How To Moisturize Your Face And Avoid Acne

Finding the balance of moisture and acne-free skin can be extremely difficult, especially if one is prone to breakouts. Unfortunately, it is easy to have both acne-plagued and dry skin while attempting to clear one’s complexion. The good news is that there is a way to help clear up skin while locking in moisture.

Wash Face Twice a Day

It’s a old saying: wash your face twice a day. There is both good advice and truth in that old adage. Washing one’s face twice daily helps keep blemishes at bay. It is important to wash one’s face gently and be sure to remove all dirt and oil. Exfoliating once or twice a week is also an excellent idea. It is crucial to wash one’s face right before bedtime since most blemishes appear during sleep. It is also a great idea to keep pillowcases clean so that acne has a less chance of developing overnight.

Use Blemish Control Wash

Unfortunately, washing one’s face twice daily may not be enough for most people. It is critical to keep an acne treatment plan that works best for you. It’s always an excellent idea to have a daily acne treatment regime because this is what helps eliminate acne.

What is essential to any daily regime is to use a blemish control wash that is soft and gentle on skin. Do not use the same soap one uses to shower with—often there are extra chemicals in such soaps that can clog pores. Many blemish control washes use salicylic acid which helps keep skin clear and glowing.

Use Moisturize with Salicylic Acid

After washing and using an acne prevention treatment, one has to moisture in order to keep skin from flaking. There are many different varieties available to moisturize skin and help protect against outbreaks. The key to soft skin that’s acne free is to treat acne and moisturize so that extra oil is not produced. Having dry skin can promote blemishes so it is important to maintain some degree of moisture in order to halt blemishes before they pop up.

Moisturizers that contain salicylic acid tend to be the best because they help keep acne at bay. The most important advice to remember is to be aware of what touches one’s face—including makeup. There are concealers that are specially developed that help hide acne while fighting it with enriched salicylic acid.

How To Prevent Urinary Tract Infection Naturally

Urinary tract infection, or UTI, can be quite painful. Many natural cures are available to prevent a urinary tract infection naturally.

Many women have experienced the pain of a urinary tract infection, or UTI, at some point. Reoccurring urinary tract infections are quite common. Men also experience UTI, but at a much lower rate. For many, the goal is to prevent a urinary tract infection naturally.

Prevent a Urinary Tract Infection Naturally with small Changes to Diet

Small changes to diet can go a long way toward preventing a urinary tract infection naturally. Studies have shown that eating yogurt with live, active cultures can help to encourage the growth of good bacteria in the bladder and kidneys.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that taking probiotics can also encourage good bacteria. It would follow that eating yogurt with live, active cultures infused with probiotics may help to encourage the growth of good bacteria, thus preventing bad bacteria from taking over the urinary tract.

Eat more cranberries and blueberries to prevent urinary tract infection naturally. These berries contain naturally occurring compounds which aid in keeping the urinary tract free from harmful bacteria. Another item to try would be dandelion root. This herb has been shown to cause slight bladder palpitations which help to flush out the system. Dandelion root also improves liver function.

Prevent a Urinary Tract Infection Naturally with small Changes to Lifestyle

The old adage about drinking eight eight-ounce glasses of water may have recently been debunked, but everyone should still strive to maintain proper hydration throughout the day. Drinking more water can be helpful for a lot of bodily systems, and it can definitely help to prevent a urinary tract infection naturally. If one feels a dry mouth, he or she is already dehydrated. It is especially important for those combating reoccurring UTIs to always stay hydrated.

A good habit to get into to prevent a urinary tract infection naturally is to use the bathroom whenever the urge strikes. If one feels he or she must go to the bathroom more frequently than every hour, she or he may already have a bladder infection. But taking a break every two hours or so is a good way to ensure all bad bacteria that may be present get flushed out. Holding it too long can cause the bad bacteria to grow.

Along with using the bathroom every so often, it is very important for ladies to go before and after intercourse. This will ensure the area is clean, preventing the build-up of bad bacteria if it does happen to be transmitted during intercourse.

Also, while in the bathroom, be sure to wipe front to back, not back to front. The most common cause of urinary tract infections in women is the e. Coli bacteria, which is commonly found in the anus. Using care while wiping after bathroom trips will ensure that the e. Coli bacteria does not get transmitted.

How To Prevent Holiday Weight Gain

For the average person weight gain is a result of eating too much and exercising too little, which is why weight gain over the holiday period is particularly common, as people choose to sit in front of their televisions stuffing themselves with food, rather than going for a walk or jog.

There are all those festive films and television shows which are just not to be missed, and besides who exactly wants to leave the warmth and cosiness of their home just to trudge through the snow in the freezing cold? Then there is all that food which simply has to be eaten before it goes off. Nobody wants any food to go to waste, and so everybody ends up eating more than they should.

It is therefore a good idea not to stock up on too much food over the holidays. In years gone by when shops were shut for longer than just a day or two, people had to make sure they had enough food to last. Nowadays, however, most shops are open the day after Christmas; there are even a few shops that open on Christmas Day.

The point is that the more food people buy in, the likelier they are to eat more, and it can be convenient to use the expiry date of an item as an excuse to get rid of it quickly (by eating it). Usually people find that they are also besieged by gifts of chocolates and sweets, anyway, which gives them another potential source of excess calories.

The holidays should be a time for relaxing, not obsessing over every calorie, but it is perhaps a wise idea for individuals to monitor their calorie intake; otherwise they may end up paying for it when they step on the scales after the New Year, or find that they can no longer fit into their favourite clothes.

If they want to prevent this from happening they should limit the amount of calories they consume by choosing healthier options, and by eating what they want but in reasonable portions. They shouldn’t use the holidays as an excuse for a two-week binge on all the food and drink they want, unless they are prepared to pay the price for it.

They should also consider getting more physically active, as it can be a good way for the family to spend time together without sitting in front of the television or at the dining table. They could go for a walk or a bicycle ride, or if it is snowing they could have a snowball fight and run around in the snow.

Going outside might not seem too appealing when it is cold outside, but individuals can console themselves with the thought of the extra calories they can consume when they get home without having to worry what the implications will be for their weight.

Sometimes it can be good for people to relax their routine a bit during the holidays, but it is important not to go overboard if they don’t want to have to spend the next few months trying to lose weight, and if they want to remain in control of their weight they can do so, as long as they stay focused on their diet and activity levels.

How To Prevent Ice Burns

Ever try to ice a strain or other injury with an ice pack only to find that it has caused an ice burn? Learn how to prevent ice burn when treating injuries.

Ice burns happens frequently. Whether it is a case of forgetting that ice or an ice pack is being applied or that the ice or ice pack is too cold, it has happened to many people. An ice burn happens when ice is applied directly to the skin for too long. It has the same properties as frost bite and can cause the same results.

What is an Ice Burn?

Ice burns are like frost bite to a specific area where ice has been applied for too long or at too low of a temperature. The blood in the skin of the affected area is slowed to a point where the applied ice can start to freeze it. Left for too long, this can cause serious tissue damage. This can happen very quickly, in only 10-20 minutes.

How to Prevent an Ice Burn

Ice burn can be prevented in a number of ways. One method is to put a barrier between the skin and the ice. Wrap the ice in a tea towel or something similar to prevent the ice coming into direct contact with the skin. Direct contact with the skin is the fastest way that ice burns happen. Another good tip for avoiding ice burn is to only ice the area for a short time. Many professionals suggest leaving the ice on for 20 minutes, then taking it off for 20 minutes.

How to Tell if an Ice Burn Has Occurred

An ice burn can be identified by examining the area. The skin will be white, rough and icy to the touch. There may be no feeling on the spot where the ice was applied. After some time, a bit of color may come back to the area, but sometimes in more severe cases color will not come back for longer.

How to Treat an Ice Burn

Treating an ice burn is very similar to treating frost bite. The affected skin needs to be brought back up to normal body temperature. Do not massage the area, as this may cause cell damage to the skin. Running a bath and slowly increasing the temperature is the most common way of treating frost bite. The more gradually the skin is brought back up to the right temperature, the better. Once brought back up to the correct temperature, use a burn ointment and wrap the burned area in a gauze cloth to prevent any contaminants from getting to the area.

Sometimes the skin will turn black and blue, as it is likely that a bruise due to the rupturing of blood vessels has formed. If the next day the skin is still black or purple, go to a doctor as there may be severe damage to the area. If left untreated, ice burns resulting in blisters can become infected.

As with all first aid, be careful, especially when using ice, as many people don’t think it could hurt, when in fact is has the potential to cause very serious issues. If there are any concerns about the health of skin or the severity of an ice burn, do not hesitate to go to a doctor.

How To Reduce Post Holiday Debt

Many people find themselves in debt after the holiday season. Often, it was unintentional, or for many in tough economic times, it is the only way they can get through the season. In any event, it is done and over worth, and now it must be dealt with. Debt can spiral out of control the longer one avoids it. These steps will help you deal with your holiday debt, and help you become debt-free.

STEP ONE: Gather all your bills and cards.

If you don’t have your more recent statements yet, get online and retrieve one. Take all your cards and store them in a safe place. You must commit to not incur any more debt while you are paying off your holiday debt.

STEP TWO: Make a list of your debts.

List all your cards, their balances, interest rates, minimum payments and payment due dates. This will give you a clear picture of your debts. Add up your total debt and you total minimum payments due each month.

STEP THREE: Go over your budget.

Go over your entire budget and see how much you can allocate to credit cards. Can you cut out some extra’s while you are paying off your holiday debt? Perhaps you may want to consider picking up some extra hours at work or even taking on a second job. Selling unwanted items on craigslist or ebay can also bring in some extra cash. Use this extra money to pay off your holiday debt.

STEP FOUR: Pay off your smallest balance credit card first.

Order your credit cards from lowest balance to highest balance. Take that minimum payment and double it if you can, or pay as much on this card as possible. Any extra money should go to this card until it is paid off. Once this debt is paid off, move on to the next card with the lowest balance.

STEP FIVE: Pay the minimum on the rest of the cards.

Pay only the minimum on your other cards as all your extra cash should go toward your smallest balance.

STEP SIX: Start a Holiday Savings Account.

Calculate what you need or want to spend for the next holiday season and start saving. This will help you avoid falling into debt again as the next holiday season approaches. Find a high interest savings account, or open a CD (Certificate of Deposit) if you are able.

STEP SEVEN: Realize that holidays are not about spending money, but being with family and friends.

Many people get swept up in the holiday shopping season, but it is important to remember that the holidays are not about material items, but being with family and friends.

Congratulations on taking the first step to paying off your holiday debt! You can do it if you put your mind to it and work at it.

How To Self Love

Tapping into and expressing the wisdom within the soul is the ultimate of love stories.

The ways in which folks often think of and practice self love are normally very limiting. One person may purchase material items to fill a void and another may have collection of boyfriends to meet her ever growing search and need for happiness. These examples of methods that people often utilize only bring short term satisfaction and never fulfill one’s true need and desire; to quench the spiritual thirst for balance, wholeness, peace, joy and endless love.

What is the Way to Lasting Self Love?

Some believe that the way to lasting self love is to honor the divine within. The divine within is that aspect of self which exists in the realm of the infinite, the home of the all encompassing creator. This aspect of self is often called the ” higher self.” One can connect with higher self through the soul.

What is the Soul?

The soul is considered to be the whole aspect of a person in their expression in this life, and is that part of us that lives through all our earth lives, incarnating in different bodies. It is aware of the expanded version of self which lives outside of space and time constraints. The soul acts as a bridge to higher self.

When accessed, the higher self or spirit ushers in to help in the growth process from human evolution to divine realization. The goal is to bring in light and allow for higher achievements in growing spiritually in consciousness. This not only helps the person doing the exercise, but also helps the all.

How to Honor the Divine Within

There are several ways to honor the divine aspect of self, the soul. Spending time each day to connect on this level deepens the love of self, which in turn many feel is the act of also awakening the God within. Loving self in this way has been known to open the doors to one’s fullest potential.

1. Appreciate the unique soul within self; recognize, contemplate and express in a journal this love.
2. Call upon the soul for guidance and intuition concerning what is best for growth and spiritual evolution.
3. Trust this inner wisdom to reveal how much sleep is necessary, how much outdoor sun time is beneficial, what to eat and which activities are most regenerative for body, mind and spirit.
4. Only allow thoughts and feelings of higher frequency; love, joy, appreciation, gratitude, sharing, caring etc.
5. When a negative though arises, turn the other cheek. Reach for a better feeling thought, ask your soul to show you a better feeling thought.
6. Loving and accepting self right in the here and now. In the present moment, supporting and loving and forgiving self.
7. When a situation arises, know that the soul, connected to higher self, is pouring love upon the issue if given the green light to do so. Know that the soul holds tremendous love that is accessed by opening up to it. Methods for opening up to soul love: meditation, intention, asking or imagining the soul pouring light into any issue or creation to bring it to its highest.

To honor the divine within is to connect on a soul level. To connect on a soul level is to carry out this love thyself. Loving self is to appreciate to the soul, trust in inner wisdom, to entertain only joyful and blissful thoughts as best as possible, to know that endless love is always available, and to remember to stay present in the moment.

Cheesecake Recipe How To Make A Dessert To Satisfy Any Taste

A simple, classic cheesecake recipe with a graham cracker crust. This dessert is perfect for summer entertaining and holidays!

The best and easiest cheesecake recipe. Whether you’re a fan of chocolate cake or a zesty lemon dessert, this cheesecake can become your every desire. A baked cheesecake is a very simple dessert to make. Not only is it deathly easy, but it looks and tastes like a slice of heaven.

The beauty of this cheesecake recipe is that you can make it what you want. Whether you are spending a fragrant spring day in the park with a strawberry cheesecake or a cozy evening at home, indulging in a chocolate cheesecake by the fireplace.

A Basic Base Recipe

 The easiest way to do this is with a packet of shortbread biscuits and 40g of butter.
 Use up all that unwanted frustration and crush those biscuits to fine crumbs - don't stress if the pieces are still a little chunky.
 Melt the butter and combine with the biscuit crumbs, then press the mixture into your desired tin - 22cm should do the trick. Springform tins are a godsend with this recipe, I highly recommend!
 Once you have a firmly pressed biscuit base in the bottom of your tin, put it in the refrigerator and move on to the filling.

If you are highly skilled in the kitchen as I am, or just have a little extra time on your hands, add these few extra steps for a deliciously crumbly melt in the mouth chocolate base.

Before adding the butter to the biscuit crumbs, add 2 Tbs of cocoa powder, 2 Tbs of plain flour and 2-3 Tbs of caster sugar. Combine well before adding the melted butter and proceed as above. Before putting this base in the refrigerator, I like to bake it in a high oven for 5-10 minutes. Allow the base to cool, then place it in the refrigerator.

A Simple, Yet Tasty Filling For Any Cheesecake Recipe

This is a very basic cheesecake recipe, but I guarantee you it will taste divine!

Ingredients

 400g cream cheese
 200ml sour cream
 3/4 cup of caster sugar
 3 large eggs
 2 Tbs plain flour
 1 tsp vanilla extract (or perhaps strawberry extract?)

You may already have your oven set to high from when you baked the base, but now is the time to drop it down to 180°C. Beat the cream cheese with electric mixers until smooth. Add the sour cream, sugar and vanilla. The eggs should be added one at a time, beating well after each addition. Finally, add the flour.

Pour the mixture on to your cooled base and bake for 40 minutes, or until set. The cheesecake should still be slightly wobbly in the centre. Turn off the oven, and leave the cheesecake inside to cool with the door ajar.

For a little extra tang, add a squeeze of lemon and some freshly grated lemon rind for a zesty lemon cheesecake.

If a chocolate cheesecake recipe is what you’re taste buds are looking for, add 1-2 Tbs of cocoa powder.

Dress your Cheesecake to Impress – Topping Tips

Now this is the fun part, get creative and make the cheesecake your own.

Here are a few ideas I have tried.

Rich Seductive Decadence – cover with a chocolate ganache, then top with strawberries and grated white chocolate.

Spring Fruity Fresh – whipped cream with a little crème fraîche for extra tang, topped with a delicious berry sauce made with fresh mixed berries, lemon juice and sugar.

Festive Winter Spice – whipped cream with icing sugar, orange zest and spiced rum, then decorate with candied orange zest and cinnamon sticks.

The possibilities are endless and there are no rules! Well, no rules if you follow basic cooking guidelines. Yes, the cream will run off if the chocolate is too hot. I understand it’s a cheesecake but no, I wouldn’t top with grated cheddar cheese.

Enjoy this recipe in large quantities with a side of sheer pleasure.

How To Make Buttermilk Pancakes With Maple Syrup

These pancakes are the best pancakes ever – light and fluffy, with a crisp exterior edge. You’ll never go back to plain old pancake mix again!

Pancake day falls on Tuesday, March 1 this year. Here is an easy recipe for Canadian buttermilk pancakes, with suggestions on recommended equipment for the best results.

Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day is part of the Christian calendar and is the day before Lent starts. Lent is traditionally a period of abstinence: 40 days and nights of prayer and fasting, and the idea of eating pancakes the day before was based on people using up rich ingredients in the larder such as eggs and butter, as these were not allowed during Lent.

The word ‘shrove’ means to confess your sins and ask for forgiveness. Cultures around the world celebrate this time of year in different ways – in the US it is pancake day, in Brazil, carnival time, and in France it is known as Mardi Gras, which literally means ‘fat Tuesday’ – though pancakes don’t have to be fattening!

Here is an easy-to-make recipe for Canadian buttermilk pancakes with maple syrup, based on a recipe by supercook Delia Smith. She recommends using pure maple syrup, which originates from the sap of maple trees in Canada, for the best taste, and serving them straight from the pan with a little crème fraîche.

Buttermilk Pancakes With Maple Syrup

Ingredients (serves 6):

 5 oz (150g) plain flour
 1/2 tspn of baking powder
 A pinch of salt
 4 fl oz (120ml) buttermilk
 3fl oz (75ml) cold water
 3 large eggs
 1-2 oz (25-50g) lard
 Pure maple syrup and crème fraîche, to serve

Directions:

  1. Sieve the flour, salt and baking powder in a bowl. Whisk up the buttermilk and water, and slowly fold in to the flour mixture. Alternate adding the flour and buttermilk until all the mixture is used up.
  2. Whisk up the eggs and add to the mixture until smooth.
  3. Gently heat a large, heavy frying pan then add a little lard and heat moderately for one minute.
  4. Measure a tbsp of batter (one pancake) and add 2-3 spoons to the frying pan.
  5. Cook for one minute until golden brown then gently flip with a spatula and cook the other side for 45 seconds. The pancakes should resemble small soufflés.
  6. Remove from the pan and put them on absorbent kitchen roll before serving.
  7. Repeat this process until you have used up all of the batter (you can also save batter in the fridge for up to a week).
  8. Serve immediately on warm plates with lots of pure maple syrup and crème fraîche.

Sweet and Savoury Pancake Recipes

There are many delicious ways to serve pancakes and it doesn’t have to be Shrove Tuesday to indulge. Test out old family recipes and experiment with fillings. Chocolate chips, apple and blueberry are great for a sweet tooth at breakfast, and cheese & onion, potato, and chicken are nutritional fillings for a quick lunch or supper. Any excess mixture can be frozen for later.

For the best results (and less cleaning) invest in a proper crêpe pan, or a heavy non-stick frying pan.

Happy Pancake Day!

How To Make Caramel Bananas

This caramelized banana recipe includes step-by-step instructions with tips and tricks that will help you get the best results when making this sweet treat.

Overly ripe bananas make a good dessert item even if they are not baked into a cake, quick bread, or pie. They can also be eaten with homemade caramel.

Very ripe bananas are often not good for consumption as is, and if they are not part of a cake, quick bread, or pie, they can be used with caramel. All that is required are very ripe bananas and sugar, whether white or brown (light or dark).

Bananas originated in Malaysia, and from there they traveled to India. While Chinese plantations were tending bananas in 200 BCE, the fruit became popular with the Chinese masses only in the 20th century, and that the Americans first tasted the banana in 1876 — the first to arrive in their country, wrapped in tin foil with eating instructions and sold in Pennsylvania for 10 cents to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Bananas make a quick and nutritious snack, as evident from their creamy texture and their iron and potassium content, respectively.

Caramel, on the other hand, has earlier origins and was in fact first recorded in the English language in 1725. The word originated from the Spanish word, “caramelo”. However, it referred to burnt sugar, not the candy known and enjoyed in America and Europe. The word is used in this sense in this recipe also, as caramel is in essence burnt sugar.

The delicate and creamy taste and texture of bananas and the darker, slightly bittersweet taste of caramel make these two items a good combination. The use of light brown sugar is recommended, as it is more wholesome than white sugar. This sugar by itself is low in overall calories. These caramel bananas can be topped with light whipped cream, light vanilla ice-cream, or frozen vanilla yogurt if desired. This dessert can be served either warm or cold.

Ingredients & Preparation Tips

 Overly ripe bananas should be used, as less ripe bananas will not taste good, especially for this type of dish.
 Light brown sugar should be chosen over dark brown or white sugar for its more delicate taste and greater nutrition value, respectively.
 If a topping is used, only light whipped cream, light vanilla ice-cream, or vanilla frozen yogurt should be used.

Caramel Bananas

Ingredients:

 2 overly ripe bananas, mashed
 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
 A dollop of light whipped cream, such as Reddiwhip or Cool Whip, or a scoop of light vanilla ice-cream or vanilla frozen yogurt as a topping (optional)

Directions:

  1. Remove bananas from peel. Mash with a fork.
  2. Heat a non-stick skillet and add the sugar until it melts and turns brown, and thus becomes caramel.
  3. Add bananas and stir gently until coated with the caramel.
  4. Remove from heat and serve warm or cold with whipped cream, light vanilla ice-cream, or vanilla frozen yogurt if using topping.

This delicious banana dessert yields 2 servings.

How To Make Exercise More Fun

There are many great ways to make exercising more fun. One of the best methods that I use that always makes my exercise workouts more fun is very simple. It is just listening to music while I workout.

Listening to music while I workout always makes exercising quite a lot more fun for me and always makes the time fly by very fast. Also, listening to music while I workout helps me to keep myself from focusing too much on any pain or discomfort that I might encounter during my workout, such as cramps, strains, etc. And in order to be able to listen to music while still retaining the ability to efficiently perform and and every kind of exercise workout, I usually choose to wear a relatively small in size MP3 player with earbud speakers.

This setup has always worked exceptionally well for me and I continue to use it each and every day. Another great way to make exercising more fun is just to perform your workouts in an environment that you enjoy.

For instance, if you are a person that enjoys being in the outdoors more than he likes being inside, I would recommend that you perform your exercise workouts in the outdoors, This will enable you to be able to enjoy your environment while you exercise. This will really help you to stay focused and to overlook any small amounts of discomfort that you might encounter.

Yet another way to make exercising more fun is to choose whether or not you are a person who enjoys working out alone or with a friend / friends. If you like working out with your friends, you should try to invite your friends along every time you workout. Or if you like to exercise alone, you should try to find some time in your schedule when you can just be alone. This will really make exercising more fun.

And of course, the individual types of exercises that you perform in your workouts can have a profound effect upon how much you enjoy excercising. For example, if you are a person who enjoys a great deal of rapid physical movement and you do not like to sit still, I would highly recommend that you partake in a great deal of running / jogging workouts. Or if you like to do a lot of weight – lifting, I recommend that you try to incorporate more of this in your exercise workouts.

Either way, if you try to incorporate into your workouts the individual types of exercises that you like the most, you will find that you will find your excersing to be quite a lot more fun and entertaining.