9 Ways to Use Salt for Gorgeous Skin, Hair, Teeth, and Nails

Our bodies contain the same concentration of minerals and nutrients as sea water, so it’s no wonder that sea salt is a natural ally to balance, protect, and restore the body and skin.

One of the major differences between sea salt and ordinary salt is the mineral content: Sea salt is laden with minerals, including magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium, all of which play a key role in our skin's health, function, and cellular communication. 

Salt solutions are wonderful and inexpensive addition to your beauty regimens. Salt added to warm water can reduce dry skin, Salt and baking soda can be combined for a homemade mouthwash. In this article, you will see beauty tips and tricks that will help you stay relaxed and beautiful, without spending a fortune. 

Sit back and enjoy!

1. Balancing Mask
Both salt and honey have anti-inflammatory properties to soothe skin and calm breakouts and irritation. They also help to balance oil production and retain hydration in the layers of skin where it's needed most.

Try it: Mix two teaspoons sea salt (preferably finely ground) with four teaspoons raw honey to create a spreadable paste. Apply evenly to clean, dry skin, avoiding eye area. Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes. Before rinsing, soak a washcloth in very warm water, and gently wring out. Lay the warm washcloth on your face for 30 seconds. Use your fingers to gently exfoliate in a circular motion while rinsing your skin thoroughly with tepid water. Follow with your usual skin-care routine.

2. Oil-Sapping Facial Toner
Salt helps to cleanse pores deeply, balance oil production and thwart bacteria that can instigate breakouts and acne.

Try it: Mix one teaspoon sea salt with four ounces of warm water in small spray bottle until salt is dissolved. Mist on clean, dry skin, avoiding eyes. Use daily or twice daily.

3. Softening Body Scrub
Salt is a gentle natural exfoliate that sloughs off dead skin. It also has minerals to soften skin and restore hydration.

Try it: Mix a quarter-cup salt and a half-cup olive oil or softened coconut oil into a thick paste. If desired, add 10 drops of your favorite essential oil. Apply in the shower with a washcloth, loofah, or the palms of your hands, gently scrubbing your skin in a circular motion.

4. Rejuvenating Scrub
Salt is a skin-softening exfoliant that restores skin. Aloe vera hydrates, heals, and aids skin cell turnover, while lavender is a natural antiseptic that increases circulation.

Try it: Mix together a half-cup salt, a quarter-cup pure aloe vera juice or gel, a quarter-cup oil (your choice!), one tablespoon dried lavender flowers, and 10 drops essential oil of lavender. The resulting mixture should form a thick paste; if it's too dry, add a few extra drops of oil. Apply in the shower with a washcloth, loofah, or the palms of your hands, gently scrubbing your skin in a circular motion.

5. Relaxing Salt Bath
Salt absorbs dirt, grime, and toxins and cleanses your skin's pores deeply. Salt's mineral content helps restore the protective barrier in skin and helps it hold hydration. You may notice that your skin won't wrinkle or prune after a good, long soak in salted water, which is evidence that a salt bath helps your skin retain its moisture. The magnesium in sea salt may also help reduce water retention (i.e., bloating) in the body.

Try it: Add one-third cup salt to a tub filled with warm water, and swish to dissolve the salt. Soak for 15 to 30 minutes.

6. Anti-Dandruff Scalp Treatment
Salt helps loosen and remove existing flakes while stimulating circulation for a healthy scalp. The ingredient also absorbs excess oil and moisture to prevent fungal growth and inhibit the root of dandruff.

Try it: Part your hair a few times, and sprinkle one to two teaspoons of salt on your scalp. Using wet fingers, massage your scalp gently and thoroughly for 10 to 15 minutes (if you can recruit someone to do this for you, it is very relaxing!). Wash and condition your hair with your favorite products. The results will be immediate.

7. Teeth Whitener
Salt and baking soda are both gentle abrasives that will help remove stains and brighten teeth. Salt also contains a natural source of fluoride, which is a bonus for your teeth and gums.

Try it: Mix one teaspoon salt and two teaspoons baking powder. Dip a damp toothbrush in the mixture, and brush teeth normally. If the taste is too intense, try putting a dab of toothpaste on the brush before dipping it in the mixture.

8. Natural Mouth Wash
Salt acts as a disinfectant to kill the bacteria that can cause bad breath and gingivitis.

Try it: Mix together a half-teaspoon salt, a half-teaspoon baking soda, and a quarter-cup water until the salt dissolves. Swish the solution around in your mouth and between teeth. Spit, then rinse.

9. Nail Brightening Treatment
Salt softens cuticles and skin and strengthens nails. Baking soda and lemon work to reduce yellowing and stains for brighter, healthier-looking nails.

Try it: Mix one teaspoon salt, one teaspoon baking soda, one teaspoon lemon juice, and a half-cup warm water in a small bowl. Soak nails in the solution for 10 minutes, then scrub with a soft brush. Rinse hands, and moisturize.

12 Killed in Fresh Bomb Attack at Maiduguri Market

Twelve persons were killed in a fresh suicide bomb attack on Maiduguri Monday market, a member of the youth vigilante group, who does not want to be mentioned told ThisDay on phone.

He said 12 persons were injured and have been taken to a  hospital in the town for treatment.

He said: "The explosion was from a planted bomb at the crowded market."

Ibrahim said the incident happened about 4:30pm and sent fear to everyone in the market.

Monday market has witnessed about five explosion since the turn of 2015. The last was an attack on Saturday where the troubled market was attacked alongside another market and a motor park.

There was apprehension in the town as another bomb, which was yet to be detonated, was found less than a kilometre from Monday market at another market, Baban-Layin electronics market.

Robin Thicke & Pharell ordered to pay $7.3 million for copying Marvin Gaye's song "Blurred Lines"

A jury has ruled that Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke copied Marvin Gaye with their song Blurred Lines - ordering the pair to pay $7.3m to the late Marvin Gaye's family. 

Gaye's children sued the pair over the song, saying they copied their father’s 1977 hit "Got To Give It Up". 

#SayNoToRape: Nigerian Celebs walk against rape in Lagos[Photos]

Actress Ini Edo, Annie Idibia, singer Lami Phillips, Mr Nigeria Emmanuel Ikubese joined others to participate in the Walk against Rape initiative in Nigeria. The walk kicked off from the Archbishop Vinning Memorial Church Ground GRA Ikeja. Continue to see more photos...

Lupita Nyong'o Dazzles In Red For Paris Match Magazine

Oscar winning actress, Lupita Nyong'o shows off her toned legs in this photoshoot picture from her spread with Paris Match magazine. The publication has shared the teaser on their Instagram page with the caption;

 #LupitaNyongO, Black sun #Hollywood. In the streets of #NewYork she cannot take a step without people asking for her autograph. In one year, the Oscar winner for “12 Years a Slave,” which was her first role, has become more than a star into a real phenomenon. Here on the 36th floor, in front of the huge window of a penthouse at the InterContinental, #Lupita dominates #TimesSquare. Stoic, she keeps smiling despite the vertigo.

Photo: Omoni Oboli flies private jet

Flying in Style! 

#StoriesWeHear: Man, 78, allegedly rapes 6-yr-old girl in Ebonyi

A 78-year-old man, identified as Oji Nnachi of Ezi-Nkelu-Ezi, Ogwuma Edda, in Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has allegedly raped a six-year-old girl.

Reacting to the incident, father of the victim, Nnachi Ndukwe, who expressed shock and disappointment, blamed the ugly episode on his ex-wife, Ogechi, who he said left him and remarried without considering the future and welfare of their daughter.

He said: “Assuming my wife did not leave me to start living a care-free life with another man, my daughter would not have fallen into the hands of this old rapist.”

Ndukwe accused the septuagenarian of being in the habit of raping young girls in the community and called on the police to ensure that the suspect was arrested and prosecuted in line with laws of the land.

Contacted, the state police spokesman, ASP Chris Anyanwu, said his office was yet to be furnished with report of the incident.

He, however, added that any suspect arrested for committing such a crime would be prosecuted according to the law.

Hilarious! See How Your Favorite Celebs Would Look In 40yrs[Photos]

This is hilarious. Using app, Oldify, the Netng has reproduced photos of our favorite Nigerian Celebs. Some just don’t look like themselves e.g seyi shay. That of Helen Paul is epic! But shouldn’t they have grey hair? see photos below

...

Banky W

Helen Paul

Davido

Dbanj

D'prince

Donjazzy

Eva

Dr Sid

ini edo

Genevieve

Maheeda

Kcee

Omotola

Seyi Shay

Rita Dominic

Tiwa

Waje

wizkid

Tuface 

Wao! Fayose now thinks APC is Photoshopping Buhari's pictures to make him look younger

Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose has hit a new high in his obsession with APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari lamenting that his party is Photoshopping his pictures to make him look younger. 

According to a press statement issued in Ado-Ekiti by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor noted with dismay the contemptuous manner in which APC and Buhari hold Nigeria and it's people. 

“The new deceit from the APC is to use a photoshopped picture of Buhari for posters in Lagos, making him look like a 50 year old man, whereas he is as old as my mother and cannot survive the rigours of office even as a governor not to talk of President of Nigeria.”

“The APC cabal claimed that Buhari travelled to the United Kingdom on a working visit and used fake pictures to back up their lies that Buhari met with ex-British Prime minister, Tony Blair and had a television interview in London.”

“Even when Buhari’s wife admitted that her husband was in the UK to rest, the APC cabal went on with their lies, using pictures taken in Transcorp Hilton, Abuja as proof of Buhari’s activities in London.

Chibok girls: We want our children back, not rebuilding burnt school — Parents

Almost one year after more than 200 secondary schoolgirls were abducted from their school in Chibok, Borno state by Boko Haram terrorists and their school set ablaze, members of the community and some of the distraught parents yesterday rejected attempt by the Federal Government to rebuild the burnt school insisting that all they wanted was to have their children back home.

Federal Government officials led by the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had two weeks ago visited the Chibok community during which   she announced plans by the government to rebuild the school that was burnt by the insurgents as well as resettle some of the displaced persons.

Some parents of the 219 abducted schoolgirls and concerned members of Chibok community however yesterday condemned the visit by the Federal Government officials and the pledge to rebuild the school, insisting that what they wanted was to bring back their children.

The Caretaker Chairman of Chibok Council Area, Mallam Ba’ana Lawan accused the Federal Government of making failed promises of rescuing their 219 abducted schoolgirls.

“It is disheartening to inform you that since the abduction of these girls, the Federal Government did not bother to send delegations to Chibok to sympathize with the parents, instead, the parents were invited to Abuja and conveyed in cargo military plane with no comfort whatsoever.

“We still observed that recently, President Goodluck Jonathan visited Mubi and Baga, but failed to visit Chibok to sympathize with our people.

“It is most unfortunate that Chibok Local Government Area has witnessed six different attacks by insurgents and about 300 people lost their lives with property worth millions of naira destroyed, hundreds of houses razed down as well as food and cash crops looted. The most recent attacks being that of Gatamwarwa, Kautikari and other surrounding villages where several lives were equally lost. Yet there was no response from the Federal Government.

“We therefore condemn the move by the Federal Government to embark on the reconstruction of the school (GGSS Chibok)instead of bringing back our girls as severally promised”.

 He however appreciated the persistent efforts of the ‘#BRING BACK OUR GIRLS’ group in Abuja which has been mounting pressure on the Federal Government to intensify effort in rescuing the innocent girls as well as the media in their consistent effort to ensure that the girls are rescued.

Rita Dominic Is Fierce In New Promo Photo

The 2015 AMVCA Best Actress award winner, Rita Dominic is getting ready to launch her official website. 

For the new website, the actress is rocking a high fashion look.  She enlisted the help of top photographer, Kelechi Amadi, Stylist Bubu Osigi and makeup artist MaryJane to bring out the fierceness in her.

Are you feeling it?

Patience Jonathan: ‘I can never be identified with violence’

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, on Monday, through her media aide Ayo Adewuyi, said there was no way somebody like her who occupies the exalted office of the President of the African First Ladies Mission would be promoting violence under any guise. 

Adewuyi was reacting to the decision of the APC to report her to the International Criminal Court for allegedly asking supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party to stone anyone canvassing for change, the APC slogan, during a campaign rally in Calabar, Cross River State. 

“The only thing we can say from here is that Dame Patience Jonathan is a woman of peace that can never in any way be identified with violence before, during and after elections. You do not expect somebody who is the President of African First Ladies to be promoting violence.”

Photo: ‘Shoki’ crooner, Lil Kesh, acquires new Range Rover

Range Rover is one luxury car enjoying much love from Nigerian entertainers like Davido, Iyanya, Timi Dakolo, Tekno, Tayo Faniran, Davido, Iyanya, Timi Dakolo amongst others who all own this exotic automobile. 

YBNL’s artiste and the “Shoki” master, Lil Kesh has joined the league as he just acquired a brand new Range Rover SUV.

He shared the photo above, with the following caption ; “Goan call aunty sidi sidi tell her to coman see this see this. #Gbese #confamNi #Osheybaddest,” 

Big congrats to him!

Photos: Actress Ebube Nwagbo Hangs Out Wit Lionel Messi & Cesc Fabregas

Nollywood actress, Ebube Nwagbo shared a photo on Instagram of her posing with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi & Cesc Fabregas. The meeting took place in London where she ran into Messi and Fabregas taking some time off.

It’s Africa Magic, come on! Where did the magic go? – Read Charles Novia’s critique of AMVCA 2015

Nollywood director / producer turned social media critic, Charles Novia Is back again. This time, he speaks about the just concluded African Magic Viewers Choice Awards. 

According to him, the much-talked event lacked thrills, glitters and glam.

Hear him:

”At 21:52 pm CAT, when IK Osakioduwa and Vimbai, hosts of the 2015 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, had signed off from the show and brought in P Square, I was left scratching my head a bit as I walked out slowly out of the hall with some of the invited guests.

I was puzzled. There was something about this year’s AMVCA which lacked the punch the last two editions had. I couldn’t place my finger on it and it kept nagging me all night as I played the event over and over in my mind.

You see, I have attended lots of high-profile events and the AMVCA is one I always look forward to attending, not just as a filmmaker but also as a reviewer and this year’s was no exception.

And the chaps at MNET have told me a number of times that my annual reviews are read sometimes in post-event meetings and no matter how scathing the reviews might be in some areas, they good-naturedly take the corrections and plan to plug loopholes for the next edition.

And so, I decided to understand more of the behind-the-scenes planning of the AMVCA this year. A day before the event, I silently sneaked into the hall at Eko Hotels and Suites, where I watched the professional crew rehearse both the presenters and the host and hostess, painstakingly. No one really noticed me in the hall and the attention to detail during the rehearsals was impressive.

I only spent thirty minutes in the hall but I appreciated the efforts put in by the crew. And so, the evening of the show came upon us all. And walking on the red carpet to the main hall, one had to appreciate the fashion sense on display. I can bet that the fashion  and make-up industry must have made a few millions in Nigeria yesterday because of the AMVCA. Everyone looked quite glam in their own estimation!

 Everyone? So, it seemed to me, even though I can safely say that the fashion on display was a combination of the outstanding, the outlandish and  the outrageous! Fashion wise, I think the irrepresible Denrele Edun flew over the cuckoo’s nest.  LMAOOOO

I noticed earlier a masked lady walking the red carpet and thought to myself that someone was perhaps doing an artistic Peter Cech of Chelsea on the red carpet. Imagine my surprise when the ‘lady’ walked up to me and called my name in Denrele’s voice! It was Denrele, dressed as a lady, with butt pads and all!

‘Uncle Charles, that’s the idea!’ He laughed as I took a picture with him, telling him in the process that he was crazy! Did I say he was doing a Cech? Change that to Bruce Jenner, maybe! I can safely say though, that Seyi Shay could take appropriate dress lessons from Denrele though, when next she’s performing for the President or top dignitaries!

But I digress.

The show started at 6.30pm CAT with an opening performance by an African dance troupe. An interesting monologue by Osas Ighodaro, dressed somewhat like an African queen, asked the niggling African question ‘What if I am African?’.

 I don’t know how the Shakira-styled hip shaking which Osas and a couple of female dancers did while that question was being asked, had to do with being African but I kinda thought those hips onstage lied a bit during the wriggle.

The opening performance was average, in my opinion. It seemed more like the kind of performance for a boring gala night for African Heads of states than for a top profile event like AMVCA. That flat opening skit set the tone for the drone first half of the show. The show dragged a bit and looking at some faces seated in the hall, behind the heavily caked make-up of some people in the hall, one saw a bit of irritation during the first thirty minutes of the show.

IK and Vimbai tried to spike up the show those first few minutes. However, I had the feeling that Vimbai’s sing-song voice wasn’t helping the nerves in the hall. IK and Vimbai tried a couple of banter which the audience received with polite laughter.

IK cracked a joke about make-up and how a white lady he shagged turned out to be Mercy Johnson the next morning! Now, that was…well..politically inappropriate…for lack of a better phrase. That joke was overboard and IK got away with it, perhaps. Anyway, I think IK and Vimbai found their presenting mojo later in the show though.

Nonso Diobi and Linda Ejiofor came onstage to present the first award of the night. Nonso seemed to like the sound of his voice as he went on a bit about how it was a tough category and how every nominee bla bla bla.Next time, keep it straight and simple, please!

Next duo of Presenters were Akin Lewis and Oge Okoye. Oge Okoye got quite some appreciative applause from the audience for her outfit. By the way, I think her character in ‘Hotel Majestic’ is one of my favourite characters in the serial and she interprets that role quite well.

During the commercial breaks in the hall, the audience was a bit restless. Last year, there was a Disc Jockey who spinned some vibes which kept the audience all hyped up by the time the cameras returned to the live event.

I wonder why that was not the case this year? Africa needs to see excited faces all thrilled and happy at the end of such breaks. Little details such as those help the overall tempo of the event. And what was wrong with the cooling system in the hall? The temperature was quite humid in most areas inside the hall and not a few people were fanning themselves.

Tunde Babalola won two awards in the writing categories and gave kudos to both Kunle Afolayan and Mildred Okwo, the Producers of the films which won him both awards in separate categories. Tola Odunsi of ‘Tinsel’ and the dread-locked actor in ‘Hotel Majestic’ presented the ‘Best Editor’ award to Victoria Akujobi, a young lady. She kept giggling shyly in her acceptance speech like a village virgin and her gush got the audience laughing  too. It was heartwarming though to see that a woman won in that category, which is usually male dominated.

One of the disappointments of the event was the performance by the Mavins. It was below par. I do not know how it looked to those who watched it live on television but to us in the hall, it didn’t do jack. They performed their hit song ‘Dorobucci’ and I must say that maybe the audience was ‘Doro-weary’ because the performance lacked excitement.

 The artistes kept singing over each other’s lines in an ‘I-too-know’ kind of way. Dija sang ( or rather mimed) for Tiwa Savage who was absent probably for obvious reasons-pregnancy or another engagement? The performance was sluggish and received just some polite applause.

I wonder why they didn’t move the audience much. I can only believe that it must be because their appearance in the awards was massively overhyped and people really didn’t have anything to look forward to. It was a bit too much of MTN to have hyped their performance so much before the awards that when they came up and we all expected a bomb (oops..no apologies to Boko Haram!)all we got was a firecracker!

Funlola Aifoyebi and Ali Nuhu had quite a good banter on stage as they presented the ‘Best Indigenous Language-Hausa’ awards. And when Fathia Balogun won in the Yoruba category, she identified with her roots by revealing that she’s just an Urhobo Babe who speaks Yoruba fluently, even though she had a couple of her Yoruba ‘supporters club’ members with  her onstage.

Obi Emelonye, who won in the Igbo category, commendably spiked the audience with his Igbo acceptance speech, after Mike Ezuronye had gingered the category with his ‘Igbo Kwenu’ greetings.

Comedians, Eddie Kadi and Basketmouth gave good account of themselves in their stand-up segments.

Tuface Idibia also performed. I felt it was an average performance. Maybe it had to do with the din from his live band or his raunchy-looking dancers onstage, which seemed unlike Tuface. I’m wondering if he’s trying hard at this period in his career to show us he too can do the lewd background dancers stuff too? I think he’s too much of a superstar to fall for that.

Ivie Okujaye, another actress who has impressed me in her outing on ‘Hotel Majestic’, presented The Trailblazer Award which was won by CJ Obasi. Obasi climbed up the stage and seemed to snatch the microphone from Ivie! LMAO!

The late Amaka Igwe got a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award which was presented by Richard Mofe-Damijo, whose voice broke in pain when he called up Charles Igwe to receive the award on her behalf. The whole hall gave a standing ovation in her honour. Rest in peace, Amaka. It was heartwarming to note that she was remembered and honoured. Before that category, the names of the departed artistes in the past year scrolled across the screen, most poignantly was Muna Obiekwe’s.

OC Ukeje won the ‘Best Actor in a drama’  category, making it the second time he would be winning an AMVCA. He was gracious enough to recognise Peace Anyiam-Osigwe of AMAA who gave him his big break, according to him. His award was presented to him by Genevieve Nnaji , who really looked good in her evening gown. Genevieve though, made a slip when she extolled Amstel Malta. She announced that the winner in that category gets a million naira and six months of Amstel Malta, a brand which she endorses as a brand ambassador.

She ended her speech by cheekily saying ‘Get fat!’. Huh? I thought Amstel Malta projects itself as a low sugar, healthy, low fat beverage? Why would a brand ambassador quip on international television that it has fat, even if it was light-hearted? If I talk now, una go say….anyway. Lef matter.

Kunle Afolayan won the ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Movie’ categories and I think it was well deserved. ‘October 1′ is quite a formidable movie. Congrats, Kunle. The show ended with a performance by P Square, which was more for the watching viewers as most of the guests trooped out of the hall.

Having observed a bit of the rehearsals a day before, I must commend the organisers for planning an event which had less mistakes this year. Everyone seemed guarded and one could not really point to any bloopers during the awards. However, in my honest opinion, I think the event lacked the full punch.

Perhaps the show had been over-hyped and one expected more? Or what? Let me put it this way; the show scores full marks for glamour.  I am yet to see a more glamourous entertainment event like the AMVCA. But the excitement for the show itself was damp. My thoughts? Next year, give us a surprise guest appearance or something. I can bet that current raves like Kiss Daniels could have spiked that crowd.

Give us better entertainment value. A movie award show should leave the audience and viewers gasping. This year, people are going to talk more about who wore what ( or is it who wore who as those sneer-inducing Naija red carpet presenters would ask!)than who won which. Perhaps a Bovi could join next year as host or even Eddie Kadi or Basketmouth? Perhaps something not expected could be added to the show? It’s Africa Magic, come on! Where did the magic go?

And something has to be upgraded about the writers who scripted the show? I didn’t feel the jokes, if any. The Presenters mostly improvised unlike last year which had a good script prompt. This year was quite bland. The 2015 AMVCA had the best of glamour and much guts. I just didn’t see the glitter in the event”.