Showing posts with label winter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label winter. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Winter Skin Care Tips for Beautiful Skin

10:44:00 AM
Once the weather has turned crisp and people start bundling up from the cold, most skin care regimes go out of the window. Skin takes a beating during the winter months and becomes tight, dry, dull and lacklustre from neglect and adverse weather conditions. Some people even develop skin conditions such as flaking, cracking and eczema. The secret to beautiful skin during the summer months is to keep up skincare regimes all year round and that includes during the frigid winter months.
One skincare routine that most people stop during winter is the religious application of sunscreen. Despite the lack of sunshine, skin can still be damaged during winter by harmful UV rays and glare from snow, causing wrinkles and aging especially in the fine skin around the eyes. Sunscreen should still be applied on a daily basis - use a broad spectrum sunscreen and apply it to all exposed areas, including the hands and face at least half an hour before going outside.
Skin also needs intensive moisturization during winter. Skin loses its natural oils because of the harsh weather conditions and indoor heating which saps the skin of its natural hydration, making it more fragile and prone to damage. The body and face should be moisturized on a daily basis, especially those areas that are covered up by winter woollies, as this will stop the skin from drying out and will maintain the natural oils.
Sometimes the facial moisturizer that worked well in the summer months will need to be changed in the harsher winter months. An oil based moisturizer should be considered as the oil will create a protective layer and will retain more moisture. However, care should be taken in choosing the type of oil because some clog the pores and cause even more skin problems.
Non-clogging oils such as avocado, mineral, sandalwood or primrose should be used and Shea oil should be avoided. Look for products containing humectants - these are substances such as glycerine, sorbitol and alpha-hydroxy acids which draw moisture into the skin and keep it hydrated. Apply a specialized eye area cream nightly to keep the eye contour area looking plumped up and fresh.
Hot showers and baths can also damage the skin by stripping it of its natural acid mantel, which leads to dry skin. Taking cooler baths and shorter showers will help to maintain the skin's natural defences and lipid barriers and will help to prevent that winter crocodile skin. Oatmeal or baking soda in the bath can help relieve itchiness. Indoor heating dries out the air, so a humidifier might be useful in preventing the skin from drying out.
The skin on the hands and feet is also affected by winter cold because the cold and dry weather strips away what little moisture the hands hold. Hands and fingers can become dry, cracked and itchy so gloves should always be worn when outside. Don't use wet gloves or socks as these also cause cracking. Moisturize the hands and feet every night before going to sleep with an intensive moisturizing butter that contains petroleum jelly or glycerine.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

20 Simple Ways to Beat Fatigue this Winter

9:41:00 AM
AS Autumn with it's breathless colours of flames and golds comes to an end, we await the arrival of Winter and it's own definitive beauty.
Yes, there is no point kidding ourselves, it will be pretty damp and, at times, downright. It will be cold and chilly and for some the task of dragging ourselves out of bed in the dark mornings will get more and more difficult. The glare of oncoming headlamps will play havoc with your eyes as you head homeward bound during the dark evenings in manic traffic. And as you reluctantly adjust to the shorter days and lack of natural daylight and sunlight, you are also faced with the fact that Christmas, and it's inevitable rush, is heading this way, as it always does, at full speed!
All the ingredients to ensure a good dose of winter fatigue I'm sure you'll agree - but help is at hand! It doesn't have to be unbearable. If you are feeling a little lack lustre, yawning at a ferocious rate and basically have just about enough energy in the evenings to slump down on the sofa in front of the box, you'll be tickled pink you opened this page! You can bring back that 'joie de vivre' and add a little peppering of genuine verve back into your life by trying some (or indeed all) of these 20 simple ways to boost your energy levels this winter!
1) SLEEP - Get as much sleep as you need to and remember your body really needs it at this time of year.
2) VITAMINS - Supplements such as Vitamins A, B and E are all important for well-being. If you want to avoid supplements, however, you can ensure that you eat the necessary foods containing these essentials. Try using 1 teaspoon of Brewers Yeast in a glass of milk or water, it's full of Vitamin B and good for digestion too.
3) LAUGHTER - Bring on the laughter and smiles, it's the most natural way to help depression, anxiety and, believe it or not, it lowers blood pressure too!
4) STRETCH - One really effective way to beat fatigue is to try a Yoga pose known as the 'Standing Stretch'. Stand in the correct posture, that is, with your toes pointed out in front of you, your knees relaxed and your feet at hip distance. Ensure the weight is balanced evenly between the ball and the heel of your foot. Interlace your thumbs and stretch your hands up above your head while keeping your arms against your ears - and stretch upwards from the lumbar area of your lower back. Keeping your breath even throughout, now slowly release the arms down in front of you. Tuck your chin into your chestbone and gently lower yourself down, vertebrae by vertebrae keeping arms hanging loosely and then just hang from the waist. This position encourages the blood flow to the head and is a real winner when you need to energise yourself. After one minute slowly bring yourself back up into a standing position, imagining as you do so that each vertebrae is stacking itself upon the next until you are eventually upright and repeat three times.
5) DIET - Check your Diet and be sure over the winter months to include at least five portions of fruit and vegetables everyday.
6) AROMATHERAPY - Use pure Essential Oils as often as you need them. Burning Peppermint or Rosemary oils is excellent for alertness and both also aid concentration. As these oils are energising oils it is best not to use them in the evening if you are planning to have a good nights sleep.
7) THE MAGIC OF WATER - Don't forget the recommended amount is approximately two litres per day.
8) AVOID toxic people because, quiet simply, they can completely drain you of energy.
9) EXERCISE - Get plenty of exercise - There's no escaping it. The health gurus recommend that we all need to include at least 15 minutes exercise, three or four times a week.
10) LEARN TO SAY 'NO' more often. As the old saying goes 'those that matter won't mind and those that mind don't matter'. You'll be amazed at how much energy you can recoup and even more amazed to discover that if you say 'no' the world will keep on turning.
11) COMBAT PARTY NIGHTS - If you've had a late night on the Town try drinking at least two glasses of water before crawling up to bed, it will make the following day far more bearable.
12) BREAKFAST - We've known from a very early age that we should never miss Breakfast. No matter how tight you are for time try not to skip it. For a quick energy-inducing breakfast grab a mug of hot water with honey and lemon and a quick bowl of cereal, ideally with fibre.
13) REDUCE your intake of Caffeine. While it may give a quick boost, a lot of caffeine daily actually ends up having a negative effect on your energy level. You might even try substituting a couple of cups a day with a herbal tea, such as sage to raise spirits, peppermint to aid digestion or chamomile to enable you to unwind.
14) LEARN - Meditation and Relaxation techniques - they'll be invaluable not just today but for life.
15) MOTHER NATURE - Get out there and make the most of the short daylight hours. Overdose on fresh air. There is nothing more revitalizing than taking the time, even if it's only 15 minutes a day, to soak in our beautiful scenery and breathe in the fabulous scents of the season.
16) MASSAGE - It's a wonderful way of keeping the immune system in ship shape order and the body supple and healthy. So go on invest in your health and schedule a massage once a month for optimum results.
17) DIGESTION - Be kind to your digestive system. Eat slowly and avoid late night eating as much as possible.
18) STRESS - Manage your stress levels and become aware of your react to stress. Remember stress is infectious!
19) MANAGE TIME EFFECTIVELY - Avoid using up your lovely energy by rushing to every appointment. Aim to leave about fifteen minutes earlier, not only will you arrive in plenty of time - you'll be completely unfrazzled.
20) CONCIOUS BREATHING - Believe it or not most of us don't breathe properly. With the speed of modern day life most adults are chest breathers which means the breath doesn't make it right down into the abdomen. Become conscious of your breath each day by taking a little time to become aware of your breathing habits. The following short exercise will benefit you in many ways as well as helping to re-energise your mind, body and soul...Firstly r-e-l-a-x your entire body by taking a deep breath into your stomach. As you slowly release it imagine it traveling up along your spine, relaxing all the muscles as you go and bringing attention to the shoulders by consciously dropping them into a relaxed position. Follow your breath and think about bringing the breath down into the bottom of the lungs and really feel the tummy rising and then exhale fully and slowly. After just a few minutes resume your regular activities and feel the difference.
Now you'll be ready to welcome the coming months with open arms and revel in the wonderful delights this season has to offer leaving you invigorated and ready to enjoy this Winter. You won't know yourself - I promise!
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