INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Moisturizers, in general, are great for your skin.  When you apply a moisturizer to your face, it plumps up the skin and helps reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.  It also protects the skin on your face from the various effects of weather, like heat and wind.  And finally, and possibly most importantly, moisturizer increases the water content of your skin in order to keep it hydrated.  Some moisturizers also offer sunscreen protection through SPF content.  SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, indicates how well the screen will shield you from harmful ultraviolet radiation.  The SPF number gives a rough sense of how long it will take for your skin to burn in the sun.  If you use both a daytime and nighttime moisturizer, it's normally the daytime version that includes SPF.  Since the SPF is contained within the moisturizer, the instructions for applying it are the same as for non-SPF moisturizer. SPF moisturizer should be used on your face all year round. Your skin can be exposed and damaged by the sun at any time of year (and in any kind of weather, sunny or not). Over time, exposure to the sun can damage the skin and increase your risk of skin cancer. Before applying moisturizer you should always wash your face.  A good skin care routine would have you wash your face twice a day.  Once in the morning, and once in the evening (before bed).  Apply your facial moisturizer after you've rinsed and patted your face with a towel, before your skin completely dries.  Apply any facial treatments you use before the moisturizer, too. This will let them absorb properly. When washing the face, use lukewarm to warm water. Hot water will dry your skin. Every type of moisturizer will come with its own instructions on how much of the product should be used on your face at a time.  Thinner moisturizers may dry into the skin faster and require a larger amount to be used.  Really thick moisturizers (or creams) may allow for a lot of coverage for only a small dollop of the product.  Facial moisturizer also tends to come in different types of bottles or containers.  For moisturizer that comes in a pump bottle, simply pump the required amount into the palm of your hand.  For moisturizer that comes in a tub-like container, you can dip your fingers into the container as required. If, after using the required amount of moisturizer, you find it is either too much or not enough, alter how much you use.  Consider the recommended amount on the bottle to be a guideline or a place to start, not a hard and fast rule. Using the first two fingers of your dominant hand, apply dabs of moisturizer onto your face in the key dry areas such as your: forehead, cheeks, nose, chin, and neck.  If one of those areas is particularly oily, don't put a dab of moisturizer in that area. Don't forget to include your neck in both your washing and moisturizing routine.  And if you are wearing a lower cut shirt, include whatever portion of your chest is visible.  This is especially important when you're apply a daytime moisturizer with SPF, which will help protect these areas from sun damage as well. Once you've blended your moisturizer into your face, allow it to dry for about 1-2 minutes before doing anything else.  After that 1-2 minutes you can then apply any other products you want to your skin, including makeup. If you're applying a separate layer of sunscreen to your face, apply it after your moisturizer.  And make sure the sunscreen is designed for use on your face so it won't clog your pores.

SUMMARY: Know the benefits of using facial moisturizer. Wash your face before applying moisturizer. Place the required amount of moisturizer in your hand. Dab some moisturizer onto specific parts of your face. Allow the moisturizer to dry before applying makeup.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Consider Karate, Kung Fu, Taekwondo, Judo, Ju-Jitsu, Aikido or something similar. This will boost your confidence, prime your physique and enable you to gain combat or defensive skills. Bullies like to prey on those they perceive as being weaker than them, so developing a battle aura can help deter them. Martial arts skills will also help you learn how not to appear to be an easy target. You don't have to look like a fighter, just be a no-nonsense type with a don't-mess-with-me aura. It's better to be combat ready and not need it than to be black and blue wishing you could've defended properly. Study the surroundings for possible escape routes, hangouts, conflict zones, safe zones, and territorial boundaries. Be aware of the bully's patterns including possible connections, as most bullies have a pack of underlings. Knowing the enemy and the surroundings could mean a lot when evading but, most importantly, during a direct confrontation. Be confident when walking about. Walk with a purposeful confidence and a don't-you-dare-mess-with-me attitude. Walk with your head up looking forward in the direction you are walking and use your peripheral vision to be aware of the people around you. No matter how untrue it feels to you, act confident and stand tall. Everyone will be none the wiser. This is very important should you need to fight (which hopefully you won't). You don't need a black belt, just tips on self-defense. Do so with all your strength, and do so without reluctance.  A quick kick in the groin will make the person feel dazed and look embarrassed long enough for an escape. Bullies aren't always used to others getting the best of them. If the groin doesn't work, try the solar plexus (right below the ribs), or kick a knee to make the person trip. If the bully is grabbing you or pushing you, believe it or not, it's actually an advantage. Try really hard to keep your balance, grab one of their arms with your left hand and hit their elbow with the other, then using your other hand, push away the remaining arm. Then when you get your first chance, run to get to a safe place and call for help. Know your strengths, weaknesses, and goals. Know what you want and what you're capable of. This self-assurance can be helpful when dealing with verbal bullies, as their words of insult won’t reach your core. Verbal bullies usually require an audience when dishing out insults and their words are rarely based on what's true but rather what's catchy.  Try to overcome the rumors: tell everyone it's not true and that the bully just wants attention. Turn the negative spotlight back on them. Point out their bullying tendencies and how incredibly insecure and unhappy they must be to have to pick on others. These insults and the way this person is treating you has nothing to do with reality, nothing to do with you, and everything to do with them. This is their insecurity and unhappiness showing through. When they're done with you, they'll likely move onto someone else. The last thing you want to do is to sink to the bully’s level. While you should definitely point out why they’re bullying and find holes in their argument, never, ever, ever resort to behavior like theirs. That’s just another way of giving them power. It makes you as bad as them. And if you do, you're about to get in much as trouble as they are. If things do get crazy and the appropriate authorities get involved, no one would know who the actual bully is – you or them.

SUMMARY:
Take martial arts lessons. Be smart and aware of everything. Learn a few self-defense moves. Develop a deep understanding of yourself (and how great you are). Don’t be tempted to bully back.