Nail Care

I am a very lazy person, that would so be my sin, sloth. Yep...So I don't really take great care of myself, I mean I don't smell bad or don't brush my teeth. I just don't like to take the time to eat or so the extra things like facials and stuff. They take forever and its a really big hassle (for me anyway, so people enjoy doing things like that but I would rather spend my time reading...I know total nerd, boo hoo).

But my nails are really starting to bother me, and well I am older now...a little and appearances mean a lot more now then when I was a little kid. So I did a little bit of nail care research...

Your nails are made of keratin, a hard protein that helps in protecting the ends of our little fingers and toes. Nails grow at a rate of 3mm/month and your nails condition can be used as a diagnostic tool.

Things nails need:

-Water, they like your skin also get dehydrated! When dehydrated nails tend to be weak, splitting, and fragile

-Vitamin B, when it is low it makes your nails fragile and brittle

-Essential fatty acids, such as Omega 3 makes your nails stronger.

-Zinc, low intake causes white spots. It helps with the absorption of minerals and enzymes.

-Calcium, your nails contain it so you need it, but OD on it and it can give you white calcium deposits on your nails.

-Vitamin H/Biotin, is needed for cell growth and production of fatty acids. Strengthens your nails and the ends don't split.

-Vitamin A, low intake will cause dry and brittle nails. It also helps in processing protein.

-Vitamin C, low intake causes hangnail/agnail which is a torn piece of skin near the fingernail or toenail. (I get these a lot)

-Vitamin D, helps with calcium absorption.

-Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that protects vitamin A and essential fatty acids from oxidation and prevents the breakdown of body tissues. However vitamin E molecules are too large to inter the surface layer of the skin or the nail. However when combined with jojoba which has a tiny molecular structure, it can enter the nails and draw the vitamin E into the nail and skin.

-Jojoba, its oil is great for moisturizing the skin and nails.

And tips...?

Eating habits are very important for healthy nails. Drink lots of water, eat healthy, avoid alcohol, saturated fats and fried foods, etc...Also keep your nails short and don't cut your cuticles.

Smoking, hair dyes and tints can discolor nails. Healthy nails should be pink to dark red.

Artificial nails can cause an allergy reaction, destroy your nail underneath, and the chemicals and glue used may be dangerous to your body when it is absorbed through the damaged nail and nail bed. Also it can contribute to the development of fungal infection.

A lot of people like to keep their nails long for fashion, however short nails are healthier. If your nails are long then they can be used to carry germs and bacteria which can harm our bodies. Also keeping your nails short can keep your nails out of harms way. Since nails are used as a counter force when we touch things if they are longer and "hit" something it can hurt a lot.

Try not to color your nails, chemicals in it can harm your nails. Nevertheless as a fellow female I understand that it is more fashionable. Therefore if you do color your nails be careful with the frequency you use your nail polish remover because it takes out all the oils off your nail. Moisturize your nails after you remove the nail polish.

Brushing Your Teeth and Flossing

Brushing Your Teeth

Everyone should know that you should at least brush your teeth twice a day every day. However people do not always do a good job of brushing their teeth, because either they do not care or were never corrected by their parents.

My mother works under my dentist so I can say I brush my teeth pretty clean, though I have had my history with cavities.

Your toothbrush should be covering 2 teeth at a time. Point your tooth brush towards your mouth and distance it so that it barely touches your teeth. If you push it too into your teeth the brushes fan out and clean the area around the desired area.

You should start from the back teeth to the front teeth from the top to the bottom. Use a pea size for each half of your mouth (because the cleaning effect decreases because it mixes with fluids in your mouth).

Brush back and forth for 5-7 seconds. After you finish for the back teeth change angles to get all the little spaces between each tooth. Point the brush 45 degrees towards your mouth and then after brushing the back teeth for 5-7 seconds point it 45 degrees away from your mouth.

To finish point your toothbrush the way your teeth grows (up or down) and brush away. You do not have to count the seconds just brush over it.

Flossing

Floss after you brush your teeth!! But it is best to floss right after you eat something.

What not to do

Enamel is a protective layer over your teeth which wears down due to acid. Therefore:

DO NOT EAT ANYTHING ACIDIC like fruits, SODA, anything sour -.- or hot sauce 2-4 hours before you brush your teeth. It weakens your enamel and the tooth paste and brush will weaken it further.

Green and Black/Red Tea

It is well known that tea is good for you. However there are different types of tea, and they have different properties. The four most common teas are black tea/red tea, green tea, white tea, and oolong tea.

Green tea is made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis which is from Theaceae family. It is processed with the lowest oxidation (unfermented). Black/Red tea is also from Camellia sinensis but it is fully oxidized(fermented).

Green and Black/Red Tea:

• It contains 10 times the amount of antioxidants found in fruits and veggies(catechin polyphenols, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
• Lowers LDL cholesterol levels, lowers chances of heart disease and development of certain cancers(polyphenols- detoxifies cell-damaging free radicals), faster recovery from heart attacks, boosts metabolism, block allergic responsse
• Contains fluorides (Prevents teeth decay: they protect tooth enamel from acids and it reduces the number of cavities)
• Contains Vitamins B1(aka thiamin),B2(aka riboflavin), B6(aka pyridoxal phosphate): they help convert blood sugar into energy, C(aka L-ascorbate): acts as a catalyst in the production of collagen, and potassium: role in maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance in the body
• Contains tannin which activates the thrombocytes for rapid clotting

Tea is good for you inside and out. You should drink tea (green is better because it has less caffeine) instead of water because all water has is just H2O while tea has all of the things listed above. It is recommended that you drink 10 cups of tea per day. Tea can be used on the skin and can be stored in a spray bottle. Its best if you spray it on a few times a day to protect your skin from the sun by detoxifying your skin and encourage production of collagen.

Shea Butter

In yesterday's post, I discussed some of the things I like to do for my skin. One of them is Shea Butter.

Shea Butter comes from the shea tree, aka karite tree, Butyrospermum Paradoxum renamed Vitellaria Paradoxa (West African Shea tree), Vitellaria Nilotica (East African Shea tree). They extract the fat from the fruit of the tree by boiling and crushing the fruit(unrefined butter). It produces its fruit at 20 and is in its high point of production at 45 years old. This tree is found in Africa.

Benefits of Shea Butter:

• Prevents the bumps that sometimes appear after shaving
• Heals scars, burns, bruises and stretch marks
  
• Evens out your skin tones and softens skin (great for dry skin)
  
• Good for minor burns, cuts, eczema and/or psoriasis
• Good for hair-eliminates scalp irritation from dryness or chemical processing, and it gives you shiny hair
• Helps restore elasticity to skin
• Strengthens cuticles and nails
• Prevents skin irritations and is great for rashes
• Firms the skin and help us fight against wrinkles!
• Contains Vitamins A and E which help against skin damaged skin and preventing wrinkles and facial lines
• Contains Vitamin F which softens and protects dry chapped skin
• Is a fat that does not saponify. Fats that saponify become soap thus when there is unsaponifiables mixed with soaps it helps with moisturization, conditioning, keeping the vitamins in and textures. There are different levels where unrefined Shea Butter has a 6-17% unsaponifiable percentage level, which is a high percentage. Refined Shea Butter has a low percentage of 1% or less.
• Absorbs into your skin quickly and easily without making your skin greasy or clogging pores

Unrefined/Raw vs Refined:

• Unrefined/Raw Shea Butter- The Shea Butter is extracted without chemicals, through cold pressing and boiling(more info).
• Refined Shea Butter- There are different processes which remove things or add substances that make it less effective than unrefined/raw Shea Butter. They may remove the scent, color or impurities(more info).

"Good" Shea Butter:

There are many products that contain Shea Butter in it. However there may be a minimum amount of Shea Butter or they added in chemicals that make it less effective so do research on the products before you buy them! The best to have is unrefined/raw Shea Butter which has a weirdish scent (but not horrible) and is yellow. The color may vary though...

Shelf Life:

Shea Butter has a low melting point, so store it in a cool place. Even if it does melt its still usable, just stick it in your refrigerator for a little while so it hardens again. Its good that is has a low melting point so your skin absorbs it quickly. It loses some of its properties after 2 years.

East vs West:

East African Shea Butter-It is higher in olein which makes it softer and more scented. It has a higher absorption rate because it has less saturated fatty acids. However it has less Vitamin A. More rare, thus it is about $40/2 oz.

West African Shea Butter- It is harder and has a milder scent. It has more Vitamin A, which is good in preventing stretch marks. It is less rare than East African Shea Butter.

Clicky For More Info On Shea Butters

Skin Care

Even though I do not have the loveliest skin, I try my best...Here are some things that I like to do for my skin.

Mornings-
Washing: I wash only with warm water and do not use soap. This is because your skin have oils that are needed for your skin and since you did not go anywhere much its best to keep most of the oils. Pat dry, NEVER rub the towel roughly on your skin! It tears the skin cells!!!

Applying Lotion: Put on light moisturizing lotions, make sure it has at least SPF 15, though the higher the better. Of all the light lotions so far I like to use Aveeno's, though they came out with a SPF 30. During cooler seasons sometimes I put on something heavier, like Nivea on my cheeks ONLY. And then I head out with my whole faced covered (Scarf, sunglasses and hat, you will not see any skin at all. But my glasses tend to fog...).


DayTime-
Oil Sheets-When you face starts to get oily and shiny dam it with some oil absorbing sheets. A likable one to use is Clean & Clear's, however warning to those that wear powder makeup, you may need to touch up because the oils on your face will mix with the powder and will be lifted off by the sheet.

Evening-
Washing-When I shower I also like to wash my face. With all the steam from shower (gotta love hot water), it opens up my pores. I mix a low dose of regular soap and massage it in my oily areas (forehead, sides near my hair lines because hairs love to absorb oils, and my nose) for 5-10 seconds. I run it under warm water and then use a facial scrub every 3 days or use a facial cleanser. I like to use homemade cleansers and scrubs because reading the ingredients is scary. I know them not and can hardly read them! But some might not have time so I guess its ok... Afterward pat dry!!


Applying Lotion-For the night I like to use heavier lotions that hydrate (because we do not wake up in the middle of the night to drink water...duh), like Nivea (its a creme), or pure African Shea Butter. Anything other shea butters are good but natural ones are the best of course. Shea butter has many benefits and you can also put it in your hair!

Throughout the day
DRINK LOTS OF WATER. Your body needs it to work, a person can die within 3 days without water. I know everyone says this but its true, water does your body good and keeps your skin hydrated and moisturized happy.

*Extra*
Sometimes I like to spray green tea on my face after I clean it. After spraying it on let it dry and then apply the lotion. To make it:

You need a spray bottle, green tea leaves (red tea leaves work too but it has less antioxidants), and hot/boiled water.

If your bottle is plastic, brew the tea leaves in another container, if not directly brew the tea. Let the tea seep for 5 minutes and then you can use it. But it might be hot so might as well wait for the tea to cool and use. Do not make a lot because over time the tea loses its benefits. Fresh tea is the best.

Do not worry I will be adding list of benefits for different substances later on ^^