BEAUTY

beauty and beast 

Beauty & the Beast 

4 Ways Snow Is a Great Stress-Reliever

With the first major snow storm of the season about to hit many people are stressed out waiting on long lines to buy snow supplies like shovels, lanterns and ice melt as well as food staples and treats. So while people plan to dig in at home and then dig out, be aware of the many healthy positives about all that scary snow.



Our first association with snow is through memory – yay no school! Get out the sleds, the cross country skis and the snow boots as we become more primal, very little traffic on the roads. We trudge in the middle of the street because we can. We need to be reminded about spontaneous fun! Snowballs anyone?

Then there is the visual cue of snow. Let’s admit that it’s all quite beautiful and beauty is uplifting. Literature is filled with images of a serene blanket of white covering the dreariness of a barren winter landscape. We all love blankets anyway, something to do with security.
How we appreciate the sound of snow, or more accurately the lack thereof. Snow certainly quiets down noisy traffic stress as the world withdraws inward. However, there is a science to the quieting effects of snow. Snow is a pretty good sound absorber," said David Herrin, an associate professor in the UK College of Engineering who studies acoustics. Herrin said snow absorbs sound a lot like many commercial sound absorbing materials do, such as fibers and foams used in cars, HVAC systems, and other equipment. Sound absorption is measured on a scale between 0 and 1."In the audible range, a couple inches of snow is roughly around 0.6 or 60 percent absorbing on average," Herrin said. "Snow is porous, in some ways like a commercial sound absorbing foam." The sounds of silence create mental space and serve as a relaxation cue.

4 ways snow can relieve your stress:

• Snow signals a compulsory winding down, giving the self the necessary permission to stop activities and hibernate a bit. You have to accept limitations set by nature. You take refuge and accept that it is okay not to act. You learn to be more patient.
• The beauty and silence of snow can serve as a meditation because you have to notice and pause. When you go outside, you can see your breath. The cold energy creates a sense of peacefulness, seducing you to be in the moment and freeze that moment for future meditation.
• If you are cardiac healthy, shoveling snow properly by driving your power from your legs to spare your back, can be great exercise. Dress in layers, take breaks and get the job done with focus and measured steps. If you have neighbors who are more frail, help them out and boost your personal empowerment with kindness. Check on neighbors in need to make sure they are okay. If you can’t shovel, ask for help as this is the time to bond with your neighbors. You can make them hot chocolate. We can contribute in different ways.
• Tap into winter energy and use the time to lighten up and declutter indoors. Get rid of all that stuff you no longer need. Take your cue from nature.

sources Debbie Mandel

theranos

US regulators find serious deficiencies at Theranos lab: WSJ

theranos news

Federal regulators have found problems at one of Theranos' labs,according to The Wall Street Journal's sources. The Silicon Valley startup, famous for its blood tests that require just a finger prick's worth of blood, has been under scrutiny recently due to claims its methods are inaccurate. The WSJ says that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which regulates clinical labs, has found "serious" and "severe" deficiencies at the site.

This isn't just more bad PR for Theranos. Although the exact issue has yet to be disclosed, the report claims the inspection results will be publicly released soon, and could put the Northern California lab in question at risk of suspension from the Medicare program.

It's unclear if the problem relates to the "Edison" machines that process the finger-prick blood samples Theranos is famous for. Following FDA probes,only a single blood screen -- for Herpes -- is currently approved for the method. The other hundred-or-so tests the company offers are currently processed using traditional methods, pending the FDA okay. So there's every chance the issue could be misconduct unrelated to the testing methodology that propelled the company to a $9 billion valuation. That said, anything that calls the professionalism of a laboratory into question is not good for Theranos' under-fire business.

We've reached out to Theranos for comment on the WSJ's allegations, and will update this article when we hear back.

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Beauty • Skin Care

          Large Pores Treatment

Large pores are simply a genetic problem. Large pores are often an indication of oily skin.Large pores (sometimes referred to as enlarged pores) are likewise more common in the T-zone and occur most often on those with oily skin. Though not always, large pores and blackheads tend to go hand in hand. Blackheads and large pores usually come together. This is because the pores are larger, so oil and dead skin sits inside of them. This becomes a blackhead and stretches the pore even larger.

If enlarged pores are due to blackheads stretching the entrance of the pore, then firstlyremove blackheads using one of the above methods, then to contract pores, blend (one or your preferred mixture) of camphor, sage and / or thyme in a base of jojoba oil. Use as a compress or mix in with your moisturiser and apply to affected areas. Jojoba is easily absorbed into the skin and balances oil levels (which may assist in reducing blackheads as sebum production is regulated).

Oatmeal and gram flour are good toning substance. You can add a little lemon juice, rose water and curd to them and apply on the skin. Wash this pack off when it dries. It tones the pores and enhances the complexion.

Honey is equally good to tone up the pores and reduce the oiliness from the skin. It can be applied in any of the facemask or can be directly applied on the skin with a little lemon juice and sugar to it. You can massage it on face and leave it for few minutes. Then rinse it off with lukewarm water. Honey added to milk powder too helps if applied on the skin. A paste made of salt and butter is helpful in reducing 

pore size if applied on them.

Add tomato juice to calamine powder or sandalwood powder, as they help in reducing the size of the pores and even tone up the skin well. These packs help skin to reduce the sebum production and thus help in reducing the size of the pores.

Boire strips help with blackhead removal, so if you have blackheads, use them. They are effective. Also, scrub your face regularly to prevent your pores from getting clogged. Make sure you use a scrub that suits you, because certain scrubs can cause a rash.

Egg skin is a pore-shrinker that also helps bring skin eruptions to a head. Break an egg, reserve its contents for other use, and then carefully remove the membrane from the inside of the shell. Smooth this egg skin over the enlarged pores; let dry before peeling off.

Sunburn is better prevented than treated. Effective sunscreens are available in a wide variety of strengths. Most doctors recommend a sunscreen SPF level of 30 or greater.

Large pores are simply a genetic problem, but you can temporarily reduce large pores by clearing away dirt and debris. Large pores are often an indication of oily skin. Use one after the other for cleansing and exfoliating the skin. Mix 2 egg whites with a few drops of lemon juice. Apply on face and leave on for 5-7 minutes, then rinse with hands. As egg whites dry, they lighten the skin and pull debris out of pores.

Mix almond meal with enough water to make a paste. Apply to pores for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water, and then apply witch hazel or a solution of apple cider vinegar and water

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