11. Walking Prevents Muscle Atrophy
Long periods of inactivity can cause your glutes and other legs in the lower half of your body to weaken and even atrophy. These muscles are required to carry the weight of the top half of your body, and weak ones can cause back pain or other issues. By going for a walk of at least 30 minutes each day, you can prevent your muscles from becoming inactive.

10. Walking Improves Blood Circulation
Daily walks have proven to have several benefits for the heart. Walking elevates the heart rate, which helps to fortify it and combats heart disease. A study conducted by Harvard’s School of Public Health found that people who walk at least 30 minutes per day can decrease their risk of stroke by about 20 percent. People who walk at a brisk pace reduce their odds by an additional 20 percent. If you cannot keep up a fast pace for your entire walk, try alternating between speed walking and walking at your normal pace.

9. Walking Builds Muscle
Just because you don’t like to jog, sprint or spend hours lifting weights in the gym doesn’t mean you can’t build muscle. People who walk regularly tend to have stronger and more defined muscles in their legs and abdomen. If you focus on pumping your arms while you walk, they will also tone up. Power walking can also help you to expand your range of motion if you tend to have joint problems.

8. Walking Builds Stronger Bones
Many doctors recommend walking for people who have osteoporosis. One study showed that women who were post-menopausal and walked for at least 30 minutes per day decreased their risk of suffering hip fractures by at least 40 percent. Walking can help to prevent loss of bone mass in people of all ages. However, if you do suffer from osteoporosis, it is essential to talk to your doctor before starting a walking regimen to ensure he or she feels it would be the right course of treatment for you.

7. Walking Lowers Your Risk of Other Diseases
Your daily walks do more than boost your muscle and heart strength. People who walk for exercise at least once per day can decrease their risk of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes by roughly 60 percent. Some research has even shown that walkers are about 20 percent less likely to develop certain cancers, including cancer in the womb, breasts or colon. 

6. Walking Leads to Weight Loss
Walking is an excellent way to shed some pounds, especially if you are someone who can’t do high-impact exercises or who doesn’t enjoy more traditional workouts. Even at a slow pace of two miles per hour, you can burn 150 calories per hour. If you up your speed to three miles per hour, you’ll burn 198 calories, and if you can keep up a constant pace of four miles per hour, you’ll burn 300 calories. When coupled with watching what you eat, weight loss is practically inevitable.

5. Walking Helps Prevent Dementia
Walking is beneficial to more than your physical health. People who walk at least six miles a week often have better memories and less brain shrinkage throughout the years. Dementia affects nearly 20 percent of people over the age of 80 and in some cases, may be inherited, so it is especially vital to walk daily if someone in your family has suffered from the disease.

4. Walking Boosts Vitamin D Levels
Nearly 75 percent of Americans lack vitamin D, a nutrient that is important for healthy bones and teeth as well as a for regulating insulin levels and maintaining a healthy immune system. If you spend lots of time indoor between work, school and spending time at home, getting outside for a daily walk is essential. Being in the sunshine will help your body to absorb the vitamin D it needs to be healthier. 

3. Walking Gives You More Energy
A body in motion stays in motion. Taking a brisk walk boosts your blood circulation and increases your oxygen supply, which will help you feel more alert and maintain a higher level of energy throughout the rest of the day. Whether you need a mid-afternoon boost at work, or you are lagging on your homework, standing up and taking a quick 15-minute walk can help you gain the energy you need to power through.

2. Walking Benefits Your Mental Health
People who walk daily have better mental health. The physical benefits, memory benefits and even simply being outside in the sunshine are known to boost creativity and put you in a better mood by releasing endorphins that help to reduce stress and ease anxiety. While you shouldn’t stop any mental health medications you currently take, daily walks can provide a natural boost in your mood if you suffer mild depression or are simply having a bad day.

1. Walking Extends Your Life
Each of the above benefits work together to create an overall healthier mind and body that could even extend your life. According to a study recently completed by National Walkers’ Health, those who walk faster tend to live longer than people who only walk at a slow to moderate pace. Of course, even slow or moderate speeds are better than no walking at all, so quicken your pace if you can but don’t give up your daily walks altogether.

​Article by Dianne G.

Here’s a fool-proof guide on picking the best lip shades for your skin tone!With an enormous array of choices, it can be a pain trying to find a shade that won't go wrong.  Here are some tips for understanding your skin tone. 
 
How to choose lip color
Your skin tone has a great effect on your overall look, especially when it comes to choosing your clothes, accessories, and lip colors.  

Here we are looking at the undertones of your skin, which will likely fall into one of these three types: 

The Cool

• Your skin tends to have pink, red or bluish undertones.  
• Your skin tone tends to be lighter.  
• The veins in your wrist appear more blue.  
• You tend to look better with silver accessories.  
• Your skin tends to flush or burn when you’re out in the sun.  

Your Lip Palette

• Choose corresponding cooler shades with blue undertones. 
• Pinks, purples, and berries are likely to enhance your complexion.  
• Nudes and neutrals with hints of blush, rose, or mauve work better.  
• For reds, don’t be afraid to try deep and rich shades such as wine, burgundy, and plum red. The key is to choose reds that veer towards blue undertones.  

The Warm

• Your skin tends to have warmer, yellow, or olive undertones.  
• Your skin tone tends to be darker.  
• The veins in your wrist appear more green.  
• You tend to look better with gold accessories.  
• Your skin tans easily and turns golden-brown when you’re out in the sun.  

Your Lip Palette

• Choose corresponding warmer shades with orange undertones.  
• Go for bright coral or peachy shades.  
• Nudes and neutrals with sand, caramel, and brown undertones work well.  
• For reds, go for autumn-friendly shades like brick red, crimson, and vermillion. The key is to choose reds that veer towards orange undertones. 

The Neutral

• Your skin has no obvious tones of cool or warm but seems like a mixture of both. 
• You can’t really tell if your veins are more blue or green.  
• You look good in both silver and gold accessories.  
• Your skin may appear more flushed first before tanning under the sun.  

Lip Color

• You tend to suit a wide variety of shades (lucky you!).  
• Most neutrals can easily pull off rich or bold reds as well as flashy colors like bright pinks. 
• To put it simply, just go with what you like!   

I hope this simple guide helps but these are not strict rules. Feel free to switch things up if you really love a shade that’s different from your usual!  After all, the best lip shade is one that makes you feel confident and empowered.  

Finally, a last tip – several other factors do affect the final look, such as the sheerness, glossiness, and finish of the lip product so look out for those too!
 
Article credit Dr's Secret

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Swipe on. Lustre up. Wash off. The warm sunset hue, and additional golden-bronze natural minerals leave skin looking radiant and perfected. The best part? It’s a silicone-free formula that nourishes skin with U.S-grown non-GMO Sunflower Seed Oil which is high in Omega 6 essential fatty acids.

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You move in closer to the mirror. There. A new dark spot on your skin. Was it there before? You shift back and forth, checking it from varying angles.
Hmm. It looked like just a dark spot at first, but now you’re not sure. One thing you do know—it wasn’t there before. At least you don’t think it was.
Spotting a mark on your skin is not usually a happy occasion. We’d all prefer our skin look smooth and flawless for the rest of our days, but unfortunately, that’s rarely the case.
To help you determine exactly what those marks are on your skin, we’ve got some guidelines below. If you’re ever even the slightest bit concerned about something you see, don’t hesitate to see your dermatologist.
1. Freckles are Flat
Freckles can form for two different reasons:

• You were born with them—they’re genetic. Most likely someone else in your family has them, too.
• You developed them because of sun damage.

You can tell the difference by asking yourself when you first noticed the freckles. If you had them even when you were a child, they’re most likely the genetic type. But if you didn’t get them until after you became an adult, they’re probably caused by sun damage.
It could be that you have a combination of both. You could have genetic freckles that tend to show up—or at least get darker—when your skin is exposed to the sun.
Either way, freckles are made up of skin cells with extra pigment. Unlike moles, they’re flat on the skin and typically occur in groups like patches. Light-colored skin types are more prone to freckles, particularly when exposed to the sun, as are those with light or red hair with fair skin and blue eyes.
Solution: If you don’t like your freckles, you can help fade them by protecting your skin from the sun with sunscreen and clothing, and by exfoliating your skin regularly. You can also try lightening formulas—just avoid hydroquinone, which can damage skin over time.
2. Moles are Raised
Moles are a type of skin growth, but a typically harmless one. They occur when pigmented cells in the skin grow in clusters or clumps instead of being spread out evenly. They are the result of cellular overgrowth, and they come in three basic types:

1. Congenital mole: These are the moles you’re born with. They are usually hereditary.
2. Common mole: These are harmless moles that appear after birth. It’s normal to have 10-40 of these on the body. Having 50 or more is linked with an increased risk of skin cancer.
3. Atypical mole: These are moles that have an odd shape and are larger than a pencil eraser. They also tend to be made up of more than one color.

Unlike freckles, moles are usually raised from the skin, and you can feel the bump when you touch them. Though most are harmless, it is important to keep an eye on any you have, as in rare cases, they can become cancerous.
Moles can appear anywhere, even on the scalp and between the fingers and toes. Most appear during childhood and adolescence, and then they may grow and change as we age. Safe moles appear symmetrical and round, with clearly defined borders. They should be smaller than a pencil eraser, and the same color throughout—brown, black, or skin-colored is most common.
Signs that a mole may be a cause for concern include:

• It’s asymmetrical: The shape is unusual. One side doesn’t match the other.
• The border is irregular: You would have a hard time drawing a border around it if pressed, and the color around the edges may blend in with the rest of the skin.
• Color: Unusual colors include red, pink, white, and blue, perhaps mixed in with the brown or black.
• Diameter (size): The mole is larger than a pencil eraser.
• Evolving: You’ve noticed that the mole has changed over time in shape, color, or appearance.

Solution: If you notice one or more of these things about your mole, see your dermatologist to have it checked. If you want the mole removed, it’s also best to see your dermatologist, as at-home treatments often don’t work well and can leave scars.
3. Birthmarks Are There from the Start
Birthmarks show up at the same time you do—at birth. They come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors, and can show up anywhere on the skin. Scientists don’t know for sure what causes them, but they’re usually harmless.
There is a type of birthmark called a “strawberry” birthmark that forms shortly after birth and grows rapidly to form a bright red raised area. These are best treated immediately, as they can form wounds and bleed, or they may interfere with the eyes, nose, or mouth, depending on where they’re located.
In addition, hemangiomas—which are pink, blue, or bright red and grow quickly during the first few months of a baby’s life—can increase the risk of skin cancer later in life, and should be regularly monitored.
Solution: Your birthmark is unlikely to cause any health problems, but if you’re concerned, check with your dermatologist. If you want to get rid of it, laser treatments and surgery may help. Many birthmarks also fade on their own.
4. Dark Spots and Age Spots
Larger, flat, brown spots on the face and hands that appear at middle-age and beyond are known as age spots or liver spots. They are flat like freckles and are the result of aging and sun damage. They can form anywhere the skin is exposed to the sun or tanning beds, like the face, hands, arms, décolletage, and legs.
Solution: Skin lightening products can help fade these spots, followed by careful protection from the sun. You can also try chemical peels, laser treatments, and microdermabrasion.
Article from CV Skinlabs