January.6.2013: Make Your Shave Last Longer and Rid Dark Underarm Skin

So I recently discovered this awesome trick to get a closer shave that last longer and thought I would share it with all of you because I swear by this! The key is Exfoliation. I'm not sure where I read about this trick but I decided to give it a try and I haven't looked back since.

Steps:
1. Shower for 10 minutes so that your pores open and your skin is soft and soaked
2. Dispense a good amount of shower scrub in your hand (I use St.Ives Apricot Scrub but anything will work) apply to your legs and rub in a circular motion.
Don't be too gentle because the skin on your legs isn't very sensitive and you want to make sure you get rid of all the old/dead skin as well as any other dirt or oils that have collected on your skin since your last shower. 
3. Now when you go to shave the razor will be cutting the hair closer to the base of your skin instead of layers dead skin first making your shave last longer.

Underarm Skin
For some, no matter how often you shave your underarms the skin remains dark. This can be can make you feel self conscious especially during swimsuit season or anytime your wearing a sleeveless shirt. The dark skin is usually caused by a buildup of dead skin cells trapped by deodorant. Even if you don't have dark underarm skin your armpit region is still a haven for deodorant and bacterial buildup. Do once or twice a week to avoid irritation from excessive scrubbing. By exfoliating your underarm your removing layers of dead skin and old deodorant exposing fresh skin so your razor will cut the hair closer to your skin. Do once or twice a week to avoid irritation from excessive scrubbing.

I hope this helps! :)

January.1.2013: New Years Recovery Tips

Hangover Recovery

FIrst of all, I hope everyone had a great New Years!! After all the New Years drinking which I'm sure we all did ;) I thought I would take the time to list a couple tricks that have always helped me prevent a hangover or get over one. 
#1. Drink Plenty of Water
I know a lot of people push electrolyte drinks but water will work 100% the same way. Water is the most important because alcohol dehydrating your body is what causes most of the "hangover" symptoms.
Drinking Coconut Juice or Gatorade are also great substitutions for water if you have them handy.

* Downing a glass or two of water before falling asleep/passing-out after drinking will work wonders for your headache the next day!

#2. B12
Alcohol is a diuretic. Meaning that it causes you to lose a lot of vitamins and nutrients while drinking. The Most important ones being vitamins B and C. B12 is especially important because it helps your body process the alcohol. 
***This is the hangover cure I swear by! I cannot stress enough about how taking a small B12 pill before I start drinking makes such a difference in how hungover I get the next day not to mention how fast the alcohol "effects me".

#3. Fruit Juices
Fruit Juices contain a lot of anti-oxidants. Because, drinking causes oxidative stress on your body consuming anti-oxidants helps replenish your anti-oxidant levels. These anti-oxidants will help your body repair any type of damage.
#4. Eating Food
The Next day its always important to try and force yourself to eat a little food no matter how sick you feel. The more carbs the better!
#5. Take a Shower
Because, your body treats alcohol as a toxin it is continuously attempting to break the alcohol down into acetic acid. When this happens your body only manages to metabolize a portion of the alcohol. The rest of the alcohol escapes with urine or is excreted by sweat and the respiratory system. This means that some alcohol ends up sitting on top of your skin waiting to be reabsorbed. Taking a shower will improve the way you feel most of the time.
***I speak from personal experience when I say that taking a shower after a night of heavy drinking really makes you feel so so so much better! 

I hope this summary helps! And I hope you all feel better soon! I know I'll be feeling the pain tomorrow