Winter is a fantastic time for your skin. Stick with me here. Skin definitely dries out in colder weather, but that just primes the skin to soak up the goodness you lavish upon it. Many of us experience rougher, duller, chapped skin during winter precisely because we're not taking the right steps to nourish winter skin. Fortunately, Ayurveda has some valuable advice to offer to make winter a time of year for firm, smooth, glowing skin.
If you're unfamiliar with Ayurveda, it's a holistic healing system dating from ancient India. In Ayurveda, there are three doshas, or life energies present in everything. They are vata (wind), pitta (fire), and kapha (earth). Individuals each have one dominant dosha.
From an Ayurvedic perspective, winter is the season when vata gets pushed out of balance. Vata is the dosha associated with wind and carries some of its properties: dryness, movement, cold, and changeable. You can see these properties show up in unattended winter skin as cracks, flakes, tightness, and redness.
Abhyanga, a self-massage using warm oil, is one enjoyable, effective method to remedy winter skin.
It takes about a quarter cup of warm oil to do your whole body from scalp to toes. Sesame and almond oil are good options for any dosha. Start by dry brushing your skin to remove dead skin. Then use the warmed oil, starting at your scalp, and massage into your body. Yes, include your face in the abhyanga. The massaging itself also improves circulation and plumps up blood vessels, which constrict in the cold.
When you're out, noses, lips, and cuticles are under constant assault by the winter air. Carry around coconut oil, which is a light oil that can mollify rough skin on the spot. The fatty acids in the oil warm, soothe, and moisture skin.
Pick an organic, virgin, unprocessed coconut oil that's cold-pressed. Any processing, such as refining or bleaching, removes the beneficial nutrients from the coconut oil.
If you select a coconut oil that solidifies, carry it around in a small shallow travel jar. Fractionated coconut oil doesn't solidify and is lighter, which you may prefer. Since fractionated coconut oil remains in its liquid form, make sure the bottle you carry it around in seals tight. Take a small bit of the coconut oil, warm it up between your fingers, and then dab or rub it wherever you have a spot of dryness.
Much of Ayurveda rests on the principle that what you eat and drink has the most significant impact on your health. The same is true for the health of your skin.
One positive winter change is to stop drinking coffee. I know, it is an odd recommendation given our blog title is Shower Shave Coffee. At least consider reducing intake of coffee by half. Ayurveda considers coffee to be aggravating to vata regardless of the season. Kapha dominant people may benefit from the dry, warming qualities of coffee. Yet everyone should look for alternative warm drinks that won't dehydrate or weaken your skin in the cold.
Ginger and cardamon are vata-reducing spices and make for good tea. Masala chai is another effective tea to soothe and nurture irritated, rough skin. It's a black tea made with various Indian spices. Having a chai latte, masala chai mixed with warm milk, is also a good option. Boiled milk adds moisturizing properties to the drink.
Another positive change to make is ditching cold greens for warm ones. A cool, crispy salad is perfect in summer but go for the opposite during winter. Preparing warm greens is winter skin trifecta win. It includes warm oil, warming spices, and the skin-loving nutrients in greens.
Plus, preparing warm greens in a skin-loving way is super simple. Pick a dark, leafy green. Warm some oil in a pan. Walnut and olive oil are tasty oil choices. Black pepper, mustard seed, sage, and tarragon are vata-reducing spices you can choose. Wilt the greens in the oil and spices. Done in minutes.
Don't fear winter weather's impact on your skin. Embrace what's good about it: It's a time that lets dry skin soak up all the nutrients you want to lavish on it. After a summer of sweating out toxins from our skin, take advantage of this period of replenishment.
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Beards are more than just a fashion statement. Studies show that beards are an essential factor for women choosing long-term partners. Did you know that that “symbol of dominance” in males is just dead cells?
That’s right. All hair is formed by cells in the hair bulb that divide and grow to create the hair shaft. Several factors determine how these dead cells are built, and they could either earn you a full thick beard, patchy wisps of unhealthy hair or simply nothing
Some people even don’t have those patches and are continually looking for ways to grow that beard. It is essential to know the necessities for facial hair growth.
Testosterone is primarily responsible for developing male characteristics. However, it’s not the only determinant. DHT, dihydrotestosterone is the primary determinant of secondary masculine traits including facial and pubic hair. It is converted from 10% of produced testosterone by enzymes.
You may have sufficient amounts of testosterone but not enough androgen receptors. Remember those cells we talked about earlier? I hope you remember your basic cell anatomy. Androgen receptors are activated by binding testosterone or DHT in the cytoplasm and then translocated in the cell nucleus. Here, DHT is synthesized and expressed in hair follicles. There is no way to increase these receptors, but we can stimulate sensitivity to DHT.
Now that the science part is out of the way let us discuss how this manifests as facial hair growth.
Genetics determine the amount of testosterone produced in the body, but most importantly, they determine the number of androgen receptors especially on facial skin. There is no way to go around the role genes play in the development of facial hair.
Genetics also determine the length to which hair grows. Knowing how to maintain hair length through the use of products and minimal manipulation is crucial if you want to sport a full beard.
Time. Everybody is different, concerning genetics, health, etc. Activating facial hair is one of the less critical functions of DHT. As such, this may be one of the last things DHT does. They can be activated as late as when one is 35.
Stress. Young adults are plagued with stress while transitioning to adulthood. Stress affects hormone production, and as we discussed, hormones are vital to being able to grow facial hair. Ease up on the tension. It could be a reason you’re not sporting that beard.
Nutrition is just as important. Hair needs protein, Iron, Fatty acids and Vitamins to grow. Go for those green leafy vegetables and don’t forget your protein.
Sleep. Not only does sleeping reduce stress, but high levels of testosterone are also produced during REM sleep.
Don’t forget to Exercise! Fat affects male hormone conversion. Not only does resistance training keep fat in check, but it also strengthens and helps build muscle mass but most importantly keep testosterone in production.
So if you don’t have that beard yet, stop worrying. Eat well and exercise and you might be well on your way to the World Beard and Moustache Championships.
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Women began shaving their hair in 1915. This was the period between World War I and II. Before then, women removed unpleasant hair just in the neck and face. These parts were the only women body parts not expected to be covered by clothes, as the clothes they wore at the time were much less revealing.
In the 18th-century people began considering woman face as a reflection of their character and "porcelain" complexions as beautiful. Therefore getting rid of facial hair was considered a matter of morality and aesthetics. During this time, they were using tree resins, waxes, or shoemakers, and they were extremely excruciating. They used to shave these parts using an industrial depilatory or homemade unguents and not razors.
In the 19th century, there was an invention of T-shaped safety razor. It replaced homemade depilatories. During the time, people used to link shaving with masculinity, thus men thing to men private space. Gradually, women adopted them since they were cheap and painless alternative method compared to other methods of hair removal.
In the 1920s, sleeveless women dresses were increasingly becoming popular. Fashion was the first instance that made women began shaving their hair. Thus, removing the hair underarms became a priority. Before then, no one was shaving these parts. Even people considered the word underarm as outrageous. During this time Gillette invented Milady Décolleté, and they started a movement labeled Anti-underarm Campaign. Its purpose was to educate women about the importance of shaving their underarm and why they should use razors to do it.
For the 1940s and 50s, women were more encouraged to shave their legs hair. Since it was the time of World War 11, there was a shortage of nylon; therefore, they could not wear stockings every single day. Meaning, the only alternative was to walk barelegged while else people considered it unacceptable socially. When the society warmed up to the idea, women began shaving their legs to look neat.
Formerly, dancers were the only ones who were shaving their legs since people were obviously paying attention to them. Skirts gained popularity in the 1950s. Women were now showing much of the leg which prompted to shave their legs, armpits and tweeze their eyebrows. With this tremendous improvement, men weren't expected to shave anything.
For many years, people never cared about shaving their pubic hair until the birth of bikini in 1946. Between the 1960s and 1970s, trimming took a different twist, and women were discouraged from trimming. In the 1980s, they were now encouraged on trimming and even to do a thorough shave.
During this period, videos and images of women who had a shaved pubis were in circulation through fashion photography, which made women give it a thought. In 1987, Brazilian wax hit the market and salons started offering complete waxing. From then on, the idea of wax reached to people through the word of mouth.
Manual shaving is the oldest shaving method in history and the most popular hair removal method. It's fast, affordable, and easy. The method only requires you to soak the skin in warm water for a few minutes, spread some hair removal lather, and then use a sharp razor to shave. Once you are through with shaving, rinse the skin and make it dry and then apply moisturizer.
Manual shaving fits all part of the both including on the bikini line, arms, legs, and armpit. Since women shave once in three days, manual shaving is the easiest way to maintain smooth skin as it is inexpensive.
Unlike manual shaving where you require wetting the skin before shaving, electric razors normally shave dry skin. Electric razors encompass a moving blade within a fine screen that is used to slither through the surface of the skin cutting and to trap the hair. This method can be used everywhere, including underarms, bikini line, arms, and legs. Nevertheless, it doesn't leave a smooth skin the way manual razors do, thus you will have to shave after every two days to maintain smooth skin.
Depilatory creams work by dissolving the hair chemically for the skin surface. You apply them on the skin, allow it to sit for some time and then wipe off the hair residue and cream. Finally clean you're the skin and spread some moisturizer.
The benefit of this method is that it slows down the growth rate of your hair with some weeks. Thus you don't have to keep shaving every other day. The methods only fit smaller parts of the body, such as bikini line and armpit. Another downside of this method is that due to the presence of chemical ingredients, you can experience allergic reactions and skin irritation.
This kind of hair removal works by pulling out hair from the roots using a pair of tweezers. After using the equipment, ensure you have cleaned it to minimize chances of getting infections. With the tweezing method, you can stay for up to six weeks without another shave. The method works well on eyebrows or smaller body parts.
Tweezing can cause skin irritation, and also it can be a painful procedure.
With waxing, you apply cold or hot wax on your skin, allow it to sit and then use a fabric strip to remove the hair from the root. You can perform the procedure at home once you have a waxing kit, or it can be done at a salon by a professional. Waxing lasts up to six weeks, and it suits almost every part of the body, including underarms, eyebrows bikini lines, and legs.
Note that waxing is not supposed to be done until the hair has grown to a specific length. The process can cause ingrown hair, skin irritation, and redness.
This method uses an electric device known as epilator that works by grasping multiple hairs mechanically at once and pulling them out. It has tiny rotating electric tweezers that rotate across the skin, pulling out the hair. Epilation works almost the same with waxing; only that it doesn't pull cells from epithelium. Epilation fits all part of the body, and the shaving can last up to six weeks.
Shaving is a women routine that begins right from the teenage years. It can be time-consuming but achievable with the right equipment and knowledge. Below are some golden rules of shaving:
Many women prefer disposable razors because they are cheap and convenient. However, after a couple of uses, they go blunt, and they might cause damage to your skin. Thus restrain from purchasing razors in bulk and get a safety razor or a straight razor for your skin.
The key to a great shave is acquiring the skills. You need to know that there is more to attaining a hair-free, smooth and soft skin, than several hits to your body with a shaver. To get a perfect shave, shave against the direction of the growing hair; for example, the upward direction of your leg. The underarm hair grows in different directions. Thus you need to shave from different angles.
Just like men do when shaving beards, rinse the shaver in-between the trims. This will help prevent hair and dead skin from congesting. Rinsing the razor is hygienic.
To get a better result, don't tug the razor harshly on your skin. Whichever part of the body you are shaving; exert as little pressure as possible.
When having a shower, wait until you are done to shave. The steam and hot water heat will open poles of your skin and make the hair soft for you to achieve smoother skin.
It's important to note that, when you go to the beach after shaving, the shaven area are prone to rashes since the blades create minuscule abrasions that are easily peeved by salt. Therefore, shave a night before to prevent irritation.
Shaving is a nonpermanent method of removing hair from the service of the skin. Depending on how fast your hair is growing, you may need to shave two to three times a week. Other methods such as waxing you might take longer to shave again. However, that again depends on how fast your hair is growing.
A century after women began to shave their hair; lack of shaving today is considered a taboo. However, hair removal is a personal preference. Some women prefer to leave their hair alone; others prefer to shave on their own while others prefer having a bikini wax in the salon. Removing the hair doesn't necessarily keep your body clean, but it gives the woman confidence and comfortability.
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Plastic pollution is getting out of control. Think about these facts for a minute: The amount of plastic produced in a year roughly equals to the entire weight of humanity, as we've introduced 8.3 BILLION Metric Tons (9.1 BILLION US Tons) of plastic since the 1950s when plastic was first introduced, and only 9% got recycled [EarthyDay.org]. Even the 9% recycled figure can't be accurate when China, our biggest recycling partner, and other countries, have turned down our recycling exports. Please consider waste reduction as one of the goals for 2020 New Year's resolution, and make switching to a safety razor one of the top 3.
We can all agree on one thing—the world is addicted to cheap goods, especially one-time use products that are made from plastic. What's also true is that the plastic technology has enabled advancements in much of our lives and is so integral to almost everything in some way that we simply cannot dismiss its importance. This is why the movement needs a more practical approach that everyone can get behind and support.
What exactly does "plastic-free" mean? Among different communities the definition of plastic-free is either very strict or is just used as a mantra. Realistically, though, can we stop using plastic completely? Is that even possible? In a group discussion, we pondered and struggled with this question. Go to any hospital, you'll find almost everything in plastic. Would you boycott hospitals to force them to switch glass and metal cans? There are no easy alternatives to make hospitals or any establishments for that matter plastic-free.
We need to promote "plastic-reduction" more because the very notion of "plastic-free" before any discussion on the subject can easily be rejected by what normal busy people know it to be an impossible task. When one is challenged with the daily grind of just getting through the day, trying to figure a plastic-free living is not at the top of their agenda. To tackle plastic pollution, we have to involve everyone, and that means having a discussion that ordinary people can follow. Going back to the hospital example, if we suddenly found ourselves in need of emergency care, would we care how much plastic the hospital used to keep us alive and healthy? Probably not, right? We need a balanced approach.
We know customers will naturally pick the options that pose the least resistance to their daily lives and habits. We can't reduce plastic use in environments that are not in our control, but in our bathrooms shaving or grooming is, and switching out one or two wasteful plastic items from the regimen can make a big cumulative difference over a lifetime.
While multi-bladed disposable razors are still the norm, old-fashioned safety razors are making a major comeback. This is due in large part to the unique benefits of wet shaving. Disposable razors are quick and convenient in some ways, but wet shaving has a few advantages that make it worth the effort.
For one thing, safety razors are less wasteful than disposable razors. Instead of buying expensive replacement razors and blade cartridges, safety razor owners can use the same razor for years or even decades. Except for replacing one or two blades a few times a year, buying a safety razor is a one-time investment. The use of safety razors also cuts down on garbage, for this reason, making them the more environmentally conscious choice. According to the EPA, around two billion disposable razors are discarded each year in the US alone.
Every year, an estimated 260 million tonnes of plastic are produced, worldwide. Of that, 10 percent ends up in the ocean. Let that number sink in. That means that every year, 26 million tonnes of new plastic end up as litter in the Great Pacific or North Atlantic Garbage Patch, adding to the already massive plastic islands made of slowly degrading plastics that are hazardous to both humans and marine life alike. When you do the math, it's truly disheartening to think about how much plastic there is floating around, slowly strangling animals or causing bowel-obstructions which ultimately lead to painful deaths. And that number is only set to rise as global plastics demand grows year after year.
How did it come to this? Well, the majority of the plastics believe it or not, are the result of litter from single-use plastics such as straws, bottles, and plastic bags. Others, such as nylon weave and buoys, are purposely discarded by the unscrupulous fisherman. None of this is natural-nature doesn't produce these sorts of complex polymers and as such, are slow to bio-(or photo-)degrade. That means that this ecological disaster is entirely the fault of human activity, just one more in a long and growing list of ecological disasters.
Try to eliminate as much of your plastic consumption as possible. The more plastic you cut from your life, the less plastic ends up as waste. Single-use plastics such as disposable cutlery, straws, and plastic bags, in particular, are the most environmentally harmful as they don't get recycled and usually end up in the landfill. And, even if you do recycle, remember: plastic production generates pollution and plastic reclamation does the same. To produce plastics, crude oil needs to be refined, needs to be treated, and all of that requires heat and energy. To reclaim plastic, the plastic needs to be rendered before it is made usable again, which also requires heat and energy. And that's not to mention that most plastics aren't even recycled - of the 8.3 billion metric tonnes estimated to have been produced, 6.3 billion is estimated to be plastic waste and of that, only a measly 9 percent is recycled with the rest of it ending up in landfills or litter. Truly, there's no better substitute than using less plastic if you want to reduce your plastic footprint.
Going zero-plastic isn't really viable considering the permeance of plastics in society, stretching everywhere from building materials to clothing. If you can't stop using plastic, then the next best thing to do is to reuse it and get as much value as you can before you discard or recycle it. For example, bringing along a durable plastic bottle instead of buying bottled water at convenience stores would be a great way to reduce your environmental footprint. Utilizing reusable shopping bags is another way you can help save plastic from ending up in the landfill. Single-use plastics that are discarded after use are very wasteful, but re-usable plastics not so much. Plastic is, after all, an undeniably useful substance. There's nothing wrong with using plastic if you do it responsibly.
If you can't reduce it or you've reused it to the end of its usefulness, then it's time to recycle it. Any plastics that can be recycled should be recycled to reduce the environmental burden of producing more plastic. While recycling plastic isn't 100 percent environmentally friendly, it is friendlier than not recycling at all. Thus, when it's a choice between throwing it away or recycling, always choose to recycle.
We believe all parties involved end-to-end of the product lifecycle, from the manufacturers to the customers, need to change their current ways to reduce plastic from the environment. At MSC, we are doing a better job of helping customers reuse and reduce plastic. We tried being fully plastic free and it just was not possible, however, our goal has been to be mindful of plastic usage and finding ways to reduce and reuse. Below is a list of environmentally conscious decisions we have employed in producing our shaving soaps.
No one said being a good global citizen would be easy and anyone who does is a liar. In fact, a lifestyle change of this magnitude will probably be immensely difficult while convincing others to do the same would be even more so. It's hard to change hearts and minds, even when it's the right thing to do. Why? It's because it's inconvenient - that's how things got so bad in the first place. That's why the EU parliament and the substituent governments have proposed legislating an effective ban on all single-use plastics (with some exemptions such as medical products for obvious reasons). We have to do a better job in the US.
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We are all familiar with facial hair but none is as conspicuous on a human face as the beard. This is the group of hair that grows on some men’s chin and on the lower cheeks of the face. Some animals also have beards like the famous bearded goat. It would seem odd that an innocent facial hair, which was shaped by evolution, would be a subject of so many attitudes, glamour and sadness too. Its cultural influence on religion and appearance is interesting if not shocking in some instances. The fact that not everyone can grow a beard helps in dividing views on this kind of hair. This is something to do with someone’s genes and not even science can make one grow a beard, or stop its growth altogether. An entire industry has emerged that claims to have products that boost beard growth even on a rather patchy chin. These products range from creams to oils and a more recent trend is a beard transplant. However, like other hairs, one can also put on a fake beard and get away with anything! The beard has been associated with stronger masculinity over the ages and it has found its way as a trendy hipster look in recent years. Celebrities and sports personalities started embracing the bearded look. To many people, it is more than just an identity. Experts are debating on whether this beard trend will end soon or last forever. Some believe that beards are here to stay and just like many classic looks, the facial hair will always be fashionable. This list will look at some of the shocking and outrageous facts about beards.
A lot has been said on how some women prefer beards because of its masculine look. Well, now imagine the beard preferring to grow on a woman. This has the effect of giving the woman a more masculine face than a man. Over many generations, nature has presented us with this paradox. It is a rare condition in which hormonal imbalance in a woman results in hair growth similar to those of a man. Even though it is abnormal, one has to appreciate a beard on a woman’s chin. Some of these women are so proud and comfortable with their rare looks that they spot a full beard. It is strange and ironic at the same time as there are men who actually struggle to grow a full beard. No doubt they are a source of bullying and ridicule and we need to be supportive and appreciate that it is natural. Theirs is a biological condition like any other and people need to see them as human. Subjecting them to humiliation because they do not fit one’s cultural view is wrong. Against all odds, these women have overcome their fears and some are even models (Harnaam Kaur @harnaamkaur) gracing the runway.
A beard can turn out to be a garbage bin. That growth of hair is teeming with bacteria of all sorts. In some cases, it is claimed that they can be as dirty as a toilet! Hygiene is not just limited to other parts of the body. When not given much attention, beards can easily gather all sorts of bacteria. Some of these germs are commonly found in toilets and urinals. Many men are quick to assume that a quick splash of water on the facial hair is enough to keep it germ-free. An unkempt and unwashed beard also becomes very itchy. The habit of touching one’s beard can easily transfer germs from the hand to the face.
Even though facial hair is natural, they are an unwanted look in some cultures. No facial hair divides opinion more than the beard. While many consider it unprofessional at the workplace, some argue that preferring a clean-shaven look is bias against the beard. Indeed, some situations may require a clean-shaven face like in jobs requiring masks as is the case for firefighters. For politicians and other business professions, the unwritten rule is to spot a clean-shaven chin. In fields such as sports and entertainment, the barriers are not that tight except for a few as is the case for the New York Yankees. An extreme is when beards are loosely banned in an entire country and one is even required to get a permit to spot one! Over the years, the courts have presided over cases on beard bans or prohibitions in institutions.
Humans are known to compete over so many things including looks. There are so many competitions involving looks such as fashion shows, bodybuilding and beauty contests. Well, the bearded community has its own competition. It attracts people from all over the world who come to showcase various beard styles. It is very heartwarming to know that a bunch of facial hair can be used to bring folks together and have a good time while at it.
Can you picture a beard leading to a man kissing the world goodbye? It is beyond imagination but it did happen. Too much of something is poison as when Hans Steininger learned in death. He was the beloved mayor of Braunau am Inn, a town in 16th century Austria. He grew his beard to a length of 4.5 feet. If left to hang, it was so long it reached his feet and he would safely roll it into a leather pouch. On 28th September 1567, a fire broke out in the town and being a devoted public servant he was at the center of events. Just as is normal with disaster, a panic commotion ensued and while running, the mayor’s beard tripped him downwards over a flight of stairs. He broke his neck from the fall and died! His proved to be a deadly growth of facial hair. The town folks honored his long devoted public service by erecting an epitaph outside a local church. His long beard was cut from his body and delicately preserved in a museum for all to see. Tourists are attracted to the museum to view this killer growth of hair. Bearded men, avoid the stairs when visiting!
During the election fever of October 1860, a young American girl aged 11 years old wrote a letter to the Republican presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln. The letter had one message: Please grow a beard. At that time, Lincoln had a clean-shaven look. The teen, Grace Bedell, was a supporter of Lincoln and was worried about his thin, clean-shaven face after seeing his photo. She shared her concern about Lincoln’s image and its effect on the outcome of the looming elections. She suggested to Lincoln that voters liked beards and that growing one would help swing votes in his favor. She pointed out that the beard might appeal to women who will, in turn, persuade their men to vote for him. This girl was the modern day political image consultant! In his written response, the lawyer did not commit to growing a beard but as they say, actions speak louder! Soon after, he started growing facial hair and by the time of his inauguration as president he had a full beard. On his way to Washington, Lincoln made a stopover at Grace’s hometown and met her. He told her that he had let the beard grow because of her suggestion. That beard later defined Abraham Lincoln’s iconic image. Who would have imagined correspondence between a presidential figure and a teenager would involve a beard?
Businesses all over the world face all kinds of competition and challenges that eat into profits. What happens when that problem comes in the form of a beard? Sale volumes drop. In recent years, the rise of the hipster beard look has made many to shy away from razors and other sharp grooming products. The trend to grow facial hair is literally trimming into the razor industry’s sales. While this pattern is not that detrimental to the industry, it just shows how beards and other facial hair are popular. In fact, other male grooming products like trimmers and beard oils are in demand as a result.
Many religions encourage the growth of beards with roots from ancient times. Some religions, even in the modern world, strictly restrict the shaving of beards. No main clear reason is given in religious texts for this tenet except perhaps as a relation to masculinity and piety. Scholars from these religions and sects simply argue in terms of manliness and purity of the human body. However, there are those which are clear with the no shave requirement. For Sikhs and Rastafarians, this is the case. Followers of these religions will go to great lengths to conserve their facial hair on the basis of maintaining a whole human body as created by their God. Shaving the beard or any hair is considered blasphemous. In jobs where facial hair like beards are not allowed these believers are granted permission to grow one. There have been some notable court cases to demand the right to have facial hair in places where they are banned.
Usually when talking about insurance what is expected are covers for health, life and business losses. That, however, is not always the case. We have all heard of celebrities insuring their body parts. In entertainment, image is everything and most have a signature unique to each individual. Body hair is part of this image and a few cases have seen celebrities take insurance policies to cover them. Facial hair and beards, in particular, have not been excluded from this bizarre business concept. A full beard has the ability to give someone a unique look but does it qualify to be insured? Well, it does, according to some people. We even have companies offering insurance policy just to make sure that a beard even Zeus will be jealous of is protected.
We have already seen a 400-year-old beard being preserved in a museum. What about a beard being sold? This is not a joke, it did happen! This kind of facial hair has already been at the center of a business transaction in the form of insurance, or as a celebrity image. It shockingly comes back as a commodity that can be sold in the market. Famous people with staunch fans may be, just maybe, stand a chance of getting buyers for their hair. In 2013, after the Red Sox won the baseball world series, David Ortiz beard shavings were put up for auction on eBay. Strange as it may seem, a buyer emerged with a staggering price of over $10,878. The champion’s outstanding player must have left fans in a state of trance that they decided to bid for the memorabilia. It was a good piece of business as the proceeds were channeled to charity for men’s health conditions. His teammate Shane Victorino also had his trimmings sold for $3,751. Both of these shavings were accompanied by the razors used to shave them and their autographs. These were quite costly compared to what other hair has sold for. Mick Jaggers’ hair was sold for $6,000 and former USA president John F. Kennedy was sold for $1,800.
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-make-facial-hair-grow#1
https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20140225/williamsburg/facial-hair-transplants-growing-amid-hipster-beard-craze-doctors-say/
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43964178
https://www.health.com/beauty/women-embracing-bears-body-hair-pcos
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There are two different forms of albinism. The first is the lack of ability to produce melanin; the second is a defective gene. The condition often presents as a complete lack, or very little color, of the skin hair and eyes. In serious cases of albinism, the hair will be white or slightly pink in color with little or no color in the skin. One form of the condition can only affect a patch of hair towards the front of the head.
In cases where the condition does affect the eyes, sunglasses should be used to prevent vision damage. If you suspect that you have this condition, you should consult a physician. Testing is the only true way to determine the cause and precautions needed.
Vitiligo will most often appear on the hands, chest, and face. It can also be noticeable on the skin on the arms and neck. Areas affected by Vitiligo become white due to the inability of cells to produce melanin. The exact cause of the condition is not known, but it is associated with autoimmune disorders. The condition may be related genetically, it often runs in families.
Some cases may be treated with careful exposure to ultraviolet light. Other treatment options usually involve lightening of the skin areas around the affected area. This makes the lack of color less noticeable. Using cover-up makeup is the easiest method for home treatment. Your physician may also be able to recommend a skin dye.
Melanin is also responsible for the opposite condition of Melasma. In this situation, areas of the skin become darker in patches. Melasma is also known as the 'mask of pregnancy' and is often associated with hormones from pregnancy or medications. The skin areas most affected include the forehead, cheeks, nose, and skin above the upper lip. Cosmetic bleaching lotions will reduce the darker color in many situations. Other treatments include topical steroidal or retinoid applications or facial peels.
In all cases of albinism and vitiligo, use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Your skin does not have the ability to protect itself from the sun's rays and serious sunburns can occur. Areas prone to melasma should also be protected to avoid further darkening.
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Skin care products and a healthy diet are often recommended to improve the health of your skin. But what about exercise? As it turns out, exercise has just as many benefits to help you achieve younger, brighter skin. The skin is one of the largest organs in the body, so naturally, as the health of your body improves, your skin will show improvements as well.
After a good workout, you should have worked up a sweat. Sweat is your body's way of removing debris and clearing your pores. This is one of the reasons your skin appears to be glowing after you cool down from your exercise. Don't forget to clean your face after working up a sweat so you can rinse off the buildup and allow your skin's natural oils to penetrate the surface of the skin and work their magic.
Exercising improves your body's circulation and blood flow. This has a beneficial effect on your skin cells and allows them to regenerate and repair themselves. As more blood and nutrients flow through your body, your skin is able to increase its collagen production, which will help you look and feel younger. Improved circulation and digestion from exercise can also help to reduce inflammation and breakouts.
Exercise is one of the most recommended treatments for stress. It has been shown to have immediate and long term benefits in allowing your body and mind to better process stressful situations. Stress is known to have a negative effect on the skin's health and can lead to breakouts and acne due to the amount of cortisol released in the body. Cortisol also decreases the elasticity and collagen production of your skin. Exercising regularly can prevent these stress-related side effects from occurring.
As you exercise, more oxygen is pushed through your body to your skin. This can fight the negative effects of sun exposure and pollutants like free radicals. Better circulation keeps your skin looking fresh and bright. Exercise also regulates the hormones in your body which can decrease pimples and uneven skin textures.
If you want a quick way to improve the health of your skin, look no further than regular exercise. A good workout improves your bodily functions and helps skin cells repair themselves from damage. It also decreases the cortisol released from stress to improve collagen production, effectively slowing signs of aging. Improved circulation and overall health will leave your skin glowing like you just had a facial.
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Soap making requires sodium hydroxide, which is more commonly known as caustic soda or lye. That means every soap found in the market have been made using lye. As long as the other ingredients are natural, the soap will stay natural during the soap making process because lye is not present in the final product.
Most soap companies, unlike Men's Soap Company (MSC), leave out the use of lye in their ingredients list because of misinformation and fear among consumers. While lye is dangerous to handle in its chemical form, the substance is not considered as an active ingredient in soaps. Lye is neutralized in the process of saponification, the conversion of fat or oil into soap when combined together.
We at MSC decided to include sodium hydroxide in our ingredients list because you deserve to know how your soap was made. Our belief is that helping you understand this substance is our responsibility so you can feel safe and be confident with your purchase decision.
Sodium Hydroxide is an inorganic compound with the formula NaOH, where Na+ is sodium cations and OH- hydroxide anions. It is a colorless liquid, denser than water, and a highly caustic substance that is used to neutralize acids. Toxicity depends on the concentration of the solution and the duration of its contact with tissue. As a consumer, you will never come in contact with it unless you buy the lye solution for your own product manufacturing process.
Sodium Hydroxide is used in manufacturing a number of products and process you already use or benefit from today:
Saponification is the chemical reaction when fat or oil is mixed with an alkali such as sodium hydroxide, the result of this reaction being soap and glycerin. Or, as UCLA Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry puts it, "The process in which a triacylglyceride is reacted with aqueous hydroxide ion to form a mixture of glycerol and fatty acid salts (soaps). The reaction mechanism follows the nucleophilic carbonyl substitution pathway."
Saponification of glycerol tristearate (a triacylglyceride) with NaOH (lye) yields a soap consisting of one part glycerol (shown in red) and three parts sodium stearate (shown in blue).
As you can see, there is no sodium hydroxide or lye in the finished product, only soap.
If you're curious about making natural soap yourself at home, it's not a difficult process but it can be dangerous. For this obvious and legal reasons, we cannot guide you through the soap making process. We encourage you to do thorough research on the proper handling of lye and the safety measures pertinent to soap making.
A basic soap recipe just needs a few essential ingredients: Water (distilled or spring), vegetable fat, essential oils for fragrance, and lye (sodium hydroxide) of course. However, you may want to consider an additional list of ingredients such as coconut oil and shea butter that are beneficial to the skin.
Lye for soap making is easier to get in a small amount, and they are usually sold in the form of flakes. Obtaining a large quantity for a soap business may be a bit trickier, as shipping of this substance is tightly controlled and regulated. We recommend making soaps in small batches so you can control and test your batches for quality, especially when the process is completed mostly by hand and hand tools.
There are plenty of soap making recipes and instructions online. When in doubt, Google is your best friend. Be careful and have fun!
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Have you found yourself gazing around at 3 am, tossing and turning in bed?
Do you want to wake up feeling relaxed, productive, emotionally balanced and ready to face another working day?
A Gallup study of Americans indicated that people who didn't get enough sleep suffered from depression, excessive daytime sleepiness and health problems such as diabetes. They also suffered from weight problems and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Bad skin conditions result in painful shaving experiences. MDedge published that sleep deprivation affects skin wound healing, collagen growth, skin hydration, and skin texture. Outbreaks of acne, eczema, psoriasis, and skin allergies are also higher among sleep-deprived patients.
To avoid the above problems, it is advisable to follow the below tips which will leave you refreshed and energized, thus improving your creativity, vitality and most important of all, your overall health.
It is never easy for one to sleep for 8 hrs a day due to one's nature of the job. However, when you reschedule your daytime routine and bedtime habits, it will make you optimize your sleep and get enough rest. According to the National Sleep Foundation that has experts from different disciplines, the recommended steeping time for an adult between the age of 26 to 74 should be 7 to 9 hrs a day. Failure to sleep the above hours accumulates sleep deficit leading to constant drowsiness, which affects your overall work and body performance.
To optimize your sleeping time, your bedroom's temperature should be between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit. This will not only give you a restful slumber but will give you that impression of a cave that is cool, quiet and dark. Think of why bats congregate in caves for their daytime sleep and that will make you appreciate the importance of the above temperatures.
Similarly, your bedroom should be well ventilated and it should have a comfortable mattress and pillows. If you have pets in your house, the bedroom will not be an ideal sleeping place for them, hence keep them in another room.
It's important to work out three hours before you go to bed. Exercising helps you to sleep better at night and fell less sleepy during the day. In many studies, people who developed the habit of exercising regularly were reported to have less or no symptoms of insomnia which is a medical sleeping disorder. A sleep researcher, Mark HirshKowitz reported to Reuters that better sleep quality is attributed to regular exercise while failing to exercise attracts more sleeping problems.
Gadgets such as phones and laptops deprive your body of stimulating melatonin, a very important hormone in your body that induces sleep. These devices emit blue luminescence light that hinders your sleep. However, if you still want to use them, you can wear glasses that block the blue light or, you can also use the f.lux app to block the blue light from your laptop or computer.
Your eating and drinking habits during the day dictate how you will sleep at night. While it is advisable to totally avoid drinks that have nicotine and caffeine stimulants, it is also important to avoid heavy meals two hours before bedtime. Cutting down on too many liquids in the evening can limit frequent visits to the washroom at night. In order to also enjoy a restful slumber, limit on sugar and refined carbs which disrupts your restorative stages of sleep.
A number of studies have shown that people who relax in the evening have better sleep quality. Strategies such as reading a book, listening to music and visualization help to clear your mind and as a result you are able to wake up the next day feeling energized and full of productive mind. In case you are ill, then a relaxing massage will improve your sleep quality besides treating ailments such as insomnia.
After a hard day of work, your body can only feel rejuvenated again with a warm bath. Studies have shown that good sleep quality can be possible with a shower. Bathing your feet in hot water can also make you relax and enjoy your sleep in case you don't want to take a full bath at night.
Try cold showers as well. You'll be amazed by the quality of your sleep if showered with cold water right before going to bed. Begin with cool water, then work your way down to colder water, if jumping right into cold water is uncomfortable for you. However, a direct cold shower is significantly more beneficial. Cold showers also help improve your overall health and appearance.
One of the best sleeping strategies is to understand your circadian rhythm, which is your body's natural sleep-wake cycle.
Ronald Cramer, a neurologist, medical director and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine advises his patients to understand their bodies and make some adjustments. Such adjustments include going to bed earlier and getting up earlier, or taking a siesta in the afternoon.
When you don't fall asleep 20 minutes after getting to bed, it is advisable you get to another room and relax before you become frustrated. You can either read a book or listen to music until you are tired enough to sleep.
Avoid taking alcohol before going to sleep as it is known to reduce nighttime melatonin production which negatively affects your sleep. Consumption of alcohol also causes or increases symptoms of sleep apnea, snoring and disrupted sleep patterns.
Sleep plays a very important role in your overall health and more especially with age. It makes them avoid sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia. If you want to wake up feeling relaxed, productive and emotionally balanced, then make sleep a top priority by following the above sleeping tips.
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Most people enjoy relaxing with a hot shower. However, you should consider showering with cold water. As it turns out, taking cold showers results in a number of positive health effects. They can also improve your appearance. Here is a look at some of the benefits of taking cold showers.
The shock your body feels when cold water is poured over releases a boost of energy. The sudden movement and wider breathing from the sock lead to a rush of blood throughout your body with increased oxygen intake that jumpstarts the body's communication system. An energized body found to have a high level of noradrenaline, a chemical (neurotransmitter) that is released from neurons when the body goes through a shock.
According to Study, this chemical is also referred to as a stress hormone because "nervous system triggers a response that is commonly referred to as our 'fight or flight response.'" While you may not be stressed out, your body acts on the shock from cold water by releasing this stress hormone so the system is better prepared to deal with it. The stress hormone effects are increased blood sugar, higher breathing rate, relaxed intestinal muscles, and higher blood flow to skeletal muscles (blood pressure), all of which contribute to getting your mind and body going that help to suppress depression symptoms.
Cold showers will greatly improve the appearance and health of your hair. Hot showers expand your hair's cuticles. Expanded cuticles are much more prone to damage. It also makes it easier for dirt to build up on your scalp. Cold showers have the opposite effect of closing your hair's cuticles. They make your hair less prone to breakage and promote a healthy, shiny appearance. If your hair is colored, cold showers will also prevent the color from washing out.
Hot showers cause a number of skin problems. People who regularly take hot showers often experience problems with dry skin. The heat of the water also expands your pores. If your pores are open from hot showers, they are more likely to become clogged. Because of this effect, hot showers often lead to acne or blackheads. A cold shower will keep your skin healthy, clean and moist.
You might be surprised to hear that cold showers can help you lose weight. The weight loss effects of a cold shower can be attributed to the fact that your body likes to keep its temperature at a certain level. If your body's temperature drops below a certain point, it will burn fat to bring itself back to a normal temperature. Although a cold shower won't burn as many calories as exercise, research shows that regularly taking cold shows can result in the loss of several pounds of fat in a year's time.
The fat-burning effect of a cold shower isn't its only fitness-based advantage. A cold shower can also help your body recover after an intense workout. It is common for bodybuilders or powerlifters to take an ice bath after a heavy lifting session. However, you don't have to be Arnold to reap the workout benefits of a cold shower. Cold showers will help your muscles recover and get you ready for your next workout in no time.
Many people associate the cold with a compromised immune system. This notion is actually false. Taking a cold shower increases your body's basal metabolic rate in order to regulate its temperature. A side effect of this process is that your body's immune system becomes more active and produces a higher number of white blood cells. An increased number of white blood cells means that your body is better prepared to tackle any potential infections before you get sick.
We talked about how the shock from a cold shower can be a destresser at the beginning of this article. The relaxing effects following destressing are like weight lifting off of your shoulder, which helps with falling asleep faster and getting better deep sleep. If you have trouble falling asleep or lack quality of sleep, consider taking cold showers before going to bed.
There are 5 states to the sleep cycle and deep sleep is stage 4. Scientists explain the importance of deep sleep and how much you should be getting. Stage 4 is when all the healing happens when tissue growth and repair take place, cellular energy is restored, your muscles are extremely relaxed, your breathing, heartbeat, body temperature, and brain waves reach their lowest levels. In an 8-hour sleep cycle, an average adult gets about 62 to 110 minutes of deep sleep or 13 to 23 percent of the total sleep.
Although hot showers are very relaxing, a cold shower is much better for your health and physical appearance. They take some getting used to, but once you're experiencing the great benefits of cold showers, you will be hesitant to ever switch back to turning up the heat.
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It seems like every month a new report pops up declaring another food that causes acne. One day bread is the culprit. The next week, it's milk that is giving you zits. A month later, the headlines scream that chocolate is the real cause. Are any of these reports trustworthy? In reality, there's some truth in all these claims, but the full story is a bit more complicated.
A pimple, simply defined, is a clogged hair follicle--also known as a pore--that has become infected by a common type of bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes. This species of bacteria is incredibly common and, most of the time, lives all over your skin without causing any trouble. Zits start to pop up when other problems with your skin give these bacteria a chance to move in and multiply. In fact, you can think of a bad breakout as an unwanted and out-of-control bacteria party.
Keratinocytes
The real connection between diet and breakouts has to do with the behavior of an important type of skin cell called keratinocytes. These cells form the outer layers of your skin, and they rely on hormones to tell them how quickly to copy themselves to make new skin. Under normal conditions, these cells make a new copy right before they die and slough off in the shower.
Hormone Responses
According to dermatologists, certain foods generate hormone responses that can cause these cells to go haywire. Specifically, foods that increase blood sugar cause the body to produce extra insulin, and that signals keratinocytes to stay alive longer than normal and to reproduce themselves faster than normal. In fact, prolonged high levels of insulin cause these cells to divide so quickly that they become, in the words of Professor Loren Cordain of Colorado State University, "overly adherent to one another and do not separate normally." In other words, too much insulin in the blood leads to clumps of sticky, unneeded skins cells clogging up the pores.
These sticky skin cells are a little like a traffic jam--they gum up the works and make it harder for your skin to take care of itself. Normally, your immune system is very good at shutting down bacteria on your skin, just like the police shut down rowdy parties. But keratinocyte traffic jams prevent the immune system from attacking bacteria growing deep inside your pores. That's when the bacteria kegger really gets going, and you end up with a gross whitehead.
The truth is that any kind of food that significantly raises blood sugar can cause acne because they all trigger your body to produce more insulin. That means that bread, chocolate, crackers, pasta--anything with lots of simple carbohydrates--can lead to breakouts.
But that doesn't mean you have to eliminate sugar and carbs from your diet completely if you want to have clear skin. The trick, according to dermatologists, is to replace foods that cause large, rapid spikes in your blood sugar level with foods that cause milder, slower increases. This is called a "low glycemic load diet," and it doesn't require eliminating everything delicious.
There are a few general rules to move you in the right direction:
First, prefer foods made with whole grains over foods made with processed grains. A serving of white rice has roughly the same amount of carbohydrates as a serving of brown rice, but brown rice has a much lower glycemic load. The tough outer shell that makes brown rice brown slows down the digestive process, so the carbs enter your system at a much lower rate. That keeps insulin production down, leading to healthy skin. The same goes for white bread and wheat bread. White bread spikes your blood sugar almost instantly, but wheat bread takes a bit longer to digest.
Second, seek out natural sweets like fruits. Many fruits contain lots of sugar, but unlike candy bars or sodas, they contain lots of natural fiber. This fiber, like the shell around a grain of brown rice, takes more time for your digestive system to break down. As a result, the sugar inside a strawberry or a peach trickles into your bloodstream while a candy bar's sugar washes in like a waterfall.
Third, avoid dairy products. Milk, cheese, and yogurt don't actually raise your blood sugar like candy bars and white bread, but Dr. F. William Danby of Dartmouth Medical School says they still contribute to acne. The reason is that dairy products contain hormones called "androgens" that can cause your skin to overproduce a different substance called sebum which can also clog up pores.
Acne is unpleasant, but most people don't need to dramatically change their diets to keep their skin happy and healthy. Reducing your sugar conception, eating lots of foods with healthy fiber content, and resisting the temptation of an ice cream cone on a hot summer day can keep your pores clean and clear.
Sources
Clinics in Dermatology. "Diet and acne."
Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery. "Implications for the role of diet in acne."
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If you have oily skin, it can be hard to find a natural balance. You need the oils to protect your skin and stop it from drying out, but excess oil can lead to pimples, overly shiny skin, and other complexion problems.
Fortunately, most people with excessively oily skin can improve their complexion by following a few simple tips.
It might seem counter-intuitive, but it's important not to go overboard with washing your face. You may be tempted to wash often to stop oil from building up, but this will simply make the problem worse.
Clearing the oil from your face too frequently will send signals to your sebaceous glands that they're not productive enough, and that your skin is drying out. The unwanted result is that the more often you wash, the oilier your face will become.
If you can, stick to washing your face only twice a day. If between washes you can't stand the greasy feeling any longer, simply moisten your face with warm water and gently pat it dry with a cotton pad. This will remove excess grease without stimulating your glands to overcompensate.
A poor diet is one of the main causes of over-oily skin. If you eat a lot of foods that are high in sugars and processed fats, you'll see the effects pass through to your complexion.
Replacing these unhealthy foods with fruit, vegetables, and lean proteins will give your skincare routine a strong nutritional foundation to build on.
Importantly, don't forget that a typical soda is packed with sugars, and this leads to glucose spikes in your blood. In turn, this can increase skin inflammation which your body tries to solve by producing extra oil. Try cutting back on your sugary soda consumption by switching to diet versions, or even better, plain water.
The idea of using a moisturizer on oily skin may seem strange, as it risks adding to the sense of greasiness. However, a cream that's formulated for oily skin can improve the situation by locking in moisture at a sub-dermal level. This helps prevent your skin from producing unnecessary oils.
However, go easy with any cosmetic use. If your skin is already unbalanced, adding extra agents to it will simply make the problem more complicated to solve.
Lastly, a good cleanser designed for oily skin can work wonders as part of your daily beauty routine. Finding the right one for you will be a matter of trial and error, but look for cleansing lotions containing salicylic acid. This natural, plant-based compound helps to reduce inflammation and bacterial contamination, both of which prompt your pores to produce more oil.
When looking for the ideal cleanser, keep a diary of which product you use, and how your skin reacts in the days and weeks after starting with it. Once you've found one which seems to give the best results, then stop trying new ones. Frequent switching between different cleansers makes it harder for your skin to reach a long-term balance.
You may consider making your own natural face cleanser using Liquid Castile Soap.
Different fabric types absorb oil and dirt more than others. You may not notice how oily and dirty your pillowcase becomes over time if the color of the fabric and designs makes it hard to see. Your pillowcase becomes a breeding ground for the proliferation of acne-causing bacteria, it needs to be changed and/or disinfected frequently.
Fabrics made of cotton, bamboo, hemp, and microfiber absorb and accumulate the most oils and dirt from your oily skin. Use a plain white pillowcase to see how much oil and dirt your pillowcase accumulates over a week, which may be contributing to your acne breakouts.
Pillowcases made from satin or silk are least absorbent, hence are better for acne-prone skin. Alternatively, you may use an antimicrobial spray to disinfect the pillowcase a few times on a weekly basis. Doing both is recommended to get the maximum protection against acne-causing bacteria.
Chocolate isn’t just good for your heart; chocolate can be great for your skin too. Cocoa contains lots of antioxidants, which eliminate age-causing free radicals and help reduce wrinkles. It’s also great for all skin types, and there are plenty of different kinds of chocolate-based face mask recipes available online.
Here is a chocolate face mask recipe that you can try making at home.
You’ll need...
To make your chocolate face mask, just combine all the ingredients together in a bowl and mix them until they’re nice and smooth. You can use a blender to make sure that it gets blended evenly. After you’re done mixing everything together, let the formula sit for about five minutes or so. Try not to eat it, because you might not have enough left over for your face! After it’s settled, pull your hair back and smooth it evenly on your face, leaving space for your eyes, nostrils, and lips. Leave the face mask on for a while; read a book or watch TV for fifteen to twenty minutes. Afterward, just wash everything off with some warm water, and pat your skin dry with a nice, soft towel. You’ll love how your skin will glow once you’re done!
Cocoa’s skin benefits are fairly self-explanatory; we’ve already discussed them earlier.
Honey’s also another super-food. Online, you’ll find plenty of websites and articles singing honey’s praises as a health product. Aside from being a really healthy sugar substitute, honey has even been used to treat wounds and burns. It’s been known to reduce signs of skin aging since the days of Cleopatra. Like cocoa, honey is also loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that help repair and nourish your skin.
Cream and curd are dairy products, and they serve as the liquid base for the face mask. If you want your mask to be vegan, you can replace the cream or curd with three tablespoons of water. The mix will end up being a little thinner for it, but at least you can be sure that no animals had to suffer for your great skin! The curd, on the other hand, is made by making milk coagulate using acidic substances like lemon juice or vinegar. It’s great for detoxifying your skin and controlling the secretion of excess oil or sebum.
Besan is a kind of cereal flour made from garbanzos or chickpeas, and it is a common ingredient in many South Asian dishes. Besan is great for oily skin because it absorbs the skin’s excess oil, and is a great cleaning agent that can really help clarify your skin and tighten your pores. In fact, in India, it is often used as a facial exfoliant.
Everyone's skin is different, and being naturally oily needn't be a big problem. But if you suffer from the effects of too much oil, a little daily care and attention can make a huge difference.
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With each new year comes a set of new resolutions. There is a great divide between those who participate in the annual ritual and those who think resolutions should be made throughout the year. While regular self-assessments are ideal in a utopian society, it isn’t that easy for some of us to ponder all the ways we can become better people throughout the year. The masses can only afford to entertain progress once a year, and I humbly lump myself into the masses. I don’t see anything wrong with starting my year off by meditating on all the ways I want to grow. We have to start somewhere. Right? Eventually, that annual ritual may turn into a semiannual ritual and even a quarterly ritual. Whether genuine or not, we’ve all partaken in creating a list of goals that may never be met.
While making my resolutions for 2019, I jotted down “zero waste.” A major hurdle of new year’s resolutions is the overwhelmingly lengthy lists we try to tackle. Our lists can circle the earth four times—which is about the same amount a year’s worth of plastic water bottles thrown away in the U.S. can circle the earth. Along with the length of our lists, our goals are often set at unachievable heights. We set ourselves up for failure right from the start. Considering my circumstances, going zero waste was a bit of an ambitious resolution. I live in a small town at the very bottom of Louisiana. The only things down here you are buying in bulk with zero waste are shrimp and crawfish. If there was any chance of making progress, I needed to revise my resolutions. I took a step back and decided to focus on waste reduction instead of zero waste.
Is Environmentalism a Derogatory Word?
Maybe you are part of the school of thought that believes environmentalism is just some hipster bandwagon everyone is jumping on, our planet is self-healing, and efforts to reduce waste are a money gimmick. Nature has given us hell for centuries, let’s pay her back tenfold! You certainly wouldn’t be wrong for thinking those things. Environmentalism is a current trend, our planet is incredibly resilient, and lifestyle changes do drain your bank accounts. However, trends aren’t always a bad thing, there is an extent to a self-healing planet, and a lot of things are a big money gimmick (how many of you are reading this from an iPhone?).
My purpose isn’t to convince you to make a lifestyle change. Change is only successful when we decide it for ourselves. I merely want to share a piece of my journey and explain why I believe there is a necessary balance to be found. Maybe you’ll agree with some of what I say, or maybe you’ll have a fantastic antithesis that demolishes my methods. Whatever your reaction is, at least I’ve sparked your curiosity one way or another.
I’ve found my balance by looking at where we’ve been as a society and how we’ve gotten to where we are. A conversation about waste reduction with my grandmother arose during a luncheon in which I refused a single use straw. My grandmother and I are similar in that we are very particular about everything, especially cleanliness. In response to me bypassing the straw and drinking straight out of the restaurant glass, she gave an exaggerated eye roll and said, “I’ll never understand.” I knew exactly what she meant she would never understand: waste reduction. In all actuality, my grandmother understood waste reduction very well. She reuses take out containers, refills reusable kcups, and patches her torn clothing. The environmental movement she thought was purposeless is one she actually puts into action. Because environmentalism is so closely interwoven with political agendas, she never associated her practices with the movement.
The Climax of Disposable Products
Plastic use really peaked in the 60s, twenty years after my grandmother was born. At the time plastic appeared in every household across America, the Baby Boomer generation already had a foundation built on conservation. By the time Generation X grew up, they were fully immersed in disposable items. As generations continued, so did single-use items like kcups, diapers, razors, and paper plates. Where the Baby Boomers had a balance between convenience and conservativism, our balance is now extremely offset.
One of my dearest friends is in her early twenties, has two daughters under the age of two, and works a full-time job (I’m not saying she is Super Woman, but I’ve never seen her and Super Woman in the same room at the same time). She is entitled to the luxury of using disposable diapers, but in return, she grows a large garden and produces a lot of her own food. I’m a freelancer with no children, so I have oodles of time that other people don’t. I can opt out of disposable dinnerware, make stovetop coffee, fill reusable water bottles, and grab my own grocery bags. My point is we have to pick up our slack where we can and reject convenience whenever possible, and that looks different for each individual.
Why I Chose a Straight Razor Despite its Inconveniences
One of the first changes I made was my shaving practices. While most “low wasters” opt for the safety razor, which most closely resembles the disposable razor, I went right to the straight razor. There is nothing convenient about the straight razor. It has a single blade that has to be honed, stropped, and polished regularly, and it adds about 30 minutes to your shaving time plus 10 minutes of maintenance.
For something that can effortlessly slice through a carotid artery, she’s a pretty delicate tool that requires a load of maintenance. Sure, the safety razor has replaceable blades, but what’s more Warrior Archetype than shaving your legs with a single, exposed blade? Nothing.
Shorter, riskier skirts of the flapper era in the 1920’s meant more exposed skin. With this, female hair removal grew in popularity. As the 1940s rolled around, female hair removal was almost standard. It isn’t until recently that many women have begun shaking up this beauty standard. I’m personally still for removing my body hair; it’s what makes me feel beautiful. But it is no less beautiful to embrace your body hair! In fact, if you’re going to begin using a straight razor, you’ll want to learn to love your body hair because you won’t want to shave as often. Trust me.
Type of "Straight" Razors
After I used the last of my disposable razor reserve, I kicked it to the curb and went on a hunt for a straight razor. I tried purchasing from a few barbershops around town to support local business, but they only kept shavettes in stock. It’s good to know that the straight razor and shavette are two different tools. Shavettes provide a similar old fashion experience to the traditional straight razor but are a more sanitary option for businesses because they have disposable blades.
The Price Point
After checking with a handful of local shops, I turned to the internet. I was greeted by an endless selection of straight razors as well as the daunting paradox of choice. This worked out in my favor because I was forced to research the product I was going to purchase. Straight razors range anywhere from $20 upwards to $800, but I found an averaging price to be $150. Although a hundred-dollar blade is still a pretty penny, this is a purchase that should last a lifetime.
Point and Blade Size
The next factor I considered was the point and size of the blade. The point is the very end of the blade, and each point style takes a different shape. There are Round Points, Square Points, Irish Points, French Points, and so on. The size of the blade goes by width, not length. Because I am shaving more delicate parts like legs and yes, my armpits, I wanted a rounded point and a skinnier blade size. A smaller and rounder blade seemed the least dangerous to maneuver around hard to reach spaces. I’m not entirely sure why someone would want to shave with a lumberjack’s axe (apart from it being extremely impressive), but my guess is that wider blades may be more durable when cutting through thick beards. Unfortunately, I can’t report on thick facial hair.
The Handle
The last determining factor was the scale—or handle—of the razor. I wanted to avoid scale materials that would hold moisture. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Louisiana’s humidity drop below 60%. While wood provides some of the most gorgeous scales, my climate makes it difficult to maintain wood.
I Chose a Straight Razor Made by Dovo
Once I weighed price, point, size, and material, I had my search narrowed down. I decided to go with the Dovo Pearlex. It has a faux mother of pearl scale, a 5/8” blade with a rounded point, and ran me about $160.
Shaving Bowl and Brush
The straight razor isn’t the only item you’ll need in your starter kit if you are trying to go low waste. You’ll want to replace that can of shaving cream with a shaving bowl, soap puck, and brush. I thrifted a Paul Revere style shaving bowl a few years before I had any idea I’d ever be using it for its intended purpose. Any small bowl will work, and they are a dime a dozen at thrift stores.
Shaving Soap
Finding the perfect soap was another challenge. I wanted something that was low waste and low chemicals. I have sensitive skin, so I try avoiding artificial fragrances at all cost. I stumbled upon Men’s Soap Company, and their product was a no-brainer. Their soaps are natural, ethically sourced, cruelty-free, and they are actively cutting back their packaging waste!
I’ve had my first puck for almost half a year, and I still have more than half the product left. Considering how long it’s lasting me, their price is well below the average canned shaving cream. I had a difficult time choosing between a boar brush and one with artificial bristles. I went with the boar bristles because I couldn’t find any quality brushes with artificial bristles that wouldn’t fall apart, and I didn’t want to have to purchase another brush down the road.
If you know anything about maintaining straight razors, you’ll notice I left out a few essentials in the starter kit: a strop and blade oils. I learned about these the hard way, so I’ll share my experience to save you the heartache. After about a month of using my blade with no strop, it dulled really quickly even though it was only shaving finer body hair. So, I ordered a honing stone. Honing is no easy task but neither is shaving with a straight razor. Long story short, I didn’t ruin anything, but I was left with a dull and unusable blade.
I humbled myself and accepted the fact that I can’t do it all. I scoured the internet for companies that provided honing services to fix my mistake and found Razor Emporium. A $30 honing service was worth restoring a razor I had already invested so much in. Along with restoration services, Razor Emporium sells leather razor strops made in the USA. At $75, this was another pricey purchase, but I knew it would save me costs in the long run.
A strop is a way to maintain, sharpen, and align your blade. It has been six months since I’ve sent my razor off to be honed and started utilizing my strop. The strop alone has kept my blade perfectly sharp, and I haven’t had to send it back for another honing. I predict that sending off my razor will only be a yearly expense.
Blade oils are used to coat the metal blade after each use to prevent it from rusting and tarnishing. Any blade oil should do the job if the blade is properly prepped. Spots will appear if the blade isn’t fully dried before oiling. I use Renaissance Wax Polish as an extra protectant when I don’t plan to use my blade for long periods. This wax is meant for protecting museum metals and not blades that will come into contact with skin, so I make sure to clean the wax off before shaving. If the humidity in your area is low and you properly dry and strop your razor before oiling, you may be able to skip the wax protectant.
As I’ve mentioned, shaving with a straight razor isn’t a quick or convenient task; it’s a slow and meditative practice. Like taking the time to get a morning workout in or schedule a manicure, we have to allot time to shave with a straight razor. Because the straight razor requires more time and precision, it isn’t a good idea to wait until the end of the day to shave. When my nighttime bath finally rolls around, I’m much too exhausted to fool with a deadly blade. I’ll either cut myself or not get the chore done altogether. So, I try to set aside time in the morning or before it gets too late. If the only time you can spare for yourself is at night, try shaving before you take your bath rather than after so that you aren’t too relaxed and distracted.
Creating Lather from Shaving Soap
Soap lathering is one of my least favorite steps of the process because I have by no means mastered it. I’ve experimented with a few different ways to create lather. The easiest and quickest way is to place the soap in a shaving bowl, wet your brush and circle it in the soap until it begins to lather. You can wet your brush again if the lather is too thick or continue pulling in more soap with your bristles if the lather is too thin. This is the method I typically use because it is quick and simple, but you don’t always get a perfect lather. Thin lather isn’t an issue for me because my leg hair is quite fine.
There is a second method if you’re looking to achieve that perfect lather every time. I was given this tip by Men’s Soap Company. You’ll want to cut off a piece of the soap puck and melt it in a microwave-safe bowl. Then you can begin creating lather with your damp brush the same way you would with solid soap. This method requires a few more steps, but I get a photo worthy lather each time. There is no right or wrong way to create lather. Practice and experiment to find what works best for you.
Shaving with a Straight Razor
Once I’ve prepped everything to shave, I fill my tub with about four inches of water. This allows me enough water to rinse my blade without risking nicking it on the bottom of the tub but not have my legs fully submerged. I start at my ankles and lather my legs in sections so that the lather doesn’t get washed off. You’ll want to open the razor wide so that the spine of the blade and back of the scale make a ninety-degree angle, and you can hold the blade by its tang and tail. I like to pull my skin so that the blade has a smooth, taut surface to glide over. The blade should meet your leg at a thirty-degree angle to get a close shave without slicing through the skin.
I continue this method for each section of my leg and rinse my blade between every few passes so that I can see where the blade meets my skin. I apply slightly less pressure around my shins, and I move the skin over my knees to avoid shaving over bones. Don’t go too fast, but don’t be afraid to get in there either! I cut myself way less with my straight razor than with a traditional disposable razor because I am much more intentional while shaving now.
Once you get the hang of things and build your confidence it will become a relaxing activity rather than a chore. The second best advice I have to offer is YouTube. Watching tutorials and being able to visualize how the process is done made me more confident during my first shave.
Straight Razor Care
The best part about using a straight razor is stropping. Hands down. It’s the most meditative part.
To strop, you’ll open your razor and hold it on its pivot point almost like you would a pencil and pass it up and down the strop at a thirty-degree angle with the spine leading. Rotate the blade on its spine when you reach the end of each pass to avoid nicking the blade. Your strop should have enough slack so that your blade makes a nice wispy sound. My strop has leather on one side and canvas on the other.
Once I’m finished shaving, I dry my razor off with a towel as best I can then I pass it on the canvas strop about 25 times to take off any residue and moisture. The canvas side is rougher than the leather side, so it is great for cleaning and prepping the blade to be stropped on the leather side. I flip my strop to the leather side and pass it around 50 times. After my blade has been properly stropped, I coat all the metal with blade oil and store her away!
Straight razor shaving is much easier than people think, so don’t let anyone scare you into believing you aren’t capable. I had quite a few grown men trying to scare me out of attempting the straight razor. In their defense, maybe it is more difficult to shave thick facial hair around tiny crevices and jawbones. However, 100% of the people who advised against it had never even tried it for their selves. If your mind is set on doing it, you will be successful. It’s also okay to take baby steps. If you aren’t comfortable with going cold turkey, use both a straight razor and your old disposable razor until your confidence grows to those hard to reach places. The straight razor is a process from start to finish. You can’t just rip out your razor and get your shaving over with, but you will get a better shave, eliminate razor bumps, help save the environment, and look like a warrior goddess while doing it. Good luck and happy shaving!
Tomi Milstead is a freelance writer and editor. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in Literary Studies. Her aim is to diminish the stigma of feminism that was partially generated by “feminazis” and to empower both men and women in their unique individuality.
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Are you paying attention to the growing body of scientific research into the benefits of CBD oil? The results have shown some promising results for people suffering from epilepsy, anxiety, depression, insomnia, cancer, and many other health conditions. In terms of growing pains, acne is one of the worst things that can happen to you. You wake up and enthusiastically contemplate the wonderful day that you are going to have until your reflection in the mirror stops you. Deflated, you clean your face and reach for that product which you have been using because it is supposed to prevent this sort of thing from happening. Maybe, you think to yourself hopefully, it will work this time.
Acne vulgaris affects millions of people in the world, and it is one of the most common skin diseases. Well, you would think that someone would have found a cure for it by now. Unfortunately, this has not happened yet. But Cannabidiol (CBD) oil, which is derived from the hemp or Cannabis Sativa plant, might, and might is the operative word here, be able to offer you relief. So take a quick look at the science, and make up your mind about whether CBD oil has the potential to be the life-changing solution that destroys the monstrosity that is acne vulgaris.
Acne vulgaris is a skin disease that occurs when hair follicles get clogged with skin oil and dead skin cells. Blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, large solid painful lumps with or without pus beneath the surface of the skin, and oily skin are typical signs of Acne. Skin areas with a high concentration of oil glands, including the face, upper part of the chest, and back are more prone to Acne.
Research suggests that genetics play the primary role of acne in 80% of cases, and is most common among teenagers, though it affects people of all ages. Increased production of sebum by hormones called androgens are part of the underlying problem. Excessive growth of the bacterium Propionibacterium acnes that is normally present on the skin is also known to be another major factor.
CBD is a compound found naturally in cannabis plants. Cannabis is a family of plants that includes marijuana and hemp plants. CBD is found in both marijuana and hemp plants, but it's more readily available in hemp. CBD has no psychoactive effect so it won't make you feel high. CBD oil is created by extracting the compound from one or more types of cannabis plants, isolating the CBD from other cannabis plant compounds.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is another compound found naturally in cannabis plants. That's the portion of the plant that produces a psychoactive effect so it will make you feel high. THC is abundant in the marijuana plant, but only trace amounts are found in the hemp plant.
CBD extracted from hemp plants should contain little to no THC. CBD extracted from the marijuana plant will contain more THC. That makes a big difference when determining the legality of a CBD product.
CBD oil has a positive impact on the endocannabinoid system (ECS), according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. In your body, the ECS is the system that regulates the differentiation and growth of skin cells, inflammation, and the production of a certain fat called sebum. The ECS does many other important things as well, but its impact on your skin is what you need to focus on to figure out if CBD oil can do something about your acne.
The study determined that CBD oil has a significant impact on the ECS and causes many beneficial changes that work against an acne vulgaris infection. The study investigated the impact of CBD on sebaceous glands, which are an important part of the skin. It found that there is a positive correlation between the application of CBD and a reduction in inflammation, excessive energy transfers between certain skin cells called sebocytes that form the sebaceous glands and produce sebum, and the excessive growth of sebocytes. In other words, the application of CBD and the reduced inflammation, reduced energy transfers between sebocytes, and reduced growth of sebocytes seem to be connected. Excessive increases in inflammation, energy transfers between those sebocytes, and the growth of sebocytes are linked to the development and spread of acne vulgaris.
The application of extracts obtained from the seeds of hemp plants results in anti-microbial behavior against the infection of acne vulgaris, reduces inflammation, and reduces excessive energy transfers between sebocytes, according to a study in PLOS One. The study determined that hemp seed extracts cause these beneficial changes by regulating specific skin components that impact inflammation and the biosynthesis or production of lipids. Study findings also showed that the hemp extracts increased the biosynthesis or production of collagen.
It is important to keep in mind that a problem in both studies was that the studies were conducted in vitro, which means that neither study used actual people as the study subjects. Another issue is the lack of studies on the impact that different types of CBD oil have on acne. There are many different types of CBD oil out there. For the extraction technique used to obtain the oil from the hemp plants and the quality of the hemp plants impact the quality of the oil that is extracted. The fact that the studies use different terminology to refer to CBD oil is another issue that makes it difficult to gain a clear understanding of whether CBD oil can effectively treat acne.
And there is no consistency regarding the parts of the hemp plant which were used to make the extracts that the studies utilized as CBD oil can be made using various parts of the hemp plant. But these studies do show that CBD oil has the potential to offer relief to those who suffer due to acne because it regulates important skin components that are impacted by the acne infection and reduces the impact that acne has on the skin. Additionally, the positive impact that CBD oil has on the production of collagen, which was identified by the PLOS One study, could be very good news.
For those who suffer from acne often have skin that is damaged by both the acne infection and the products that have been used to combat it. The increased production of collagen is likely to result in an improvement in the appearance of the skin, which is definitely desirable. Further research that tests the efficacy of different types of CBD oil on real people who are affected with acne is essential, and the researchers should use consistent terminology when referring to extracts. But based on the available research, CBD oil could actually be the solution that saves you from your acne, and that is a possibility which is worthy of further investigation.
CBD oil products made from hemp plants that contain little to no THC are legal throughout the U.S. CBD products extracted from the marijuana plant are still illegal from a national perspective. Most of the CBD oils sold online are derived from hemp so you can use them without worrying about feeling high or breaking the law.
FDA approval is required for all CBD products that are marketed with therapeutic claims. That rule applies even for CBD derived from low-THC or no-THC hemp plants. If the manufacturer claims that the product will cure a medical condition or relieve symptoms like pain, headaches, insomnia, anxiety, and depression, they must submit the product to the FDA for testing and approval.
Many CBD oil manufacturers and advertisers use strategic marketing that allows them to avoid FDA testing. They may cite research studies that have shown powerful benefits of CBD without making direct claims that their product will deliver those benefits.
When therapeutic benefits are claimed, make sure that the product is FDA-approved. If no direct claims are made, you can assume that they haven't been tested or approved. There is some added security that comes with using an approved product, but there are also some high-quality products that haven't been approved.
Is CBD Legal in Your State?
Every state passes its own laws regarding the use of cannabis. Many states have legalized the use of CBD extracts derived from hemp plants with no THC or negligible amounts of THC. If you want to try a CBD product derived from the marijuana plant, you need to check your state's marijuana regulations first.
If your state has legalized marijuana for medical use only, you will need to purchase your CBD/THC products from a dispensary. You may need a prescription from your doctor to make the purchase legally.
If your state has legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use, then you will have more options when buying CBD products. Carefully read labels or ask questions to determine the amount of THC included in each product. Full legalization allows more liberal use of CBD derived from the marijuana plant so some products may contain THC even if the label or product name utilizes the term "CBD."
If you live in a state that hasn't legalized marijuana for any application, then your legal use is likely limited to CBD oil derived from hemp.
Legal CBD Oil Administration
There are currently no legal restrictions on how you take your CBD oil. There are tinctures, creams, edibles and concentrates readily available on the market. The simplest administration is an oil dropped under the tongue. If you need CBD for fast pain relief or other immediate benefits, you may consider learning to dab CBD. Edibles are tasty but costly. It's sometimes difficult to determine how much CBD is in an edible.
If you want to try CBD oil for your acne treatment, you need to make sure that you don't make mistakes trying out CBD oil for the first time.
Mistake #1: Choosing a Brand for How Affordable It Is, Rather Than How Good It Is
The CBD product market is unregulated. This means that you can find that some vendors sell products of low quality. At this time, it's up to buyers to educate themselves and learn what to look for. Before you buy a product, you need to read the description to find out important information.
The extraction method: Oil extracted with carbon dioxide offers the most potent results.
The THC percentage: High-quality CBD oil has less than 0.3 percent of a substance called THC. The less THC there is, the less likely a product is to give you a high.
The source of the raw material: Quality CBD oil comes from organic hemp grown either in the US or in Europe.
Full-spectrum or isolate: Full-spectrum CBD oils contain many natural compounds other than CBD. While these compounds can be beneficial, these products may contain greater amounts of THC. It's safest to go with CBD oil isolates.
All you need to do is to carefully read the description of any product that you plan to buy, and make sure that you have all the most important pieces of information that you need about it.
Mistake #2: Not doing enough research on CBD
CBD may be beneficial in conditions as varied as pain, anxiety, depression, and cancer. Medical research present at this time is not conclusive enough to prove that CBD cures any of these conditions in humans, however. When you buy CBD products, it's important that you go in with realistic expectations based on science, rather than ones based on advertising material.
Mistake #3: Not Knowing Enough About the Different Extraction Methods
While you may know that CBD oil extracted with carbon dioxide is the best kind, it's a good idea to go in knowing what the other extraction methods are, and why they are inferior.
Extraction with olive oil: DIY extractors often use the olive oil method. It delivers reasonable quality but has a problem with low yield levels.
Extraction with dry ice: This method is often used by producers of discounted CBD oil products. It offers low-quality results.
Extraction with solvents: Harsh chemicals are used in this process. It produces inferior, contaminated oil.
Mistake #4: Believing That CBD Oil Can't Ever Get You High
It is true that high-quality CBD oil extracted using carbon dioxide tends to be pure and to contain less than 0.3 percent of the psychoactive compound THC. It doesn't get you high. CBD oil obtained from unreliable vendors, however, may contain higher levels of THC. It's up to you to read the label and make sure that you get a laboratory-tested product.
When you try out CBD oil, you need to give yourself the greatest opportunity of coming by the benefits promised. Going in armed with the knowledge of how to tell good CBD products apart, can help you find the quality that you need.
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During winters we always welcome some extra food because it is too difficult to fight the temptation. But in summers, we eat only when we feel famished. Ever wondered why food does not entice us as much in summers? It is believed that our body does not feel the need for food to store extra energy in summers because there is enough light in the atmosphere.
We often end up skipping meals and the first signs its effects are seen on our skin. The key is in the intake of essential foods that help us maintain our health and keep the glow of our skin intact. Skin cells are highly prone to damage since our skin is the largest organ of our body that is exterior facing protecting against environmental threats, which needs foods that are hydrating and full of vitamins and nutrients.
How does one incorporate healthy foods without drastically changing eating habits, which we all know are difficult to overcome quickly? Fruits require little to no preparation and are readily available everywhere for on the go consumption. There should be no excuses for lacking fruits in your diet.
Below are some amazing fruits that you need to incorporate in your diet before the heat of summer takes a toll on your skin. This summer, protect your skin in a natural and healthy way. There are a lot of options from which to choose, so any one of them will fit into your daily meals easily.
Eating fruits is a sure way to stay healthy by nurturing the body from the inside and in the process achieve a younger looking skin. Most fruits are sweet tasting and contain numerous benefits to the body which include:
Fruits are therefore vital for that firm supple looking skin, stronger nails, healthier hair, lower blood pressure, and a disease-free body.
The fresh and heavenly fragrance of citrus fruits clearly says that there is no way they cannot help our body. They are a great source of amino acids and Vitamin C. They kill bacteria present on your skin and nourish your skin from within. Collagen is responsible for maintaining the elasticity in our skin, and Vitamin C is responsible for creating it in our body. So, consuming citrus fruits prevents aging and keeps your skin glossy and healthy. You can also use the peels of citrus fruits to exfoliate your skin and clean the clogged pores.
Avoid citrus fruits if you have acid reflux or stomach ache issues.
Many of us rely on chemicals and face products to get younger and better-looking skin. But it is time that we know that these chemicals end up affecting our skin even more. Nature has blessed us with plenty of fruits that are rich in natural nutrients, and it is always recommended to use them over high chemical based products. Protecting your skin with sunscreen and other lotions is important but it is not safe to rely on them completely. So choose these natural fruit nutrients and nourish your skin health.
Make sure to include other healthier habits such as drinking 8 glasses of water daily, regular exercise, eliminate tobacco smoking, enough sleep and stress management. In addition, include a balanced diet for your overall health benefit.
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Ever since keeping a beard became a fashion accessory in recent years, the trend that was once associated older folks now has enticed many young men to grow out a full beard. The graph below clearly shows the interest in beard is continuing to rise. However, not all men are blessed with a beard, and those who have must take care of this great asset.
A beard needs to be well-maintained, kept and trimmed neatly. Each person keeps a beard at a different length, color, and shape suited their face. But one of the problems some experience in growing a beard is that it grows hard. This makes properly shaving and shaping a beard frustrating to maintain sometimes. It is important to ensure the beard is soft so one can achieve the desired look with less effort.
Those of you with hard, straight hair that grows in different directions and lacks density know how hard it is to line up hair for a cut that has the potential to go horribly wrong in one single snip. The good news is you can retrain your hair to grow differently by softening and steering them towards the desired directions. Though, the secret is having a care plan and persistence.
Before doing anything to soften the beard, one must always know what is making it rough. This way, it becomes easier to find a solution. Below are some questions to consider:
Solutions
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As you may know, we advocate budget-conscious, eco-friendly natural products, at Men's Soap Company. Our shaving products are made from natural ingredients that are packaged minimally with recycled materials (some cases re-fillable when bought in containers) and last 6 to 12 months with normal use. The result is little to no waste added to the environment.
Cleansing and shaving go hand in hand, and yet we haven't pursued cleansing products, because they pose a few challenges.
We are in the process of working on our natural body soaps line, but liquid shampoo, face, and body cleansers are hard to produce in a natural, eco-friendly manner.
Besides the effects on your budget, do you ever wonder what effects these commercial products may have on your skin, health, home, and the environment?
We need to reduce the use of plastic when possible. Most commercial cleansers are made and packaged for store shelves, often in plastic containers that are replaced on a monthly basis by customers, further perpetuating the plastic pollution problem. Sure, our cities, towns, and buildings have recycling programs, but when you recycle, are they really being recycled? The truth may shock you.
If you're looking for a way to spend less money, use cleaner, "greener" ways to effectively cleanse your body and home, and reduce the clutter of multiple products, then look no further than one simple ingredient: liquid castile soap. Simple yet effective, this gem of a cleaner can be hailed as the superpower of the cleaning cabinet for its versatility and gentleness to the environment. Read on to learn how to use liquid castile soap in six recipes that will have you saying goodbye to some of those expensive household products.
Liquid castile soap is a simple olive oil soap, based on the soapmaking style of the Castile region of Spain. It is sometimes referred to like the camping soap, as it has so many uses and is gentle on the environment.
While even biodegradable soaps shouldn't be used in a natural water source, they can be used 200 feet away from a lake or river and then disposed of in a small hole dug in the ground. Experienced campers love that they can pack one small bottle of this soap and use it for bathing, shampooing, washing dishes, soothing bug bites, cleaning sunglasses, pots, and pans, and even brushing their teeth.
It's that gentle!
This little wonder soap has many uses, as well. The key is in its dilution. Some heavy-duty jobs need a higher concentration of the liquid, while others need less for a gentler, less sudsy version. And while we're making our own bathing and cleaning products, it's nice to add a few simple, natural ingredients to boost its cleaning or moisturizing properties.
A good facial cleanser needs to gently clean and moisturize without leaving a greasy film. It doesn't need extra ingredients that may strip your skin of its natural oils (can contribute to dry skin) and be harmful to the environment. For some, dry skin can lead to painful shaving experiences as well. Here's a simple recipe that you place in a foaming soap dispenser to provide just the touch of suds that you love:
What You Need
Directions
If you've ever read the ingredients on a bottle of commercial body wash, you may have been overwhelmed by the long list of hard-to-pronounce chemicals. These often include sodium laureth sulfate and methylparaben, whose safety is questionable. The following recipe keeps the ingredients simple and natural, with no questions hanging in the air over their safety, just wonderfully refreshed skin, kissed with moisture and fresh scent, too!
What You Need
Directions
While liquid castile soap can effectively be used alone as a shampoo, either straight or diluted, it's usually preferable to add a few nourishing ingredients to help balance your hair's texture. Everyone's hair has its own special characteristics and needs, so we will share different versions of this recipe for different hair types.
What makes this recipe special is the use of coconut milk. This healthy drink, rich in fatty acids, is also very nutritious and moisturizing for skin and hair. It cleanses the scalp, balances the pH level, nourishes hair follicles and strengthens hair strands.
As mentioned before, the liquid castile soap is a very pure, gentle soap that's wonderfully versatile for many uses. You will note, however, that this shampoo will not bubble up as much as conventional shampoos do. That is because most commercial shampoos add ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a foaming agent that has been linked to cancer, skin irritation and other toxic effects. Once you make the transition to natural shampoo, you won't miss the extra bubbles and will instead enjoy the benefits of pure, healthy hair.
Essential oils are also superheroes in this natural recipe. Extracted directly from plants, these oils contain unique properties to sustain good health in a myriad of ways, not least of these, for healthy hair!
Also included in this shampoo are jojoba oil and vitamin E oil. Jojoba oil is great for moisturizing the scalp, and may even cure dandruff. It is known to strengthen and thicken hair, and can even prevent hair loss. Vitamin E is added to extend the shampoo's shelf life.
What You Need
Directions
Liquid castile soap has proven to be a great base for these natural DIY beauty products. Let's move on now to some of its other beneficiaries, natural DIY cleaning supplies. Making your own cleaning products with natural ingredients will help keep your family safe, your home fresh and naturally clean, and our environment protected from unnecessary toxins from both the manufacturing and disposal of chemical ingredients. These recipes use simple ingredients and can be placed in reused plastic bottles you already have at home, thus reducing the need for more plastic manufacturing.
Keeping countertops and kitchen surfaces clean doesn't always require strong chemical, antibacterial potions to kill deadly diseases lurking in your cooking area. Everyday messes like bread crumbs and butter spills only need a gentle cleanser to wipe away grease and sticky spots. The following recipe is the perfect blend of pure cleaning power and fragrant essential oils that also add their own natural antibacterial properties.
What You Need
Directions
This natural disinfectant surface cleaner is also useful in places outside the kitchen. Use it to clean up fingerprints on walls and minor messes throughout the house. Used outdoors, it's the perfect clean up tool for outdoor furniture.
If you've ever read the label of a bottle of window cleaner, you've likely seen the long list of warnings, precautions and toxic ingredients. These ingredients may clean your windows, but used improperly, they can cause severe skin and eye burns and a trip to the emergency room. Not to mention the overall effects the manufacturing and the fumes have on the environment.
The following recipe takes advantage of one superpower cleaning ingredient you may likely already have in your kitchen: vinegar! By combining vinegar with a couple of other ingredients, you'll have clean, streak-free windows, naturally!
What You Need
Directions
Another bottle of toxic chemicals you'll be glad to get rid of is commercial toilet cleaner. This natural recipe adds baking soda to its arsenal to clean and deodorize your toilet bowl while being kind to the environment. The antibacterial powers of the essential oils also leave a clean fresh scent, not a strong chemical odor.
What You Need
Directions
Whether it's for cleaning your house or your daily beauty routine, liquid castile soap has great value as a base for many natural products. Give it a try, and you will experience its pure cleanliness and gentleness to our environment.
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As a natural product brand, our goal is to help people find natural solutions to problems that ail them, especially with the skin and hair. There are so many natural remedies to choose from for our health needs that it can get overwhelming. Every person's results from remedies vary, which makes decisions to try any of them even harder. Who has the time to try everything under the sun to figure out the remedies best suited for our individual needs?
Unfortunately, the process is no different for modern medicine either. It is impossible and unrealistic for one remedy to cure them all. However, you're still better off with natural remedies for common issues before trying your hands at taking prescription solutions that often come with side effects. Natural oils are best at treating many internal and external bodily issues.
One of the lesser known oil comes from black seeds that have been proven to sort out various health and beauty problems, from hair issues and skin complications to men’s problems and general health matters. Could black seed oil will be the one for you?
Black seeds come from a plant called Nigella Sativa, an annual flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to south and southwest Asia. Its seeds are also variously known as black caraway, black cumin, fennel flower, nigella, nutmeg flower, and Roman coriander.
The seeds comprise of a host of ingredients that are based on two main components; thymoquinone (TQ) and thymohydroquinone (THQ). To break it down, the elements include the omega3, omega6, and omega9, which are all healthy fats, and also various vitamins and minerals. It is also an anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-fungal, anti-microbial among a host of other favorable factors. All these elements make the black seed oil the best remedy for very many health and beauty concerns.
To get the best from black seed oil, it is advisable that you add a spoonful or two per day to your meals or drinks or simply take it as it is. You may also take the seed in its wholesome form. For skin issues, gently rub the oil on the affected part for at least five minutes and then leave it to work.
Black seed oil has very many benefits for the entire body. These include benefits to the hair, skin as well as men’s concerns. These benefits are broken down as follows:
Skin - The skin is the largest organ of the body. It follows that the skin is also one of the organs that are at the highest risk of facing several health challenges and risks, ranging from skin cancer, infections leading to swellings, and tumors. This is where black seed oil comes in handy. The benefits to the skin include:
Men's Problems - For many years, men all over the world have been faced with challenges ranging from infertility to prostate issues. Black seed oil has been proven to provide effective solutions to the problems men have come to accept and live with.
Here is how:
Other Health Benefits - There are several health benefits of the black seed oil that do not fall under the three main categories above but are still very significant and absolutely vital.
These include:
Black Seed Oil is one of the best home remedies for various health and beauty issues. There is no ailment that can stand the presence of this natural substance. It is an anti-histamine, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-coagulant, anti-virus, anti-fungal, antioxidant, anti-bacterial, etc. It simply stands against anything and conquers it. Its major components known as Thymohydroquinone and thymoquinone are the basis on which all these properties are built and scientific research has proved that it works on most (if not all) infections. From this analysis, it is evident that black seed oil is worth including in your diet, whether you are experiencing any symptoms or not. The other great news is that black seed oil is not hard to get as it can be accessed from any local food stores or supermarkets as well as online.
It is no secret that companies need to continuously innovate, create and sell new products to upkeep their business and increase the bottom line. Apple has been known to do incremental changes to their phones to keep customers interested and committed to buying an updated line of phones on a yearly basis. At least there is a charm and marketing genius behind Apple's products. However, when it comes to disposable razors, there is only so much innovation possible, and it's not exciting even when there are so-called innovations. Sure, it's like comparing apples to oranges, but you get the point.
When Gillette introduced it's first disposable razor in 1976, it sure felt like an innovation. The design was more compact and hassle-free, totally different from traditional wet shaving razors. After that, people slowly started to ditch their safety razors in favor of disposable razors because of convenience, even if it didn't give as good of a shave in comparison.
Gillette has made some interesting multi-blade razors over the years since, most notably the Fusion line. The Fusion5 Proshield razor contains 5 “anti-friction” blades and FlexBall technology that allows the razor to pivot in any direction to help stay flat on the skin over varying contours of the shaving area. You have to appreciate the anti-friction blade marketing scheme, though. Customers gave the Fusion5 an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars (88%, grade of B+) on Gillette’s website.
In our opinion, one of the most underrated innovative multi-blade razors is the Leaf. The inventors wanted to give people a feel and familiarity of a multi-blade experience without the long-term cost of expensive cartridges and plastic pollution.
The razor utilizes double edge razor blades broken into singles, eliminating the need for razor cartridges forever. The DE razor blades are also available in singles. With an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars (96%, grade of A) on Leaf's website, it appears to be doing well. You may give it a pause after seeing the $79 price tag, but consider it as a lifetime investment. At just 14 cents for 3 single-blades, per week, you can quickly recoup your money. We're looking forward to reviewing this razor very soon as well.
Gillette—through GilletteLabs—recently introduced the $200 Heated Razor for pre-order, just in time for father's day, which they tout will allow men to "experience the comfort of a hot towel with every stroke." That is a pretty big claim for sure. Think about how a hot towel works. When the towel is placed on the face before shaving, warm vapor from the damp towel hydrates and softens skin and hair, and opens pores after a few minutes for a clean comfortable shave. How that experience can be reproduced by a razor with quick strokes sounds rather suspect.
If Gillette engineers truly have pulled off the hot towel experience to go, this innovation could be an interesting selling point for the company. However, we remain highly skeptical of its ability to deliver, because we know how relaxing a real hot towel shaving can be for the skin. Still, we wanted to review the razor available in "limited quantities" (hype much?) for ourselves, so a pre-order has been placed right away. We opted out of auto-reorder because we are not reviewing their subscription service. We should mention that addition refill costs $25.
Once Gillette delivers the Heated Razor, it will be put to the test against a real hot towel and a safety razor shave, of which results will be posted here with an update to our final review. We will be using our shaving soap to lather for both, of course. Until then, we can only speculate based on Gillette's marketing materials and patent filings, which is precisely what will be done for now.
We did some digging for Gillette's patent filing of the razor on Google Patents. Just by looking at the sketch, one could easily figure out how the razor works. Simply put, it's a strip of metal or heater bar (#22), as they call it on the patent, that can reach temperatures between 86° F (30° C) and 158° F (70° C). The heat may radiate to the blades as well.
Here is some additional information from Gillette's website:
Even though we can't test the Heated Razor yet, we ought to discuss a few concerns that we think are worth considering:
First off, since I'm writing this post on behalf of Men's Soap Company, and as a partner, I'd like to share a little about my own history with learning the ropes of shaving so you have proper context for the remainder of the writeup. Up until my undergrad days, I've used whatever was affordable at the convenient store. For me, the first sign of real facial hair started to surface around age 13. My father worked around the clock so we missed out on many of the father-son moments, including learning to shave. At that time, the internet wasn't as developed and pervasive as it is today, as such, nor did anyone use it for common information. From seeing what my father did and used, I started with Gillette's Blue 2-blade disposal razors and the can stuff. Eventually, I moved on to Mach3 around 2000, having had a weekend job at Burger King and at a local computer repair shop that helped me afford "fancier" multi-blade razors.
After the first year of university, I switched to a safety razor to save money and stayed with it for the pleasure of nostalgia since. The truth is we shave because we have to, and not something we are eager to do every day either. There are some of us who love traditional wet shaving and look forward to a time to ourselves so we can groom, shave and day-dream about old barbershop days. I have just turned 35, but as a kid, I still remember being excited to make those bi-weekly trips to the barbershop and seeing a bunch of guys hanging around waiting for their seat. The smell of shaving products, the sounds of scissors and clippers are still palpable. Barbershops today do not have those feelings. Don’t get me wrong, I do appreciate the comeback of barbershops. It’s a different time and a different society, I suppose.
While I—and MSC by extension—may be partial to traditional wet shaving for many reasons, including its cost-effectiveness and eco-friendliness, we’re surprisingly curious and nervous that Gillette's Heated Razor will prove us wrong of our skepticism. To keep the test fair, I will not be doing the test on myself or anyone at MSC. Instead, it will be in the hands of a trusted friend of ours, Dustin Scott, who is a barber in training at Campbellsville University - Somerset. Needless to say, he is excited to try the new gizmo from Gillette.
Dustin suggested conducting two shaving cases: face shaves and head shaves. The shaves will be performed on clients of his choosing. We discussed the importance of split shaving so the same client can compare the experiences in the same sitting instead of doing one shaving with Gillette's razor and waiting for the hair to grow back to do the comparison shaving with hot towel separately. This ensures no other factors play a role in the client's judgment.
Split shaving simply means doing one half of the face or head with Gillette's Heated Razor and the other half with a towel and traditional razor. You might argue that the performance of one side could affect the other side positively or negatively. Sure, but that is a marginal error factor we will need to consider, given the feedback from the shaves need to be from the same client, at the same time and setting per face or head shaving, respectively.
Now we wait for Gillette's Heated Razor to arrive in our hands for this review. Gillette did not give a shipping date because it's a pre-order, and who knows if we even get it in case they see this post. Subscribe to any one of our social profiles to stay updated on this topic and other great posts related to shaving and skin care.
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If you're a woman with coarse leg hair, you've likely found yourself engaged in battle with ingrown hairs and razor bumps more than once. In fact, it's the kind of hassle that makes one daydream of a world where shaving is unnecessary and razors don't exist. Unsightly ingrown hairs and razor bumps not only have a tendency to be painful but leave embarrassing scars as well. With the option to forgo shaving simply too unrealistic for some, the disenchantment with hair removal is likely to grow with every abandoned depilatory, electric shaver and home-electrolysis gadget left sitting on the shelf.
Since a razor will always be the best tool for a smooth shave, does this mean touchable, silky legs are out of reach for women with coarse leg hair? Absolutely not! It's all in how you wield your blade that makes the difference.
1) Have Your Very Own Shaving Kit
Keep your razor in a carrying case. No more sharing or using razors that have been left to languish in the shower or on the sink. This is how the bacteria that hide on or between blades transfer to freshly shaven hair follicles and wreak havoc. Remember to disinfect the razor by dipping it in alcohol after each use and allowing it to thoroughly dry before putting it away. Those who experience extreme issues with ingrown hairs and bumps should change razors (or razor heads) after 3-4 uses.
If you haven't already, consider a safety razor or a straight razor. It's ok if you've never heard of these types of razors or seen them before. They are associated with traditional wet shaving that was abandoned in favor of highly profitable disposable plastic cartridge razors not too long ago. These old school razors, primarily designed for men, are the best bet for you as they are intended to handle hair that is coarser than women's. Kinky and curly hair types are more like to get stuck in the skin during regrowth, which multi-blade razors contribute to with pull and cut method, cutting far below the desired level within the epidermis. Traditional razors use a single blade that cuts hair just below the skin surface. This reduces the chances for the hair to get suck and becoming into an ingrown. Furthermore, how does shaving $700+ off of your shaving products expenses over 10 years sound?
For coarse hair, you need a good lather that lifts and softens hair, which typical foams cannot effectively achieve. Natural shaving soaps are becoming a hit among women because lather produced from them are thick and luxurious. You can control how much lather to produce per your shaving needs as well. Your legs will feel silky smooth and nourished after shaving because shaving soaps pack ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter, almond oil, soy, vitamin E, etc.
2) Shave at Night Before Bed
Fluid retention has most of us waking up in the morning all puffy. Therefore, waiting until the evening hours when fluid levels under the skin are leveled out will provide a better chance for a closer shave. Soak in a warm bath for 5-7 minutes to soften hair follicles and to also help prevent razor bumps. Be sure to take your time, applying as little pressure as possible with each stroke and rinsing your blade in clean water. While most ingrown hairs are the result of regrowth trapped under the epidermis, skin cells can also block hair follicles and cause infection.
3) Use a Toner After Shaving
Keep a toner (such as witch hazel) in a spray bottle to mist your legs with after shaving. This will help close pores and pull the skin tight. Beware of using toners that contain alcohol. This will not only burn but inflame the hair follicles, leading to redness and irritation.
4) Moisturize with Essential Oils and Cocoa Butter Lotion
Essential oils have amazing soothing and healing properties. Shaving removes dead skin cells and reveals a new layer that needs to be protected. Sometimes razor burns can leave a lasting mark, which can be prevented or reduced with the use of essential oils that help rejuvenate skin.
Cocoa butter has been shown to have healing and soothing properties for the skin as well. While essential oils restore skin tone and reduce scarring, the cocoa butter lotion seals them in between skin cells. Once you have applied the toner and oil, smooth the lotion onto your legs in a downward motion only towards the feet.
5) Exfoliate Between Shaves with a Body Wash That Contains Salicylic Acid
Since tight clothing and sitting contributes to ingrown hairs, be sure to focus on problem areas such as the inner thighs, the back of the legs and the folds of the knees. Always use a clean washcloth and a gentle, circular motion so as not to damage the upper layer of your skin. Opt for a liquid-based face soap or body wash that contains salicylic acid. Salicylic acid not only clears pores, but it also reduces swelling and inflammation of the skin.
6) Don't Shave Every Day!
If you have coarse leg hair and want to win the war against ingrown hairs and razor bumps, you just have to concede that shaving every day isn't going to happen. To reduce the chance of infection, the hair will need the chance to thoroughly grow out of the follicle. For the times when a touch up is absolutely necessary, shave with the direction of the hair instead of against it-- especially when it comes to growth on the upper thighs near the bikini area. Otherwise, give yourself as much time as you can between shaves. With regular exfoliation to clear the skin of dead cells and salicylic acid to clear pores, ingrown hairs and razor bumps should lessen within 1-2 weeks.
Maintaining a close shave no longer has to be a (literal) pain as long as you use a quality razor and keep a precise focus on cleanliness. For persistent problems with infected hair follicles or razor bumps that turn into abscesses or sores in the same spot over and over again, there may be something else at play that needs medical attention. In that case, do not hesitate to contact your doctor who can then provide you with a referral to a good dermatologist.
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Do you have a hard water issue?
You may do a simple test with water and liquid dish soap to see if you have hard water. Fill a clear capped container with some tap water and add a few drops of liquid dish soap. Then shake the container vigorously for 10 seconds and set it down. What do you see? If your container does not have a good amount of suds at the top, and the water underneath is gloomy, then you likely have hard water. This test is not an exact science, however. What you may consider clear water may be unclear for others. If you said yes to several of the choices above, then you might want to have your water tested by professionals for a detailed report and recommendations for a proper course of action to resolve them.
What is hard water vs soft water?
When water percolates—flows and filters—through the soil beneath the surface and around rocks made with deposits of magnesium and calcium in them, water erosion cause these deposits to slowly dissolve in the water. Depending on your area, you may have a higher or lower concentration of these dissolved minerals. Hard water has a high concentration of deposits, hence has a high concentration of dissolved minerals as well. Conversely, soft water has far fewer minerals in concentrations.
Is hard water bad?
Home - This question is easy to answer when it comes to your home. Hard water is known to leave unattractive scale deposits on glassware and faucets, make your clothes dingy and, worst of all, clog up your pipes.
Skin - Everyone's skin reacts differently to different environmental factors. Water is one of the factors we often overlook when diagnosing skin conditions. The type of water you get at home can affect the health of your skin. You may be having bad showering and shaving experiences, or worse, skin side-effects because of the water type and not know about it. Hard water and its effects would likely aggravate eczema and psoriasis symptoms.
Soap - Water with high mineral content does not work well with soap. The presence of calcium chloride and magnesium sulfate prevent soaps from building a proper lather. This is especially problematic for shaving soap, as the lather needed will not produce to expectation. Instead, hard water cause soap solutions to form a white precipitate—soap scum—which can clog drain pipes.
Since we're already on the topic of soap scum, if you've been seeing soap scum and water draining slowly, try the following steps to melt away the buildup in the drain pipes:
What the Wet Shaving Community Think About Hard Water
We conducted a survey on two wet shaving forums, BadgerandBlade.com and ShaveMyFace.com. Posed were two questions: Do you have a hard water issue and what's your experience? A combined average of 78% said they have hard water issues. Among them, 65% said they simply keep working on the lather with extra effort, and 14% actually use distilled or filtered water to build their lather.
Discussions on their experiences were not as clear because some also questioned the performances of shaving soaps and shaving brushes. However, the common consensus was that brush will need to be loaded with an extra generous amount of soap to build adequate lather. Some stated natural brushes do poorly, but synthetic brushes are not affected by the hard water. This makes sense if you consider how hard water affects our own hair as well. Others countered they don't see any performance differences between natural and synthetic brushes at all, which could be due to a lower concentrated hard water, we imagine. Your mileage may vary though.
What can you do about hard water?
Using a home water filtration and the softening system is a simple, cost-effective way to solve all of these problems. However, many people choose not to solve their hard water problem because they've bought into unfounded myths and misconceptions about the health effects of water softening.
Here are three of the most common myths and the truth about soft water:
Hard water damages your hair, skin, and nails not to mention your laundry, pipes, appliances, and dishes. Improve the life of your plumbing and experience what it's like to feel completely clean with no mineral residue on your skin. If you think hard water is affecting you, consider installing a water filtration and softening system. It's a small price to pay to regain your sanity.
Here are the top three water softeners for your consideration:
Read more on these water softeners and additional options at Water Filter Mag.
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Whether it's from shaving, an injury, a procedure, or teenage acne, virtually everyone has at least one scar they'd like to see gone. If you are a daily shaver and have been since an early age, you've probably put on a few scars on your face and body. The most visible scars are likely to be on the face for men and legs for women. Our natural shaving soaps are formulated to protect your skin from nicks, cuts and razor burns, but various other factors such as blade sharpness, razor type, and even human error can play a role in getting them still.
While there is no way to completely remove a shaving scar, the good news is that there a number of essential oils that can effectively and naturally reduce the appearance of scars by facilitating the healing process, lightening and shrinking scar tissue, and helping to repair and nourish the skin around them. Below are some of the most effective essential oils for treating those unwanted scars.
Rosehip Seed
Rosehip seed oil is excellent for overall skin health, but recent studies show that it can be particularly useful for people recovering from surgical scars, as the compounds it contains reduce swelling, prevent discoloration, and prevent excess scar tissue from forming during the healing process. Applying rosehip seed essential oil directly to the scarred area twice a day for at least three months can result in significantly improved healing and diminished scar appearance, making it one of the best overall options for scarring as a result of surgical procedures or minor injuries.
Helichrysum
Helichrysum oil is another effective all-around essential oil, boasting anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties to help moisturize the skin and prevent infections that could jeopardize a scar's natural healing process. Helichrysum oil contains a potent antioxidant called arzanol, which promotes skin cell regeneration and prevents free radical damage from making scars larger or darker. Unlike rosehip seed oil, however, it is not recommended to use helichrysum oil immediately following surgery, as it can be a mild irritant for some people, and because the oil makes the skin slightly more sensitive to sunlight.
Lavender
Lavender essential oil promotes rapid wound-healing and can help to treat scars by boosting cell growth and collagen production, which in turn helps scars shrink and become smoother. Lavender oil is especially effective in the early stages of recovery, and studies show that many people who use lavender oil following surgery or an injury can see noticeable improvements in only a few weeks. As with most other essential oils, pure lavender oil can be quite concentrated, and it is recommended to use another beneficial carrier oil to dilute it, such as olive oil or coconut oil.
Carrot Seed
Carrot seed oil is high in antioxidants and antibacterial compounds, making it another effective tool for keeping skin protected and nourished during the healing process. Unlike many other oils, the carrot seed oil is also effective at treating older scars as well, thanks to its ability to tone the surrounding skin and slow the production of excess pigment in scar tissue.
Calendula
The essential oil extracted from the calendula plant, more commonly known as marigold, is one of the most effective natural methods of speeding up cell regrowth and skin damage repair. Calendula contains a variety of potent anti-inflammatory compounds, and it also improves circulation and oxygen availability to parts of the body it is applied to, which keeps scars supplied with the nutrients they need to heal quickly and cleanly.
Lemon
Lemon oil has many properties that make it an excellent option for scar treatment. It is naturally antimicrobial, and also contains very high amounts of vitamin C, which boosts the immune system and helps to repel free radicals. Because it also promotes white blood cell production, lemon oil also contributes to the creation of healthy new skin cells. Finally, lemon oil boasts a very mild, natural bleaching ability, which can lighten older scars and help them blend in with surrounding skin more easily.
Frankincense
Frankincense essential oil is an ideal choice for overall skin soothing and recovery, as it is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and boosts collagen production. Frankincense also acts as a toning agent, and studies have shown that it is an effective choice for improving the overall appearance of scars, especially those related to acne. The effects of frankincense oil can be seen relatively quickly, but it best to consult with a doctor before using it, as some people report abdominal discomfort while using it, and it shouldn't be used by people who are on blood thinners.
Traditional shaving with shaving soap, safety razor, and brush significantly reduce the chances of getting scars. That said, if you shave without care and don't follow proper procedure, you'll experience some form of cuts and razor burns one way or another. But you live and learn – by using the right essential oils, it is possible to dramatically improve the appearance of even the oldest and largest shaving scars, making them less prominent and lightening the discolored tissue so that you can feel more confident and secure in your own skin.
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When you are suffering from dry skin, the world can seem like a terrible place. Dry skin is itchy and hurtful. Sometimes it cracks and bleeds. At its best, it is annoying. At its worst, it is debilitating. Shaving with a dry skin condition can be a painful experience. You've probably tried lotions galore, but have you found lasting relief?
What is Dry Skin?
Dry skin occurs when moisture disappears from its outer layer, a condition also known as xerosis cuties. The name comes from the Greek word “xero,” which means dry.
Dry skin is often something that you just have and will have for life, but there are ways to manage it so you're not always itching and not always applying lotions. Dermatologists may be able to help by suggesting prescription medications, but there are plenty of home remedies that could do the trick as well.
Use Coconut, Almond, and Sunflower Seed Oils
Dry skin has gaps between the cells that used to hold fatty lipids. Oils penetrate the top skin layer and pad these empty spaces. When you apply the oils to dry skin, it will absorb quickly.
Coconut oil is antifungal, antibacterial, and deeply moisturizing. In fact, studies have shown coconut oil to be more effective than petroleum jelly. Since coconut oil has saturated fatty acids it works especially well on parched skin.
Almond oil nourishes and revitalizes, but it also lightens skin, which is great for fading shaving scars and marks. The fatty acids help your skin retain moisture and heal chapped irritated skin.
Sunflower seed oil makes a great moisturizing aid because it contains a high concentration of vitamin E that protects the skin from the sun's UV rays. It is best applied liberally after a shower or bath to let it sink in properly.
Reduce Dry Heat with Humidity
Think humidity and warmth, not neat. Heat dries out the skin, and worse than heat is the dry heat we all know from our HVAC during wintertime. Decrease your exposure to dry heat by turning your heater at home to a lower temperature. Just a degree or two could make a big difference.
It's often not the cold temperatures, but the lack of humidity that irritates dry skin and makes it worse in the winter months. To increase the humidity, simply run a humidifier.
When you wash your hand, face or shower, don't use hot water. Instead, use cold or warm water, especially before and after shaving.
Friction Is Bad for Dry Skin
Don't wipe, but dab your skin dry. Rubbing or wiping your skin on a towel creates friction and can further irritate your already irritated skin. Sure, there will always be some friction when shaving, and to reduce the effects, you may use a warm towel to cover your face for a few minutes to let the warm vapor moisturize and relax the skin. Again, do not rub your face with the towel, as we all have the habit of dragging towels down our face.
Use Skin Products with Little or No Scent
Sometimes a remedy doesn't mean adding something but taking something away. Added fragrances can irritate sensitive skin, and are in so many things. Check your hand soap, face wash, lotion, etc. Eliminating or reducing these from your skin care routine can make a big difference to your dry skin.
Eat a Proper Diet
This one is a little trickier, but your diet can affect your skin as well. You don't have to have a full-on allergy to be sensitive to certain foods. You could see the evidence of food sensitivity appear, not through upset stomachs or rashes, but through your dry skin. Alternately, an overall healthy diet filled with nutrient-rich foods and the proper amounts of fat, carbohydrate, and protein will contribute to your overall health, including the health of your skin.
Drink Lots of Water
Your body needs water to survive, but most people don't get enough of it. Drinking water will hydrate your entire body and will help your skin to remain moisturized throughout the day. Drinking water, like eating a proper diet, is simply a good habit to have. Not only will your skin be healthier, but your entire body will function on a higher level.
Try Shaving Products for Sensitive Skin
Our natural shaving soaps contain coconut oil and almond oil, and the natural aftershave balms contain sunflower seed oil among other natural ingredients that help soothe and moisturize the skin for a better pre-shave and post-shave experience. They have a faint scent and are tested thoroughly for sensitive skin. We'll also introduce unscented versions in the near future.
While dry skin can be caused by so many unknown factors, you should give some of these remedies a try. You'll have a much better shaving experience with well-hydrated skin.
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Razor burns are common symptoms that most people experience after a fresh shave. The itchy feeling on your skin comes from razor burns (red bumps, irritation, rashes, etc.) and dryness due to improper moisturizing or lack thereof. However, a little bit of prep work will help prevent or reduce these symptoms significantly.
Shwan's face in the above picture demonstrates how severe his razor burns used to get from using most common shaving cream and gel. Frustrated with painful shaving experiences, he had no choice but to create a natural shaving soap formula that worked for his skin. To help others like him, he started Men's Soap Company.
Understand the Skin Anatomy
The anatomical terminologies below will be used throughout, so it's important that you know what they are at a high level.
Your skin is the largest living, breathing organ among all organs of your body, and is the first line of defense against external threats. When your skin finds something threatening to your health, it lets you know in the form of side effects such as razor burns. You’re not just cutting hair when shaving, you’re scraping the skin as well. Naturally, blades scraping along the surface and cutting hair rooted within would be considered to be a threat by the skin that would react accordingly.
Do you know your skin type?
Everybody’s skin is different. Skin types are categorized as normal, oily, dry, sensitive, and combination. Regardless of your choice of razor–multi-blade or traditional–their blades will have a varying effect after a fresh shave based on your skin type. If you're just starting out or haven't shaved in a while, you're more likely to feel some reaction at first, as your skin hasn't had enough time to adjust to the razor blades.
Normal and oily skin usually have fewer razor burns compared to dry and sensitive skin. Oily skin may actually be a benefit for shaving, as the oil can assist with razor glide. Pre-shave oil has become popular as of late for that reason. However, oils clog razors easily.
Dry and sensitive skin shavers will require extra protection and hydration, which is why skin preparation for a shave cannot be overstated. You also should consider razor type and lathering agent carefully, because the number of blades and sharpness may be too much for your skin, and the lather may not provide the protection and hydration it needs.
What is the type/shape of your hair?
You may be wondering what hair has to do anything with razor burns. Well, how hair is cut has an effect on the way it grows. Different hair type can have a dramatic effect on bumps and whether they lead to an ingrown.
Kinky and curly hair types are more prone to experiencing bumps and ingrown because they grow in an angle often, which can get caught in the epidermis part of the skin.
What are you using for lather?
A good lather is creamy and has a depth that you can feel when pinched and swirled around between fingers. The lather needs to provide ample cushion between the blade and the skin, slickness for an easy razor glide, and nourishment to keep skin from being agitated.
Furthermore, the lather needs to soften and lift the hair so it is cut cleanly just above the level of the follicle. The chance of hair getting pulled and cut below the skin's epidermis surface is more probable, otherwise.
Have you considered using fewer blades?
You're most likely to be familiar with multi-blade cartridge razors only because that's all you see in stores nowadays. Believe it or not, even with all the comfort strips and fancy swiveling mechanism, multiple blades have several disadvantages that contribute to razor burns.
Fewer strokes and passes mean less irritation for your skin. Multi-blade razors are designed to pull hair and cut multiple times with each stroke, which is supposed to lower your need for multiple passes. If you are using a 3-blade razor, your skin is actually getting 3 mini-strokes with each stroke, creating unnecessary friction against the skin that could contribute to razor burns. Plus, If you end up doing multiple passes for a closer shave, those mini-strokes multiply your chances of razor burns as well.
Can a close-cut shave be too close?
For a close, irritation-free shave, the goal is to cut hair just above the hair follicle level, or slightly below epidermis surface. Multi-blade razors attempt to replicate that with a strip of rubber that's designed to pull the hair and set the stage for blades following behind it to cut as low as possible. The problem is this pulling setup cuts lower than it needs to and possibly introduces re-growth issues.
Theoretically, a 3-blade razor cuts left-to-right manner as illustrated above, where each successive blade cuts hair closer and closer to the skin. Straight hair type fairs better than kinky or curly hair with this method because straight hair will most likely grow back straight, whereas kinky and curly hair types are prone to angled hair re-growth and getting caught in the epidermis, which may contribute to bumps and ingrown hair.
How do you prevent razor burns?
Follow the checklist below, it will serve well for all skin types:
Those of you with sensitive or combination skin, you may need to try out various razors and blades, and aftershave solutions to find the match for your skin. Our shaving products are backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you have any questions please contact us, we'd love to hear from you.
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Disposable Multi-Blade Razors Are Expensive
Why do they cost so much? When Gillette spent $750 million to bring the 3-blade Mach3 to the market, it made sure there was no chance for an alternative. They put all their marketing might into re-training existing customer mindset and shifting the shaving market towards a new field. The game was changed, uncontested. If you want to shave, you better play ball and pay the price or... don't shave. Over time, people have forgotten about the old methods. Now, most people only identify with the multi-blade razor for shaving needs. Many probably have never even seen or held a safety razor in their life.
Fast Forward to 2011
Subscription-based shaving companies such as the Dollar Shave Club challenged the tight-gripped razor market by pricing their versions of the multi-blade razor and blade cartridges considerably cheaper. It was like David vs. Goliath. This disruption forced the big brands to re-think their strategy because adding more blades or "comfort" strips and calling it the most advanced razor ever yet again wasn't going to cut it anymore.
You're Still Paying Too Much with Shave Clubs
People are always on the lookout for ways to cut down on recurring expenses. This is hard to do with shaving products because marketplaces you typically go to only shelf expensive multi-blade packages. You could be saving more than $700 over ten years by switching to traditional wet shaving.
Though traditional wet shaving initial investment appears high because of metal constructed razors, the total cost of ownership after 10 years is only $274. Compare that to Dollar Shave Club's $993 — 73% higher cost than traditional.
Let's break down the numbers, shall we?
Figures as of March 31, 2019
Men's Soap Company | Dollar Shave Club | |
Initial Costs |
$69.82
|
$5
|
Recurring Costs |
As-Needed Basis
|
$24.70, 3-Month Basis
|
1yr Total Cost |
$90.25
|
$103.8
|
5yr Total Cost |
$171.97
|
$499
|
10yr Total Cost |
$274.12
|
$993
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Health Benefits for Your Skin
We can all agree now that there is definitely a financial incentive to going traditional. What about health benefits for your skin? Using safety razor, shaving brush, and shaving soap have many benefits including no irritation, bumps, burns, ingrown, etc.
Disposable Razors | Safety Razors |
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Aerosol Shaving Cream/Gels | Natural Shaving Soaps |
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Brushless Application | Need Shaving Brush |
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Better for Mental Health As Well
Taking care of yourself is one of the most fundamental aspects of boosting self-confidence and mental health. These days we are so quick to hop in and out of the bathroom to get ready for the day that we become frustrated before the day even has begun. How you set your mood from the beginning of the day sets the stage for the rest of the day.
Yes, that's right, traditional wet shaving offers a fun, therapeutic experience. The processes involved encourage you to slow down and focus on yourself for a moment, taking advantage of the time to self-reflect. The whole routine relaxes your nerves, levels blood pressure, and helps start the day with a good mood.
Protect the Environment While at It
Let's face it, we use a lot of plastic. They get dumped somewhere away from us so we don't see or think about it. Out of sight, out of mind, right? The thing is plastic doesn't bio-degrade back into the earth as wood or metal do. Now, imagine all the plastic we introduce to the environment that will exist in the same state for thousands of years. We can't avoid plastic entirely, so how can we deal it in a practical manner? If we have the opportunity to reduce the use of plastic where possible and reasonable, we should. The good news is, traditional wet shaving is a zero-waste alternative for your shaving needs. Safety razors are mostly made from metal that will last you a lifetime and beyond. It uses blades that can be recycled. A shaving brush lasts a very long time, can also be a lifetime investment, if properly cared for. As for the lather, you can get a shaving soap in a puck and melt it into your own mug or get it in a jar that's designed to be reused with a refill puck.
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As a small business, we understand all about maximizing hard earned money in every purchase decision. In your feedback, many of you have given your appreciation for our low shipping rates— free shipping over $10 — one of the lowest in the industry. As USPS kept raising their shipping rates over the years, we held steadfast to keeping our shipping rate the same, because we knew how much you valued it. Unfortunately, this rate is no longer viable for us with the new USPS shipping rates announced for 2019.
The new free shipping rate now requires a minimum of $25 total order value. We tried our best to keep the shipping rates as low as possible. Still, our rates continue to be one of the lowest, if not the lowest in the industry among small businesses.
As always, we welcome your feedback on the matter and humbly hope for your continued support.
Thank You,
Shawn
Founder, CEO
Let's face it when you're sharing a bathroom with another person, especially a female partner, cabinet shelf space is indubitably nonexistent in most cases. And if the sink doesn't have counter space, what do you do? You'd probably just throw everything in a bag or even bolt on a solid piece of wood and call it a day. Why not take it a little further and display your shaving products on a stylish shelf that's both decorative and utilitarian.
Most shaving shelves you've seen are probably either too bulky or simply not attractive. We took a different approach. Your shaving products don't have to be an afterthought. If done correctly, they can be the focal point, and a well-designed shelf should help to facilitate that appearance.
Our design drew inspiration from the B-2 Spirit. It's slick, minimal, and beautifully designed. The floating shaving shelf was handcrafted from a DIY Oak hobby board and with a few basic tools. Though a band saw was used in some instances, it is certainly not required. One could easily point out better and more efficient methods than the ones utilized for this project. If you're inclined, perhaps you can add to this design.
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The Gillette 195 Adjustable Double Edge Safety Razor, also known as the "Fatboy" was made for just over 3 years between 1958 D-3 and 1962 H-1. The models from 1958 D-3 through 1960 F-2 are of interest among shaving enthusiasts and collectors because of their high restore-ability.
In this video, we restored a 1960 F-1 version, that had heavy signs of wear, rust, deformations, etc. The razor was disassembled to its 13 pieces, thoroughly cleaned, buffed and polished with fine steel wool before nickel plating it to bring back its original shine. Deep scratches and deformations could not be restored fully, as it would require a great deal of stripping to its brass layer. It's not an impossible task but not worth doing. You may even appreciate it's aged quality.
Though nickel plating (electroplating with nickel) wasn't necessary for the restoration of this safety razor, minor rusts present needed to be covered that could creep deeper into the metal over time. Should you decide to plate your razor, make sure you do it at low amperage, around 200mAh is good and no more than 500mAh. At higher amperage, the plating will be very uneven.
Restoring anything vintage is certainly a love of labor. Taking it all apart helps you to appreciate the original work more. You'll need to decide how much of the original work needs to be untouched beyond simple clean and polish. We are trying to restore, not replace, after all.
According to census data, there has been a 25 percent decrease in barbershops since 1992 in the United States. However, traditional barbershops are being replaced by modern men’s salons. Yes, they exist. What is a men’s salon, you ask? It’s exactly how you imagine: A place where men are pampered with grooming experience akin to women’s salon. And, yes, it includes manicure and pedicure that some men could really use badly. A barbershop has always been a place for men to establish a sense of connection to their manliness. While the modern take may miss the congregational aspect of the traditional barbershop experience, the nostalgia is kept alive with a new grooming experience for today’s men. Treat yourself to a mini getaway to the barbershop/men’s salon. You’ll walk away renewed, looking and feeling like a million bucks.
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