THE VERAGLAM BLOG

It's that time of the year when friends and families are brought together in celebration. Christmas is a time for making new memories.  Enjoying the network of new friends, and cherishing the company of families. Growing up, we looked towards Christmas with sparks in our eyes,  and plans on how we gonna rock the season. It used to be the time we anticipate so much, hoping to meet our cousins,  relatives and grannies in the village. Mom will buy our Christmas clothes and shoes, even hats, then braid the hairs of the girls and give the boys a clean and neat hair cuts. I must say it was fun then, playing in the sands..cooking with those used tins of ovaltine and milks..visiting friends and relations and finally going to the town square to watch masquerades. Now I hold Christmas with no intensity as like then.  It seems like normal day to me, I don't attach such expectations to it anymore.  I think age has a part to play in all..it doesn't excite

Change your thinking.  Have positive thoughts about yourself.  The way a man thinks forms the outcomes of his life. Read self improvement books.  Speak good of yourself and to yourself. Think good thoughts. Increase the radius of your thinking and creativity, and you will find new foliage. Soak yourself in the things you love. Revisit old hobbies and interests, those experiences that pique your interest. Do what makes you happy, or something that gets you closer to doing what makes you happy. Identify new skills you can learn. Take courses. Attend events, seminars, workshops that demonstrate such skills. Start a side hustle. Consider doing what can yield you extra income. Work towards doing something you are passionate about. Turn them to a money yielding venture. Always take time off to unwind. Stress can clog up your enthusiasm. Take a day or weekend to refresh your mind. Get ambitious friends. Build a social circle with ambitious people to stay

Ageing is the body's response to conditions imposed upon it, both inner and outer. Ageing is natural, inevitable and normal. For some ageing is steady, uniform and slow, while to others it's like approaching an unseen cliff.  There's no adequate theory of human ageing, but we can try to help fight the free radicals that bring about such sudden change. Anti-ageing is a trending topic on every adult's lips, and most especially skincare specialists. While considering the products to use on your skin, certain ingredients that fight ageing should be looked out for. Below are some of them... 1. Alpha lipoic acid. This is called the universal antioxidant because it is soluble in fat and water.  It has the unique ability to enhance the antioxidant power of Vitamins C & E, and glutathione in the body, creating an antioxidant network that gives you more complete protection against damaging effects of free radicals. 2. Co-enzyme Q10. This is an amino acid produ

Black seed oil with the botanical name, Nigella sativa , is also known as Black caraway , Black cumin , and Black onion seed. The plant was first identified in the middle East. The seed has a long history of use for medicinal purposes in the middle East and Asia, particularly Egypt and India. Black seeds contain phytochemicals, which contribute to most of its medicinal benefits. Phytochemicals are naturally occurring chemicals in plants which are biologically active. The most active phytochemicals in black seeds are Thymoquinone, Thymohydroquinone, and Thymol. Thymoquinone , an active ingredient in black seed is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti cancer properties that have been reported to help with encephalomyelitis, diabetes, asthma, and carcinogens.  Thymoquinone acts as a free radical or an effective super oxide radical scavenger. Thymohydroquinone , is the most potent natural acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors on the planet. AChE inhibitors ar

Glowing skin is a result of proper skincare. You can wear less make-up and your skin still shines through. How do you care for your skin?  What procedures do you follow?  Below are the processes involved in order to have that glowing, popping and clear skin. 1 .  CLEANSING. This is the basic aspect of skincare.  Cleaning the face sets the stage for whatever else that will take place on the skin. Water soluble emulsions (creams) or wipe off lotions are ideal. For an oily skin, use pH balanced soap-free bars. Don't over cleanse to avoid irritations, dry patches, and redness. Not cleaning the skin well enough can clog pores or leave a residue on the face that can prevent skin cells from sloughing off. The 3 primary categories of cleansers available are: i) Wipe-off cleansers (which include cold creams and milky make up removers). ii) Soaps of all kinds (Bar cleansers). iii) Water soluble cleansers (Creamy, lotion, or shampoo type cleansers). Avoid water soluble

Basically there are 5 skin types. Now find out the type you fall into. NORMAL SKIN TYPE. This is the balanced skin type. It has a healthy glow, with a fine texture and no open pores. It rarely develops spots or shiny areas. Normal skin is not too oily and not too dry. It barely has visible pores and no severe sensitivity. Your water-oil level is well balanced. The surface of your skin doesn't feel rough and you can feel the elasticity. Right after cleansing, you may feel a little dry but after a while, you can feel that your face is normal. OILY SKIN TYPE. This skin type usually has open pores and an oily surface,  with a tendency towards pimples, blackheads, and a sallow appearance. This type is caused by over active sebaceous gland, producing too much sebum. Like most skin types, oily skin is heavily influenced by genetics, and other factors. This skin type is the one most prone to acne. The pores seem enlarged and visible. Skin looks thicker and paler. But

Today I want to write on Depression. It has become a thing of great concern to me on the prevalent rate of suicides I read everyday on the news. This week alone I've read 3 cases of suicides, both succeeded and failed attempts. A young boy, Segun was reported to have drank a bottle of Sniper, a deadly insecticide, all because he failed his Jamb examination. I also read of 20 year old Chukwuemeka Akachi, a final year student of English department, University of Nigeria Nsukka, who committed suicide after drinking 2 bottles of Sniper. He left behind a suicidal note. I'm so touched to the marrow whenever I read such news, yes I've been there before, so I can tell you firsthand how draining it can be. I've even tried going suicidal for more than twice. Yes this is me telling you my frank story. Depression can happen to anyone anytime. I encourage people a lot and try being there for them but the sad thing is people like me are often seen strong yet

Most of the foods we eat are loaded with nutrients, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants that help repair, heal, grow, regenerate and nourish our cells, as well as prevent certain invaders from taking over our bodies. Below is a list of certain ailments and the foods required to combat them. Nature has blessed us with lots of healing foods, that a consistent consumption of them will help deal with such disorders. ANXIETY/ DEPRESSION Bananas, broccoli, oats. CANCER Bananas, beans, lentils, broccoli, cabbage, oats, oily fish, olive oil, papayas. mangoes, peppers, soya, seeds, tofu, spinach, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watercress. CHOLESTEROL Apples, bananas, beans, lentils, garlic, nuts, oats, oily fish, olive oil, soya, tofu, yogurt, watercress. CIRCULATORY PROBLEMS/ ANEMIA Beetroot, blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, redcurrants, cabbage, carrots, game, garlic, honey, nuts, oats, papaya, mangoes, spinach, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watercress. DETO

Have you stopped to ask yourself what other factors might be linked to your constant skin break-outs and blemishes? Have you had a good check on your towels and bed linens ? Yes, they can contribute to your skin issues. No matter how clean you might get, no matter how long you spend in the bathroom, you are always shedding cells.  Oils and dead skin cells are still on your skin and when you dry your skin with a towel, most of the residual oils and dead cells are transferred to the towel. Any wandering bacteria can land on your moist towel and start a breeding process there. Bacteria, fungus, dead skin cells, oils and other debris are then collected by the towel, which ends up causing skin infections, acne,  and irritations upon continuous use without washing. Fungi grow optimally at room temperature of 25 degrees Celsius and bacteria grow optimally at body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius. Your moist towel can be a good breeding ground and continuous use of that towel affec

TURMERIC FACIAL MASK... Turmeric contains a photo-chemical called "Curcumin", which can benefit the body, both inside and out. Turmeric mask works for acne and eczema. It reduces inflammation and redness, and promotes skin healing. Due to turmeric's antioxidant properties, it has been used for skin rejuvenation. It helps in softening lines and wrinkles, giving the face a youthful appearance. It is also effective with Rosacea - a chronic skin condition that is characterized by redness and pimples. It eases the redness and treats the disease. The Turmeric face mask is easy to prepare, and it acts as a moisturizer, exfoliator and reduces redness. It brightens the skin and makes it look fresh and clean. 1 teaspoonful of Turmeric 1 teaspoonful of Raw organic honey 1 teaspoonful of milk ( or natural yoghurt) 1 teaspoonful of lemon juice ( optional) Few drops of Tea-tree oil. Preparation: Put the turmeric in a bowl, add the honey, milk or yogh

Hey, Today I want to share some great nuggets of inspirational wisdom for a fulfilling and harmonious life. I hope you find them not just useful but worth a lifestyle to blend in. What you love reveals who you truly are. Love is the expression of your true identity.  Fairness is unnatural. Nothing is 100% fair. Live life the way you want to live it.  Because even people who care for you can’t be with you every step of the way. People only want to hear the good, not the bad. So if you have issues, it’ll be hard to find people to confide in. Respect yourself, because people can see if you don’t.  Everything that you perceive with your senses is transient and will one day vanish. Enjoy things while they last but be attached to nothing.  Learn to forgive, forgetting is your choice.  Forgiveness is setting a prisoner free and then discovering the prisoner was you.  It actually does you more good to forgive. Forgive but do not forget or you will be hurt again. Forgiving

CALLED FOR EXCELLENCE.. It's another new week. Aren't you excited to see another brand new week? I am not just excited but very grateful to God for giving us another chance to do more and be more. Let's talk about those hidden talents we haven't started exploring. Those skills we are ignoring.  Those potentials we aren't maximizing. These days once someone meets you, the first question that seems to pop up after greetings is "what do you do?"  Some seem to flow with the answer, while some pause a little before answering. In some cases, the pause isn't necessarily that the fellow doesn't have something doing but some tend to evaluate their love for what they do. Some are in fields they don't like but feel helpless in them. I think I rather go with the question, "What excites you?, what turns you on?, what gets you charged up?" Until you are able to provide the answers to these questions, you haven't actua