Skin Care Beyond Face

We often take extreme care on our face by using skin care products that we love or suit our skin. The moment an acne or wrinkles are formed, we will be very worried and try means to get rid of them. We may even resort to go for expensive laser to get rid of our wrinkles, open pores or even pigmentation.

But do you agree we often overlook our inconspicuous body parts like our neck, arms back and so forth that results in different skin tone and texture. And how do we look if our necklines plunge lowers and skirts get shorter? Healthy and glowing skin all over is what you need to work towards if you want to show off your neck, back, arms and beautiful legs. Agree?

The neck is for kisses not wrinkles. You can have Botox done to ‘repair’ your crow’s feet but no plastic surgery can help fix a turkey neck. Like the eyes, the skin around our eyes get thinner as age catches up as it has few sebaceous glands to lubricate the skin, therefore resulting in rough and wrinkles neck easily.

Neck care:

Neck Cream

There are various types of neck cream that are available in the market. Depending on your skin type, choose one that suit you or even better, use the same brand as your skin care product. It is important that you apply them all over your neck at least twice a day to preserve your neck youthfulness and firmness. For me, I use the same neck cream as my skin care products.

Neck Scrub

As with your body, scrub your neck at least twice a week using circular movements to remove dead cells from your neck. Mix in some essential oils so that the movements are less harsh as you enjoy your favorite fragrance too. I do this together when I have a body scrub twice a week, followed by moisturizers all over my neck and body.

Back care:

Back generally don’t need much care unless you’re acne prone. If you have oily skin, the back and shoulders are prone to breakout but then it is advised that you leave it to professionals to exfoliate out otherwise your over-exfoliation can cause the pores in your back area to enlarge which makes it easier to trap bacteria and cause acne.

Keep your back clean as sweat will worsen the proliferation of bacteria and it is always good to wear cotton fabrics to help absorb sweat especially if you are in tropical country.

Hand care:

Hand Moisturizer

What is the secret to models’silky, smooth and youthful hands? Gloves and loads of moisturizers. I wear gloves when I do household chores especially washing dishes. At night I apply lots of moisturizers on my hands as I did for my face, neck and legs.

Hand Scrub

I also exfoliate my hands once a week using my favorite oatmeal scrub. Sometimes I use homemade polish of crushed almonds and honey. As hand masks are difficult to come by, I use face mask on my hands.

Foot care:

This is last but not the least important. Soothe your feet that have been carrying your weight all day long with a warm foot soak. Peppermint and rosemary are my favorites as they make my feet fell tingly all over and help stimulate blood circulation.

Foot Scrub

After a bath, erase calluses and cracked heels with a good rub using a pumice stone. Do you realize that foot scrubs don’t just slough off dead cells? they massage your feet too.

Foot massage

Occasional reflexology helps to release tension and toxins from your body, leaving you relaxed and rejuvenated. I have this done as part of my massage done once a month to pamper my body and also help release tension. You will feel totally relaxed and refreshed after a massage session especially when you go with your buddies.

Wishing you young forever,

Janice H.

Protect Your Skin For Healthier And Glowing Complexion

Protection Under The Sun

We all know we get sunburn when we go under the sun unprotected. The sun’s damaging rays which results in rough and aging skin may not be immediate, but it takes only few years to realize the damage done, skin cancer is another damage we want to avoid.

What is sunburn?
It is a reaction to the exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. When the top layers of our skin are exposed to UV, our skin releases chemicals that cause the blood vessels to expand and leak fluids, causing pain, redness and inflammation. If stays unprotected, both UVA and UVB will immediately penetrate deep into the layers of our skin, resulting in damaged skin’s cells.

What We Can Do?
To protect our skin from such damage, we can use sunscreen over our body and face. Sunscreen comes with SPF which refers to ‘Sun Protection Factor’. These sunscreens are rated with SPF numbers. A sunscreen with SPF 15 will delay sunburn from occurring for 15 times (in minutes) longer than normal if using no protection at all. It means, if it takes someone 10 minutes to sunburn and they are protected with sunscreen with SPF 15, they would be able to remain in the sun without their skin getting sunburn for 150 munutes (15x10). Different sunscreen comes in different SPF rating. Depending on your day’s activity, the use of sunscreen rating will be different. As a guide, a rating of SPF 15 to 35 will be sufficient.

Difference Between Sunblock and Sunscreen
Many of us may think they are both the same, but they are not. A sunblock physically blocks the sun’s UV radiation of the skin, both UVA and UVB. UVA often known as “ageing ray” weakens our skin’s immune system and UVB, knowned as “burn ray” causes changes to DNA that can cause abnormal growths in skin cells. Examples of sunblocks are clothing, umbrellas and trees.
Sunscreens absorb the ultraviolet radiation, thus reducing the radiation into our skin. While older sunscreens are only protecting against UVB, newer formulations protect both UVA and UVB. It is therefore important to check in your next purchase which sunscreen protects UVA and UVB.

When To Apply Sunscreen

1. Apply sunscreen approximately 30 minutes before going under the sun as it needs to be absorbed by the skin and less likely to be washed off when you perspire.


2. Need to reapply sunscreen after swimming or exercise.


3. Apply sunscreen after two to three hours if you go under the sun for long hours. Wear hats and protective clothing for extra protection.

How To Apply Sunscreen

1. Lke all other skin care products, shake your sunscreen well before applying.


2. Apply enough sunscreen all over your body; face, ears, neck, legs, knees shoulders and backs.


3. Apply thickly and thoroughly especially going under the sun directly.


4. Avoid eyes area.

How To Pick Your Sunscreen
Choose sunscreen which protects against UVA and UVB rays and a rating SPF of between 12 to 35. Read product labels. Look for a waterproof brand if you are using it during swimming.
Choose a non-stinging product or one specifically formulated for your face or the brand of skin care you are using will be the best.
Choose a water-based sunscreen if you have oily skin or are prone to acne.
Remember that expensive products does not mean better.

Who Is At Risk?
Sun and beach lovers, surfer dudes or anyone who spend long time in the sun with no protection are at risk. Fair skinned people are more susceptible to sunburn than those with darker skin tones. Tanned skin has a natural SPF of about 4, while dark skin 8. In addition, certain medications like oral contraceptives and antibiotics may cause increased sensitivity to UVR.

We have to keep reminding ourselves that frequent exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation is the leading cause of skin cancer in later years other than aging skin.

Type 1 High Risk – Fair skin and hair and freckles that always burn easily and never tan. These people usually have a light eye color and should wear sun block everyday, rain or shine throughout all four seasons.

Type 2 Moderate Risk – Fair skin that burns minimally but tans a little over time. Usually has brown eyes and hair.

Type 3 Low Risk – Rarely burns but tans profusely. Usually has dark brown eyes and brown or black hair. Shows sign of ageing very slowly.

Whatever your skin type, it is always wise to protect yourself with sunscreen, the moment you plan to go out of your house. For me, I know my schedule of the day and I will apply sunscreen all over my face, neck, shoulder, hand and legs not only to avoid skin cancer but for even skin tone.

Would you apply sunscreen the next time you go out of your house, rain or shine, all seasons for better, glowing and healthy skin?

I hope you enjoy my post!

Wishing you young forever

Janice

12 Easy Ways To Cut Your Calories

Dear friends,

Today I am finalizing the second part on cutting down your calories.

These are effect ways of trimming you down if you are weight conscious. Please read through and follow the tips I shared with you here and it will make a difference to your body and image within a short period.

Last week, I shared 6 tips, today I have another 6 for you. Enjoy!

Snack

7. Take melt-in-the-mouth milk buttons instead of a slab of chocolate

Instead of wolfing down a bar of Dairy Milk which is packed with 280 calories, grab a mini pack of Cadbury’s milk chocolate buttons with just 169 calories. When you eat them one by one, you will experience the chocolate good taste longer. This way, you saved yourself 111 calories!

8. Low-fat mousse with biscotti fills the chocolate brownie vacuum

A piece of chocolate brownie packs in about 260 calories compare with low-fat chocolate mousses with 80 calories. Even if you have two servings, you can easily save 100 calories.

9. Have raisin and peanut mix instead of salted peanuts

If you relax at home with 50 g handful of roasted, salted peanuts, you actually load in 301 calories and about 27 g of fat. Instead, you can go for 45 g bag of peanuts and raisins which saves you 100 calories and 12 g fat plus the salt in total.

Drink

10. Swap your full cream cappuccino for skinny cappuccino

Swap your traditional large cappuccino using full cream milk with 207 calories and 11 g fat per serving for a medium-sized skinny cappuccino. Made with skimmed milk, skinny cappuccino only loads in 96 calories with virtually no fat. That way, you save more than 100 calories and drop 11g of fat whilst maintaining your bone-building calcium.

11. Take your hot drinks with skimmed milk and zero sugar

Two mugs of tea or coffee using whole milk and two spoons of sugars altogether account for 135 calories. If you opt for semi-skimmed milk and drop the sugar, your calories will be cut to just 27, saving you more than 100 calories.

With this, you reduce your sugar intake by 24 g a day. An average sized person who takes in 2,000 calories a day should take no more than 60g of sugar, whether the source is from honey, fruit juice etc.

12. Swap a smoothie for three pieces of fresh fruit and drink water instead

Instead of grabbing a thick smoothie, with 300 calories per 250ml, eat three pieces of your favorite fruit. You can have your favorite banana, mango or pineapple or any other fruits which will stop you from picking on other food because you will tend to feel full with these fruits and still saving you 100 calories.

If you are thirsty, just go for water which helps to flush out toxin from your system. Your body needs water as much as it needs all other nutrients.

I wish to stress that, it only requires a small effort from you to be conscious and look at what you are picking or preparing before eating. Once you are aware of which food loads you with higher calories, and which one does not, you will get the habit to pick the healthy meals.


Hope you enjoy my tips and follow them too!

wishing you young forever,

Janice H.
http://www.stayyoungsecret.com

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12 Easy Ways To Cut Your Calories

Dear friends,

Most of us are weight and health conscious and we also know some of the foods load us with more calories than others, but when tempted by these foods, we tell ourselves: doesn’t matter, it will add just few more calories. But we often don't realize that an extra 100 calories here and there can actually add up to much more calories. Am I saying the truth? Are you guilty now for what you have done for your diet and snack all these while?

If you save yourself some calories each day, you could save up to 30,000 calories in total which equals to trimming 6 to 8 lbs in weight. All of us actually don’t realize that.

Let’s check out 6 of my top 12 easy ways to lose at least 100 calories from your daily diet today, and next week, we will look at the rest:-

Breakfast

1. Swap cereal and toast for muesli and fruit

Instead of taking crunchy nut cereal with milk and slice of buttered toast and marmalade, take sugar-free muesli with semi-skimmed milk, topped with a chopped banana, all for only 385 calories.

2. Have a scone, fruit salad, coffee and yogurt instead of a muffin

If you grab a blueberry muffin on your way to work, it loads you with 520 calories. Instead, you can have a fruit scone, a fruit salad and a skinny cappuccino with only 326 calories. The scone gives 3g of your daily 18g of fiber: the fruit salad supplies a host of nutrients and vitamin C and the skinny cappuccino over half of your daily bone-building calcium.

3. Ditch the croissant for poached eggs, tomatoes and toast

Croissant which is normally served in continental-style breakfast actually packs in 373 calories and 20g of fat. To avoid that, you can go for two poached eggs on toast with grilled tomatoes with 249 calories and 12g of fat. This way, you don’t only save 124 calories but research indicates that breakfast with eggs helps you to eat less at lunch hour.

Lunch

4. Baked potato with beans and salad for lunch instead of cheese and butter

Baked potato with butter, baked beans and a sprinkling of grated cheese load you with
600 calories, compared with potato with just beans, salad with French dressing and some fruits, like grapes. The salad and fruits also provide you with additional vitamins and minerals.

5. Avoid mayonnaise-rich tuna sandwiches and make your own

Instead of grabbing a tuna mayonnaise sandwich from your local store, spend some 5 to 10 minutes and make yourself simple tuna salad sandwich.

The sandwich which you buy from store actually load you with 400 calories whereas the home made one; using two slices of wholemeal bread, spread lightly with reduced fat mayonnaise, and filled with 45g of tuna canned in olive oil, topped with slices of tomato gives you only 300 calories.

6. Have minestrone or gazpacho instead of fattening soup

A bowl of soup from a high street coffee shop makes a filling lunch. If you go for cream of tomato with basil, lentil and bacon or bean sup with a chunk of bread, you can expect about 400 calories in a standard serving.

To reduce the calories, opt for a bowl of minestrone or a serving of chilled gazpacho with a chunk of granary bread. Both of these lower the calories to 300 because they contain more liquid than the filling bean or lentil and bacon soups.

Now, would you start avoiding high calories food and keep your weight under control and see yourself trimming off at least 5 to 8 lbs in 2 months? I wish you do.

Next week I will continue with the rest of the methods to trim your weight further.

Wishing you young forever

Janice H.

Secrets Revealed - How To Be Charismatic

Dear friends,

My apology for the delay of this post as I have been away for a conference in Singapore.

Today is the final session of charisma I am sharing with you. After charisma, I will move to other subjects.

We all know the importance of friends. Friends share our joy, sorrow, listen to our problem... And friends also improve our charisma. Let's see how...

A friend is a single term we use to call our allies, supporters, sympathizers, advisers, brothers, playmates, classmates, listeners, and lots more. This is because we reveal things to friends that we just wouldn’t say to anybody else. They give us encouragement, feedback, honest opinions, and advice. A friend is someone you can trust with confidential matters - you know that he won’t hold anything against you. A friend is someone who has the same interests as yours, and accepts, understands, and loves you for who you are.

Friendship is the first thing we can offer to and accept from a person after having to meet him personally and know some things about him. By being friendly, it may mean “expressing a liking for one person,” “welcoming him into your life,” or “conveying a generally positive feeling towards him.”

On the other hand, unfriendliness is the communication of negative feelings for another person through verbal and/or nonverbal methods. The message conveying this aura includes: “I’m not interested in you,” “You are not welcome,” “You irritate me,” and other distant and cold remarks. That is why charisma is about friendliness, and not the other way around; because if somebody feels this kind of atmosphere in you, then you’ll be stuck with just being noticed but not being liked.

Creating friends requires time, effort, commitment, a give-and-take-relationship, and a lot of tolerance for the many limitations and weaknesses we all have. Although most people are open to new friendships, life pursuits such as family and careers tend to become higher priority. Some people feel it takes too much time and effort to develop true friendship. For one, you have to develop trust, as true friendship requires mutual trust between two people; and trust takes a lot of time to develop. Also, being familiar with the other person, including knowing and practicing similar interests, does not take little time.

Once you are friendly, people would want to be with you, talk to you, because you make them comfortable and you make them happy. That explains why friendliness helps to develop charisma.

So, stay friendly at all time and make more friends whom we can share happy moment, share same interest, learn new skills etc and they will lighten our days and improve our charisma.

If you like my post drop me some comments, and it will make my day!


wishing you young forever,

Janice H.