Staying Positive in 2016

Can you believe it’s already 2016? The time is flying by!

There are plenty of good things that come along with a new year. There are new resolutions, new goals and plans and the chance to have a clean slate and start over.

This year join us in starting over this year with a positive attitude. Here’s two big steps in how we’re going to do it:

1.Cancel negativity out

Whether it’s a bad habit or a friend that brings you down, it’s time to cancel out those negative aspects of your life. It’s not going to be easy, but with a little determination it can be done.

Start by keeping a journal and documenting how you feel each day. At the end of each week, look through your journal entries. If some days your attitude seemed a little lower than normal figure out who, or what, could be contributing to your low mood.

Once you find the source, create a pro-con list of canceling the source out of your life. If the pros start outweighing the cons, it’s time to cancel that source out of your life.

2. Take “can’t” out of your vocabulary

This year we want to urge each other to stop saying “can’t.”

Trying new things is intimidating, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do them. If we don’t try doing new things, how will we know if we can actually do them or not?

When you feel the urge to use the word can’t this year, ask yourself these two questions:

1.     Have I tried it?

2.     What will I be missing out on if I don’t try it?

If your answers to the questions above are already filling you with regret, then try whatever is it you’re saying you can’t do.

2016 is your year. Don’t let “can’t” rule your life this year!

Vitamins for your skin

Sometimes using skin healthy products to wash and moisturize isn’t enough to keep our skin 100 percent healthy. One way to make sure your skin is in the best shape it can be is to provide the nutrients it needs from the inside out. We’re talking, vitamins!

Here are some of the best vitamins for you skin.

Vitamin C

Ah yes, good old Vitamin C, who knew that it besides fighting off colds, it’s actually a vitamin yours skin needs! Vitamin C is known for aiding your skin in collagen synthesis as well as feeding it plenty of antioxidants.

Good sources of Vitamin C:

1. Oranges

2. Grapefruit

3. Red/Green Bell Peppers

4. Strawberries

5. Papaya

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is known to benefit inflammation and rashes, as well as lessen the affects of psoriasis. When it’s cold out, our body lacks a good amount of Vitamin D, meaning we should compensate by eating plenty of Vitamin D rich foods!

Good sources of Vitamin D:

1. Salmon

2. Tuna

3. Kale

4. Mushrooms

5. Spinach

Vitamin K

Vitamin K aids the body’s process of blood clotting. Are dark circles taking over your eyes? Get your Vitamin K in!

Good sources of Vitamin K:

1. Brussels Sprouts

2. Collard Greens

3. Broccoli

4. Swiss Chard

5. Parsley

Vitamin E

Vitamin E absorbs UV rays and is known to fight against skin damage. Taking Vitamin E supplements or eating the foods listed below can offer you a healthy glow!

Good sources of Vitamin E:

1. Sunflower Seeds

2. Almonds

3. Peanuts

4. Asparagus

5. Avocado

New Year-New Skin Care

Skincare routines are all about sticking to them. But how often do we do that? This New Year we’re making a resolution to try a new skincare and stick to it!

1.Develop a morning and night routine

Consistency is key in a routine, but sometimes we’re just too tired to follow our morning and night skincare routines. Let’s change that! When you’re washing your face at night, try laying out the products you’ll need in the morning. For example, place your face wash and washcloth right on the ledge of the sink to remind yourself to wash your face in the morning. Set you toner, cotton balls and moisturizer right next to your mirror. That way, there are no excuses to stick to it!

2.Ditch the chemicals

Sometimes, we purchase skincare products based on the words on the front of the bottle. We’re drawn to anything that mentions “clear skin” or “flawless complexion,” but more often than not we forget to read what’s on the back of those bottles. Try turning it around for a change and instead of looking at those eye-catching phrases on the front, read into the ingredient list. How many of those ingredients do you recognize? If you don’t recognize the majority of what’s on the back, chances are your skin won’t recognize them either! Ditch those chemicals and find something with a shorter and more recognizable ingredient list instead. Go natural or go home!

3.D.I.Y.

For those nights when you need a deep clean, check your cupboards and make your own exfoliator! Ingredients such as: oats, sugar and salt can easily serve as all natural exfoliators. Mix in some lemon, honey and cinnamon and you’ve got a replenishing face scrub that will cleanse your pores and fight against acne. Plus, look at the bucks you saved!

4. Less is more

Natural skin is the new you! Our skin needs to breathe, but when we pack on the makeup it doesn’t always get the chance to. Let’s make a promise to ourselves this year to take a few days off a week from wearing makeup. If you don’t feel comfortable going bare, try a tinted moisturizer or just a few dots of concealer here and there. Trust us, your skin will thank you and you’ll get a few extra minutes of zzz’s in the morning!

Your Skin at the Gym

With the New Year comes new resolutions. One resolution people tend to make around this time of year is to make time for a regular routine. Whether that resolution sticks or not, is up to you!

If the resolution does stick, your new workout routine will be accompanied by achy muscles, flowing endorphins and sweat, lots and lots of sweat. Don’t get us wrong, sweat has a ton of benefits including: cleansing your body of toxins and, like we said before, pumping those mood-lifting endorphins. Unfortunately sweat can also bring rashes, acne and clogged pores if your skin isn’t taken care of properly.

Here are a few things that can help with those gym skin issues!

1.Leave the foundation at home.

We all want to look our best, but let’s face it, there’s no way to look good while working out. If you wear makeup, try taking it off at or before you get to the gym. Your skin needs to breathe during your workout, and it can’t do that with those perfectly bronzed cheekbones!

2.Clean your skin.

Whether you shower at the gym or as soon as you get home, washing your skin is extremely important after a down and dirty workout. The longer you sit after your workout, the longer your pores are clogged, which can cause some fast acting pimples on more than just your face.

3. Brings wipes.

If you don’t have time to shower immediately after your workout, a pack of wipes could save your skin! Wipe everything from head to toe including your face, armpits, chest, back and anywhere else that could cause some problems. Even if you’re just going home to shower, wipe your face down at the gym before you leave to take all preventative measures against acne.

4.Moisturize.

All that sweat is moisture leaving your skin. Once you shower, all of the natural oils in your skin, including that sweat, is being stripped from your skin leaving it parched. After you shower be sure you replenish your face and body with the moisture it needs!

5.Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

Sip plenty of water before, during and after your workout. Dehydration can cause you to feel weak and dizzy as well as making your skin dry and dull. If you stay hydrated your skin will appear firm and glowing!

Hot Beverages with Benefits

After our well-deserved and well-enjoyed holidays, it's time to resume our year-round "wellness" schedule for fitness, balance and beauty.

These warm beverages not only provide comfort when it's chilly out, they also provide a variety of benefits.

1.Peppermint

Besides awakening your senses with a burst of minty freshness, peppermint tea is a natural remedy for stomach troubles. Containing dried peppermint leaves, this tea is perfect for settling an upset stomach and relieving nausea.

2. Licorice Root

If the change in seasons is wearing on your immune system, brew up a cup of tea containing licorice root! Don’t worry, it doesn’t taste like those black jellybeans you leave at the bottom of the candy jar, but it does have anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce swelling or irritation in your throat.

3. Senna Leaf

If your digestive system is giving you a hard time, a tea containing senna leaf can give you the relief you need. Senna leaf is often used in laxatives, but the effect of drinking it as a tea is much gentler than taking over-the-counter products that often contain unnecessary ingredients.

4. Chamomile

Having trouble sleeping? Brew a cup of chamomile tea and let it steep for several minutes. Drink it right in bed, and you will feel a light wave of drowsiness. Sleep tight!

5. Dark Chocolate Hot Chocolate

We’ve saved the best for last! Yes, hot chocolate does reap a few benefits surprisingly. Eating chocolate releases endorphins enhancing your mood! Plus, if you can find a dark chocolate hot chocolate, dark chocolate contains a ton of antioxidants that our bodies need. Just skimp on the whip cream, marshmallows and extra sprinkles on the top!