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Beauty

5 must-try organic skin care tips

More people are using organic skincare products today – these five simple tips will help you make an informed choice.

Of late, there has been an increasing trend to use organic beauty products. Have you ever stopped to think why people are opting for them? People today are more aware of the chemicals and toxins that are present in most of the beauty products available in the market. They are looking for products made of pure and natural extracts, free from harsh chemicals. Choosing organic products is simple, and we’ve listed five tips why you should use them and why they are good for your skin.

1.Always look for organic products, because: We know the market is flooded with a plethora of organic beauty and skin care products. However, there are some things that you need to keep in mind when you are choosing these products for yourself. Look for an accreditation or an organic seal to ensure it is authentic and natural.

2.Keep your beauty regime simple. Understand that all your skin needs is a little cleansing, moisturising and toning. Take the pledge to stick to the basics and follow a skin care routine that is simple and effective. Ensure that you buy a natural pH balanced face cleanser that is ultra-gentle and cleanses your skin without stripping the natural oils of the skin.

organic products3.Insist on ‘no fragrance’. Do you know that products that have strong fragrances can include  phthalates – a chemical that adds artificial fragrance? This chemical has the potential to trigger an allergic reaction that could cause damage to your kidneys, reproductive system, and your lungs. Is the fragrance worth the risk? Instead, choose organic moisturisers, as fragrant moisturisers can cause harm to you and your skin.  

4.Petroleum products are a BIG no-no. Petroleum is a product that is known to clog the pores of your skin; this obstructs the skin’s ability to release all the toxins and waste. Opt for an organic lip balm or night cream instead, which are pure and also help to keep your skin smooth and soft.

5.Eat healthy for a healthy skin. The foundation for healthy skin is nothing but the food you consume. You need to focus on following a nutritious diet, drinking plenty of water and exercising on a regular basis to look your best at all times. 

(Pictures courtesy health.howstuffworks.com, bloomorganics.com)

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Beauty

Summer-proof your skin

Skin care for the summer is really about revisting the basics to achieve great skin – cleansing, exfoliating and moisturising.
by Glen Lewis

Spring cleaning doesn’t just have to be for your home or office – you can also do it for your skin! And the summer season always brings new battles for your skin care.

With summer upon us, it’s good to get into a healthy skin regimen so that you can stay beautiful no matter what the weather is outside.

Winter can be a horrible time to dry out your skin in all that cold weather and leave you with rough or even scaly feeling patches that you want to get rid of (especially when you can finally lose the coat). The most important thing you can do in this season is try out different products and see which ones are right for you, so that by the time the temperatures really kick in, you know exactly what your skin needs so you can protect it from the heat and the sun’s rays.

Exfoliate

The first step in any healthy skin regimen is to exfoliate. If your skin is feeling a little dry and irritated from the cold winter, you want to make sure you still use an exfoliant, but don’t overdo it, because it could do more harm than good. Finding a gentle cleanser that will clear away any impurities from your skin while not drying out your skin too much will be the perfect balance your skin needs in order to bring back its healthy glow. In order to get that glow you want, you have to clear away the dead skin cells and repair the damaged areas.

Hydration

After exfoliating, it is essential to hydrate your skin. The best thing to do is to find a moisturiser that is hydrating and not oily. You want to repair and prevent, not overcompensate with a product that has too much of a lotion base.

Clearing the dead skin away and then helping your skin retain moisture will give you the fresh face you want for spring and put you in a great routine for when summer rolls around. It would be best to find a moisturiser that has SPF to use in the morning so that it can protect your skin during the day when you’re exposed to the sun. It also has beneficial vitamins that will make your skin brighter and smoother.

Focus on your whole body

Your skin care shouldn’t focus only on your face – your entire body could benefit from some exfoliation and hydration. With a body wash containing exfoliating beads, you take care of the rest of your body, too. And finding a body lotion that repairs all that dryness can be the perfect combination to leave you looking and feeling fresh during these warm days.

By repairing the damage caused by winter and revealing that smooth, bright, healthy skin underneath, you will be in the perfect position to prevent any damage that will come in the summer. Equipping yourself with products that react well with your own skin tone will be beneficial not only to get you through the season, but through the rest of the year as well.

Gwen Lewis is a journalist who has a passion for beauty and makeup, and hopes that these tips and tricks help you have glowing summer skin.

(Picture courtesy www.burkewilliamsspa.com, toptenpk.com, greenbeautyteam.com)

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Wellness

Beware of melanoma

This skin cancer is less common but extremely deadly. If diagnosed early and before it spreads, melanoma may be cured.

Melanoma is a less common type of cancer, yet it is considered extremely serious when compared to the other types of skin cancer. Melanomas are usually brown or black in color, nonetheless can appear pink, tan or even white for that matter. Here is an article that will deepen your understanding of this particular type of skin cancer.

What is melanoma?

Melanoma skin cancer is a cancer that begins in the melanocytes. Most of these skin cells still produce melanin, and hence melanoma tumors are often brown or black in appearance. Nevertheless, there are numerous melanomas that could appear pink, tan or even white.

This condition usually occurs on the chest and back in men and on the legs in women, however, it could start at other places too. Another fact is that having dark skin reduces one’s chances of getting melanoma, yet people with dark skin could also develop this type of cancer.

Since, this is a rare skin condition, cancer specialists consider it extremely dangerous, and, nonetheless, if diagnosed in the early stages, it can be cured. Also, if not caught early could spread to other parts of the body as well.

wear sunscreenWhat are the risk factors for melanoma skin cancer?

Ask any oncology specialist and he/she will tell you how there is no exact cause to this rare skin cancer. However, there are certain risk factors that are linked to this disease such as too much exposure to UV light, numerous moles on the body, light coloured skin and hair, a family history of melanoma, a weak immune system, etc.

How can you prevent getting melanoma?

– Some prevention techniques include limiting your exposure to strong sunlight and other sources emitting UV rays.

–  Stay in the shade, especially in the middle of the day, between 10 am and 4 pm, as the sun’s rays are the strongest then.

– Covering your head with a hat works perfectly well, as a hat helps protect the neck, ears, the area around your eyes, forehead, and nose.

– Protect your skin with a sunscreen. Coat your lips with a protective lip balm.

– Use a pair of sunglasses as and when you know you’re going to stay out in the sun.

How can melanoma be treated?

On being diagnosed with this type of cancer, your oncologist and his/her team will discuss all the possible treatment options with you. This discussion is solely going to be based on your individual case. Some of the options may include:

1. Surgery

2. Immunotherapy

3. Targeted therapy

4. Chemotherapy

5. Radiation therapy

Who are the experts specialists that could be involved in treating melanoma skin cancer?

Some of the experts include dermatologists, surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, dieticians, nurses, etc.

Understand the fact that melanoma can be treated with surgery alone, if detected in its early stage; nonetheless, there are times when more than one type of treatment could be used as well.

Concluding, if you are someone who is diagnosed with this type of skin cancer, try and get a second opinion. It is important to consult the right doctor and start your treatment plan as early.

 (Pictures courtesy skincancerawarenessproject.com, www.dailymail.co.uk)

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Guest writer

How fair are you being?

Come summer, and we are deluged with ads for skin whitening products. When will the ‘Fair is beautiful’ idea die?
by Ritika Bhandari Parekh

There are some speeches that touch a chord and bring a perspective on unsaid things. Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o gave one such inspirational speech that celebrates her pride in being a ‘coloured’ personality.

Before winning the 2014 Academy Award for the Best Supporting Actress in 12 Years a Slave this year, 31-year old Lupita Nyong’o immortalised her stature by reading a letter written to her by a dark-skinned girl. At the seventh annual Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon hosted by Essence magazine, Nyong’o not only won the Best Breakthrough Performance award but also a lot of hearts for revealing that her skin kept her away from feeling the word called ‘beautiful’.

In her acceptance speech, she read the letter highlighting the insecurities felt by a girl on being a black. The video went viral on social media sites with everyone applauding Nyong’o for raising the topic of commercialisation of fair skin.

 

So why raise this issue now?

fairness creamsWith the summer descending on us and sunscreen lotions being stocked in practically every home, I was reminded of how as Indians we too, love our fair and lovely beauties on and off-screen. Forget being racist to North-East Indians, the mere hint of a darker shade in skin brings about a different being in us. Talent aside, television advertisements say that a fair-skinned man can crack an interview and stump his bosses in minutes by just being the colour that he is.

Sit for 30 minutes in front of the idiot box and you’ll realise that our love for whitening spreads from the detergent to the deodorant. Fair underarms, fair face, fair hands, legs and much more – it isn’t fair to leave any body part with a hint of dark skin. Now take a look at yourself – how many beauty products do you use on a daily basis, or even occasionally? At least two products, if not more will be a whitening cosmetic product, right? From a daily ‘Light’ moisturising cream to an ‘Extra Whitening’ body lotion, the aura of fair skin engulfs us like nothing else.

A study says that products which claim to lighten, whiten and brighten our skin do nothing more than thinning out the epidermis layer. This thinning of skin is carcinogenic in Nandita Dasnature. But while we’re probably not looking at the medical side-effects of these products, at least a few of us are hitting back at the ‘Fair is beautiful’ line of thought. It is heartening to see that actress Nandita Das has started her ‘Stay Unfair, Stay Beautiful’ and ‘Dark is Beautiful’ campaign against fair skin commercials.

But more than the Youtube likes, it is our perception that needs to change. If we ditch the so-called whitening products, refuse to be seduced by fair skin and bring about a sense of respect and equality despite our skin colour, it will be the making of a happier society. So wear that shade of red lipstick that you always loved, because the ‘right’ colour is in the mind.

As Nyong’o says, “I hope my presence validates your sense of external existence and also get the deeper business of being beautiful inside, because there is no shade in that beauty”. So go ahead and look in the mirror and reaffirm – Life is beautiful and so are you.

(Pictures courtesy defence.pk, www.islandmix.com, economydecoded.com)

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Wellness

The benefits of balancing your chakras

Did you know that balancing your chakras could relieve you of daily aches and pains? Read on to know more.

Ancient yogic texts are steeped in the study of chakras. Despite the immense benefits that the chakra technique offers, their uses and knowledge is not widely known. The study and execution of chakra balancing acts can have many potential benefits like increasing  mental and physical harmony. Did you know that chakra balancing helps to keep common ailments at bay when practised regularly?

Disorientation, physically and psychologically, is becoming a daily occurrence due to increased amounts of stress and other negative energies. Chakra balancing techniques are the perfect antidote to combat the daily fatigue arising through usual routines. In order to get an overview, read on to find four major benefits of chakra balancing.

balancing your chakrasReduces aches and pains: You encounter pain in different parts of the body daily. While the cause may range from injury to over exertion, a majority of these pains are caused by misalignment of your various chakras, like sahasrara, ajna, etc. With proper chakra balancing techniques, you can get rid of common pains like muscle pain, back pain etc. With regular practice, you can help reduce instances of migraines and headaches that are often associated with stress and anxiety.

Improves emotional stability: Chakras deal primarily with emotions. Their study revolves around finding ways to improve emotional stability. You can achieve emotional stability with the help of the chakra balancing tools that help you to use the sensory organs in your body and make you more aware of your emotions. You will learn to look within yourself for strength to face your challenges. You can greatly improve your decision making ability and get back in touch with reality. Get rid of addictions with the help of chakra balancing tools.

Promotes greater healing ability: Practicing chakra balancing regularly will give you greater healing ability from common ailments. You don’t need to rush to the nearest chemists for over the counter medications. You will find the required healing quality within yourself to combat common ailments. This particular ability to heal also deals with your emotional and psychological problems. With this new found healing ability, you can get rid of persistent depression and anxiety problems as well. You will become stronger both internally and externally.

Increases passion: With the help of chakra balancing tools, you will experience increased passion towards your loved ones and life in general. They will give you added vitality to take on your routine tasks with gusto. Chakra balancing helps you get rid of the negativity within you and helps you to unlock the positive thinking and positive way of living.

Learn the power of living in the present with the help of chakra balancing tools. You can find a few retail stores online that specializes in supplying chakra tools straight to your doorstep.

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Deal with it

Know the causes of brain diseases

We often ignore the signs and symptoms of brain disorders, to disastrous consequences. Ignore these brain diseases at your peril.

Brain diseases are one of the most complex ailments known to medical science. Be it Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s or even a haemorrhage, their results are often debilitating and the consequences can be fatal. With heart ailments and diabetes cornering the world’s attention, brain diseases are often relegated to the sidelines.

Often, with our fast-paced lives in the city, we don’t take corrective measures until it is too late. Brain disorders do not discriminate on the basis of age and sex. By being aware of the causes of brain diseases, you can take actions to safeguard yourself.

Known causes of brain disorders:

Blunt trauma. Though powerful, the brain is actually a delicate organ. Blunt force attacks against the brain are one of the leading causes of brain damage. A forceful injury can damage the brain and its tissues. The nerve cells responsible for transmitting the information from the brain to the whole body are also affected. Significant damage can alter the ways the brain functions and communicate with other body parts.

Degenerative conditions. Many brain disorders attack as you age and hinder your cognitive abilities. Examples include Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. While there is no definitive cure for them, maintaining a healthy lifestyle may prolong their onset. Some of them are even hereditary and can affect small children as well. Examples of such diseases include Tay-Sachs disease. A child’s mental and physical capabilities are affected by such ailments.

Infections. There are infections that originate from one part of the body and spread to the brain. Such infections are the number one cause of human mortality rates amongst brain disorder ailments. Once the infection reaches the brain, the case is usually referred to an expert brain specialist or neuro surgeons. Some examples of brain infection include meningitis and encephalitis.

Seizures. There are many factors that contribute to seizures. It can be in the form of infecting bacteria like tapeworm, high blood pressure, strokes and even lack of blood circulation in the brain. Seizures are often debilitating and can lead to fatal consequences if medication is not taken immediately. The incidences of seizures are higher in developing countries than in developed ones. Seizures create a sudden interruption of the blood supply to the brain and increase the pressure on certain areas.

Drug overdose. Overdosing on drugs can create brain disorder symptoms. Even withdrawal symptoms are seen to have a negative effect on the brain. For example, antidepressants addict report the highest number of seizures and the resultant brain damages. If you are consuming drugs like cocaine, now would be the best time to quit using them.

The above five causes show how brain diseases develop. Let this knowledge be a guiding light for you to stay healthy, mentally and physically.

(Picture courtesy news.emory.edu)

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