Category: Featured

Here are two ways to make rice water – boiling and without boiling.

Steps to make rice water with boiling:

1. Wash 1 cup of organic rice with clean water.
2. Cook the rice in an uncovered pan with 3 cups of water.
3. After the rice is cooked, strain the water into a clean container.
Allow the rice water to cool down, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Dilute 1 to 2 tablespoons of this concentrated solution in 1 cup of water. Stir it to get a barely milky-looking mixture. Use this mixture as needed in your beauty regimen.

Steps to make rice water without boiling:

1. Rinse 1 cup of organic rice with water and add 2 cups of water to it.
3. Allow it to sit for 15 to 30 minutes.
4. Stir it and then drain the water into another bowl.

Transfer this water into a clean container and store it in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Shake it well before use.

You can also keep the rice water at room temperature for 2 days to allow fermentation before storing it in the refrigerator. To use fermented rice water, dilute it with plain water in the ratio of 1:3 before using it.

Once your homemade rice water is ready, you can use it in your daily skin and hair care routine. Say goodbye to expensive and chemical-based cosmetic products for skin and hair. Rice water is the ultimate beauty remedy!

Here are the benefits of rice water for skin and hair.

1. Improves Hair Health
Rice water makes hair soft, strong and healthy. Hair is made up of protein, hence the protein in rice water is good for your hair. Rice protein strengthens the hair shaft and fills in the cracks, resulting in shiny and soft hair.

Plus, rice water contains inositol, a kind of carbohydrate that can prevent hair damage and keep it healthy and soft.

In fact, it can treat hair loss by increasing the growth rate of new hair and strengthening the hair strands as they grow.

After shampooing your hair, pour rice water diluted with plain water on your hair.
Using your fingertips, gently massage your scalp for 10 minutes.
Rinse your hair thoroughly with plain water.
Follow this hair treatment 2 or 3 times a week.
For extra nourishment, you can add a few drops of essential oils, such as rosemary, lavender or geranium, to the rice water before use.

You can also add green tea in it. If using fermented rice water, make sure you dilute it before rinsing your hair with it.

2. Tames Frizzy Hair
When it comes to frizzy and unmanageable hair, rice water is very beneficial. The good amount of protein in it can deep condition your hair. It can also help detangle and improve hair elasticity.

In a 2010 study published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, researchers did extensive research on the histories of the hairstyles and hair care practices of Japanese women, and found that these women used rice water to rinse their hair each day.
Rice water reduces surface friction and increases hair elasticity.
Shampoo your hair and rinse it thoroughly with cool water.
Mix 1 part fermented rice water and 3 parts of bath water so that it remains only slightly cloudy.
Use this mixture as a final rinse.
Repeat this treatment once or twice a week for best results.

3. Soothes Irritated Skin
The starch in rice water is effective at treating dry skin lesions of eczema. It can soothe skin irritation and inflammation.
A 2002 study published in Acta Dermato Venereologica found that exposure to bath water containing rice starch, twice daily for 15 minutes, led to a 20 percent improvement in the healing capacity of damaged skin.

This study recommends this skin repair bath for barrier damaged skin, particularly in the case of atopic dermatitis patients.
For any kind of skin irritation or inflammation, add a few cups of rice water to warm bath water. Soak your body in this water for 15 to 20 minutes, twice daily.
For localized irritation, soak a cotton ball in cool rice water and apply it on the affected area. Repeat a few times a day.

4. Tightens Skin Pores
Open or large pores on the skin can contribute to different types of problems like acne and blackheads. Open pores is common in people with oily skin. To help fight this irritating problem, rice water is highly effective.

Rice water works as a natural astringent to tone and tighten your skin. It reduces large pores and helps restore the skin’s pH balance.

Dilute rice water with an equal amount of water.
Soak a cotton ball in the solution and apply it on your face.
Let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse it off.
For best results, use this remedy every night after cleansing your face.

5. Improves Skin Complexion
Rice water also improves your skin complexion and makes your skin healthy and flawless. It helps flush toxins out the skin, improves skin elasticity and reduces inflammation.

Plus, it prevents aging spots and hyperpigmentation.

Soak a cotton pad in diluted rice water.
Apply it on your clean face like a toner.
Allow it to sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
Then, massage in circular motions for several minutes.
Rinse it off with lukewarm water.
Do this at least once daily.

6. Makes Skin Soft
Rice water is great for keeping your skin soft and moisturized. The protein in it prevents water loss to help keep the skin moisturized longer.
Also, it contains antioxidants that help reduce free radical damage caused by aging, sun exposure and environmental factors.

Dilute rice water with cool water in the ratio of 1:2.
Soak a washcloth in this solution.
Place this cloth on your clean face and leave it for 15 minutes or more.
Gently wash your face with the leftover rice water to get soft, smooth skin.
Finally, rinse your face with plain water.
Repeat this remedy once daily.

Additional Tips
You can use any variety of rice like white rice, brown rice, jasmine rice, etc.
Always rinse the rice once with water to remove dirt and other particles.
Try to use organic rice, even though it is bit more expensive than regular rice as the organic produce does not contain pesticides.
Do not use undiluted rice water in your hair, as it can result in lumps and may build up in your hair over time.

Pregnancies do not only change a woman’s body but also cause some unexpected strange changes in the hair. These changes lead to the shedding of hair during and a few months after delivery.

This condition is known as Postpartum Alopecia. Before you start worrying if you’re about going bald, you’re not, this hair loss is not permanent. During pregnancy, a lot of hormonal changes occur and some of these changes affect the hair positively.

Some women will notice that during pregnancy, their hairs are usually healthier. This is as a result of estrogen that is being produced. The estrogen stimulates the hair follicles to start the growing phase, and that is why as a pregnant woman, you’ll notice that your hair grows significantly faster than it did before you got pregnant. After childbirth, the estrogen level drops and returns to the pre-pregnancy level, prompting the hair follicles to enter the resting phase.

The estrogen and progesterone changes, stress and nutrition also affect hormone levels which can also affect hair growth. Thyroiditis, which is caused by an imbalance of thyroid hormones can create an imbalance in the thyroid hormones and affect growth.

Thyroiditis, which is caused by an imbalance of thyroid hormones can create an imbalance in the thyroid hormones and affect growth. To prevent hair loss, ensure that you’re getting regular, gentle-to-moderate exercise. This keeps all the vital organs of your body active and can help regulate the hormonal imbalance during pregnancy. Also, do not underrate the essence of a good diet. Consume a healthy diet rich in nutrients to support your body that is experiencing changes and help its postpartum recovery. If recommended by your doctor, take postpartum vitamin and mineral supplements if recommended by your doctor.

To avoid hair loss the following should be done

• Reduce stress: Reducing stress levels do not only bring about peace of mind but also has the added benefit of regulating hormone imbalances. Practice different relaxation techniques like mindfulness, meditation or breathing exercises.

• Use anti-hair loss cream: While going shopping for your delivery, do not forget to add hair creams that help hair growth during postpartum. The Ginger Anti Hair Loss Balm from Natures Gentle Touch has been proven to be very effective in this regard, both for people suffering from normal hair loss and women in their postpartum stage.

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle: The hair follicles need nutrients to grow and be healthy. Besides applying tons of cosmetics and hair creams on your hair, another way of supplying nutrients to the hair follicle is by eating healthy food. Take lots of vegetables, whole grains, and fresh fruits. Do not forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated.

• Take nutritional supplements: Speak to your doctor about taking mineral supplements to help boost your hair growth. Health experts have recommended Vitamin B complex and/or biotin (B7), Iron, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Zinc as necessary nutritional supplements for women going in postpartum.

• Go natural: During postpartum hair loss, avoid coloring your hair or using harsh gels and sprays for styling. Opt for natural oils that are said to help strengthen hair growth and reduce hair loss. Add a few drops of peppermint to your shampoo to help moisturize the hair and give it shine.

Don’t mix prints
A houndstooth print and polka dots or plaids and stripes can look adorable together. When it comes to pairing prints, the only limit on your creativity is your confidence. If you’re a little shy about breaking this fashion rule, start conservatively by mixing a simpler print with a more complex one. Using different prints with similar color schemes is another sharp way to look amazing while kicking this fashion standard to the curb.

No socks and sandals
Socks and sandals aren’t just for tourists. For the past several years, some of the chicest designers and fashionistas have been pairing tights with open-toed shoes. While we’re not necessarily advising you to pair knee-high white socks with athletic sandals (unless that’s your thing), it’s very possible to make this look work.

Don’t pair black and navy.
Black and navy can look remarkably chic together, and so can black and brown. Contrast weights and textures to add the most dimension to your look, such as pairing a delicate, satin navy top with heavy, black leather pants. For another option, let the similarity of the shades run together a little.

Always match your shoes to your
Sometimes you may feel like matching your shoes and your bag perfectly. However, if your purple suede boots and your black bag are calling your name, you should absolutely feel free to break this rule. Even in the most conservative corporate environments, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with pairing black shoes and a camel bag, or dark shoes with a gray bag.

Say no to double denim.
Wearing a denim shirt, denim jeans, and a denim jacket in perfectly matched hues could make you look like a minimalist, but pairing a chambray shirt with dark-wash jeans is super-chic. You should absolutely break this rule year-round.

When a man is no longer interested in his relationship, there are
not-that-subtle signs that show it. Actually, most men are horrible at hiding feeling of dissatisfaction or disinterest in a relationship.

So, if your man is exhibiting the following signs, it means he is losing interest in the relationship.

1. He barely talks to you when you eat together.
If while you sit at the table for breakfast or dinner, he suddenly becomes as silent as a mime, you have one of two scenarios on your hand:

You have reached the stage in your relationship where you have told all the stories, understand what the other is thinking, and can nearly read each other’s minds. Or….
He’s just sick of talking to you, and probably also sick of seeing you.

When a man feels the relationship is not meant to last he will slowly start to grow apart from you, and a lack of communication is one of the clear signs that the process has begun.
If you are the one doing all the talking and he only responds with one-word answers, “Yes” “No” “Maybe,” he is probably unhappy and ready to move on.

2. He stops listening to your side of the argument when you get into a fight.
Instead of listening to you and trying to actively sort out your problems, he tells you “Whatever” or “I don’t want to hear it.” Of course, no one likes to fight, and most people try their best to avoid conflict, but there are times when arguing becomes unavoidable and even mandatory.

It is highly recommended to have minor arguments from time to time to sort things out, (and why beat around the bush? The makeup $ex afterward is amazing lol). But if your boyfriend constantly plays the “I don’t want to hear it card” when you have a disagreement it might be more than him trying to avoid conflict.

He might be showing signs that he doesn’t care about the relationship anymore and your feelings are no longer on his list of priorities.

3. He has tons of fun with his buddies… But none with you…
Have you gotten used to going to the same places every weekend, eating at the same restaurants, ordering the same food, and watching the same TV shows every week with your man?

Same ol’ same ol’ for you and him…

But when he’s out with his friends… It’s a blast! There is no telling what they are doing next and where they are going. It’s a never-ending adventure with them, and your man seems to enjoy every second of it.

Your boyfriend not trying new things with you doesn’t necessarily mean he is unhappy with your relationship, as you have already created intimate rituals you both love and feel comfortable with. But it could definitely be a sign that he is no longer satisfied with the things you are doing together, and he feels the need to try something new… And his buddies are the ones he chooses to do those new things with…

4. He talks about his female friends/co-workers a lot.
If he keeps going on and on about the same coworker or female friend more often than he used to, something might be off. But pay attention to the context of which he speaks about this woman.

Knowing about a female friend’s marital problems or weekend activities should immediately signal warning signs. Why the sudden interest and focus on this woman? Why is he getting so involved in her life? Why does he care so much?

You might think him telling you all about it means nothing fishy is going on behind your back – he wouldn’t dare cheat on you with her and then come home, look you in the eye and share office stories about her… Would he? It might mean nothing, or it might mean that he has started to shift his attention to this other woman… While at the same time losing interest in you.

Conclusion
If you feel your man might be growing unhappy in your relationship, I suggest you sit down and talk to him. Lay it out on the table and tell him, to be honest about how he really feels. At the end of the day, you could be worried about nothing. However, a sudden change in behavior is rarely ever a good sign in a relationship. So you have every right in the world to wonder what’s really going on.

For a lot of people, without sex, there can be no relationship. On the list of things that make a relationship blossom, they place sex alongside communication and trust. Sex is truly a massive way to express feelings if you’re tired of using words. It makes you and your partner feel close, both physically and emotionally, and is also an effective way to prove your love. But unfortunately, terrible sex or even a lack of sex can be enough reason for a break up. In many cases, a sex life that leaves a lot to be desired can be caused by other issues in that relationship.

Ask yourself, How are some couples in loving, healthy relationships without sex? Is it actually possible to be fulfilled in a sexless relationship? How does a relationship like this feel like? And why would anyone ever want a relationship without sex? I answer these questions below:

1. Sex Is Not A Chore
Imagine this scenario, you are so tired, and the last thing you would like to do is have sex. But your partner is horny, and you feel bad for not responding. So what do you do? Many might opt to have sex, so their partner is satisfied, even if it is not what they wished to do. The reason for this is because we see sex as one of our relationship responsibilities. We think it should be done daily, or else the relationship will crumble. With this mentality, sex can become a routine act where you do the same positions over and over again with no emotions or passionate intimacy. Imagine you and your partner deciding you won’t just have regular sex, and you’ll only do it when you really, really feel like it. When this happens, you’ll both be happy about it, and it will be so much more passionate and meaningful.

2. There Are Other Aspects To Focus On In A Relationship
Remove sex from a relationship, and it’s a lot easier to notice other aspects you can focus on, both good and bad. Sex is so big for some that they will pretend to not see problems in their relationship and just focus on how good the sex with their partner is. In the same way, when the sex is poor, you might not bother to consider all the other good things that make your relationship work.

3. There Are Other Intimate Ways To Thrill Him Or Her
Sex is cool, and it can be one of the most important things you do with your partner, but so people in a relationship seem to make the mistake of having no knowledge of all the other ways you can be intimate and physical with your partner. Most times, we just focus on penetration and don’t pay that much attention to anything else. Kissing, cuddling, touching, massaging are great options that don’t necessarily need your sexual organs. Even just sitting close to each other and holding hands can be romantic and intimate.

And of course, other fun things can be enjoyed with your partner, like exercising together, taking a class, cooking, and going out on more dates.

Conclusion:
The road to a happy relationship is doing what you both love. If sex isn’t that key to either of you, why put yourself through the stress of doing it all the time? Simply ignore what everyone has to say (Don’t ignore me though…lol) about what a relationship should be like, and do whatever makes you feel comfortable.

Boredom can make dull the shine in a relationship, which is why it is very important for a couple take the initiative in keeping boredom at bay.

Here are ways to ensure your relationship does not get boring:

1. Be consistent
What were you doing that attracted them to you? Don’t stop doing those things! That’s pretty much the long and short of consistence in romantic relationships.

If someone falls in love with you for something, it would be mad unfair to get them into a relationship and quit doing those things. It would not be a surprise if such partner loses interest in being with you after a while.

2. Don’t be monotonous
Consistence is good, monotony is not. So if you were really sweet to your partner before the relationship began or even at the very beginning of it, you have to keep being sweet – that is consistence.

If you keep expressing the sweetness in the same way or format at all times, however, that is monotony and that is not so good.

Look for newer, more creative ways to do the things your partner loves you doing. That’s pretty much what we’re talking about here.

3. Allow each other time out
That you are in love with someone does not mean they have to be with you at all times, or that you have to be chatting with each other every single minute of the day, or that they can’t keep friendships or grow in other aspects of their lives.

Allow each other live fully and experience bliss in other facets of life apart from the relationship. It enriches your lives, gives you a fuller experience and makes you better lovers with healthier relationships.