Will Using Organic Skin Care Products Make You Healthier?

Organic products have an overall benefit to your skin and health just as doing organic food has to your body. Use organic products not because it is trendy but because it is beneficial to your health, your skin, and the environment around you.

Organic skincare products are created with pure, natural ingredients that nourish your skin with necessary nutrients. The natural and organic ingredients will improve your skin and make it moisturized, healthier, and capable of taking care of itself.

Skin Care And General Health

The skin is the largest body organ covering almost 95% of your body. It absorbs at least a fifth what we apply on it into our bloodstream. This means that whatever you rub on your skin will affect how your body works and feels.

Being the largest organ in your body, looking after your skin, will contribute to your general health.

Synthetic And Chemical Skin Care Products

Skincare products range from creams, lotions, body splashes, fragrances, and soaps. Most of these products use either synthetic, natural, or a mixture of both in their ingredients.

Synthetic ingredients expose your skin to harmful chemicals that can cause great harm. Although they tend to have fast results, the invasiveness tends to do more bad than good.

Harmful skincare products can slip into the water when you wash and get into the drainage systems. These chemical contaminations have the potential to harm aquatic life and affect farm produce. The extent of these chemicals is not just about what can happen to you but also how it can cause harm to the environment.

The next time you’re out shopping for skincare products, avoid products that contain bioactive compounds such as synthetic colors and fragrances. These can cause allergic reactions and also change your behavior.

Synthetic skin care products can be harmful both to your skin and also to the environment.

Some studies link the presence of Sulfates such as sodium lauryl sulfate in skincare products to the leading cause of skin irritation problems.

According to a 2009 study by Researchers of the Japan Bioassay Research Center, a 1.4 dioxane high carcinogenicity may cause a lifetime cancer risk to humans. Therefore, look out for ethoxylated ingredients such as polysorbates or any other ingredients that end with an ‘ates’ to stay safe.

Petrochemicals, parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, and triclosan may cause pore cloggings and endocrine disruption, among other skin conditions.

Other effects of synthetic skin care products include photosensitivity, hormonal disruptions, skin asphyxiation, and premature aging.

When shopping, look out for any trusted brands that are certified organic skin care products. Skin care products with certified organic seals contain 95 percent organic ingredients and comply with the National Organic Program’s standards of handling and production of natural organic products.

Organic Skin Care Products

The best organic skincare products give your skin the healthy, smooth glow that you want without ever affecting your health.

Organic skincare products are made out of ingredients that are not genetically modified, fertilized by any synthetic fertilizers, nor pesticides and sewerage used to speed their growth. They are crafted from their best, natural organic state, into skincare products for the best results.

You can start an organic “makeover” by simply changing from body wash to organic soap. Most body washes have sulfates as a foaming agent and synthetic fragrances. These can cause your skin to dehydrate fast and irritate your skin.

Using organic skin care products will benefit not just your skin but your overall health.

By changing to an organic bath or facial soap, you infuse natural oils and nutrients that your skin needs to remain glowing, moisturized, and radiant. This also reduces your skin’s exposure to harmful chemicals.

You can keep your skin moisturized throughout the day by ditching the lotion and switching to high-quality body oil. There are also options for organic scrubs that will make your skin more receptive to the organic nutrients that you put on it.

Organic products have an overall benefit to your skin and health just as eating organic food has to your body. Use organic and natural products not only because it is encouraged by society, but also because it is beneficial to your health, your skin, and the environment around you.

Best Sunscreen For The Winter

Wearing sunscreen during winter may seem counter-intuitive. But research has proved that no amount of cloud cover can protect your skin from harmful UV radiation. Granted…..

Wearing sunscreen during winter may seem counter-intuitive. But research has proven that no amount of cloud cover can protect your skin from harmful UV radiation. Luckily UVB rays, which cause sunburns and redness, are much weaker during winter.

UVA rays are out in full force all year long. UVA rays are responsible for accelerating skin aging. UVA rays account for 95% of rays that penetrate your skin, and their effects cause a much deeper feeling. Applying sunscreen should, therefore, be an all-year-round affair.

Snow Intensifies Radiation Exposure

The snow and ice during winter reflect 80% of the UV radiation that reaches the earth’s surface, nearly doubling its intensity. So if the allure of the outdoors is too much for you to bear during winter, ensure you apply a fair amount of sunscreen before you head out.

Snow can intensify radiation exposure through its reflection

Winter Sports Increases The Risk Of UV Exposure.

If you’re a winter sports enthusiast, sunscreen is an absolute necessity. According to research by the Skin Cancer Foundation, the intensity of UV rays increases with an increase in altitude. For every 1,000 feet increase in height above sea level, exposure to UV radiation increases by 4 to 5 percent. If you spend a lot of time snowboarding and mountain skiing, ensure you apply at least 30 SPF of sunscreen to protect your skin from the harmful rays.

Winter sports will expose you to harmful rays from the sun. In addition if you are at a higher altitude this can cause further harm.

Winter Weather Erodes Sunscreen Protection

When the sun shines directly on your skin, your body will eventually sweat off the sunscreen, thus necessitating reapplication. What you may not realize, however, is that harsh winter conditions will erode your skin protection even faster. The strong winds and the snow will wear away your sunscreen and eventually expose your skin to harmful UV rays. Applying sunscreen in the morning is not enough. You should consider reapplying every two hours and especially after sweating.

Sensitive Skin During Winter

Your skin responds to changes in weather, too. The skin is tanned during summer and gets more pale and drier during winter. The tan is a result of increased melanin concentration to protect the skin from UV radiation. Since the skin is less tanned during winter, it is more sensitive to the sun’s UV radiation. You must, therefore, apply sunscreen constantly to counter these effects. If you have pigmentation spots, you can try Intensive Skin Corrector, a fantastic product that quickly fads the spots without drying out the skin.

If you have sensitive skin then you should be even more careful to protect yourself against the sun’s rays

The Ozone Layer Is Thinnest During Winter

The ozone layer acts as a natural sunscreen. It is nature’s way of protecting your skin from harmful UV radiation that accelerates skin aging. While its effect is strong during summertime, it may not be as effective during winter. Ozone levels are lowest between December and March in the Northern Hemisphere. So you need that bottle of sunscreen even more during winter.

Indoor Dangers

If you intend to spend most of your time indoors during the winter period, you are not exempt from the dangers of UV radiation. According to Dendy Engelman, a dermatologist based in New York, small amounts of infrared and ambient light from your overhead lamps and computer screens can still stimulate your pigment cells. Enjoying the outside view through the window still puts you at risk since UV rays can penetrate glass. Whether you spend your time outdoors or are holed up in the house, you still need sunscreen protection.

Even if you are indoors, you should use the best winter sunscreen to avoid damage to your skin.

In Summary

Sunscreen is an absolute necessity whether you expose yourself to direct sunlight or not. Research has demonstrated that UVA radiation can still penetrate cloud cover and eventually, your skin, thus leading to increased risk of skin cancer and premature aging. Those who participate in activities such as mountain skiing face greater exposure since the snow and ice reflect sunlight and UV radiation increases with an increase in altitude. You need to protect your skin by applying enough sunscreen all year round and more, especially during the winter season.

6 ways to surprise your partner on Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and as it gets closer, people start racking their heads trying to think of ways to show how much they love their partners…..

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and you probably want to start thinking of ways to show how much you love your partner. Getting them a gift has always worked, but sometimes you need to think outside the box and come up with other ideas.

The following are six ways to surprise your partner on Valentine’s Day:

1. Breakfast in bed

This is the way to go if you want to kick off your valentine’s day on a high note. However, it can’t just be an ordinary breakfast. Make your partner his/her favorite breakfast and serve it to them like the king or queen they should feel they are. You can even use the food to pass a message to them, for instance, through heart-shaped pancakes.

2. Make them an album or compilation video of your memorable moments together

If you have been together for a while, create a photo album of things that you have done together.

If you’ve been together for a long time, you probably have thousands of pictures and videos you’ve taken together. Go through them and pick those that you know have some emotional meaning or were taken during special moments. You may need your geeky nephew’s help to make the video if you are not tech-savvy.

3. Take them on a surprise getaway trip

couple holding hands — A getaway for just the two of you can be great for your relationship.

A lot of couples never get to enjoy time alone and together, especially with young kids or jobs that don’t allow them to see each other enough. A getaway trip is perfect for getting you and your partner some alone time away from the regular schedule. The trip doesn’t have to be expensive. Even if just a day, you get to spend quality time with your partner without worrying about other people or responsibilities back home.

4. Be creative or crafty

heart made from yarn — If you do it correctly, then a hand-made gift can go down really well.

Getting your loved one an expensive gift may make them smile, but what will bring tears to their eyes – hopefully of happiness – is giving them a gift that you made for them. Think of what they love and have a passion for. Use that as inspiration to craft the perfect gift. Something you can try is making them DIY cards with special messages that mean something just to them. This is far more thoughtful than generic messages found in other cards.

5. Take a trip down memory lane

Every couple has those moments that truly define their relationship and love for each other. Surprise your partner by going to some of the places where those moments happened, such as where you first met or where you first kissed. Reliving old memories together helps both of you remember where it all started and why you fell for each other.

6. Surprise them with flowers at their workplace

Flowers are accepted all over the world as the gift that shows your love for someone. Sending flowers to your partner at their workplace makes them feel appreciated especially since they get to show it off to other workmates. You can even go the extra mile and make the delivery yourself. You can include a heartfelt note saying how much you love them or what you plan to do to them later that night.

7. Have their favorite cocktail waiting for them when they get home

Research really exotic sexy cocktails, you know, the really pretty ones you have to make an effort to prepare with names like Blushing Geisha and Love Potion #9 . Get it all ready and then have it waiting for your partner when they get home. For bonus points wear something sexy to correspond. Here’s a link to some Valentine’s Day Cocktails to get your inspired.

BONUS Make sure your bikini line is tidied up

You’ll really get bonus points if you tidy up the bikini line. Here are some great ways to do it, at home. Read more here.