Open Talk Mom

How to Care for Skin In Winter

Posted on 21. Dec, 2009 by Mary Lutz.

It’s amazing how many people complain about the condition of their skin during the colder months of the year. The reason is there is less moisture in the air, both indoors and outdoors, during the winter. You don’t have to wonder about how to treat problem skin during the winter anymore; follow these steps and your skin will look great.

To combat the lack of moisture in your home, be sure to set up a humidifier and keep it running while you’re at home. This will replace the moisture in the air which will help your skin look better.

Rather than taking long, hot showers during the winter, take shorter, lukewarm showers. Ten minutes is about the limit. Why lukewarm showers? Hot water wicks the moisture and natural oils from your skin.

Find an alcohol-free moisturizer and use it every time you bathe or take a shower. This will enable the most moisture to be absorbed back into the skin. You can also reapply a moisturizer whenever you feel your skin becoming dry.

Caffeinated beverages like coffee, alcohol, or soft drinks actually have a dehydrating effect. So, you may want to avoid them during the winter. Instead, to combat the possibility of being dehydrated, drink eight to ten glasses of water a day.

Remember to use sunscreen in the winter. Even though the sun’s rays aren’t as strong during the winter, that doesn’t mean you can’t still get sunburned. If you’re around snow, you’ll have the sunshine as well as the sun reflecting off the snow and ice to contend with.

Don’t forget to take care of yourself during the winter. Eat a healthy diet and take a multivitamin to ensure you’re not missing any important nutrients. Being healthy on the inside may show through the condition of your skin on the outside.

Be sure to put on gloves, a hat, scarf, and coat every time you go outdoors. You may not be outside for long, but that short time can be enough to suck the moisture right out of your skin. You may also be affected by wind. Using rubber gloves during cleaning will also help protect your skin.

Avoid wool or synthetic materials during colder months as they make winter skin itchier than softer fabrics. If you need wool for warmth, be sure to wear a layer of cotton between the wool and your skin.

Wash your face at night and follow with a night time moisturizer. Make-up left on your face at night tends to dry it more, especially in the cold winter months.

Dry, itchy skin isn’t fun at any time of the year, but it’s even worse during the winter. Knowing how to treat problem skin during winter is important, and following some of these tips may allow you to enjoy the season this year.

photo credit: Nicholas_T

Plurk This Post Buzz This Post Delicious Digg This Post Facebook MySpace Ping This Post Reddit Stumble This Post

Continue Reading

Great Last Minute Gift Idea for Kids and Parents!

Posted on 18. Dec, 2009 by Mary Lutz.

Do you enjoy cooking with your kids? Want to spend more quality family time with your kids? Do your kids like to help you in the kitchen? Want to get your kids interested in cooking? Here’s a great, inexpensive gift idea for Christmas: a complete, 110 page Ebook all about getting kids off the couch and into the kitchen! It’s filled with recipes that are easy to understand and make!

Included in the 110 page Ebook are:

• 6 different cooking themes; The American Diner, Mexican, Russian cooking, Hip on Hawaii, Native American Dishes and Picnics to Go.
• Jokes, facts and items of interest for each theme
• Safety tips
• Games
• And more!

I’m always trying to come up with new ideas for dinner and this is a great way to do just that, and get the kids excited about meal planning too! Who could ask for anything more when it comes to menu planning!?

When you order the Ebook, you also get two bonuses: No Bake Recipes Booklet and an ebook of whacky party ideas! So, go check it out now! Here’s the link again!

This Ebook is only $17!!! It will make a great gift for any family with kids ages 5 to 13, or for grandparents!

Get yours today!

Plurk This Post Buzz This Post Delicious Digg This Post Facebook MySpace Ping This Post Reddit Stumble This Post

Continue Reading

Animal Cruelty Revealed at the Circus

Posted on 16. Dec, 2009 by Mary Lutz.

I just received a very disturbing email from someone at PETA showing how baby elephants are trained for the Ringling Brother’s circus. Because I don’t believe everything I read, especially on the Internet, I went to PETA.org to see what this organization is about before deciding to share this story or not. PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, has some very disturbing videos on their site showing how animals are killed for their fur. If you have children, please don’t watch the videos with them around. I was sickened by what I saw; animals being skinned alive, thrown on the ground and beaten with sticks, and beheaded alive. Makes me sick.

But the point of the email I received was to show how baby elephants are trained to perform tricks at the Ringling Bros. circus. I know as parents we all love to take our kids to the circus to see these and other animals perform amazing tricks and feats, but once you see these photos, taken by a former elephant trainer, you may change your mind about attending their shows.

Below is a video of elephants being beaten before a show:

photo credit: Eneas

Plurk This Post Buzz This Post Delicious Digg This Post Facebook MySpace Ping This Post Reddit Stumble This Post

Continue Reading