Tag: Trial And Error

Self Tanning Lotions-We Are An Inventive Society

Hey, what can we say, we are an inventive society! If we like the way our skin looks with a tan but getting a tan is dangerous we will just develop and use self tanning lotions instead!

Of course, in life, few things are that easy. Self tanning lotions can work great but there is also usually a bit of a learning curve.

There can be a technique in applying them the right way and making them look good.

With so many different brands on the market, not to mention the various hues you can get, it may take a little trial and error until you have the practice down pat.

In this article I will provide you with some easy to follow tips that may make it a little easier for you to get that “sun kissed glow”… from a bottle.

Here we go:

1. First things first, like a painter you have to prepare your canvas which in this case is your skin.

Make sure you skin is clean and dry. Removing excess oils can help the tanner adhere to the skin better.

This is why you don’t want to use a moisturizer too soon before applying the tanner either, if you do it won’t soak into the skin as readily.

2. Exfoliate to remove as much excess dead skin as you possibly can. Again, this will make it easier for the tanner to absorb into the skin and provide a more even tone with less of a blotchy look.

3. Many people recommend you start at your feet and work your way up.

That way the tanner can dry completely without you bending over and possibly smearing it.

4. Either wear gloves or wash your hands frequently throughout the procedure. Otherwise you can end up with freakishly tanned looking hands.

5. Apply the tanner in several coats if you want a darker look as opposed to one thick coat.

This tends to look more natural and will usually prevent a “gloppy” look.

6. Tanners tend to dry pretty quickly so make sure you work fast. Don’t get distracted when applying your self tanner.

7. Wait a minimum of one half hour between layers or before sitting down on furniture or getting dressed or you might make a really big mess.

8. And last, but not least, to keep that sun kissed look for longer try to reapply the tanner every few days.

Do a light exfoliation before you reapply the tanner to maximize the absorption each time you reapply.

You can also minimize how much gets washed off in the shower by rubbing a little bit of baby oil on your skin right before your shower.

This may help eliminate some of the “run off” of your tanner while you are in the shower.

That’s pretty much it, not exactly rocket science is it? Still, there is a technique to it if you want it to look as natural as possible.

To make sure you get the result you want, take some time to experiment. The last thing you want to do is to try to apply a tanner for the first time right before a big event.

You sure don’t want to show up for your big day with an orange, blotchy looking tan.

Practice your technique first when using self tanning lotions for the best look possible.

Long Term Anxiety Characterized as Generalized Anxiety

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by long-term anxiety, excessive worry, and tension, even though there appears to be no reason to feel this way. This disorder affects about 6.8 million American adults (and twice as many women as men). The disorder usually develops gradually. It can start at any age but the highest-risk years are between childhood and middle age, a rather large time span. Evidence shows that genes play a modest role in GAD.
Those who suffer from GAD will go through the day feeling worried and aprehensive. They often anticipate disaster in even minor situations and are usually overly concerned about various issues such as health, money, family problems, or difficulties at work. It may even be hard getting started in the morning because of the thought of what lies ahead of them for the day.

If you find you have been over-worrying about many every-day problems for at least 6 months, you may be diagnosed with GAD. Although you may realize that your concerns are exaggerated, the problem still persists. Not being able to relaxe, startling easily, having difficulty concentrating are all symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. Other problems include having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Physical symptoms that often accompany the anxiety include fatigue, headaches, muscle tension, muscle aches, difficulty swallowing, trembling, twitching, irritability, sweating, nausea, lightheadedness, having to go to the bathroom frequently, feeling out of breath, and hot flashes.

The level of severity of your GAD can vary greatly. If you are diagnozed with a mild case, you can function socially for the most part and hold down a job with little difficulty. If your GAD is severe, you can find it difficult even to complete what may seem like the simplest activities.

GAD is usually treated with medications and/or psychotherapy. You may benefit most from a combination of the two. It may take some trial and error to discover exactly what treatments work best for you.

Medications include antidepressants like fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), escitalopram (Lexapro), sertaline (Zoloft), venlafaxine (Effexor) and imipramine (Tofranil); Buspirone (BuSpar); and Benzodiazepines like clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide (Librium) and alprazolam (Xanax). Benzodiazepines are for the most part only used for relieving acute anxiety on a short-term basis (for example, when you are having an attack). However, they have a tendency to be addictive and some pretty serious side effects like drowsiness, reduced muscle coordination and impaired balance and memory.

Psychotherapy, often referred to as talk therapy and psychological counseling, deals with trying to work out the underlying life stresses and concerns that may cause your GAD. Once these have been identified, it is possible to and make behavior changes that can reduce your anxiety. One of the most recognized types of psychotherapy is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Basically, short-term cognitive behavioral therapy aims to teach you specific skills that you can then use to identify negative thoughts and behaviors and substitute them with positive ones.

The above information about generalized anxiety disorder does not substitute medical advice given by a health professional.