THE YUMMY ROASTED PLANTAIN

HEALTH BENEFITS OF  PLANTAIN:

Plantains are rich sources of complex carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, and are easily digestible. As a staple food, plantains have been the main fare of millions of people for centuries. 

ABOUT ROASTED PLANTAIN:

Unlike dessert bananas, plantains are almost always cooked before eating. In fact, they taste pretty awful raw, so don’t be tricked by their banana-like features. There are days when even the most enthusiastic cook craves the simplest of foods. Foods that are utterly easy and incredibly fast to make and yet taste divinely delicious.

I came up with this dish because I found a huge bag of plantains at the supermarket and loving plantains as much as I do, I didn’t want to let go of what looked like a great bargain. But I didn’t have a ton of time to spend sautéing them as I usually do, so I decided instead to roast them and let the oven do all the work -- not really the oven though even a coal can..

Plantains are great for roasting because the natural sugars in them caramelize easily, giving them a beautiful, shiny, golden, crispy coating in almost no time at all. You can try mixing all kinds of spices in this depending on how easy or exotic you want your dish to be. All I did was sprinkle it with some seasoning, a pinch of salt and some garlic powder. I can’t think of the last time I made a dish that was so easy but so good-looking and ravishingly delicious. you can take it with stew, sauce etc. ENJOY.....

BY: UMMU KHULTHUM ABDULKADIR

How to prepare Nigerian egg roll

The Egg Roll has been a Nigerian snack for a long time . Each roll contains about 309 calories.
Nigerian egg roll, similar to Nigerian buns or scotch egg, is made by deepfrying dough wrapped around a
hard boiled egg.

INGREDIENTS
10 whole eggs room temperature

4½ cups all-purpose flour

½ cup white sugar

½ teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon mixed ground spices nutmeg and cinnamon

Pinch of salt

4 tablespoons margarine or butter

1 cup warm water

Vegetable oil for deep frying

METHOD

1. Boil the eggs for some minutes until hard boiled.

2. Sift all the dry ingredients into a big dry bowl .

3. Add in the margarine to the dry ingredients and rub the butter into the flour with the tip of your fingers until crumbly.

4. In the centre of the flour mixture, add some water little by little. Mix the water with the flour until a dough is formed. Knead until a smooth, non-sticky elastic dough is gotten.

5. Divide the dough into 10 equal pieces and roll each into balls.

6. Dust a flat work surface with flour and roll out the dough pieces, one at a time. Wrap each piece
around an egg and roll into a ball. Repeat until each piece of dough is rolled and wrapped about an egg.

7. Heat the oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat and fry egg rolls in batches (on low/medium heat) until golden brown and crunchy on the outside.

8. Remove egg rolls from the oil and drain on a paper towel before serving.

9.Your egg rolls are ready! Serve hot, or cold, with any drink of your choice.


BY: FIRDAUSI MUSA DANTSOHO

PERFECT WAY TO MAKE TASTY SCOTCH EGGS

A Scotch egg consist of a hard - boiled egg wrapped in minced meat, coated in bread crumbs and baked or deep - fried. It makes a delicious snack that you can have anytime of the day .

INGREDIENTS:

*6 eggs

*5 sausages, sausages filling pushed out.

*1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

*All purpose flour for dusting

*1 egg, lightly beaten

*1/2 cup of bread crumbs

*Cooking oil, for frying


METHOD

1.Place the eggs with the shells still on into a pot of boiling water, reduce the heat and simmer untill hard boiled - about 12 minutes. Drain the eggs and allow to cool then peel the shells off under running water and set aside.

2.In a separate bowl, mix the sausage filling with parsley. Divide sausage mixture into six and shape it into flat patties that can fit around each egg.



3.Work the sausage meat around each egg as evenly as possible ensuring there are no cracks then place in fridge for about ten minutes to set.

4.Dust each egg lightly in flour, then dip into the beaten egg and then cover in breadcrumbs.

5.Heat oil in a pot and fry turning frequently until the eggs are golden brown all round. Remove from the oil and drain on paper towel.

6.Serve warm or cold.



By: FIRDAUSI MUSA DANTSOHO.

LET YOUR SKIN GLOW DURING THIS COMING FESTIVAL PERIOD

In this festive period, do you care for acne-free, wholly lucid, silky smooth and healthy looking skin, despite the unkind weather.
How healthy one’s skin is, is the first step towards an excellent supple body. But how you maintain your skin will determine how healthy it can go all year round, especially in this unpleasant weather period.

It is very necessary that you take special care of your skin in order for it to look radiant and beautiful. So, you need to take extra measures to protect your skin against harsh weather because the dry and harmattan season brings about other problems for the skin.
To keep your skin healthy and protect it against the harsh weather, you must make sure it is supple and full of moisture to avoid cracking and dryness. Drink plenty of water as this will hydrate the skin

1.Velvety cleanser

Mix equal amounts of jojoba oil and coconut oil and then double the mixture with water. Shake
thoroughly before use. The cleanser will emulsify the dirt without stripping your face’s oils.

Egg yolk and honey mask

Mix one tablespoon of almond oil, one tablespoon yogurt and one egg yolk and apply on the face.

Banana facial mask for dry skin

Crush a quarter of a ripe banana and mix with half a cup of natural yogurt and one tablespoon of honey. Apply the mixture on the face and neck and leave for 20 minutes. Then wash with water.

2.Exfoliate

Simply mix finely ground oats and almonds or almond oil with enough extra virgin olive oil for the mixture to fuse without crumbling.

Rich toner

Simply add honey to tomato juice until it becomes sticky and then apply this to your face and neck for between 25 to 30 minutes. The result will be a cleaner complexion with improved skin tone.



BY: FIRDAUSI MUSA DANTSOHO

HOW TO MAKE SWEET POTATOES PORRIDGE

These healthy sweet potatoes porridge served with fresh veggies are a delicious homemade dish made in less than an hour. Everyone loves white potatoes.


Potatoes are full of essentials and one of the healthiest form of carb we can give our bodies.
Sweet potatoes have so many benefits which includes : Vitamin C, Vitamin A, more fiber, fewer calories. 

Sweet potatoes have been found to lower blood pressure, aid digestion, protect against cancer, improve vision, aids effects of diabetes, increases immunity and even reduces chronic inflammation.


There are so many ways of enjoying sweet potatoes apart from making fries. One of such method is to make sweet potatoes porridge.

INGREDIENTS

*Sweet potatoes, peeled and cut

*Tomatoes, chopped

* Onions, chopped

* Spinach, cut

* Fried Fish

*Fresh pepper

* Palm oil

*Crayfish

* Salt, seasonings

METHOD

1. Put pot on fire and add palm oil.

2. Heat the palm oil in the pot add onions, chopped tomatoes, pepper, crayfish and seasoning.

3. Stir all together and check out the taste, stir and fry a little bit.

4.Add water and sweet potatoes.

5.Allow to cook. Sweet potatoes porridge is ready.
6. Serve with fried fish.


BY: FIRDAUSI MUSA DANTSOHO.

HOW TO MAKE FRESH PINEAPPLE JUICE

Pineapple is rich in Vitamin C and high in fiber. It’s also a good source of tryptophan, which studies have shown that it helps with anxiety and depression. It also helps with cough.

INGREDIENTS

* Pineapple

*Ginger

*Lime, peeled (optional)

* Honey (optional)

*Sugar (optional)

METHOD

1. Cut pineapple and ginger.

2. Put in a blender and Blend for a few seconds Add lime juice and strain.

3. Add sweetener (sugar or honey)

4. Refrigerate and enjoy your fresh pineapple juice.


BY: FIRDAUSI MUSA DANTSOHO

GROUNDNUT SOUP RECIPE

Groundnut is one of the most loved nuts and it can be made into a soup. Groundnut soup is a delicious delicacy you should try.


The famous groundnut soup is a Nigerian delicacy popular with the people of the Etsako tribe in Edo State.

Groundnut soup is a perfect blend of sweet and savory, the groundnut is always a winner and its difficult to find anyone who has tasted it and disliked it. The soup can be made with or without vegetable leaves.

INGREDIENTS
*500g raw peeled groundnuts (peanuts)

*Assorted meat and fish

*Beef

*Shaki (cow tripe)

* Dry fish

*Stockfish

* Palm Oil

* A small bunch of Nigerian Pumpkin leaves or 6 cubes Frozen

* Spinach or Bitterleaf

*2 tablespoons ground crayfish

* 2 big stock cubes

* Salt and ground dry cayenne pepper to taste.

METHOD
1.Start cooking the shaki first as it is the toughest meat in the bunch. Always keep water to the same level as the contents of the pot and top it up as you cook.

2.When the shaki starts to curl, add the dry fish and stock fish. When the shaki is almost done, add beef and stock cubes and cook till all the meat and fish are well done. Add the crayfish, salt, and pepper, cover and cook till it boils.


3. Transfer the meat and fish to another pot or container leaving the stock in the pot.
Add the ground groundnuts and stir very well till there are no lumps. Reduce the heat to a very low temperature and start cooking.

4. Stir every 5 minutes and top up the water if necessary. This mixture burns easily so, watch it closely and stir as often as necessary.

5. Cook till a thin film of clear oil appears on the surface. This should take about 15 minutes. Add palm oil and stir very well.

6. Add the beef and fish, stir and cook on low heat till it boils. For those who prefer their groundnut soup without vegetables, the soup is ready at this time. If you prefer it with vegetables then Add the vegetables, stir and leave to simmer. Stir again and it is done.

7. Enjoy with any of your swallow.


BY: FIRDAUSI MUSA DANTSOHO

10 BULLETS WERE REMOVED FROM MY HEAD, AND 2 BULLETS CLOSE TO MY EYES'' ANGELA OKORIE

Angela Okorie has got to be the luckiest woman on earth after surviving an alleged attack from suspected assassins.
Nollywood actress, Angela Okorie says ten bullets were removed from her head while two bullets were also removed somewhere close to her eyes during an alleged attack by assassins.

The actress made this known via her Instagram page on Sunday, December 15, 2019, while sharing an x-ray scan video after the alleged attack. According to her, surviving the attack was clearly God's plan.

"Undiluted grace will never stop to exist in my home, 10 bullets were removed from my head and 2 bullets close to my eyes, God alone deserves all the glory and honor. You are God all by your self, I am a child of Grace. Thank you, lord. Nothing in this world will ever make me ungrateful for all you’ve done in my life and family, The assassins kept on shooting for 30 minutes, No help from anywhere, No human came for our rescue Only God came for our Rescue.

BY SHAMSIYA BARAU AHMED

WEIRD THINGS PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY ARE IN LOVE

Love is beautiful thing. So they say. People are bound to do some weirdly stupid things when they are smitten.

Let’s admit it, we’ve all been there at one point at our lives. Somehow, when we fall in love, sense tends to leave our heads and we end up doing things we wouldn’t have imagined doing.

Here are some stupidly ridiculous things people do when they falling in love

Smiling stupidly at your phone

Yeah, this could be due to receiving a message from your lover or it could be as a result of going through your previous chats hence reminiscing on some memorable times you had. Sometimes it has nothing to do with the chats, you just remember something cute your better half does and you end up smiling. You stare at your phone to cover-up.

You become a snoop and a stalker

You will silently stalk them on all social media platforms. You want to know exactly they are online and whom they are chatting with. You literally want to know every detail of what they are up to.

Develop interest in things you didn’t have interest in

You find yourself ‘investing’ in your partner’s hobbies just to make them happy or just to spend more time with them doing things that they enjoy. Never mind you never at any given time in your life considered doing some of these things.

You have to consider your partner before making a decision

Your better half is literally always on your mind. They are somewhere lurking in the shadow of your brain. Any decision you make no matter how insignificant you have to consider them. Such is falling in love.

You go exceedingly out of your way

Even if you have to make crucial sacrifices, it does not matter so long as you get to please your partner. You can go to some extremes that when the love dies you look back and curse yourself for some of the things you did all in the name of love.

When the above are not all the weird things people do when they fall in love, they are some of the most common. Even though love is the warmest thing that could happen to you, it is advisable to be cautious and go slow on the ‘stupid things’.


BY STEPHANIE E. HEMEN

Tips to restore your skin's glow without using expensive cosmetics.

Who doesn't want a complexion that radiates good health? But what is the glow and how can you get it? That coveted glow women seek is the result of light reflecting from facial skin. When the skin surface is not smooth, the glow disappears. Here are four reasons why that glow may be eluding you: 

You don't have an even skin tone.

The texture of your skin is uneven, i.e. you have rough and dry skin, open pores, deep whiteheads, old acne scars, etc.

Your facial skin is losing structural support. As the fat under the skin moves and displaces with age, valleys and hills are created that keep your skin surface from looking smooth.

Also, make sure you eat and sleep on time and are not stressed. Your overall health and state of mind also contribute to a glowing skin. Once you've got that sorted, you can include the following steps in your skincare regimen. 

1. Exfoliate regularly with a gentle scrub. You could either choose from a foam-based face wash with fine exfoliating beads or make a scrub at home with sugar and honey or yogurt (make sure the sugar granules are fine in texture). Exfoliating sloughs away dead skin cells and helps with open pores and acne scars. Don't ignore your lips--they need exfoliation too! 

2. Moisturize well. You could use a heavier formula if you have fine lines and wrinkles.

3. Eat foods rich in antioxidants like Vitamin C, daily.

4. Use a sunscreen every day, without fail. This will prevent any unevenness of skin tone from getting worse.

5. Use a skin brightening face pack if you have an uneven skin tone.

6. Get a facial done at your salon every 20 to 30 days.

BY STEPHANIE E. HEMEN

Davido mocks Peruzzi's medical skills, says he will say his last prayer.

- Davido has poked fun at Peruzzi on social media over his medical skills - Peruzzi recently shared a throwback photo, revealing that he was a medical practitioner before stardom

- The photo showed Peruzzi in his medical scrubs and a protective face mask - 30 billion gang boss commented on the photo, saying he would say his last prayer if Peruzzi was his doctor Popular Nigerian singer David Adeleke, known by his stage name as Davido, has made fun of the medical skills of his friend and member of his Davido Music Worldwide (DMW) Record label, Perruzi. In a tweet, Peruzzi had taken a walk down memory by sharing a throwback photo of himself to show that he was once a medical practitioner before he became a popular singer. Peruzzi was seen wearing his medical scrubs and a protective face mask. Davido saw the photo on the popular micro-blogging platform and replied with a comment teasing Peruzzi.


The DMW boss stated that he would say his last prayer if he ever went into surgery and discovered that Peruzzi is his doctor.

BY SHAMSIYA BARAU AHMED

GHANA-NAIJA BEEF IS FAKE - SAID CARDI B

American rapper Cardi B has a lot of experience to share on her recent visit to Ghana and Nigeria.
Over the weekend, she was in Africa for the first time to perform in the two West African neighbouring countries.

She had a lot of fun but most particularly, she noticed that the tension between Ghana and Nigeria weren’t true as portrayed outside the world.

Ghana and Nigeria have been at ‘war’ on social media over politics, entertainment and most importantly, food (especially jollof).

But the “Bodak Yellow” hitmaker says the rift between the two countries is just like Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

“I didn’t know that the beef between Ghana and Nigeria is fake. They are just like Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico – they love each other but they fake beef with each other,” she told her Instagram fans.

She added that she wished she had more time to spend in Ghana and Nigeria because she enjoyed her stay.

“But I like both countries. I wish I had more time to spend in both countries. I had fun everything.”

BY SHAMSIYA BARAU AHMED

CAUSES AND TRIGGER OF MIGRAINE

A trigger is any event, change, external stimulus, or physical act which seems to result in migraine. It precedes the attack by a short interval which could be as much as up to 6 to 8 hours. The exact cause of migraine is not fully understood, but doctors and healthcare providers do know that many factors can induce a migraine. If you are one of the millions of people who deal with frequent or occasional migraines, it is important to understand your personal migraine triggers and do your best to avoid them. It may not be easy to identify what is triggering your migraine if your attacks are linked to a number of different things. 

A trigger may not cause an attack every time, which may confuse the situation even more. Keeping a journal of known triggers such as certain foods, odd or smells, change in weather, alcohol or highly caffeinated beverages may be beneficial in avoiding future migraine attacks. It is also crucial to never overuse or abuse any prescription treatment for migraine. Misuse of medication can lead to increased migraine attacks and chronic migraine symptoms.


Stress: A dramatic increase or decrease in physical or psychological stress can trigger a migraine. Majority of migraine patients report that stress is linked to the onset of migraine attacks. Researchers also found out that between 50 and 80 percent of migraine patients say stress triggers their migraine headaches. Some patients experienced migraine in the aftermath of a stressful event, while others experienced a new attack in the midst of a stressful event.

Lack of Sleep: Sleep disturbance is one of the most common factors linked to migraine. Insufficient sleep is often cited as a trigger for acute migraine attacks. Excessive sleep is a frequently reported trigger as well. Jet lag and changes in your work schedule can also be linked to the onset of migraine. Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder associated with chronic migraine. 

Chronic migraine patients who suffer from insomnia are at increased risk for anxiety or depression. These conditions have one thing in common: sleep disturbance. Fortunately, many patients report that sleep often relieves their migraine headaches.

Hunger or Dehydration: Migraine patients would do well to avoid skipping meals. Research consistently shows that skipping meals is frequently linked to the onset of migraine. It remains uncertain how this happens. It is probably related to falling blood glucose levels. Dehydration has also been suggested as a possible migraine trigger. Failure to drink enough water has been linked to the onset of headache. 

A small survey of migraine sufferers revealed that “insufficient fluid intake” was linked to headache onset in about 40 percent of responders.
Bright Lights and Loud Sounds: Bright, flickering, or pulsating lights, or loud sounds, may serve as a migraine trigger. Even brief exposure to sunlight may trigger migraine in some patients even though sunlight may not be a primary trigger. 

However, it may trigger migraine only if the patient has a hangover. Alternately, the patient may already be sleep deprived, stressed, dehydrated, or experiencing low blood sugar due to skipping a meal. Bright light may be a sort of secondary trigger. People whose migraine attacks appear to be triggered by bright light should consider whether these other factors were triggers.

Hormones: Women are three times more likely to suffer from migraine headache than men. Evidence suggests that female sex hormone fluctuations may play a role in headache onset and severity. More than half of female migraine patients in a recent study said they were likely to get severe migraine headaches during menstruation. A small subset of these patients experienced migraine solely during menstruation. 

The use of oral contraceptives may make symptoms worse, while pregnancy may offer relief among some migraine patients. Pregnancy was linked to worsening symptoms for other patients. Post-menopause may provide some limited relief from headache severity.

Physical Activity: Intense exercise may trigger migraines. A recent study found that 38 percent of migraine sufferers experience exercise-triggered migraine attacks at some point. Many patients with exercise-induced migraine report that their headaches begin with neck pain. More than half abandoned a favorite sport or form of exercise in an effort to avoid triggering migraine attacks. Some patients report that they have been able to substitute low-intensity exercises for high-intensity activities that might trigger an attack.

Endeavour to know your trigger because the earlier you know your migraine trigger the better you will be able to manage it.


STEPHANIE E. HEMEN

TIPS TO LET GO OF THE ONE YOU LOVE

We have all experienced it at some point the pain of lost love lingering like subtle poison. Letting go of someone you truly love is one of the most difficult things in the world. Unfortunately, sometimes necessary. And since the pain you experience from letting go of someone you love can stop you right in your tracks, you need to take action now if you hope to move forward with your life and find happiness elsewhere.

Sometimes, you know what happened; other times, you feel as though things slowly slipped away from you and you can’t quite pinpoint at any one cause. But in any case, you have decided it’s time to let them go and move on.

In this case, here are ways to let go of someone you love

Cut off contacts: Before you do anything, and I mean anything else, you need to cut off all contact with that person. This is the first step and more of a critically important prerequisite. You will never be able to heal if you keep the person who hurt you so close at hand.

Remove phone numbers, discard contact information, pictures and thing else directly connected with them. You are not erasing your memory, just removing your ability to potentially contact that person the next time you are in a moment of weakness and might think of reaching out.

Be with what you are feeling: Possibly the worst thing you can do is to ignore what you are feeling and start looking for means to either bottle those feelings down or hide from them. The longer you do this, the worse you will get, so you need to take an entirely different approach if you hope to heal this wound. Face the pain head on and don’t run from it. Allow yourself to simply be with whatever you are feeling, even if it’s uncomfortable. Over time, the mind has a way of settling itself if you allow it to focus in on the pain.

Stop fantasizing: As you begin to experience the gradual process of internal healing and reflect on past memories, you will be motivated to fantasize that maybe, just maybe, they will change. Maybe things could work out this time, if such and such was different. Things won’t work out and they won’t change. This process is your brain trying to keep you away from the pain again. Be present for these feelings so that you maintain clarity. But it is important to then give yourself a reality check and remember that this is a natural part of the healing process. It’s the same thing as binge-drinking after a breakup or some other loss. You are not really healing, just attempting to put a band-aid over the wound. Eventually, that band-aid will come off. And, when it does, it’s going to hurt like hell. The only way to heal is to be with what is the reality and move on; so stop fantasizing.

Practice forgiveness: Now is when you really begin to dig deep and get to the heart of the issue. Whatever happened has left an internal wound that needs to be sewn up. And, to do that, you need to practice forgiveness. It’s not always the other person’s fault. Sometimes it’s our fault. Whatever the case, you need to either practice visualizing the other person and repeating a simple mantra such as “I forgive you. My pain is my own” or imagine yourself apologizing and searching for those feelings of sincerity within you. When you can recognize this, the process has started working.

Depending on what happened, it will take time to heal. However, in every case, if you invest the time to be with yourself, listening to what goes within you and being kind and compassionate with yourself, you will heal the wound.

Get out there and live: Now that you have created a nourishing foundation you can use to heal internally, once you feel ready don’t wait too long it’s important to get out and into the world and start living. Get to work, pursue a passion, meet new people, or go on an adventure. Whatever it is, start creating new experiences, memories, and connections to replace the old memories.

The more you do this, the easier it will be to move on.

BY STEPHANIE E. HEMEN

5 things to know about Cardi B's visit to Nigeria

American rapper, Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, better known as Cardi B, has no doubt earned the hearts of Nigerians after her visit to the country for the Livespot music festival. Nigerians are no doubt fun-loving people who also put in their best when it comes to hosting guests and it is obvious that the Bodak Yellow rapper was well received and she enjoyed her short stay in the country. When it was gathered that the American Grammy-winning artiste would be visiting the country, many expected that she would be full of airs and would not blend well with fans in the country but the opposite was the case. Cardi visited clubs, danced with celebs, took photos with her fans, received gifts from them and also promoted the country in good light on her social media page.

1. Compared Nigeria to the Democratic Republic Cardi B arrived in Nigeria on December 5, 2019, and she was very excited as she shared videos from her journey to her hotel from the airport. According to the 27-year-old rapper, the country reminds her of the Dominican Republic where she is originally from.
2. The beauty of Lagos night life Cardi had a very busy but fun time in Nigeria and this was very evident in the videos she shared on her Instagram page. In one of her videos, the rapper marvelled at how beautiful the city of Lagos is at night and she even compared it to Disney Land. Cardi even took a photo of herself posing beside Christmas decorations on the streets of Lagos.
3. Giving back to society Cardi was most likely paid millions to perform in the country and she definitely spent some of those millions on Nigerians. The rapper visited a supermarket and bought almost everything she could for children at an orphanage in Lagos. The entertainer was also spotted spraying large wads of cash at exotic dancers and fans at the night club.
4. Cardi B followed Nigerian dancer, Jane Mena on Instagram Popular Nigerian dancer, Jane Mena, caught Cardi B's attention on social media and that led to her following her page on Instagram. Mena was very excited by this news.

5. The rapper has revealed that she misses Nigeria Cardi B’s visit to Nigeria is not one that the rapper would forget in a hurry. She obviously endeared the hearts of fans and had a good time too. Shortly after going back to her own country, she shared a touching post on Instagram asking to go back to Africa. In a subsequent post she said she misses Nigeria.

BY SHAMSIYA BARAU

4 SIMPLE STEPS TO HEALTHY, GLOWING SKIN FOR BEGINNERS

Clear, glowing skin is a feature women have sought as far back as 3000BC. The Egyptians, Greek, and Romans believed “perfect skin” should be pale (white), with rosy cheeks. Women went as far as applying crocodile dung to achieve paleness! So you see, the idea of bleaching creams did not start now.

We however, should not subscribe to this standard. Clear, healthy and hydrated is perfect. Your skin doesn’t have to be pale. Beauty comes in all colors. To achieve healthy glowing skin, all you need is a simple but effective routine. But before we spill the secret, we have to address those bad habits you probably observe on a daily basis that contribute to acne, dryness, pigmentation and what not.

-KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM YOUR FACE
You may have heard this a thousand times, but it’s a very important step. We shake, touch people, exchange money and other items, sneeze in our hands even. The skin on your face is highly sensitive so when it comes in contact with your dirty hands, it reacts badly compared to other parts of your body.

- INADEQUATE SLEEP /STRESS
Stress causes breakouts. To avoid this, it is advised that you sleep for at least eight hours a day to ensure sufficient rest. You could also figure out your stressors and deal with them adequately.

- CHANGE YOUR PILLOWCASE OFTEN
This piece of material should be changed more often than your sheets because when it’s dirty, all your attempts at achieving clear skin will go to waste as a result of those long hours you spend lying on a dirty pillowcase.

- SLEEPING WITH MAKEUP/ A DIRTY FACE

Sleeping with makeup blocks your pores, interrupts the healing process that happens while you sleep, speeds up ageing, damages skin cells, dries the skin out, and encourages pigmentation. In addition, you stain your pillows with makeup. It’s not worth it sis, wash your face.

NOW, THESE ARE THE HABITS YOU SHOULD PRACTICE

- GOOD NUTRITION
Our skin can be affected from inner and outer causes. That is why it is important to treat it from both fronts. Fruits and vegetables eaten regularly can improve the appearance of your skin. Eat fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin A, C and E. Some of these foods include; tomatoes, sweet potatoes, avocados, pepper, green tea, and coconut oil. Add these to a healthy diet and watch your skin improve.

- ADEQUATE HYDRATION
Staying properly hydrated is necessary for your overall health. Not only does water play an important role in your digestion and circulation, but it’s also vital for your skin’s health and beauty. Water helps you from the inside out.
It keeps the skin hydrated, tightens pores, slows ageing and improves the appearance of your skin.

- BUY A SATIN/SILK PILLOWCASE
Satin pillowcases help keep your skin supple and allow your pores to breathe. Cotton pillowcases, on the other hand, draw the moisture from your skin as you sleep. Any moisturizer/cream you may have applied during your night time routine will be absorbed during your sleep. Satin is soft to the touch and allows your face to glide against the pillowcase. More abrasive fabrics, such as cotton and wool, can cause creases, lines and wrinkles to develop around your eyes, forehead and mouth.

- EXERCISE
By increasing blood flow, exercise helps nourish skin cells and keep them vital. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to working cells throughout the body, including the skin. A simple walk or jog daily will work wonders.

AND NOW, YOUR FOUR (4) SIMPLE STEPS TO HEALTHY, GLOWING SKIN

(SKIN CARE ROUTINE FOR BEGINNERS)

At 2018, the global skin care industry was valued at about $300 billion! It is a huge community that you can get lost in, throw away a lot of money at every product that springs up on the internet, and still see little to no results.

The good news is, we are here to prevent that. If you’re new to the world of skin care there are four basic products that you need to achieve clear and healthy skin.

- Cleanser
Using regular bar soap can damage the outer protective layer of the skin. This leads to accentuated wrinkles and pores, and can cause acne and inflammation, which makes breakouts worse.

Next time you want to wash your face, put down the bar soap and reach for a facial cleanser instead. We advice you to use a cleanser that is free of sodium laureth sulfate. Never heard of it before? Well reach for your bottle of shampoo, toothpaste, shower gel, detergent or soap pack and read the ingredients list. It is the cleaning chemical responsible for the foaming up of these products.

SLS has been found to dry out skin and lead to more acne for people with sensitive skin. SLS is pardonable when used on the rest of your body, but please spare your face if you want to look your best.
You can purchase SLS free products with a simple Google search, online stores, and even local stores around you.



- Toner
After cleaning your face with a facial cleanser, it should be followed with a toner. A face toner is a quick, absorbing liquid that helps to remove excess dirt, traces of oil and makeup, correct and balance the pH of your skin, and helps control acne.

Most toners contain alcohol. We advise you steer clear of this lot. A great choice would be rose water bought from a store, or homemade. Cucumber mixed with aloe vera gel is another excellent alternative.

You could also search for more alternatives, but they should be the moisturizing variety and not dry out your skin like the alcohol containing products.

- Moisturizer
A good moisturizer is important for a glowing and healthy skin. It slows ageing, boosts skin rejuvenation, provides an extra layer of protection against harsh weather and acne.

After using a cleanser and toner, you definitely want to replenish lost moisture with a facial moisturizer. Facial moisturizers are all over the beauty market, so you could do some research, and find out which will best suit your skin, budget and weather conditions. We however, recommend products with at least 1% salicylic acid.

Salicylic acid dives deep into congested skin to relieve clogged pores and blackheads while reducing bacterial growth (bacterial growth is what causes those tiny rashes that we can’t exactly classify as pimples) bacterial growth is prevalent in hot countries, so you want this is your regimen. 

- SUNSCREEN
Did you know that black skin comes with a built-in sunscreen? Every melanin popping brother/sister has a sun protection factor of sixteen (SPF16) in their skin. God really does know how to plan lol.

This however does not mean you don’t need extra protection. Sun, especially in hot countries like ours, shows no mercy. You may be thinking the sun doesn’t do much damage to your skin, but you’re mistaking. It takes 30 years for sun damage to appear, so the damage you did in your 20s will start showing up in the form of wrinkles during your 50s.

Sun protection is not very popular among Nigerians, but we strongly advise that you incorporate this into your regimen. A high SPF, say 30 and above is recommended by skin care specialists.

Sunscreen can be expensive sometimes, but worry not! There are inexpensive sun protectors that we all own. These include umbrellas, sunglasses, baseball hats, and so on. What's more? You can turn these pieces to fashion statements!


Use these whenever you go out under the sun, and your skin will thank you.

So what are you waiting for? Kick start your skin care journey with these effective tips we’ve given you, and begin to develop silk soft, healthy radiant skin.


LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW

- Which of the bad habits we mentioned are you guilty of?

- What is your current skin care routine?

- Are you a ‘rub-soap-and-water-and-call-it-a-day’ person or an Instagram skin care products junkie?

- What skin care product do you regret buying?

- Did you find our tips helpful or impractical?

- Recommend your favorite skin care products/practices to us and other readers!

Share this post to your friends if it was helpful to you.


BY: LARISSA ACHUGWO