Let's Tackle These Tough Beauty Issues Head On

Are you constantly dealing with difficult beauty issues? Here are some of the problems that you might be experiencing and the best ways to deal with them. 

Maskne

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If you suffer from acne, then you could have experienced a new nightmare during the coronavirus pandemic. Many people are referring to this as ‘maskne’ where acne gets worse when you wear a mask. It’s understandable why this would be an issue because you are essentially trapping grease, dirt and acne on your skin. You are also blocking the skin's pores, similar to how wearing foundation can make acne worse. There are ways to tackle this problem though. For instance, you can think about cleaning your mask regularly. You might also want to try different materials to see if certain masks cause more problems with your skin. 

Excess Hair

You might find that you are dealing with excess hair. This is a problem that a lot of women face and it’s often due to a hormonal imbalance. Certain medical conditions such as cystic fibrosis can also cause you to develop excess hair in key areas of your body such as your face. It’s worth noting that a laser hair removal is an option. This is highly effective and will eliminate excess hair for an extended period. However, it’s important to note that there is no permanent solution to this issue. 

Thin Hair 

You can develop an issue with thinning hair for a variety of reasons. For instance, this can again be caused by a hormonal imbalance. You could also suffer from thinning hair if you have been on certain types of medication. Some people also find that their hair starts to thin due to extreme levels of stress in their life. There are numerous ways to deal with thinning hair. For instance, if you are brave, you can shave it all off. Theoretically, it should grow back more thick and full if you take this step as you are getting rid of the dead hair. However, you will have to go through a long period where you’re waiting for the hair to grow back. 

Stretch Marks 

Finally, you might find that you have developed stretch marks on your body. A lot of people believe that stretch marks are caused by getting fat in a short period. However, this is not the case. Instead, stretch marks can develop during any major physical change to your body. During pregnancy, it’s like that you will develop stretch marks. You might also find that you develop stretch marks if you put on a lot of muscle in just a few months. If you are worried about your stretch marks, then you can think about using lemon juices to reduce the marks. This is a trick used by celebs when they appear on film to cover up their stretch marks. However, some women have started to embrace their stretch marks as part of their natural look. 

We hope this helps you understand some of the easiest ways to deal with your beauty dilemnas. 

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5 Effective Ways To Fight Facial Wrinkles

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Wrinkles develop naturally across our face with age as a result of years of pulling facial expressions, combined with the loss of elasticity in our skin. While we can’t always prevent wrinkles, there are many ways to delay them and reduce them once they’ve appeared. Here are five effective ways in which you can fight wrinkles.

Moisturise

The best way to beat wrinkles is to use moisturiser. As we get older, our skin stops producing oils known as sebum. Without these oils, the skin becomes drier and less supple. This causes the expression lines in our face to become permanent creases. Moisturisers can help to substitute the natural oils that our face no longer produces. You could use natural methods or buy creams. By getting into a moisturising routine early, you can delay wrinkles longer. 

Use anti-aging serums

Many anti-aging serums exist on the market that contain vitamins and minerals capable of boosting our skin’s health. These serums can keep our skin rosier and more supple, while even erasing fine line wrinkles (providing you catch them early). Ingredients like retinol are particularly potent against wrinkles. Anti-aging serums won’t get rid of deep wrinkles, but may help to soften them. 

Exfoliate

Exfoliating the skin involves removing the dirt and dead skin cells on the surface. Not only is exfoliating good for preventing spots, but it can help to make your face appear more youthful and remove barriers of dead skin that may be reducing the effectiveness of moisturisers and anti-aging serums. Face scrubs and face peels are the most common ways of exfoliating one’s skin. Make sure that you’re not exfoliating your skin too much as this could cause you to develop rashes and sensitive skin. 

Try cosmetic procedures

There are many cosmetic procedures that can remove wrinkles. A facelift can be an effective form of cosmetic surgery against many types of facial wrinkles from crows feet to tear troughs. You can also consider dermal fillers and botox for wrinkles such as forehead wrinkles and lip wrinkles. There are also more modern and less invasive procedures involving lasers and red light therapy. Always do your research into the potential risks and find a clinic that you can trust to carry out the procedure effectively. Many of the procedures will not prevent future aging, but could temporarily remove any wrinkles that you currently have. 

Quit the bad habits

Many bad habits can cause us to age faster. A few examples include:

• Not getting enough sleep

• Not drinking enough water

• Not wearing sun lotion in the sun

• Not wearing shades in the sun

• Smoking

• Heavy drinking

• Drinking too much coffee

• Having an unhealthy diet

Consider taking steps to quit or cut back on these bad habits. By doing so, you could help to delay the development of facial wrinkles. Even if you’ve already started to notice a few wrinkles in the mirror, quitting bad habits now could prevent these wrinkles getting worse as well as preventing the development of new wrinkles in the future. 

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Meaningful Christmas Gifts After A Hard Year

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This year especially, it is important for us to choose the most meaningful gifts for the ones we love. Time has gone by in a blur in 2020 and so many of us have been unable to see our family or friends since spring. 

Now that the festive season is upon us, let’s take some time to really think about the gifts we buy for the people we love and a sure that they feel special and loved this Christmas. 

Here are some of our top ideas for meaningful Christmas gifts you can buy for people you love. 

A Pamper Kit 

Self care is number one this year, and if you have a loved one that needs to practice some TLC you can create your own pamper kit for them to use when they are in pain or need a relaxing day. A DIY pamper kit could include: 

• A face mask 

• A hair mask 

• A lip scrub 

• A face cloth 

• Moisturizer 

• Chocolate 

• Nail polish 

• A manicure kit 

• Hot chocolate sachet 

• Hot chocolate mug 

Something like this shows that you have put that extra piece of effort in and that yon truly do care. 

A Photo Collage 

What could be better to give to someone you haven’t seen much this year than a lovely collage of you both together? A photo collage can be a magical thing, and it will allow you to show your love for someone as well as give them something they can hang up in their house every day. A photo collage is a fun present to make and you can spend a long while choosing the photos you want to use as well as where they will go on your piece. 

A Book 

A book might not seem like the most inspired gift however it is sometimes the most meaningful of all. A book is a tool with which you are able to escape the real world and enter a whole new one. It is a beautiful tool for self care and can be a wonderful gift to give someone to show that you are thinking about them. Choosing a book you think someone will love is a very personal thing and you can really show how much you know someone by what you choose. 

A Piece of Jewelry 

Jewelry is a very personal gift and something that you will often only buy for the most important people in your life. A beautiful necklace or a custom ring can be a present that will wow and bring someone to tears, and you can even tailor a piece of jewelry for a purpose. For example, you can create jewelry for cremation ashes by Memorials.com to remember a lost loved one; or perhaps you want to buy jewelry to celebrate a special year in a person’s life. 

A Pet 

If you are buying a present for your partner or child this year, one thought could be to bring a pet into your family. Pets such as cats and dogs are wonderful creatures and they become a real part of your family. Rescuing an animal in need is one of the most meaningful things you can do for the animal itself because you could save its life - but for your loved one you are bringing the most special gift into the home of all - life. If you do think about getting a pet it doesn’t have to be a cat or a dog; there are countless other options such as rabbits, hamsters, birds, reptiles or fish. 

A Date 

For a loved one, perhaps the most special gift of all this Christmas would be a date night. Spending a day or an evening with your loved one can be the most valuable and meaningful gift of all - especially at the moment when people are largely unable to spend time together. 

Home Baked Treats 

If you love to spend time in the kitchen, one fun way to spend your day is making baked treats for your family. Baked treats can include anything from cakes to cookies to fudge and will make their day when they receive it. One great idea for a treat you can wrap up is millionaire shortbread.  

Ingredients: 

• 300g flour 

• 200g butter 

• 100g sugar 

• 400ml can condensed milk 

• 100g muscovado sugar 

• 100g butter 

• 200g dark chocolate 

1. Preheat the oven to 180C and grease and line a square dish. 

2. To make shortbread: crumb flour butter and sugar in a bowl with fingers until a loose dough forms. Press into the square dish and chill for 10 minutes. Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden. Cool.

3. To make caramel: add butter, sugar and condensed milk to a pan and bring to the boil. Once everything is melted, simmer for 5-10 minutes until thickened slightly. Cool.

4. Pour caramel over shortbread and chill for 4 hours. 

5. Melt chocolate over a pan or in the microwave and then pour over the shortbread and caramel. Leave to chill overnight. 

6. Cut into squares and enjoy! 

Gifts like these are thoughtful and bring much more meaning to Christmas! 

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How to Deal with Jealousy

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It’s not the most attractive feeling in the world, but jealousy can take over our lives if we aren’t careful and don’t deal with it when it comes up. Whether it’s a colleague getting a promotion at work, or your best friend getting engaged when you’ve been steadfastly single for years, jealousy is an emotion that can poison even the most solid of relationships. But, if you follow some simple guidelines, you can stop it from ruining things for both you and whoever you are envious of.

1. Acknowledge why you feel that way

Let’s be honest here, we don’t feel jealous if everything is going completely fine. If you’re feeling jealous, then it’s time to take a good hard look in the mirror, and ask yourself why you feel that way. It’s equally important to be truthful with your answer. If it’s your work friend who got chosen for a promotion over you, did they deserve it more? Have they been putting in extra hours recently? Spending time with your manager? Taking on additional responsibilities? Have you been doing those things? Ask yourself the question, and then don’t avoid the truthful answer. 

If you really can’t think of anything else then you can ask an external source. If it’s a work issue, speak with your manager. If it’s something outside of work, then find a trusted friend or family member outside of the situation who you can be totally transparent with and lay out the facts (this is really important - if you’re going to hold back on information that’s key then this will be a waste of time). From an outside perspective, they might be able to see things that you’ve missed. 

2. Can you fix it?

Once you’ve identified the problem, you then need to address whether it’s something you can act on. Whether it’s looking into Jeuveau Newtox for yourself, or booking your own fancy holiday, if you’re jealous of someone else’s lifestyle, is there something you can do about changing your own?

3. Don’t blame your friend

Whoever it is that you’re jealous of, remember it’s not their fault you feel like this. You might be feeling all sorts of things inside, but don’t take it out on your friend, partner, or family member. Instead, you need to try to be happy for them. Remember that jealousy is actually a very natural feeling - it’s perfectly normal to want what other people have, but it’s how we deal with it and act (or not) on those feelings that makes us the better person. 

4. Identify your triggers

Jealousy often stems from a feeling of insecurity, so try and pinpoint what the negative, inner critic is telling you and then shut it down. For example, if you’re the only single one left amongst your friends and are feeling jealous of an engagement, is it because your inner voice is telling you that you aren’t loveable? Try and talk to yourself like you’d talk to your own best friend and be kinder to yourself.  

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4 Ways To Look After Your Mental Health

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Your mental health is a vital aspect of your overall well-being. You’ll be able to perform to the best of your ability and keep a stable mood when you look after your mental health.

You may be unsure of where to begin or what to do to ensure you stay well over the long-term. It’s up to you to make positive and impactful changes to your life that will keep you mentally healthy and in good spirits. Focus on the right areas, and you’ll be on your way to feeling great and taking good care of yourself so you stay well and can achieve your goals.

1. Address Your Problems & Feelings

Look after your mental health by addressing your problems and feelings. Avoid letting issues and emotions fester for too long. Talk about your feelings and reach out and get help when you need it. For instance, if you’re in a custody battle it might be best to enlist the expertise and assistance of a family law mediation attorney for a fair and suitable outcome. These are the types of situations you don’t want to linger on because they can be detrimental to your health and well-being if you don’t address them head-on.

2. Practice Self-Care

Another way to look after your mental health is to practice self-care. There are many ways to do so, including getting enough sleep, eating healthy meals, and staying physically active. Take proper care of yourself and focus on yourself for once to get to a better place and feel optimistic about your future. When you push self-care aside and aren’t nurturing your mind and body, you risk feeling worn down and overtired, and you may experience more mood and emotional swings.

3. Take Breaks

You can also look after your mental health by taking more breaks throughout your day. Rest is essential to you being able to perform well at work and be the best parent possible at home. Your brain needs time to recover from all the hard work you’re doing. You’ll actually be more productive when you’re well-rested and take frequent breaks away from thinking and doing. Also, use your vacation days at work and get away from the office and your to-do list every so often so you can regroup and return feeling refreshed.

4. Manage Your Stress

Too much stress can take a toll on your mental and physical health and make you feel miserable and unmotivated. You may be so overwhelmed that you’re unable to complete your daily tasks and take care of yourself. Therefore, look after your mental health by proactively managing your stress and knowing what triggers your stress the most. Find ways to reduce your anxiety and worry, such as going for a walk and spending time in nature or journaling and trying meditation. Your goal is to slow racing thoughts and take a step back from thinking and ruminating about your problems. Use your free time to do more of what you enjoy and love and be kind to yourself so you can be your best self. 

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Curly Hair Is Timeless, But How Do You Care For It?

Having curly hair will give your mane a huge volume boost and capture other people’s eyes! However, the truth is that this type of care requires a series of particular care. Let's see a simple guide of steps to explain how to care for curly hair correctly. If your hair isn't naturally curly, but you want it to be, you may want to look at a rolling hair styler.

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To be able to show off your curly hair without a problem and always care, nothing like following these steps:

1. Don't overdo it with washes. In general, curly hair tends to be dry, so it is essential not to over wash it. Using too much shampoo opens the cuticles and removes the natural oil that already has the hair. It will dry your curls even more. The less you wash your hair, the better, that is, 1-2 times a week.

2. Cleanse the scalp. Despite what was pointed out in the first point, washing curly hair is necessary for healthy hair growth, as it gets rid of the accumulation of oils, dirt, and dust. So when you shampoo your hair, focus on adequately rubbing and cleansing the scalp with your fingertips.

3. Know the ingredients of the products you use. The key is to use products specifically made for curly hair, which are also sulfate and alcohol-free as these types of ingredients dry out your hair, so you should avoid them at all costs.

4. It is essential to replenish the moisture in your curls. Some ways to achieve this will be to use a conditioner every time you wash your hair and perform oil treatments and apply masks like one that you make at home with a little coconut oil, which you must leave for five minutes and then remove hair with lukewarm water.

5. When you get out of the shower, gently pat your hair dry with a cotton towel and gently squeeze out any excess water. Don't scrub with a rough towel, as this can cause the cuticles to split open and the hair to frizz.

6. You also have to let the air dry your hair for best results. The heat of the blow dryer on your hair can cause the curls to suffer too much, and in the long run, they look much drier than usual. It is better to let the hair air dry, and also, why not apply a curl activator cream or apply some argan oil. 

7. Use the diffuser of the dryer. When you use the blow dryer to dry curly hair, you better do it using the diffuser. Stand with your head upside down and hold the diffuser always pointing towards your scalp; do not move it too much because all the escaping wind can cause the hair to shrink.

8. Never comb curls with a brush. The idea is to use a wide-tooth comb to style curly hair before showering or gently comb with your fingers after showering. Remember that wet hair is more prone to breakage, so you have to be very patient and careful when combing it. 

9. Avoid hairspray and mousse. Not only can they cause your curls to break, but these two products also contain the most alcohol. Choose hairstyles that are easy!

There you have it, the ultimate curly hair guide! 

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What Does Self Care Mean To You?

You probably hear the words ‘self care’ banded around like nobody’s business. There’s a reason for that, though. People may only just be putting a big focus on it, but caring for oneself is crucial if you’re going to live a happy, low stress life. Perhaps, like most people, you spend a lot of your time worrying about and looking out for other people and your own self care falls by the wayside. Self care is not selfish, and it doesn’t mean you spend every waking hour only thinking of yourself. It does mean, however, that you put as much importance on yourself as you do other people, and you ensure that you’re not caring for others to your own detriment. You can’t pour from an empty cup, after all! 

Self care can mean different things to different people. So, what does self care mean to you?

Taking A Break From Technology

Technology consumes our lives these days. We work on computers, we carry mini computers in our pockets, it’s no wonder we all feel disconnected and unhappy. Take breaks from technology. Get rid of the apps that you don’t really need, and have set times for checking your phone. Try to fill the time with more fulfilling things instead. The time you scroll mindlessly really adds up. That time you spend focusing on the lives of people you don’t know anymore could be spent on a hobby of yours or learning a new skill - even just sleeping! 

Pampering Yourself 

Many people view this as the classic form of self care, and it is great if you need a little TLC. Take a hot bath and use fancy products. Wash your hair, paint your nails, apply a mask - do what it takes to make you feel good. Don’t feel bad because looking good makes you feel better. We all like to look good, and if it boosts your confidence, then do it. You are worth it.

Eating Nourishing Meals

Nourishing meals are a wonderful form of self care. Being busy often means we forget to eat and just grab snacks that aren't great for us, running off coffee and adrenaline. This will catch up with us eventually. Trying to eat nourishing, balanced meals will make a huge difference to your health, energy levels, and more. If you can prep in advance you should find this easier. If not, bear in mind that you don't need to eat 3-4 balanced meals a day. You can eat 2 healthy, balanced meals a day providing they are big enough and include important nutrients, alongside snacks. Some people even manage to eat one huge meal a day, but it may not be possible for you to get all of the calories and nutrients you need this way. 

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Spending Time on Hobbies and Things You Enjoy 

Spend time on the hobbies you have lost along the way. Paint again, even if you feel out of touch. Write poetry, even if it’s terrible. Stop doing things with a goal in mind, or because you think you need to be ‘good’ to do it. You don’t need to write a prize winning novel or paint a picture somebody is going to want to display. Just do it for sheer enjoyment. If you do it often enough, you might just get better at it. Focusing on the result, rather than the process, however, is not a good idea. Do it because you like it and see if you can get into the ‘flow’ state. Studies have shown that we all need to spend more time in this state for overall well being and happiness. What is the flow state? That place where you’re so focused on what you’re doing, you lose track of time. Many people find this state when playing an instrument, knitting, or running. Find what gets you into the flow state and do it!

Setting Clear Boundaries 

Most people don’t set boundaries. This can happen for quite a few reasons. For one, we’re rarely told how to set them or why we should set them. We’re so worried about being viewed as nice and potentially upsetting other people, that we let them take advantage of us and betray ourselves. This doesn’t even need to be in clear, obvious ways. The other person may not know that that’s what they are doing. But it’s something you will carry with you for a long time. To set boundaries, we need to know what our own boundaries are. For example, if a friend constantly calls you in the middle of the day and drags you away from work because you work from home, it could be time to set a boundary and let them know that it’s not ok, and that you’re working. Tell them you’ll call them back later, or that they can call you back. You don’t need to be available for everybody all the time. Set boundaries with your partners, and insist your needs are met and that your well being is cared for. Failure to do this could mean you need to go for chlamydia treatment and end up feeling angry and resentful towards the other person. Worry less about being nice and worry more about upholding your own values and caring for yourself. 

Getting To Know Yourself

Becoming more comfortable spending time alone is key, and you can do this by getting to know yourself. Don’t try to fill up all of your time with the company of somebody else. Spend time reading, pampering, doing art, walking, and more. Get comfortable with your thoughts and who you are with nobody around. 

Learning Something New 

Spend time learning new things. Many of us stop learning once we leave school, but life is a lesson!

Reparenting Your Inner Child

We all have an inner child that needs reparenting. It’s rare we actually had parents who knew exactly what they were doing and reacted in the right way to every single situation. Take the time to figure out what your inner child needs and do more of it.