Skin lightening creams are dangerous … yet business is booming:writte

 

                                            written by; Zeeshan Asghar

These are also known as bleaching creams, whiteners, and skin brighteners. Skin lightening creams work by reducing a pigment called melanin in the skin. Melanin is a pigment produced by specialized cells called melanocytes. People with dark skin have more melanin. These products do come with some risks, possible risks include visible blood vessels in the skin, scarring, kidney, liver or nerve damage. Other side effects may include skin inflammation, itchy or flaky skin. Many of these creams have ingredients that are banned but are still being sold in the market. In 2017, the global skin-lightening industry was worth $4.8bn (£3.4bn), and it is projected to grow to $8.9bn by 2027, fueled by a growing middle class in the Asia-Pacific region.  A World Health Organization study found that 40% of Chinese women regularly use skin-lightening creams. That number is 61% in India and 77% in Nigeria. It stands to reason that diaspora communities will be influenced. These stats prove that regardless of all the side effects, people still use them to attain a better complexion. Brands use different celebrities to target their markets and achieve the desired goals. Other than this different celebrities have their own skin care products and some of them do include these lightening creams.

10 simple beauty tips for men

 

written by; Zeeshan Asghar

1.MOISTURIZE YOUR SKIN

You deal with all the organs inside your body, however the thing would you say you are doing to think about your biggest organ – your skin? A grown-up hefts around 8 pounds of skin, so you need to ensure it's sound. Dampness is the main method to keep your skin solid. Drink a lot of water. Furthermore, if your skin actually feels somewhat dry, apply salve after you shower. Utilize a body cream on, all things considered, your body and get a face lotion for your face

2.PROTECT YOUR FACE WHEN YOU SHAVE 

Shaving can cause bothering and in-developed hairs. Ouch. Furthermore, men's skin is more inclined to affectability, so in case you're not utilizing a shaving cream when you groom your face, you should be. Search for shave creams with relieving, against oxidant fixings. We like Aveda's Men Pure-Formance shave cream. On the off chance that you battle with redness when you shave, a relieving shave cream will take care of yourself. Notice we didn't state shave gels. Gels will in general have more liquor, which expands the danger of dry skin.

3. CLEANSE YOUR FACE 

Ladies aren't the solitary ones who need to wash and scrub their appearances. Contamination, residue, sweat and earth from simply every day exercises can obstruct your pores. Toward the day's end, you need to wash your face to clean such gunk from your skin. 

Chemicals help eliminate abundance oil, so in the event that you battle with skin break out or oil, you'll need to add a day by day chemical into your morning or night schedule.

4. USE SHAMPOO FOR MEN 

Men's scalps are not the same as women's. A man's scalp is bound to get bothersome, aggravated and respond inadequately to specific fixings. Along these lines, men should utilize hair items custom fitted to them. A man's scalp likewise will in general deliver more oil than a women's, so you need a cleanser that can purify hair without over drying it. You need to discover a cleanser worked for men to keep your hair and scalp cheerful without drying either out.

5.MEN CAN USE CONDITIONER TOO

You may have heard that folks needn't bother with conditioner. On the off chance that your hair is under two inches, you may have the option to get by without utilizing it, yet on the off chance that you have longer hair, you'll unquestionably need to add a jug of conditioner to you shower rack. Conditioner will add back any dampness your cleanser strips away.

6.MINIMIZE WRINKLES 

Notwithstanding keeping skin saturated, your eating regimen will help downplay wrinkles. Watery leafy foods help with hydration, which keeps skin energetic. Add watermelon, tomatoes, cucumbers and lemons into your eating regimen. Likewise eat more cabbage. It contains nutrient C and nutrient A, the two of which help delete lines. It additionally detoxifies the blood, and the fiber in cabbage pushes waste and poisons out of the body. Poisons can really appear all over, making you look more seasoned than you are.

7. EMBRACE THE BROW WAX 

We're taking a tip from ladies. Women shouldn't be the solitary ones prepping their foreheads. To truly improve their facial highlights, folks should cull and prepare their temples. Keep the unibrows under control by culling all alone. To truly get an attractive shape, visit an expert for a waxing.

8.KEEP YOUR LIPS SOFT 

Here's a straightforward marvel tip for men: use lip emollient! Lips age definitely and they can dry out quick. Toss a lip ointment, ideally one with sun insurance, into your pocket and apply it for the duration of the day.

9.WHITEN YOUR SMILE 

Your grin is one of the principal things individuals notice about you. Solid, white teeth look pleasant, however they'll set aside you time and cash at the dental specialist's office. Brushing, flossing and utilizing mouthwash consistently brings down the danger of gum illness, pits, draining and contaminations. These can cause genuine harm not far off. On the off chance that you smoke or drink a ton of espresso, converse with your dental specialist about brightening choices.

10. GET PLENTY OF SLEEP 

Seeing packs under the eyes? It very well may be on the grounds that you're not getting enough rest. The normal grown-up requirements somewhere in the range of 7 and 9 hours of rest. In case you're actually observing sacks under your eyes, you can diminish the puffliness by putting cold spoons on your eyes. Likewise, chilled crude potato cuts set under the eyes for around 20 minutes can help diminish dark circles. They contain catecholase, a skin-helping protein.

Regardless of whether you can't work these excellence tips for men into your day by day normal, beginning to do a couple of these will help your skin, hair and teeth. You'll look better, yet more significantly, you'll feel much improved!

5 Ways to Develop Healthy Eating Habits

 

                                        WRITTEN BY: ZEESHAN ASGHAR

1. Get in balance. 

Eat an eating regimen that is 45 percent carbs, 30% protein, and 35 percent bravo fats olive oil, fish, or nuts. "Eating too minimal fat causes you to feel denied," Forberg says. "Sprinkle almonds on your plate of mixed greens, put Parmesan cheddar on your entire wheat pasta, or cut avocado on your sandwich. Fat is a flavor transporter that helps different nourishments taste more vigorous." 

2. Maintain a strategic distance from anything counterfeit. 

Stick with genuine nourishments, for example, vegetables, organic products, nuts, lean meats, low-fat dairy, and entire grain pasta, rice, and bread. "The thought is to get the greatest supplement value for the calorie money. Handled nourishments contain a great deal of garbage. Genuine nourishments are cell reinforcement rich and fiber-filled."

3. Keep a food diary. 

Individuals who record what they eat after each supper lose double the heaviness of the individuals who don't.

4. Set solid cutoff points. 

On the show, we prescribe ladies devour 1,200 to 1,500 calories per day and men 1,600 to 2,400, contingent upon their size," says Forberg. "In case you're super-drained, eat somewhat more. This is tied in with making a way of life change and accomplishing something that is feasible.

5. Never let yourself get famished or too full.

At the point when you're eager for super, you pick some unacceptable nourishments and eat excessively. Stop when you're easily full. You ought to never need to unfasten your jeans.

Positive thinking: Stop negative self-talk to reduce stress

written by; ZEESHAN ASGHAR 

Positive intuition assists with pressure the executives and can even improve your wellbeing. Work on defeating negative self-talk with models gave.

Is your glass half-vacant or half-full? How you answer this well established inquiry regarding positive thinking may mirror your point of view, your disposition toward yourself, and whether you're hopeful or cynical and it might even influence your wellbeing. 

Surely, a few investigations show that character qualities, for example, confidence and negativity can influence numerous territories of your wellbeing and prosperity. The positive reasoning that normally accompanies confidence is a critical piece of powerful pressure the executives. Also, compelling pressure the executives is related with numerous medical advantages. On the off chance that you will in general be skeptical, don't surrender you can learn positive reasoning aptitudes.

The medical advantages of positive thinking

Specialists keep on investigating the impacts of positive reasoning and hopefulness on wellbeing. Medical advantages that positive reasoning may give include;

• Expanded life expectancy 
• Lower paces of sorrow 
• Lower levels of trouble 
• Better mental and actual prosperity 
• Better cardiovascular wellbeing and diminished danger of death from cardiovascular infection 
• Better adapting aptitudes during difficulties and seasons of pressure

How to Improve Your Mental Health

 By Huma Batool Nakvi

When we speak of taking care of our health, we mainly focus on the physical aspect of it. But how can we forget the mental and emotional health which is equally if not more important! Specially for people who suffer from anxiety, depression, chronic stress or any other  mental illness they are ashamed of, however there is no need to be ashamed of it or consider it a taboo topic. We need to recognize any issue we face as soon as possible so we can solve them ASAP to live a happy a fulfilled life.

1. Listen to depressing music. It may sound counterintuitive like that's something that makes you more sad. But the idea behind it is that it's cathartic and helps you release the emotions and feelings that are bottled up inside you so they find a release. Studies find that a good cry can boost your mood! So although it's counterintuitive, different methods work for different people so when you try these out try to tailor them to make sure what's best for you.

2. Take a break from social media. People focus on the bad of social media but I believe in the good of social media too. However, constantly comparing yourself to the best of people, or unrealistic, photoshopped and staged standards is bad for your mental health. There's also a reason why more and more people are lonely and depressed now a days more than ever. 

3. Gratitude Journaling. This is about intentionally practicing being thankful. it can be a short activity. Studies show that when people write down a few sentences a week of what they're grateful about, they're happier, less depressed and it affectively improved their mental health and also trains your brain to focus on the good. 

4. Re-label and Refocus. First of all: STEOP ONE: Re-label your thoughts.

 Don't just accept anxious thoughts as truth at face value. Stop and identify the thought outside of yourself and just label it as depressing, or anxious, or sad. This will help you manage it.

 

STEP TWO: Refocus. We all have different ways to deal with depression and anxiety e.g eating, smoking, procrastinating etc. So what you want to do is change your focus from such activities to a productive one e.g calling a friend, going for a walk, working out, sorting out your closet. And usually when we're in a rut, the last thing we want to do is the best thing for us. 

5: Do for Others. When we are depressed or anxious or stressed, our thoughts are inward upon ourselves. But when we do things for others in that state, like an act of kindness, it is a selfless act and something positive that has a positive affect on your own emotional well-being and how you see yourself. It can even be a simple act such as telling someone something you admire about them!

 

6. Going to Therapy: Everyone can benefit from therapy. Just the way the more you would see a doctor or go to the gym for physical health, the healthier you would be. Similarly the more you would see a therapist to check in with your mental health status, the more mentally healthier you would be. Everyone has a physical health status, as well as a mental health status. People are scared to go see a therapist because it sounds like going to a hospital. But in reality, it's more like going to the gym. Sure you can talk to your friends and family about issues you're having, but there's something about a professional in the field who has the right knowledge about your issues and how to approach them. It's like having a professional trainer, but for your brain!

Food that is good for skin--- By Muhammad Danish

 

When it comes to foods that are good for skin, we hear a lot about what we should avoid—red meat, chocolate, booze, basically anything fun—but not a lot about what we should eat more of. Fortunately, you don’t have to eliminate everything delicious from your diet to get a glowing complexion…you just need more of these fruits, vegetables and nuts. We spoke with Kimberly Snyder, a celebrity nutritionist (she’s worked with Drew Barrymore and Kerry Washington) and the author of The Beauty Detox Foods about what foods we should be incorporating in our diets for a brighter, healthier looking complexion. The foods are as follows:

Carrots, apricots, and other yellow and orange fruits and spinach and other green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, nuts, berries, beans, peas and lentils, Salmon and other fatty fish.

Avocados are high in valuable fats and contain nutrients E and C, which are significant for solid skin. They likewise pack intensifies that may shield your skin from sun harm.

Pecans are a decent wellspring of basic fats, zinc, nutrient E, selenium and protein — all of which are supplements your skin requires to remain solid.

Sunflower seeds are a brilliant wellspring of supplements, including nutrient E, which is a significant cell reinforcement for the skin.

Sweet potatoes are a phenomenal wellspring of beta carotene, which goes about as a characteristic sunblock and may shield your skin from sun harm.

 Bell peppers contain a lot of beta carotene and nutrient C — the two of which are significant cancer prevention agents for your skin. Nutrient C is additionally important to make collagen, the underlying protein that keeps your skin solid.

Broccoli is a decent wellspring of nutrients, minerals, and carotenoids that are significant for skin wellbeing. It likewise contains sulforaphane, which may help forestall skin cancer  and shield your skin from burn from the sun.

Tomatoes are a decent wellspring of nutrient C and the entirety of the significant carotenoids, particularly lycopene. These carotenoids shield your skin from sun harm and may help forestall wrinkling.

Soy contains isoflavones, which have been appeared to improve wrinkles, collagen, skin flexibility, and skin dryness, just as shield your skin from UV harm.

Dental Care

 The food you eat affects oral health. A diet with low nutrients can make it difficult for the body’s immunity system to fight infection. As per World Health Organization, diet influences teeth development,causes of oral cancer and oral diseases development. Diseases related to diet include cavities, defects of  enamel, teeth erosion and gum disease.

Why Brush?

Brushing after meals and between-meal helps to  get rid of food particles and sticky flm that gets on teeth. Plaque is a bacteria that makes acids that cause tooth decay and gum disease, so getting rid of plaque is the main aim of brushing. Using a fuoride toothpaste is also important because the fuoride reduces bacteria and enhances tooth surfaces, making them stronger.

Why floss ?

Prevention from tooth decaying and gum diseases, plaque must be eradicated from tooth surfaces. Unfortunately, our brush can’t reach effectively between our teeth and beyond our gum-line. Since tooth decay often starts in these areas, it is also very important to floss on regular basis as it is to brush.

What About Mouthwashes and Other Oral Care Products?

There are a various products available to support your oral health. Mouthrinse and toothpastes with flouride can be used to Prevent decay. Some mouthwashes and toothpastes are antibacterial and help prevent or control gum inflammation. Others contain ingredients to reduce the formation of tartar, the plaque that gets on teeth over time. Gum and mints containing xylitol, a natural sweetener that reduces decay causing bacteria, can be used as part of an overall strategy to help reduce cavities.

Are Regular Checkups Really That Important?

 When your dentist looks in your mouth, he or she is not only looking for the signs of tooth decay and  gum disease, but also for signs of systemic diseases – as your mouth is often a good indicator of your overall health. Conditions such as precancerous or cancerous lesions, diabetes, blocked salivary glands, and even HIV or AIDS can often be detected in an oral exam. Additionally, there is growing evidence of links between periodontal disease (gum disease) and heart disease, some respiratory diseases and low-birth weight babies. To maintain your general health, it is important to maintain your oral health.

Article by Waleed Hussain

Essential nail treatment

 

Fingernails and toenails, we also call them as nail plates, are made of keratin. It’s really important to take care for your nails as one would for his/her skin and hair.

• It is important to follow a healthy, balanced diet. We need to avoid fad diets. Certain diets with Extra- biotin or equivalent supplements are found to be beneficial for nail strength and growth.

• Keep your nails dry and clean always. This protects them from fungi and bacteria attack. Don’t adhere to labels on dishwashing soaps claiming they are good for your nails. Combination of hot water and soap can be a damaging.

• Treat wrongly grown and torn nails as soon as they could be possible. Unsightly and painful, ingrown nails and torn nails should be treated immediately to avoid infections.

• Always make sure to avoid certain nail polishes with have chemicals such as formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, and toluene, as they cause your nails to be weaken, brittle and split.

• Washing the dishes, cleaning home with harsh chemicals, or gardening can all be harmful to your nails. Always keep gloves on when doing dishes or anything that involves soakin your hands.

Article by Waleed Hussain

Do Trending Facade Diets Really Work?

-By Huma Batool Nakvi

How annoying is it when that one person pulls out their phone to calculate the number of calories before starting their meal?

What started as a green diet revolution has evolved into a fashion trend in many societies. The unfortunate part is it makes people fall into believing misconceptions such as skipping meals is good for your diet. The fitness culture in todays world where people blindly follow the internet, has led to people believing in fabricated dieting habits. 

1. Gluten Free Desserts are healthier: Normal Desserts are not necessarily less healthier than Gluten Free ones as they may have increased calorie content leading to weight gain. Not to mention they’re already behind normal desserts when it comes to nutritional content. However, it is great for people diagnosed with celiac disease and who are gluten intolerant but if that’s not the case with you, feel free to have that chocolate brownie you’ve had your eyes on. 

2. Skipping meals is good for weight-loss: Ever heard the saying; “ Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a queen and dinner like a pauper”. What you’re eating is more important for health and fitness than when you’re eating it. Fitness is more about eating a balanced diet in moderation to replenish your body with the energy it needs through a nutritious meal depending on your job, lifestyle, and health/ fitness goals. 

3. Eating Healthy is Expensive: You don’t necessarily have to buy that fancy millet or asparagus you saw a Kardashian promoting in her story to be healthy. However, replacing those processed foods with fresh vegetables and fruits may cost you more. But so will the gym membership to get back in shape and not to mention the medical bills that one might incur due to the health risks that come with processed and unhealthy alternatives. 

4. Keto is the best way to burn fat. Ketogenic diet includes a diet consisting of high-fats, sufficient-proteins, and low-carbohydrates to force the body to burn fats instead of carbohydrates. This has helped a large amount of people to burn fat more affectively by fighting fire with fire. However since it was trending hot topic for so long, businesses and influencers were milking it to sell their diet plans, workout plans, and products. What didn't make their way to the headlines were a lot of the people's reviews who it didn't work for. Keto is not safe for those with any conditions involving their pancreas, liver, thyroid or gallbladder. 

In essence, consider a natural balance that works for you by your individual needs. One can try out and should experiment with diets to find out what works for them better than other. However, to live a high quality, fulfilled life you can't revolve your life around obsessions which cause you to constantly restrict yourself from harmless things. Constraint diets can also cause people eating disorders and social isolation. Facade diet trends could be good for business but everything is definitely not for everyone in this case.

THE ORDINARY : Revamp your skin care

 

-By Huma Batool Nakvi 

The Ordinary is a well renowned skin care brand which sells at their own website, Sephora, Ulta Beauty, and now more widely available at other online websites. But when people hear of The ordinary they know they are going to be getting an affordable product. Nonetheless their products are quite popular in terms of  quality and effectiveness for a wide variety of customers and their skin type. The line is kind of known for their very simple and direct approach when it comes to the name of the product, hence the name "The Ordinary". They are intensely focused on ingredients, percentages, and formulas, which I personally appreciate because let's be frank, I'm a very picky person. I'm all for a brand which is transparent about which ingredients, percentages and formulas they use so if you are too, here's The Ordinary review for you. 

We'll rate the products from least favorite to favorite. 

First off is the Glycolic acid -Toning solution ($9) formulated at 7% with a PH of 3.6. Glycolic acid is used as a chemical exfoliant which dissolve dead skin cells off your skin, which majority of dermatologists recommend over abrasive tools. However it can be very drying for sensitive skin and the Ph level is quite low and any imbalance in the natural Ph levels of the skin of about 5 can cause skin irritation. Its fragrant ingredients can also add to skin irritation. 

Next is Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% ($6). Niacinamide is an incredible ingredient not only for reducing oiliness and sebum production skin which is great for someone with oily skin but is also a brightening agent. In addition niacinamide also calms down redness and irritation in skin. And Zinc also does that so its great that its added with zinc. So someone who suffers from oily skin, pigmentation, and acne scars they could really benefit from this product. 

Moving on to Lactic Acid 10% + Hyaluronic acid serum ($7). Lactic acid is similar to Glycaulic acid and helps in chemically exfoliating and dissolving dead skin cells but its the most gentle of the chemical exfoliants. But 10% lactic acid is a bit high percentage and may not be the best serum for sensitive skin. But it is lightweight and easy to absorb into the skin. It also absorbs moisture from the air into our skin and we all need all the hydration we can get! 

And finally our most favorite product in the entire line: The AHA 30% + BHA 2% solution ($7). AHA is Alpha-Hydroxy Acid is another chemical exfoliant. While BHA or Salycylic acid is another exfoliating ingredient but what we love about it is that it also goes deep into the pores and helps remove impurities from within the skin such as oil, sebum, or dirt making it the perfect ingredient for someone with oily and acne prone skin. And their 30% AHA means its highly concentrated and that's insane and we love that. HOWEVER this product you can only use once a week for 10 minutes because the 30% glycolic acid will bulldoze the dead skin off of your face. 

FOODS TO AVOID FOR A FLATTER BELLY

-By Huma Batool Nakvi

Considering how stagnant our lifestyles have become along with the depleting quality of diets and food we eat, a general consensus is that everyone wants a flatter belly. However we also want to live our best lives so we can't just revolve our lives around just wanting a flat belly. But for days we just want to look good wearing a nicely fitted dress or suit, here are some points to look out for. Take note! 

SUGAR

Sugar is one of the main causes for bloating and gastric distress. It also the main reason people can't get rid of belly fat as it accumulates in the abdomen area. Apart from that, probably a greater harm it causes is neurological. It hits the reward centre in the brain similar to alcohol and drugs which means its as difficult to stop its consumption and the more you have, the more you want. This turns into a never ending cycle that needs to be put on halt in time because not only does it affect your body but your mood, hormones, skin, and sleep. By cutting out sugar, you cut out unnecessary calories and bloating, paving the way for a more refreshed, and vibrant life.

DAIRY

Not everyone is lactose intolerant but a surprisingly high number of individuals have a hard time digesting lactose, even if symptoms don't show up instantly. It usually only causes bloating but it will  for sure make your favorite pair of jeans fit a bit tighter. Best way to avoid that specially on important occasions is to simply ditch the dairy for as long as you need to. 

BEANS AND GRAINS 

    

Beans and grains consist of lectins which are carbohydrate-binding proteins that bind to sugar and resist human digestion, hence bringing on bloating and fatigue.  Specially for those with irritable digestive systems, consuming gluten brings on similar symptoms for those with sensitive digestive systems. We can keep lectins down by avoiding starchy foods like beans and some grains. 

Contrary to popular belief, go for white rice to add carbohydrates in your diet. Since white rice is stripped of its outer coating which contains lectins, its safe to consume and easy to digest.

However, feeling good doesn't have to revolve around restricting yourself  from everything. In fact, to live a more vibrant life where you are kind and thoughtful towards yourself surrounding what you want to be and how you want to be. One needs to put themselves in a softer mental space where you focus on what you have not what you lack. 

Well rounded wellness experts and nutritionists recommend people coming from the same understanding to drink plenty of water, consume diets mainly consisting of easily digestive vegetables as well as leafy greens along with olive oil, and make their own food to be mindful and connect with what and how they eat.