How To Prevent Back Pain While Working At Home

Back pain while working at home? Yep, this is one of the many things as a result of the COVID pandemic.  This pandemic has changed numerous situations in our lives, including our working environment, like working at home. If you're one of these people, you may be noticing some new body aches, especially in your back and neck, that you may not have noticed while working outside of the home.

You see, sitting at your desk all day can cause so many issues, mainly because most home offices do not contain ergonomic office furniture. Furthermore, we are usually working alone, not like an office setting where you were more active because of coworkers. This constant non-movement, unhealthy sitting, and lousy body positioning can cause tons of problems.

According to a study published by the Mayo Clinic, back pain is the third most common cause of doctor visits in the United States. Many people like myself who struggle back pain, also wonder how the heck did this happen. As I did not lift anything, I am not overweight, and I did not twist or turn oddly. But the truth is the back-pain culprit is from sitting eight or more hours, which I do for work!

While I try to stay active, all of that sitting has done tons of damage to my lower back, and it has even caused tech neck!

So, What Is A Person To Do? Implement These Solutions To Prevent Back Pain While Working At Home

Solution 1: Change The Position Of Your Desk Or Computer
Keeping your computer at eye level or slightly higher instead of looking down can help.

Solution 2: Position Your Keyboard At The Correct Position
You want to make sure you position the keyboard and mouse correctly as if they are not you have a greater chance of straining your neck, shoulders, even wrist issues. 

• Place keyboard just below elbow level
• Raise your seat so your elbows are at a 90-110 angle. This will relax your forearms and shoulders.
• The keyboard can be flat on the desk or at a tilt
• Look for a desk or keyboard tray that offers Ergonomic keyboard placement
• Keep your wrists straight, neither curved downwards nor flexed upwards
• Resist resting your wrists on the desk as this places pressure on your tendons
• Practice light typing, no need to be forceful with the keys
• If you have a laptop you should consider getting an external keyboard 
  
• DO not cross your legs; I am so bad at this. Instead, you want to keep both feet flat on the floor.
  

Solution 3: Proper Sitting Posture When Typing
When typing, how you sit dictates the posture of your hands and fingers; hence, you must be considering how you sit. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), maintaining the right posture is essential to maximize your productivity and mitigate work-related MSDs.

• Sit upright by resting your back against the chair for maximum support.
• Both feet need to be on the floor
• Make sure the computer is in a position where you will look straight forward, this impacts your sitting
• Loose shoulders
• Knees should be at the same level or slightly lower than your hips.

Solution 4: Get Up Off Your Ass And Stretch
We can take some methods to help stretch the neck and back muscle and align the head and neck correctly. See some of these below.

• Face yoga
• Arch and stretch
• Neck rotation exercises
• Practice good posture
• And while you are at it do some wrist extensor and flexor stretches
  
• Take breaks away from your phone or computer
  

Solution 5: At Home Massage
While the above are some excellent preventive measures to prevent back pain while working at home, sometimes, that is not enough for me. But beauties have I got a solution for you, the Opillow from NAIPO. It's time to rethink the pillow massager. With this latest generation of massager technology, the OPillow combines multiple functions to offer the best possible massage at any place, including your desk!

 This massager has over five technologies in one. See them below.

Flexible Attachment Cozy Cushion Design
I love that I can attach the massager anywhere as it comes with a Flexible hook attachment that can be used on most office chairs. Allowing quick and easy placement so you can adjust  up and down, allowing you to personalize your experience by adding pressure to targeted regions

Palm Pressure Technology
Enjoy a deep kneading massage experience. Four nodes move simultaneously, with rotational movement that reproduces the feel of an in-person massage.

The Ergonomic Design
This design and position of the Opillow allows for both a back and a neck massage.

Back Massage-18mm massage node height, scientific support your back
Neck Massage-Arc design perfectly fits spinal cervical curves of 35°~ 45°
    

Scientific Heat To Help With Back Pain
I'm on cloud 9 with this option. Adding heat to a massage has long been used to ease muscle tension and pain. Not only can it help to increase the blood flow to the area, but it is excellent at reducing muscle tension while helping to increase flexibility and range of motion.

OPillow Presale

Naipocare was nice enough to allow me share with you a presale of this massager. You can get this amazing massager off 33% OFF, by clicking here. 

 

Solution 6: Treat Your Back Pain Without Prescription Medication
I made this last as if the above does not work, you may be like I need to take something for the pain. But you need to be careful. Personally, I am not a fan of pain pills, steroids, or any pharmaceutical drugs, for that matter. And this is the solution from most orthopedics and PCPs; let's put a band-aid on it with a drug that can cause you to gain weight or worse yet, something that can be addictive. Bottom line, I DO NOT WANT A BAND-AID, I want a safer solution. Something that is not harmful that can help relieve inflammation and Turmeric can do just that as well as Black Seed Oil. Studies have shown that both of these adaptogens have tremendous anti-inflammatory powers and can be a great solution to alleviate back pain from working at home.

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Top Cosmetic Ingredients That Vegans Should Avoid

There are a lot of people who are choosing to pursue a vegan lifestyle. While you can quickly achieve this lifestyle with the foods you consume, it can be a bit difficult when it comes to the cosmetic ingredients vegans should avoid.

While I am not vegan, I avoid cruelty-free products (and yes, there is a difference). Hence I reached out to a dear friend of mine who is vegan. She is always educating me on cosmetic ingredients derived from animal products or commenting: "I can't use that it is not vegan." These numerous conversations prompted me to write this blog post, especially those who are new to the vegan realm and may not be aware of the ingredients they should avoid.  

To help educate you to navigate through the ingredients label, we put together a list of cosmetic ingredients that vegans should avoid. You will notice as you read through the list that a lot are familiar names, some of which you may not realize are derived from animals.  At the same time do not skip over them as their are VEGAN ALTERNATIVES!!!

So without further ado, here are the top 14 non-vegan ingredients commonly used in the beauty realm.

Top 14 Cosmetic Ingredients That Vegans Should Avoid

1. Cochineal Dye
This dye, sometimes called Carmine, or natural red 4, E120, and C.I. 75470 on the ingredients list, is used in lots of pink or red beauty products like blushes and lipsticks. Unfortunately, most people that use products with Cochineal Dye don't have a clue that it's made from BUGS, aka crushed beetles. These beetles eat lots of red berries, and when they are crushed down, a red dye is extracted from them and used to color beauty products.  Another thing I just learned today is that it takes approximately 70,000 insects to get crushed to produce only a pound of dye! Kind of evil if you think about it.  For me, this ingredient has a significant allergen factor, which is why the FDA is required to disclose any food ingredients on the label.

Before you get bugged out, you can easily buy matte lipstick from cruelty-free beauty product providers who don't use this dye, so there's no need to put crushed bugs on your skin. To ensure you are purchasing Carmine-Free beauty products, always check the label for Cochineal Dye, Carmine, natural red 4, E120, or C.I. 75470.

2. Shark Squalene
I am bringing this one up as there is vegetable squalene, so I do not want any vegan to 86 this ingredient before doing your research. Vegetable squalene is a fantastic ingredient that helps lock moisture in the skin and helps the skin appear more vibrant and healthy.

On the other hand, animal squalene oil, which is also used in skincare, is derived from the liver of sharks, and while jaws may be scary, what is even more frightening is punishing them for our vanity purposes.

Thankfully, the anger from many on using squalene from sharks led to the creation of vegetable squalene, which can be sourced from gluten-free plant-based sources like olives.

3. Tallow
Tallow (Oleic acid - aka oleyl stearate, oleyl oleate) is one of the most popular ingredients you will find in cosmetics and personal care products. This ingredient is commonly used in eye makeup, lipsticks, foundations, even shampoo, shaving soap, and skincare products.

Tallow is the fat derived from the fatty tissue of sheep or cows. This one may be a bit harder to avoid because it's frequently used. However, as the vegan beauty market grows, you have more options for products that don't use Tallow.

4. Gelatin
Gelatin is one ingredient I've avoided since childhood because of my mom, not wanting us to eat pork. Most vegans or those who do not eat pork are aware that this ingredient is used a lot as a binding or thickening agent. But did you know that it's also used in a lot of different beauty products? 

Gelatin is made in a very similar way to Tarrow, so you need to make sure that you find beauty products that don't contain it. Unfortunately, manufacturers will often try to trick you by giving it a lot of different names. It may also be listed on the ingredients as a gel, hide glue, kosher or halal gelatin, and isinglass. You usually find it in any product with a creamy consistency, so always check the label carefully.

5. Guanine
Ever wondered what makes your nail polish, eye shadows, and highlighter shimmer and sparkle? The ingredient responsible for this effect is guanine, a light-diffusing material found on dead fish scales.

Yes, after the fish has died, their scales are scraped off and then soaked in alcohol to give that frosted, shimmer look. 

6. Retinol
This one was a downer for me as retinol is a good source of vitamin A and is a fantastic anti-aging ingredient. You can find this ingredient in so many anti-aging skincare products. You can also find it in prescription-strength products under the name of Retina-A, Tretinoin, and Tazarotene, which is the strongest of the bunch.

However, if you are trying to stick with Vegan beauty products, you must know where the retinol in your beauty products comes from.

Many products are derived from animal products like eggs, chicken liver, beef, or fish. Thankfully, there are a lot of natural plant sources of retinol as well. It can be found in vegetables, like carrots, potatoes, and pumpkins, for example. A lot of the retinol found in beauty products these days is man-made in a lab, so it's perfectly safe for vegans...YEAH. This is good news because it means that you don't have to miss out on all of the fantastic benefits of retinol, but you need to double-check the label and do some research to make sure that it comes from plant sources instead of animals or that it is man-made. 

8 Other Cosmetics Ingredients Vegans Should Avoid

There are a lot, and to help shorten this post, I will list some other common non-vegan ingredients to look out for.  

• Lanolin- found in sheep's hair
• Alternative plant oils- coconut, olive oil, and shea butter
• Glycerine- comes from animal fats 
• Alternative- coconut oil or soya
• Stearic Acid- derived from the stomach of pigs, cows, and sheep. Nothing like sticking pig stomach on your pits, YUK. But this is a common ingredient found in deodorant.
• Vegan Alternative. This is tricky as it has the same name (also called stearic acid); hence you have to do your research. 
• Collagen- WTF, this is great for anti-aging. But vegan beauties, no worries as there are vegan collagen alternatives. 
• Elastin- Another anti-aging ingredient commonly found in the same products as collagen is extracted from animal bones and muscles. 
• Alternatives- Hylaronic acid and MSM 
• Keratin- This is a popular ingredient uses in shampoos, and to straighten your hair makes sense as it comes from the horns and hair of some animals. 
• Animal Hair- This one is obvious, but it is not apparent where it is used; hence I am bringing it up.  Animal hair is commonly used in the bristles of makeup brushes, even eyelashes.
• Alternatives- look for synthetic bristles.

No-one Wants To Smell Like Poop!

Well, this one is a bit contradictory if you ask me. But, the ingredient Castoreum, is commonly used in perfume, that we wear, excuse my french, to not smell like ass, but yet this ingredient is a secretion that comes from the anal glands of beavers. Now this one takes the cake!

In all seriousness, the scent does not stink from my research. Since beavers can't smell that well,  they use their Castoreum in part to mark their territory. The smell is a combination of vanilla and raspberry with floral hints, Castoreum carries information about a beaver's health and helps to make distinctions between family members and outsiders.

But the thought is still nasty!

To Sum It Up On Cosmetic Ingredients That Vegans Should Avoid
There are tons of non-vegan ingredients, and since I am far from a pro on this. My suggestion, when it comes to people looking for vegan and all-around safe beauty products, is to focus on products that are EWG verified.  To be a verified product, the brand must provide full transparency of ingredients on the label (including fragrance ingredients), follow good manufacturing practices to ensure its safety, and are free of dangerous chemicals. 

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Summer Skin Rehab

With all the humidity, UV exposure, saltwater, and chlorine, the Summer months can wreak havoc on our skin, which is why I recommend some Summer skin rehab.  Even for those diehards who have applied safe sunscreen measures religiously and keep ourselves properly hydrated. Some environmental factors can still impact the skin, causing free radical damage to the skin cells.

And with only one month left in the Summer, it is time for us to start thinking about getting our skin ready for cooler weather, and a Summer skin rehab, refresher is just what you need.

Here are a few of our suggestions to help rejuvenate and refresh your Summer damaged skin:

Summer Skin Rehab At Home
To refresh your dry Summer skin, consider starting at home. With a little TLC, you can improve the look and feel of your Summer skin, even with just one pampering session.

Exfoliating is an excellent place to start; if you want healthy, glowing skin, you should be exfoliating! However, avoid overdoing it, as it can weaken the protective skin barrier.  Always follow up with an intense hydrating moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid to provide long-lasting moisture to soothe and restore your complexion. Hyaluronic acid attracts up to 1000 times its weight in moisture; for that reason, it is ultra-moisturizing and helps keep your Summer skin hydrated, plump, and radiant. It even visibly softens fine lines and wrinkles.

Get A Professional Skincare Treatment
Sun damage, chemicals, abrasion – it all adds up. Luckily, there are new technologies available to help your summer skin.

To step up your exfoliating game, we highly suggest some professional skincare rehab treatments. To ensure you are getting the right treatment and results, we recommend visiting a trained cosmetic dermatologist. 

One professional exfoliating treatment I love is a micro peel. Because this is a potent peel, it offers a more significant exfoliating boost than an at-home treatment, and no worries there is no downtime. This peel is fantastic at improving your skin's texture, reducing discoloration from the sun, minimizing your pores, while overall brightening your complexion. Also, another treatment to consider for damaged Summer skin is some laser skin rejuvenation.

Make Some Lifestyle Changes
Life is all about balance. And the health of our skin is no different. With everything going on in the world currently, stress is going to be at an all-time high, resulting in a lack of sleep, unhealthy eating, and excessive alcohol consumption, all of which can harm our skin.

For our skin to be healthy, there is more to it than just skincare products and treatments. For example, eating properly, even getting our beauty sleep. Yes, it is real. Getting at least eight hours of rest is crucial for skin renewal because as we sleep, our skin rests, recovers, and renews. Also, you want to make sure you are drinking plenty of water. If your body is not hydrated, your skin starts to look dry and flaky. For a dewy, hydrated complexion you want to drink at least eight glasses of water a day, even consider drinking infused water for an extra boost.

Give Your Skin A Breather
Our skin, just like everything else in our life, may need a break! Especially now that we are all required to wear facial masks, people experience "maskne."

To help reduce skin irritations and breakouts caused by wearing a facemask, consider implementing some ideas like:

• Limit your makeup use when wearing a mask. If you are wearing makeup, the mask is like a filthy makeup brush, pressing dirt, sweat, and other microbes into the skin.
• Do not over wash. While it may be tempting to wash your face before and after you wear a mask, you do not want to overdo it. Dry skin can cause irritation and breakouts.
• Stay away from harsh skincare ingredients. I will be the last person to promote staying away from anti-aging products. However, if you wear a face mask frequently, you want to lighten up on ingredients like retinol.

So, there you have it beauties our top remedies for some Summer skin rehab, until next time!

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The Benefits Of Using Shampoo Without Water

Did I just say, shampoo without water? Yes, but technically you do need water to activate it. And while this is a powder, it is not technically a dry shampoo. So what am I talking about here? What Are The Actual Benefits Of Using Shampoo Without Water?

You see shampoo without water, aka "Waterless Beauty" is one of the newest beauty trends. As the water in most beauty products is not needed, it is just an inexpensive filler ingredient.  Compared to most shampoo that contains tons of wasteful ingredients, preservatives, and about 70%-80% water. CIC Beauty's Neo-powder shampoo does not. It is a concentrated powder that contains no chemicals.

What is in it is what intrigued me. Potent, ecologically conscious ingredients that are gentle on the hair and the environment. 

The Power Is In The Powder

Hair And Scalp Loving Ingredients
Think of all of the great ingredients for your skin and hair, and it is in this waterless shampoo. For example.

• Caffeine and Vitamin B3 (Niacin)  to help stimulate the scalp and promote hair growth.
• Hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 for a fuller, thicker hair.
• Apple Cider Vinegar balances PH and closes hair cuticles to reduce frizz.
• Blend of ginger and hemp, mild but refreshing scent.
• And a blend of some other amazing ingredients.

Benefits Of A Waterless Shampoo

The main advantage of using a shampoo without water (aside from saving the planet) is that you are getting a concentrated product of ingredients you need and will benefit from, rather than a water-diluted product as you find in most liquid shampoos.  

Consistency Of A Waterless Shampoo
This is a powder to lather shampoo. Meaning it starts as a fine powder, but it is specially formulated that when mixed with water, it turns in a creamy foam, that cleanses your scalp and hair without stripping away your hair's natural oils. And with the health of my hair, a product that gently cleanses and hydrates, I need.

How To Use Neo Powder Waterless Shampoo
To get maximum results, CIC Beauty recommends shampooing twice. Since I only wash my hair about once a week, this was a norm to me, as the first wash is to cleanse the scalp of dirt and oil. The second is to penetrate deep into the scalp to stimulate hair growth, balancing the PH, and more.

Do It Dry Or Do It Wet
While this is not a dry shampoo, the dry washing does remind me of dry shampoo. As before you get into the shower, you want to apply the Neo Powder Shampoo on your roots and massage evenly on the scalp.

Then jump in the shower, and when you get your hair wet, you will notice a lather.

If you think that is too much work, while in the shower you can simply sprinkle the Neo powder into your hand, activate it with water, and once the powder has turned into a foam, apply to your hair and lather up.

Save 40% Off On Water Activated Shampoo
Want to find out the benefits of using a shampoo without water? Well, now you can as CIC Beauty was kind enough to offer all of my followers 40% OFF.  Simply use code
BARBIESBEAUTYBITS at checkout

Have you ever used shampoo without water? What do you think of this new waterless shampoo trend? Let me know below! 

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