This mindset is valuable in any endeavor where success is not immediately achieved. Perseverance and resilience in the face of obstacles lead to lasting success & wellness.
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Weekly Beauty Tip #11 – How to Choose Between Gel and Acrylic Nails
How to Choose Between Gel and Acrylic Nails
By Gemma O’Leary
Women have a lot to choose from when they come to the beauty salon in order to get a manicure. However more often than not you will get asked whether you would like gel or acrylic nails applied. Here are a few things to know about both types of fake nails before you make a final decision.
How are acrylic nails applied?
They have been a staple in the beauty industry for years and their popularity is ever increasing because of their longevity.
They are applied using a type of liquid monomer and a powder polymer in order to create a hard protective layer around your natural nails. Once the acrylic has hardened, it then becomes the perfect canvas to apply colour on.
How are gel nails applied?
Gel nails are becoming popular because they have the same strength as acrylic nails but the looks of natural nails. They are applied by using a base coat, polish colour and top coat under a UV light because gel nails only harden when they are exposed to UV light.
Which type of nail is better?
Both acrylic nails and gel nails will strengthen nail and will make your fingers look more slender. However, both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of acrylic nails:
If they happen to break off, it is usually relatively easy to fix it at home.
Their removal is rather simple when done by a professional, the nails are soaked rather than filled off.
When cared for properly and when fitted correctly, acrylic nails can last a very long time.
They are a lot cheaper than gel nails.
Disadvantages of acrylic nails:
They can damage the nail bed which can then become a breeding ground for fungus and bacteria.
If applied incorrectly, acrylic nails can look a lot less natural than gel nails.
They cannot be applied during pregnancy due to the strong chemicals and fumes which are involved during their application.
Advantages of gel nails
They look more natural and are also glossier than many other types of false nails.
They have a very fast curing time and will therefore provide great results in no time at all.
They are consider a more eco-friendly option because the chemicals used to apply them lack fumes.
Disadvantages of gel nails
They are less durable and their application costs more than acrylic nails.
They are harder to apply at home as their application requires the use of a UV lamp.
They are harder to fix if they break as they tend to shatter.
Gel nails are removed by being filled off and more often than not cannot be soaked off as is the case with acrylic nails.
Even though both types of false nails can be applied at home, it is often best to get a professional to do it. Especially as the fumes emanating from the chemicals used for the application of acrylic nails may overwhelm you at home and without a UV lamp it will be very difficult to get your gel nails to harden.
Which nails to choose?
While both types can be styled the way you want, so the choice is yours. It is often best to ask your friends which nails they have applied or to confer with a manicurist as there are many variables to choose from.
Gemma O’Leary is an expert in beauty products and currently writes for online nail shop Effect Beauty.
Article Source: How to Choose Between Gel and Acrylic Nails
Making Small Changes to Re-energize Your Life
This article was encouraging to me since I've recently slid away from wearing my pedometer & working on my various 30 day fitness challenges.
Making Small Changes to Re-Energise Your Life
By Katherine Helen Jackman
Staying fit can sometimes be a challenge, but so can getting the motivation to even start a productive fitness regimen. When you get home from a long day at work, the first thing you really want to do is sit down and put your feet up. But sometimes you have to push yourself through the end of day slump and get yourself re-energised, giving yourself the motivation you need to really make a difference.
Of course, the prospect itself can be daunting. Losing weight, getting fit and building muscle are all long-term goals, and sometimes even the idea of having to keep up a certain routine is enough to stop a person from even starting. In other cases, people simply don’t have the time to do a real work out, and so they suffer for it.
How can you make the transition from couch potato to Adonis with minimal disruption to your daily life? Can you even get the body that you want without a gym membership? The answer is yes, and here are a few simple changes that you can make to change your life for the better.
Incorporate exercise into your routine
This sounds hard, but it doesn’t have to be. Regular exercise can be extremely beneficial for a person beyond the obvious advantages; not only does it help you become healthier physically, but it can also improve other aspects of your life. For example, exercise can be great for stress relief and regular exercise improves your sleep patterns.
The key is to incorporate exercise into your routine in a way that is actually achievable. If you know you’re less likely to exercise after work, then don’t. Exercise before work instead. What’s important is that you give yourself no excuses.
Find activities you enjoy
Exercise doesn’t have to be a tedious chore, and just because all of your friends like to get up for a 6am run doesn’t mean that you have to do the same. You’ll be more likely to persist with exercise when carrying out activities that you enjoy, creating a workout that you find engaging and enjoyable. If you actually want to exercise, you’ll be much more likely to do it frequently.
By the same token, don’t pick one exercise and stick to that, because your body will eventually become accustomed to it, slowing your progress. Have a variety of activities you can do to keep things varied. For example, you might go swimming one day and to a self-defence class the next.
Change your diet for the better
It may seem obvious, but it can’t be stressed enough how important a good diet and proper hydration is, especially when it comes to exercise, weight loss and body building.
Changing your diet doesn’t just include what you eat and drink, especially if you’re really serious about getting fit and building muscle. There is a variety of natural sports supplement powders that you can use to aid your body’s breakdown and recovery during an intense workout. Just be careful and ensure that you carry out thorough research before making a purchase; there’s a difference between using something like MET-Rx protein shakers and body supreme whey diet protein, and it’s important that you understand those differences and know how the various supplements available can be beneficial to you.
Keep Going!
This is the hardest part of all, but a bit of perseverance will go a long way. Getting motivated is easy, it’s staying that way that presents a challenge, so make sure that you don’t let the fire die out! Do whatever you have to so you can keep pushing yourself further; if you hate exercising alone, ask friend or your partner to exercise with you. If you’re struggling to get out on time in the morning, prepare your gear the night before.
They key, as mentioned earlier, is to allow yourself no opportunities for excuses. It doesn’t matter if you’re not an amazing athlete from day one, what does matter is that you just keep going.
For more information, visit http://www.sshealthfoods.com
Article Source: Making Small Changes to Re-Energise Your Life
Weekly Beauty Tip #10 – Fixing Dry Winter Skin
Winter certainly doesn’t want to go away easily this year even as far south as I am in Florida.
Ok so I know it’s nothing compared to the rest of the country our 2 or 3 days of true winter here and there followed by a few days of spring-like weather but we’ve even seen snow flurries even here this winter. At any rate, the cold always wreaks havoc on your skin drying it out and in extreme cases leading to painful cracking. Here are some at home treatments to help.
Banana Mask (to lubricate and cleanse dry skin)
Blend 1 medium or large banana until creamy smooth. Apply over your skin, avoiding the eyes and mouth. After 15 minutes, rinse with clear warm water.
Dry Skin Soother (exfoliates, lubricates, moisturizes and calms skin)
You need: ½ cup plain yogurt, 1 cold peeled, chopped cucumber, and 1 teaspoon olive oil
Mix ingredients together in a bowl then apply to face and neck. Leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with warm water. (Skip your regular moisturizer.)
Also check out the body butters from Authentic Me Beauty. When combined with the exfoliants it leads to deep moisturizer that lasts.
Until spring, stay safe, stay hydrated and moisturize.
💞 Ms. ME
Quick Artwork by ASP update
The aspiring artist has sold 2 of her drawings. Does this mean that she is aspiring no more? Maybe she thinks so because she refuses to join any art contests that have been recently proposed to her.
At any rate, going forward she will be personally posting and blogging about her artwork here. Stay tuned!
ECV Talks 