The perfect primer is the secret to flawless foundation application. Primers don't just help to keep your base in place, they can also add an extra glow or mattify the skin if it becomes oily.
Like with many beauty products, there are so many to choose from when it comes to picking the best primer. From tinted formulas to glow-enhancers and everything in-between, it's easy to feel overwhelmed when presented with your options.
We have picked out our all-time favorite primers, including high-end picks, and those to suit a smaller budget. Take a look below in order to find your perfect product..
Minimise the appearance of pores and achieve silky-smooth skin instantly with Benefit’s hero product. Quickly minimize the appearance of pores, fine lines for smoother-than-smooth skin! Apply this silky, lightweight balm alone, under or over makeup. Translucent, oil-free formula complements all skintones and helps makeup stay put.
This silky, weightless and multipurpose primer goes beyond traditional formulations by concealing redness, minimizing the appearance of pores, fine lines and wrinkles, and shielding skin with Broad Spectrum SPF 15 protection. In addition, it repels water to keep your make up looking freshly applied all day long. Extends the durability of any foundation or powder.
With a lightweight, creamy gel texture that blends well with skin Contains Jojoba Oil, Vitamins A, C and E that revitalize, hydrate skin Features a universal pearl tint for a soft focus effect. Visibly reduces the look of imperfections with a luminous finish Forms an invisible layer that works as a barrier against outside elements. Enables makeup to stay fresh and colour-true all day long Perfect for all skin types Free of silicone and paraben.
Create a perfect canvas for foundation application with this lightweight, oil-free, silky blend of vitamins A and E, grape seed extract and green tea. Worn alone or under foundation to increase its longevity, this unique formula helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores for visibly softer skin with a velvety smooth finish. Oil free.
Silicone-free primer that controls excess oil and reduces shine Gives instant skin tightening and mattifying effect. Visibly eliminates the appearance of pores Offers a smooth matte surface throughout the day Lightweight formula without oil, alcohol and fragrance. Use alone, before or after foundation.
In a jungle of dishwasher detergents it is not easy to pick the right one. On the other hand, differences between the best and the worse detergent is significant. Therefore it is important to pick make the right choice. As a rule of thumb, the less chemicals the healthier it is of course. Based on my experience, I have selected 5 dishwasher detergents that can make a difference in your household. In addition, an expensive detergent does not necessarily mean the best detergent! We often pay for the brand instead of really knowing what is into it.
Growing moso bamboo (種子から紅の竹) is a great experience that basically enriched my life in terms of learning curve. You could easily pick up 50% by learning how to plant giant bamboo and the rest by doing. Moso bamboo is a temperate species of giant timber bamboo native to China and Taiwan and naturalized elsewhere. The edulis part of the Latin name refers to its edible shoots. This bamboo can reach heights of up to 28 m (92 ft). This particular species of bamboo is the most common species used in the bamboo textile industry of China.
Moso bamboo spreads using both asexual and sexual reproduction. The most common and well known for this plant is asexual reproduction. This occurs when the plant sends up new culms from underground rhizomes. The culms grow quickly and reach a height of 90 ft or more (depending on the age and health of the plant). In mature individuals, the culms in young plants grow taller and wider in diameter as the general plant reaches maturity, but once the individual culm stops growing it will not grow again. P. edulis also flowers and produces seed, and it does so every half century or so, but it has a sporadic flowering nature and there are always a few individual plants in flower somewhere.
The seeds fall from the mature culms in the hundreds of thousands and are quick to germinate. Mice, field rats and other rodents take notice of the bounty of seed, this results in the loss of many of the seeds, but within a few weeks the surviving few seeds would have germinated. The first culm from a seedling will not get much taller than a few inches at most, and may be as thin as 2mm, but with every new culm sent up from developing rhizomes, the grove of plants will grow in height and cane diameter.
Moso bamboo is the most valuable bamboo in Asia, especially China, It is one of the most highly used plants for economic activities. The shoot have been providing food in Asia for thousand of years. Moso bamboo poles have been used to build houses and structure from the pre history time to now. New technology using Moso bamboo fiber to make flooring, clothing, plywood. Moso Bamboo’s strength, flexibility, and ready availability have made it a dominant structural material throughout much of the world for centuries.
I have done some testing on growing moso bamboo and documented the process in the my youtube video below which I feel proud sharing with you guys. Sadly it didn't turn out what I had expected but there could be many reasons behind the failure. The soil was perhaps too acidic or the seeds received were not fresh. However, I will not be giving up nor surrender attempts in planting bamboo. I also have to admit that the video shows the progress after four weeks, its advisable to wait 5 to 6 weeks for good results though. Thank you for watching the video and please take your time to subscribe to my youtube channel. I like to post videos on gardening from time to time and share success and failure stories with the audience.
In addition, some links on where to buy bamboo products on amazon:
Are you looking for modern and nutritious ways to cook rice? If yes, you should buy a rice cooker. Rice takes some time to cook and can be a bit tricky to cook right every time. This is a solution to make the job quick and easy. Here, you will find the best rice cooker that meets all your cooking requirements: nutritional value, efficiency, high-quality material, safety, and simplicity. Long story short, I personally had the best experience with Zojirushi rice cookers. They can last a lifetime because it's quality allows durability. Click on image for more technical details.
Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT Micom 3-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer
Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 5-1/2-Cup
Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer
Zojirushi NS-TSC10 Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer
Aroma Housewares ARC-914SBD
Digital Cool-Touch Rice Cooker
Panasonic Microcomputer IH Rice cooker (5.5CUP) SR-JHS10-N/220V
Zojirushi NS-PC10 Electric 5-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer
Tiger JAZ-A10U-FH 5.5-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer with Steam Basket
Tiger JNP-S10U-HU 5.5-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer
How a rice cooker works
The first practical electric rice cooker was invented byYoshitada Minami, who had an association with Toshiba Electric Corporation. It became possible to cook rice practically by employing the triple-chamber rice cooker (that provided heat insulation by air layers).
If you are busy, you would surely say, “It’s something that has the potential to change your life, by significantly reducing your time in the kitchen and liberating you to focus on other tasks while the rice cooks.”
A rice cooker is unlike a typical kitchen appliance. It not only cooks rice but also gives it the perfect shape and taste that traditional cooking pots cannot. So, what are the basic components of a rice cooker?
Rice cookers normally consist of the inner pot, which is detachable for convenience. In general, good rice cookers have non-stick inner pots, so that rice at the bottom does not stick, and you can clean the pot easily. The inner pot normally has a stainless steel material for quick cooking.
The inner pot goes inside the external casing that provides the heat. The construction of the external pot allows it to retain heat.
Rice cookers are electric appliances. So, they would not be complete without a power cord. Pour the rice and other ingredients into the cooking pot, plug in the cable, and switch it on. Leave the rest to this amazing machine.
So, you do not have to stir or check the status time and again. But, you do have to follow certain rules:
The amount of rice must be measured. It depends on the capacity of the cooking pot how much rice (cooked or uncooked) it can take. If you are putting uncooked rice, the cooking pot needs a little more space, because the uncooked rice will expand upon cooking. Follow the marks in the pot, and add water according to the measurements.
Put the lid and secure it properly. It will seal the rice and the cooking pot. The seal helps rice cook quickly, because there is no space for air or steam to escape.
The building temperature allows the water to convert into steam. As the steam has no way to escape, it builds pressure that in turn, allows the rice to cook fast. The water vapors keep the rice tender and moist.
Not to forget the keep warm feature. It activates automatically, as soon as the temperature inside the rice cooker hits a certain point.
In general, the entire process takes between 30 minutes and an hour. It depends on a number of factors, such as the quantity of rice, the quality and condition of rice, the heating technology of the cooker, the motor speed, and power supply, etc.
Many of us know how ichi and discomfort eczema may cause. Well, that does not mean that we have to surrender.
What Is Psoriasis?
Unpredictable and irritating, psoriasis is one of the most baffling and persistent of skin disorders. It's characterized by skin cells that multiply up to 10 times faster than normal. As underlying cells reach the skin's surface and die, their sheer volume causes raised, red plaques covered with white scales. Psoriasis typically occurs on the knees, elbows, and scalp, and it can also affect the torso, palms, and soles of the feet.
The symptoms of psoriasis vary depending on the type you have. Some common symptoms for plaque psoriasis -- the most common variety of the condition -- include:
laques of red skin, often covered with loose, silver-colored scales; these lesions may be itchy and painful, and they sometimes crack and bleed. In severe cases, the plaques of irritated skin will grow and merge into one another, covering large areas.
Disorders of the fingernails and toenails, including discoloration and pitting of the nails; the nails may also begin to crumble or detach from the nail bed.
Plaques of scales or crust on the scalp
Psoriasis can also be associated with psoriatic arthritis, which leads to pain and swelling in the joints. The National Psoriasis Foundation estimates that between 10% to 30% of people with psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis.
Pustular psoriasis , characterized by red and scaly skin on the palms of the hands and/or feet with tiny pustules.
Guttate psoriasis, which often starts in childhood or young adulthood, is characterized by small, red spots, mainly on the torso and limbs. Triggers may be respiratory infections, strep throat, tonsillitis, stress, injury to the skin, and use of anti-malarial and beta-blocker medications.
Inverse psoriasis, characterized by bright red, shiny lesions that appear in skin folds, such as the armpits, groin area, and under the breasts.
Erythrodermic psoriasis, characterized by periodic, fiery redness of the skin and shedding of scales in sheets; this form of psoriasis, triggered by withdrawal from a systemic psoriasis treatment, severe sunburn, infection, and certain medications, requires immediate medical treatment, because it can lead to severe illness.
People who suffer from psoriasis know that this uncomfortable and at times disfiguring skin disease can be difficult and frustrating to treat. The condition comes and goes in cycles of remissions and flare-ups over a lifetime. While there are medications and other therapies that can help to clear up the patches of red, scaly, thickened skin that are the hallmark of psoriasis, there is no cure.
What Causes Psoriasis?
A variety of factors -- ranging from emotional stress and trauma to streptococcal infection -- can cause an episode of psoriasis. Recent research indicates that some abnormality in the immune system is the key cause of psoriasis. As many as 80% of people having flare-ups report a recent emotional trauma, such as a new job or the death of a loved one. Most doctors believe such external stressors serve as triggers for an inherited defect in immune function.
Injured skin and certain drugs can aggravate psoriasis, including certain types of blood pressure medications (like beta-blockers), the anti-malarial medication hydroxychloroquine, and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.).
Psoriasis tends to run in families, but it may be skip generations; a grandfather and his grandson may be affected, but the child's mother never develops the disease. Although psoriasis may be stressful and embarrassing, most outbreaks are relatively harmless. With appropriate treatment, symptoms generally subside within a few months.
It's always confusing to find the detect the right flight at the right price. Especially direct flights that are transparent isn't easy to spot in the internet. I have created a list of the most straightforward and attractive flight ticketing agencies. The best time to travel each year is during January and February, as flight prices plummet after the holiday season when consumers try to cut back on spending. So for those not burnt out from holiday travel and can spare some extra change, the Internet is bursting with great flight deals. While searching for deals, remember that traveling on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday are the cheapest days to fly, while Friday and Sunday are the busiest travel days and the most expensive.
Travelation is a leading online travel web site specializing in cheap flights, discount hotel rooms, cheap car rentals and wholesale cruises to the top travel destinations within the United States and the World. Their goal is to provide consistent value to our customers by offering discounted travel pricing, a large variety of travel content and outstanding customer service.
Very good customer service that answers any customer inquiries timely. CheapFlightNow is an online travel reservation service that specializes in cheap flights and discounted airline tickets to the top travel destinations anywhere in the World. Another impressive fact is the flexibility and customer service that the company offers.
Smartfares really does what it stands for. A smart way to travel around the world. SmartFares is a travel reservation service that specializes in providing consumers with the best fares available in the marketplace. Every travel company speaks about customer service and SmartFares has built its entire company around the experience of its customers.
Not all travel search engines are created equal and Skyscanner certainly stands out from the crowd. Travel metasearch is one of the most transparent ways of searching for travel and delivers just what consumers want - the ability to compare and contrast a huge range of products and purchasing options in a truly unbiased manner.
Fly like a virgin. My all time favourite airline from the UK. It's a true exciting experience to fly around the world with Virgin Atlantic. The Virgin Atlantic airline platform is very easy to use and transparent. I think good for customers that dont want to spend too much time in finding the right flight. Their customer service is fabulous too. A must try!
This is based on my experience, it's always good to check at different places because some places have some products that are good, whereas other places tend to be good for specific other products. Nowadays you can find everything on line which makes it much easier to source the products you need for your baby. You've survived 9 months of pregnancy. You've made it through the excitement of labor and delivery, and now you're ready to head home and begin life with your baby.
Once home, though, you frantically realize you have no idea what you're doing!What exactly do you need? What’s the best change table? Which car seat is best for your baby? How do you choose the right pram or cot for your lifestyle? Well, to help make your life easier, we’ve compiled a list of all the baby essentials so you can just read and then simply print it off and start shopping.
This is based on my experience, it's always good to check at different places because some places have some products that are good, whereas other places tend to be good for specific other products. Nowadays you can find everything on line which makes it much easier to source the products you need for your baby.
Sleeping
Baby monitor – Check the range and frequency before you buy. Choose one that has a large enough range to be useful in your home and a frequency that is different to your electrical goods, particularly your cordless phone to ensure a clear connection. Find out what baby monitors made it into the Kidspot Best of Awards.
Bassinet mattress – There are different types of bassinet mattress available. Whatever you choose, always invest in a new mattress – you know where’s it been and that it’s clean and ready for use.
Bedding for bassinet – Consider three sets – one being used, one being washed and one for little accident emergencies.
Cot – All new cots have to comply with minimum safety standards so if you are considering buying a second-hand cot, check the standards before you buy.
Cot mattress – Toddlers and preschooler don’t weigh much so there’s no reason to invest in a fully sprung cot mattress. Select instead a good quality foam or natural fibre mattress that’s at least 10cm thick and fits your cot snugly.
Bedding for cot – Consider three sets – one being used, one being washed and one for middle of the night emergencies.
Nightlight – Consider a rechargable portable night light – you can carry it with you as you move around at night and leave it on for hours before needing recharging.
Changing/Bathing
Change mat – Select one that has raised sides to stop baby from rolling away and a good quality wipeable surface.
Change table - If you don’t have a lot of space to spare, choose a foldable change table that you can close between nappy changes.
Toiletries – Select unscented, natural – possibly even organic – toiletries for newborns as their skin can react to unfamiliar chemicals. e.g. Muslin baby batch towel etc.
Nappy wipes – Buy in bulk and store them in a pop-top dispenser that will prevent them from drying out. Choose thick alcohol-free wipes that are gently scented and not too moist.
Barrier cream - Be prepared to try a couple of barrier cream preparations before you find the perfect one for your baby. These creams are inexpensive and it’s worth the investment to find the one that works best for you.
Sorbelene cream – Consider using sorbelene cream instead of soap at bathtime if your baby’s skin seems to be becoming dry. Gentle and moisturising, it rarely upsets senstive skin.
Cotton wool – Useful when bathing and spot-cleaning baby’s face and bottom, cotton wool is gently on the skin than a flannel.
Cotton buds – Cotton buds are kinder than finger nails when healing umbilical cords need gentle cleaning. Also very handy when cleaning around ears, eyes and nose.
Soap/bubble bath – Not an essential but lovely to have. Choose one that is specially formulated for babies.
Shampoo – Don’t use adult shampoo on babies – it’s too strong – instead choose a baby shampoo that’s natural and mildly scented. Avoid using conditioner completely.
Nail clippers/scissors – If you’re nervous about cutting little nails, buy nail clipper rather than scissors as these are less likely to cut baby’s skin. Cut nails just after bath time when the nails are supple from the heat of the water.
Hair brush – Select a gentle brush – you’ll need to buy something stronger by the end of the first year, but little sprouts of baby hair only need the gentlest of brushes to get it looking good.
Nappies – cloth or disposable If you are using cloth nappies, you need to start with 24 nappies for your newborn. If you are using disposable, don’t stock up too much in the first months as your baby will grown quickly and you may be left with a pile of nappies that no longer fit.
Bath towel – Consider two towels – one for use and one for washing.
Face cloth – Consider two face cloths – one for use and one for washing.
Baby bath – Try to find one with a plug which will save you lugging a heavy bath of water.
Bath ramp – Not an essential but handy. This allows you to bathe baby with confidence by lying him in the bath on the ramp without any risk of him slipping under the water.
Bath seat – Handy when you have a baby who can sit up – a bath sit will keep him safe and secure in the water at bath time.
Leaving the house
Pram/stroller – Try to road-test friend’s prams before purchasing your own. This can be one of the most expensive baby purchases you’ll make and finding a pram that serves your purposes is important. Depsite the style you like, make sure it is easy to open and close. Check out the best prams, as voted by Kidspot mums!
Raincover - for the pram Some prams have their own rain covers which can be bought separately, but you can buy universal rain covers that are designed to fit various styles of pram and these are generally cheaper than the branded version.
Baby car seat/capsule – Legislation concerning car seats and infant restraints have changed in recent years so ensure the car seat you plan on using complies to current legislation.
Sun shades for the car windows – Choose a sun shade that encases the whole window rather than a suction cap sun shade as these can fly off the window in a collision.
Sling/pouch - Road-test slings and pouches with your baby in place before you purchase – you need to find one that is evenly distributes baby’s weight, is comfortable and is the right size for you so you don’t hurt your back. View Kidspot’s top rated slings & pouches!
Travel cot - Little babies will happily sleep in their pram for the first few months, but if you need your baby to sleep away from home often, invest in a good quality tavel cot that is sturdy and simple to set up.
Nappy-bag - Choose a bag that is big enough to house the essential but not so big you could move house in it. A good nappy bag should have internal compartments, a ‘wet area’ and a foldable change mat. Check out Kidspot mums’ favourite nappy bags!
Feeding equipment
If you’re breast feeding:
Breast pads - If you are choosing disposable breast pads, go for a brand that has a sticky patch on the back to secure it to the inside of your maternity bra and stop movement of the pad. Find some of our mums’ favourite breast pads here.
Feeding’ pillow – A pillow of your bed will do the job but specially V-shaped feeding pillows are more comfortable to use.
If you’re bottle feeding:
Steriliser – Microwave steam sterilisers are a great option because they are fast and easy to use.
Bottles – Consider using wide-necked bottles – they are easier to clean and to prepare formula in. See what Kidspot mums voted as the best baby bottles!
Teats – You may have to try a few types of teats before finding the right ones for you baby – whatever you use, make sure you use an age-appropriate teat to ensure correct milk flow.
Formula – Check that the formula is age-appropriate for your baby.
Clothing
Bodysuits – Bodysuits are useful in the colder months when a bare belly – where clothing has
separated – is not what you want to see. Body suits that stretch over the head and clip together between the legs are the easiest to put on and off.
Singlets - Have plenty of plain cotton singlets on hand at all times – this is an essential item of clothing even during the hotter months.
Grow suits - Grow suits can be worn day or night so it’s worth stocking up on at least 4 or 5 of these essential items. Choose grow suits with press studs that go all the way down the inside of the legs for ease of nappy changing.
Sunhat – Select a hat that can be thrown into the wash and that has a brim that’s big enough to shade baby from the sun.
Beanie – Choose a beanie that doesn’t have a cuff as these can unroll unexpectedly and cover your baby’s eyes and face, which can pose a safety threat.
Jackets, jumpers, cardigans – Select outer wear that can comfortably have another layer or two underneath so you can eaily keep baby warm. Don’t choose anything with ties around the neck as these can cause choking.
Socks - Buy a pair of socks for every day of the week – and consider choosing one colour and sticking to it. You will lose many socks and being able to pair up odd socks will save you having to buy more.
General
Drawers for storage – A small chest of drawers is the simplest way to keep all of baby’s clothing and accessories in one place – as you can use it for years to come, invest in one that is big enough to store toddler and preschooler clothes later.
Mobile - Choose a mobile that can be moved around the house, and try to avoid mobiles that play music and this will only be annoying after months of playing the same tune.
Toys - Babies don’t need a lot of toys so invest in good-qualtiy toys that are going to last – eg. rattle, mirror, soft toy, cloth book. For some great baby toys, check out what Kidspot mums voted as their favourites!
Baby Gym – Entertaining baby is much easier with a baby gym at hand. Choose one that folds away neatly, is easy to pop up one-handed and allows the toys to be moved around.
Bouncinette/bouncer chair – Buy a chair or bouncinette that isn’t too bulky and doesn’t have legs that extend far beyond the seat – this will save you tripping over them.
Paracetamol – Consider buying paracetamol infant drops as you’ll have more success administering a couple of drops than a couple of mls of medicine to your sick baby.
First-Aid kit - Accidents do happen even with small babies so invest in a first-aid kit for home and keep it topped up at all times.
Thermometer - A digital stick thermometer will give you the most accurate reading of your baby’s temperature but if your baby resists this type of thermometer, try an ear thermometer as these are very quick to use and give an accurate reading.
