karren, Author at Oh My Heartsie Girl

April 14, 2018

Skin Care Tips for summer – Your Guide to being Beautiful this summer

Summer is upon us. It is finally time to shed off some layers, grab a beach towel and have some fun! Who among us has not waited patiently by the fireplace for this glorious season to come so that we would be able to go biking, swimming and have sunbaths? However, before you start doing any of that, just hold on and think about it a bit. What about your skin? We all know that summers and especially sun exposure can take its toll on our skins and make us look dull and unattractive. Being attractive is all about keeping our skin healthy so here are some tips for taking care of your skin this summer.

Use sunscreen!

This goes without saying, but a lot of people either forget or feel too lazy to use sunscreen. It has been proven that sunlight contains harmful ultraviolet rays which can cause damage to the skin especially if exposed for a long time, for example during a sunbath. It is imperative to use a sunscreen with a high Sun Protection Factor, or SPF value to protect your skin from harmful UV rays present in the sunlight. It is not just for the face; sunscreen should be applied on any part that is being exposed to sunlight. Most sunscreens also need to be reapplied after every 2 or 3 hours so stay frosty!

Hydrate!

Almost everyone is aware of the importance of water for your body especially the skin,and yet dehydration is one of the most common causes of skin ailments nowadays. The importance of water cannot be overstated, people. As a rule of thumb, one should drink about 2 liters of water per day. Usually, the glasses we use have about 0.25 liters of capacity,so that means drink about 8 glasses per day. 8 glasses of plain, pure water. Special care should be taken during summers because we tend to lose a lot of water due to sweating.

Water is very important for the skin because when skin cells absorb water, they get plump thus alleviating wrinkles. Water also flushes out toxins in your body thus leading to fewer outbreaks and acne. Acne can ruin your look even if you have the perfect features, and it can undermine your confidence. Even after acne heals it leaves behind scars which can malign your face for a long time. If you are currently suffering from acne or have acne scars, get it sorted at once. One of the best places that I can recommend is the London Dermatology Centre.

Soothe sunburnt skin!

Let’s say that you being you, forgot to put on sunscreen or forgot to reapply or maybe just did not apply enough. In any case, now your skin has been overexposed or sunburnt. Don’t lose hope yet for even though you messed up big time, there are still cures for this. One such cure is aloe vera gel. The best option is to take a leaf of aloe, cut it open and extract the gel. If you don’t have an aloe plant readily available, then there are over the counter, branded gels which are 99 percent pure. Aloe vera gel is very soothing for burns and can help if you have sunburns. Apply it regularly to achieve full recovery in a short time.

Moisturize!

Even if your skin is oily, always apply moisturizer before going to bed. Most people think that since their skin is so oily and it causes breakouts and acne, applying any moisturizer will only add fuel to the fire. However, the truth is, oil that naturally comes out of your skin and moisturizers have very different ingredients and so having oily skin and moisturizing are two very different things. Start applying moisturizer before you go to bed and you will feel the difference within a week. Your skin will be soft, supple and clearer.

So that is it guys, follow these tips to enjoy your summer and keep your skin healthy so that you can look good while having fun. Happy summers!

April 13, 2018

7 Tips and Tricks for Making Your Office Greener

So, you want to contribute to a more eco-friendly world, right? Many people do, which is why it’s such a big deal for people to look at their options when it comes to how they can make their workplaces as green as they can be. How do you do that? Here are 7 tips that you can try for a more eco-friendly office.

Encourage Your Staff to Bring their Own Reusable Items Like Mugs and Cups. Instead of having waste paper and plastic products, why not encourage your staff to have their own reusable items, like mugs, cups, and water bottles? If they can’t get them on their own, consider providing them for them – you can usually get them in bulk for an affordable cost.
Recycle, Recycle, Recycle. What can’t you recycle? Not much nowadays – so it’s worth it to consider what options that you have for recycling your paper waste. Take a look at what you can do to make the process easier for co-workers and separate things out so that you don’t have so much trash in the office.
Consider Buying Eco-Friendly Pens. Did you know that you can get eco-friendly pens made from recycled products? It’s true! And at some sites, you can even design your own pen and get them in bulk for your business, allowing you to reduce the carbon footprint of your workplace and promote your green business at the same time.
Find a Cleaning Company or Professional that Uses Chemical Free, Green Products for Cleaning Purposes. Cleaning chemicals are a huge problem that needs to be dealt with properly. Whether you have someone that works for your company or you call someone in to deal with cleaning, talk to them to see if they use chemical free, green products for cleaning – it can make a big difference.
Use Both Sides of a Piece of Paper. If you’re printing on a regular basis, take the time to figure out how to print on both sides of the paper. It will save paper and it will ensure that your waste is much less. It makes it easier for people to keep everything together as well.
Turn Off Electronics or Put Them in Standby Mode When Not in Use. Make sure that your employees or co-workers are turning off their electronics or putting them in standby mode when not in use. It will reduce the energy that they are using and it could end up helping those electronics to last longer as well.
Use Technology to Reduce Commutes. There are a lot of ways to reduce your commute times to the office. Whether you’re using something like Skype to do a teleconference with someone that’s far away, or you’re setting up carpools, each of those things can be really significant when it comes to reducing your commute time, and thus reducing the amount of emissions that vehicles are making when they go to and from your company.

April 13, 2018September 11, 2020

Avoid These 7 Weight Loss Mistakes

Image: Public Domain Free Pictures

Can’t seem to shift those pounds? Here are some of the most popular blunders that prevent people from losing weight effectively and what you should be doing instead.

Skipping meals

Starving yourself isn’t an effective means of weight loss. Whilst you may lower your intake of calories, you could also be denying your body many healthy nutrients that it requires in order to function well. This could have an effect on your immune system and concentration. On top of this, skipping meals can make us hungrier, which leads to eating binges. Eating a huge amount in a short amount of time is harder for our bodies to digest – much of it gets stored as fat because our body finds this to be an easier method of processing. Eating smaller portions throughout the day could prevent this, giving our bodies more time to digest.

Relying on pills

Weight loss pills can be effective, but only as a supplement to dieting and exercise. On their own, they’re unlikely to achieve much of an impact. Pills also have associated risks because they’re not a natural form of weight loss – they have been linked to heart disease and have had other reported side effects such as mood swings and constipation.

Exercising, but not changing your diet

Many people go to the gym hoping to burn off extra calories, but their unhealthy diet get in the way of making any impact. Processed foods, sugary drinks, alcohol and large amounts of carbs can all cancel out the effect of exercise. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring – you should try a meal replacement diet that appeals to you such as incorporating shakes or decreasing portioning. You may want to hire a dietician to help you come up with a meal plan.

Changing your diet, but not exercising

Vice versa, if you’re eating healthy but remaining inactive all day, you can similarly expect to make little progress. The reason we store fat is to use it as energy – if you’re not being active you’re simply adding to your reserves. Start exercising using a type of physical activity that motivates you. You don’t have to join a gym or jog in the rain – you can exercise from the comfort of your home in front of the TV. Hiring a personal trainer could be helpful for coming up with an exercise regime to suit your lifestyle and preferences.

Yoga Poses — Yoga is An Easy Way To Incorporate Movement and Flexibility

Ignoring weight lifting

Endurance activities such as running, cycling and swimming are all great for losing weight, but weightlifting can have it’s benefits too and isn’t just a means of gaining muscle. Lifting weights gives out bodies a metabolism spike, which allows us to burn calories for a long period after exercise is over. By switching between a week of endurance activities and a week of weightlifting exercises you can also stop your body getting too used to one style of exercise, which can make it easier to lose weight (predictive activities can sometimes cause your body to fight against weight loss, which is why you shouldn’t just stick to one routine).

Failing to track progress

Without tracking progress you don’t know how far you’ve come or how far you need to go to reach your weight loss goal. This can cause many of us to lose motivation, because instead of being focused on small steps of progress we’re too focused on the end result. It’s important to track your progress each week and then make new micro-goals for the next week. You should make a ritual of stepping on the scales or measuring your waist once a week and then recording the results. Weight loss apps meanwhile can record various other data such as the amount of calories you’ve consumed in a week or the amount of steps you’ve made. All of this gives you small goals to work towards that are more within your reach.

Thinking short-term

Some people have no problem shifting the pounds, it’s keeping them off that’s the problem. The yo-yo effect is a term described to losing weight, putting it back on again and then repeating the cycle. Most people get sucked into this cycle because they treat weight loss as a temporary change of lifestyle when really there needs to be some permanent changes in order to not go back to your old ways. Whilst you can resort to crash dieting as a way of quickly shedding the pounds, it’s important to then make some permanent changes that will stop you going back to your original size. Think about sacrifices that you can keep forever, whether it’s eating less junk food or spending less time in front of the TV.

[…]
Yoga Vs. Pilates: Choosing the Best for You
Tips To Choose The Right Active For Your Work Outs
5 Important Qualities of a Good Weight Loss Plan
5 Diet Tips On Weight Loss Women Should Know

April 12, 2018October 7, 2020

6 Ways to Beautify Your Bathroom

Your bathroom might be the smallest room in your home, but it’s still important. It’s where you start your day by washing your face or hopping in the shower. It’s where you end your day by flossing and brushing your teeth. A cramped, ugly, or outdated bathroom is no place to start the day on the right foot. Your bathroom should be a place of beauty and relaxation. If it doesn’t invite a bubble bath, then it could use some work.

We’ve put together six of our favorite ways to beautify a bathroom. Without further ado, here are six things you could start to change today.

Image: Twenty20.com

Cabinets

If you’ve got ugly bathroom cabinets, they’re probably the first thing you notice when you walk into the room. An outdated color or a cheap design can completely alter the mood of your water closet. If you hate your cabinets, don’t be discouraged. You can try repainting your cabinets, or take advantage of custom kitchen and bathroom designs to get brand new ones.

Empty Wall Space

If you’ve got few windows and a big bathroom, you might hate all that empty wall space. White or cream colored walls can feel like a prison cell in the morning. If you need to break up your wall space with something better, consider hanging shelves or art. Art can serve as faux windows, and shelves can make a space feel cozier, despite its size.

Image: Twenty20.com

Ugly Tiles

If you’re stuck with ugly 70s tiles, then we feel your pain. Plenty of bathrooms suffer from outdated tiles. Whether they’re sunshine yellow, mint green, or Pepto Bismol pink, your outdated tiles need to go. If you can’t afford to replace them, you can try painting over them, or better yet–installing tile decals. If you rent, you can peel them off when you go, and your bathroom will look gorgeous as long as they’re on.

Shower Wall

If your tub or shower is looking old and grungy, it can depress even those morning pick-me-up showers. If you’ve cleaned to no avail, it might be time to transform your shower and bathtub. A Brimfield, MA local granite distributor could help you install gorgeous shower walls of dark granite. That’s a tub you’ll never get tired of.

Too Much Space
If your bathroom is too large, it can feel impossible to fill. You won’t keep anything moisture sensitive in your bathroom, but a large bathroom can feel like a huge waste of space. Instead of leaving your walls and floor bare, put up those shelves we suggested. If you’ve got a window or two, you can actually grow an entire indoor garden in your bathroom. The plants will love the moisture, and you’ll love the green.

Too Little Space

Image: Twenty20.com

You might have the exact opposite problem. Your bathroom might have barely enough space for a shower, toilet, and sink. If you suffer from lack of floor, try to make the most of your walls. You can start storing towels on shelves, or keep a basket of toilet paper rolls under the sink. Keep your bathroom-items at a minimal, but store them up high, since you have more vertical than horizontal space.