Taking care of your tools

To keep your brushes in top condition, experts recommend that you clean them regularly. Leave them to dry on their sides - NOT standing up, as water will drip down and rot the wood.

Chocolate myths busted!

Myth 1: Chocolate makes you break out.
Acne is caused by a build-up of dead skin cells in your pores, excessive sebum production and certain kinds of bacteria - not by the food you eat.


Myth 2: Chocolate is unhealthy.
A daily serving of dark chocolate may be good for blood pressure and insulin resistance. A bar of chocolate contains as much antioxidants as a glass of wine.


Myth 3: Chocolate is high in caffeine.
A milk chocolate bar has 6mg of caffeine, while a cup of instant coffee has up to 108mg of caffeine.

Is it time to move on?

Have you been thinking about this question? Maybe it is time to reflect on your relationship. Here are some pointers to start with:
-When you do not feel pleasure and joy in your relationship, and you feel like the effort seems too much to make it work, talk to your partner. Communicate and find out why you are feeling this way. Give both of you a chance to work things out.
-A relationship is like a love bank. You have to make deposits. Positive things which you do for your partner are deposits. When you have an argument, that is withdrawal. As long as there are more deposits than withdrawals, the bank has a positive balance, the relationship can be sustained.
-Emotional abuse is more common than physical abuse, as it is harder to recognize. When your partner puts you down and does not care about your feelings, he is emotionally abusing you. Being in a relationship means giving each other support and encouragement, not making you feel less than you should feel.
-As we move on in life, expectations of a partner may change, like your goals and values. Always communicate your feelings to your partner and work out from there.

Pamper your hands..

Due to constant exposure to water, detergents, wind, air-conditioning and sun, our hands lose moisture and elasticity. Therefore our hands deserve the same treatment, if not more, as our face and body.

In order to keep the skin on the backs of your hands soft and smooth, exfoliate the area regularly. This will prevent them from aging prematurely. You can also apply a relaxing mask to the back of your hands, along your fingers and down to the base of the nails. Carefully hold your hands over a bowl of hot water, so the steam can activate the mask. Then wipe away and moisturize. Use an intensive hand cream that will give long-lasting hydration and improve the appearance of your skin and nails.

While cuticle creams and oils are a must to avoid painful hangnails and dry cuticles, some people have rough skin all round the tips of their fingers. You can slather the oil or a very thick moisturizer over the skin and slip your hands into some soft cotton gloves. You may also want to wear the cotton gloves while doing your household chores, just until your skin heals.

If you love long nails and cannot bear it if you split or tear one, then a repair kit is a must-have. Square sides help to reinforce the fingernails and prevent splits and breakage.

A good start to strengthening weak nails from the inside out is to eat foods rich in protein and calcium. However while waiting for the new diet to take it's effect, try one of the fantastic topical treatments that can turn severely damaged nails into strong, sturdy talons.