Random music quote of the day

” …I can see clearly now the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way, 
Gone are the dark clouds that had me down, 
it’s gonna be a bright… sun shiny day…” 

- I Can See Clearly Now, Jimmy Cliff

Being able to see obstacles puts us in a better position to overcome them.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

Supernova

10 Top Skin-Care Faux Pas

Male or female, we can all do a little more to help our side on the skin-care front. Here are some of the top foolish skin-care mistakes that we all make, heed where applicable.

1. Not having a skin-care regime
“Cleanse, tone, moisturize.” Let that be your mantra. It’s one of the most basic ways to help maintain your skin, keep it healthy and get it glowing. If you wear makeup, it is critical that you remove your makeup at night before bed as not doing so can lead to clogged pores, which can lead to blackheads among other things.

2. Not knowing your skin type
Because if you use the wrong type of skin-care products on your skin you can exacerbate skin condition(s) you may have. Get products that are suited for your skin type. A qualified esthetician can help you determine your skin type through a skin care consultation, which is normally complimentary.

3. Not moisturizing
As we age our skin loses moisture, gets drier and needs to be hydrated from both the inside and the outside. Replenishing the moisture that our skin craves, through the use of a moisturizer, will help skin maintain it’s vibrancy and elasticity.

4. Not drinking enough water
Our bodies and our skin need water to perform the processes required to detoxify itself. Coffee is a diuretic, meaning it causes increased passing of urine. It is recommended that you drink two (2) glasses of water for every one cup of coffee ingested. Additionally, cut down on your daily intake of soda and fruit juices (save the calories for dessert!) and replace with water.

5. Not re-applying sunscreen
Sunscreen, when applied, does not last forever, especially if you sweat or get wet. Do reapply. The sun’s ultraviolet rays only speed up the aging process by damaging skin cells. Protect your skin. For more the damaging effects of the sun see article here)

6. Yo-Yo dieting
This confuses your skin. “Am I only getting only protein today, or am I only getting only cayenne pepper?”. The skin needs nutrients: vitamins, minerals and various antioxidants to maintain itself and repair against environmental damage. Protein diets do not offer all the nutrients the body needs so do get off the fad dieting and start a healthy balanced lifestyle, one that encourages you to start moving and to stuff your face with green and leafy veges.

7. Drinking excessively
Apart from obvious health and cognitive issues, high alcohol consumption can severely dehydrate the skin. Moderation is key.

8. Smoking
Really a one-way first-class ticket to accelerated aging of the skin. Also your breath smells and your teeth get yellow. It also takes a huge toll on the health of your lungs. Generally not considered ‘sexy-aging’ in 2009.

9.  Popping zits and picking pimples
This is a big ‘NO NO’. Popping zits or picking pimples with finger nails on an uncleansed face increases the risk of a bacterial infection on site.  It also increases the risk of hyper-pigmentation on skins at are prone to discoloration or darkening, especially on darker skin tones. Instead, reach for of for a cleanser and spot treatment that specifically targets acne. Product ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid and sulphur specifically target acne. Do avoid using harsh alcohols directly on the skin. 

Do consider monthly professional facials to keep problem skin in check.

**If you cannot resist the urge to pop, do wash both hands AND face, and wrap each index finger in a sheet of tissue paper before you make your best go at it. Do not force the issue if the pimple is stubborn, it will come out eventually, maybe tomorrow. Over-squeezing will only break the outer layer of your skin causing damage, which can lead to hyper-pigmentation (darkening) and/ or scarring.**

10. Not getting enough sleep
The Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School states that sleep plays a critical role in immune function, metabolism, memory, learning, and other vital functions. Most of us do not get the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep every night. With respect to the skin, sleep deprivation can result in dull skin tone, under eye puffiness, dark circles and bagginess. 

11. Stressing unnecessarily
I know I said ’10′, but this is just too important to leave out. Elevated stress levels can have an adverse effect on the condition of our skin and can potentially lead to break outs. Relax. If you can’t fix it today, leave it for tomorrow.

A little TLC goes a long way. 

Let us take better care of ourselves.

POSSIBLY RELATED GC POSTS

Tip | Skin Types
Anti-Aging Tip #1
HAIs: Infections anyone?
Premature aging
Sun and Skin Types
 

Just one step away from being labeled “Hater”

.

Sometimes there are people around us that… well lets just say we aren’t too sure if they are on our side or theirs.

I mean it’s hard to tell. They aren’t mean to us. It’s not like they backstab or anything, and they aren’t checking our significant other. They are always around us, always in our corner always there when we screw up sure, but they just can’t seem to say the thing that we need them to say. It’s not that you are looking for a sugar rush, or to be told just how badly we tanked because we were there when it happened, every millisecond of the way. A real and forward looking perspective never hurt nobody. Sometimes we are just looking for that… I don’t know that, ‘way forward’ maybe? Maybe it’s just me. 

So because we haven’t found any valid reason to pitch them off our 9 sq. ft. of personal planet space yet, we allow them to stay with the expectation that one day, sometime soon, they will say something at some inopportune moment that will entirely make us question the real purpose of the relationship yet again. But we hold on to be belief that they will turn around and say that very thing that we know that they are capable of saying, because we believe in them. I’ve had a couple of relationships like that in my lifetime, but that’s not what I really meant to talk about me and my friends today so I’ll come back to that.

This, however, is a shout out post to the blatant naysayers, because sometimes there is no greater motivation than to prove someone, who you know deep down means well, wrong. Understand, this is not a shout out to the “haters”, as they have issues that lie within themselves that they choose to project on us and I’m not qualified to speak of issues of this nature as my only response involves the word ‘ignore’. So yes, this is for the people in our lives who definitely know that we are on the path to destruction, so much so that they formulate an intervention to save us from ourselves. 

I once had a teacher in high-school who absolutely, positively refused to give me even a barely passing grade in Form 3 English, because she was adamant that I did not produce the work that I had submitted for the year. For everyone who’s confused by this, Form 3 is a grade in Caribbean high schools that is key for students because this is the grade from which, if you made it this far, the education system threatens that the La-La land that you are currently floating around in now ends and the blue-print for the rest of your life has now begun. It is the transition where you choose the direction you would like to pursue in life by choosing your ‘subjects’ and of course you weren’t permitted to choose anything you failed that term.

My parents were called in, the principal got involved and it was all very messy because, as she put it, what I have been doing was an ‘atrocity’ and she made it a point to get to the bottom of why I would be so disturbed to continually do something like submit work that wasn’t mine, after all it is considered an offense. Long story short, English (language) was/is a compulsory subject for everyone to take in high-school so after all the flapping and clucking, a failing grade or not, there I was, somewhere in the middle-row seat of the Form 4 Sciences English class. Although I knew that I produced all those English essays, even after a distinction in CXC English, for the rest of my life since then I always doubted my ability to write and leaned on my gift in Math and Science related subjects. Its not that I felt defeated, but that conviction just wasn’t there and there was always some lingering doubt that would rear it’s ugly head from time to time whenever I was required to produce anything, including myself, that was open to public scrutiny.

Fast forward some 17 years (?) I am sitting at home when I receive a call that I have been awarded the Jose Pinguelo General Education Award at the school that I had just graduated from a little over a month ago. I am totally confused now, because the address states “The School of Liberal Arts & Sciences” I automatically think that they have gotten the wrong address if only because I had attended “The Business School”. After clear and present bewilderment, I look at the letter again and it clearly states my name. Now I’m frantically shuffling through my mental archives, when I remember that time the professor of the course “Sociology of the Family”, one of three Liberal Arts courses I sat in the program, pulled me aside one time after class and asked my permission to submit a couple of the pieces that I done for the course; in particular an assessment of the media content of one of my favorite shows, “Sex and the City”, and an interview project that I was required to do on the effects on Divorce on the lives of 4 different individuals. Surely, this couldn’t be it though because, of course, “I don’t write THAT well…” I tell myself. 

* 

Funny how we have a tendency to have the negative script on repeat in our subconscious and the positive script that we are told anew everyday by strangers, with nothing to gain, do not register. Looking back I can’t quite recount how many times I’ve been told by others, including my Aunt who is an extraordinarily gifted journalist, that I write well; I’ve always accepted that she says it but I never quite believed it. 

This award, and the fact that I’m now writing articles for a living, is for you high-school teacher. It goes out to all those people we have had in our lives that are just that ONE step away from being labelled a “hater” because we are convinced, for whatever reason, that deep down inside they do really care.

“Yes I can”

Yes, I’ve considered removing that phrase and replacing it with some term as equally enthralling so that I don’t come across sounding terribly clichéd, but you know what, this is an article from the heart and that’s what the heart wants to say, so it stays. 

Be blessed.

.

POSSIBLY RELATED GC POSTS

The Goddess Treatment
Relationships | Deal breakers
Live your life
Deep Sea Fishing
Sexy State of Mind 

.

Smooth Criminal

Yesssssssss. Ya just gotta love that feeling of touching that smooooooth i-wanna-eat-it skin. Or that gloooowing gotta-touch-it, i-want it skin.

Some people are just so blessed. They eat all the junk, they never exercise, they drink, they smoke, they don’t sleep and yet… everything looks like it functions just fine. Or like those people who can manage to pack on unbelieveable pounds and still be alive long enough to get a reality show, while the gym bunny, who is slimmer than you are, is diagnosed with ‘normal weight obesity’ and is now living at the doctor’s office ’cause she’s at a “fatal risk for heart disease”. Yes, genetics a b!tch on a rocket stick.

Our skin is constantly shedding (skin cell turnover) cells and replacing them with new ones. It is the fresh new, hydrated and well nourished cells that impart this glow, and the dead skin cells that are just hanging around that can contribute to a dull sallow look on body. Skin cell turnover occurs naturally but slows down with age, and by ‘with age’ it is meant 25 years old or so.

…

…*crickets*…

…

Some of us are in the peak of the turnover party… yeeaaah!… Cherish it. For some of us memories of that mosh pit are a tad spotty but thankfully there are ways that we can assist our body in doing it’s thing and achieving this sexy glow by means of ~ Body Exfoliation.

In general exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells and can result in 
~ Healthier skin complexion and clarity
~ Unclogs follicles and pores allowing skin to ‘breathe’ better and for better penetration of moisturizers, lotions and serums 
~ Improves skin texture and makes it smoother (aka mas sexy!) 
~ Other skin function such as stimulating skin’s overall functions, increasing circulation, energizing superficial lymphatic flow and stimulates nerve endings…

That’s a lot of stimulation right thuurr! … but that’s another topic 

Now, this process of removing dead cells can be done manually or chemically.

Manual exfoliation stimulates circulation and involves the use of physical force (like rubbing) for example using a dry brush, mitts, loofahs, and a whole host of natural substances  like salt (detoxifies skin), sugar (moisturizes skin), cornmeal and ground coffee (said to be good to help minimize the look of cellulite) mixed with water, oils or creams. Most of these natural substances can already be found in your home and *secret* ~ are the ingredients that are often used in high end Spas for that ‘natural’ experience. Makes you think!

In chemical exfoliation an ingredient(s) or ‘chemical(s)’ in the product (acids or enzymes) do the work and no physical rubbing is required as the ingredient itself dissolves the dead skin cells. A little creepy sounding but it works amazingly well. Some of these acids/ enzymes are  found in common fruits such as papaya/paw paw, strawberries and pineapple. (food.Yum!) A common chemical exfoliation not found in food is salicylic acid, which usually found in acne treatment products. 

Along with a healthy diet and lifestyle (ever realize how many times you hear that? lol) regular exfoliation (once or twice a week) is a great way to achieve softer, healthier, more touchable skin. However there are some precautions that should be taken when adopting a exfoliating regime for the body like avoid use on:

~ open wounds
~ surgical procedures where skin should not be moved
~ sensitive areas like varicose veins, open wounds, infection or inflammation
~ sunburns (see Sunkissed beauty)

Additionally salt and other exfoliates that dissolve (like sugar) should not be used immediately after waxing as this can potentially irritate skin. Aggressive exfoliation, involving larger, sharper, non-circular granules like cornmeal & ground coffee should be avoided on sensitive skin. And by all means in the excitement of having goddess skin do not over-exfoliate or rub too hard or fast (thank goodness I’m sharing this as a verbally cause I’m cracking to hell up) as over exfoliation can damage your skin and can lead to scarring in skin that is prone to hyper-pigmentation (or darkening)… so easy on the rubbing.

You know you want to. Go get your grind on.

POSSIBLY RELATED GC POSTS

Sunkissed beauty
Exfoliating vs. Peeling
Fact Sheet: Microdermabrasion
Mood busters: Brillo pads
Q/A: Cracked Skin! 
 .

“Brazilian bikini wax is a must!!!”

There are times in life when we are reminded of the short to medium term goal that we set for ourselves sometime ago. You know, the one that we scribbled with that blue inked Papermate in the dog eared  2001 faded leatherette corporate daily planner. The one we reviewed every time the going got rough at our cluttered desk and we told ourselves that we were tell that being exactly where they can stuff those TPS reports.

*Join gym. Drink more water. Quit smoking. Stress less. Smile more. Start diet. Make time for kids. Find wifey. Make time for parents. Date night with Kim. Be more assertive. Get tattoo. Travel. Choose better men. Break up with Stacey. Learn Japanese. Eat healthier. Start business. Enroll in dance class. Take Mo’ Mo’ up on that offer. Start garden. Party more. Drink less. Learn the guitar. Put that damn cookie down. Quit job… now.*

Then there are the days when we are b!tchslapped by said plan; when something has either occurred or has been said and we realize that this right here… THAT AIN’T IT!”.

The “AHA!” moment.

Yesterday was one of those days.

You navigate life, trying to make the best choices that you can. Work Hard. Work Smart. You walk that fine line where you do the best you can to live in the moment without living it up so much that you are incoherent when it passes you by and trying not to take yourself too seriously that [what-the-what!] you have no idea what just happened.

~ Martin got married?

~ Shelly has a 2 year old?

~ Kate died?

~ Wait…. is Martin divorced?… I thought he just got married?

The thing is, apart from the fact that everyone else may think you are living in oblivion, you are fine. You’ve figured out exactly how to maintain the equilibrium, exactly how to keep the balance in your life, while precariously maintaining the status quo and you’ve found your flow, you are groooooooving baby. You find an appropriate way to channel the negativity (no judgements cast here) you may come into contact with and rock to the positive vibes you, and the handful of ones you allow in your life, generate. You’ve figured out that certain things in your life need to be tweaked yes but in due course, for in the grand scheme of things, hey it’s not so shabby.

Then somewhere in your bliss some special individual unknowingly says something that puts it all into perspective. You realize that people aren’t really taking you as seriously as you thought… and you are left wondering why you are the only person who believe that they should. The fog diffuses and suddenly the dance floor in the utopia that you were just doing the stanky legg (or robot, your choice) in is not only arid and patchy but it smells frowsy. 

“Where am I… and how did I get here?” you wonder, absolutely positively stupefied.

You dig deep, trying to keep the pressurized container in tact, and maintain a calm while you tell yourself that this right here is not your life. You phase in and out of consciousness for a minute and, in the clearing of the pulsating blurr, the overwritten scribble in the dog eared  2001 leatherette corporate daily planner comes into view.

*Join gym. Drink more water. Quit smoking. Stress less. Smile more. Start diet. Make time for kids. Find wifey. Make time for parents. Date night with Kim. Be more assertive. Get tattoo. Travel. Choose better men. Break up with Stacey. Learn Japanese. Eat healthier. Start business. Enroll in dance class. Take Mo’ Mo’ up on that offer. Start garden. Party more. Drink less. Learn the guitar. Put that damn cookie down. Quit job… now.*

And then you get it.

The light turns on and it all makes sense and you make that first step.

The one that tells you that you don’t have to get it right, but that at the very least, you owe it to yourself to just get that goal up and running.

“AHA!”

.

POSSIBLY RELATED GC POSTS

Deep Sea Fishing 
Relationships | Deal breakers
Nova monologue: Having it all
It’s not me, it’s you
Career Tip: Online presence 

.