5 Simple Tips To Build Your Mental Stamina

Do you want to increase your mental stamina? Have you ever wondered what the steps to mental mastery are? Well, they aren’t anything tough, but simple habits that you can inculcate and follow every day from the comfort of your home. And this post exactly deals with those simple habits!

Read on to get your brain buzzing again in top gear:

How To Increase Mental Stamina – Factors That Affect:

These can be simple things that you don’t notice much and take for granted, like the time you spend sleeping, eating or exercising. These have a great impact, believe it or not, on your brain and mental stamina.

1. Eat Right:

Proper nutrition is the key to increasing mental stamina. The brain has a huge demand for energy and nutrients to function well. This remains unfulfilled if you don’t take enough nutrients. A “healthy brain diet” includes proteins and iron. You should also stay away from processed sugars and take a multivitamin daily.

Including almonds, blueberries and walnuts in your diet has many benefits for the brain. They work by lowering blood sugar and can improve cognition, according to brain experts. Experts attribute their health benefits to rich amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, and to good amounts of antioxidants in the blueberries.

2. Adequate Sleep:

The brain needs rest. During sleep, the brain gets some “me time” that it utilizes to rebuild its neural networks and do some mental spring cleaning. Missing out on sleep takes away this healing time. And this affects your mental stamina as well as keenness.

3. Exercise Is Key:

Rest and exercise, both are very important for the brain. Here is how to improve mental stamina through them. That’s why, experts tell us to exercise daily for at least 30 minutes every day. This not only works on our body’s muscles but also keeps our brain working at its optimum capacity.

Even a 5 minute walk around your building can up your brain stamina substantially. Exercising outdoors has more benefits for the brain than exercising within your home.

4. Manage Stress:

We have all heard about the debilitating effects of stress on our minds and bodies. Stress is a major ‘mental’ depressor.

We suggest that you turn to visualization exercises for taming this monster. All you have to do is to imagine that you’re in a soothing place whenever you are overwhelmed. Also meditate and relax consciously each muscle group from your toes to your head while meditating. This will have a brain boosting effect.

5. Concentration Makes Brain Perfect:

To increase brain stamina, include games requiring concentration, such as chess or Chinese checkers. Scrabble, Monopoly and Cards also work well as they require strategy, analysis, and endurance. These work together to increase mental stamina.

But, make sure to reduce video games. They can do more harm than good.

6. Meditation Works Well:

Meditate frequently. All you have to do is sit in a quiet corner and empty your mind of thoughts. Yes, it is a bit hard to practice in the beginning. But, it becomes easier with time. This helps in relaxing the mind and also keeping it healthy.

7. Practice Deep Breathing:

Deep abdominal breathing fills up your lungs with oxygen that improves brain function. A regular deep breathing practice is thus excellent for upping mental stamina and acuity. It also relaxes your mind, which again improves mental stamina.

Warnings:

Do not ever turn to over- the- counter (herbal) remedies that claim to help boost mental stamina. They may do more bad than good.

The road to a clear, focused and strong mind is the one of disciplined living, thought control and eating right. Do fill your minds up with positive thoughts, as positivity is a great brain tonic!

5 Exercises to Combat Cellulite

Cottage cheese should only be a reference for the actual food. No woman should ever have to worry about her thighs looking like the dimpled, lumpy food. Unfortunately it happens–even to the most avid exercisers and dieters. In fact, 90% of women suffer this condition in industrial nations. So, let’s first look at the cause to understand the solution. According to The Scientific American, cellulite occurs as women approach menopause and their estrogen levels decrease. This usually occurs around ages 25 to 35. As the estrogen decreases, so does your circulation. With less oxygen and nutrients, the collagen production levels decrease and the fat cells increase. When they begin to push through the thinning layer of collagen, they produce the bumpy look known as “cellulite.” However, as a society we have become more sedentary. Cellulite didn’t become a cultural issue, noted in publications, researched on until the 70s and 80s.

While the root of the problem is much more complex than a simple active lifestyle (check out The Cellulite Cure by osteopathic physician Lionel Bissoon), keeping your circulation at its optimum is easier to fix with exercise. Here are 5 moves aimed at tightening the thighs, saddlebags and glutes:

Plie Squat: Rather than standing with your feet hip width apart and your toes forward, scoot your legs out a little wider and point each toe to the adjacent wall: left toes toward the left wall, right toes toward the right wall. Keep the same posture and technique as a regular squat. But, when you push back up to standing position, squeeze your inner thighs. Try to tuck your butt inwards and give a little pelvic thrust at the top to make sure you are targeting your inner thighs and outer thighs.

Squats with an Exercise Ball: Place an exercise or stability ball between your legs. It should be off the ground, with its center hitting somewhere around your knee. Keeping your knees behind your toes and the weight in your heels, do a squat. This time however, squeeze your knees inward. Put as much pressure on the ball as you can as you squat down and up. Release a little of the tension when you are in standing position. For an extra challenge, hold the squat and pulse your squeezes.

Booty Bridge: Lie down on your back with your arms comfortably at your sides and your feet tucked under your knees. Push through your heels and thrust your hips upward towards the ceiling. The upper part of your back and shoulder blades should be pressed into the mat or floor. Lower yourself back down and repeat the motion. For an extra degree of difficulty, do the lift on one leg!

Mountain Hiker: This is a combination move. Start in a standing position. Bend down while placing your hands on the ground and kick your legs out. You should be in a plank position now. Kick your right leg up as close to your right hand as you can; this should feel like a very deep lunge. Pull that leg back and repeat on the left side. Then swing your right knee out to the side and tuck it on the outside of your shoulder. This is like a spiderman push up without the push up part. After each move has been done once on each side, jump or tuck your knees back in and stand up, returning to the start position.

Side Leg Raises with a Resistance Band: Grab a resistance band and place it around your calf. The higher up towards your knee, the harder this move will be. Lift your right leg up and out towards the right wall. Keep your leg straight and just hold it for a moment. Gain your balance and then put the movement into motion. Lower your leg back down. When you raise it again, really push it up and feel the pull of the band. Again, for a challenge, hold your leg up and pulse it upwards for 30 seconds. Repeat on both sides.

Brows that look realistic even from right up close! OH MY WORLD! So glad I know!

When we start talking about filling brows some people get a little nervous.

Usually those are the people that have very sparse brows, bare patches or are otherwise in need of quite a bit of filling.

Is it gonna look unnatural? Or like I drew them in? Am I going to look like a crazy lady?!

The answer is no…as long as  follow some really basic tips that EVERYONE can do.

(also wearing HAC pack in Sunlit – highlight + Stone – contour + Dahlia  – on cheeks and lips + Pearl – glow)

1. Start by filling your brow with an angled brush and a little bit of shadow. I like to use an ashy brown like MAC Brun.  (thaaat will be news to… none of you:) I fill in brows with soft short strokes rather than drawing them in in one sold line. Think of drawing a circle – when you’re a kid you just press down really hard with the pencil and make one super lopsided circle, later you learn to draw softly in short strokes to get it right. Same basic dealio.

This is where I usually call it a brow, cause I’m short on time and it actually looks quite nice, but if I have more time or if I’m planning to draw my brows in fuller/thicker than usual I’ll need to go to the next step or else they’ll look less realistic.

2. Take a very fine tipped brow liner like THIS Anastasia one and, going in the pattern your brow hair actually grows, create little hair strokes. Here again pressing down fair lightly and simple flicking the pencil.

3. If you have “wild hairs” that have a mind of their own and won’t stay in place nows the time to set them with a wax or a brow gel – whichever is your preference. I recommend Gel for those who have light brow hair that you’d like to darker/define a little more.

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

For a more in depth video of my routine check HERE

Love you guys.

Top 5 natural remedies against blackheads

Blackheads are just pimples that don’t have skin over them. That’s all they are. Because there’s no skin, and they’re exposed to the air, the top layer of gunk in your pores oxidizes and turns that darkish black color.

Source

If you’re prone to blackheads, I have some good and bad news for you. The bad news is, large pores and oily skin are going to be a fact of life for you. The likelihood that you’ll be able to totally reverse either of those things is nil.

How to Lose Weight Without Even Trying

Losing weight takes a lot of sweat and discipline, but even when you're not powering through a treadmill interval workout or counting calories, there are a lot of simpler ways to see those pounds drop on the scale.

Source

Always start a meal with a glass of water: You'll stay hydrated and feel fuller instantly, which can help you from overeating.

How to Find the Most Flattering Makeup Colors for You

Discovering makeup colors that look good on us can sometimes feel like a disappointing shot in the dark. How many times have you selected a lipstick or eyeshadow based on what you thought was pretty and what your eye was drawn to, only to find that it didn’t do you any favors? There are a few variables that affect how colors look on us, and fortunately, there are also a few foolproof tips and tricks to determining the right colors for you.

Lip Color

The most flattering neutral or natural-but-better lipstick should mimic a more pigmented shade of your natural lip color, so you’ll be able to get some good clues just by taking a closer look at your own coloring. Peeking at the inside of your lip may not be something one generally does in public, but it’s an easy way to find the best color for you. You can also match your shade to your flushed fingers—(gently!) pinch the tip of your finger or thumb and hold so that blood gathers in the area. It’s weird, but the resulting color is guaranteed to look great on you.

Eye Makeup

We generally turn to the color wheel to find the most flattering hues on each eye color. It’s basic color theory, just like we learned in elementary school: Colors on opposite sides of the spectrum complement one another. The best way to draw attention to blue eyes is with warm, rusty reddish and orange shades, including bronze. Green and hazel eyes look gorgeous with anything in the purple family. Brown eyes are neutral, so they do best with similar earthy shades like metallic taupe, shimmery champagne and olive green, as well as true, balanced blues from powder to cobalt.

Foundation

If you’ve only ever been matched for foundation by makeup artists and sales associates, it’s entirely possible to go through life having no idea what your “undertone” is. Like wearing the wrong bra size, makeup that caters to the wrong undertone will have you looking subtly off without being glaringly obvious, which is why it’s easy to fail to identify the issue. The easiest way to tell your undertone is by looking at the underside of your arm or wrist. If the color of your veins leans green, your undertone is warm. If they look decidedly blue, you’re probably cool. If you have a strong preference toward gold over silver or vice versa, and strong feelings about which one looks better on you, there’s a good chance that you’re warm if you prefer gold and cool if you prefer silver.

Regardless of your hair or eye color, your undertone is also a great way to predict which makeup shades will work on you and which won’t. Warm tones are suited to peachy hues, orange, coral, and orange-leaning reds, while cool tones look best with rosy hues, blues and greens, purples and violets, and blue-based reds. And if you’re neutral, which means your skin leans beige rather than blue or yellow, you’re likely to be able to pull off nearly anything.

Read more: The Best Makeup for Your Hair Color

NATURAL MAKEUP + ROSIE HUNTINGTON-WHITELEY

This little firecracker inspired my latest tutorial.

There’s something softly natural and maybe a little European about her makeup.

This is a great look for the whole, “I wake up looking like this” thing.

I overdrew my upper lip like crazy to try to capture that Bee stung pout but, I still didn’t get even close.

Touch’e Rosie, Touch’e.

Ok, so I had some SERIOUS technical difficulties with my video making skills tonight, it’s almost 2am and still not working, I would just stay up until its done but I’m gonna need some help from people that are currently deep in dreamland. Nevertheless, it’s been WAY too long since I’ve done a tutorial so I won’t make you wait another day… just maybe a few more hours. I’ll get it done ASAP and get it up just as fast as I can! So please check back later today! Here it is!

In the meantime here are the products I used:

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation – # 6.5 Tawny

Holy Hannah Montana this stuff is PRICEY! It was my B Day present so I’ve only had it a couple days. Not quite ready to say if it’s worth the splurge or not. Choirs of angels didn’t burst into song when I opened it (as I had expected) but, I think it’s pretty so far…I’ll keep you posted.

Stila In the Light Naturaleyes Eye Shadow Palete

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder – Golden Light

Stila Long Wear Liquid Lip Color in Patina

Benefit Cosmetics They’Re Real! Mascara

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter ~ Pink Lemonade

Maybelline Highlighting Concealer in Nude

NYX Makeup Setting Spray DEWY FINISH

Natural remedies for dry or cracked lips

Lips are a sensitive area where smoother skin  can be easily damaged. Indeed winter is the season when  lips are the most affected, but in any other season you can wake up with dry and chapped lips. Whether the wind blows or you stay too long in the sun and do not moisturize your lips, regardless of the circumstances it is good  during the year to take care of your lips.

Hydration is primordial – Natural remedies for lips ranks second after hydration. If you do not drink enough water and other fluids daily (soup, tea) all the trataments or creams are useless. As long as the situation is not resolved internally, all the external treataments have no effect. Besides liquid, consume vegetables and fruits rich in water.

Remedies for dry or cracked lips – For beautiful, healthy and free from cracks  lips, it’s best to follow a routine of care. Once a week apply a light scrub on your lips. But you have to be gentle, do not apply much pressure. You can do this with  sugar moist (but not melted) or wet corn. If you have a worn toothbrush to not throw it use it to clean the dead cells from the lips. For soft, smooth and healthy lips try at home one of the natural remedies described below. After making any treatment on the lips, remove them with a cotton pad soaked in warm water.

1. When you stay in the house put honey on your lips and leave it on for 10-15 minutes.

2. Put olive oil on your lips, or you can mix the oil with the honey; Leave it  on for 10-15 minute

3. Try aloe vera gel on your lips.

4. For chapped lips is very good calendula cream.

5. Coconut oil is also very beneficial for the lips.

6. Glycerin is beneficial forthe lips and dry skin.

7. For chapped lips is very good the castor oil.

8. You can put on your lips some cream( for cooking)- for 15-30 minutes.

In closing,  very useful simple tips if they are followed:

Do not bite your chapped  lips and do not break the dry husks .

Give up of the habit of licking your lips.

Use a lip balm when you get out that you also can use it on your lips at night.

If you expose yourself to the sun,  apply on your lips a lip balm with UV protection.

8 Tricks to Make It Look Like You’re Not Wearing Makeup

Red lipstick is one thing, but on a regular weekday, looking like you’ve got on a full face of makeup can be synonymous with looking like you’re trying too hard. It’s not that we’re trying to hide the fact that we’re wearing lipstick, but more often than not, if you’re showing major signs of wearing a ton of makeup, people tend to focus on that fact instead of how good you look overall. To help you help others focus on your beauty, not your faux pas, we’re sharing our best tips for how to make it look like you’re not wearing makeup below.

MORE: 8 Best Dark Spot Correctors to Improve Your Skin

Blend, blend, blend: Obvious as it may sound, blending your makeup can make or break a look. The key to a great smokey eye is blending the shadow, the secret to using highlighter is blending in the product and nothing can ruin a look more than a visible line of foundation on your jawline. With each step of your makeup routine, blend your makeup, then blend once more just for good measure.

Use neutral colors: If you’re going for the “barely there” look, choose neutral colors that will compliment your skin tone. While it’s true that purple shadows bring out hazel eyes and greens bring out brown eyes, keep things looking natural with shades of tan, brown and cream for shadows. When it comes to blush, go for peaches and roses, or the color your cheeks naturally become when you’re flushed.

MORE: How to Get Glowing Skin In 10 Easy Steps

Mix bronzer with your moisturizer: To get a sun-kissed look without looking like you added anything to your skin, mix a liquid bronzer in with your usual face lotion to dilute the color and help it spread easily.

Apply a primer: The benefits of a primer are twofold. First, a primer will help your makeup to look smooth and clean, not caked on or uneven. Second, when you apply primer to your eyelids, you cut way down on the likelihood of any creasing that can happen with your shadow. 

Choose a lip color two shades deeper: For the ladies who won’t leave the house without something on their lips, keep things looking natural with a lip stain or tint that’s two shades deeper than your natural color for a “just kissed” look. When you’re going for an au naturel lip, avoid waxy lipsticks or dark shades.

MORE: Beauty 101: When to Toss, Keep and Splurge on Makeup

Groom your brows: Eyebrow pencil, when used, should be two to three shades lighter than your actual brow color. Before you apply pencil, make sure your eyebrows have been groomed, whether that mean shaped, tweezed or waxed. Nothing takes the attention away from a pretty face like ungroomed eyebrows.

Use the correct concealer color: When concealing trouble spots like dark circles or pimples, using the right kind of concealer is crucial. Avoid orange, “fake tan” colors of concealer. Use yellow-toned concealer for redness or dark circles, lavender concealer for yellowish skin or extremely dark circles and green concealer for pimples or other red spots.

Avoid mascara clumps and flakes: First and foremost, if your mascara is more than three months old, you need to ditch the tube in favor of a fresh one. Old mascara gets dried out, causing clumps, flakes and sometimes even infection. Curl your eyelashes before applying mascara for a good, natural base, then apply by shaking the wand at the root of the eyelashes and brushing up and out. For a more natural look, apply just one coat. To take things a step further, use a brown or clear formula instead of black. Your lashes will look great, but no one will be able to tell why.

Image via Imaxtree

5 natural remedies for blackheads

They are ugly, unsightly and very resistant to almost any method of attack. If you’re struggling with blackheads, you know how hard it is to get rid of them once they have started to install. Today we offer five methods using natural ingredients that have the power to effectively remove blackheads. These remedies for blackheads are great. Try all of them and tell me if they worked!

Blackheads are a form of acne caused by excess sebum secretion and in combination with the skin’s bacteria and the pollution of the environment, creates these problems with an unpleasant aspect. Blackheads do not hurt, are not a serious health problem, but in terms of cosmetic, blackheads are a real chore, difficult to remove it. However, there are  simple remedies, which can reduce majority of the blackheads that appear especially on the nose.
You can also read another homemade remedies for blackheads in articles: 5 natural remedies for blackhead and Natural Remedies against Acne Scars.