Facial mask for acne

Many people suffer from acne. This embarrassing situation is often responsible for the reduced self-esteem of the person, especially in teenage years. Adults can also suffer from acne. There are several reasons that adults can get acne as some hormonal disorders or stress, among others.

It is important to treat acne effectively and there are a few homemade facial masks that can help. Here is one easy natural homemade mask that can reduce your acne. It is inexpensive and easy to do yourself.

Egg whites are excellent for treating acne. They help reduce excess sebum in our skin by shrinking the size of your pores, as well as firm and tone the skin. 

Lemon also helps you to get rid of acne. Actually, lemon is a a great natural tool for several healthy problems due to its vitamin value and antibacterial properties! 

The combination of lemon and egg white is considered to be a great face mask for acne and oily skins.

Why Egg White Mask?

• reduces acne

• heals acne scars effectively making them less visible

• helps rebuild healthy skin cells

• helps absorbing excess skin oils that can clog the pores

How to make and apply it?

1.       Ingredients:

• 1 egg white

• ½ a lemon (juice)

2.      Mask

•    Separate the egg white from the yolk.

•    In a small bowl, whisk the egg white until frothy.

•    Mix the lemon juice to the egg white.

•    Rinse your face with warm water and pat dry.

•   Apply a layer in your face with your fingers (avoid the eyes and mouth zone).

•    Let the mask dry for about 20 minutes.

•    Rinse completely and pat skin dry.

Make sure you are using freshly squeezed lemon juice. Some people make this mask without lemon juice, using only the egg white. You'll can try both versions and verify what works better for you, concerning the effects on the type of your skin problems.

Good luck!

I hope it will help you!

How to clean mold from walls (quickly, easily and inexpensively)?

Definitely, I don’t like cleaning and washing walls, specially with mold and mildew. And it’s easy to believe that no one likes it! 

Mold and mildew can be harmful and cause serious problems in healthy people, so that’s really important to remove them from our home! They are fungus that develop spores in moist and warm environments, with little air circulation. 

All of us know that mold is essentially caused by moisture, that’s why it is commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms. Because of it, when you clean up the mold you must also try to solve the problems of humidity in the house. Otherwise, mold will come back later again! 

It is known that these fungus usually need about 24-48 hours of moisture to start growing, so we should avoid wet materials for more than 24 hours. Waterlogged areas, leaking roofs, leaking taps or pipes and leaking showers are also well known sources of the problem. 

The most obvious sign of a mold problem in your walls is finding spots. They are usually black but can be also green or brown.

Some tips to help

Keep the moisture in our home at low levels to prevent mold growth and avoid wet materials for more than 24 hours.

• Use a dehumidifier in your home running about 4 hours per day (set off your AC system). 

• Doors to rooms should be left open to circulate the air among rooms.

• Open the windows when cleaning these fungus (they can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions).

When you have mold growing in your home you need to remove it. Take away the mold's moisture source but, as it can lie dormant for a long period of time, you also must remove and “kill” the mold.

Of course, you can buy some cleaner products to combat the problem (products containing chlorine are recommended because they clean and disinfect at the same time) but you can do it with your common household products, sometimes with even better results! One of them is white vinegar.

For cleaning the mold and mildew in our home with white vinegar we need first take some precautions:

• Wear rubber gloves, a mask and eye protection to avoid contact with the spores released by the fungus.

How to clean?

• For applying the vinegar, pour a little bit in a piece of cloth and rub the wall gently. 

• Apply a little more vinegar and leave it on the wall about 30-40 min.

• Put some water into a container and rinse and clean the surface.

In most cases the problem is solved but if you still continue to have mold problems, you may have to try more powerful products.

IMPORTANT: Do not mix vinegar with bleach! The mixture is toxic, even in small quantities, causing respiratory problems, burning eyes and cough. 

I hope this could help you!

The easiest way to clean a dirty iron at home

There are different methods to clean a dirty iron, some more complicated to make than others.

Now, I’ m sharing with you the tip that I consider to be the easiest and I usually use myself: cleaning with coarse salt. 

It is very fast and we've got excellent results with it!

   1.  Place a paper towel in your ironing board.

     

   2.  Pour one tablespoon of coarse salt on the surface of the paper towel.

  3.  Plug in the iron and heat it to maximum temperature, turning the steam completely off. 

  4.  Iron the surface of the paper towel with the salt by gently pressing. A few minutes later you'll  realize that all dirt is located onto the salt and the iron surface will be spotless!

I hope it could help you!

Goodbye and until next post!

Tips for make your daily life easier (I)

1. For making a flexible reusable ice pack, mix 3 parts water to one part of alcohol in a zip bag, release the air and seal the bag. Place it in the freezer for about 10-12 hours before using it the first time. 

It will be icy but not frozen because alcohol does not freeze. This will be flexible enough for any physical injury that needs a cold treatment, you just need to have it always kept in the freezer for any emergency.

2. Old newspapers can be used to polish up a glass  or mirror. 

You'll just need an old newspaper (avoid the colored pages)  and a bowl of water. The newspaper must be just damp. So, you just need to scrub away at the mirror or window as usual. 

At the end you'll need some more dry newspaper's pages for polishing your mirror or glass until it be really shiny!

The results are great, you just need to avoid rubbing the window frame with the newspaper. 

3. If you want to bake cookies and do not have a commercial mold do not worry, just use the nozzle of a glass to serve as a mode. 

Glasses of different sizes give different sizes of biscuits.

4. Save your wilted lettuce using ice water. 

If your purchased lettuce got wilt in your fridge you can prevent it to go to waste: just put it in a  in a large bowl of ice water (or fill your clean kitchen sink with ice water) about half an hour.

5. If you are a car owner, you should know that toothpaste is great to clear up the hazy car headlights. 

You just need a toothpaste and a clean cloth!

I hope these tips will help someone in need!

How to make lemon diet to lose weight

Lemon diet is nothing new. Once again, our grandmothers' generation already knew it perfectly well. There are several health benefits of lemons well known for centuries!  Lemons' antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties are extraordinary health benefits of lemons known for long time. Lemons are high in vitamin C (which is also important for fighting colds) and boost our immune system.

Why lemon helps us to lose weight? It's well known that lemon detoxifies our body. It contains pectin that increases feelings of satiety. Also increases fat burn by improving our digestion, acts as liver tonic and has  a diuretic action.

How to do it?

According to some studies, the most correct way to use lemon for weight loss seems to be the following:

• about 30 minutes before taking breakfast, squeeze half a lemon in a glass of warm water and drink it. Warm water  will provide the most health benefits and allow for the full enzymatic and energetic properties of the lemon.

• You can also take lemon  before the main meals, but at this time  with cold water (with cold water the body has to expend more energy to warm it up and burns a few more calories).

Use fresh lemons instead of bottled lemon juice. In the last case the enzymatic properties are significantly diminished and health benefits of fresh lemon juice are much higher.

I hope it could help you!

How to prepare magnesium chloride at home?

Magnesium is an important vital mineral required for both human and animal life and occurs as various forms in nature, but each of these forms has different degrees of efficiency in our body. Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body and is necessary for hundreds of functions within our body.

According  to several experts on magnesium therapy, magnesium chloride is the most effective form of magnesium, for both dietary and topical uses, and it is easily assimilated and metabolised in our body.

 Magnesium-rich foods (such as whole grains, nuts, greens, seeds and others) used to be common in several diets all all over the world but magnesium deficiency is very common nowadays because magnesium-rich foods  are becoming increasingly rare in almost all modern diets.

Several scientific papers say that some dietary choices may also deplete magnesium in our body, such as consumption of produce from depleted soil, alcohol, processed food, caffeine, etc. Studies also say that stressful conditions require more magnesium by the body. Actually, magnesium chloride provides important benefits for health maintenance. 

A variety of commercial magnesium supplements are available but you can also prepare it yourself at home.

HOW TO PREPARE MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE?

Buying magnesium chloride:

• you must remember that magnesium chloride for human use has to be the P.A. type (pure for analysis) and its colour is white.

There is plenty information available about how to prepare magnesium chloride, based mainly on information released by Chor himself in his article on the healing effects of magnesium chloride.

1. Boil a liter of water and let it cool.
2. Put it in a glass container and dissolve in it 30 grams of crystalline magnesium chloride.
3. Mix with wooden spoon, cover and store.

According to experts, in normal situations, magnesium chloride should be consumed after 40 years old because then  it’s more difficult  for our body fully absorbing it from food.

The daily dose should take into account the general condition of the body and age.

The body eliminates excess amounts except when there are problems with kidney function. High doses can cause diarrhea.

IMPORTANT: You can choose how you prefer to consume magnesium chloride but, in any case, it's always wise to check with your doctor.

Apple cider vinegar for dandruff

I was born in a little Portuguese village and I remember old women used to say that apple cider vinegar was great for dandruff treatment. They were right, it's really true because apple cider vinegar is anti-inflammatory and has important antibacterial and antifungal properties. Dandruff can be caused by many different factors but treating it naturally with this traditional method is a cheaper alternative to eliminate dandruff, sometimes with even better results than some commercial products. 

Here are some steps you can follow for this treatment. If you have a sensitive skin make a test on a small area of your scalp before the application.

• Apply the vinegar on your hair and all your scalp.

• After that massage your scalp for a few minutes, using your fingers.

• Wrap your head in a warm towel about an hour.

• Wash your head with warm water without using shampoo.

• Do this process twice a week for at least a month for better results.

I hope it could help your problem!

Homemade cinnamon cookies

Ingredients

⦁ 1 cup wheat flour
⦁ 2 eggs
⦁ ½ cup sugar
⦁ 1 teaspoon baking powder
⦁ ¼ cup oil  (*)
⦁ 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 

         (*) you can use butter instead of oil, if you prefer



Directions

⦁ In a  bowl, cream together the flour, the sugar and the baking powder.
⦁ Add the eggs one at a time and mix the ingredients all together.
⦁ Add the oil while mixing.
⦁ When the mixture is uniform, separate into small pieces with the help of two spoons.
⦁ Put in oven preheated to 180 degrees C for 20 minutes.


 
Enjoy your cookies!

Tips for Public Speaking

Speaking gives us an opportunity to communicate our message to many people at once but fear of public speaking is one of the most common phobias. Over time, people try to protect themselves fighting the anxiety of public speech but sometimes this becomes stronger, more persistent and chronic. I myself had to fight my fear of public speaking.

Here are some tips that could help you to overcome the fear of public speaking. At least they helped me to overcome the problem.

• A good preparation is quite important and you must understand very well what you're talking about. You need to prepare it ahead of time so that you won't have to look too much at your projected slides or "PowerPoint".

• Organisation is crucial: don't forget that the more organised you are, the more easier will be your task and less anxious  you will be. 

• For feeling more confident, practice your complete presentation several times, first alone and then for someone whom you feel comfortable with, Ask for their feedback for improvements. Over time and with repeated practice, you'll feel less nervous.

• Do some deep breaths before you get up for your presentation. They can also help calm your nerves. 

• Bring a water bottle with you because your nervousness can make you feel a dry mouth while speaking.

• Don't speak too fast. If your mind goes blank for a moment do a pause to calm down, take a few slow deep breaths and drink some water. Meanwhile you've already put your ideas in order.

• You should consider what questions the audience may ask and have some ready responses for them.

I hope this will help you.

Goodbye and until next post!

Natural Homemade Tips for Puffy Eyes and Dark Circles

Puffy eyes are one of the most common face problems and can occur for many reasons. Hormonal fluctuations, sleep apnea, medications, cigarette smoke, pollution, sinus problems, stress, eye fatigue, allergies, lack of sleep and  inherited characteristics are among them. Fortunately for us, some homemade tips can help to relieve puffy eyes when we have an important event and want to have a healthier appearance. Here are some of them:

• Apply cucumber slices to your eyes: slice the cucumber and place the slices over your eyes for about 10-15 minutes. That is one of the most popular ways to reduce puffiness around the eyes. 

• Apply ice cubes to your eyes: wrap two ice cubes in a thin towel and gently press against your eyes for about 10 minutes. This is also another well-known natural tips for puffy eyes.

• Apply  raw potato: apply cold potato slices under the eyes and let act for about 20 minutes.

• Avoid artificial sweeteners: some studies have shown that they are a potential cause of water retention.

• Protect your eyes with sunglasses: the sun's UV rays are very harmful to the skin around the eyes. Sunglasses also protect from dust, wind and others that can stimulate puffy eyes.

• Stay hydrated (about 8 glasses of water a day) and eat a diet rich in antioxidants.  Don't forget to eat fruits and vegetables!

• Limit intake of alcohol and tobacco: they can cause fluid retention under eye skin area  and puffy eyes.

• Reduce your salt intake: when your sodium levels are high,  your body will retain water,  leading to bloating. This can appear in the area underneath the eyes (because the skin is more thin), leading to appearance of puffy eyes.

•  Remove your makeup every night: never sleep wearing eye make-up because pieces of make-up can cause irritation by entering the eyelid.

• Get enough sleep at night: too little sleep will lead to dark circles and puffiness.Try to get eight hours of sleep each night.

• And the last tip is: avoid crying too much! A popular Portuguese proverb says "sorrows do not pay debts"!!!

I hope it will help you.

Goodbye and until next post!

How to make original portuguese "arroz doce" (rice puding)

Ingredients:

1. rice 250 g
2. hot milk (whole works best )1,5 L
3. 4 egg yolks 
4. sugar 250 g
5. fresh lemon rind 1
6. 1 cinnamon stick
7. butter 50 g
8. water 0,5 L
9. 1 pinch salt
10. Ground cinnamon for sprinkling

Method

• Put the water, cinnamon stick, lemon peel and salt in a  saucepan and bring to boil.
• Add the rice and stir, simmering for about 20 minutes until the water evaporates. 
• Add the hot milk gradually, stirring constantly until thickened, about 20 minutes until rice is cooked.
• Add the sugar and butter, stir and cook 10 minutes more.
• Dissolve the egg yolks in a little bit milk. Remove rice from heat, add the egg yolks into yarn, keep stirring and bring to heat again without boiling 2-3 minutes more.
• Pour into one large serving plate,  remove lemon rind and let it cool.
• Serve at room temperature sprinkled with cinnamon powder.

I hope you'll like it!

Goodbye and until next post.

Homemade eye makeup remover

Hello! Today I'm going to share with you a natural and inexpensive makeup remover, usually used in the days of our grandmothers. Extra virgin olive oil is similar to the oil your skin naturally produces and is adequate to sensitive skin. You can use it around your eyes because removes make-up without irritating the skin.

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Water

To prepare your homemade makeup remover, just mix a little olive oil with twice the amount of water in a bottle with stopper. At the time of use, shake it very well (water and olive oil are immiscible liquids), put on cotton and remove your eye makeup the most gentle way possible.

I hope it could help you.

Goodbye and until next post!

Eggshell as calcium source

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in our body and is extremely important for bone mineralisation. It is also important for enzyme activity, nerve health, muscle contraction and cell formation, A calcium deficient diet compromises bone tissue formation and induces the loss of bone density, leading to osteoporosis, specially in postmenopausal women, Young women with amenorrhea (absence or cessation of menstruation) could also have this problem.

Several studies have well documented that the diet of populations of many countries is deficient in calcium because the low consumption or lack of dietary sources of calcium is not enough to achieve an appropriate contribution, especially for older people and teenagers as well.

What many people might not know is that they have at home an excellent cheap source of calcium which is the egg shell!

Studies say that half an eggshell could provide the amount of calcium needed by adult human beings per day.

How to use eggshell as calcium source? 

• Buy organic chicken eggs (try to get them fresh from the farm, if it is possible).

• Use your eggs as usually and keep the shells to make your supplement.

• Rinse well the shells in water.

• Put your eggshells into boiling water for 10 minutes to kill any pathogens

• Spread the shells on a tray and let it dry a few hours. 

• After that, put them  in the oven at 100° C for 10 minutes to dry better.

• After drying, put some shells in a coffee grinder and run until they are pulverised into a granular form.

• Carry on until all the shells are powder.

Add your powdered eggshells to your spaghetti, pizza or even by mixing in a little amount of water with meals. Consume 3/4 to 1 tsp daily with your meals. 1 tsp. contains approximately 800-1,000 mg of calcium. 

I hope this can help you.

Goodbye and until next post!

What overweight or obese children should eat?

Statistics say that the number of overweight or obese children has continuously increased in recent years. The main problem is that these children will be adults with overweight or obese with serious risk of developing severe diseases like diabetes, heart disease,high cholesterol, bone problems, high blood pressure, among others.

There are different reasons for children become overweight or obese. In addition to genetics, other factors should be taken into consideration and one of the most importance is how these children are being fed.

In what concerns children’s nutrition, parents and other child care providers should pay attention to serve balanced and healthy meals. 

Stay firm and help them establish a healthy relationship with food:

• Avoid fats and sugars.
• Avoid fried food.
• Avoid fatty food.
• Avoid food with low nutritional value (like fast food).
• Diet low in sodium.
• Serve small portions.
• Don’t forget vegetables and fruit.
• Serve at least one thing you know the child will eat.
• You should also have healthy eating habits to set the example.
• Improve exercise habits of all the family!

I hope you find this information helpful.

Goodbye and until next post!

How to make a face mask for Oily Skin

As I said in my last post, eggs can make great skincare products and facial egg masks are quite effective and cheap because they don’t need any expensive ingredients!

Egg white is an excellent natural product for oily skin. Egg white masks firm and tone the skin and can even be used for acne treatments, reducing discolouration of the skin.

I’m going now to tell you how to do a great egg white mask.

Ingredients:

·        1 egg white

·        2 teaspoons of lemon juice

·        ½ teaspoon of honey

How to do the mask:

1. Separate the egg and use only the egg white.  
2. Add the lemon (will act as a natural astringent)
3. Mix rapidly the egg white and lemon juice
4. Add the honey.
5. Mix everything together again until smooth.
6.  Remove all the makeup and wash your face with warm water to open up your pores
7. Apply the mask with your fingers.
8. Allow the mask to dry for about 15 minutes.
9. Gently wash the mask off and dry your face.

I hope it could help you!

Goodbye and until next post!

Egg facial nourishing homemade mask

Our skin is always under attack by many factors and, in the course of time, starts showing signs of ageing and fatigue. So what can we do about it?

In this post I would like to share with you a wonderful and natural nourishing egg face mask. Egg yolks helps nourish and moisturise the skin as well as reduce the appearance of blemishes. The use of olive oil and banana is also important because they have both great benefits for the skin and nourishment of the face. The olive oil will moisturise your face, leaving your skin feeling smooth and soft. In fact, this facial mask is extraordinarily effective.

For that mask you will need:

·        1 egg yolk

·        2 teaspoons of olive oil

·        1 mashed banana

How to do the mask:

·        Mix the egg yolk with the mashed banana.

·   At last add the olive oil and mix all ingredients together.

·    Tie your hair, remove all makeup and wash your face with warm water to open up the pores.

· Apply the mask to your face with your fingers avoiding the areas around your eyes, nose and mouth. Be careful not to get dirty. You can protect yourself with a towel.

·      Let the mask to act for about 15 minutes.

·     Take the mask off with warm water.

·    Dry your face with a soft and clean towel. Try not to rub too hard.

Goodbye and until next post!