How to Start the New Year Fresh

How to Start the New Year Fresh

*Polishing Your Look 

                                                Get a haircut to freshen up your face. Schedule an appointment with your stylist early into the new year. You can get a trim for a subtle upgrade or go for a bold new hairstyle for a totally different look. This way, you’ll feel fresh for the year ahead.

• For instance, if you have long, straight hair, consider chopping it to shoulder-length and adding some layers.
• If you have a short hairstyle, consider cutting the sides even shorter for a subtle change. For example, if you have a pixie cut, you can take it even shorter.

Experiment with your look by trying something new appearance-wise. Doing something new with your appearance can help you feel confident as you enter the new year. You can do things like rock a bold lip color, get a new facial piercing or upgrade your current glasses style. Find what works for your style and budget, and go for something new!

• You can also dye your hair a bright color, go on a shopping spree for new clothing, or invest in a new pair of shoes.

Start a fitness routine. Think about your current health and your overall fitness goals, and make a plan to improve your health based on where you are. For instance, you can start taking a 20-minute walk after work every day, or you can train to run a marathon in the fall. Start simple and gradually so you can stick with your goals.

• If you are new to exercise, you can find a gym in your area and start going 3 times a week. Walk on the treadmill for 20 minutes each time to get started.
• If you are a fitness enthusiast, make a goal to improve your BMI or get a six-pack by the end of the year, for instance.

*Updating Your Attitude

                                                     Practice gratitude every day to fill your life with kindness. Practicing gratitude can boost your mood overall and improve your outlook on life. Each day before you go to sleep, write down 3 things you are grateful for. In addition, express your gratitude for the people in your life by telling them you appreciate them.

• For example, you can write things like, “I am grateful for my cat,” or “I am grateful for the sunshine today.”

Include a positive affirmation in your daily routine. Positive affirmations refer to a simple, short sentence that you can use as a reminder throughout your day. Using positive affirmations can boost your self-esteem over time, which is helpful when starting off a new year. To work with positive affirmations, find a phrase that works for you, like “I am worthy,” or “I am capable of challenges.” Tell yourself this first thing in the morning and throughout your day as you start to doubt.

• Tailor your affirmation to your particular life and circumstance. For example, if you are working on being a more supportive friend, your affirmation can be “I am fun and loyal.

Do random acts of kindness as often as possible. Random acts of kindness are small, deliberate actions performed to bring happiness to other people’s day. Do these actions without expecting to get anything in return, but rather to brighten someone’s day. This is a great way to start off the new year on a positive, compassionate note.

• You can do things like giving generous compliments, smiling at strangers, and volunteer for charities.
• Pick up trash on the side of the road, help an elderly citizen cross the road, or give food to the homeless.
• You can also pay for the next person’s coffee or give your server a large tip.

*Setting Goals and Intentions

                                             Aim to try 1 new thing every month. In addition to your personal resolutions, it is helpful to strive to get out of your comfort zone at least 1 time each month. You can schedule 1 new thing each month, or you can pick a few things and choose when the time comes. Regardless, choose to do something you’ve never done before or learn about something brand-new to expand your horizons and grow as a person.

• Trying a new thing can be as simple as eating a cuisine you’ve never tried before.
• You can do active things like going kayaking, horseback riding, or skydiving.
• Other ideas include taking a language class, joining a yoga studio, or planning a camping trip.

Make a bucket list of 20-50 things to try in the upcoming year. Shortly into the beginning of the year, sit down with a notebook and write out several things you want to do throughout the year. Choose simple, easy things such as “eat more vegetables” or specific, realistic goals like “Go back to college.” Add as many items to your list as you feel compelled, and check them off as you complete them throughout the year. The list provides a visual reference, helpful when trying to set goals.

• You can use this list to help get ideas of new things to try each month.
• Ideas for your bucket list could include visiting New York City, picking your own pumpkin, adopting a dog, taking a cooking class, and traveling to the beach.

Update your resume so you’re ready for new opportunities. Shortly into the new year, open up your resume, read it over, and look for ways to improve it. For instance, if you started a new job at the end of the year, add it under your “Employment” section. You can also update the dates to reflect the new year. This way, if you want to apply for a job, you are ready when the time comes.

• You can also update your contact information or address.

Strive to improve your sleep habits. When the new year rolls in, getting more meaningful and restful sleep is a great goal to add to your resolution list. You can aim to relax more before you go to sleep, such as taking a bath, drinking chamomile tea, and reading a book. You can also go to sleep and wake up around the same time each day to get into a natural rhythm. Improving your sleep will, in turn, help you feel focused and energized throughout the year.

• You can also use white noise or nature sounds to help you fall asleep.
• Consider taking a melatonin supplement if you have trouble sleeping. Melatonin is a hormone produced in your brain that helps regulate sleep cycles. By adding 1-3 mg a day, you may get more restful sleep over time.

HOW TO GET FAIR SKIN NATURALLY

HOW TO GET FAIR SKIN NATURALLY

Exfoliate your skin 1-2 times a week.

                                                    Exfoliating means gently scrubbing your skin to remove dead skin cells. You can do this with a dry exfoliating brush, a damp washcloth, or a salt or sugar body scrub.

• Since the skin on your face is very delicate, only use exfoliating tools and products specifically designed for use on the face. Body exfoliating products will typically be too harsh.
• Keep in mind that exfoliation only helps if your current skin is darker than your normal skin tone because it reveals fresh skin that is untouched by the sun.
• To make your own facial scrub, try adding a teaspoon of ground almonds or oatmeal to your regular cleanser.

Apply a moisturizer to your skin morning and night. Your skin will look lighter, brighter, and healthier if it’s well-nourished. Use a moisturizer that’s formulated for your skin tone, and apply it every morning and evening after you wash your face.

• For example, if you have oily skin, you would use a lightweight moisturizer that absorbs quickly. If your skin is dry, you might need a heavier moisturizer. If you have combination skin, you might prefer using a lightweight moisturizer on most of your face, then a more concentrated formula where your skin is the driest.
• Use a lightweight body moisturizer on your chest, arms, and legs.

Put on sunscreen indoors and outdoors. Most of the normal darkening and discoloration of your skin is caused by exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. To prevent this, along with skin-related conditions caused by UVA and UVB rays, wear sunblock with a minimum of SPF 30 on your face, chest, arms, and hands every day, no matter where you'll be. For the strongest sun protection, reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours, especially if you’ll be outdoors

Make healthy changes to your lifestyle to get glowing skin. Each day, try to eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. In addition, men should drink about 3.7 l (130  fl oz), while women need about 2.7 L (91  fl oz) of water every day in order to stay hydrated. Try to exercise for about 30 minutes a day, as well.

• If you're hydrating properly, exercising regularly, and getting all of the nutrients you need in your diet, your skin will have a beautiful glow, making it seem bright and healthy

Shield yourself from the sun outdoors, even if you have sunscreen. Even with sunscreen, you may still experience some redness or darkening when you’re outside, especially in the summer when the sun’s rays are strongest. You can help avoid this by keeping yourself shaded as much as you can if you have to be outdoors.

• For example, you might wear lightweight, long-sleeved clothing and a wide-brimmed hat if you’ll be outdoors, and you could sit beneath an umbrella or a large tree for even more protection.
• You may also want to avoid being outdoors between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. when the sun’s rays are the strongest

Be realistic with your expectations. Skin that is already naturally dark is very hard to lighten more than a shade or two, especially using natural methods. Keeping your skin healthy by protecting it from the sun, exfoliating and using natural lightening methods is your best bet for keeping it on the lighter side in tone.

• Remember that consistency is the key, so continue do your facial treatments several times a week until you see the results you’re looking for

Make a turmeric paste to try an ancient lightening treatment. Turmeric is an Indian spice that has been used to lighten skin for many centuries. Mix turmeric powder with just enough olive oil to make a thick paste. Spread the turmeric paste in a thin layer over your skin. After about15- 20 minutes, rinse it away with warm water.

• Turmeric contains curcumin, which acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and may help brighten your complexion.
• It’s a good idea to wear old clothes when you make this paste, because the turmeric may stain your clothing. It may also temporarily stain your skin yellow, but this should wash away quickly.
• You can repeat this treatment once a day as often as you like.

Rub your skin with a raw potato to lighten age spots. 

                                                                          Cut a potato into slices, then sprinkle a little water over each slice. Rub the potato over your skin if you want all-over lightening, or place it on your skin and leave it there if you want to lighten a specific area, like an age spot. Either way, rinse your skin with warm water after about 10 minutes.

• The starch and sugar in the potato will help exfoliate your skin, and vitamin C, potassium, zinc, and other nutrients will help rejuvenate your skin, which can help it look lighter.
• Potatoes are mild enough that you can use them to lighten your skin every day.
• If you don’t have a potato on hand, try other fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C, like tomato, cucumber, or blended papaya.

Make a nighttime lemon juice rinse to exfoliate and lighten your skin. Squeeze about 1 US tbsp (15 mL) into a bowl, then stir in 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of water. Dip a cotton ball into the mixture and dab it onto the skin you want to lighten. After about 20 minutes, gently rinse it away with warm water, then pat your skin dry with a soft towel and apply a facial moisturizer.^[14]

• Repeat three times a week for the best results.
• Lemon juice acts as a natural exfoliant, taking off the surface layer of the skin to expose the lighter skin underneath. The citric acid in lemon juice also creates a light bleaching effect (just like it does when you put it in your hair).
• Lemon juice can dry out or irritate some people’s skin, and it can sometimes cause sensitivity to sunlight. If you experience redness, stinging, or burning, rinse away the lemon juice right away and do not apply it again.

Use pure aloe vera to soothe and brighten your skin. Aloe is known for helping your skin heal after getting burned, but it also has a compound called anthraquinone that gently lightens the skin by removing the top layer of skin cells. Apply a thick layer of aloe to your skin, then give it about 20 minutes to absorb completely. You can rinse it off, but since it’s so nourishing, you don’t have to!^[16]

• You'll see aloe as an ingredient in a number of different creams and lotions, but for an all-natural treatment, use an aloe vera plant or get a bottle of pure aloe vera.
• Apply the aloe once a day until you see the results you’re looking for.

Rinse your skin with green coconut water for a nourishing glow. Get a bottle of 100 percent coconut water, or crack open your own young coconut to extract the water. Dip a cotton ball in the water and apply it to your face and other areas you want to lighten. Leave it on for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

• You can do this twice a day for as long as you like.

Make a lemon, honey, and oatmeal mask for natural exfoliation. When you mix natural skin lighteners with exfoliants, you can create a mask that lightens the skin by both taking off the dark top layer of cells and lightly bleaching the fresh skin underneath. Try a mask made with lemon juice, honey, and 1 tsp (1 g) of oatmeal. Apply it to your face and anywhere else you want, leave it for 20 minutes, then wash it off.^[18]

• As you wash off the mask, use the tips of your fingers to make gentle circular motions. The ground oatmeal will scrub the top layer of dead skin from your face, revealing lighter skin underneath.
• If you have dry skin, use cucumber instead of lemon. Apply a mixture of equal amounts of cucumber juice and honey on the face and full body for 15 minutes, then wash it off.
• You can also try mixing 2 tsp of oatmeal powder (2 g) with a pinch of turmeric and a few drops of lemon juice.

Soak your skin in yogurt or milk to brighten as you moisturize. Dip a cotton ball into plain yogurt or full-fat milk and dab it onto your skin. Leave it in place for about 20 minutes, then rinse it away with warm water.^[20]

• Milk and yogurt both contain alpha-hydroxy acids that gently exfoliate your skin.
• It's important to use full-fat yogurt or milk since skim or low-fat products won’t contain the necessary enzyme.

Consult a doctor if you develop blisters after a sunburn. Fair skin is much more susceptible to sunburn. Severe sunburn can include red skin and small blisters on the surface of your skin. If you develop big blisters over a portion of your body, it could lead to serious infection.^[21]

• Don’t try to drain the blisters yourself or you could cause them to become infected.

See your doctor if you have red skin that doesn’t go away after 1 week. Fair skin that is exposed to too much sunlight can turn red and painful. If you have red skin that won’t go away even after treating it, talk to your doctor to make sure there isn’t a more serious problem. Your doctor may be able to prescribe medicine to help you heal.^[22]

• Mild tenderness, itching, and skin peeling are common symptoms of sunburn and do not require medical treatment.

get medical treatment for an allergic reaction to a natural remedy. Even natural treatments like turmeric and aloe vera can cause reactions in some people when they’re applied to the skin. If you experience a negative reaction after using natural skin lightening treatments, stop using it, and rinse it off of your skin. If the reaction turns serious, get emergency medical treatment.^[23]

• Serious allergic reaction symptoms include rapid heart rate, difficulty breathing, or if you feel like your throat may close up.
• A mild rash or hives doesn’t require emergency medical treatment, but if it doesn’t go away after a few hours, contact your doctor.

Go to a dermatologist if you develop new moles on your skin. Fair skin is more at risk of damage from exposure to sunlight.^[24] The ultraviolet radiation can lead to the development of moles, which could potentially be cancerous.^[25] If you develop new ones or see changes in your existing moles, make an appointment to see a dermatologist.^[26]

• If your existing moles get larger, change color or shape, or become raised, go to a dermatologist.
• See a doctor immediately if your moles become painful or swollen.

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