A word of caution, though, most feminine personal hygiene products  do more harm than good, due to harsh chemicals. What the vagina needs is basic care – not all those fancy products with difficult-to-pronounce ingredients.

A healthy mind and body do not stop at being sane and disease- free. Being healthy also means feeling great and comfortable all day long. One of the basic ways to ensure a fresh feeling every day is to maintain good personal hygiene.

Here are the top basic personal hygiene tips that every woman should learn and must religiously follow.

Cleansing

The vagina has a natural discharge and oils. In reality, these are not bodily waste products and are, in fact, important in keeping the vagina protected against infections. Having these natural discharges is actually a natural process wherein the vagina self- cleanses its surfaces.

Excessive washing and using feminine wash and soap strips the protective barrier created by the discharges. Although it may feel comfortable having scented genitalia, it actually leaves you more prone to infections that will, later on, produce odor and discomfort.

To properly cleanse the external genitals, what you need is warm water and mild soap and remember to rinse the soap suds thoroughly. You also need to avoid cleaning the internal genitalia. Cleanse the vagina only when necessary such as after a comfort room trip.

Menstrual Care

During menstruation, it is natural that a woman feels uncomfortable especially with the wet and potentially bad smell feeling. A lot of women do douche to clean even inside the vagina to really have that clean feel.

However, douching pushes bacteria and other menstrual debris back into the reproductive tract. This will ultimately lead to developing pelvic inflammatory disease, which is very painful.

What a woman must do during the red flag days is to cleanse the genitalia with warm water and mild soap just like on normal days. In choosing pads and tampons, it is best to choose unscented products to avoid exposing the genitalia to a lot of chemicals.

Odor Care

Every woman has a unique natural scent. This odor is healthy and naturally occurring in every woman’s body.

However, if you think you have an abnormally strong scent or that it smells fishy down south, then it is most likely that you are suffering from a genital infection like bacterial vaginosis. You must be checked by a doctor at once because only antibiotics can clear it up.

Underwear Tips

The vagina is naturally moist because of its normal secretions. To make these secretions evaporate, wearing underwear that allows good airflow is a must.

It is important that air can flow to dissipate the collection of bacteria and fungi in the area which can cause vaginal infections.

Cotton underpants are highly recommended and so are those with cotton crotch linings. Do not wear wet bathing suits for a long period as well as leather pants, spandex, and other tight clothing.

When you are sweating a lot, such as after a workout, change clothes immediately including underpants.

Eating & Hygiene

You may not know it but what you eat or drink also affects your feminine hygiene. Junk food and fried foods may make you feel happy but your internal body suffers and is damaged.

The detrimental effects are evident with genital discharges that smell not-too-pleasant. Fresh and healthy foods, and a lot of water,  however,  will help your discharge maintain its natural pH thus keeping everything balanced and smelling natural.

Gynaecologist Visits

Don’t visit your gynaecologist only when something is wrong. It is recommended that you pay a visit regularly even when you are not experiencing anything abnormal.

Gynecologists are the best people to learn from about feminine health and concerns. They can answer any of your questions and will even demonstrate how to properly care for your genitalia.

Regular visits will also ensure that you get screened for early detection of certain female conditions like cervical cancer, breast cancer, vaginal infections, menstrual irregularities, and more.

Take personal hygiene seriously to avoid unnecessary illnesses and to help make you feel good inside and out!

Photo Credit: ShutterStock | FreePik | Getty Images | Dreamstime

There are certain expenses we just can’t do without. ‘Cos a boss babe has to look like one. Right? But, what if there were more cost-effective ways to achieve this?

Here are a few tips below:

When a visit to the Salon is making a dent on your pocket

Invest in some good hair-care products and dedicate a day to self-care. That’s how I got started with caring for my hair when I lived abroad and it was pretty expensive to visit the hairdresser. Lucky for us, technology is also at our finger tips and we’re able to Youtube everything. A particular fave is Naptural85. With a following of nearly 1 million subscribers, you can be rest assured that she gives good hair care advice from caring for your hair to growing it out.

When your best scent has nearly run out

Perfume is not cheap. In many instances, the best, long-lasting, designer scents will have you saving up to comfortably afford them. So, imagine the horror when you’ve realised that your favourite perfume is nearly done and the way your bank account is set up… let’s just say perfume is the least of your concerns. I learnt about this hack from Nigeria’s number 1 fashion man, Denola Grey who has just recently started his own Vlogging channel. He shares the idea of mixing your favorite scent with lotion to make it last longer. Apparently, it works best if said lotion is unscented. Then you can take your scent with you everywhere you go once you lather on your lotion. You also elongate the time period left for your perfume to completely run out.

When getting rid of hair in unwanted places has become super expensive

Now we all know battery shavers, hair removal creams and laser are all so expensive. What’s worse? they don’t seem to be getting less expensive anytime soon. So what if I told you, you could get rid of the hair on your legs and armpits using solely natural ingredients at a whooping cost of N300 which is less than a dollar? I know, this hack absolutely gives me life too and trust Torera, our favourite DIY girl to come up with it. All you’ll need are: A cup of lemon juice, 1.5 cup of sugar (she used white sugar in the video) and 1/4 cup of water which you’ll bring to the boil, stir a little till hardened and you’ll have your sugar wax-signed, sealed, delivered. For a play by play method on how to get it done, visit DIY DOSE and her 3 minute video will show you just how.

Goodluck slaying on a budget. That’s how we do!

Photo Credit: YouTube

I was unhappy with the excess fat I was carrying, but I wasn’t ready to commit to a change. It wasn’t until August 2017 that I decided enough was enough and it was time I stopped making excuses. The biggest obstacle you will face in this life is YOURSELF.

Patreasha told Cosmopolitan, that before deciding to change her diet, she had been eating mostly processed foods and did very little exercise.

“I realized how much I had taken the gift of life for granted,’ she said of her health scare. “I started asking myself the hard questions: What would Reagan do without me?’

Recently, fitness account @AfroGirlFitness reposted aside-by-side photos of Jones that document how much her body has changed since embarking on her fitness journey. The 30-year-old’s back transformation photos, as seen above, has received more than 26,000 likes.

“When I started personal training I promised myself no matter how many clients I get, I will do my best to stay affordable for everyone. Why? because I grew up in communities where HEALTH was not a priority. I was surrounded by people who were “barely making it”. The last thing they were thinking about is how to work a personal trainer in their budget. So, although I cater to people of all walks of life. My door is open to those who WANT to make a change but don’t know where to start. My door is open to those who don’t think they can afford a healthy lifestyle. My door is open to the one who has tried everything else with no success. This is about so much more than profit…it’s PASSION.”

It’s become increasingly important to keep sharing stories like this as we all need some motivation one way or the other. For Jones, her answer lay in being disciplined enough to live healthier and so she lost the extra piles of fat her body didn’t need. For you and I, our fat could be something else and we’ll find that the answers to our prayers lie at the other end of being disciplined enough to get rid of everything holding us back.

For more fitness tips follow Patreasha on Instagram.

Online fashion store, Missguided, just launched a brilliant campaign tagged #InYourOwnSkin featuring women with various skin imperfections, and so many people are applauding them for this.

The campaign aims to celebrate the perceived ‘flaws’ and ‘imperfections’ that actually make us who we are, ELLE reports.

Millenial women who patronize Missguided are elated that the brand opted to use models that weren’t just of various body shapes and sizes, but also had imperfections e.g vitiligo, dark birth marks, burns, psoriasis etc.

Here are some of the women featured in the campaign, and what they had to say about their involvement:

Joanne

As a plus-size model with albinism, Joanne is dedicated to raising awareness and breaking boundaries in the fashion and beauty industries. She says, “My role in life is not to be accepted by society. I live fearlessly and I am unapologetically me.”

Mariana

She is a Brazilian model and fashion designer who was born with a birthmark on her face. She hopes to empower others to love the way they look.

Polly

Poly is a full-time model and wants everyone to embrace the concept of women supporting other women. “Body positivity means being 100% comfortable in yourself, it’s not just the outside but also the inside.”

See more here

Photo Credit: Missguided/ELLE