A Burts Bee's Giveaway

Don't you think it is amazing when you read about companies who do something more than their brief? Companies who go that extra mile to make those less fortunate than ourselves better off? 

Send a Cow are a UK based charity, help thousands of families in Africa. By helping those families to grow enough food to eat, sell what they grow and develop a small business that lasts.  Farming is no longer enough for a family to just 'get by' if we want to offer hope for generations to come and that means by having their own small business, their income begins to grow and with that increased income are opportunities.  Those opportunities give families a chance to invest no only in farm improvements, new livestock and equipment, but also in their children's education, something many of us are lucky to have but perhaps take for granted.  

Finally, we have the brilliant site known as Bath and Unwind which is one of my favourite websites for browsing when I need inspiration for gifts because they have an amazing selection of products to choose, from an amazing range of brands.  As a beehive has been donated to Africa in my name via Send a Cow and the lovely people over at Bath and Unwind have very kindly gifted a Burt's Bees Naturally Bee-utiful Collection Gift set in keeping with the Bee theme, for one of my readers to win, all you need to do is complete the Rafflecopter widget below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What You Need to Know about Periodontal Disease*

Anyone who knows me will know I am proud of the fact I have all my own teeth, have never had a filling or a tooth removed.  I have a huge phobia of false teeth (think Grandma having them in a glass on the bedside table) and this article is one of my biggest fears and one of the reasons I look after my teeth.

What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease is one of the two forms of gum disease – the other one being gingivitis. These two diseases affect the tissues supporting the teeth, and cause swelling, soreness and pain, and infection.

Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal disease. The gums immediately around the teeth become swollen and red and may bleed easily when the teeth are cleaned.

If gingivitis is left untreated for a long time, it turns into periodontal disease, spreading beyond the gums into the bone anchoring the tooth, as well as the tough ligaments holding it in place. Teeth become loose as bone is lost and may fall out eventually.

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Who suffers from periodontal disease? Most adults have some gum disease, which is a major cause of tooth loss. Thankfully the disease progresses very slowly and with good treatment and hygiene, people can retain most of their teeth for life.

What’s the basic cause of periodontal disease?

In a word, plaque. Plaque is the almost invisible film of bacteria that forms on the teeth each day. Most of these bacteria are harmless, but some contribute directly to gum disease. To prevent gum disease you need to brush the teeth at least twice a day to remove the plaque. Cleaning between the teeth is also vital.

Does smoking make it worse?

Yes. Smokers produce more bacterial plaque and smoking also leads to a drop in oxygen levels in the bloodstream, making it harder for gums to heal. Additionally, smoking can affect bone health, so it’s essential to stop smoking to avoid and treat gum disease.

What happens if periodontal disease isn’t treated?

Gum disease causes hardly any pain, so people might not notice anything wrong until they see blood when brushing. Occasionally infected gums may ooze pus and – rarely – abscesses might develop. Bone density in the gum is lost, loosening teeth, which eventually will be lost.

How can I tell if I have it?

The first signs are blood when brushing, or bleeding when eating. You may also develop bad breath. 

What do I do if I think I have it?

You need to see your dentist for an assessment, which will involve measuring the gum around each tooth for signs of disease. You may also have an x-ray to see if any bone density has been lost. This assessment is vital as there are different periodontal disease treatments and you need to make sure you get the right ones.

If disease is found, your dentist will remove plaque and tartar, as well as show you how to maintain high levels of hygiene at home – a vital part of treatment. 

If periodontal disease has spread to your tooth roots, you’ll need to have plaque scraped from them, under a local anaesthetic. You can expect some pain for a day or two afterwards.

Will I be cured after these treatments
There is no cure for periodontal disease, but you can slow it down or stop it progressing if you remove plaque every day and have regular check-ups.

THE MELVITA FOUNDATION: ARGAN BEES PROJECT

Did you know that in Morocco over 3 million people make a living from the argan tree and at Melvita, it is the only source for the best-selling Argan Oil, in which over 400 argan kernals are used.  From the tree to the bottle, Argan Oil is created by local Berber women.  Their tradition and culture oversee its production and over 200 Berber Women farm and source these kernals.  With that in mind, Melvita is committed to the Argan Fair Trade in Morocco and has recently announced  its latest sponsorship initiative for the working women of the Argan Oil industry - The Argan Bees Project.

I am a huge supporter of Bee's and like to think I do my bit to encourage them by planting bee friendly flowers. Having seen a decline in argan bees, the Argan Bees project aims to reignite the beekeeping trade by offering women the chance to boost family income and here is how - for every Melvita Argan product purchased €1 will be donated to the initiative which will be investing in bee keeping training and raising awareness of the skill. It is hoped by doing this and planting Melliferious plants (those which produce honey) will help to increase and encourage the bee population and help poorer communities to flourish by giving them a a steady income.

There are four amazing products currently within the Melvita Argan Range and I have been using the Repairing Oil which works to repair, protects and strengthen skin, hair and nails.

The nuts from Argan trees yield the Argan oil which is exceptionally rich in essential fatty acids and sterols. For centuries, it has been renowned for its repairing properties, ideal for dry and fragile skin, and for its softening and protective benefits and is also traditionally used to massage joints and to care for the nails and hair.  My hands have been really dry lately, possibly due to the lack of glove wearing in the cold weather, using chemicals to clean without gloves and at work, I have been doing a lot of paper work and printing many letters, all of which do nothing for my hands and you would have assumed I would have, by now, learnt my lesson.   Anyway, I have been using this oil on my hands and on my feet after having a bath or shower and the effects are amazing, it is not only soothing buy incredibly moisturising.  

The bottle has been designed with a pump dispenser which means only a small amount is dispensed at any one time.  One pump is enough for both hands or feet and once massaged into the skin, it sinks in leaving little trace it was ever there.

How To Choose The Right Lipstick Colour

The perfect lipstick colour has the ability to pull together the whole makeup. Choosing the wrong shade, on the other hand, could make even the most perfect look seem awkward. If you find yourself spending hours at the store choosing the right color, or if you just can't seem to work out a foolproof system when it comes to buying lipstick, this article will help to take some of the frustration out of choosing a shade and will bring some of the fun back into your makeup shopping! 

Keep in mind that lipsticks come in a vast variety of shades as well as price ranges. Whether you choose to splurge on products from high-end brands or find the perfect color from a trusted drugstore brand, you can save yourself a lot of time and effort with the help of the suggestions below. You can also save big by staying on the lookout for the latest coupons or discount vouchers that can make even the most high-end cosmetics so much more affordable. Just go to Discountrue.com and browse the offer of such stores as Sephora or Neiman Marcus, and you'll be sure to find something good for yourself! 

Understanding Your Skin Tone 

Does your skin have a warm or cool undertone? The answer to this question generally determines what shades will look best with your complexion. If you're unsure about your skin's undertone, there are two easy ways to figure this out: 1) determine the color of the veins on the inside of your wrist; if they appear blue or purple, you have a cool undertone, and if they appear green, you have a warm undertone; 2) perform the gold-silver test; if gold jewelry looks better on your skin than silver then you probably have a warm undertone, and vice versa. As a rule, warm colors (soft neutrals, warm reds, etc.) look best on warm skin tones, and cooler colors (shades with purple or blue tones) tend to flatter cool skin tones. 

Choosing The Perfect “Everyday” Colour 

It's important to understand that there isn't just one everyday colour that works perfectly for everyone. One of the biggest mistakes you can make when choosing a lipstick shade is picking one that you thought looked great on someone else. An everyday color is typically subtle, so a good rule to follow is to choose one that is just a few shades deeper than the natural shade of your lips. Remember, darker lipsticks will make your lips look smaller, while lighter ones can have a plumping effect, so choose accordingly! 

Pulling Together A Look 

When getting ready to go out, don't feel tempted to match your lipstick too closely to your outfit – this rarely turns out to be a flattering look! Instead choose a complimentary color a few shades lighter or darker than the main one in the color-scheme. As far as the rest of your make-up goes, it's generally a good idea to either go with dramatic lips or dramatic eyes – going for both usually results in an exaggerated look. 

Perfecting The Art Of Lipstick Shopping 

Most stores will let you try on a lipstick before making a purchase, so don't be too shy to try out one and, when possible, take advantage of the chance to get professional advice from sales associates – they're likely to give you an honest opinion about what shade would suit you best. 

The next time you're shopping for the perfect lipstick colour, don't forget about our suggestions. The more you put the above tips to practice, the more confidence you'll have in your own ability to choose the best shade!

*Guestpost