GETTING YOUR HOME READY TO SELL

 

3 EXPERT WINTER SKIN CARE TIPS

 

(Family Features) As temperatures drop, winter weather can wreak havoc on your skin – leaving it dry, itchy or even irritated. Blustery outdoor conditions can leave skin feeling thirsty while the warm air blowing indoors can decrease moisture in the air – and your skin.

Winter doesn’t have to be synonymous with dry, flaky skin, however. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Sheila Farhang recommends incorporating these tips into your daily body care routine so you can fearlessly brave the winter elements.

Decrease shower length. While a hot shower may sound fantastic in the morning or after a long, chilly day, hot water actually strips away the skin’s natural oils and disrupts surface lipids and proteins. This damage can result in dry, irritated skin.

“I advise my patients to decrease shower length and use tepid water temperature instead of hot, especially in the winter,” Farhang said.

Use a moisturizing body cleanser. Most traditional soaps strip away the skin’s natural oils, but an option like Olay’s Premium Body Wash Collection is made with the No. 1 dermatologist recommended moisturizer, petrolatum and supercharged ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, collagen, vitamin C and vitamin B3 (niacinamide). These formulas infuse moisture 10 layers deep without leaving a coated feeling on the skin, and  they’re approved by the Skin Health Alliance, an organization of independent dermatologists and skin scientists who have verified the products so you can trust they are safe and effective.

“It’s important for those who spend their days and nights outside in low temperatures to protect their skin with not only warm clothing but also products that are formulated with ingredients that moisturize to improve the skin barrier,” Farhang said. “I always recommend Olay’s Premium Body Wash to my patients during the winter because it improves skin three times better than the leading competitor, boosts the skin’s moisture barrier and improves skin dryness.”

Look beyond lotion. If your skin sounds squeaky or feels tight, it’s likely been stripped of its natural moisture. For an extra dose of moisture, instead of lotion, consider adding an in-shower moisturizer, such as Olay’s Rinse-Off Body Conditioner, to your daily body care routine so you won’t need to apply moisturizer when you get out of the shower. Many lotions only provide temporary relief and need to be reapplied during the day, but a rinse-off body conditioner with ingredients such as vitamin B3, shea butter, coconut oil or vitamin E can fight dryness all day and provide concentrated moisture to help stop dry skin before it starts.

Find more information at Olay.com.

SOURCE:
Oil of Olay

4 TIPS FOR A PRODUCTIVE 2021

 

(Family Features) This year has taught many workers a thing or two about being productive when offices and homes blend into one.

As the calendar turns to 2021, consider these key products and processes to stay productive next year.

Find a system (and stick to it): Creating an organizing system is an easy way to ensure your at-home workspace is ready for optimal productivity. Designate space to house all your work items – a drawer, cabinet or box – and keep work items organized by type (pens, papers, computer gear, etc.) At the end of each day, transitioning to “offline hours” can be easier when you have a place to stow your work items.

Start your day clean: Studies have shown cleanliness has a direct impact on productivity. Yet, many people struggle to find the time and energy to clean, especially at the end of a busy day at home. An option like The DEEBOT T8 from Ecovacs provides a hands-free cleaning experience, complete with the time-saving benefits of an all-in-one robot vacuum and floor mop, along with TrueDetect technology to avoid tangling in small objects. Easily controlled via an app, just set it to clean before bed and wake up to a tidy workspace.

Break up your day: With so many hours at home in front of a computer, workdays can get a little monotonous. Break up the day to make working from home feel as “normal” as possible – shower in the morning, take a walk or drive to coffee then make time for at least two breaks throughout the day. Some people have found success with the Pomodoro Technique, which is breaking your day up into 25-minute chunks of work, with 5-minute rest periods. If you continue to work until you feellike taking a break, odds are you’ll overwork yourself until it’s too late to take the “big break” you had in mind.

Bookend your days with mindfulness: At the beginning and end of each workday, do a 3-5-minute mindfulness meditation. Before signing on to work for the day, allow your mind to fully focus on the day’s tasks at-hand. Signoff by doing another mediation to end the day and let go of any worries or stresses you might have. Incorporating this tactic into your daily routine can help create a natural boundary from work and home while also restoring peace of mind.

Find more solutions to help maintain productivity at ecovacs.com/us/blog/productivity-tips.

 

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

SOURCE:
Ecovacs

RED VELVET FOR YOUR VALENTINE

 

(Culinary.net) On the sweetest day of the year, a day full of flowers, love and sweets, Valentine’s Day is the ultimate opportunity to try a different dessert meant for two.

It’s hard to resist a perfectly blended, rose-red, luscious Red Velvet Mug Cake.

It’s the perfect size, with just a handful of instructions, and it’s easily cooked before your eyes in the microwave. That’s right, the microwave.

This mug cake is a simple way to make something delicious and keep the portions small. Whether you have a small party, just you and your loved one or just simply want something easy and small, this quick treat is designed just for you.

Start by mixing all the dry ingredients into a large mug, including flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.

Then add milk, melted butter, vanilla and red food coloring. Use a spoon and stir the ingredients together until blended.

Mix powdered sugar and cream cheese then drop the mixture into the cake batter and mix once more. Microwave the mug for up to 3 minutes until your cake is baked.

Valentine’s Day means sharing with someone how much you care, and it’s difficult to find a better way than to share something sweet.

This dessert has Valentine’s Day written all over it, however, it can be enjoyed anytime throughout the year and is perfect for a late-night snack if you’re craving something sugary-sweet.

Find more recipes and dessert ideas for every celebration at Culinary.net.

Watch video to see how to make this recipe!

 

Red Velvet Mug Cake

Servings: 1

• 6          tablespoons flour
• 2          tablespoons sugar
• 1          teaspoon cocoa powder
• 1/4       teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8       teaspoon salt
• 1/3       cup milk
• 2          tablespoons butter, melted
• 2          teaspoons vanilla extract
• 30        drops red food coloring
• 3          tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1          tablespoon cream cheese, softened

1. In 12-ounce mug, whisk flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Add milk, butter, vanilla and food coloring; mix until blended.
2. In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and cream cheese until smooth.
3. Drop cream cheese mixture into cake batter. Press into batter until covered.
4. Microwave up to 3 minutes until cake is done.

SOURCE:
Culinary.net