Category Archives: BEAUTY

Tips, tricks, and favorite hacks for all-things beauty.

BEAUTY, ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME, SEX & LIFE

Take Charge of Your Health: Get More Sleep

By Guest Blogger, Sarah C.,

Take Charge of Your Health: Get More Sleep

Man Relaxing Under the Sun — Image by © Royalty-Free/Corbis

When it comes to getting healthy we hear an awful lot about exercise regimes and fad diets. What we don’t hear quite as much about is sleep. Why is that? Maybe it’s because sleep is something you can do for free!

 

Obviously diet and exercise are important but the lack of attention paid to sleep is surprising considering how vital a role it plays in both our physical and mental health.

 

What’s more, how well we sleep also plays a huge part in our capacity for exercise and our ability to maintain a healthy diet. So, while those two might be the pillars of a healthy life, good sleep is the foundation on which they stand.

 

Read on below to discover just how important sleep is for your health and why you should spend more time thinking about it…

 

Boost to the immune system

 

Our bodies are amazing things, while we lie asleep at night they get busy and go to work repairing themselves from the hardships of the day. If our sleep is broken these processes are obviously disrupted and don’t function nearly as well. That in a nutshell is why we feel bad if we don’t get sufficient sleep.

 

One very important process that takes place while we sleep is the production of cytokines, also known as the things that bravely fight off bacteria and viruses. These little guys are the cornerstone of our immune system.

 

If we’re sleep-deprived our immune system becomes impaired, meaning we are less able to fight off infection and less able to bounce back once we become infected. The result is more colds, more flu and more sick days to get over them. Not fun!

 

The heart of the matter

 

Not only does sleep improve your resistance to viruses such flu and colds, it also reduces your risk of being afflicted by a whole host of more serious conditions. Chief amongst these are strokes, heart disease and heart attacks.

 

When it comes to sleep and heart health the exact mechanisms at play aren’t exactly known. One theory simply relates to wear and tear, when we sleep our blood pressure drops and our heart has to do less work. If we sleep less, our heart doesn’t get this break.

 

This means two people of the very same age may have hearts who have done considerably different amounts of work, simply due to a difference in sleep patterns.

 

Has this info got you clutching at your chest in surprise? Well, for advice on how to get a handle on your own sleep patterns why not turn to those in the know, head on over to the Sleep Advisor for specialist advice.

 

Improves weight loss

 

So you’ve been up every morning jogging and you’ve been knocking back those disgusting wheatgrass smoothies but still your waistline hasn’t budged. Why is this? Well, it could be because you’re not getting enough shuteye.

 

Firstly, when we are sleepy we have reduced willpower, meaning we are far more likely to hit the candy jar than when we’ve slept well.

 

Secondly, even if you’ve the willpower to resist temptation, not getting enough sleep will still impact your weight. Not fair I know!

 

Researchers at Chicago University have discovered that our bodies actually process food less efficiently when tired. Apparently when sleep-deprived our fat cells suffer from a condition called ‘metabolic grogginess’. Who knew?

 

Without getting too deep into technicalities, when tired our fat cells are unable to correctly respond to the hormone insulin. Insulin controls how fatty acids and lipids get used and stored. When tired it seems our bodies end up storing more fat than it should.

 

What’s more, metabolic grogginess can lead to fat being stored in the wrong places, such as the tissue in our liver. The result of this can be diabetes. Yikes!

 

So, keep up the jogs and keep knocking back those ‘tasty’ green leaf drinks by all means. But also add a couple of extra hours in bed to your regime and you’ll soon be dropping a few notches on your belt.

 

A brighter tomorrow

 

Sleep isn’t just good for our physical health it’s also strongly linked to our mental health. Such is the link in fact, it’s been reported that insomniacs are five times more likely to suffer from depression as well-rested individuals.

 

Once again the exact reasons for the link between sleep and mental health aren’t completely understood. What we do know is that while we sleep our body attempts to regulate the levels of stress hormones in our system. If this process is constantly interrupted it stands to reasons that it will be less successful, resulting in imbalances and with them a less balanced emotional outlook.

 

There you have it – four reasons why sleep is essential for your health. Who knew that lying in bed for a few more hours could be so good for you? Nighty night!

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

BEAUTY

Beauty Tips We Know You’ll Love

Beauty Tips We Know You’ll Love

Beauty is just amazing, and we all have it in our own unique ways. There are some people that care about beauty and their image more, there are some people who prefer to stick with their natural beauty. Whichever one you are, we know we’ve got some tricks and tips up our sleeve that we know you’ll love. There always seems to be a certain air of competition around lately, especially due to social media. The way in which people apply makeup and look after their body is rapidly changing, all down to the different influences in the world. When going on a quest for better beauty, it is important not to lose yourself. Behind the makeup, it is important to remember you’re just like everybody else. So to help you on your beauty quest, without losing yourself, here are our best tips to help you improve your image.

 

Image Source

 

Beauty Tips

 

The one most of us are looking for tips on how to improve. Beauty is often in the eye of the beholder. When that beholder is you, it is easy to pick out all the flaws and things you hate. So the first thing you need to do if you want to truly feel beautiful is accept your flaws. Everyone has them, and nobody is perfect. Loving your body really is the first step to achieving beauty. Then you need to think of things that might be affecting your skin care. The first two are something we know a lot of you might struggle with. Firstly, you need to make sure you’re getting enough sleep. We know this can be hard with the pressure of work, socialisation etc. But the more sleep you get, the more radiant and healthy your skin is going to look. Fatigued skin dries out easily, looks pale, and just lacks the life that it gets from a good night’s sleep. They recommend around eight to nine hours sleep a night to help you stay refreshed. It isn’t just your skin that benefits from a good night sleep, your overall wellbeing does as well.

 

Next up is water. Water is one of the most amazing beauty hacks that so many people tend to ignore. Plus, you’re either one of those people who hates it, or absolutely loves it. If you know you’re someone who’s diet is full of sugary drinks, they’ve got to go. The sugars and additives within them cause breakouts, as well as weight gain. Water keeps you, and your skin hydrated, meaning you feel refreshed, and your skin is left more subtle and bouncy for longer. They recommend drinking around two litres of water a day. If you know you’re going to struggle with that, try mixing it with some sugar free squash for a bit of flavour.

 

Makeup either baffles you, you sort of get it, or you’re a pro. Now, we’ve already touched base of why you should be careful with makeup. Too much and you’re hiding your natural face, too little and it won’t have the effect you’re wanting it to. You’re best off going with a subtle and natural look for everyday wear. Too much makeup all the time can also clog up the pores of the skin, causing nasty breakouts that we just don’t want. One thing that is essential with makeup is a morning skin care routine, and always taking it off at night. Before applying makeup, make sure the skin is completely clean by using a nice cleansing soap. Then apply a light layer of moisturiser to protect your skin from being dried out by the make up. The apply a layer of foundation, and another one if needed. A lot of foundations require you to use a few light layers to build up enough coverage. Or you could opt for a brand that gives full coverage as it is, just beware of being cakey. Then curl your eyelashes with an eyelash curler, and apply some volumizing mascara. The thicker and fuller the eyelashes, the better. Just make sure you’re not applying so much that they end up looking like thick spiders legs. Then fill in your brows with a pen or powder that is the right shade for your hair colour. Light to dark brown are the most common colours. Make sure you’re only filling in around the shape of your eyebrow, not over it. The finish with a bit of highlighter on the cheek bones and the tip of your nose. The perfect everyday makeup routine!

 

Health Hacks

 

Sometimes it is our health that is affecting our overall beauty. The more junk food you eat, the more it is going to reflect on your image. Eating fatty and sugary foods is one of the main reasons why so many people have the breakouts they do. Our bodies can’t process the foods like they can natural organic foods. The oils and grease within them are what sits within our pores. A poor diet is also the leading cause for adult and child obesity in America. The rate of obesity is higher than it is anywhere else in the country. If you visit the website shown here, you’ll see there are various different treatments that reduce the levels of fat within the body. But the main thing to remember is switching to a healthy diet. The foods you should be eating will give you all the vitamins and minerals you need to be beautiful on the inside, as well as the out. In the long run, you’ll be protecting yourself from diseases, diabetes, and early death.

 

Wellbeing

 

Finally, it is important to think of your overall well being when you’re thinking of your beauty. Your mind plays a big role in this. The happier you are within yourself and with your life, the more radiant and happy you’re going to look on the outside. Sometimes a smile is the best weapon we have in our beauty arsenal. Try practicing things such as meditation to clear your mind, and open it to positive thoughts that will radiate beauty.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

BEAUTY

Warning! Your Skin Products Are Actually Damaging Your Skin

Warning! Your Skin Products Are Actually Damaging Your Skin

What’s the sole reason we buy skin products? To try and improve any imperfections in our skin. We buy moisturizers to combat dry skin, face wash to deal with oily skin, and exfoliation products to help attack acne. It’s fair to say we put a lot of faith in these products, assuming that they’re good for us and will be of assistance.

 

But, did you know that many of your skin products are actually harming your skin? It sounds bizarre, but it’s very much the truth. Many factors come into play here, mainly in the form of bad chemicals. Naturally, you’re probably a bit afraid that you’re damaging your skin now. Thankfully, there are a few telltale signs that your products are doing more harm than good.

 

Image from pxhere

You End Up With Dry Skin

People with excessively oily and greasy skin will often look for products that take care of this problem. They claim to help get rid of your issue, leaving you with skin that’s less greasy and more ‘normal’. However, a lot of these products – along with other general face washes and creams – could lead to dry skin. If this happens, then it’s a bad sign, and you should stop using them immediately. Any product that solves one problem, but causes another, isn’t really doing you any good. It’s likely you end up buying another product (usually from the same brand, what a coincidence…) to combat the dry skin issue. This will probably cause another problem, meaning you look for another product, and so on.

Your Skin Burns Afterwards

Needless to say, if your skin is burning after you’ve used something, then it’s not a great sign. This is most likely because the product includes chemicals that react negatively to your skin. It makes sense to check the ingredients on the back of each product, and research any that seem a bit strange or have long, complex, chemical names. Alternatively, you could go for chemical free skincare to eradicate this issue from occurring. If you find this issue happens to you a lot, then it’s best to stop using the product that’s causing the irritation. It might not hurt that much, and the burning could only last a second or two, but it’s not normal and doesn’t do any good.

 

Your Skin Itches And You Get A Rash

Again, this is a clear sign that something is seriously wrong with the skincare products in your bathroom. I would say itchy skin and rashes are probably the most common issue people face. Furthermore, you often don’t realize your skincare products were the problem because you assume the rash came from something else. To figure this out, stop using your products for a few days and see if the rash and itching clear up. If they do, then you know it was the culprit!

 

Don’t spend money on beauty products that are causing you more harm than good. If you notice any of these signs, then there’s clearly something in your skincare products that don’t react well with your skin. Stop using them, look for better alternatives, and experience healthy skin for real.

 

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

BEAUTY

5 Reasons to Book a Brazilian Blowout

5 Reasons to Book a Brazilian Blowout

 

Element5 Digital at Pexels

You may have seen the results all over your social media feeds, Brazilian Blowouts are having a moment! The treatment is loved by women around the globe due to its transformative and, quite frankly, life-changing results.

 

According to Yahoo, the Brazilian Blowout is a liquid keratin formula that bonds to your hair and creates a protective layer around each strand, effectively diminishing frizz and sealing in the cuticle, thereby protecting your hair against any external damage.

 

It originated in Brazil and uses ingredients indigenous to the country including camu camu, annatto seed, and asai berry. The treatment leaves hair hydrated, less frizzy, and more resilient to heat styling as well as comes with an insanely glossy mirror-like shine.

 

In case you still aren’t sold, here are five reasons you need to book a Brazilian Blowout in Dubai or wherever you are located.

 

1. It’s customizable

 

For many people, a Brazilian Blowout is considered a hair straightening treatment. While allowing those with naturally curly hair to experience smooth, straight locks is undoubtedly the most common use of it; the treatment can be customized for you.

 

If you would rather keep your natural curls or waves intact while smoothing out your hair, the best hairstylist in Dubai can make that happen.

 

2. Requires no downtime

 

Compared to other smoothing procedures, there is no downtime whatsoever. Tuck your hair behind your ears, put your sunglasses on top of your head, wear a ponytail, swim, or exercise immediately after you walk out of the salon with no worries.

 

3. Perfect for all hair types

 

No matter what kind of hair you have, whether it is straight, curly, kinky, coarse, fine or damaged, a Brazilian Blowout can be tailored to work perfectly for you. The treatment is safe for any hair type and helps to improve shine as well as moisture levels.

 

Having one enables you to use less hair care products, decrease daily drying time by half, achieve salon quality hair, and air-dry hair and have it look natural and frizz-free.  

 

If you are looking to grow your hair more quickly, a Brazilian Blowout can assist with this as the treatment reduces split ends meaning you won’t require trims as often.

 

4. Won’t affect your natural curl pattern

 

Your treatment should last anywhere from three to four months. But after this period, your natural curl pattern will return with no line of demarcation. Even if you don’t get your Brazilian Blowout touched up right away, there will be no noticeable line of separation between the previously treated hair and new growth unlike with other relaxing or straightening methods.

 

A Brazilian Blowout is a smoothing treatment that does not contain harsh chemicals such as formaldehyde, and it is a non-permanent treatment that won’t give you roots that must be retouched in a few months.

 

5. Done only by certified professionals

 

Overall, the process takes under two hours but depends on how much hair you have and how thick it is. In the salon, a certified Brazilian Blowout stylist will start by shampooing your hair three or four times to remove any product residue, and to create a base for the treatment to adhere.

 

At this point, working section by section, the Brazilian Blowout formula will be applied from root to tip, then blow-dried smooth. Next, a flat iron heated to 450 degrees will seal the formula in; then your stylist will again rinse your hair. This is then followed by a deep conditioning mask before your hair is once again blow-dried smooth.

 

Unlike other similar treatments, there aren’t any restrictions as to what you can and can’t do after a Brazilian Blowout. You can tie your hair up in a bun or clip it any way you want. You can sweat it out and shampoo, so you won’t have to skip your CrossFit class.

 

And since the treatment is already rinsed out while you are in the salon, you can wait for as long as you want to wash it. Just ensure you are using a sulfate- and chlorine-free formula to extend the pleasant appeal of a Brazilian Blowout.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

 

AUTHOR BIO

Hillary Kozma is the Owner/Managing Director/Creative Director of Kozma & Kozma Salon. Having built the foundation of her skills with an apprenticeship under a direct protege of Vidal Sassoon, Hillary and her husband opened Glow American Salon in Qatar in 2007 before expanding to Dubai as Kozma & Kozma in 2016. Hillary is hailed by the media as a “pioneer in her field†for introducing new talents, concepts, philosophies, and techniques to the Middle East.

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