For most people, their skin will never look better than when they are in their 20s. For others, it will never look worse. How your skin looks at the age you’re in really depends on your genetics and many other factors, but it can also be affected by using the wrong products or using the right products wrongly.  The top 8 skin care tips for healthy skin are listed below.

1. Protect Yourself from the Sun

 Sunglasses, sunscreen, and hats are all important tools to help you protect your skin from the sun. While a little sun exposure each day, up to 30 minutes each day, is healthy, overexposing is not. You’ll want to ensure that you use sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses to help protect your skin from the sun to keep it healthy. 

Practicing sun protection by wearing a sunscreen of sun protection factor(SPF) 30 and above can  prevent sun damage. Sun damage can cause the skin to develop uneven dark patches(melasma) if you are dark skinned. It can also cause aging and skin cancer.

2. Treat Acne Properly

 If you have acne, the best treatment is to seek medical advice. Some people have acne due to hormonal imbalances, others have it due to genetics, others still due to an allergic reaction to things like dairy. The main thing to know is that if you have acne, you don’t want to touch your acne and cause further infection and scaring by picking at your skin. Find a professional who uses the most natural methods and stick to that.

3. Avoid Using Too Many Products

 Many people get a little crazy with the products, piling them on and ending up with skin issues. All you really need is gentle soap for washing, a microfiber washcloth/towel for wiping and drying, and a skin type appropriate moisturizer with sunscreen. For makeup, less is more too, but you can use a lot if you make sure it doesn’t have a lot of additives.

4. Remove Makeup before Bed

 No matter how natural your makeup is, washing your face before bed is an essential beauty regime that will really make a huge difference. Wash off not just the day’s makeup but also the germs and oils that can cause acne and dullness. Add a night-time moisturizer, and your skin will work hard to repair itself while you sleep.

5. Get an Annual Skin Cancer Check

 Everyone is at risk of skin cancer, no matter what shade of skin you have. Getting an annual skin cancer check is one of the ways that you can reduce your risk of dying from highly treatable skin cancers. Most of the time, a simple procedure that takes less than 10 minutes can remove problem spots before they get serious.

6. Stay Hydrated and Eat Right

 Eating right and drinking enough water help to maintain and improve your health. Eating a diet that is high in plant nutrition is essential for healthy skin and eyes. Drinking enough water is also essential. 

Did you know that most people are dehydrated right now and don’t know it? Try focusing on drinking a minimum of 64 ounces to one gallon (depending on your height and weight) of water a day for 30 days. You will see a difference in your skin.

Read: Why is Avocado Good For The Skin?

7. Clean Your Makeup Applicators and Brushes

 You may be surprised at how damaging your makeup applicators and brushes can be to your skin. Dirty makeup brushes can cause an infection that looks like acne. Clean your brushes regularly with a good cleaner recommended for your type of applicators and brushes, and let them dry.

8. Get Your Beauty Sleep

 Sleeping enough each night gives your body time to perform repairs that only happen while you’re asleep. Getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night helps cut down on sagging skin, dark circles, and dullness. Imagine that – you can look many years younger just from sleeping? .

You really don’t have to do much to keep your skin looking amazing and feeling amazing. Remember, less is more. Wash your skin gently, moisturize, eat right, and watch the sun exposure, and your skin will look its best all the time now and later.

Mindfulness is about paying attention to what you are feeling and sensing in the moment. Think of it as taking the time to stop and smell the roses. It’s about cutting out the distractions and noise in your mind and choosing to focus on what is happening around you.

Benefits of Meditation

There are some big benefits to practicing mindfulness. Top among them is of course feeling less stressed. One of the reasons we feel stressed is because we are pulled in many different directions and are constantly bombarded by new information, media, and demands.

 Practicing mindfulness allows you to tune out the noise and give your mind a break. This in turn will help you relieve stress. Making mindfulness part of your daily routine can help you start to permanently reduce stress.

Practicing mindfulness can also help with anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

Mindfulness meditation has also been shown to help with improving attention span and reducing work burnout.

Simple Ways of Practicing Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness doesn’t have to be hard or complicated. You don’t have to get into any long mindfulness meditations unless you want to. You can start with some very easy and simple things. 

Let’s take mindful eating for example. Instead of eating in front of the TV or looking at your phone while eating a meal or munching on a snack, try this instead. Get out a plate and put your food on it. Arrange the food or snack. Sit down at the table and put your phone away. Focus on the food. What does it look like? What does it smell like? How does it taste? Savor each bite and pay attention to how your body is starting to react. Not only is it a great way to destress, but you’ll also find you’ll get a lot more out of each meal and this type of eating tends to keep you from overindulging.

Another great way to practice mindfulness is with mindfulness meditation. Focus on your breathing and notice how the air rushes in and out of your lungs, what it feels like to have it move in through your nose and out through your mouth. Pay attention to the rise and fall of your abdomen.

You can practice mindfulness anytime, anywhere. The hardest part is remembering to do it. Create one or two small habits for yourself that focus on mindfulness. Maybe it’s a simple meditation in the morning, or really paying attention to that first cup of coffee. Maybe it’s going for a stroll after dinner by yourself where you can practice being mindful of your surroundings and the beauty you encounter. 

Give it a try and start to reap the many short and long-term benefits of practicing mindfulness.

Congratulations, you have a new baby! Once, you've given birth, breastfeeding is one important thing you can do to protect your baby and help to promote good health. Along with saving you money on formula, breastfeeding can also help you to keep your medical bills down.

When babies are breastfed, they have more immunity against ear infections, respiratory infections, and allergies. 

During the first week of your baby's life, your breasts will produce colostrum for your baby to drink. Colostrum is rich in antibodies and aids the baby's immune system. It also helps him pass his first bowel movement, which is called meconium. 

Meconium is black and tarry-looking and is in the first few diapers after birth. Then it begins to transition to a brown substance and after your milk comes in, it becomes a yellow, mustardy stool that is loose and watery. 

Sucking on the breast will also help with jaw alignment and development.  So, there is less need for costly orthodontic work when the child gets older.

Data from a study with almost 9,700 children in 1981 concluded that longer breastfeeding times correlated with a lower risk of malocclusion (misalignment of teeth). 

Breastfeeding’s impact on jaw growth is also good for the development of a baby’s airway. This may help prevent problems with sleep-disordered breathing, such as sleep apnea.

Breastfeeding also offers many benefits for the mom as well. The baby sucking the breast will cause contractions right after birth, leading to less bleeding for the mom, and helping her uterus return to its shape before pregnancy much faster.

Breastfeeding also burns calories, so a mom can lose weight much faster than if she fed her baby with a bottle. Breastfeeding creates a special bond between the mother and the baby.

Getting Started with Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is an art that will require a lot of patience and a lot of practice. No one expects you to be an expert when you first start, so you should not hesitate to ask for advice or have a nurse show you what you need to do.

Once you start, keep in mind that nursing should not be painful. When your baby latches on, pay attention to how your breasts feel. If the latching on hurts, break the suction then try again.

How much should newborns breastfeed?

You should breastfeed quite frequently, as the more you nurse the more milk you will produce. Breastfeeding for 10-15 minutes per breast 6- 10 times every 24 hours is an ideal target.

Feedings can take 40 minutes or longer, therefore you will want a cozy spot where you will not be bothered.

Breastfeeding and positioning

For some people, the process of breastfeeding seems to come naturally to them, there is a level of skill required for successful feeding and a correct technique to use. Incorrect positioning is one of the biggest reasons for unsuccessful feeding and it can even injure the nipple or breast quite easily.

Your technique and positioning are important in ensuring that your breastfeeding experience is a great one.  A few different positions that can be used to make the experience more comfortable for you and your baby. Some of these positions include:

1. Upright

2. Mobile

3. Lying down

4. The Clutch Hold

Anytime you don't feel comfortable with a feeding position, always stop and switch to a different position.  Each position is different, while some mothers prefer one position, others may like a totally different position.  All you need to do is experiment and see which position is best for you.

Breastfeeding Complications

Sore Nipples

A lot of mothers complain about sore nipples that make breastfeeding painful and frustrating. Improperly positioned babies that suck really hard can make the breasts extremely sore. Here are some ways to ease your discomfort:

• Make sure your baby is in the correct position and latching on properly.
• Air out your nipples after breastfeeding
• After breastfeeding, apply some ultra-purified, medical-grade lanolin, making sure to avoid petroleum jelly and other products with oil.
• Make sure to wash your nipples with water.
• Many women find teabags ran under cold water to provide some relief when placed on the nipples.

Clogged milk ducts

Breast Infection