STOP PICKING AT YOUR FACE!

We are all guilty of picking at our faces at some point or another. Whether we’re popping blackheads or zits, or picking at acne scabs or flaky skin – we've all done it. It’s a dirty little habit and it needs to stop for the sake of our skin.

Generally popping zits is unnecessary and can cause more damage to the skin than we think. Most individuals pop pimples in an incorrect manner squeezing the zit only to further spread the bacteria deeper down into the epidermis. This results in larger, inflamed pimples, and prolonged healing time. Popping pimples can also result in unwanted scabs, scars, fingernail indention's, increased pore size, damaged collagen, and broken capillaries. When we do pop a pimple improperly, this triggers the emergence of blood, followed by a sanguineous crust, also known as a scab. Many of us are inclined to pick at our scabs and in doing so this can result in an even longer healing process, as well as deeper, darker scars.

Popping that pimple on your chin really isn't worth it after examining the skin damaging consequences, is it?! If we want to have beautiful, glowing skin we have to stop picking at our skin! Below are some valuable tips to stop picking at your face:

o   Stop touching your face! – Touching your face will only encourage you to pick at your skin when you discover a new blemish or flaw. Touching your face can also spread bacteria from your fingers and cause additional acne to emerge.

§  Every time you catch yourself touching your face tell yourself, “NO!”, and find something else to distract yourself. (For example: exercise, clean etc.)

o   Stop looking in the mirror every chance you get! – Looking at your face up-close in a mirror only makes matters worse. You’ll catch yourself popping tiny, insignificant zits that truthfully didn't need to be popped, and picking at scabs that were in the process of healing.  After you’re done damaging your skin, your former insignificant blemishes won’t look so insignificant afterwards. So stop looking in the magnifying mirror!

o   Use natural, skin healing products on your face to prevent acne, blackheads, flaky skin and scars. – You won’t be inclined to pick at your face if you have flawless skin, so nurture it with organic, skin healing products:

§  Use a plant-based skin care product, such as moringa oil, and apply daily to your face. Moringa seed oil has several beneficial, skin healing properties and is naturally capable of detoxifying and cleansing the skin. It is capable of improving acne and scars, is a great lightweight moisturizer, and is suitable for all skin types.

§  Aloe Vera gel is another terrific, natural skin topical. Aloe Vera applied directly to the skin can promote the healing of acne, skin abrasions, and scars.

o   If you feel like you must pop a zit, purchase a blemish extractor and learn how to use it properly to avoid damaging your skin.

 If we can follow these tips to stop picking at our skin, we will be on our way flawless, beautiful, glowing skin! 

Do We Really Need a Moisturizer?

No matter what your skin's condition is, you need a moisturizer,which serves more purposes than simply keeping your skin hydrated.

For oily, blemish-prone skin, moisturizers deliver antibacterial and soothing agents.For mature skin they add an extra dose of softening and antioxidant ingredients.

All of us benefit from sun shielding mineral components and antioxidants enzymes, vitamins and oils that protect our skin frrom a less-than-pure environment

How do moisturizers help? They form a film on your skin that reinforces he barrier ability of the epidermis, helping to prevent trans-epidermal water loss.They contain certain ingredients that attract moisture from the environment, and they contain healing substances that soothe irritations and neutralize free radicals .

Every day we lose up to one pint of water through the pores!The higher the water content in the epidermis, the more pliable and wrinkle free the skin will be.

Moisturizer is the most important anti-aging step and must have,no matter how old you are,"Take care of the skin you have; its meant to last you a lifetime.

HAIR POWER

Coloring hair can cause it to become dry, dull and brittle, but certain antioxidants may offer substantial protection.

 A study done at Dong-Eui university in South Korea, exposed hair samples to hydrogen peroxide or ammonia ingredients found in many permanent hair dyes.

By treating the hair with procyanidins-flavanoid reduced the surface damage and protien breakdown and increased hair strength.

Some of the most powerful  procyanidins are found in, moringa oil,grape seed oil, cocoa seeds,acai oil, elm green tea and blueberry extract.

Procyanidins have been found to promote hair growth in cases of balding, they may also protect hair against oxidative stress from straighting treatments,sunlight and aging
Antioxidants are extremely beneficial in the prevention of hair loss as well as stimulating new, healthy hair growth,” says Kosia of Kosia Naturals.

Always look for hair products that contain antioxidants like Growth & Repair Serum from Kosia Naturals which contains botanicals and  herbs, all rich in antioxidants to promote healthier scalp and hair.

Although the best option will be to skip coloring all together, that will leave a lot of us pulling the grey out, not recommended, or a bunch of women walking around feeling very unhappy and the world will not be able to handle that :).

So lets start by using products that help our stands!!. 

THE LOCKED REFRIGERATOR

Why is it so difficult to pass by this box without finding the urge to open it? In my opinion they all should come with a lock and key, or a constantly changing code. Because I feel if the refrigerator was more difficult to open, it will solve a lot of our yoyo diet issues.

But then again we should not blame it all on the fridge; it's us stocking it with all the contents we find in the supermarket, good and bad, but each time we pass by the items in the aisle it's like they hypnotize us into picking them up and bringing them home. We say things to ourselves like, this is the last time I will allow myself to have it, but we immediately forget the next time we're back in the aisle the following visit.

More research needs to go into the ingredients that are in these addicting products, as there are already scientific studies proving this formula exists, and should be stopped or at least brought to public awareness. Until further development on why we want to eat what we do comes to existence, we must take it into our hands and rely on our own will power. Global conglomerates will never fully be in our healthy favor if temptation convinces us to buy their product.

WILL POWER by definition means the ability to control one's own thoughts and behavior, especially in difficult situations. That includes the grocery aisle, where we face the attractive labels and yummy thought-provoking snacks. How best to assist this will power?

1. Make a list before you go grocery shopping; make sure you've researched and decided on healthier alternatives as to make the trip easier.

2. Look in your pantry and get rid of all those secret stashes - and fast! Don't make deals with yourself (I'll keep it for another time) - that won't help the OMG moment when you're back on the scale (whether you eat it now or "another time" won't make a difference).

3. If you happen to go out to eat, there is a lot of healthier alternatives on the menu; don't even look in the section of the no no's - don't even give your brain a second to contimplate.

4. Always carry water with you because sometimes when we are thirsty we equate that with hunger, if after the water you are still hungry eat some fruit. It's true that water can actually fill you up sometimes!

 .

5. Exercise! It doesn't mean sign up to the gym; take the stairs at work, go for a walk, ride a bicycle - get outside! Lets find daily things in our everyday life and use them as forms of exercise.

Take a moment to think about your life, and the people you love[ even though you are making these changes for yourself, in the long run it will be for them because you will be healthier, happy and be around to enjoy each other for a long time.  

Sample Grocery List
Cereal (healthy ones) 
Old Fashioned Quaker Oats oatmeal  
Brown rice Whole-wheat pastaTomato sauce (check the ingredients—you want a sauce made with only tomatoes, olive oil, and spices—no corn syrup or sugar added) Canned diced or whole peeled tomatoes Canned tuna and/or salmon packed in water Low-sodium canned soups (such as Campbell’s Healthy Request or Amy’s) Canned beans (chick peas, pinto, black, kidney, etc.) Basic seasonings: salt, pepper, brown sugar, Old Bay, taco seasoning, hot sauce like Tabasco, balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, low-sodium soy sauce Healthy oils like extra virgin olive oil, canola oil, and nonfat cooking spray.Fruits and veggies galore (including staples of apples, oranges, lemons, lettuces, tomato, cucumber) Nonfat/low-fat milk Nonfat/low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese Calcium-fortified orange juice Eggs Nuts—almonds, walnuts, or cashews, roasted and unsalted (remember, nuts are fats and will go rancid if they are not stored in the refrigerator) Natural nut butters—almond or peanut Hummus Low-fat cheese: reduced-fat cheddar, part-skim mozzarella, or reduced-fat string cheese sticks A block of good Parmesan cheese  Firm tofu Extra-lean turkey bacon (approximately 20 calories per strip, 1 gram of fat or less, and 3+ grams of protein) Whole-wheat English muffins Butter alternative (non-hydrogenated and without trans fats) Mustard Salsa (try to buy fresh salsa whenever possible) For the FreezerWhole wheat sliced bread (with at least 2 grams of fiber per slice and less than 100 calories) Frozen veggies (broccoli, spinach, peas) Frozen fruit (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries) Ground turkey Skinless chicken breasts Frozen cooked shrimp