coffee brews new roles

Coffee brews other roles

8 new home uses for old coffee grounds

by Nickky Faustine De Guzman
January 29, 2014

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The “3-in-1” in coffee has seemingly taken a different meaning thanks to the environmental and pragmatic benefits one can gain from the well-loved drink. Did you know that the old and unused coffee grounds turn off the ants and thus shoo them away from your food? Here are other exciting and innovative reasons why you should be buying, drinking and recycling old coffee grounds.  

1. Lightens cellulites and soften skin

Various spa and aesthetic centers are now offering cream-based concoctions made from coffee grounds. Besides its aromatic smell, coffee grounds are good natural exfoliants that when used often lessens cellulites, or those nasty dimples found in thighs, arms and abdomen.

2. Deodorize fridge

Can’t take the smell of your foul fridge? Don’t fret because the old and unused coffee grounds are there to the rescue. Place them inside a small plastic bag and let their natural therapeutic aroma take away the stink in your freezer.

3. Give papers antique look

If you are an old soul who loves collecting and writing vintage love letters, amp up your style by soaking your plain and white bond papers in coffee solution. In no time, your cookie-cutter stationary pad will look personalized. It will smell good too!

4. Soil fertilizer

Coffee grounds are said to add minerals, nutrients and balance the PH level of garden soils. According to the test, “The Starbucks Coffee Compost Test”, published in the Sunset website, the Starbucks coffee grounds improve the soil structure such as the availabilities of phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, and copper.

5. Help eliminate smells of garlic and fish

Just as coffee grounds deodorize our fridge, they also eliminate smells of garlic and fish in our hands.

6. Natural hair dye

If you want to dye your hair light brown, used coffee grounds is the way to go!

7. Hair conditioner

Did you know that coffee makes the hair shiny and soft?

8. Remove wood furniture scratches

Sprinkle coffee grounds on your furniture scratches and let them sit for at least 10 minutes. Watch as your furnishings go from ho-hum to oh wow after wiping the coffee grounds off.

health and hands

Clean hands for good health

by Nickky Faustine De Guzman
January 21, 2014

Not washing one’s hands after going to a bath room is synonymous to touching genitals in public, graphic Japanese illustrations show. But unlike the hygiene-savvy Japanese, Filipinos seem to blissfully regret their sanitation.

“We lack the culture of safety. Besides, Filipino hygiene is not internationally-standard,” Department of Health Undersecretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa says. Most Filipinos hardly wash their hands with soap and water from time to time. He further sites samples of men spitting anywhere and barrio midwives’ lack of hygiene, among others.

It turns out that even hospitals seemingly forgo hand washing, not because of lack of sanitary senses but because of lack of time and opportunity. This is where the recently concluded symposium on hand hygiene and patient safety comes in. Guest speaker and renowned Director of Infection Control Program Professor Diddier Pittet, MD says that every hospital bed and facility must have an alcohol near the patient zone.

According to him, doctors and healthcare workers should practice proper hand hygiene before touching a patient, before doing a procedure, after a procedure, after touching a patient, and after touching the patient’s surroundings.

Where is he coming from? Apparently, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) the failure to perform proper hand hygiene is still considered to be the leading cause of Healthcare Associated Infections (HIA) in both developed and developing countries. In fact, approximately 1.4 million patients get infected in hospitals. Hand hygiene has also been a significant contributor to the spread of multi-drug resistant organisms and other outbreaks in the hospital setting. Samples of HIA are malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, and measles. The reduction of the measles outbreak boils down to proper hand hygiene.

Philippines’ Department of Health Undersecretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa (right) shakes hands with Director of Infection Control Program Professor Diddier Pittet, MD.

ALCOHOL 101

Pittet advocates the use of alcohol especially in hospitals because of its convenience and efficacy. Alcohol in addition, is much accessible and cause lesser skin irritation. He adds that alcohol in gel, foam, or spray type does not matter as long as the anti-bacterial property is high.

“If water and soap are not available use alcohol, but I am not telling you to replace it with alcohol,” Pittet says. What is important is one’s sense of hand hygiene regardless of what he or she prefers to use.

It turns out there are also different kinds of alcohol. Pittet says that alcohol must have a 75% or higher isopropyl concentration and 80% or higher ethyl concentration to be effective.

The problem seemingly boils down on our fluctuating hygiene regimens. Remember the alcogel-keychain that was once dangling on everybody’s bag? That was the fad back on the days. Now is the perfect time to resurrect it.

Herbosa aptly concludes that Filipino cleanliness must root on our conscious change of the system, culture, and behavior.

Oiliness is next to poverty?!

Oiliness is next to poverty! — or not, experts say dewy skin is in

by Nickky Faustine De Guzman
January 7, 2014

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Actress Valeen Montenegro gets a dewy look from makeup artist Pong Niu

According to experts, the next beauty trend is the “no-makeup” makeup look, which means well-groomed eyebrows, a hint of blush on and lip color, and a dewy finish. However, for the regular Pinay, the “dewy” look is synonymous to oiliness and ugliness.

“The majority of the Filipinas like the matte finish, which is the opposite of the dewy and glowing look. They think that it is hard to pull the look because they associate oiliness to ugliness. Oiliness is next to poverty!,” renowned makeup artist Pong Niu says in jest.

However, dewy skin is not oily skin. Some women are scared of the dewy and moist look because they have the tendency to end up like they ate a whole lechon and wiped off the excess grease on their faces and lips. But on the contrary, the dewy look means a healthy, radiant, glowing, smooth, and well-moisturized skin.

But the barely-there makeup can only enhance one’s beauty. The true foundation of beauty should begin from having a blemish-free skin just like those of the babies. And it all starts with having the right moisturizer.

THE QUEST FOR THE BEST MOISTURIZER

Moisturizing is one of the basic steps to achieve a flawless and glowing skin. However, not many know it, according to a survey, one out of three Filipinas are not moisturized.  Perhaps, owing to having sensitive skin, women and men would rather not slather products on their face. Furthermore, the dilemma of choosing the best and most effective moisturizer among the crowd gets in the way of having a stunning skin.

Honey, palm oil, shea butter, olive oil, and soy bean are some of the natural face moisturizer.

But if you are on the go, there is one moisturizer in a bottle that works wonders just as the natural and organic ingredients do—Physiogel. Unlike other moisturizers that work temporarily, Physiogel has the revolutionary Derma Membrane Structure (DMS) technology, which resembles the natural building blocks of the skin to effectively repair the skin and prevent the loss of moisture. Furthermore, Physiogel hydrates the skin by copying the natural lipid composition of the skin. The moisture lasts for up to three days even without washing or taking a bath.

Physiogel moisturizers and cleansers are lightweight, mild, and hypoallergenic.

BEAUTY TREND: GOOD SKIN

Aside from the “no-makeup” makeup look, beauty enthusiasts and makeup artists have also set the sensual look for the holiday season trend. The seductive look highlights the cherry lips and bold eyes.

But then again, the best beauty trend that would withstand all seasons is having a flawless and well-moisturized skin.