Category Archives: Beauty & Grooming

Here’s why it’s a bad idea to stick cotton buds in your ears

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Cotton buds is a household essential for many of us, but now health professionals have warned that using them could potentially damage your hearing.

But why do we have ear wax in the first place and what kind of damage can cotton buds cause? National charity Action on Hearing Loss has the answers.

Ear wax – it’s brown, sticky, and many of us don’t want it; it’s gross! You may even be wondering what the point of it is. Well, it is mostly harmless and even has a lot of good qualities, like protecting our ears from nasty bugs and germs.

However, some people produce far too much wax or are prone to their ears blocking up, which is one of the biggest causes of temporary hearing loss. It’s also a major cause of hearing aid failure.

If you are worried about a blocked ear because of wax the biggest temptation is of course reaching for the cotton buds.

But in a new report published by NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), experts said that using cotton buds could push the wax further down into the ear causing damage to the ear canal and ear drum.

It also states that ear syringing, where a large manual syringe is used to pump water into the ear, is potentially harmful and should no longer be used.

Gemma Twitchen, Senior Audiologist for Action on Hearing Loss, said: “Actually for many of us, wax is not an issue and believe it or to our ears are self-cleaning. If you are worried about a blocked ear because of wax  many of us automatically use cotton buds, or even worse hair pins, or anything else you think you may be able to fit into your ears. I’ve even heard of people sticking their car keys in their ears! So, what can you do about it?

“We strongly do not recommended putting anything in your ears as it can make the matter worse- all of these can push the wax further down into the ears and make it harder for the wax to come out of the ear naturally.

“If you have any trouble with your ears, consult your GP who will arrange the best course of action to remove it safely, if need be.”

For more details about ear wax and why we have it, visit https://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/how-we-help/information-and-resources/publications/hearing-health/ear-wax/

For the full NICE report published this week, visit: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-cgwave0833

 

The Fragrance Shop launch scentaddict

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Finally, a fragrance lovers subscription box you have complete control over. Just in time for Christmas, The Fragrance Shop have unveiled their latest launch scentaddict. Scentaddict gives customers the chance to experience their favourite scents every single month, this is the cleverest of fragrance gifts. Each month a handy 8ml atomiser is filled with your choice of fragrance selected online or in store at The Fragrance Shop. Yes Ladies and Gents, you can have a rolling supply of Chanel if you like. With 8ml to fill which is approximately 100 sprays, you’ve enough time to decide whether or not you want a fragrance update or continue filling with a fragrance you love. What’s more, each time you refill, you can redeem the cost of the subscription against a full size bottle of the fragrance you choose to put in your atomiser that month. The refill fits inside a ‘twist and spritz’ casing which comes in 18 different colours and can also be used with any of your own fragrances making it perfect for handbags and travel carry-ons.

The subscription is priced at £12 per month with P&P included and can be cancelled at any point with no minimum contract. We gave scentaddict a go and it’s ideal for anyone who doesn’t want to fork out big bucks for a high end fragrance, if you just love to try anything and everything and if you’re unsure whether your spouse, nanny, uncle or colleague will like your choice of fragrance. Allowing them to pick for themselves is always a winner.

To find out more and to sign up, visit;

https://www.scentaddict.com

Secrets of Glo | Beauty Review

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Secrets of Glo is a new beauty brand from actress, model and musician Glo Butane. Handmade with love, her serum can be used in conjunction with your existing beauty regime, or alone. All the ingredients are natural and UK sourced. There is approximately a one month supply in a bottle. It is for crows feets, laughter lines, veins…basically any problem you are having with your skin. It minimises the look of age lines. You leave it to soak in for 10 minutes and then massage it in and then apply your regular moisturiser.

Glo has always been passionate about essential oils, but she did not develop the serum until she was pregnant with D-R, when she noticed lines and veins popping up everywhere, and could not use her regular products because they had unsafe ingredients that could affect her child’s development. Because this formula is natural and it works it has been a part of her skincare regime ever since.

This is a brilliant serum and I highly recommend it. A great, natural product that really works.

www.secretsofglo.com

The Crazy Nature of Human Communication: The Importance of Being Mindful of The Moment

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By Dr Rajan Sankaran, author of Dog, Yogi, Banyan Tree

Arriving at the lift of my building one evening, I met a neighbour who was known for his rudeness and for putting others down, while blowing his own trumpet. If someone from the building met him somewhere he would ignore them and walk away with his nose in the air. I tried to be a good neighbour and greeted him in a friendly manner asking him how he was.

When he perfunctorily asked me how I was, I thought it might help bridge some of the gap between us to share something. I said, “the younger of my two sons has gone to the USA to study, and with both my sons gone I feel an emptiness in the house.” Instead of some words of empathy or enquiring what my sons were studying, he pointed out that now my sons had left, the alterations that I had made to my apartment, which he had advised against, were now useless. He went on to mention that the alterations were probably illegal.

I was taken aback by this comment. I had tried to be a good neighbour and this was the response! This thought kept going on in my mind all day. So, when later I met another neighbour who is a friendly person, I told him about the incident. I wanted to share with him my experience of the rudeness and insensitivity of the other man.

Instead of seeing where I was coming from, he immediately was concerned about the plans of my apartment that he said he had seen some time ago. He told me that he was quite sure there was nothing illegal about the changes I had made to the apartment.

Stepping back from these experiences; I observed how the three of us saw the same thing in entirely different ways. I was lonely because my sons were away. I tried to convey this to my neighbour, who wanted to find some way to put me down. Then the second neighbour who heard all this, saw it from a completely different perspective: namely, the legality of the changes in my home.

Though I know somewhere that each one of us has his own perspective and that there is no objective reality, my mindfulness in the above incident made this very clear. Each individual comes from who they are and how they perceive things.

There are so many perceptions in one reality. When we communicate with each other, it is actually each one of us talking to himself. We hardly hear the other one. We are hearing ourselves all the time. It is like an orchestra where each musician is playing his own melody.

By stepping back and becoming a witness to the whole phenomenon, I got an insight into how stuck each one of us is in his own inner pattern of perception. I also realized the crazy nature of human communication.

Dr Rajan Sankaran is an internationally-famed homeopath, spiritual thinker and practitioner of holistic healing. His new book, ‘Dog, Yogi, Banyan Tree’ is an insightful and inspirational chronicle of personal and spiritual self-discovery. It is available now in paperback from Amazon UK, priced £21 and published by Homoeopathic Medical Publishers. For more information visit www.dogyogibanyantree.com

Win a copy of Dog, Yogi, Banyan Tree by Dr Rajan Sankaran

We have three copies of Dog, Yogi, Banyan Tree by Dr Rajan Sankaran, usually priced £21, to give away. To be in with a chance of winning follow frost on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/frostmag, just email frostmagazine@gmail.com with your name and address. The three lucky winners will be notified by 3rd November and will receive their prizes shortly thereafter.

 

Coping with Hyperemesis Gravidarum – mums speak out on severe morning sickness

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As news of the Duchess of Cambridge’s third pregnancy makes waves across the nation, we are reminded of the realities of morning sickness and its level of severity in some rare cases.  The UK’s leading support resource for mums to be Emma’s Diary, (verified by the RCGP – Royal College of General Practitioners), has spoken to several mums suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (which affects 1 in 100 pregnant women) about their experiences, in a series of candid interviews.

Around 80% of pregnant women suffer from morning sickness (and despite its misleading name, it doesn’t just happen in the morning).  For some, like the Duchess of Cambridge, extreme vomiting triggered by pregnancy can be severe, even life threatening for those diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG). In a bid to share their stories and raise awareness of this less common condition, these mums have spoken out to warn others that if you believe you are suffering from extreme sickness, not to be fobbed off by suggestions that ‘it’s normal’, because it might not be the case:

Bella Drew from Norwich in Norfolk said:

“My baby is due in just over two weeks time. The moment I first found out I was expecting, my heart filled with excitement but that was soon to be diminished a week later.  My experience of so-called ‘morning sickness’ started at around three weeks, I couldn’t keep anything down but I was told that was normal.  As my suffering worsened I was put on medication which didn’t really help in my opinion.  I had lost around two and a half stone, had sustained haemorrhages within my eyes from the straining while being sick. 

I was being sick every 15 minutes throughout the day and night.  I was bedridden and eventually I gave up.  I couldn’t cope anymore and I was admitted to hospital diagnosed with HG. Despite all of the recent media attention the condition is still massively misunderstood. I wouldn’t wish this debilitating illness on anyone and we really need to spread more awareness of the impact and symptoms of HG.” 

Emma Eaton from Gosport in Hampshire said:

“I am pregnant and am currently suffering with HG; I was also hospitalised for two weeks in my last pregnancy having almost died from starvation and dehydration.  I have been in and out of hospital numerous times during my current pregnancy to have IV fluids and IV anti-emetics to help control the symptoms. I have to take two different types of tablets to help prevent me from being sick as I have been physically passing out and collapsing – also knocking myself out in the process. I believe there needs to be much greater awareness of this life-threatening condition amongst pregnant women and those who are planning to have children.”

Gemma Edwards from Walsall in West Midlands said:

“I was diagnosed with HG with all three of my pregnancies which has left me with some long term health problems. I am losing my teeth due to the impact of the stomach acid because I was vomiting anything from 20 to 50 times a day. I was also hospitalised for weeks on end with ketoneuria (ketones in my urine – a sign of dehydration) and my veins kept collapsing, this condition made me very ill and my kidneys went into pre-failure meaning my life was at risk and also that of my children.  This is a very serious condition and more awareness of the long term health risks it poses is much needed.”

Many women who are diagnosed with HG say they can’t keep anything down. They can also lose a lot of weight and fluids and sometimes have to be admitted to hospital for re-hydration treatment as well as require antiemetic medication to stop the vomiting.  In terms of adverse effects on the baby, experts say there are usually very few unless weight gain continues to be poor during the second half of pregnancy; or indeed the symptoms are more severe over a sustained period of time.

Sufferers of HG reported:

  • Extreme fatigue
  • Muscle weakness
  • Weight loss
  • Depressed mood
  • Tooth loss
  • Kidney failure
  • Severe dehydration (with ketones present in urine)
  • Disturbed salts in the blood
  • Eye haemorrhages
  • Long term health issues

Dr Shauna Fannin FRCGP, Chair of the Editorial Board at Emma’s Diary said: “Every pregnancy is different and whilst pregnancy sickness is extremely common, Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) only affects 1% of pregnant women and is a condition at the extreme end of the pregnancy sickness scale. HG sufferers will vomit frequently and can become dehydrated very quickly so it is very important to seek urgent medical advice.”

Faye Mingo, mum of two and Marketing Director at Emma’s Diary said: “It’s really brave for these women to speak out and share their experiences with others.  What is apparent is a desire to build greater awareness on the topic of HG and to dispel any myths about what is considered to be ‘normal’, the message from most of the mums we spoke to is to trust your instincts and to keep pushing for medical support if you believe you or your pregnancy might be at risk.”

 

Advice on still being a socialite when quitting smoking

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If you’re in the process of quitting smoking but class yourself as a socialite — this quiz to discover your smoker profile from Nicotinell should help establish if you are indeed a social smoker — you may find yourself questioning what this will mean for your social calendar.

This guide will explain how you can continue to be a socialite without the need to smoke:

There are links between smoking and alcohol

Before we advise you about how you can continue to socialise while being smoke-free, it is important to point out the close link between smoking and drinking alcohol.

At the extreme, government data has found that up to 90 per cent of people who are addicted to alcohol will also smoke. Furthermore, smokers have been found to be more likely to drink and have a 2.7 times greater risk of becoming dependent on alcohol than non-smokers do.

In general, it is important to understand that both alcohol and nicotine act on common mechanisms found in the human brain.

When it comes to nicotine, the chemical compound will enter the bloodstream as soon as you smoke a cigarette and rapidly get transported to your brain. Once there, the nicotine will stimulate the brain by creating receptors which release chemicals that give a feeling of pressure. These receptors will increase in number as smoking becomes prolonged and your brain will become reliant on nicotine in order to release these feel-good chemicals.

However, the nicotine supply in your bloodstream will drop within 72 hours of your decision to quit smoking — those receptors won’t disappear that quickly though, so your brain’s chemistry will react to cause powerful cravings and strong emotional reactions. Persistence is key, as nicotine receptors will go away with time and your brain chemistry should be back to normal within three months of a quit.

In regards to alcohol, researchers believe this substance fosters feeling of pleasure. If true, this reinforces the effects of nicotine on the brain. There are suggestions that nicotine and alcohol will moderate each other’s effects on the brain due to the fact that nicotine stimulates while alcohol sedates.

Tips for socialising when on a quit-smoking journey

So, you have taken the first step and stopped smoking, but now face the dilemma of socialising in a scenario where you would have previously had a cigarette. Here’s how to stick to your goals and still have a good time:

Don’t put it off

You shouldn’t delay going out for a drink because you’re having doubts. Everything you did as a smoker, you can do as a former smoker. Holding off too long from social drinking after quitting can create a sense of intimidation. Plus, socialising with friends is an important part of your life. The sooner you teach yourself how to enjoy a drink or two without a cigarette, the sooner you’ll feel like your life is back to normal.

Have a pep talk with yourself

Where you go to enjoy a drink could very well trigger your smoking cravings. Before leaving the house or in the car, be mentally prepared by saying aloud, “I’m a former smoker.” Or try, “I don’t smoke. I’m healthier and happier without cigarettes.” The main point is to remind yourself that you’re a former smoker and that you don’t need to light up anymore.

Aim to have a social get-together where no smoking is involved

Instead of going to a place where people are likely to be smoking, why not invite your group of friends to your house instead? You can celebrate your smoke-free success with them. You’ll be able to control what is served which can help stop those triggers and completely avoid cigarettes in your smoke-free home.

Enjoy time with non-smokers

Non-smokers and friends who will be supporting your decision to stop smoking will definitely help. Who you choose to hang out with can help support your ex-smoking status. Slip-ups can occur when quitters are in the company of other smokers who may not be aware of how to support their quit attempt.

Invite a quit buddy to join you

A friend or family member can prove a huge helping hand as your quit buddy, so be sure to invite them along to whatever social event you’re attending. A quit buddy is someone who supports your quit. Should you encounter old smoking friends who ask you to join them, make sure they are aware of your situation so they can be respectful. Not only that, you’ll also have your quit buddy to hang out with.

 

Be Kind to your Body with Kind Natured

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Before your tan fades and you dive into those winter woollies make sure to pamper your body with Kind Natured nourishing body lotions. Free from sulphates, parabens and petrochemicals Kind Natured’s hair and body products are 97% natural – and they smell delicious too.

Slough off that dry, flaky skin with Coconut and Monoi Foaming Sugar Scrub and follow with lashings of deeply nourishing Shea and Macadamia Body Lotion.

Natural sugar crystals blend with coconut, shea and minoi to create a sumptuous foaming sugar scrub that is free from microbeads. It smells of  golden summers on the beach and is gentle on the skin, leaving it feeling soft and smooth.

 

Follow up with Shea and Macadmia body lotion to nourish and protect very dry skin. The rich lotion helps skin regain suppleness and smoothness, so lather it on and let your skin drink it in.

It’s a shame to cover that beautiful skin in sweaters really.

Tested on people not on animals, all products are reasonably priced – £4.99 for the body lotion and £5.99 for the Foaming scrub. Available at Boots and free delivery on orders over £10 direct from www.kindnatured.com

 

Spoil Yourself – Enjoy the Pleasure of Essential Oils by Dr Kathleen Thompson

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Last month I wrote about Puressential essential oils – some of which are sold for therapeutic uses, to treat insomnia, head lice infestations and joint pains.

 

This month I was sent a lovely travel pack of Aromatherapy minis by Scentered which I am keen to share with you (well, not literally  – they’re mine, all mine, but I will share the experience with you until you get your own – which I would recommend.)

Essential oils are extracted from aromatic plants and it is believed that just smelling them can have positive effects on us, including changing our mood.  There have been a number of scientific studies, including EEG (brainwave) and imaging studies, which support this theory. So if you are feeling down, stressed, in need of inspiration or focus, why not give aromatherapy products a try? They may help and certainly smell amazing.

Scentered’s main products, which are 100% pure, are solid sticks of balm – a blend of moringa and shea butters to ensure a non-greasy finish, as well as long-lasting fragrance delivery. These are infused with different combinations of essential oils, in a handy twist-up container, which you can rub on pressure points such as the temples, neck and wrist.

Essential oils are often used to help sleep problems – the scourge of modern living. Scentered Sleep Essentials Set combines a balm stick, infused with Palmarosa, Lavender and Ylang ylang, with a silk eye-mask. Candles, scented with these and other relaxing plant oils are also available.

The first thing which hit me, when I opened the mini travel pack, was the amazing smell, which is quite addictive. The set, which is light and compact, contains five different balm sticks – each claiming to enhance your mood in different ways:

‘Be Happy’ for when you need a little cheering-up

‘De-stress’ – the clue’s in the title

‘Focus’ – to help concentration

‘Escape’ – for inspiration (I’m wearing it as I write this)

‘Sleep well’ – again, it speaks for itself

Scentered recommend you use these balms with breathing and mindfulness techniques for maximum benefit.

In this modern world of constant stimulation of 24 hour emails and social media, a little time out with yourself and some beautiful and powerful natural perfumes can do you more good than you may realise. Treat yourself.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co,uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.