Revisiting the School Lunch Box - How to Pack a More Healthful Meal

In our fast paced society, the hand-packed school lunches complete with an apple and a note from Mom or Dad is largely becoming a thing of the past. It is being replaced with fast fixes such an overly processed snack set with low nutritional value. There are some quick fixes for parents who want their children to have balanced meals at school so that their kids have the energy to maximize learning from the moment they get off the bus in their uniform polo shirt to the time they walk in the door that afternoon.

One way that many parents are maximizing healthy school lunches is by cooking enough dinner the night before so that it can be taken the next day for lunch. For a family of four, it's easy to throw another chicken breast for everyone on the grill and then pair it with slices of low GI bread, vegetables and mustard the next day for chicken sandwich. The leftovers might be so delicious that parents will have to add a bib apron into the lunch box in case of emergencies.

Another way parents can encourage better school lunches when the lunch box from home is not an option it to speak to the cafeteria staff. These men and women are identifiable by work clothes, often resembling a housekeeper uniform, and are often willing to make dietary adjustments. Nutritional-related issues are also often the subjects of parent-teacher organizations.

Some grocery store chains are even offering pre-packed lunches made daily that are both healthy and delicious and offer children a wide variety of lunch choices from sushi to tuna wraps. Although this can be a more expensive option, there are still many low cost options available. Parents can plan school meals just as they would weekly meals, incorporating vegetables and fruit, lean meat, cheese and yogurt and whole grains as a staple. Try and avoid high sugar and sodium items such as potato chips, cakes, candy, jams and fatty meats. Preparation is also a good time to review with children the importance of portion control. Make lunch making time a fun time. Parents can turn on some music and join in the fun. Many older children can also assist younger children with preparation. And what should children wash down the lunches with? Many juice drinks advertised as healthful options have almost as much sugar as a can of soda. Water and milk are still the best choice.

Parents might have to give their children a bib apron to protect their school issued uniform polo shirt once they start devouring more healthful lunches. Or they may have to wear a housekeeper uniform to keep up with the laundry and dirty clothing after the children enjoy a school lunch that tastes good and is good for them.

Tips on How to Choose a Low-Fat, Low-Calorie Pizza

Pizza is a main staple in the United States. People eat pizza for lunch, dinner, and sometimes, for breakfast too. It is a common sight in households across the nation. But how do you still eat your favorite dish while watching your waistline? What about all the diets myths forcing consumers to cross out pizza from their new meal plan list? Well, there is a way to eat pizza while on a diet and the answer is in the choices and topping options.

Pizza has a bad reputation of being high in fat and calories. However, if you make smarter decisions when ordering pizza, then you will be able to have your cake pizza and eat it too. One place to start is with the crust.

There is a universal theory regarding eating pizza while remaining on the right track to losing weight. The theory states the thinner the crust, the healthier the pizza. Well, this is not always true. A better choice would be to order a pizza crust made from whole-wheat flour instead of white. Furthermore, find out if butter or olive oil was used in the dough. For olive oil would be the smarter option. These may seem like insignificant modifications, but the dough is the foundation of a pizza. And if you don't change the dough choices, your waistline may increase rather than decrease.

The most prominent part of the pizza, after the dough, is the cheese. The quality of cheese makes a drastic difference when it comes to calorie and nutrients count. There are many different cheese options when it comes to selecting a pizza. And if you are not able to choose from a home-made mozzarella on a pizza versus store bought processed cheese, then the nutrients may be lacking. This is something you have to research. Ask the restaurant. Inquire if goat cheese is available instead of the norm. Moreover, the amount of cheese will make a significant difference too.

Another option to be aware of are the toppings. Choosing vegetables instead of meat will contribute to it being a healthier pizza option. Vegetable options range from roasted fennel, tomatoes, mushrooms, roasted pepper and more. You may be as generous as you like with vegetable toppings. Pile it on and you will maintain the right track with your weight loss plan. In addition, the flavors fresh vegetables add to a pizza enhance the taste. Consequently, the richer the taste the more satisfying the meal is allowing you to feel fuller longer. If you must do meat, then opt for grilled chicken as a topping. For the seafood lovers, why not try grilled shrimp? These decisions will help you in the end.

Pizza is a great, tasty, satisfying meal to have anytime of the day. And even if you are no longer a teenager, you are still able to eat it at anytime. Just make better choices and smarter decisions and you will not have to sacrifice pizza in exchange for your diet. Instead, pizza and diet will exist cohesively in your new healthier lifestyle.

Healthy Snack Alternatives

There's something about putting food in our mouths all of the time that regularly leads to obesity. The truth is there are nibbles out there that are actually healthy for you, and will help you to shed pounds. Pretzel sticks come in a selection of sizes and even with some different flavors making them one of the finest break foods you can snack on during the day. They are low-cal and they also do not have a large amount of that additional sugar you will find in most other break foods. Pretzels are also a little salted that may help you curve your desire for taste.

If you eat a bag of pretzels a day then that would definitely not be healthy. If you're looking to break on something between meals to help curve your appetite then this can satisfy your appetite. Another good thing to notice about pretzels is the incontrovertible fact that they're crunchy. The pretzel sticks are low cal in the 1st place, but this can definitely help you burn one or two additional calories in the procedure. Next time you are looking to satisfy one of your appetite pains try reaching for a bag of pretzels rather than a bag of potato chips. Low cal nibbles are an enormous and if you're planning to lose pounds. A dietitian will recommendation you to have four or 5 tiny meals a day in the place of eating 2 or 3 heavy meals in a day.

Your fave fat-free break might be simply obtainable from your nearest food store. You can also learn how to make your favorite break in your kitchen only. You will utilize only little quantity to go easy on fat. You may feel full even without eating over 2 hundred to three hundred calories. For an evening fat-free break, you are able to add sliced carrots to your tomato soup. A good diet break is medium-sized apple eaten with a cheese wedge. Finger food puffs aren't only preferred by babies but also by folk watching their weight.

So, now you have a few more options the next time you're reaching for that unhealthy food. Think about pretzels or whipping up something healthy and quick in the kitchen. Remember, you might satisfy the craving for now but sooner or later, you are going to regret eating that oily snack when you're at the doctor's office! That's for sure.

Let's Cook Your First Tuna Noodle Casserole Dish!

The Casserole, we all know them, we all enjoy them, what better way to use up some of your leftovers perhaps or save money along with eating healthier since you decided and control which ingredients you want in your casserole. An awesome classic, lots of us remember these from our childhood years? Mom serving tuna, bean, beef, and chicken casseroles that she made in her own kitchen with leftovers?

Making them is simple, dinner, lunch, or even for a movie snack. Learning how to prepare them can be great fun and add to your kitchen skills as well. Here is a family favorite to make yourself:

Tuna Casserole
For over fifty (50) years this has been a favorite in our family.

2 cups macaroni (elbow), al dente, firm
1 cup Velveeta Cheese, cubed (substitute for any cheese that you can cube and melts easy)
2 cans (Large) tuna, drain
1 15 ounce can peas, drain
1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes (plain), including juice
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup cornflake crumbs for topping sprinkles
While your macaroni cooks, in a large mixing bowl gently fold following ingredients together: tuna, tomatoes, salt, peas, milk, and eggs. (Note: you might wish to breakup instead of mashing the tuna). Next the cheese should be folded into the mixture.
Drain your pasta and mix into the mix you just made above. Now put it in a 2-1/2 to 3 quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with the cornflakes over the top. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. Yield 6-8 portions.

The nice thing about casseroles is that you can have many variations to one recipe. Start with a basic recipe and add or adjust things to allow you to use up leftovers like broccoli, extra diced vegetables (onion, peppers), add different types of cheese to taste. With each new recipe you come up with you will see what you like the best and least and can discover new combinations from there.

One other thing you can do is look up online, Google casserole or one pot meal, etc. and see what variations they offer. Some sites even have their own videos of the casseroles being prepared for you ease in the kitchen. Experimenting with casseroles in the kitchen can help make you a better all around cook in your home too, you get the experience of trying different foods together for one thing and being able to utilize the leftovers that may have had to be tossed.

Homemade Pasta and How to Make It

Do you love to cook pasta and enjoy it? Do you ever want to make your own homemade pasta? Well what you need is machine that makes pasta. This will make a big difference in your pasta, it will be so fresh. If you do not have a lot of money to spend on a machine, you can try using a manual hand-crack one.

The ingredients that you need to start off with are, eggs, flour and salt. Mix all these with a fork until the batter is lumpy and difficult to stir. Then you will need to massage the dough with your hands. When the dough is formed and stretchy, you have to cut it into parts. It all depends on what recipe you are using, to figure out how many parts you need.

Then once all the parts are cut, you flatten them and run it into the pasta machine. You might end up having to run it through a few times, but it all depends on how thick you want your noodles.

Once the pieces have dried, you have to run them through the blades on your machine. Then you will have formed noodles and you can cook them. You do have to know that homemade noodles cook faster the store bought ones. When your noodles float to the top, they are done.

If you do not have a lot of time to make them, get an electric pasta machine. This way it will give you more noodles in less time. Plus the cool part of it is, the machine does the kneading (massage) for you.

If you like to enjoy making it by hand, then get a manual pasta maker. There are many different types of pasta machines. You will just have to figure out what kind you want. Also, make sure it has all the features you need. Go online and do your research on the pasta makers.

Some pasta makers clamp on to your counter top, and others will come in different colors. If you have kids you can make it a family cooking night. The will have fun helping you make pasta, and eat it too. This will be the best investment you can make for your family.

Importance of Eating Fruits and Vegetables Uncooked

Nutrients are intact: Any food cooked beyond a certain temperature is not good for health. It is good to have food products in its original form specially veggies. Anti oxidants present in them are good for your hair follicles and skin too. Phytochemical is another thing that is required to fight against diabetes, cancer and other cardiac problems. Therefore, add these food products to your diet on a daily basis.

Enzymes are present untainted: In addition to the above food products, non pasteurized milk such as soy milk, milk, yoghurt also helps in providing your body with essential enzymes. Nuts, legumes, seeds and sprouted grains must also be added to this list.

Anti oxidants, minerals, vitamins and proteins are found in plenty. Vitamins, minerals are important for the healthy growth of your body.

Freshness at its best: It is good when it is eaten in its original form. You can consume it fresh and get the best out of it.

It is nature's gift to man kind: These food products are nature's gift to man kind. They are rich in nutrients, proteins, minerals, iron and zinc which are necessary for your body. Do not ignore the nature's gift. Make the best use of it.

Energy rich products: These are rich source of energy. Nothing can provide you better benefits than green leafs. Celery and asparagus must be eaten raw.

Helps lose weight: This alone will not help you lose weight. In addition to this, little efforts from your side is essential. Exercise regularly in order to supplement the benefits of eating fresh vegetables and fruits.

Some of the food products eaten raw are:

- Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, lettuce and beet root are the best, when it's eaten fresh.
- Cucumber: helps you maintain good skin and purifies your blood too.
- Certain plants: Celery, asparagus and coriander can be had fresh and they add nutritional value to your body.
- Onion and garlic is also good for diabetes, patients with blood pressure and heart problems can consume it in an uncooked form.

A Quality Ladies Robe Will Make You Feel Like a Million Dollars

Purchasing a robe is a wise idea for any woman. In many cases, people choose to give robes as gifts. Women wear robes for a variety of reasons. Therefore, they are used and needed by almost everyone. Robes make wonderful quick cover-ups when company unexpectedly arrives and catches you in your pajamas.

They are also convenient to slip on after showering or bathing. In the wintertime, robes help create a blanket of warmth that can be worn around the house. They also add a sense of modesty to those that are usually confined to wearing sleepwear, such as people in the hospital or nursing home. Due to the vast variety of functions that robes serve, numerous different styles and types of ladies robes exist on the market in which to choose.

The first major difference in robe styles is the type of closure. Most robes close in the front. Some robes simply tie around the waist with an added piece of material as a rope. Other robes zip or button up the front. The type of closure that you choose all depends on the purpose that you want your cover-up to serve. Tie robes are often quicker to put on and take off. However, they allow more opportunities to come loose or open unexpectedly. These are best for at home wear. Zipper and snap closure robes are often a bit more time consuming to put on but have a less likely chance of coming open and exposing the body underneath. These work better for more public wear or for wearing in front of others.

Another major difference in the types of ladies robes that are purchased is the material. Different materials and styles work best for different seasons of the year. Cotton waffle, silk, satin, and micro fiber robes are often the lightest in weight. These materials offer a more breathable function and work best for spring and summer months. Chenille, cashmere, velour, cotton terry, and luxury spa robes are all often thicker and warmer materials. Some work very well at insulating body heat. These materials are best for fall and winter robe use. They also work well at absorbing moisture as when at a spa or after bathing.

In addition to the closure and material, some robes are created longer than others. Short knee length robes are perfect for women who want to create a little sexier eye appeal. Silk and sating robes are often seen available in shorter lengths. Longer ankle length robes are good for those that are more interested in covering up or staying warm.

When choosing a robe as a gift for someone special or for yourself, it is important to consider your needs. What purpose do you wish for your robe to serve? When do you plan to wear the robe? Is the feel of the fabric important? Examining these questions will help you find the perfect robe. However, in most cases, women find that having one robe simply is not enough. Do not feel bad about stocking your closet with three or four ladies' robes in a variety of styles and materials.

Purchasing a robe is a wise idea for any woman. In many cases, people choose to give robes as gifts. Women wear robes for a variety of reasons. Therefore, they are used and needed by almost everyone. Robes make wonderful quick cover-ups when company unexpectedly arrives and catches you in your pajamas. They are also convenient to slip on after showering or bathing. In the wintertime, robes help create a blanket of warmth that can be worn around the house. They also add a sense of modesty to those that are usually confined to wearing sleepwear, such as people in the hospital or nursing home. Due to the vast variety of functions that robes serve, numerous different styles and types of ladies robes exist on the market in which to choose.

The first major difference in robe styles is the type of closure. Most robes close in the front. Some robes simply tie around the waist with an added piece of material as a rope. Other robes zip or button up the front. The type of closure that you choose all depends on the purpose that you want your cover-up to serve. Tie robes are often quicker to put on and take off. However, they allow more opportunities to come loose or open unexpectedly. These are best for at home wear. Zipper and snap closure robes are often a bit more time consuming to put on but have a less likely chance of coming open and exposing the body underneath. These work better for more public wear or for wearing in front of others.

Another major difference in the types of ladies robes that are purchased is the material. Different materials and styles work best for different seasons of the year. Cotton waffle, silk, satin, and micro fiber robes are often the lightest in weight. These materials offer a more breathable function and work best for spring and summer months. Chenille, cashmere, velour, cotton terry, and luxury spa robes are all often thicker and warmer materials. Some work very well at insulating body heat. These materials are best for fall and winter robe use. They also work well at absorbing moisture as when at a spa or after bathing.

In addition to the closure and material, some robes are created longer than others. Short knee length robes are perfect for women who want to create a little sexier eye appeal. Silk and sating robes are often seen available in shorter lengths. Longer ankle length robes are good for those that are more interested in covering up or staying warm.

When choosing a robe as a gift for someone special or for yourself, it is important to consider your needs. What purpose do you wish for your robe to serve? When do you plan to wear the robe? Is the feel of the fabric important? Examining these questions will help you find the perfect robe. However, in most cases, women find that having one robe simply is not enough. Do not feel bad about stocking your closet with three or four ladies' robes in a variety of styles and materials.

Ultimate Party Beauty Guide

Read the tips, so you can be fabulous at your next event!

A Week Before
Drink Up: Drink lots of water starting from a week prior to the event. Drinking at least 8 glasses a day with revitalize and rejuvenate your body before party night.

Break a Sweat: Try to get in a bit of exercise to loosen up the body and relieve any tension or stress. If you have no time to hit the gym, try some quick exercises at home.

Say No to Salt: Try and avoid overly salty foods on days leading up to the event. Salt causes bloating, water retention which is just plain uncomfortable.

The Night Before
Catch Some Zzzz's: You definitely want to look alive during your party, so get some major rest! Go to bed a little earlier than your usual bedtime. If you didn't get enough sleep, try cucumbers or an eye serum to reduce dark circles or puffiness and use an eye-brightener on your eyes.

The Day Of
Soak Up: Take a nice, hot, relaxing bath before getting ready. It will hydrate the body and relieve tension possibly caused by work or a face-paced environment.

Eat: Grab a decent bite to eat before going out to drink. It will keep you in control of the drinks, and likely, you'll drink less! Plus it reduces the chances of you being sick (i.e. your head in a public toilet) at the end of the night.

Right Before
Glow: Give yourself a nice glow with a shimmer lotion. It'll highlight your skin tone and make your skin look amazing. Avoid tanning too close to the party date, since there is a chance the tan might look strange or too strong.

Shape-wear: For whatever type of dress you may be wearing, wear the proper undergarments. If the dress is a real curve-hugger or clingy, why not try shape-wear which will flatten and instantly tone the body.

Nails: Try a festive nail color to stand out.

Makeup: Choose a focus, whether it be the eyes, cheeks or lips and accentuate only that with a bold color or dramatic touches. For the rest of the face, try and keep it somewhat neutral for an overall put-together and classy look.

Perfume: Do not go overboard on the scent. Go really bold on the fragrance, and try something new and unexpected; the exotic smell will be enticing and make you the life of the party!

All About Scene Hair

When it comes to expressing yourself, your hair is one of the things that you can run to, to help you do just that. With the many hairstyle designs that are available, the chances of you finding something that really works for you is pretty easy. All you need to do is to dedicate some time to really thinking about what you want to do with your hair. If you want to go wild, you should definitely try scene hair. It's a retro version, a comeback from the 80s which defines wild better than most other hairstyles.

Scene hair, most of the time is long. To be more precise, it's long in the back and short in the front. Getting the right kind of cut is the first step. It is complicated to start with, so you need a hairdresser that knows what they are doing. Most scene hairstyles have layers and the goal with getting the cut is to create a puffy kind of appearance. It helps when you have an illustration, like a photo to guide your hairstylist.

Once that is over and done, the next step to getting your scene hair is to add colors and highlights. Scene hair diverges from your naturally hair look and goes for something else, something exceptional and unique. It's very important that you choose a hair color that really stands out. For most girls, the color of choice is dark strain of black or brown. But you should not stick to these limitations. Blue, bright pink and green all work great especially since they bring a color that is rarely witnessed in the natural.

The last step is the layering, to give the final puffy look. Use a comb to tease your hair and hairspray it down to the roots. When you are all done, you can choose to add a couple of accessories to your hair, like hair clips and headbands. Maintaining such hairstyle is work. Most importantly make sure that you get the right products. Don't go for cheap as it always has an unhappy ending. With scene hair, you need to make the trips to the hairdresser a bit more regular. It needs to be trimmed every so often, along the lines of every once every month, for maintenance. Scene hair is considered a wild kind of hairstyle. It's bolder and more outstanding than most and that probably explains its popularity

Interesting and Helpful Eye Makeup Tips

1. Maintaining your mascara

It is a common mistake to pump your mascara in order to get an even coat on the brush. Pumping it only gets the air in and makes it all dry. Try twisting it instead. Sometimes in winter time mascaras can get very thick in texture Try placing it in a glass of worm water for a few moments before using it.

2. Eye liner

Different eye pencils have different effect To make your eyes look more open and big try using with color pencil. To make your eyes more smoky and small use black. If you have green eyes try experimenting with purple shads and colors They will enhance the green in your eyes. Don't be afraid to be adventures with colors such as turquoise or green or even gold They will enrich your look.

3. Plucking eye brows

Brow hairs do not grow back; plucking may cause some of the hairs to stop growing. If some of your eyebrows hair stopped growing you can fill in the gaps with a small brush and an eye shadow or an eyebrow pencil. You can find different stencils in the market that will help you determent the right shape for your brow.

4. Highlighting green eyes

Most people think that in order to highlight green eyes you need to use green colors However this is a common mistake; try using contrasting Colors such as purple, red and orange. The contrast will emphasize the green color. If you want to make your eyes to look bluer try using dark blues and grays.

5. Sophisticated look for brown eyes

Brown eyes look great in light earth tons such as peach, golden brown, and bronze. The contrast provides a beautiful sophisticated look. Pick 2 shades of color from the same family, apply the brighter one on your eyelid and the darker one on your crease line and blend them together.

Frame your eyes with stone brown mascara to enhance look Brown eyes look good in every color makeup, don't be afraid to experiment. Try using different shades of mascara to frame your eyes. Plum, navy blue and stone brown mascaras will add more depth to your brown eyes.

6. Captivating look for blue eyes

Blue eyes look great in gray, purple, and pink and orange. Delicate purple line below the lower eyelashes will do wonders. In fact, a bright eye in dark makeup creates a Captivating look. To emphasize your blue eyes try using purple or charcoal mascaras. If you want your eyes to look a little grey try using navy blue, dark green or turquoise mascaras.

Small But Important Tips to Be a Super Work From Home Mom

If you wish to be successful at being a super work from home mom, you will have to learn to perform your different roles of a wife, mother and online freelance worker in the best manner possible. You need to consider some small but important things before starting out. These small but important things have been listed below.

• You need to set the timings when you will sit on the computer and work online and when you will be attending to household work and family. Try to keep them separate as far as possible. One good thing could be that you could wake up a couple of hours early in the morning and do your work online. In the mornings, you would be fresh and would be able to work better and faster.

• Once the other family members are awake, you can switch off the computer completely and attend to your family members. Then, when the children are gone off to school and your husband is off to office, you can set your time for completing the household work and your online work. There could be times when things might overlap, but you can keep them to the minimum by working according to a fixed schedule rather than switching between household work and online work all the time.

• It is important for your children to feel that they are important to you, so spend quality time with them. Also let them know and understand that it is essential for you to work as it gives you satisfaction and supplement the household income. When they see you juggle between both the responsibilities well, they will learn from it. You will earn their respect and love.

• You can interact with other moms who work just like you do on the internet and lend support and encouragement to each other. By sharing, there are chances of always learning newer and better ways to manage your responsibilities.

You can be successful at being a good work from home mom by juggling your responsibilities well and working according to a schedule wherein you have optimal time for your house as well as your online work. It is possible to do household work, take care of your children and also do online work if you prepare a proper schedule and try to utilize the time in the best manner possible when the children are not at home.

Starting a Home Craft Business - What You Need to Know

If you are thinking about starting a home craft business then you have a few decisions you are going to have to make. Here is what you need to consider before venturing into owning a home craft business.

Is your craft unique and high quality?

Sure you can try to sell the same crafts as everyone else is but if you really want to have a successful home craft business then you are going to need to find a unique angle to the craft you make. It does not need to be completely different then anything else out there but even one unique aspect is going to make selling your craft so much easier.

People love buying things that they can not find everywhere.

Do you want to sell your craft on the Internet or just by placing ads in your local paper and signs in your yard?

If you want to start a home craft business you basically have to options of how to sell them. You can sell them locally by placing ads in the paper and in your yard (if your town allows this) or you can sell them globally by starting a craft store on the Internet.

If you sell them locally you are limiting your potential customer base however you will not have to ship your craft. If what you make is very big this might be the best way to go. It also gives the customer a chance to see what you are selling before they buy it. They can see it on the Internet also by seeing pictures but it is just not the same.

If you decide to sell them on the Internet you will have a much wider customer base because anyone who has access to the Internet will be able to see your online craft store.

The flip side of setting up a craft store online is that you are going to have to learn to market your craft store. This is not horribly difficult but it will take some time. You will not learn how to market your store in a week more like 4-6 months. Marketing is crucial to having an online craft store because this is how your potential customers are going to be able to find your store.

When you place your ads in the paper and in your yard you are marketing your crafts. That is the basic concept but it works a little bit different on the Internet.

Whether you decide to have your home craft business online or locally as long as you are willing to put time and effort into your business then the sky is the limit.

Happy Crafting!

Skincare Advice For Men

The skincare industry is mostly targeted towards women. While women do tend to spend more time (and money) on skincare products such as lotions, makeup, and special treatments, men's skin is just as important as that of women. To help men have healthy, nourished skin, here are some tips that you can follow.

First, to understand how to keep skin healthy, it is important to learn how this organ works. The skin is actually the largest organ in the body, and it works as a protector against pollutants, germs, and physical damage. Additionally, it provides insulation and acts as an energy reserve. In women, the deeper skin layers provide curves. Lastly, the skin houses sweat glands that allow us to regulate our body temperature.

There are two main layers of skin, the deeper dermis, and the top layer epidermis. The dermis houses blood vessels, hair roots, nerves, and sweat glands. The epidermis produces new skin cells, including those called melanocytes, which give skin its color. Pores are openings through the skin that allow the secretion of sweat, the production of hair follicles, and the creation of the skin's natural moisturizer, sebum.

Pores primarily become clogged through excess sebum and debris. When this happens, it can cause acne, including blackheads, as well as ingrown hairs. For men, ingrown hairs can be a major problem due to the need to shave. These problems result when a pore is blocked, disallowing a hair to grow properly out from the skin. Thus, it is important for men to keep their pores open so that ingrown hairs do not arise.

To keep pores clear, cleaning the face once per day is recommended. More than that can dry out the skin, and these dry flakes can cause pain and irritation. Exfoliation can provide an even deeper skin cleanse. Scrubs, microdermabrasion, and chemical treatments are ways to exfoliate and keep the skin clear. For men, shaving also works as exfoliation, but it is important to also keep your face clear while the hair is growing back.

Next, since men typically neglect daily skin cleaning, getting a facial provides a deep clean that extracts debris that may have collected over the course of several months. Additionally, many facials offer customized skincare that can help a man target his specific problems. Also, men are usually not as faithful about sun protection as women, and some facials offer a sun protection step as well.

Lastly, as mentioned above, it is important to keep the skin moisturized to prevent irritation.

For customized skin care, it can be incredibly helpful to meet with a dermatologist who can teach you what your problem areas are. Also, some spa technicians offer a free consultation before a facial or other such process so that they can meet your exact needs.

Skin Tighten Cream - Tips For Finding a Safe and Effective Skin Tightening Cream

Let's face it, the last thing anyone wants to do is buy a skin tightening cream that doesn't actually work, or one that harms your skin more than helps it. This article will give you some helpful guidance that will hopefully lead you to a safe and effective skin tighten lotion.

For me, it's pretty easy to pinpoint which skin tightening creams are worth getting and which ones are not. I've done PLENTY of research over the past few years and I now know what it takes to actually make your skin look more youthful, firm, and tight.

First of all, let's go over a few things that you should NOT do when looking for the best skin tighten cream:

*DO NOT get products that are not all-natural or organic. There are TONS of synthetic ingredients and byproducts from different industries that are used in skin care products. Mainly, they are used because they are cheap in order to lower production costs for the company that makes them. But nonetheless, they can actually harm your skin more than help it.

*DO NOT go looking for one at your local drug store or department store. I know that these places have the cheapest options, but that is only because they contain cheap synthetic ingredients. If they do contain quality ingredients, they certainly are not used in effective amounts.

*DO NOT just buy a product because it "sounds" effective. A skin tighten cream can only be as effective as the ingredients it contains. Don't just a product by what it says on it's label. I personally like to shop online for skin care products so I can read through their website and actually learn about a product before getting it.

Instead, here is what you SHOULD do:

*DO get a skin tighten cream that is made with all-natural and organic ingredients. These are not only safer to apply to your skin, but they also provide more health-giving properties as well.

*DO get a product that contains powerful and potent ingredients in EFFECTIVE amounts. Too many products now a days do not contain enough of key active ingredients, which is why they are ineffective. Your skin is the largest body organ and it needs the proper "nutrition" to stay healthy and youthful.

*DO make sure you get a skin tighten cream that contains an ingredient that stimulates the natural production of collagen protein inside your skin. Without doing this, it's almost IMPOSSIBLE to make your skin more firm and tight. Collagen is the primary structural protein in your skin that determines how youthful and firm it stays. But as we get older, our bodies cannot produce as much of it. This is where a quality skin tighten cream comes into play....

Skin Care in Cold Weather

With cold winds and below freezing temperatures, a woman's face can take quite a beating during the winter. It's easy to cover the rest of your body, but completely covering your face is not such a simple task. You do, after all, need to see where you're going.

By caring for your skin year-round with a facial routine matching the needs of your face, you can avoid winter wear and tear on your skin. You can keep your skin looking healthy and radiant despite the harshness of winter. The important part is figuring out the right combination of products for your personal needs.

There are different types of skin, and each type requires careful selection of cleansing products to avoid damage. Below we'll describe each type, followed by the appropriate skin care products recommended for your needs.

Dry or Sensitive Skin: If using certain skin care products results in your face stinging or burning, you most likely have this type of skin. Other conditions which may arise are itchiness, redness or a rash-like patch, or skin more dry than it was before.

Most regular soaps will result in you having this type of reaction every time you wash your face. There are alternatives however for women with this skin type. Many dermatologists will recommend using sensitive skin cleansers which are completely free of soap. For those who have extremely try or sensitive skin it may be necessary to also use a cleansing bar. If this is the case, you would simply alternate daily.

After your face has been cleansed, you will now want to apply a light moisturizer. Choose one which is hypoallergenic and fragrance-free. You may want to choose one with sunscreen already in it as well.

Normal Skin: This type of skin is usually smooth, blemish-free and properly hydrated. If this is your skin type, you're one of the lucky ones. You can choose almost any cleanser without worrying about a thing. When choosing a moisturizer, most people with normal skin only use one as a means of assuring their face is protected by an integrated sunscreen.

Oily Skin: Oily skin normally appears shiny or greasy. People with oily skin will normally have larger pores as well as blackheads. You can easily use any regular soap to clean your skin, since the drying factor could be beneficial for removing a lot of the oil. A moisturizer isn't necessary, but if you choose to use one make sure it's oil free as well as noncomedogenic. This means it won't clog your pores or cause acne.

Combination Skin: If you find the skin on your T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) to be oily, but the rest of your face to be drier, you have combination skin. You can either choose a facial cleanser for this purpose at your local pharmacy or department store, or wash with a gentle cleanser in the morning while using an astringent which is free of alcohol later in the day. Be sure to always use a noncomedogenic, oil-free moisturizer all over your face.

No matter what your skin type is, remember to be gentle with your face. Avoid using hot water or scrubbing with a washcloth. Remember to pat your face with the towel to dry it, not rub it. Most of all, apply your moisturizer to your face while your face is still damp or humid. This assists in the absorption of it into your skin.

Properly caring for your skin year-round will help ensure the harsh winter months don't have the opportunity to damage the sensitive skin on your face.

Do Oily Skin Types Really Need to Moisturize

Having had oily skin for the first 20 years of my adult life, I always steered away from skin care products containing oil. Every time I went to my local drugstore, I scrupulously read all product labels to make sure they said, "Oil free." I educated myself about many skin care ingredients just to make sure the products I considered did not contain any hidden oils. I never even entertained the thought of using a moisturizer, not even an oil-free one.

When I later decided to shop for department store brands, every sales person I encountered told me I needed to use a moisturizer even though my skin was very oily. Was this just a ploy to get me to buy more products or did my oily skin truly need a moisturizer?

If you ask almost any esthetician or skin care expert, they will tell you that oily skin needs a moisturizer. More often than not, they will recommend an oil free one. Their rationale is that even oily skin needs hydration and that moisturizers help prevent moisture (or water) from evaporating from the skin.

So, in answering the question, "Do I need to moisturize oily skin," I believe the answer is not as black and white as some would believe. It really depends on your skin. Not everyone with oily skin has the same issues.

For example, some people can have oily skin with dry patches right over oily areas. This can be caused by any number of reasons, including eczema. In this instance, a light weight moisturizer can be of benefit. Many have combination skin, so moisturizing dry areas, including the eye area can be beneficial.

Additionally, those with oily skin may find they have dry patches during the harsh winter months. Using a non-greasy moisturizer would be recommended in this instance. Also, if you are using products such as benzoyl peroxide or Retin-A for acne, then using a moisturizer can help since these ingredients can be drying. Retin -A or Renova is also commonly used as an anti-aging ingredient, so moisturizing would be advised when using this product if you find it dries you out.

Using an all natural face cream with anti-aging ingredients can be beneficial for those with oily skin, particularly as we become older. As we mature, our oil glands may not produce as much oil, so our skin may still be oily, but not as much as when we were younger. Additionally, our skin can benefit from anti-aging treatments which utilize powerful antioxidants such as R-Lipoic Acid, Green Tea, White Tea, Pomegranate, etc. If you find your skin is still oily in your forties and fifties, you can benefit from a natural skin cream which uses light oils such as jojoba oil, sesame seed oil, and apricot kernel oil. These oils penetrate immediately and do not leave an oily residue.

You can always opt for an oil-free serum with antioxdiants if you are still uncomfortable using creams. Finding one in an aloe vera base can provide oil free moisture. Additionally, Hyaluronic acid, a powerful humectant, can help give skin a plumper, more youthful look.

It is very important to use a sun block on a daily basis to prevent UV damage. Look for a light weight cream or gel for this purpose. However, stay away from products that utilize alcohol which can be drying, even for oily skin. For example, avoid products containing "SD Alcohol 40," or any alcohol followed by a number. You will typically see these in gel or spray on sunscreens.

Also, avoid creamy cleansers since they will leave an emollient film behind. While great for dry skin, they can make oily skin more oily. Instead, use an all natural cleanser which does not contain oil, fragrance, detergent or soap. Try to avoid foaming or sudsing cleansers as they can interfere with your skin's acid mantle.

Listen to your skin. Experiment with different products to see how they work with your oily skin. If you still feel uncomfortable with even the "lightest" moisturizers, then don't feel pressured to use one, particularly if you are in your teens or your twenties.