Day: November 1, 2017

Avoid a Storm in Your Teacup: Knowing Your Oolong from Your Matcha

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

While tea is most commonly associated with the British, its popularity across our own nation is on the rise. So it’s time to start getting to know your different types of tea, how and when to serve them and the different benefits that they can have on your health. For now, let’s stick to three of the most commonly consumed varieties of tea: black teas, green teas and tisanes.

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Black Tea

Black tea is the most widely tried type of tea in the West. It is made of young tea leaves that are picked at a young age, withered, rolled, fully oxidised, and fired. Who knew such an extensive process went into making the leaves that fill tea bags in our local supermarkets and grocery stores? Different blends are available. This is a trend that has been carried out by the British for many years. Certain strengths and qualities are chosen for different tastes. For example, you may get a strong breakfast tea or a light afternoon tea. If you have more sensitive taste buds, it’s good to bear in mind that teas from different regions have different characters and signature flavours. Some of the most popular signature teas hail from Darjeeling, Assam, and Nilgiri. Others are processed in specific ways that affect the flavour. An example of this is Lapsang Souchong. The leaves for this tea are smoked over a pinewood fire to give the final result a deep, smoky flavour. When it comes to brewing your tea, it all comes down to personal taste. Some prefer to add sugar, others honey, some lemon. Most will add milk to black tea.

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Tisanes

Tisanes are floral or herbal teas. Technically, a “tea” has to originate from the Camellia sinensis plant, the label has been increasingly attached to blends created from other species of plant. These teas are more of a novelty, offering beautiful colours, aromas and flavours. There are seemingly endless varieties of tisanes available, from Chamomile options to laso Tea which claims to aid weight loss. So make sure to read up on whichever type you opt for in order to understand its ingredients, qualities and how its consumption may affect you.

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Green Tea

Green teas are easy to identify: the fact that they are not oxidised in the process of manufacturing them, they retain their natural colour. They are heat processed to eliminate the enzyme responsible for the oxidisation process that gives black tea its distinctive colour. Chinese varieties tend to have been roasted or pan fired, while Japanese varieties are more frequently steamed. Popular varieties of green tea to try out include matcha, Sencha, dragon’s well, and gyokuro. Make sure to do your research when it comes to storing your chosen type best. Some will taste much better when stored in cool temperatures or dark atmospheres.

Finding the best blend of tea for your personal tastes, whether black, green or tisane requires experimentation and plenty of trial and error. So it’s time to start exploring the world of tea!

4 Tips For Soft and Glowing Winter Skin

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Anyone else starting to feel a bit dry in the cold weather? It’s no wonder with all the heating we expose our skin to inside and the rapidly dropping temperatures outside, and seriously dry winter skin needs more than just a good moisturizer. Here is a handful of soothing tips that will keep that chapping and redness at bay, so that you can face the cold air without worrying about the effect it has on your skin.

Image via: Pexels

It’s what skincare is all about, after all, and it makes it a lot easier to prevent early signs of aging as well.

#1 Protect your skin

Just like you’re told to cover up and protect your skin with thin layers when it’s sunny outside, your skin still needs this kind of protection during winter. It’s not as much to shelter you from the harmful effects of the sun as it is to keep the wind and frost at bay, though, so get yourself a thick scarf this winter as well as some gloves.

If you have ever lived somewhere severely cold, you know the feeling of dry and red hands very well. A decent moisturizer just doesn’t cut it, and you’ll risk red patches and even bleeding unless you cover your skin up before stepping outside. Not just because it’s unflattering to look at; dry winter skin can be downright painful.

#2 Choose lukewarm water

Try to go for lukewarm water when you wash your hands and shower. To go in either direction, meaning too cold or too warm, will dry your skin out little by little, and considering the amount of times we should wash our hands during winter to avoid getting sick, it’s important to keep this in mind. Have a look at https://water-rightgroup.com to understand how water affects your dry winter skin.

It’s understandably tempting to enjoy a hot shower when you’ve been freezing outside, so focus on washing your hands and face in lukewarm water instead. That way, you still get to steam up your bathroom when you need it the most.

#3 Moisturize no more than 20 minutes after showering

Those who struggle with dry skin on a daily basis and regardless of the seasons will probably say you should let your face air-dry after showering. Do it if you have time to wait before putting on makeup or rushing out the door – or just apply a moisturizer as soon as possible after showering.

The trick is not to wait more than 20 minutes; applying moisture to damp skin will help seal the dampness into your skin, and you can enjoy that extra protection when you step outside. If your skin is constantly dry, it’s a good idea to take a look at the kind of lotion and makeup you use on a daily basis.

Petroleum-based ingredients are common in moisturizers you buy in the regular grocery shops and may, in fact, make your skin even drier over time. It’s one of those tricks of the cosmetic industry to keep you coming back for more. Have a look at https://soundbodylife.com/best/makeup/for/aging-skin if you’re looking for makeup to quench your skin’s thirst and visit the pharmacy to buy a moisturizer that is actually made for dry skin. Look for fat-based lotions rather than water-based ones, and ask the pharmacist to help you out.

They know all about the kind of lotions that works well during winter – and if you have a problem with itchiness or redness, they’ll even be able to sort this out for you. Pharmacists are knowledgeable people, so take advantage of it rather than spending money on yet another supermarket moisturizer.

#4 Hydrate from the inside out

Many of us hardly drink enough water during the day, and we tend to forget about it, even more, when it’s winter. Sufficient amount of water is, of course, alpha omega when it comes to keeping your skin soft and glowing – as the largest organ we have and the only layer that protects us from the elements, your skin is the last priority when your body distributes water.

If you haven’t been drinking enough, it may even steal some water from your skin to keep your other organs functioning – health before beauty, and all that. It makes sense, though, and we’re grateful for it, but try to help your skin out a bit by eating food with a high water content as well. Soup is a good idea during winter, as well as tomatoes and cucumbers.

Use less powder as well, by the way, if you use makeup on a daily basis and try to not touch your face too much during the day. You should be able to enjoy a baby-smooth face throughout the cold seasons if you manage all of the above, so keep it up, and remember to moisturize before going to bed.

Ten Tips for a More Positive Body Image

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Many women around the world struggle with their confidence. Whether you just ended a relationship and feel unwanted and unloved, or just want to feel better about yourself, you will definitely benefit from a confidence boost. Remember that how you see yourself is not the same how others see you. Make sure that you learn how to show your most positive side in every situation, and your body image will become much healthier. Read our tips below.

1. Update Your Wardrobe

Retail therapy is one of the best ways of getting rid of the blues. You must update your wardrobe and stop wearing the clothes that don’t bring out the best of your figure. Looking trendy is the first step towards being liked and respected. Find your personal style and look for inspiration from others.

2. Try a New Hair Color

It might be that you are not happy with your hair color or style. Does the haircut you have had for many years still suit your body size and personality? If not, it is time for a change. Get some ideas from hair stylists in your neighborhood for free, and decide which adventurous style you are going to try.

3. Play with Online Makeover Tools

If you are not quite brave and confident enough to take a leap, you can start playing with some of the online styling and makeover tools. They are fun, entertaining, and help you decide on hair color, style, makeup, and accessories.

4. Ask Your Friends for Advice

You might not be confident enough to try new things, and could need advice. Your friends will be more than happy to give you feedback on how you walk, hold yourself, wear different clothes, and style your hair. Ask for complete honesty, but be prepared to deal with it.

5. Get Fit

While most people start exercising to lose weight, getting fit has several additional benefits, too. Going for a walk, for example, reduces the level of anxiety hormones in your body, so you stop worrying about your looks and how others see you. Simple lifestyle changes, such as walking to the shops instead of driving and taking the stairs instead of the elevator can go a long way.

6. Learn How to Wear Heels

High heels make your legs look longer and leaner. If you rarely wear them, you should start practicing. Every dress looks much better with a stiletto, and looking taller improves your confidence, too.

7. Sign Up for a Makeup Course

If you have no idea what colors and styles suit you, there is something to be done about this. Why don’t you sign up for a makeup course and learn how to make blemishes disappear and how to highlight your best features. If you need makeup to feel good walking out of the door, let it be.

“Makeup” by SAN_DRINO is licensed under CC BY 2.0

8. Tone Up and Lose Weight

Often the reason why people have a negative body image is the way they look in their tight clothes. If you are fed up with being unhappy and want to get rid of your bat flaps, you can create a personal training schedule for only a few minutes a day to get toned up. If you tend to comfort eat, find a diet shake company that offers nutritious desserts. Alternatively, eliminate sugar and fat to lose weight from the right areas.

9. Start Dating

Dating is one of the best ways of getting positive confirmation and building up your confidence. If you get to take a nice photo and register on one of the sites, as soon as the responses come in your confidence level starts increasing. Even if you are not serious about meeting anyone, you will benefit from guys expressing their interest in you.

10. Learn to Accept Compliments

One of the common traits of women with low confidence and negative body image is that they don’t take compliments seriously. They simply say thanks, but don’t think that the other person meant the positive comment they made. Learn to accept the fact that others notice your looks and try to believe that they genuinely like you.

“a little wardrobe update” by Geneva Vanderzeil apairandasparediy.com is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Low confidence is an issue that is often associated with negative body image. If you want to feel better in your skin, ask for help and start trying new things. Losing weight and becoming healthier is only the first step; you must keep on working on your confidence and appearance until you are satisfied and get enough compliments each day to keep you going.