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HEALTHY LIVING

Sweatproof your make-up

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Is there any more disastrous then spending an hour perfecting your makeup, leaving the house feeling like a million bucks and then stepping off a sticky train to find foundation dripping down your neck, smeared mascara and eyeshadow and liner that slides from your lid to your brow bone? This is what we call a major cosmetics meltdown.

Summer makeup is tricky, but fortunately there are tips you can follow to ensure your look is 100 percent sweat-proof. Here are 8 you should try tomorrow.

1. Look for “sweat-proof” makeup ingredients. Depending on your makeup collection, you may need to invest in a few new staples when temperatures begin to soar. “When looking for products that will keep your makeup from caking or sliding off at the first sign of sweat, opt for ones that are oil-free and silicone-based,” says beauty expert Julie Ricevuto of YouBeauty.com. “The silicone will act as a barrier between your skin and the humidity so that foundation won’t slide off or trickle into your pores. Avoid oil-based products since they will ultimately lead to a slick face, which will only be made worse by the sweltering heat.”

2. Start with great skin. The first step for any flawless makeup look involves taking good care of your skin. In the summertime, this also means prepping your skin in a way that makes it ready to wage war against the heat and humidity. “A strong skincare routine to keep your face clear and blemish-free will give you a beautiful canvas for applying your makeup,” Ricevuto says. “Use lightweight moisturizers to lock in hydration without starting your skin off looking slick. Also, choose long-wearing, oil- free formulas to keep your makeup budge-proof and smooth. If you end up getting a bit oily throughout the day, spot treat your shine with blotting papers instead of reapplying makeup over trouble spots.”

3. Don’t rely on your winter skincare routine. You will need to change things up so that the makeup you’ve applied to your skin reacts positively to the heat. “Skin will get greasier and pores will get clogged during the summer months due to sweat and sunblock,” says makeup artist Liz Fuller. “Start by using a gentle, non-soap cleanser (like Cetaphil) in the morning and evening to give your skin a thorough cleaning. Be sure to exfoliate several mornings a week, as well, to help clean out pores. Put the thicker creams and lotions at the back of your medicine cabinet and break out lighter, oil-free formulas to let skin breathe. (That includes sunblock.)”

4. Use a primer. Primers will change your life. If you’ve never used one, it’s invisible makeup that helps create a flawless foundation (even without actual foundation). “To ensure melt-proof makeup start by using a primer. Primers help to create a smooth canvas for makeup application and will keep makeup looking fresher longer. Look for primers that advertise as ‘matte.’ It will help to keep shininess and oiliness at bay. I like NYX Shine Killer primer,” says Fuller.

5. Opt for a tinted moisturizer. Foundation provides wonderful full coverage, but you’ll be lucky if a face full of heavy makeup lasts one August day. “Instead, use a lightweight tinted moisturizer or BB/CC cream,” Fuller says. “Just apply enough to even out the skin. I like Laura Mercier’s Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20.”

 6. Dust a loose powder to set your makeup. After all of the hard work you put in to create a flawless face, it makes sense to protect it. “Loose powder will also help to absorb any oils in your skin,” Fuller says. “Even if you choose not to use any type of foundation or BB/CC cream, you should still dust the loose powder onto your skin to help create a barrier for oils and sweat. My favorite is NARS Soft Velvet Loose Powder.”

7. Spritz on a setting spray. Setting sprays aren’t just for professional makeup artists anymore. “It used to be that only a couple of brands were available at specialty makeup stores, but now setting sprays have gone mainstream and you can usually find them in your local drugstore,” Fuller says. “There are various types of setting sprays–just your basic spray that keeps makeup in place, sprays that give a dewy finish, or sprays with oil-control properties to give skin a matte finish. For summer I would recommend the matte finish spray. It helps to fight oiliness. My favorite is Urban Decay De-Slick Oil-Control Makeup Setting Spray.”

8. Control facial sweat with anti-perspirant! You don’t always need to purchase a high-end makeup product to do a job that can be done using something most of us already have in our medicine cabinet. “I do makeup for a lot of brides in the summer and sometimes they are just sweating in my chair,” Fuller says. “A lot of times it’s their upper lip that’s sweating or just underneath their breasts. I use a solid anti-perspirant on their upper lip to help stop the sweating. I swipe it over the skin and then pat it in and wait a few minutes. Same goes for under their breasts (although they need to use their own for that area!). It’s a quick and easy way to stop sweating. You can also use a spray anti-perspirant for feet that sweat in the summer heat. The spray is also good for behind the neck and on the inner thighs.”

For more beauty tips, check out Does washing your face prevent or cause breakouts? and how often you should really wash your hair.

[Photo: Imaxtree]

Source: Pintrest

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Steps to support mental health for rural youth

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(Feature Impact) Young people face a growing number of pressures, including academic expectations, social responsibilities, complex family situations and uncertainty about their own futures. Mental health support is important for all – but in many rural areas, those pressures are even greater.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the suicide rate for rural youth ages 15-19 is 74% higher than their urban counterparts. Barriers like limited insurance coverage, unreliable internet for telehealth, scarce providers, long drive times and lack of public transportation make it harder to get mental healthcare when it’s needed. Plus, asking for help can feel like opening oneself up to judgment and stigmatization.

That’s why Rural Minds, the only nonprofit focused on mental health for rural communities, created the Rural Youth Mental Wellness pilot program supported by Boehringer Ingelheim. It was developed by an advisory committee made up of rural youth to provide their peers with practical, free, accessible mental health resources. Incorporating feedback on the pilot, the updated program sponsored by the Sompo Foundation is now launching its national rollout.

“A young person’s ZIP code should never determine whether they can access meaningful mental health support where and when they need it,” said Jessica L. Schleider, Ph.D., director, Lab for Scalable Mental Health, Northwestern University. “Our lab is thrilled to partner with Rural Minds as they champion evidence-based, anonymous, freely available support tools designed to overcome barriers to help-seeking faced by rural youth across the country.”

If the rural mental health crisis affects you or a loved one, consider these ways to help.

Break the Stigma Surrounding Mental Health

In communities where self-reliance is valued, asking for help can sometimes be viewed as a sign of weakness. Young people who feel unheard and unsupported often struggle with being vulnerable, so they continue carrying their increasingly heavy burdens alone.

Parents, educators, healthcare providers, community leaders and peers can work to change that culture by normalizing mental health conversations. This includes helping teenagers feel seen and accepted by educating them on mental health issues and coping strategies, listening to their experiences without judgment, sharing your own stories and reminding them it’s courageous to seek support.

Consider Single-Session Interventions

The first step is always the hardest when it comes to seeking mental health support, and not every struggling young person is ready or able to see a therapist. With access to free, confidential, self-guided materials to begin building mental wellness skills, the first step may be less scary.

Single-Session Interventions (SSIs) are brief, structured online courses designed to teach youth practical skills for handling stress, low mood, self-image and more. The Rural Youth Mental Wellness Program offers SSIs in partnership with Project YES (Youth Empowerment and Support), a free digital resource developed with Northwestern University’s Lab for Scalable Mental Health at the Feinberg School of Medicine.

Anonymous access to SSIs through the partnership provides strategies for:

  • Improving mood
  • Rethinking body image
  • Reframing negative thoughts
  • Knowing your power to change
  • Taking steps toward goals
  • Protecting LGBTQ+ pride
  • Handling self-harm urges
  • Staying safe amid dark thoughts

Each SSI typically takes 5-10 minutes. Although SSIs are not a replacement for therapy, they provide a research-backed source of support for young people experiencing bouts of stress or low-to-moderate distress.

Know When to Seek Professional Help

Self-guided resources and supportive conversations are a valuable starting point, but sometimes young people need qualified professional help. Look for symptoms like worsening mood or behavior, substance use, self-harm or difficulty managing everyday tasks, and take teens seriously when they express dark feelings.

Doctors and counselors can provide personalized support for youth in crisis, and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offers free, confidential 24/7 support for mental health by dialing 9-8-8.

“I grew up in a small town where mental health was almost taboo,” said committee member Asheton Medlin. “Being part of the committee that built this program let me help make sure rural youth today have the support I didn’t. I’m excited to help bring these resources to them because this generation deserves the chance to grow up and change the world.”

Find more information at RuralMinds.org.

Photos courtesy of Shutterstock

SOURCE:

Rural Minds

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HEALTHY LIVING

8 daily habits to support metabolic health

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(Feature Impact) When it comes to protecting your heart, supporting your kidney function and improving your metabolic health, you’ll find the advice for each one looks similar. That’s because your body’s systems are deeply interconnected: what affects one will have ripple effects across the others.

Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health, or CKM health, is a perfect example. When any one of these systems is compromised, it can lead to problems with the others. Therefore, it’s not uncommon for health problems like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease to develop or worsen simultaneously – a condition collectively known as CKM syndrome.

The reverse is also true, so habits that are healthy for your heart will have a positive effect on your kidneys and metabolic system and vice versa. Consider these simple strategies that align with the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8, a list of healthy steps that can improve overall health. Learn more about how these habits and health measures affect your CKM health at Heart.org.

  1. Choose Healthy Foods – Food is your body’s fuel, so fill your tank wisely. Certain types of foods can help your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose and triglycerides stay within healthy ranges, while poor nutrition can push those numbers into more dangerous territory. Focus on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, plant-based proteins (e.g. beans, legumes and nuts) and lean animal proteins (e.g. seafood, skinless poultry and low-fat dairy). Drink plenty of water throughout the day and limit added sugar and salty or fatty foods.
  1. Stay Physically Active – Exercise doesn’t have to feel like a chore – in fact, some of your favorite hobbies may already count. The American Heart Association recommends aiming for 150 minutes per week of moderate physical activity like dancing, gardening or walking, moving quickly enough to elevate your heart rate and break a light sweat. Alternatively, choose 75 weekly minutes of vigorous exercise that gets you breathing hard and fast; think running, swimming, playing tennis or riding your bike on hilly terrain.
  1. Avoid Nicotine – Tobacco and other nicotine products can raise your blood pressure, damage blood vessels and increase your risk of heart attack and stroke, which are all bad news for your CKM health. If you’re currently trying to quit, you aren’t alone, so don’t be afraid to seek out support groups and resources to help. 
  1. Prioritize Healthy Sleep – Sleep gives your body a chance to rest and recover from the day, but it’s often one of the first things people sacrifice when life gets busy. Poor sleep can increase your risk for heart disease, weight gain and other issues. Aim for a solid 7-9 hours a night. Keep your bedroom cool, dark and comfortable, and do your best to limit distractions like late-night smartphone scrolling.
  1. Watch Your Blood Pressure – When your blood pressure is high, it forces your heart to work harder to pump blood through the body, which can weaken it over time. It can also damage the delicate arteries in and around the kidneys, putting CKM health further at risk. Information is power, so check your blood pressure frequently to know whether further action is needed to keep it under control.
  1. Manage Your Blood Sugar – High blood sugar can damage the kidneys, eyes, blood vessels and more, thereby increasing your chance of developing harmful CKM conditions. Controlling blood sugar is particularly important for people with diabetes. If you don’t have diabetes and still experience frequent blood sugar spikes and crashes, talk to your doctor.
  1. Control Your Cholesterol – Cholesterol comes in both “bad” (LDL) and “good” (HDL) forms, requiring a balancing act to keep your levels within a healthy range. If LDL is high and HDL is low, your risk of clogged blood vessels, heart attack and stroke are higher. Healthy levels keep blood flowing to your heart and kidneys, supporting your metabolic health in the process. See your doctor for regular bloodwork so you can monitor cholesterol changes.
  1. Maintain a Healthy Weight – Since excess body weight puts pressure on the heart, kidneys and other organs, a healthy body weight helps lower your risk of CKM syndrome. Whether you’re hoping to maintain or reduce your weight, regular exercise, healthy eating and quality sleep are all great ways to achieve your goals.
    <img src="https://ssl.google-analytics.com/collect?v=1&amp;tid=UA-482330-7&amp;cid=1955551e-1975-5e52-0cdb-8516071094cd&amp;sc=start&amp;t=pageview&amp;dl=http%3A%2F%2Ftrack.familyfeatures.com%2F18083%2F10535&amp;dt=8-DAILY-HABITS-TO-SUPPORT-YOUR-HEART-KIDNEY-AND-METABOLIC-HEALTH" />
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SOURCE:

American Heart Association

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HEALTHY LIVING

Babyproofing tips for baby safety month

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(Feature Impact) Outsmarting a baby can be harder than it sounds – especially when it comes to transforming your home into a safe place for them to explore. Through their eyes, a coffee table becomes a climbing opportunity, a dangling phone charger looks like a teething toy and a cabinet of cleaning supplies could be an exciting travel destination.

Babyproofing is about anticipating those discoveries before little ones make them. In honor of National Baby Safety Month, consider these tips to make your home safer all year round.

Install Gates and Doorknob Covers

Crawling babies and stairs are a bad combination. Make sure the two never have the chance to meet by securely installing safety gates at the top and bottom of staircases to thwart young explorers. Gates or doorknob covers can also block access to other rooms and areas you’d prefer to keep off limits, like kitchens, bathrooms and laundry areas.

Use Safety Latches Wisely

Cabinets and drawers can contain a myriad of dangerous items, from cleaning products to sharp objects and medications. Even if you have rooms gated off, treat safety latches and locked storage receptacles as a second line of defense to make sure babies and toddlers can’t rummage where they shouldn’t.

Stress-Test Furniture

As babies and toddlers transition from crawling to walking, they often try using furniture to pull themselves up. Tall or unstable objects like TV stands, small tables and bookshelves can tip over if they aren’t properly secured. Try giving these objects a shake to see whether they’re easily moveable or wobbly; if so, anchor them to the floor or wall when possible. While you’re at it, check for sharp corners at the right height to bonk little heads and cover them with softer edge protectors.

Cover Outlets and Stow Cords

Electrical outlets can be tempting targets for curious fingers. Outfit them with covers or plastic safety caps, especially if you don’t already have tamper-resistant receptacles with built-in mechanisms to block foreign objects from entering the slots. As you’re going about your outlet audit, pay attention to cords as well. When possible, tuck them away or secure them with cord organizing systems, and block access to objects like lamps where cords can be used for tugging and toppling.

See the World at Their Level

Although it might feel silly, one of the best ways to spot hazards around your home is to scout for them from a baby’s perspective. Try getting as close to the floor as you can then look around each room for anything that could interest a young child and pose potential danger. In particular, keep an eye out for small objects that could become choking hazards, like dropped coins, batteries or loose toy pieces.

As children grow, so do the needs of your space. Visit eLivingtoday.com for more ideas on designing your home to fit your family.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

    

SOURCE:

eLivingtoday.com

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