Monday, June 29, 2015

Young Living Weekly spotlight: Stress Away

     Stress Away is a blend of unique essential oils. Ingredients such as Lime essential oil, included for its energizing properties, are coupled with Lavender essential oil with its unique attributes. Copaiba is a powerful Amazonian essential oil, while Vanilla absolute gives this dietary blend a distinct aroma and pleasant flavor.

  • Add Stress Away to water following exercise.
  • Incorporate Stress Away into your daily routine.
  • Add 1-2 drops of Stress Away to natural fruit or vegetable juice throughout the day when life is demanding.

15 Biggest Sunscreen Mistakes

By now, you probably know that you should use sunscreen every day both to help reduce your risk of skin cancer and to prevent pesky wrinkles, dark spots, and other signs of premature aging. Yet even people who do slather it on religiously make potentially dangerous mistakes. Here are the most common ways you're messing up with sunscreen—and how to truly protect yourself from UV rays.

You wait until you're outside to apply sunscreen

How many people have you seen get to the beach, spread out their blankets, strip down to their swimsuits, and then start slathering away? "You actually want to apply your sunscreen 30 minutes prior to exposure," says Jeannette Graf, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. That way, it has time to get absorbed and start working—and so you don't get UV exposure for those first few minutes when your skin is vulnerable.

You apply sunscreen around your clothes

Skin cancer can strike anywhere, so it's best to apply sunscreen when you're buck naked. Otherwise, "if you already have a swimsuit or clothing on, you're likely to apply it gingerly so you don't get it on your clothes, which makes you likely to miss a spot or not apply liberally enough," says Noelle Sherber, MD, a consulting dermatologist for the Johns Hopkins Scleroderma Center. Strip down in front of a full-length mirror, she says, which "helps ensure you entirely cover tricky spots like the mid-back and backs of the legs." (And you should apply before going outside anyway, right?)

You don't protect your lips

Just like the rest of your skin, lips are vulnerable to UV rays, so it's extremely important to use sunscreen on your mouth. But don't use the same stuff you use on the rest of your body—it tastes weird and won't last that long on your lips anyway. So try a lip balm with SPF which is thicker so it stays on longer. "Then reapply even more frequently than you do body sunscreen, since talking, eating, and drinking removes the sunscreen on your lips faster," she says.


You miss other key spots

Think you can smear sunscreen on your nose like a 1950s lifeguard and be covered? Unfortunately, there are lot of less-obvious areas people tend to forget—and they're just as important to protect, Dr. Graf says. "The most commonly missed areas are toes and feet, including the bottoms of your feet; underarms; back of the neck under the hairline; ears, especially the tops and back of your ears; eyelids; and inner upper arms." Put that stuff everywhere.


You sweat (or rinse) it all off

The small print on your sunscreen label matters, so make sure you're choosing the right sunscreen for your activity, especially if that activity involves sweat, a pool, or the ocean. "Make sure you get a water-resistant formulation for swimming or activities where you'll perspire, because non-water-resistant formulas can slide right off," says Dr. Sherber. "Plus, they tend to mention migrate into eyes and sting, whereas water-resistant ones won't.”


You use a body formula on your face

It's not just a marketing gimmick: There is a difference between face- and body-specific sunscreens. "Facial skin is generally more sensitive to irritation than body skin, so face formulations have been tested to cause less irritation and not trigger acne," says Dr. Sherber. "If you're acne-prone or sensitive, avoid the body versions for your face, especially the dry-touch sprays—they're absolutely full of alcohol, which is very drying and irritating for facial skin.”


You only use it when it's nice out

Danger! It may seem counterintuitive to slather on sunscreen on a gray or drizzly day, but you can get UV exposure without ever seeing the sun in the sky, says Dr. Graf. Eighty percent of UV rays still come through on cloudy days, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, so don't let the weather affect your sunscreen use.


You don't use enough

The old rule about using a shot glass worth of sunscreen every time you apply still holds up, says Dr. Graf. (That's about 1.5 ounces.) But now that more of us are opting for continuous spray formulas, it can be hard to tell if we're really getting enough coverage . To make sure you're using sprays correctly, she suggests holding the can six inches from skin and spraying nonstop, so you can see the moisture covering the entire area. "Then rub it in—yes, even if the bottle says you don't have to—so you don't miss spots," Dr. Graf says. "And repeat the spray a second time.”


You think you're safe indoors or in cars

Unless you choose to spend your time in a windowless bunker, you're not protected from UV rays when you're inside. "Driving can be a major source of incidental exposure," says Dr. Sherber. "The windows and windshield block UVB rays so you don't see a sunburn, but UVA seeps right in, and that's the spectrum that causes most skin aging and skin cancer." Your best bet: apply sunscreen every morning, then feel free to sit by a window or take a drive! At the very least, try a moisturizer with SPF so you're not adding a step to your daily routine.


You don't use a broad-spectrum formula

It used to be that many sunscreens only blocked UVB rays, the high-energy kind responsible for sunburns. But shielding against UVA rays is just as important, says Dr. Graf, because they "penetrate the skin more deeply, are constant throughout the year, and cause premature aging." Umm, no thanks! To be fully covered, look for sunscreens labeled “broad spectrum," which means they thwart both types of rays. And good news: these formulas are increasingly becoming the norm.


You chose an SPF that's too low

Yes, tanning oil with SPF 8 technically is sunscreen, but it's just not enough protection. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 15. But should you go higher? Some say the often-pricier high-SPF sunscreens are a waste of money, since they don't provide much more protection—SPF 30 blocks 97% of rays, while SPF 50 blocks just 1% more. However, they do have some benefit.  "They absorb more free radical-producing energy, so I recommend them for the summer," Dr. Graf says. One caveat before you reach for the SPF 100: "The super-high SPFs can provide a false sense of security, like you're protected for longer, but you need to reapply just as often as you would an SPF 30.”


You don't reapply often enough

It may feel like you did your due diligence by applying sunscreen once, but it's not a day-long cloak of immunity. Reapplying it just as important as putting it on in the first place. How often? "Every 80 minutes, even if it's water-resistant," says Dr. Graf.


You use an old bottle

If you're using enough sunscreen when applying—remember that shot glass-worth, or those two coats of spray?—then having bottles leftover from years past shouldn't be much of an issue. But if you happen to have sunscreen that's been lingering for two years or more, Dr. Graf says to chuck it, since it can ;so its effectiveness over time.


You skip it if you're going to be in the shade

Seeking solace under a beach umbrella or an awning near the pool doesn't mean you're getting adequate protection from the sun. Why? Sand and water both reflect damaging rays, and 34% of UV radiation gets through when you're under a beach umbrella "so you still have to apply sunscreen if you're sitting under cover," says Dr. Graf. Even if you don't get a sunburn, you're still getting UV exposure.


You don't protect your eyes

Sunglasses aren't just a fashion statement—they're critical to keeping your eyes safe from UV rays. Make sure your sunglasses offer UV protection, because some inexpensive styles don't have the protective coating. "Without it, the dark lenses actually allow your pupils to dilate, allowing even more UV rays in, which can play a big role in cataract development," says Dr. Sherber. Finally, a health reason to buy a pair of nice shades!

Monday, June 15, 2015

Young Living Essential Oil Weekly Spotlight: PANAWAY

Panaway, a soothing essential oil blend of Wintergreen, Helichrysum, Clove, and Peppermint, is great to use following physical activity.

  • Apply topically after a strenuous workout for a refreshing cool down.
  • apply several drops onto the bottoms of feet for a soothing, relaxing foot massage.
  • Place 3-4 drops onto a hot towel and hold over the abdomen for a cool, refreshing effect.

CHANGE YOUR LOOK WITH HILIGHTS AND LOWLIGHTS

      Men and women both can add some color to their hair to brighten up their look and give their locks some freshness and pizzaz. One of the easiest ways to do this is by applying highlights or lowlights, or even a combination of both to your hair. 
Highlighting your hair means adding a few streaks of colour throughout your hair. Colour choices range from white blonde to shades of red or golden brown. But, if you’re up for a little adventure, you can also choose trendy colours that make a statement, such as hot pink, electric blue, burgundy or almost any color you like.

     Lowlights follow the same concept as highlights, but the colour tone is usually darker, and the results less dramatic. Lowlights are ideal to boost your hairstyle without being obvious. Usually matched closer to your natural colour, lowlights blend well and add tone and texture to your hairstyle. 
Adding both highlights and lowlights to your hair will give it both depth and three dimensional color. You can choose to add highlights and lowlights all over your hair, or possibly just use some soft highlights at the front only, to frame your face.
     
Highlights are ideal for spring and summer hairstyles, since they bring a dose of sunshine to winter worn locks. You can have them professionally applied at a hair salon, where they may choose to use a cap method, or if your hair is longer, they will wrap the hair in foil to complete the highlights. 

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Young Living Essential Oil Weekly Spotlight: THIEVES

Thieves essential oil blend was inspired by the legend of four 15th-century thieves in France who formulated an aromatic blend composed of cloves, rosemary, and other botanicals to use while robbing the dead and dying. This one-of-a-kind blend can be found in many of Young Living’s most popular products. Taken internally, it can support a healthy immune system.

  • Place 2-3 drops ina capsule and swallow daily for extra immune  support.
  • Include Thieves in your wellness practices to maintain a healthy immune system .
  • Dilute 1 drop of Thieves in 4 drops of carrier oil and add to a capsule. Take 1 time daily.

The Evolution Of The Ideal Female Body Image Over the Past 10 Decades

1910s: Built Strong For Survival.


This wasn’t exactly a relaxed time for Americans. These ladies really did have to walk up a hill both ways to and from school/work. Okay, maybe not but life was stressful (A world war!) and living day to day required a lot of action.

Women were strong, broad and didn’t focus much on their figures. To them, it was about survival of the fittest.



1920s: The Feminist Movement
The 20s brought a huge change to the way women wanted to be percieved. They didn’t want to flaunt their feminine figures, they wanted to be considered equals among men so instead they aimed for a “boyish” figure.
I know it’s hard to believe, but during the 20s women would tape their chests down to flatten their breasts. Funny, that’s the last thing I want to do.
It was also during this time that women sported short hair and baggy clothes.


1930s: A Woman Can Be Sexy And Strong

God bless the 30s! We realized that being an independent woman didn’t mean we had to look like school boys. We began showing off our natural waists once more (yay for hips) and even began sporting padded bras (Best. Invention. Ever.). Actresses like the gorgeous Bettie Davis (above) was the icon of the time.
What I found most interesting in my research is that the 30s also marked when women began to think about food choices. This time could be considered the start of the diet craze. We wanted to look slender and long while maintaining our feminine curves.
Exercising to achieve the ideal figure wasn’t quite the norm yet though some women did experiment with light weights!
1940s: The Sexual Revolution
The 40s women were greatly impacted by WWII. They began to gain more strength among men in the work force (having to work while men were away) and used it to their advantage.
They bodies became even more curvy, and hemlines began to creep up higher (because of saving material for war). Women felt more confident flaunting their bodies which of course would only lead to also becoming more self conscious about their figures simultaneously.

1950s: The Bombshells
I feel like this is the time we all long for. If only having the Marilyn Monroe size 12 hourglass shape was still popular.
The women of the 50s embraced the natural female body perhaps more than any other era. Hips and breasts were expected and not only sexy but a sign of fertility and health.
Because they were focused on landing a man, women of the 50s were always put together. There were no weekends in sweatpants. Even a trip to the drug store meant primping.
The 1960s: The Beginning
I call it the beginning, because huge changes took place that continue to impact our figure today. Twiggy became popular as a model and with her so did her figure. Women longed to be skinny, even rail thin. They didn’t want body fat, muscles or a figure. There was no such thing as “too skinny” and the boyish body was back.

The 1970s: The Zeros
The thin-craze was in full force. Women began to feel the pressure to be thinner than their friends. During this time, there was an increase in the number of eating disorders as women wanted to do whatever it took to “be sexy”… or a size 0.
On a happy note, Farrah Faucet did have some fabulous hair!



The 1980s: The Fitness Craze
And so we complete the circle of when this story began.
The 80s brought upon aerobics thanks to Jane Fonda (did you know the popularity of her DVD actually increased sales of VHS players which were still new at the time?), strength training thanks to Jake Steinfield, and the crazy dance moves of Richard Simmons.
The 80s marked the start of the fitness revolution for women. Toned muscles started to become popular, yet strength training wasn’t the focus. Women focused on aerobic exercise to decrease their waist size but wanted a “tone” that still looked feminine.
Eating disorders continued to increase during this time as well.

The 1990s: Heroin Chic
Everyone wanted to be a runway model and it wasn’t helped by women like Kate Moss. We wanted to be skinnier, we wanted to look like the actresses in magazines.
From the 60s to the 90s, it was all about how thin could we get?



The 2000s: The Airbrush
Personally, I think the 2000s were the worst for women. Airbrushing was/is able to transform people into being what the media wants. And then of course we want what the media tells us looks good.
Women of the 2000s aimed for the unabtainable body. The Barbie.
At the same time, gym memberships increased as did women’s aweness for strength training. Figures are lean but more muscular than prior.
The 2010s: Strong Is The New Skinny
I am not a fan of that saying but I think it sums up our period of body image pretty solidly.
Women today are aware of the unobtainable body, though we still aim for it. We understand that while aerobics is important, strength training is too.
Even more, we love muscles. We love features that show strength, not weakness. It’s no longer about being “skinny” but about being fit. I feel we’re back to showing of our feminine independence by aiming for a more solid figure.
I might be completely wrong about our outlook on our figures today and in 10 more years we’ll likely look back and critique this time. However, living in the present (because that’s all you can do), I feel as if we’re moving in the right direction from the past 20 years…
What do you think? 
Question: If you could visit any era in history for 24 hours, when would you go back to?