Electronic Bug Zapper

If you aren’t already familiar with the hand held bug killer, you are really going to like it and if you have had one before, I’m sure you’ll welcome it back like an old pal! The electronic insect zapper does just what it says it does: it zaps bugs. But it does it really, very well.

Any insect that comes into contact with the hand held bug killer is fried. Smaller bugs like gnats and mosquitoes are vaporized with a very pleasing flash and a crack. Larger bug, like house flies and wasps die, but don’t explode like the smaller ones.

Think about it, how many times have these flying insects taken the edge off an otherwise enjoyable evening in the garden? Or how many times have you not been able to get a good night’s sleep, because you know there’s at least one mosquito in the bedroom. It has happened to me hundreds of times, I know! It is very satisfying to get one’s revenge with the hand held insect zapper.

I don’t like killing anything unnecessarily – I’m married to a Buddhist- but mosquitoes? I’m sorry, they can die. And the hand held insect zapper does it without any more ado. No waiting and hoping they’ll fly into the ultraviolet light and into the mesh. No, one sweep of the hand held insect zapper and the mosie’s gone and you can hear whether you got her or not. (I say her, because the sucking mosquitoes always are females – I assure you, I wasn’t being sexist).

Basically, there are two kinds of hand held bug killer. There is the battery operated bug zapper and the rechargeable electric bug zapper. Both operate on the same principle, but I prefer the rechargeable kind, although I guess you could use rechargeable batteries too. However, I think that they would be more expensive that the bug zapper in the first place. Anyway, I have been using a electronic bug killer of the rechargeable sort for five years and I am very happy with them.

Now-a-days, I spend a lot of time in northern Thailand with my wife, so you can bet your bottom dollar that I give my handheld bug killer a good work-out practically every evening. We usually eat in the garden in the evening and all socializing is done outside by tradition, especially in the rural areas, where we live, so it comes in very handy. I also use my electronic bug zapper to ‘sweep’ the bedroom for bugs before we retire at night, just like an FBI agent.

The handheld bug zapper seems to get better every time I buy one, which makes it hard to give you definite specifications. The hand held bug zappers I bought four or five years ago, sometimes failed after six to nine months of purchase, although their ability to hold a charge was less after four or five months.

However, the new electronic insect killer will last 9-12 months and still be formidable after nine months. My latest model even has a powerful torch called a headlamp incorporated into it. I’m not sure what it’s supposed to be for, but if you feel that vengeance is sweet, you can lure mosquitoes with it and then zap them with your electronic bug zapper.

Have you ever heard of a handheld bug zapper? If you haven’t, or if you are interested in getting a handheld bug zapper, please click one of the links to our website or blog.

Stop Blushing Tips

Facial blushing blushing is something every one has to deal with in situations that makes us feel embarrassed and shy, however for many some blushing can happen a lot more often making it a serious problem to their social lives.

However there are equally as many people who blush in the face in many other situations making the sufferer feel awkward and stressed about their blushing which in turn causes them to blush even more.

What causes your face to go red when you blush is the blood vessels in your face swell when you have one or more self conscious thoughts.

Two of the most common emotions that trigger blushing is people besides embarrassment and shyness is anxiety and the fear of being judged, this causes the body to go into stress. A common denominator in people who have a problem with blushing is they usually have a low self esteem or lack confidence.

A good way to cure blushing and attack it at the core of the problem is to build your self esteem and confidence. So what is confidence and self esteem? is it basically the level to which you like your self.

Listening to your self talk and observing what you say to yourself thought out the day can give you a hint to what level of self esteem and confidence you have. Many people won’t admit they don’t like themselves however will tell themselves all day things like “why did i do that, I can’t believe I am so stupid”

Confidence is different all together, you may have heard the saying fake it till you make it, and with confidence sometimes that is what you have to do, however the best way to build self confidence is to build it up slowly. Confidence comes from competence.

When you first leaned how to ride a bike I am sure you weren’t that confident, however after riding more and more you became more and more confident and competent. In fact now I am sure you can jump on your bike and not even think about it any more, You can probably do jumps and even ride with no hands.

Self confidence is built in small amounts at a time and soon than yo8u know you are able to pull off big tasks, this is the same with your blushing problem.

Clarisonic PRO Deluxe Professional 4-Speed Skin Care System

Clarisonic PRO Deluxe is a professional-caliber brush that uses gentle sonic micro-message action to helps keep your skin looking young, vibrant and healthy. Clarisonic gently removes embedded dirt and oil, resulting in healthier, more beautiful skin. Remarkably gentle for cleansing all skin types, including sensitive skin conditions such as rosacea and acne. It cleanses so well, that products absorb better, pores appear smaller, fine lines and wrinkles appear reduced and your skin (more…)

What You Should Know About Laser Surgery for Stretch Marks

If you do not want to hide for the rest of your life or be constantly stared at, you would want to get rid of your unsightly stretch marks. Unfortunately, there are not that many options for stretch mark removal. There has been however a newly introduced revolutionary method for stretch mark removal. Now, men and women can see for themselves what laser surgery for stretch marks is all about.

What It Is

As a method for stretch mark removal, laser surgery is relatively new compared to older methods such as using creams or abdominoplasty. Practitioners of laser surgery for stretch marks claim that this new method can rejuvenate damaged skin and make it feel more elastic and look like much the same way it did before the development of stretch marks.

How It Works

Laser surgery for stretch mark removal involves a controlled laser light applied on the affected area. The laser is supposed to first break down the damaged tissues. Once they are broken down and removed, the damaged vessels are then repaired by promoting the production of collagen that will fill in the area previously occupied by the stretch marks.

Why People Love It

Compared to abdominoplasty, laser surgery for stretch mark removal is painless. It is also less expensive and does not involve a lot of life threatening risks and complications. Although laser surgery is still considered a form of cosmetic surgery, it does not involve cutting up the skin and does not result to irregularities in skin texture. It basically has no recovery period and the worst thing that can happen are the stretch marks not healing at all.

Current Status

While others are sold out with laser surgery method, there are also some who are wary about it. Since it is a new procedure, it does need to undergo more clinical studies to prove its effectiveness. As of the moment, abdominoplasty is still considered as more effective in stretch mark removal.

There are those who believe that lasers are not normally used to repair damaged tissues in stretch marks. So far, laser treatments have been best known instead to simply breakdown fats or tissues.

Disadvantages

An obvious disadvantage of the laser surgery is the cost. Not many people may be able to afford the $400-$1500 fee required for every session. Depending on your condition and the expertise of your specialist, you may even need to go back for succeeding sessions that may take up to an hour or more.

Only stretch marks that are still fresh, pinking or purplish yet in color can be treated by laser surgery. Stretch marks that are already old and silvery may not be helped by laser surgery for stretch marks. Some critics even go as far as to say that laser surgery for stretch marks does not really remove the scars but only lightens the color of scars.

Seek the advise of a third party doctor to find out if laser surgery is the best option for you. You might just end up wasting your money on an expensive procedure that may not give you the results that you want.

The Derma Roller: Rachael Ray’s Top Anti-Aging Picks

Rachael Ray, the popular daytime talk show host, recently did segment on anti-aging called the Human Lab Segment where she had audience members and Dr. Ciraldo, Professor of Dermatology, evaluate top anti-aging creams and techniques to see which really worked. She passed out a few top products to select audience members and then had them report back a few weeks later to report on their results.

The derma roller, a small hand held device that contains 192 surgical a steel points, was one of the most popular skincare devices evaluated.

Derma Roller – How It Works

The derma roller is one of the newest natural home remedy for removing wrinkles, acne scars, stretch marks, black heads, and white heads. It also encourages collagen production, which is called Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT). Studies show that when the needles of the derma roller are rolled over the skin it causes the skin to launch into repair mode by increasing collagen production. This is something that everyone over 40 could use.

Studies performed by on 600 people with aging skin and acne scars found that there was a 60% reduction in scars and incredible 40% improvement in skin rejuvenation. Research suspect that the increased collagen production from the puncture wounds created by the derma roller is what help to fill in depressed scars, reduce and smooth out stretch marks and fill in lines and wrinkles.

How the Derma Roller Works: When you roll this device over the skin it makes small puncture wounds into the very upper layer of the skin. This cause the body to begin production of collagen fibers, elastin, and other skin cells which is what helps to fill in lines, wrinkles, remove stretch marks fill in deep pitted scars. That’s why the derma roller is one of the best acne scar treatments.

In addition, it allows maximum absorption of your best wrinkle creams or any anti aging creams. Each rolling session stimulates collagen to reduce wrinkles and scars – like a mini-instant face lift. Even the best anti aging creams alone can’t come close to the benefits of the roller. It was encouraging to see a beauty product review that was actually based on some science.

Finally, unlike other skin rejuvenating techniques, the derma roller doesn’t require downtime for healing. And, unlike chemical and laser peels, the derma roller can be used safely by women and men of color because it doesn’t affect skin pigmentation. Click here to read more about the derma roller.

Exploring Skin Care for Men

Most middle aged men living today can remember a point in time – just a few decades back – when the term ‘skin care’ was almost exclusively associated with women. These were the days when the mention of the world ‘skin care’ would only have drawn blank stares from men, who felt that it had absolutely nothing to do with them.

With time, things have changed. Today, skin care for men is in many developed societies seen as much of a man’s thing as of a woman’s thing. Manufactures of skin care products are even making some skin care products directly targeted to the men, with the number of such skin care for men products actually being more than skin care products for women in some outlets!

Yet there is no denying that the old view of skin care as ‘a woman’s thing’ still holds sway in some corners, with many men who as much as apply any type of oil on their faces being considered ‘sissies’ who are trying to ape the female gender – which is seen as the most ‘unmanly’ thing to do. All this would have been alright were it not for the media outlets, who in conjunction with the makers of skin care products are working hard to project the idea that the modern man should actually be very conscious about how they present themselves in terms of appearance as ‘it is crucial to their success.’ The hapless ‘ordinary’ man being discussed in all this debate is meanwhile left hanging between these two points of view – between the extreme that holds that skin care for men is ‘sissy’ and the other extreme that holds that a man should take extremely good care of his appearance (which naturally starts with skin care) if they are to fit in the modern society.

In the midst of this entire din, many men are opting to follow the ‘mid-way path’ between being too preoccupied with their physical appearance and taking absolutely no care of their physical appearance. To be sure, a man who is preoccupied with his physical appearance is a major turn off, but so is a man who simply doesn’t care about how he presents himself to others.

So for the average man who doesn’t want to appear too sissy, but who also doesn’t want to appear like they have stopped to care of themselves, the standard skin care regimen will tend to involve a shower a day (which is considered the decent thing to do), and perhaps the application of a sun-screen lotion when going out into the sun; with most men deciding to steer clear of procedures like skin exfoliation and other types of ‘advanced skin care practices’ which, in their view, are best left to the women and ‘metro-sexual’ men.

Of course, the evolution of skin care for men is likely to witness major shifts in the coming days, as the skin comes to be rightfully viewed as the ‘biggest body organ’ it is really is, and as the term ‘skin care’ comes to be more associated with health maintenance than with appearance-enhancement.

Spa Fresh Facial Scrub 8oz

This mild yet concentrated, lightly foaming facial cleanser soothes and balances. It has natural exfoliating activity and is slightly hydrating. The refreshing blend of vanilla and blueberry effectively removes dirt and tear stains, and will not sting eyes. Great for all skin types and all ages of pets.

(more…)

Clear Acne with Lemons

Lemon juice is a natural, at-home acne treatment that has seen immense surges in popularity. There are a number of factors that have catapulted lemon juice to being one of the most widely used home-based treatments around. One advantageous trait associated with the treatment is that it is absolutely natural. You are not applying chemically-formulated fragrances and other harsh ingredients to your face, as people often do with store-purchased cleansers and acne kits. Also, lemons are inexpensive and widely available. You can easily purchase a dozen lemons without even spending half of the amount of money you would on an inexpensive and largely ineffective over-the-counter treatment. To fully understand what makes lemon juice such a miracle acne product, we will need to explore some of its unique and highly beneficial properties.

A basic understanding of chemistry tells us that lemon juice is a weak acid. It falls in the 2+ range on the pH scale. This scale is used in chemistry to measure acidity. One can harness this weak acid to help their skin shed dead skin cells. As you may already know, dead skin is often blamed for clogging pores and consequently causing acne. Lemon juice is a naturally-occurring acidic peel that will help bring replenished skin cells to the surface. In helping dispose of dead skin, lemon juice helps protect against a primary cause of acne. For a general overview, acne occurs when our pores become congested with dead skin cells and subsequently clog. The sebum that our skin excretes beings to accumulate within the clogged pore, and provides acne bacteria the needed food to start multiplying. Ultimately, these bacteria help create the inflamed lesions which we often associate with acne. It is important to take precautions before harnessing the potent peeling effect of lemon juice. For starters, sunscreen is a must. It will help shield your peeling and sensitive skin against sunlight, which can exacerbate the problem. A sunburn can be especially damaging when your skin has been left temporarily vulnerable by lemon juice, so be careful! If you can, try to minimize or outright eliminate sun exposure until the peeling effect has faded. At this point, if you see improvement, you should stop using lemon juice on your skin.

Anyone who has completed some form of acne treatment knows that the battle is far from over when the pimples have cleared. Darkened areas on the skin are often present once acne has vanished. Fortunately, these can be somewhat treated with lemon juice. Lemon juice acts as a natural skin lightener, helping detract attention away form such unsightly areas. Some even see improvement in the appearance of their acne scars. Lemon juice is said to tighten the skin, leaving smaller scars less noticeable. Please take note that you will have to be patient and consistent in your treatment to see results.

One negative effect often associated with treating acne with lemon juice is dry skin. Dry skin can translate to acne-prone skin. If your skin feels “tight” after applying lemon juice, be sure to apply some moisturizer as soon as possible. Be sure to verify that you are using a non-comodogenic moisturizer. You may even elect to purchase a moisturizer that has some SPF for added protection. If you have oily skin, moisturizer is still a must. Oily skin is nothing but severely dehydrated skin. Such skin lacks moisture and as a result overproduces sebum to seal in the moisture that it does have. Lend a helping hand and put some moisturizer on oily skin!

Bathrooms And Radiant Heat Go Together

Especially in the winter, it is nice to wake up to warm bathroom floors. Most bathrooms have floors made of cold tile and by installing radiant floor heat, you can turn that cold tile into something that is not such a shock to wake up to.

People commonly choose to install radiant heat in their bathrooms and kitchens and this is because those floors are usually not carpeted and having warm floors is nice in those rooms. In years past many homes were built with radiant heat throughout the house and it was the common heating system. You might remember your Grandmas house that had metal radiators somewhere in every room and they didn’t have any forced air systems that today’s houses are built with.

That type of radiant heating has been abandoned in modern homes but it doesn’t mean you cant have radiant floor heat installed in your bathrooms and kitchens. By adding floor heat to those two rooms, you will give them a special touch of luxury that you will enjoy for years and it will also make your home easier to sell.

Radiant heat can be installed in your home in two forms. The first is electric radiant heat and that is the easiest and cheapest to install. Electric radiant heat makes heat by heating metal coils under the floor just like the coils in a toaster. This type of heat is the best choice for homes that are already built. The other kind of radiant heat, is hydronic and with that hot water is pushed through pipes under the house which heats the floors. Putting in pipes that will safely carry hot water throughout the house is much more expensive and usually only done in houses that are being built.

Radiant heat is a great kind of heat because it is silent but it is more expensive that the forced air heat that is in so many of our houses today. If you are looking into heated floor cost, you should realize that radiant heat is best if it is installed while a house is being built. That doesn’t mean you can’t have it installed later but it is cheaper and easier to have it put in up front. If you are having radiant heat installed in an existing home, electric heat is probably the way to go. Having electric radiant heat pads put in under the floors is not that difficult and can be cost effective.

Hard Water and Acne Breakouts

There is little end in sight on the long journey to find a cure for acne. Although more innovative approaches to combating the skin condition are constantly being introduced, millions upon millions of adults and teens continue to be plagued by this debilitating disease. Most skin care professionals will readily admit that thousands of factors can contribute to the development of acne. For instance, the particular shampoo you use to wash your hair, as well as the detergent you use to clean your clothes can have some bearing on your skin’s health. What few people fail to notice is that the most basic substance that comes into contact with our skin may be contributing to acne breakouts. This substance is none other than water. Like it or not, water is something that we constantly use to cleanse our skin. Could water be potentially responsible for cases of acne that have been non-response for treatment? Perhaps.

For the purposes of this article, there are only two broad categories of water with which we are concerned with: hard and soft water. Hard water is a term used to describe water with a high mineral content. It is the most common type of water distributed to homes in the United States. This form of water comes with some baggage, namely hard water deposits and soap scum. These nuisances can render bathroom fixtures quite unsightly. If this water has so many drawbacks, why is it in such widespread use? For starters, it is far less corrosive than soft water. It doesn’t require any expensive treatment for preparation like soft water does. Hard water collects minerals, predominantly Calcium and Magnesium, as it flows through the ground.

Soft water contains only negligible amount of minerals. It is available in a certain regions in the United States, and is unfavorable for its corrosive nature. The process through which hard water becomes soft water is known as distillation. The hard water is boiled, and the pure vapor is collected. Although a seemingly simple process, distillation can be an expensive process to implement.

Hard water can be extremely problematic when it comes to skin care. Water is meant to combine with soap and form a lather, as to provide a cleaning effect. This reaction is difficult to achieve with hard water unless harmful additives are included in the soap. Soap fails to properly lather under hard water, and instead forms what most us know as soap scum. This soap scum is not only present on our shower doors and tiling, but also our skin. Since hard water cannot effectively rinse soap, the soap scum creates a layer on our skin, leaving it irritated and acne prone.

The unfavorable effects of hard water can be reduced or eliminated by taking some simple steps. A more costly option involves implementing a water softening system in your home. Water softeners substitute Sodium ions for the minerals present in hard water. A cheaper solution entails replacing shower heads and other bathroom fixtures regularly, as to prevent added hardening of water from accumulated mineral deposits. Purchasing bottled water to cleanse your face with (such as distilled water) is also an affordable option. The water can be used in conjunction with a spray bottle for more convenience.

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