If you are a Millennial, Gen Xer, or Baby Boomer, more than likely your skin care routine is also a top priority.  But did you know that the skin is our body’s largest organ? So, what exactly is the main function of our skin? In this blog, we will address several key questions as a guide to maintaining skin health at any age. 

Your Skin’s Purpose  

To protect internal organs, our skin functions as a protective barrier from environmental factors:

• Pathogens (bacteria, virus, fungi)
• Toxins (allergens, chemicals)
• Injury (cuts, scrapes, bruises)
• Dehydration (prevent water loss) 

Additional Functions:

• Regulates body temperature 
• Supports Immune System
• Sensory (touch, hot, cold)
• Metabolic (ex. Vitamin D production)
• Self-Regulatory (Heart, Digestion, Blood Pressure)

Our skin is more important to our health than we may realize!

Q:   What vitamins are recommended for the skin? 

A:   There are multiple vitamins suggested by dermatologists; A, B-complex, C, D, E, K, Biotin, Minerals: chromium, selenium, zinc, and iron. Each of these vitamins serves a specific purpose. Vitamin A operates as a topical retinoid, which helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, removes damaged skin cells, and promotes cell turnover.  Vitamin A can also unclog pores and reduce inflammation. Vitamin A also helps regulate sebum production which keeps the skin hydrated and balanced. 

Vitamin B-Complex promotes cell renewal, collagen maintenance, improves wound healing, and B12 (Cobalamin) promotes skin cell reproduction, helping to heal skin issues such as psoriasis, eczema and acne more rapidly. B7 Biotin is essential for maintaining the skin’s barrier layer, supporting skin structure and overall skin health. Vitamin B3 Nicotinamide has been shown to reduce the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer. 

Vitamin C neutralizes free radicals thereby protecting the skin from oxidative stress, enhances collagen production, skin brightening, by reducing hyperpigmentation, improves skin texture and since it is an antioxidant, can also help calm irritated skin.

Vitamin D has been proven to play a crucial role in maintaining skin health by reducing inflammation, improving skin conditions, and protecting against premature skin aging. This is because Vitamin D has shown to inhibit DNA damage, by inducing DNA repair. 

Ultimate Beauty Health is focused on providing multi-functional, nutricosmetic supplements that include Vitamin C, E, Riboflavin, Niacinamide, B-6, B-9 (Folate), B12, Biotin, Amino acids, (the building blocks of collagen), Grape seed extract, and many other nutrients. All these natural ingredients work together synergistically to provide support for your skin. 

How Circulation Improves Skin Health

In addition to vitamins, healthy blood flow circulation is also a key component to maintaining a strong skin barrier.  (source: ChatGPT)

1. Nutrient Delivery: Blood transports essential nutrients and oxygen to skin cells. Proper circulation ensures that these cells receive the nutrients they need to function optimally, which can improve skin texture and appearance.
2. Waste Removal: Blood flow helps remove metabolic waste products from skin cells. Efficient circulation aids in flushing out toxins and byproducts of cellular processes, which helps prevent issues like acne and dullness.
3. Cell Regeneration: Good blood flow supports the regeneration of skin cells and tissues. This is important for healing wounds and maintaining the skin’s elasticity and firmness.
4. Collagen Production: Adequate blood flow is essential for collagen synthesis. Collagen is a protein that provides structure and elasticity to the skin. Healthy circulation supports the production and maintenance of collagen, contributing to youthful, resilient skin.
5. Hydration: Blood vessels play a role in regulating skin hydration by distributing fluids throughout the body. Healthy circulation helps ensure that the skin remains properly hydrated, which can reduce dryness and flakiness.
6. Immune Function: Blood flow supports the immune system by transporting white blood cells and other immune components to areas where they are needed. This helps the skin fight infections and inflammation, contributing to overall skin health.
7. Temperature Regulation: Good circulation helps regulate body temperature by distributing heat. This prevents overheating and can help maintain a balanced environment for the skin.

In summary, healthy circulation and blood flow are vital for nourishing the skin, removing waste products, supporting cell regeneration, and maintaining overall skin function. If circulation is compromised, it can lead to various skin issues, so keeping your cardiovascular system in good shape is key to glowing, healthy skin.

And lastly, omega 3’s and magnesium for combined anti-inflammatory benefits, cellular function, skin barrier support, skin tone and texture. 

Our top 5 recommendations for Skin Supplements: 

• Multi Vitamin that incorporates the key nutrients for skin health
• Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptides 
• Resveratrol 
• Omega 3
• Magnesium 

We also want to recognize the importance of nutrient dense food choices, (stay away from processed and “junk” foods.) exercise, fresh air, and not smoking helps tremendously. 

Guest article from ultimatebeautyhealth.com

Guest article from rushradar.com

Whether you are a NFT expert or are just starting out in the NFT space, the chances that you have heard about OpenSea are pretty good. OpenSea has been around since 2017 and is one of the most popular NFT marketplaces. Founded by Alex Atallah and Devin Finzer, OpenSea raised hundreds of millions of dollars in a series of funding rounds. In this article, we will take a look at what exactly OpenSea is, as well as how you can get started with listing and purchasing NFTs with OpenSea. 

What is OpenSea?

OpenSea is one of the most popular peer-to-peer NFT marketplaces to buy, sell, and create NFTs using web3. Founded in 2017, OpenSea has become the busiest NFT market with an incredible trading volume of $6.5 billion. 

You can think of OpenSea as a NFT-based Amazon marketplace where you can buy and sell any type of non-fungible token you can think of. Some of the types of NFTs available on the platform include art, collectibles, music, sports, trading cards, and so much more.

Unlike many of the other NFT marketplaces in the space, OpenSea does not focus on a single specific niche within the NFT community. Instead, OpenSea offers a marketplace where both creators and collectors can come to purchase, sell, and create all kinds of NFTs. The imagination is really the only limit when it comes to what types of NFTs can be found on OpenSea.

What You Need To Create An OpenSea Account

Before creating your own OpenSea account, there are some basic things that you need to have in place in order to transact on the marketplace. To start off, you will need an Ethereum wallet and some cryptocurrency.

Ethereum Wallet

Before you can do anything in the peer-to-peer space, you will need a cryptocurrency wallet. OpenSea is no different. Before you can get started on OpenSea, you will need to download an Ethereum wallet. 

It does not matter which Ethereum wallet you use. MetaMask is a more frequently used wallet, but you can use Coinbase or any other wallet that has Ethereum support.

Cryptocurrency

After you’ve chosen an Ethereum cryptocurrency wallet and have everything set up, the next thing that you’ll need to do is send some cryptocurrency to your wallet. When it comes to picking which cryptocurrency you want to use, it really depends on which one you’re comfortable with. Most people do however use ETH, or ethereum, when it comes to transacting on the OpenSea marketplace.

If you don’t have cryptocurrency already, you will need to purchase some and then send the newly purchased cryptocurrency to the wallet that you will be using in your MetaMask wallet. You will need to purchase cryptocurrency on an exchange platform like Binance or Coinbase. Some exchanges allow you to purchase cryptocurrency directly with your debit or credit card, depending on what the regulation around cryptocurrencies are for the jurisdiction that you’re in. 

If you purchase cryptocurrency using a debit or credit card, the cryptocurrency should reflect in your wallet immediately. If you transferred funds from your bank account to the exchange platform, then the funds could take up to 3-5 business days to show up on the platform. Once the funds transferred from your bank account show up on the exchange, you can then make a trade on the platform to purchase cryptocurrency.

Now that you have cryptocurrency, you can send it through to your cryptocurrency wallet. If you used an exchange platform like Coinbase, which also has its own cryptocurrency wallet, then you can skip this step.

Let’s now take a look at how to set up your OpenSea account.

How To Set Up Your OpenSea Account

If this is your first time visiting the OpenSea NFT Marketplace and you plan on transacting on the platform, you will need to create an account before you can proceed.

The first thing that you will need to do is connect your wallet to OpenSea. On the platform, this can be done by clicking the “Connect Wallet” tab, which can be found in the “Menu” section. You will then be presented with a list of wallet options to use. Select the wallet that you have set up that has cryptocurrency funds in it. Once you’ve selected your wallet option, you will be prompted to digitally sign the transaction in your wallet. After you have signed the transaction, you have successfully connected to the OpenSea platform.

When your wallet is connected to OpenSea, you can then navigate to your “Profile” and update your account information in “Settings”. Here you can set your username, bio, email address, social links, and images. From there, you are all set to start transacting on the platform. Generally, after you have set up your OpenSea account you will be able to login by digitally signing the request in your wallet.

Selling A NFT On OpenSea

Selling your NFT on OpenSea is a relatively simple task, since the team at OpenSea prioritized making the process of selling NFTs on the platform as user-friendly as possible. So, let’s take a look at how to sell your NFT using OpenSea.

To sell a NFT on OpenSea, go to “Menu”, then select “Account”, and finally go to your “Profile”, where you can choose which of your NFTs you would like to sell. Choose the NFT and then select “Sell”. After this, you can then set the price of your NFT and schedule your listing.

When you go to sell a NFT on OpenSea, you will notice that there are four different types of listing options available for you to choose from. They are fixed price, Dutch auction, auction, and bundle.

Fixed Price (Buy Now)

The fixed price listing option will put your NFT on sale at a “Buy Now” price. This listing strategy is straightforward and perfect if you have a set price for the NFT that you’re selling.

Dutch Auction (Begins High, End Low)

When you list your NFT using the Dutch auction strategy, you are simply setting a starting price, ending price, and the duration of the auction. As time progresses, the original price decreases until reaching the set floor price.

Auction (Starting Price, or Reserve Price)

The Auction listing option is a standard auction. You simply list your NFT for a minimum price and then allow buyers to bid on it. You also have the ability to set a reserve price and you can accept any offer you like.

Bundle (List Multiple NFTs As One Bundle)

Bundling your NFTs is a great choice if you are looking to sell more than one NFT to the same buyer. When you bundle multiple NFTs, only one transaction is required as opposed to multiple, meaning the buyer saves on having to pay numerous gas fees.

As far as fees are concerned, OpenSea has made it very simple for users. They take 2.5 percent of every transaction that occurs. Nothing else. Other than that you can create NFTs for free at any time. Also, as the original creator you can set a royalty of up to 10 percent. Meaning, you can earn revenue every single time your NFT sells on the marketplace.

Now that we have taken a look at how to sell a NFT on OpenSea, let’s take a look at how to buy a NFT.

Buying a NFT On OpenSea

Considering NFTs have attracted a large crowd of collectors and investors, it’s no wonder why OpenSea decided to offer an assortment of NFTs as opposed to one single niche of collectible assets. 

Purchasing a NFT on OpenSea is as simple as signing into your Opensea account, and either using the “Explore” tab, or the “Search” function to browse for a NFT that sparks your interest. Once you have found a NFT that you would like to buy, select it, then choose “Buy Now” or “Make Offer”, if you would like to bid on an item. Finally, you will need to sign for the transaction.

OpenSea Tips and Tricks

Be cautious when accepting bids and always double check that the offer for your NFT is in your preferred cryptocurrency (sometimes people will offer $1 instead of 1 ETH).

If someone from the OpenSea support team reaches out to you about any issues you may be experiencing, remain very cautious, as this is a common way for scammers to get you to allow them access into your account.

Never ever give out your wallet’s secret phrase or allow anyone access to your device, even if someone claims to be a member of the OpenSea support team.

To Recap

OpenSea is one of the most popular peer-to-peer NFT marketplaces and offers a wide variety of NFT types. This is what separates OpenSea from other NFT marketplaces is the fact that it does not just focus on one specific niche in the NFT space. To get started purchasing or selling NFTs on OpenSea, you will need a cryptocurrency wallet with some cryptocurrency inside. Transacting on OpenSea is relatively easy since the team behind the platform prioritized making it as user-friendly as possible.

Image by Pexels

Creating Peace of Mind for Your Family Through Passive Income

Guest article by entrustedpropertymgt.com

In an increasingly uncertain world, ensuring peace of mind for your family involves more than just financial stability—it requires creating multiple streams of passive income. Passive income not only provides financial security but also affords more time for family, hobbies, and personal growth. Here, we explore several types of passive income, including managing rental properties, and how these avenues can contribute to your family’s well-being.

Types of Passive Income

1. Dividend Stocks: Investing in dividend-paying stocks allows you to earn regular income without actively managing investments. Companies like Dividend.com provide insights into selecting reliable dividend stocks.
2. Real Estate Crowdfunding: Platforms like Fundrise and RealtyMogul enable investors to pool funds for real estate projects, earning passive income through rental income or property appreciation.
3. Peer-to-Peer Lending: Websites such as LendingClub and Prosper facilitate lending money to individuals or small businesses, generating interest income.
4. Digital Products: Creating and selling e-books, courses, or digital art can generate ongoing revenue through platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing or Udemy.
5. Rental Properties: Owning rental properties is a traditional form of passive income. While lucrative, managing properties can be time-consuming without proper oversight.

Managing Rental Properties with Ease

Rental properties offer a stable passive income stream, but they require effective management to maximize returns and minimize headaches. One effective strategy is to use a professional property management company like Entrusted Property Management. These companies handle day-to-day operations, tenant relations, maintenance, and legal compliance, allowing you to enjoy passive income without the stress of landlord duties.

Benefits of Using a Property Management Company:

• Tenant Screening: Ensures reliable tenants through rigorous screening processes.
• Maintenance Coordination: Manages repairs and upkeep promptly, preserving property value.
• Legal Compliance: Stays updated with local landlord-tenant laws, reducing legal risks.
• Time Savings: Frees up your time for other pursuits while ensuring your property runs smoothly.

Entrusted Property Management specializes in providing comprehensive property management services tailored to property owners’ needs. Their expertise ensures your rental properties are well-maintained and profitable, offering you peace of mind knowing your investments are in capable hands.

Creating passive income through rental properties and other avenues not only secures your family’s financial future but also allows you to focus on what matters most. By diversifying your income streams and leveraging professional management services, you can achieve true peace of mind and enjoy a balanced lifestyle.

For more information on effective property management solutions, visit Entrusted Property Management.

In conclusion, integrating passive income strategies like rental properties into your financial plan enhances your family’s security and quality of life. Embrace these opportunities today to build a brighter tomorrow for your loved ones.