Today’s market is ripe with a diverse array of skin care products. As a result, we are overwhelmed and find it difficult to make decisions. However, buying skin care products should not seem as daunting and confusing as it seems; all you need is a wealth of information on the various brands and products so that you know what you are getting into. Do due diligence and research well prior to getting an overdose of the market varieties.

The first step for anyone interested in skin care products is to review the product labels and understand its ingredients, purpose and directions. You should be able to identify those ingredients that may cause harm to your skin. Beware of chemicals like sorbitol, sodium lauryl and laureth sulfates; alcohol, astringents, colorants and certain fragrances should also be avoided as these may cause blemishes, irritation or break-outs.

Natural skin care products are gradually gaining momentum and becoming increasingly popular among people concerned about their skins. Milk, honey, botanical products and oils have been noted to have gentle and soothing effects. Natural ingredients like aloe vera and lanolin are popular choices that create soothing and moisturizing effects on the skin.

Skin care products range from moisturizers, intense acne treatments to anti-aging regimens. The wide range of available products help to fight and delay several natural processes like acne, wrinkling and fine lines. Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHA) are two ingredients to look for in order to choose an anti-aging product. Some fruits and plants like apples and grapes contain these ingredients. Revitol and Royal Gold are two products growing in popularity by the day.

Chemicals called tretinoins have shown positive effects in case of sun damage and wrinkles. These can be found in medications rather than cosmetics and have the ability to reverse the damaging effects of the sun and to change the skin’s cell structure. Skin care products containing treyinoins are available by prescription only and they help to rejuvenate the skin and provide treatment for wrinkles, fine lines, rough patches and dark spots.

Prior to choosing any products for use, it is imperative to get an idea of your skin type. This answers a lot of questions you may have and will help to make appropriate decisions regarding the skin care products. You might know your skin type but if you are uncertain, it is safest to consult a dermatologist who can guide you accordingly. You may have oily or dry skin or perhaps a combination of both.

Sensitive skin is also quite common and needs special attention. So, in order to determine your exact skin type and to buy products those are compatible with the particular skin type, ask a dermatologist. This will prevent you from using products that you may be allergic to and that may cause unwanted reactions.

The following are 5 tips that will guide you in choosing your skin care products:

1. Know your skin type: It is important to know your skin type so that you can buy the correct products that meet your particular needs. The most common skin types are oily, dry, combination and sensitive.

2. Read the label: The importance of reading the label and getting acquainted with the ingredients cannot be stressed enough. Water is a primary ingredient that should be present in moisturizers as it best hydrates the skin.

3. Calendar: Different seasons and climates require different products for the skin. So, you should buy products according to your skin type and according to the weather. For instance, your summer skin treatment should include sun block ingredients. Similarly, dry skins should be treated with care during winter to avoid dryness and rough patched.

4. Compare Prices: Take a look at the prices and buy products that fit your budget. Some products are simply too expensive and not necessarily the best. With this, you should ask how much of the product you need, how often you will be using it and your expected results. These considerations will help you to determine the brands that work for you and the prices that meet your cost requirements.

5. Use Regularly: The key to positive results is to use the products regularly and to follow the directions. Anti-aging creams and night creams are specific products that should follow a regimen otherwise the purpose is defeated. Use your products as often as they are recommended for best results.

All these factors imply that you should be diligent before pursuing any single brand or product. Careful review of competitive products, their prices and their effects will help you to make informed decisions about your skin and your overall health. A review site which lists information on varied skin care products is a good place to start.

How would you rate your fear of speaking? Do you dread getting up in front of a group to make a presentation? Do you have trouble sleeping the night before you are scheduled to speak to a group? Are you filled with anxiety the last 30 minutes before you are introduced to speak? If you answered, “yes,” to any of the above questions, you’re not alone. Public speaking is dreaded by millions of people around the world. Approximately 75% of the population has some level of stage fright or fear of speaking in public. It’s at the top of the list when people are asked to rank their greatest fears. Think about that! Speaking in public is a greater fear than the fear of death, which comes in at number two- we’re talking about some serious fear!

Over the past twenty-five years as an executive coach, I have worked with dozens of clients who have a significant fear of speaking. Here are just a few fears they’ve expressed:

• I mostly fear the questions and I’m afraid I’ll appear like I’m under-qualified to present.
• My biggest fear is totally losing track of where I am in the presentation and it will be obvious to everyone.
• My greatest fear is looking like an idiot who doesn’t know what I’m talking about!
• I tend to get too wordy and detailed. I’m afraid I’ll lose their interest and they’ll be bored.
• My face turns red and my voice gets shaky.
• I hate it when my mouth dries up- cottonmouth.
• I’m always afraid I might faint.
• I get sweaty and my stomach starts grumbling. I don’t want people looking at me in that condition which only causes more stress.

Control Your Nervousness

The term “glossophobia” is relatively unknown to most of us. It’s a fancy word for speaker anxiety. Wikipedia describes it as an intense anxiety just before or simply at the thought of having to verbally present to a group. It goes on to explain that people with glossophobia experience “physical distress, nausea or feeling of panic in such circumstances.”

Try Taking Deep Breaths

The power of taking deep breaths at the first sign of anxiety is real. Take nice, slow long breaths in through your nose, hold it and slowly exhale through your mouth. Do this several times while focusing on your breathing. This is a technique that many of my clients have found to be instantly helpful. It’s also such a subtle technique that you won’t draw attention to yourself while you’re doing it! It can slow your racing heart, calm your nerves and prevent your mind from swimming with negative self-talk.

Channel Your Energy

Accept the fact that feeling some increased tension is perfectly normal. In fact, view it positively. The increased energy will allow you to be more passionate about your topic. You may feel an adrenaline rush just like winning athletes feel as they cross the finish line… first! Redirect the physiological symptoms into an exciting delivery through strong vocal projection, natural, animated gestures and an expressive face. Your excitement will be contagious to your audience.

Clear Your Mind

Even successful, highly paid professional speakers feel anxiety right before going on stage.

Take a short walk before going on stage. This could be a simple walk around the building before heading inside to perform. It could be a short walk down the hall and back before entering the ballroom or conference room.

Listen to your favorite music. Speakers often rely on their portable music devices to listen to music that inspires them, relaxes them or creates just the right mindset for delivering their best presentation possible.

Visualize success. Winning athletes, actors, orators and singers share the practice of visualization. Picture yourself-actually see yourself-standing in front of your audience. See how they are hanging on every word that you speak. Notice their facial expressions as they respond to all your main points. Replace any negative thoughts with only thoughts and visual pictures of your best presentation ever!

There is always the fun and excitement in picking the right gift for someone special in your life, may it be your mom, colleague, lover, etc. But the more you intend to make that particular someone feel even more special, the more it becomes difficult for you to find the right piece that can express how you really feel. One sensible gift-giver, as what you might have already known, considers important factors such as gender, the type of relationship between the giver and the receiver of the gift, and of course, age. Speaking of age, I have had many people approach me seeking for 40th birthday gift ideas.

We have this particular notion that when one reaches 40, he or she has achieved a certain level of self-actualization. This is a very important stage in ones life. Thus, finding the right gift for someone who is celebrating a 40th birthday will require you to squeeze your imagination a lot.

When getting something for a special friend who turns 40, make sure that your gift spells taste and good class. Consider good wines, perfumes, and designer ties. Also, you can get your best buddies anything that they can use for their hobbies. You can present them with personalized mugs or t-shirts bearing humorous remarks or witty lines – something that hails their wisdom achieved at such age.

For your mom or dad who turns 40, there can be loads and loads of gift-giving options. Bring them back to your childhood years when getting gifts for them didn’t have to be a pain in your wallet. Relieve the years when you simply enjoyed getting your creative hands into something personal and original – like an artwork perhaps. Yes, nothing beats your handmade cards just yet.

You may also create a scrapbook or wall decoration containing collages of your family pictures depicting how you have evolved as a tight bunch through the years. You may also consider other things to include in your artwork project.

My friends mom enjoyed gardening so much. So what she did was gather all the pictures she has taken of her mom while gardening. She went the extra mile taking still shots of her mom’s potted plants, shrubs, landscapes, and anything else in their small backyard garden. With these resources, she was able to put up the best garden-themed scrapbook her mom has ever seen in her life.

You can also give your parents the most unforgettable birthday of their lives by volunteering to take over in specific chores. You can also cook special recopies for them if you have the acumen for the kitchen. If, however, you are not much of a cook, it will make them even happier to see you’ve broken a leg there. Also, someone at 40 would be very happy to see their friends around. You can surprise them by having their old buddies come over.

If it is your spouses 40th birthday, your main goal in gift-giving should be to keep the spark alive. You can take your special someone out to that classic restaurant or you can go out ballroom dancing – just like old times. You may also inject the spirit of nostalgia by doing things you used to do together as young lovers, like watching a movie together. Look for a copy of the first movie you watched together and set up a little theater at home (you can go borrow an LCD projector and use a white sheet as your makeshift screen). You can go explore so many other romantic ideas to give your spouse a birthday worth cherishing forever.