XMWare

2024-08-08T16:52:38

(BPT) – If you struggle to maintain smooth skin, free from unwanted hair all summer long, you might wonder how champions from a Team USA athlete to a top dermatologist manage it.

Team USA track and field athlete Tara Davis-Woodhall is competing in Paris this summer for her second Olympics, and she has a go-to hair removal brand she’s been relying on since her teens … it’s Nair, and she is loving the recently reformulated Nair™ products, now made with fresh scents for a pleasant experience that helps make the most of your skin.

A champion’s choice

Taking care of her skin so it always looks and feels great is one task Davis-Woodhall is happy to check off her list of things to do, so she can focus all her attention on this summer’s goal: training and competing in the Olympics.

“Oat Milk and Vanilla Body Cream is my favorite scent,” said Davis-Woodhall. “I love how it smells, and how quick and easy it is to use.”

For your busy summer — even if it doesn’t involve international travel and global Olympic competition — you can champion your skin by trying reformulated Nair products that work like magic: Now you see hair, now you don’t! Best yet, the products also help your skin look, feel and smell wonderful.

Not your mother’s hair remover

While your mom may have shown you how to use it, Nair has been perfecting hair removal for over 80 years and has evolved to meet today’s needs, improving care for your skin.

In addition to fabulous new scents, today’s products are free of dyes, parabens, phthalates and sulfates — and they’re dermatologist-tested. You can choose from these products to help you achieve your flawless summer look:

• Oat Milk and Vanilla Body Cream: A mix of natural extracts combining notes of creamy coconut milk, vanilla bean and sweet almond, with hints of fresh strawberry and soft musk, to give Tara Davis-Woodhall’s favorite hair remover an irresistible scent.
• Sensitive Coconut Oil Shower Cream Hair Remover with Natural Coconut Oil and Vitamin E: If you have sensitive skin, you’ll appreciate having blade-free, hair-free, carefree skin that stays smooth and touchable days longer than by shaving. The new fragrance technology uses natural extracts to blend notes of creamy coconut, warm amber and clean musk for a soothing scent.
• Prep & Smooth Face with Hydrating Watermelon Extract & Hyaluronic Acid: This one-step formula helps you create the perfect canvas for your skincare and makeup application, thanks to its easy, touch-free, mess-free way to exfoliate skin and remove fuzz. Infused with skin-loving ingredients and featuring an ergonomic applicator, this revolutionary hydrating formula can transform your routine — and boasts a fresh watermelon scent.

Skincare advice from a skin champion

To address your concerns about hair removal, board-certified dermatologist and skin champion Dr. Tia Paul answers a few frequently asked questions and highlights the benefits of going bladeless.

Do you need to be careful trying new products?

“If it’s a product you haven’t used before, always do a ‘patch test,'” Paul said. “Everyone has different sensitivities to ingredients, so it’s best to try the product on a small patch of skin for 5 minutes or whatever the instructions tell you. Then, wait one week to 10 days to ensure you don’t have a reaction. If you don’t see or feel any irritation, redness, swelling or itchiness, you can go ahead and use the product.”

Should you ditch your razor?

“You bet. The smooth, hair-free skin achieved with Nair™ products lasts days longer than shaving, because Nair hair removal creams chemically remove hair below the skin’s surface,” explained Paul. “Shaving physically removes it just above the surface. For even longer-lasting results, try Nair waxes. The results can last up to 4 weeks. Think of what you can do with all the extra free time!”

How can hair removal products actually benefit your skin?

“In addition to ditching blades that may irritate your skin, Nair’s products are much gentler, and contain ingredients designed for each specific use (such as face, legs and the bikini area), including vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, Moroccan argan oil, cocoa butter, aloe and oat milk that can help exfoliate, hydrate and nourish your skin,” Paul said. “So, beyond hair removal, you’re getting extra benefits from each of these products that can improve and enhance how your skin looks and feels.”

Ready to ditch the blades and enjoy long-lasting, smooth and scent-sational skin? Visit NairCare.com or follow Nair on Instagram: @naircare to find your next favorite products to help champion your skin.

2024-08-08T11:05:00

(BPT) – As kids retreat back indoors after a long summer outside, back-to-school season provides a good opportunity for parents to revisit how their children are using social media to stay connected with their friends.

If heading back-to-school wasn’t already an emotional experience for kids, a new global survey commissioned by LG Electronics found social media can be a source of anxiety for young people. Almost half of the respondents (45%) reported their social media feeds consist of an equal or greater amount of negative rather than positive content. In fact, more than 1 in 4 (28%) claimed negative content on social media feeds has increased their anxiety, and 1 in 5 (20%) said it has made them unhappy.

While it can be normal to worry how social media impacts your child’s mental health — especially if you struggle to limit their time spent on social media — there are simple ways your child can adjust their feeds to provide more positive scrolling experiences.

Social media expert and information science professor Casey Fiesler, Ph.D., explains how algorithms affect the content everyone sees.

“Algorithms determine what users see on social media by predicting content they’re likely to engage with based on past engagement,” said Fiesler. “These algorithms can send anyone down specific niches — for good and bad. Research shows that it’s possible to quickly go down negative rabbit holes and encounter harmful content.”

How can you help your kids enjoy the positive benefits of social media — like connecting with friends and family, being entertained and sharing happy moments — without experiencing potential harm?

Here are concrete actions that can help your kids enjoy what’s good about social media.

Model good behavior

It’s often said kids pay more attention to what you do than what you say. With that in mind, consider how you use social media. Are you glued to your feed for hours? Do you vocalize negative content you’re seeing?

Notice how much you’re scrolling, and what you say about it. Can you share positive, upbeat content with your kids instead of the negative? If you do see something negative, consider how you communicate the feelings it brought up for you and why you chose not to interact with it.

Open the conversation

By talking about what you see on social media and how it makes you feel, you’re opening a conversation with your kids — and letting them know you’re there to listen when they have feelings about what they see.

Ask them what they enjoy about social media and what they don’t. What do they do when they encounter something that makes them uncomfortable or sad? Listening is crucial to keep communication channels open.

Find workable limits

While it may be impossible to completely prevent your kid from using social media, you can impose limits. Your home’s Wi-Fi router likely has features allowing you to control when your kids have access to the internet and the ability to ban sites. You may want to ensure they’re interacting with social media in common areas rather than spending too much time alone with internet access.

It’s also recommended to keep phones and other devices out of bedrooms, to limit social media exposure as well as promoting a good night’s sleep. Need kids to wake up early? Use an old-fashioned alarm clock.

How much control you impose will be based on your child’s age and other considerations unique to your family. Again, talking with your kids is the best way to ensure they know the pitfalls and red flags they should be aware of online.

Improve their feeds

LG is tackling negative content on social media by helping more people discover upbeat, positive and optimistic content through its new “Optimism Your Feed” playlist. This is a simple way to help reset your kids’ and your own social feeds, inviting more uplifting content you can feel good about.

“This is one way you can exert some control over what your social media algorithm serves you,” explained Fiesler. “When you engage with optimistic content, it’s kind of like telling the algorithm, ‘I want more of this,’ and as a result you might see more positive content the next time you start scrolling.”

The “Optimism Your Feed” playlist includes original content from global influencers and content creators known for their positive content like Victoria Browne, Tina Choi and Josh Harmon. Featuring 20 short-form videos, when interacted with, the playlist is designed to help pull more positive content into your feed. This is part of the Life’s Good campaign that LG introduced last year to inspire and encourage people to approach life with an optimistic attitude.

As social media continues to be an integral part of everyone’s lives, by being more conscious about what you and your kids interact with, you’ll be choosing to bring stronger optimism, balance and happiness to your lives this school year.

Explore the “Optimism Your Feed” playlist on LG’s global TikTok channel @lge_lifesgood and YouTube channel @LGGlobal.

2024-08-08T02:01:00

(BPT) – Cybercriminals are increasingly attacking rural hospitals across America, posing a direct threat to patients. For many Americans living in rural areas, the nearest emergency room may be miles and miles away – and in an emergency, every second counts. Cyberattacks can disrupt the essential operations of hospitals, leaving people at risk.

These attacks are increasing in number: In 2023, the healthcare sector reported more ransomware attacks than any other critical infrastructure sector, and attacks involving ransomware against the healthcare sector were up nearly 130%.

Cybercriminals are also increasingly targeting rural communities, where digital defenses may not be as robust due to resource constraints. These attacks can be devastating, particularly to smaller, independent hospitals with limited means of protecting themselves.

When a rural hospital falls victim to a cyberattack, it’s not just the institution that suffers; the entire community feels the ripple effect. Just last year, an Illinois hospital permanently shut its doors partly due to a devastating ransomware attack. NBC News reported that because of the hospital closure, some residents are now more than thirty minutes away from emergency services.

Here are three ways people in rural communities can help:

1. Strengthen rural hospital cybersecurity

Hospitals need tools to protect themselves. That’s why the White House along with cybersecurity experts like Microsoft, are providing free and low-cost resources available to every rural hospital across the nation. This includes advanced security products along with free cybersecurity assessments and free training for frontline and IT staff. Rural hospitals can sign up for the program or learn more at nonprofits.TSI.microsoft.com/security-program-for-rural-hospitals.

2. Explore a cybersecurity career

America is facing a cybersecurity skills crisis. There simply aren’t enough people with the skills to defend against cybersecurity attacks: There are nearly half a million job openings requesting cybersecurity skills, but there are only 85 cybersecurity workers available for every 100 cybersecurity jobs demanded by employers, according to Cyberseek.

Anyone, anywhere can take advantage of the opportunity and start a career in cybersecurity. Building the skills necessary is easier than ever, especially given the free classes and tools available. For example, the Career Essentials in Cybersecurity learning path from LinkedIn and Microsoft allows you to earn professional certification in the field.

3. Protect yourself

Rural communities can protect themselves by strengthening vital infrastructure and hiring cybersecurity professionals, but the most important step is personal. Whether you work in a hospital or elsewhere, it’s critical to understand cybersecurity threats and prepare yourself.

Cyberscams are a pervasive threat in our increasingly connected world, and no one is immune to their risk. These scams, often disguised as tech support, prey on the unsuspecting, exploiting trust and causing harm. It’s essential to be vigilant and informed to protect yourself and your loved ones on how you can identify these online con artists. By staying aware and cautious, you can defend against the tactics of cybercriminals and keep your digital life secure.

Learn more about the threats to rural hospitals at nonprofits.TSI.microsoft.com/security-program-for-rural-hospitals.

2024-08-07T05:01:00

(BPT) – Spend a few days in a waterfront town, vacation destination or golf community, and you’ll likely see a surge of local electric vehicles on neighborhood streets. The street-legal, low-speed vehicle category extends the fun, yet practical vehicles to suburbia and urban downtowns as the market for sustainable transportation grows. Low-speed vehicles (LSVs) offer a safe, more efficient and more enjoyable drive– especially when highway speeds and 300 miles of range aren’t required for daily drives.

Here’s what you need to know about low-speed EVs and why you should buy one.

What is an LSV?

LSVs are a specific, federally designated class of motor vehicles, not to be confused with golf carts. These elevated EVs have significant safety upgrades and they are generally street-legal across the country on roads with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or less. Perfect for everyday errands.

What sets these EVs apart?

These head-turning EVs are stylish and fun to drive. Flexible charging can plug into any standard 110V outlet with fast-charging options available when needed. And with battery packs providing upwards of 100 miles, LSVs have more than enough range for multiple trips in a day. GEM LSVs even offer an optional rooftop solar panel that further increases range and reduces reliance on the grid.

Unlike a golf cart, LSVs are legal after dusk, just like a full-size EV, but at a much lower purchase price. A fully enclosed cab with hard doors and automotive-grade windows provides comfort and peace of mind from weather while containing kids, gear and groceries. Or remove the doors for a breezy, open-air ride. They are also incredibly durable and easy to clean, so don’t worry about dirty feet, sports bags or potted plants for the garden.

Where can LSVs go?

Business and residential areas in every U.S. state have speed limits between 25-35 mph, making LSVs an increasingly viable, safe and community-friendly option. Check out the GEM GO web-app for an easy-to-use map of posted speed limits legal for LSVs. And many cities are going even further and adopting Vision Zero’s 20 is Plenty policy in an effort to curb traffic deaths by posting 20 mph speed limits.

Additionally, in populated urban and community environments with congested roads, LSVs arrive at the same time as high-speed, full-size vehicles. While the compact footprint takes up less space on crowded roadways, with a variety of models and seating options, GEM electric LSVs come in two-, four- or six-seat models and provide an automotive-like driving experience for enhanced comfort.

Top reasons to buy an LSV

1. Eco-Friendly Transportation
2. Cost-Effective Operation
3. Ideal for Local Trips
4. Fun for the Whole Family
5. Ease of Parking
6. Safety Features
7. Promotes Community Interaction
8. Incentives and Benefits
9. Versatility and Customization

How much are LSVs?

Like any vehicle, there is a range. Starting MSRPs for GEM LSVs are e2: $15,240, e4: $17,490 and e6: $21,240. At a cost-per-mile of just $.03, they are as inexpensive as it comes, drawing less from the grid than full-size EVs and delivering a 30-50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over combustion vehicles.

Save your SUVs and full-speed sedans for the highway. The experience of cruising in an LSV offers a sense of calm, ease and fun that’s often missing from the fast-paced world of conventional driving — making it more than just a practical choice and providing an opportunity to Reimagine your Ride.

2024-08-07T09:31:00

(BPT) – It’s time for the yearly back-to-school excursion that almost every parent is familiar with — shopping for school supplies — and Crayola is here to help you get ready for a successful year ahead. Back-to-School season is in high gear and according to a national survey by TeacherLists, 84% of parents are likely to purchase teacher requested items found on the Back-to-School list*. Plus, many parents expect to make three or more shopping trips to hunt for deals and sales throughout the season.

Back-to-School shopping is a ritual that evokes nostalgia in parents and excitement in their kids, and no brand is more front-and-center when it comes to school supplies than Crayola. Last year, more than 37 million crayon boxes of Crayola 24ct Crayons were sold during back-to-school seasonal shopping thereby ranking them as the number one, non-grocery product within the U.S. retail market**. As you prepare for your kids going back to school, make sure to grab Crayola classics 24ct Crayons, 10ct Broad Line Markers, and 12ct Colored Pencils for a colorful year of learning!

Along with these classic Back-to-School coloring favorites, this trusted brand also provides a range of products designed to prepare kids for a creative and imaginative school year. Let’s check some out:

NEW! Color Swirl

Unleash creativity this school season with new Color Swirl. Available in 24ct Swirl Crayons, 10ct Twistables Swirl Crayons, 12ct Swirl Colored Pencils, Color Swirl is perfect for colorful adventures. Color variety enables children to express themselves in an assortment of colors. Multi-Color technology combines between three and four colors inside a single stick for unique swirled laydowns. The coolest coloring products for back to school this season!

Colors of the World

Crayola Colors of the World continues to help children color the world around them. The 24 formulated colors reflect more than 40 global skin tone shades and possess realistic skin tone names such as Light Golden, Deep Almond and Medium Deep Rose, to help kids more easily find the color that best represents them and the world as they see it. Add a pack of 24ct Skin Tone Crayons to your baskets for an expressive coloring experience this year.

And, when you’re not in the aisles grabbing your favorite Crayola products and new coloring favorites, enrich learning year-round with non-product learning tools like Crayola Education Thinking Sheets. Download and print Imagine What You’ll Learn and Create Friendships Thinking Sheets to give your kids fun activities to do before school starts and get them excited about the coming year.

Crayola can ignite your child’s creativity this school year. Find these supplies and more online or at retailers near you! To learn more, visit Crayola.com.

*TeacherLists 2024 Parent Back-to-School Shopping Survey, conducted in June 2024 included responses from 3,595 families with children in grades PreK-12. TeacherLists is the single national source of verified school supply lists.

**Source: Numerator TruView 7/9-9/16/2023 (Non-food category)

2024-08-07T10:01:00

(BPT) – If you struggle to maintain smooth skin, free from unwanted hair all summer long, you might wonder how champions from a Team USA athlete to a top dermatologist manage it.

Team USA track and field athlete Tara Davis-Woodhall is competing in Paris this summer for her second Olympics, and she has a go-to hair removal brand she’s been relying on since her teens … it’s Nair, and she is loving the recently reformulated Nair™ products, now made with fresh scents for a pleasant experience that helps make the most of your skin.

A champion’s choice

Taking care of her skin so it always looks and feels great is one task Davis-Woodhall is happy to check off her list of things to do, so she can focus all her attention on this summer’s goal: training and competing in the Olympics.

“Oat Milk and Vanilla Body Cream is my favorite scent,” said Davis-Woodhall. “I love how it smells, and how quick and easy it is to use.”

For your busy summer — even if it doesn’t involve international travel and global Olympic competition — you can champion your skin by trying reformulated Nair products that work like magic: Now you see hair, now you don’t! Best yet, the products also help your skin look, feel and smell wonderful.

Not your mother’s hair remover

While your mom may have shown you how to use it, Nair has been perfecting hair removal for over 80 years and has evolved to meet today’s needs, improving care for your skin.

In addition to fabulous new scents, today’s products are free of dyes, parabens, phthalates and sulfates — and they’re dermatologist-tested. You can choose from these products to help you achieve your flawless summer look:

• Oat Milk and Vanilla Body Cream: A mix of natural extracts combining notes of creamy coconut milk, vanilla bean and sweet almond, with hints of fresh strawberry and soft musk, to give Tara Davis-Woodhall’s favorite hair remover an irresistible scent.
• Sensitive Coconut Oil Shower Cream Hair Remover with Natural Coconut Oil and Vitamin E: If you have sensitive skin, you’ll appreciate having blade-free, hair-free, carefree skin that stays smooth and touchable days longer than by shaving. The new fragrance technology uses natural extracts to blend notes of creamy coconut, warm amber and clean musk for a soothing scent.
• Prep & Smooth Face with Hydrating Watermelon Extract & Hyaluronic Acid: This one-step formula helps you create the perfect canvas for your skincare and makeup application, thanks to its easy, touch-free, mess-free way to exfoliate skin and remove fuzz. Infused with skin-loving ingredients and featuring an ergonomic applicator, this revolutionary hydrating formula can transform your routine — and boasts a fresh watermelon scent.

Skincare advice from a skin champion

To address your concerns about hair removal, board-certified dermatologist and skin champion Dr. Tia Paul answers a few frequently asked questions and highlights the benefits of going bladeless.

Do you need to be careful trying new products?

“If it’s a product you haven’t used before, always do a ‘patch test,'” Paul said. “Everyone has different sensitivities to ingredients, so it’s best to try the product on a small patch of skin for 5 minutes or whatever the instructions tell you. Then, wait one week to 10 days to ensure you don’t have a reaction. If you don’t see or feel any irritation, redness, swelling or itchiness, you can go ahead and use the product.”

Should you ditch your razor?

“You bet. The smooth, hair-free skin achieved with Nair™ products lasts days longer than shaving, because Nair hair removal creams chemically remove hair below the skin’s surface,” explained Paul. “Shaving physically removes it just above the surface. For even longer-lasting results, try Nair waxes. The results can last up to 4 weeks. Think of what you can do with all the extra free time!”

How can hair removal products actually benefit your skin?

“In addition to ditching blades that may irritate your skin, Nair’s products are much gentler, and contain ingredients designed for each specific use (such as face, legs and the bikini area), including vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, Moroccan argan oil, cocoa butter, aloe and oat milk that can help exfoliate, hydrate and nourish your skin,” Paul said. “So, beyond hair removal, you’re getting extra benefits from each of these products that can improve and enhance how your skin looks and feels.”

Ready to ditch the blades and enjoy long-lasting, smooth and scent-sational skin? Visit NairCare.com or follow Nair on Instagram: @naircare to find your next favorite products to help champion your skin.