.

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Driving and Antihistamines
Antihistamines often cause drowsiness and should not be taken if driving or operating machinery.

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Drug Treatment for Allergies
The over-the-counter antihistamine diphenhydramine (Benadryl) works well for allergy treatment and has few drug interactions. Be sure to read the label for proper dosage, side effects, etc. and check with your doctor if you have any questions.

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Face Masks
Wear a face mask when doing chores that are most likely to expose you to allergens like vacuuming and gardening. You can buy face masks at a hardware store.

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Fall Allergies
Even though fall temperatures are mild, keep windows closed and use air conditioning to reduce allergy problems. Air conditioning filters out pollen and keeps humidity low, which keeps indoor mold down.

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Hay Fever vs. Sinusitis
Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) is caused by allergies and is often characterized by a runny nose, sneezing and congestion, and itchy eyes, nose, throat and inner ears. Non-allergic rhinitis (sinusitis) is characterized by a swollen, inflamed nasal lining and a stuffy nose. It may be triggered by irritants such as smoke, changes in barometric pressure or temperature, or overuse of over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays.

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Hidden Sources of Peanuts
Hidden peanut sources may include:

Artificial nuts can be peanuts that have been deflavored and reflavored with a nut, such as pecan or walnut. Mandelonas are peanuts soaked in almond flavoring.

Arachis oil is peanut oil.

It is advised that peanut-allergic patients avoid chocolate candies unless they are absolutely certain there is no risk of cross-contact during manufacturing procedures.

African, Chinese, Indonesian, Mexican, Thai, and Vietnamese dishes often contain peanuts, or are contaminated with peanuts during preparation of these types of meals. Additionally, foods sold in bakeries and ice cream shops are often in contact with peanuts. It is recommended that peanut-allergic individuals avoid these types of foods and restaurants.

Many brands of sunflower seeds are produced on equipment shared with peanuts.

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Laundry Allergies
If you have severe allergies to laundry products, try using baking soda to wash your clothing and linens.

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Mites and Mattress Pads
Wash your mattress pads weekly in hot water to kill dust mites.

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Nasal Sprays
Don't be tempted to treat an allergy with an over-the-counter decongestant nasal spray for more than three days. After a few days of use you may get a "rebound" effect, and your nose may become even more congested than before. These drugs are more useful for short-term use to relieve nasal congestion associated with a cold.

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No Open Windows
If you're an allergy sufferer do not ride in a vehicle with the windows down or vents wide open. It will worsen your allergies 200 percent. The same goes for your home. Invest in an air conditioner.

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One Room Sanctuary
If central air conditioning isn't an option for you, make your bedroom your sanctuary. Install a window air conditioner, properly care for your bedding and keep the door closed at all times.

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Pets, Bedrooms and Allergies
Pet dander is a common allergen, especially cat dander. To ease the suffering that Fido or Fluffy may cause you, ban them from your bedroom at all times.

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Preventing a More Severe Peanut Allergy Reaction
In one of seven studies published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, researchers say liquid charcoal, which is often used when people ingest poison to block absorption, can also absorb peanuts.

"After you've eaten the peanut and you have an allergic reaction, you still have peanut in your stomach," explained Dr. Donald Leung, editor of the journal. "And so rather than allow further peanut to be absorbed and have an even more severe reaction ... drinking the charcoal will prevent the further triggering of increased symptoms."

Leung advised that parents of young children with the allergy keep liquid charcoal -- available in pharmacies -- in the home, in case of accidental ingestion.

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Ragweed
Problems with ragweed, the most common weed pollen, usually start in the middle of August and continue until the frost begins. Interestingly, some regions are less affected than others: The West coast does not have any ragweed.

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Synthetic Pillows
Dust mites like synthetic pillows as much as down or foam ones, but synthetic pillows have the major advantage of being washable in hot water which kills the mites.

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Tree Allergies
Trees that can cause seasonal allergy symptoms include: maple, ash, oak, elm, birch and cedar. When they pollinate depends on the area in which you live.

FACE BLACKHEADS

Usually blackheads are the result of oily skin and blocked pores. After a warm bath the face should be splashed with cold water.
In a pan add 5-6 cups of water and add the juice of 1 lime. Remove from heat when the water boils. Place on a table and covering the head with a large towel, steam the face. Rub the blackheads firmly with a face towel after 10 minutes of steaming. Wash the face with chilled water to close the pores.

Tip 1:
Boil 3-4 cups of water and add 2 tsp soda bicarbonate to this. Steam a towel with this and place the towel on the face. Repeat 5-6 times. Now rub the face in the area of the blackheads with a paste of 1 tsp curd mixed with 1 tsp of rice flour . Wash with cold water.

Tip 2:
Rub a pinch of table salt mixed with a pinch of the soft soggy portion of a glycerin soap. (Pears) Rub well into the blackheads. Repeat for a week.

Tip 3:
Take 1 tsp of fresh coriander leaf juice with ½ tsp of turmeric powder. Apply this at bed time and wash in the morning. Repeat for a week.

Tip 4:
Take 1 tsp lime juice mixed with 1 tsp of finely powdered cinnamon. Apply at bed time and wash in the morning.

source: medindia.net

FACE WRINKLES

Wrinkles generally are due to age, Stress and dry skin. You should always keep the areas around the eyes mouth and nose and also the neck well cared for and moisturized.

Tip 1:
Take 1 tbsp of cold milk and add 3-4 drops of lime juice. Rub this paste well into the wrinkles before going to sleep. The next morning wash with warm water and dry with a rough towel firmly. Once again rub in the cream - in the direction opposite to the wrinkles. Wait for ½ an hour and wash, avoid using soap.

Tip 2:
Rub the pulp of a ripe Papaya on the face and leave for ½ an hour before washing. This is a very good toner also.

Tip 3:
Rub almond oil on the wrinkles in upward strokes. Leave overnight and wash with warm water next morning.

Tip 4:
Cut open a Vitamin -E capsule, add ½ tsp of glycerine and apply. Wash after 15- 20 minutes.

Tip 5:
Add ½ tsp honey to 1 tsp rice powder. Smoothen the lines with this paste. Leave for ½ an hour and wash.

Tip 6:
Mix 1 tsp honey with 1 tsp of milk cream. Apply well. Wash after 20 minutes. Note: Treatment for wrinkles should be done everyday for a period of 30 - 40 days to have visible results.

Source: medindia.net

Asthma Prevention Tips

Asthma Information
Asthma is characterized by coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and wheezing. Asthma symptoms can be triggered by several factors, including: allergens or irritants; viral or sinus infections; exercise; reflux disease (stomach acid flowing back up the esophagus); medications or foods; and emotional anxiety.

Caffeine and Asthma
If you feel an asthma attack coming on and don't have your inhaler handy, try a couple cups of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or chocolate bars. The caffeine will help open your airways.

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Controlling Your Asthma
If you find yourself using your quick-relief inhaler to stop an asthma attack more than twice a week, it may be time for a different medication. In fact, if you have to refill your inhaler more than two times a year or are awakened by asthma symptoms two nights or more per week, you also probably need a change.

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Correct Inhaler Use
If you use an inhaler to treat your asthma, remember that it's not a breath freshener. You must deeply inhale the medication into your lungs and hold it for three to five seconds before exhaling slowly.

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NSAIDs, Aspirin and Asthma
Asthma sufferers should use the non-aspirin pain reliever acetaminophen (Tylenol) because the use of aspirin and NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), such as Advil/Motrin (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen sodium), have the tendency to worsen asthma.

source : healthfreetips