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5 Best Skin Creams For Glowing Skin

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5 best skin creams for glowing skinWant glowing skin but aren’t sure how to achieve it? As the cosmetics industry continues to expand, it’s hard to know which brands will produce the best results. We’ve put together a list of the five best skin creams for glowing skin.

Starflower Crème Cleanser

The Starflower brand has a wide range of products, but two, in particular, stand out. The Grapefruit Crème Cleanser smells wonderful with its subtle citrus hints. It also works beautifully. If you have oily skin or large pores, then you will want to try this cleanser.

Made of organic herbs and plants, including aloe vera, safflower, and dandelions, the Grapefruit Crème Cleanser will detoxify your skin and re-mineralize it. The result is a soothing, even skin tone that will make your face truly glow.

Starflower Face Crème

Another product to consider from starflower is the Lavender Gold Crème. This face cream is perfect for most skin tones, including normal, dry, or combination skin. The ingredients, which include virgin olive oil, lavender, and rose petals, all work to regenerate your face. It is ideal for daily use and will keep your skin moisturized.

Devita

Want to protect your face from the harshness of UV rays, but don’t want your skin to dry out? One of the best skin creams for glowing skin is from the Devita range of products. The Solar Protective Moisturizer provides and SPF of 30. And while it’s protecting you from sun damage and skin cancer, it is also moisturizing your face.

Most sunscreen is oily, thick, or greasy. Not so with this Solar Protective Moisturizer. It is made from 100% vegan ingredients and is never tested on animals. It is a must-have not only for summer but year-round.

Antipodes

If you don’t already have a night face cream as part of your beauty regime, then it’s time to get one. Produced by the highly popular Antipodes line, This Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream is the perfect solution. Made from marigold petals and calendula oil, along with essences of avocado and pear, your face will love this fruit salad of a face cream.

For best results, apply at night, once you have removed all makeup. You can use the Avocado Pear Nourishing Cream on your face, neck, and cleavage.

Intelligent Nutrients

If you can’t stand the feeling of heavy, sometimes greasy, face creams, then you will be in for a surprise with this Restorative Moisture Emulsion, brought to you by Intelligent Nutrients. The goal of this moisturizer is simple: to supplement your skin’s moisture balance. Simple apply it daily and let it work its magic. The light moisturizer is full of antioxidants, apricot kernel, and safflower oil. Together, the result is the perfect blend that will feel wonderful on your face. It is truly one of the best skin creams for glowing skin.

The 4 Best Ways To Transition To A Calmer Autumn

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the 4 best ways to transition to a calmer autumnGetting tired of the party atmosphere that summer inevitably brings? It’s nice to hit up the beach, but all the sand and hot weather can start to get a bit much. Thankfully, autumn is in the air. A return to routine, cooler nights, and sense of settling in. If you’re feeling a bit anxious about this sudden shift in seasons, we have the best ways to transition to a calmer autumn.

Celebrate summer

Summer is a fun season. It’s a time to party and catch up with friends. Even if you’re ready for a different season, you can still appreciate summer for what it was. End summer with a bang. Have that last beach picnic or backyard BBQ. If there’s a particular outdoor activity you love doing in the summer, be sure to find time for it. A paddleboard at sunset or a game of beach volleyball. Take that last road trip with your friends. It’s important to leave summer with no regrets; after all, it won’t come again for another year.

Finish projects

If you started a project in the summer, be sure to finish it. It’s always nice to start fresh each season. While we celebrate New Year’s with a list of resolutions, autumn is a more natural beginning. Finish painting that bedroom or harvesting your garden. The more summer projects you can finish, the better you can make room for autumn projects.

Plan a routine

Autumn is all about routine. Whether it’s back to school or back to work, there’s more of an emphasis on needing to wake up at a particular time and go to bed at a particular time. Think about how you want your day to look like.

If you’re a morning person, start the day off with a few minutes of meditation or journaling. If you’re a nice person, add these tasks to the end of the day. Think about what makes the most sense for you and what is the easiest way to stick to that routine. The easier you can fall into your routine, the easier it will naturally surround you.

Make a list

Who doesn’t love a good list? Think about both what you love about fall and what you want to accomplish in fall. Cooler weather means it can be easier to complete DIY tasks around the home. It’s also the natural end cycle with most gardens, so that will probably end up on your list.

Think about fun fall recipes to bake and family activities to indulge in. Think about everything you want to accomplish and then try to plan around them. Depending on where you live, fall can quickly turn into winter, so don’t procrastinate. Make the most out of this glorious new season. The best ways to transition to a calmer autumn involves a bit of planning.

Why Having A Facial Peel Is Essential In The Summer

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why having a facial peel is essential this summerReady to improve your face? Wanting to get a facial peel, but not sure when is the best time? Well, it turns out that a facial peel is essential in the summer. Here’s why.

Mops up oil

If you’re like most people, even a bit of exercise in the summer heat can quickly turn to an oily face. All that sweat means you’re working hard, but it’s also an open invitation for your pores to open up and turn into acne.

One of the ingredients in a facial peel is salicylic acid. This ingredient will actually absorb excess oil in the skin. If used in high-grease times, like the summer, it can naturally cut down on that bothersome greasy feeling so often felt.

Get picture perfect

Summer is all about looking as good as you can. Especially during wedding season. As you prepare to save the date, you might be thinking about a bit of life to your face. A facial peel is essential in the summer so you can always be camera-ready. The recovery time for a facial peel is just a matter of days, so you can get one done the week before a wedding and not have to worry about any issues.

Having a facial peel before a wedding means less cost on professional make up artists. Your skin will be so soft and supple, you can easily apply your favorite shades.

Let your skin breathe

Sure, in winter months you want a more even skin tone and plenty of foundation to bring color back to your cheeks. But in summer, take advantage of your sun-kissed, wind-swept look. A facial peel will help bring the natural feel back to your face. You don’t need to cover it in layers of makeup. Instead, you can show everyone your natural, youthful glow.

Start planning

A facial peel needs a few days to work its magic. Thankfully, it just takes a bit of planning to make everything come together. If you plan on using a vacation day to catch up on your summer reading, schedule a facial peel before your long weekend. Then, relax, read, meditate, and catch up on some me-time. By Monday you can re-emerge into the world as a fresher version of yourself.

Keep your skin protected

One of the reasons for a facial peel is UV damage. Do your best to prevent that damage from happening in the first place. Having a facial peel and starting from scratch means you can forget about the damage from last summer. Now is the time to take better care of your skin and always apply sunscreen. You can live your best life and stay protected at the same time.

5 Ways To Unwind This Summer

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5 ways to unwind this summerWhile each season is unique, perhaps none is more so than summer. Full of activities and time off work, summer seems to take your well-crafted schedule and turn it on its head. The busyness of summer is unique and fun, but can often be overwhelming, too. If this is the case, here are five ways to unwind this summer.

Grab a good book

It’s time to tackle that mounting pile of books you just didn’t have time for during the rest of the year. Now, there’s no reason that summer books need to be light or frothy. In fact, lighter books are best for the times when you’re busy and need an easy read at night. You don’t have to tackle War and Peace this summer but try your best to challenge yourself. Head to the library for inspiration or ask around. Take a chance with a new author. It never hurts to try a new book, and if you don’t like it, no one is forcing you to finish it.

Take a moment for yourself

Summer can be busy. There are people to see, activities to join, and it can be easy to be swept up in the bustle of everything. Each day, find time just for yourself. A few moments to reconnect with yourself can leave you more energized than a cup of coffee. Remember that it’s ok to turn down an invite. If your body is saying you need to rest, be sure to listen.

Enjoy the sunrise

Summer mornings are amazing. There’s a real magic about them. The day holds endless possibilities just waiting to happen. When you can, wake up with the birds and enjoy the quiet morning time. Head to your deck or go for a morning stroll. There’s real peace in knowing you’re awake before so many others.

Find gratitude in the sunset

At the end of the day, reflect on what has happened. Summer days are unique. They can either be filled with endless moments or a whirl of activity. Especially on those busy days, be sure to reflect on what has happened and search for the gratitude amongst the events. The more you savor each day, the less likely you’ll wonder where summer went to at the end.

Do something for others

One final way to unwind this summer is to help others out. While a bit of soul searching is always encouraged, often the answers we are looking for can be found with other people. Take some time this summer to volunteer or reach out to a friend in need. To be honest, it might seem like a lot of effort at the beginning. But once you get started, you’ll realize this was the final piece to creating harmony in yourself.

5 Ways To Put Yourself First

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5 ways to put yourself firstFeeling like life is moving too fast? You’re constantly rushing around to meet someone else’s schedule. At the end of the day, you finally have some me-time but you’re too exhausted to enjoy it. It’s time to put yourself first.

Make a list

How do you want to spend your time, and what are your priorities? Having ‘me time’ is great but is also vague and hard to implement. Stop and take a few minutes to organize your thoughts and write down what that ‘me time’ should look like. Maybe it’s finding time to regularly get your hair cut. Maybe it’s more time to read and finish a book. It could be more time to walk or stay active. Once you know what you want more of in life, the easier it will be to make that happen.

Ask for help

Again, make a list of who can help you and when. You might think at first that you don’t have much extra help, but by organizing this, it could turn out that you have more help than you realized. Which grandparent has expressed interest in watching your child every now and then? What neighbor has offered their services? In a busy world, there might be more help than you realized.

Schedule your time

It’s not enough to wish for more time for yourself. Instead, you need to take that time. Announce to everyone involved that such a date and time has been blocked off. This could be a standing weekly appointment or a regular evening time period. It doesn’t matter as long as the time works for you.

Schedule yourself first

There will always be conflicting times when you want to schedule your ‘me time.’ But instead of thinking about everyone else, think about yourself first. By blocking off a specific time, you are putting yourself first and that’s ok. It might take a bit of time but soon enough, life will start to revolve around your schedule.

Check-in

Are the steps that you have taken to put yourself first working? Have you made enough time for yourself? Is there something different that you want to look into? Nothing is ever set in stone and if your plan isn’t as seamless as you first thought, it’s ok to go ahead and change it. Life is constantly evolving. What might work in the winter probably won’t work in the summer. Vacations and deadlines can quickly change a routine and you’ll need to adapt with them. Just make sure that once life settles down again you continue to put yourself first. This way you can keep yourself fueled and ready to tackle anything. The more work you do for yourself, the happier you will be.

4 Ways Journaling Can Lead To A More Peaceful You

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4 ways journaling can lead to a more peaceful youIs your life becoming too hectic? Are you constantly rushing around, trying desperately to tackle that to-do list? Ironically, as we have created a world that is easier, we somehow have managed to overfill our time. So, what can we do about this stressful life? Journaling is a unique opportunity for us to connect with yourselves. If you want a return to a simpler life, journaling can lead to a more peaceful you.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is about being present in the present. It is about being aware of what is happening at this moment. It’s not about checking your smartphone as you watch a show on Netflix while also eating your dinner. It’s about being aware of one task that you are doing. Mindfulness is about being committed fully to whatever you are doing, even if you are doing nothing.

A few moments

The nice thing about journaling is that it doesn’t have to take a long time. Most people when they think about journaling envision a giant time commitment. And while journaling works best if you commit to writing every day, you really only have to spend a few minutes at it. Even if you just write a few sentences about what you are grateful for, that effort will help shape your perception of your life.

Get into routine

Some people like to wake up and journal while they enjoy their morning coffee. Others like the reflection time at the end of the day. Maybe you have some spare time on your commute home from work. Find a time that works for you. You will want to make sure your journaling time fits into your natural routine. This way when you first start it doesn’t seem like a giant time commitment. Once you get into the flow of journaling, it will be easier to think of it as a part of your daily life, similar to brushing your teeth.

Various Topics

There are many ways to journal. You can write a diary-type format where you recount all the major highlights of your day. You can write daily affirmations where you appreciate who you are. You can write free-form or even find journaling kits that help with motivation. The point is that you can make journaling be whatever you want it to be. This activity should be an extension of yourself. So, if you like to draw, why not incorporate some illustrations? If you are more adept at typing, you can easily journal on the computer. In fact, you can even just record your ideas if you really don’t like to write.

The form isn’t the point of journaling. The process is the point. The more you are aware of the life you are living, the more you can enjoy it. And this enjoyment will lead to a more peaceful you.

 

 

How Mindfulness Can Create A More Relaxed You

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how mindfulness can create a more relaxed youMindfulness means that you are aware of what you are doing. You aren’t distracted by thinking about what needs to happen next. Instead, you are awake and alive in the present moment. That sounds rather enticing, right? Turns out, mindfulness can be a bit harder to achieve than just willing it to happen. However, with the right frame of mind and bit of perseverance, mindfulness can create a more relaxed you.

Too much screen time

It’s said over and over again, but it’s time to put the smart phone down. While these amazing devices have benefitted our lives is so many ways, the truth is that they are just far too distracting. When is the last time you watched an entire movie without looking at your phone? Do you have two types of TV shows that you watch: ones that need your attention and ones that are just on the background while you’re on your phone?

Yes, even watching TV can be a mindful activity. The next time that you plan on watching a show, especially if it’s with another person, put the phone away. If you can, place it in an entirely separate room so that there is no temptation.

Organize your life

Do you have a to-do list? Are you constantly agonizing over what still needs to be done, especially as you’re trying to enjoy a pleasurable activity? Spend some time thinking about how to better organize your life. Perhaps you need a dedicated time of the day where you tidy things up. Maybe you need to enlist the help of a partner to get things done. Whatever is the case, make it so that you can enjoy what you’re doing in the moment, rather than stressing about what still needs to be done.

Take time to sit

Ever start to feel antsy when all you’re doing is sitting? Even when taking public transportation, do you just sit, or do you need to read a newspaper or be on your phone? It’s ok to not have something to distract you from your thoughts.

So, when there’s a sunny afternoon, pour yourself a mug of tea, and just sit. Feel the sun on your skin. Breathe the fresh air. Listen to the birds chirping. This is your time and you should enjoy it.

Start small

Now that you have an idea of what mindfulness looks like, you might be wondering how to add it to your already full life. The great think about being mindful is that you can start small. Even just a few minutes a day where you stop and appreciate what is happening will allow you to practice this skill. And, like most skills, the more your practice, the better you will become at it.

3 Ways To Meditate For A Calmer You

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3 ways to meditate for a calmer youWhen you think of meditation, to you immediately picture a person in a yoga pose, calmly breathing in and out? While this is one form of meditation, there are actually many other ways to perform the calming practice. If you find yourself caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, you may want to try mediation. To help you get started, here are four different ways to meditate.

Body Scan

Starting the journey to meditation can be difficult if you’re not exactly sure what to do. The goal is to free your mind of thoughts, but that can be really hard. One form of meditation is called a body scan, and is a great exercise if you just can’t get rid of your thoughts. Start by sitting in a quiet, comfortable location. Close your eyes and then go through your body. Start with your toes. With each breath in and out, locate a new body part. Become aware if there are any issues or stresses within that body part. Slowly work your way towards the top of your body.

Performing a body scan is the perfect way to get to know your body better. It is also a chance for you to practice controlling your thoughts during meditation. As an added bonus, this is also a noteworthy way to help you fall asleep at night.

Be Mindful

While it can be hard to clear your mind of thoughts during meditation, there is a form that embraces those thoughts. However, instead of entertaining any thoughts, you need to think only of the present. Being mindful during when you meditate does not mean that you worry about the past or plan for the future. Instead, you are only aware of what is around you. What do you smell in the room? How comfortable is the floor you are sitting on? What can you hear? Let these thoughts enter your mind and form a picture of the here and now.

Walking Meditation

If sitting isn’t for your, or you want to expand your traditional meditation practice, you can incorporate a walking portion to your routine. Start by walking slowly and in a relaxed fashion. You’re not walking to get somewhere; rather, you are walking to help clear your thoughts. Slowly begin to listen to your senses. Much like mindful meditation, the goal is to not linger over past or future ideas. Rather, you need to be aware only of the present situation. Can you smell the flowers that you walk by? How are the birds different, based on their songs? What texture does the ground feel like?

Walking meditation is best if you use a short path. At the end of each length, pause and take stock of your surroundings. And as you take each step, always be aware of your breathing. You can perform a walking meditation for as long as you like, and as you become more familiar with it, start to use it as you go about daily life.

4 Tips To Slow Down A Hectic Life

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4 tips to slow down a hectic lifeLife moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. So are the immortal words of Ferris Bueller. If you find yourself rushing from the house to the office, to the gym, to the practice, with little rest in between, your life has become too hectic. It’s time to slow down a bit.

Create a plan

When you’re in the middle of chaos, it’s hard to stop and make sense of everything. But when you don’t have a plan, it only fuels the chaos. It’s important to stop and think about what you are doing in life, what you want out of life, and what you want to focus on. If you can come up with a plan, your life can begin to shape itself around your dreams, making you and everyone else around you a lot happier.

Schedule Your Day

At night, even if you’re tired, stop for a few moments and look at the day ahead of you. Some people wait until the morning to set a daily plan, but your day starts a lot earlier than when you can perform this task. As well, you don’t want to be agonizing all night long about what you need to do.

Look at the next day to know what are necessary tasks that need to be performed. What meetings and appointments are there? Look for ways to be more efficient with your time. Can you pick up multiple errands at the same time? Is there someone else who can drive your kid to practice? What leftovers are still in the fridge that can be repurposed for dinner? The more planning you an do ahead of time, the smoother your day will be.

Schedule Me Time

Time for yourself is often tacked on to the end of the day. Maybe you’ll have 20 minutes of peace where you can relax with a good book. Or more likely you’ll be too exhausted and will just fall into bed. If you don’t schedule time for yourself, then it won’t happen and you won’t get the opportunity to slow down.

Start by blocking out time in your day that is just for you. Maybe this requires waking up 20 minutes earlier. Or maybe you can use your lunch break and actually go out the building for a much needed breather.

Ask For Help

If you’re finding that you still can’t find a block of time for yourself, then look for others to help. Can a neighbour pick up the kids from school? Are you able to alternative dinner prep with your partner? Is there an option to work from home one day a week so that you don’t have to spend time in transit? There are often options for finding me time, you just might need to be creative.

 

4 New Year’s Resolutions For A More Relaxed You

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4 new years resolutions for a more relaxed you

The Christmas holidays are a time of fun, excitement, and unfortunately, a lot of stress. The beginning of a new year in January is the perfect time to pause and focus on yourself. Here are a few ways to create new year’s resolutions that lead to a more relaxed you.

Quality, not Quantity

It’s not about how much you do of something, but how well you do with it. For example, instead of trying to read a giant stack of books that maybe have little meaning, or are really just fluff, try to tackle more meaningful books. Find a memoir that will inspire you. Pick up a classic that you’ve always meant to read. You could pick a book with your partner and read it together to have something to discuss at night. Or, find a book club that will help inspire debate and get your minds working. The point is that if you can invest your time wisely, you will appreciate your hard work and effort.

Invest in Friendships

The new year is a good time to think about who you want to include in your life. Perhaps there are some old friends that you keep meaning to get together with. Instead of spending time worrying about communicating with them, just go ahead and contact them. Plan a date and get together. Sometimes you need to just dive in and get stuff done so that the worry of it allisn’t on your mind anymore. Catching up with old friends can also make us realize if we actually have enough still in common to continue a friendship. There is no shame in transitioning out of a friendship. So if you get togetherwith someone, and realize it wasn’t as good as you thought it would be, you canmove on knowing that you can now focus on other relationships.

Alone Time

We often spend too much of our time hurrying around from one even to the next. The result is an over-planned life that doesn’t let us breathe very much. It’s ok to have down time. Saturday mornings don’t have to be spent running errands. They can instead by pajama days. Take advantage of rainy days and stay inside with a good book or watch a movie you’ve beenmeaning to get around to. It’s ok to allow yourself to breathe.

Schedule Appointments

One important new year’s resolution is to take care of your own health. Take an afternoon and schedule all those appointments you’ve been putting off. Schedule your dentist cleaning and book your eye exam. Also include whole body treatments that allow you to relax, purify your mind, and make you more comfortable in your own skin. Don’t waste time thinking about making these phone calls. Just do them so that your mind can be a calmer, more organized place.