Skin herbs - Peppermint

Peppermint is thought to restore elasticity, tone your skin, minimize pores, and reduce swelling and redness. While peppermint is used topically because it cools, refreshes, stimulates, and revitalizes, it's just as beneficial when taken internally, where its many nutrients energize your skin from the inside out.

Peppermint contains manganese, vitamins A and C, fight the damaging effects of inflammation that you notice in the skin as redness. For this reason, peppermint reduces swelling and thereby improves the skin's complexion.

If you are looking for a refreshing way to jazz up your green tea, look no further. The green tea in this tasty drink increases the skin's elasticity and contains the powerful antioxidant EGCG, which prevents inflammation that causes puffy, red, and wrinkled skin.

Iced Minted Green Tea

Ingredients

200 g sugar (see note)

235 ml water 

1 bunch fresh mint 

950 ml boiling water

5 green tea bags 

Additional mint for garnish, optional

1. To prepare the sugar syrup, combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring as the sugar dissolves. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, then remove the pan from the heat.

2. Rinse and dry the mint. Gather the mint sprigs in your hand and crush and bruise them. Add the mint to the syrup, and let the mixture cool to room temperature. Strain through a sieve to remove the mint and pour the syrup into a jar or bottle. Discard the mint.

3. To make the iced tea, place the tea bags in a large pot or pitcher. Cover with the boiling water and let them steep for 4 or 5 minutes.

4. Remove the tea bags and let the tea cool to room temperature.

5. To serve, add enough of the mint syrup to sweeten and flavor the tea to your taste. (Leftover simple syrup can be stored at room temperature indefinitely and used to sweeten cold or iced drinks.) Pour the tea over ice cubes in large glasses and garnish with a leaf or two of fresh mint, if desired.

Yield: 4 servings

Note: In place of sugar, use stevia or honey to sweeten the tea - your skin will thank you for it. Stevia and honey are much sweeter than sugar, so you'll need less. Use about half as much honey as you would sugar, or just a few teaspoons of stevia.

Recipe adapted from Feed your skin, starve your wrinkles : eat your way to firmer, more beautiful skin with the 100 best anti-aging foods / Allison Tannis

Skin food - Onions

Onions may bring a tear to your eye and pungency to your breath, but they will also bring beauty to your skin. They contain vitamin C and quercetin, great antioxidants that can protect your skin from the wrinkle-forming damage caused by free radicals, which form in the presence of inflammation and sunlight.

Acne Warriors
There is yet another way that onions support beautiful skin. In one cup (160 g) of onions, you get 20 percent of your recommended daily intake of chronium, which is important in the battle against acne. Chronium helps to reduce skin bacterial infections and thus helps battle acne.

Avocado, Grapefruit, Pomegranate, and Red Onion Salad

This delightful, fruity salad is bursting with flavor and nutrients to help your skin look its best. Avocados moisturize, grapefruit fights acne and psoriasis, onions prevent wrinkles, and pomegranate rids your skin of redness and puffiness. This perfect lunch or light dinner will awaken your taste buds and enhance your skin.  

Ingredients:
1 pomegranate
2 medium or 1 large grapefruit (pink or red)
1 ripe Haas avocado
90 g baby spinach leaves, well-rinsed and dried
1/2 red onion, peeled, sliced thin and separated into rings

1. Cut the pomegranate in half, pull back the tough outer peel, and pull out the segments of seeds. Continue cutting as necessary to expose all the seeds. Break the seeds up and remove any membrane. Set seeds aside in a small bowl.

2. Peel the grapefruit by cutting away the skin and pith. Cut the grapefruit into slices or sections. Set aside in a medium bowl.

3. Peel the avocado and remove the pit. Cut the avocado into 1.25 cm slices and fold them into grapefruit (the juice from the grapefruit will help keep the avocado from turning brown).

4. Divide spinach among four plates; top each with the avocado and grapefruit mixture, then with  rings of red onion and pomegranate seeds.

Yield: 4 servings

*Note: If you have trouble removing the seeds from your pomegranate, try this easy trick. Cut off the crown of the pomegranate and slice the fruit into sections. Place the sections in a bowl of water and gently roll out the seeds with your fingers. The seeds will sink to the bottom and the membrane will float to the top.

Nutritional analysis
Each serving provides: 55 calories; 0.3 g total fat; 0 g saturated fat; 2 g proteins; 13 g carbohydrate; 2 g dietary fiber; 0 mg cholesterol.

Review: Clinique's anti-blemish solutions clinical clearing gel

I have been using this since March 8 2015 till now. Half the bottle (15 ml) was already used by me. It's my first time using Clinique anti-blemish products and I have to say, this works so much better than Neo-Medrol! 

I have been using Neo-Medrol for a few years and gone through many bottles because I had too many huge acne. But it never dries the pimple fast enough. This clearing gel works faster and it doesn't dry the pimple so I didn't have dry patches of skin on my pimple. My acne after using this clearing gel are less inflamed within a night or two, considering I only use it on a nightly basis. (I just don't have the habit of applying acne-only gel/cream in the day. In its place, I use sunblock.) 

And it won't leave color on your face!

I apply this gel on red bumps (immature acne) and normally it heals even before it becomes developed. But on some cases, those acne are persistent! So, even if I diligently apply the gel on them every night, it still develops FULLY. It takes around 2.5 weeks (nightly application) to reduce the acne to a flat brown pigmentation (blemish) on the face.

Skin fruits - Acai

Fruit is an important part of every healthy diet. Because fruit is packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other phytonutrients that are beneficial to your skin, it is a vital part of a diet geared toward vibrant skin.

Acai

Perhaps the best wrinkle-fighting food on earth is acai, a berry. Acai has one of the highest ORAC (antioxidant) values on earth, making it a true superfood. What's more, scientists have discovered that the antioxidants in acai may be slow-acting, meaning that they have a lasting effect in the body and can help your skin ward off wrinkle-causing free radicals for hours after you eat.

This power-packed fruit is capable of fighting free radicals, and with its anti-inflammatory abilities, it attacks another significant cause of wrinkles as well. Look for acai products that are as pure as possible, since added sugar and preservatives can limit the health benefits of this unusual fruit.

Tropical Fruit Smoothie:

Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients
38 g fresh berries (raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries)
45 g diced mango
40 g diced melon
59 ml pomegranate
30 ml acai juice or 15 ml acai pulp
14 g flaxseed meal or 15 ml flaxseed oil
Ice cubes, optional

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until very creamy and smooth. (If you prefer a chunkier smoothie, blend for a shorter time. If you prefer a frostier smoothie, include the ice cubes.) Pour into a glass and serve immediately.

Nutritional analysis
Each serving provides: 238 calories; 14 g total fat; 1.5 g saturated fat; 1 g protein; 30 g carbohydrate; 3 g dietary fiber; 0 mg cholesterol

Recipe adapted from Feed your skin, starve your wrinkles : eat your way to firmer, more beautiful skin with the 100 best anti-aging foods / Allison Tannis

What's food got to do with beautiful skin?

The result of our ceaseless desire for smooth, soft, glowing skin has led to an explosion of anti-aging surgeries and cosmetics products on the market. But do you really need to go under the knife or pay hundreds of dollars for special products? Or, can food rescue your skin in the same way and help its natural beauty shine through?

The answer is YES, IT CAN! Not only that, changing your diet to include foods that support healthy skin is easier and much more cost-effective than any other method out there. I'm sure many of you out there already know such a simple fact but have never committed to such a change. Even though you know that all these actions would benefit you- that they could bring pleasure to your life- you fail to act simply because in that moment you associate more pain to doing what's necessary than missing the opportunity.

"I conceive that pleasures are to be avoided if greater pains be the consequence, and pains to be coveted that will terminate in greater pleasures." - MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE

No matter your age, eating foods to support your skin is important. Teenagers are commonly scolded for their dietary habits- with fast-food and chocolate frequently at blame for their problems with acne- yet adults actually have a greater need for skin nutrients than do adolescents. The body changes and becomes less able to digest and absorb nutrients as you age, and the result is that fewer skin-healthy nutrients from the foods you eat actually reach your skin. This means that the foods you eat need to have a greater concentration of skin-beautifying nutrients.

So, let's start with WRINKLE PREVENTERS

Healthy collagen levels give skin a smooth, plump, young, healthy appearance. So, provide the skin with vitamin C, an important cofactor required to convert collagen subunits into active collagen proteins. Because Vit C is water-soluble, it cannot build up in the body and form reserves, so consuming Vit C- rich foods frequently is important to ensure that your skin can make collagen.

As we age, elastin production decreases and this can cause the skin to lose its firmness. Because iron has been linked with increased elastin production, eating iron-rich foods like spinach and dried fruits may be the best option for boosting the amount of elastin produced in your skin.

Exfoliate exfoliate exfoliate....

It's been a few weeks since I last posted anything. Well... until now, I haven't heard from the customer service for beautypedia.... Too busy I guess. So I went to Watsons to get myself a BHA exfoliate and found VICHY.

This is the one I bought- Unclogging exfoliating gel. It contains salicylic acid and micro beads. So I thought I would try it since it has what I want (not just a scrub) and micro beads are supposed to be small so it shouldn't be too rough. The first and second time I used it, I really felt my face becoming clearer and smoother. But then the second day after I used it for the third time, it was brought to my notice that my pores got significantly larger! It's effective in terms of cleaning but the beads is a huge problem. I only used it once very week but my pores are already visible from an arm's length. Gosh. 

Then I got to know H2O+. They have this scrub that has beads that are really small, it really felt much better with their scrub. Unfortunately, it does not not have BHA in it. But this will do until I find one with BHA that suits me. It's really important to at least cleanse the face with a scrub once a week especially for acne-prone people. Because it can at least allow the face to be less congested. I've got a list of BHA products from various brands that I want to try, hopefully I would get it right on my first try. HAHA. 

Oh by the way, H2O+ recommends the purple series for oily/acne prone skin.

(This is just a photo I found online, I don't think in Singapore they have this many products from this series. They only brought in a few.)

And the scrub I use is from this purple series. They have specific names for each series that they have but they also colour code it, makes it easier to remember, haha! I use their toner too, I could feel that my skin is visibly less oily. Because really, 4 or 6 hours later, my face really SHINES. When taking photos, omg, my cheeks and chin stand out the most. I always have to edit the photo in a way that my face shine less but the other people in the photo will have their complexion altered... usually in a weird way....

Why exfoliate?

To those with acne problems, exfoliation of facial skin can unclog pores by keeping dead skin cells from blocking the pore opening so sebum can flow more normally, which helps reduce blemishes and blackheads; exfoliation also allows anti-bacterial agents to penetrate to where the bacteria causing acne are hiding.

AHAs are water-soluble, while BHA is lipid-soluble. This unique property of BHA allows it to penetrate the oil in the pores and exfoliate accumulated skin cells inside the pores' follicle lining that can clog them. BHA is best used where blackheads and blemishes are the issue, and AHAs are best for sun-damaged, thickened, dry skin where breakouts are not a problem.

 

Using a well-formulated AHA or BHA product is preferred to routine use of a typical scrub. Because AHAs and BHA can perpetrate the superficial layers of skin and produce better results than cosmetic scrubs, which work only on the very outermost exposed surface of the skin.

 

I have had tingling and slight stinging sensation when using such products but my dermatologist at that time assured me that it's normal, considering I have sensitive skin too. I developed redness on my face as well, but it toned down after a day or two. Because of my sensitivity, I only use it twice a week when I stayed with that dermatologist. When I switched doctors, I stopped using AHA or BHA products since the new doctors never prescribed me with one. I didn't think much about it at first, and since I have already decided the change, just accept the new procedures by the new doctor. But now that I'm not going to any doctor, and realising that BHA products are good for acne-prone skin, I'm tempted to give it another try. Such products have to be used regularly for it to be effective in the long run. Though lots of experimenting would be required of me now (due to my sensitive skin), but that's to better looking skin! Rather start early:)

 

P.S I'm interested in the BHA gel from Paula's choice but I couldn't find Singapore on their list of shipping countries. I hope they reply my email soon...

About me: 2015 CNY Preparation

It's Chinese New Year soon and of course, pineapple tarts is a must have. So I thought, this year I would make some of my own instead of purchasing them from the bakery shops. I used to get pineapple tarts from Mirana Cake House. They sell super delicious pineapple tarts. I couldn't stop myself from eating it once I start; so usually I finish one whole bottle in a day or two. It's scary, I gained 5kg over the festive season that year. Two things I learnt: discipline and know when to stop. 

The saying goes 'the person who cooks wouldn't eat much of what he/she cooks'- not because it's not appetizing, in fact, it's just the opposite. Truth is, I also don't know why and I'm not even sure if I catch the phrase correctly- it's just what my grandma used to say. But it happens that I don't eat much of the tarts I make. It's really delicious though (not trying to brag). Here's a pic of my hard work: 

I had a hard time making them because the first few times I didn't get the heat right. Then my sister got the hang of it and it helped me with making this batch of soft and nicely cooked pineapple tarts. She is so patient, I would have given up long ago. 

Can't wait to let my family and friends taste them:D

I got the recipe from http://mimibakeryhouse.blogspot.sg/2014/01/this-is-one-melts-in-your-mouth.html. It's really nice! Try this if you are thinking of making pineapple tarts of your own! 

DIY Pillow For A Good Night Rest

One of the best cures for dark circles and dull skin is a good night's sleep. Rest is essential to our health and our skin, yet so many of us do not get enough! 

Here's a solution: make your own pillow with herb mixtures to let you rest better.

Ingredients needed: 

• 100 per cent cotton or silk fabric
• Dried lavender
• Dried mint
• Dried rosemary
• Dried rose petals
• Flaxseeds or rice

With the right sides of fabric together, stitch a small pillowcase leaving one end open for filling. Mix together enough rice or flaxseeds to loosely fill your pillow with one or two tablespoons of dried herbs. Add more herbs until it pleases you. Fill the pillowcase with the herb mixture and stitch the open end close.

To use: Shake the pillow gently to release the herbal scents. Place under your pillow or under your head and neck, and relax. 

Sun Sense

Sun damage is by far the most significant cause of wrinkling, skin aging, and skin cancers. You may not see the damage when you are in your teens or your twenties, but it would show in your forties as the damage is cumulative that occurs beneath the skin's surface and doesn't show itself until after many years of exposure. To only rescue your skin when it is too late by using the various cosmetic products might not help much as which of those marketed anti-wrinkle creams really showed any results? Using sunscreen and avoiding prolonged, direct sun exposure from young is the only way to reduce that inevitable fate for your skin.

Sunscreens for oily skin
Regardless of the claim on the label, there are always risks that the base formulation can clog pores or feel slippery or greasy on the skin. There's also the problem that the sunscreen ingredients themselves can cause an irritated breakout reaction, a response to the synthetically derived sunscreen agents. 

Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are inert minerals used as sunscreen ingredients. They have minimal to no risk of causing an allergic reaction, and are considered by most researchers to be benign and safe for skin. That said, they could still clog pores, being the thick and occlusive ingredients that they are. Given the wide variety in formulations, there is no way to quantify which ingredients are more problematic than others for causing problems. You could only experiment with them. 

For oily skin, wearing a foundation with a high SPF is an excellent idea, particularly for women with oily skin who don't want to wear layers of skincare products. The one negative about using a foundation with sunscreen is that you need to apply it generously; thin, sheer applications don't work.

If you wear a foundation with a good SPF you might forget to use a sunscreen on your hands, neck, throat, chest, or any other area of your body that is exposed to the sun on a daily basis. If so, those brown "age spots" might appear around those areas later part of your life.

3 Acne Myths

I read about these from a book I borrowed and thought they were pretty interesting. But I'm just taking those that concern acne sufferers.

1. Women outgrow acne

In fact, women in their 20s, 30s, 40s and even 50s can have acne just like teenagers. Not everyone who has acne as a teenager will grow out of it, and even if you had clear skin as a teenager, there's no guarantee that you won't get acne later in life. What is true is that men can outgrow acne, because after puberty men's hormone levels level out, while women's hormone levels fluctuate throughout their lifetime.  

 2. Acne is caused by eating the wrong food

This is both true and false. The traditional foods thought to cause acne, such as chocolate and greasy foods, have no effect on acne, and there is no research indicating otherwise. (I have been deceived for so long! But in retrospect, I still eat fast food once in while so this revelation won't affect my eating habits as much. Of course, I'm not trying to say we can eat greasy food as and when we like. Moderation, moderation. It's a known fact that fast food is BAD so avoid it.) 

However, a diet high in carbohydrates; a high glycemic load can increase breakouts, while a low glycemic load can reduce their occurrence. [Glycemic load is a ranking system for the amount of carbs in a food portion] I don't really know about the carbs diet part BUT I AM AN ASIAN! My meals revolve around rice which is considered as carbohydrate! Maybe rice does not have a high glycemic load...

So I googled about it and extracted this sentence from the link below: "Although they have found no conclusive evidence within the scientific literature on the matter to prove that diet causes acne, they have determined that diets containing high-glycemic index foods, and milk in particular, appear to aggravate the condition."
http://www.medicaldaily.com/acne-and-diet-milk-and-high-glycemic-foods-may-exacerbate-skin-condition-247967

Carbs are essential for a balanced diet as well. We can't avoid it entirely so I went on to look into low Gl food and this page gives some example:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/25843-list-low-glycemic-carbohydrate-foods/



3. If you clean your face better you can clear up your acne

Over-cleaning your face can actually make matters worse. Don't confuse scrubbing or "deep-cleaning" with helping acne, because it doesn't. Over-cleansing triggers inflammation that can make acne worse. What really helps breakouts is using a gentle cleanser so you don't damage your skin's outer barrier or create inflammation, both of which hinder your skin's ability to heal and fight bacteria, along with using gentle exfoliation.

Terms You Should Look Out For When Searching For Skin Products

It's essential to read the labels on the products to make sure your skin is suitable for them. For example, if you suffer from acne, some of the hydrating and oil-based lotions in a typical facial could cause your skin to break out. If you have ultra-sensitive and acne-prone skin like me, then this is even more crucial when it comes to trying out new products. As written in my first post, I would use products that cater to sensitive skin from NIKS Professional and then I would use Neo Medrol on those big pimples. Simple is usually the best when it comes to sensitive skin:)

Better choice for acne-prone skin:

• "oil-free"
• "non-comedogenic" - the ingredients have been tested and shown not to clog up pores.
• "clarifying"
• "purifying"

Terms you should be wary of:

• "dermatologically tested" - there is no standardization for this phrase and others like it, which could mean different things, and they are in no way a sign that the product does as it claims. "Dermatologist recommended" is another vague phrase, as it might only refer to one dermatologist! 

• There are no specific criteria a product must attain before it can be labelled "natural". Natural products may contain synthetic ingredients, and truly natural ingredients such as rosemary and lavender can cause reactions in some people too.

• "Occlusives" work by covering the skin with a thin film that prevents moisture from escaping, but they can cause acne and clog pores if used on the wrong skin. Varieties include "paraffin", "cetyl palmitate", "dimethicone" and "mineral oil".

• "Hypoallergenic" - It is patently untrue that products labelled "hypoallergenic" are better for sensitive skin. There are absolutely no accepted testing methods, ingredients restrictions, regulations or procedures of any kind to determine whether a product qualifies as being hypoallergenic. Given that there are no restrictions governing this supposed category that was made up by the cosmetics industry, there are plenty of products labelled "hypoallergenic" that contain problematic ingredients and that could indeed trigger allergic reactions, even for those with no previous history of skin sensitivity. 

• "Cosmeceutical" is a false advertising gimmick created by dermatologists to suggest their "cosmeceutical" products are somehow better than other products in the cosmetics industry. A quick comparison of ingredient lists reveals that there is nothing more unique about cosmeceuticals than any other cosmetics present. Plus, the FDA does not consider the term "cosmeceutical" to be a valid product class, so the term isn't regulated.

• "Noncomedogenic" is a meaningless word the cosmetics industry uses to indicate that a product is less likely to cause breakouts: the problem is no standards or regulations have been set up to describe this category. 

Homemade Oatmeal Face Mask

So I decided to create a soothing and moisturising face mask though I'm not the dry skin type. But since I'm going to Shanghai next week and it's experiencing winter, I thought I could pack some oatmeal there to moisturise my face.

Recipe I got from the book:

1. Mixing together an egg yolk with a tablespoon of honey (use the famously antiseptic manuka honey if skin is prone to spots)
2. Add enough smooth oatmeal to make a thick paste.
3. Leave on for 10 minutes, or 15 minutes if your skin is very dry and needs a calming boost.

Alternatively, check out this website which includes almond for exfoliation. 

http://michellephan.com/simple-easy-diy-oatmeal-face-mask-honey-almonds/

As for what I did with the oatmeal I bought:

1. Mixing milk and oatmeal to make a very thick paste
2. Add natural yogurt to make a thick paste 
3. Leave on for around 10 minutes (until it dries)

Yogurt is a great moisturiser for the skin and, because of its helpful bacteria, it also helps to reduce blemishes. Add to home made face creams and masks for immediate use, or use on its own for a 30-minute booster. Make sure that you rinse well afterwards.

This is how it turned out for me: 

I made a pretty large serving since my family wanted to try it too. Haha! I tried it on my hand and waited it out though I'm not sure if that's the way to test if your skin is suited for it but I was too lazy to figure out exactly where I am supposed to apply before applying on my face. 

A downside to using oatmeal is when removing the mask, it poses as a problem to me. It's a little difficult to remove and I'm already using a face sponge. Most importantly, I'm afraid it might clog my basin drainer- so disposing is a problem. BUT, what's left is a refreshed and temporary whitened skin! HAHAHHA, that I won't complain. I didn't take a before after photo so I couldn't prove it here:( 

To anybody who is trying to make their own oatmeal mask, I hope it will introduce more radiance to your skin! Till next time:D

Skincar3 in the natural way! [Health & Nutrition]

I'm not an avid reader of health or lifestyle guides, just very into YA fiction. But recently, I came across this book called 1001 little SKINCARE MIRACLES by Esme Floyd. I found it useful or maybe it's just that I haven't been reading enough so anything that's under the title 'skincare miracles' would have been particularly fascinating.

In this blog and maybe subsequent blogs, I would pick some facts or tips from the book that are useful for people with acne-prone or sensitive or oily skin. Oh, and by the way, they aren't about products, but about simple decisions and actions you can take to help your skin look and feel it's best. In other words, it's about doing it the natural way! 

Sensitive skin will benefit from a simple, uncomplicated routine with gentle, scent-free products. Also, avoid using water that is too hot or cold, which may cause further redness, and any products containing too many active ingredients like botanicals or cosmeceuticals. 

Every skin type needs a daily moisturizer, so know the one suitable for you. Lightweight gels and simple moisturizers are good for young and sensitive skins. 

It's all too tempting to accumulate a whole range of skincare products, but simple is usually the best. Try to stick to one brand at a time as the products are designed to work in harmony. Even though it's what most marketing campaigns imply, don't expect overnight changes when you alter your skincare regime. If you're using a new cream or product, allow at least two weeks, preferably a month before you make a decision about whether to continue using it. Your skin takes about 28 days to totally regenerate, so as long as new products don't cause adverse reactions keep on using them for a while before you judge them. 

If you find your skin is prone to blackheads, oiliness and breakouts it might be worth reducing your milk and dairy intake, as there is some anecdotal evidence that the hormones contained in dairy products can lead to breakouts. Although not scientifically sound, it's worth a try if you're suffering spotty skin.

Omega-3 oils have been shown to control the production of leukotriene B4, which can cause acne and skin inflammation. To up your levels of omega 3, take a supplement daily or add the usual omega suspects to your diet everyday- walnuts, avocados, flaxseed oil and oily fish are all great choices!

Resveratrol, a polyphenol found in red grapes and an antioxidant and anti-cancer agent, helps mop up the damage caused by sun and pollution exposure, helping skin to heal itself following damage. 

For detoxing, squeeze the juice of a grapefruit and a lemon into a glass and dilute with filtered water. Add the juice of one clove of garlic, a knob of fresh ginger and a touch of extra virgin olive oil. Stir and sip slowly for a liver cleansing detox drink. Often when people do a detox, the skin can get worse before it get better. Don't give up, though- your skin is the last organ to respond, so wait it out if you can. Pineapple contains a natural substance called bromelain that acts as natural anti-inflammatory in the joints and and skin. Try drinking a glass of fresh pineapple in the evening throughout your detox.

http://www.purefreshdaily.com/recipes/cleansing/dr-gary-nulls-liver-gallbladder-cleanse?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:%20PureFreshDaily%20(Pure%20Fresh%20Daily)

Did you know that for each hour of sleep you lose each night, your stress levels could increase by over 10 per cent? Stress worsens inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis, rosacea and acne and can cause other skin problems like breakouts, dullness, blushing and flushing, hives and perspiration, so it's important to get enough sleep. [Sprinkling a few drops of lavendar oil on your pillow can help you sleep as the herb is linked to restfulness and helps your body feel calm and sleepy]

The no. 1 tip for better skin is to ensure you drink enough water. Drinking at least 6 glasses of water a day helps to suppress appetite, metabolise fat (I DIDN'T KNOW THAT!), and keep your body and skin fully hydrated and younger looking. Fizzy drinks, herbal teas and fruit juice will not provide the same benefits as plain water. 

Many people who lead busy lives forget to drink enough water then gulp down two or three glasses at once when they finally remember. If this sounds like you, why not set an alarm to remind yourself to drink a small glass of water at each alarm? If it becomes a routine, you wouldn't need the alarm anymore.

That's it for health and nutrition! :D