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

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.

Eye care

Your eyes are an important precious part of body. There are various things one can do to keep them in good health to make sure we are seeing our best. We need to Follow these simple steps for maintaining healthy eyes well:

Have a comprehensive eye exam. You may think your vision is fine and healthy, but visiting your eye care professional for a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to really be sure. When it comes to common vision problems, some people don’t realize they could see better with glasses or contact lenses. In addition, many common eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and age-related macular degeneration often have no warning signs. A dilated eye exam is the only way to detect these diseases in their early stages. 

Eat right to protect your sight. You’ve heard carrots are good for your eyes. But eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens, is important for keeping your eyes healthy, too.1 Research has also shown there are eye health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut.

Be cool and wear your shades. Sunglasses are really helpful and

great fashion accessory, but their most important 

job is to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. When purchasing sunglasses, look for ones that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.

Maintaining healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases risk of diabetes and other systemic conditions, which can lead to vision loss, such as diabetic eye disease or glaucoma. If you are having trouble maintaining a healthy weight, talk to your doctor.

Quit smoking or never start. Smoking is as bad for your eyes as it is for the rest of your body. Research has proved smoking to an increased risk 

of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and optic nerve damage, all of which can lead to blindness.

Give your eyes a rest. Do not spend much time On compute screens or focusing on any one thing, you 

sometimes forget to blink and your eyes can get 

fatigued. Try the 20-20-20 rule: after every 20 minutes, 

look about 20 feet in front of you for 20 

seconds. This can help reduce eyestrain.

Article by: Waleed Hussain