AP9 Articles

Shopping Essentials Suggests Tips for an Oil-Free, Beautiful Skin

People with oily skin can consider this trait an advantage as much as a problem. Because it’s less prone to wrinkling, oily skin can be a good thing, but it’s also difficult to deal with, since it’s always shiny and prone to breakouts. Members of Shopping Essentials (SM), a leading discount program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, can use their membership to get discounts on the things they need to control excess oil and maintain a healthy, radiant skin.

While oily skin can affect the entire body and face, it’s more likely to be limited to the T-zone of the face: forehead, nose and chin. In a nutshell, oily skin is the result of overactive sebaceous glands, whose job is to produce natural oils to nurture the skin. When there’s extra oil, the skin is afflicted by blemishes, blackheads, acne, and other skin conditions. The key is to control such excess while keeping the skin moisturized. There are simple ways to address this concern, including the following tips provided by AP9 ShoppingEssentials:

-- Know the facts. Some people mistakenly believe the best way to tame oily skin is to use harsh astringents and other products to strip away the oils. The truth is, those oils are necessary, and the skin will produce them again for nourishing purposes. Balance is the key word for people with oily skin.

-- Twice a day. A first step is to clean the face every morning and every night with a gentle soap and warm water. Rinse with cold water at the end to close the pores. When the skin is kept clean, pores won’t get clogged with dirt and bacteria, which causes pimples and outbreaks.

-- Use the right products. Make sure to have a routine to clean and moisturize the skin with oil and alcohol-free moisturizers, toners, cosmetics and sunscreens. Along with proper cleansing, experts recommend switching skin care products, depending on the season and the age of the person. As people grow older, the skin becomes drier, even for those with oily skin.

-- Look for natural solutions. Masks and natural treatments are always a great way to control oily skin while retaining moisture. One choice is to apply a mask made with one full teaspoon of instant oatmeal (or smashed oats), three drops of lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey. Mix all the ingredients, apply over clean skin, leave on for 15 to 20 minutes, and wash off with cold water. Another good choice is to purchase skin care and make-up products from organic lines, available all over the country.

-- Exfoliate. Every type of skin needs regular exfoliation, but this is especially true for oily skin. Doing so once a week will get rid of dead cells located on the top layer of the skin. Use a gentle exfoliating cream (a strong one will over dry the skin and create a rebound effect), and apply with a circular motion all over the face or body. Be sure to follow up with a good moisturizer and, if necessary, a lotion to prevent the formation of pimples.

Along with healthy eating habits, practicing diligent skin care is always a good rule to follow, no matter what season or type of skin. And when it comes to having an oil-free, healthy skin, consumers can enjoy discount prices every day of the year through Shopping Essentials.

24 Protect Plus Warns, “Show Some Respect for Old Man Winter”

24 Protect Plus (SM), a premier security program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, understands the potential perils of winter weather — especially the dangers of hypothermia, a condition generally characterized by an abnormally low body temperature that can be difficult to recognize.

Let’s face it. As much as many of us may dislike Old Man Winter, with his chilly air, biting winds and, depending on where we live, the occasional blizzard, it would be a big mistake to disrespect or flat-out disregard him. And that’s why AP9 24ProtectPlus encourages its members to think of hypothermia as one of Old Man Winter’s henchman, even a “bad lieutenant” of sorts. For while hypothermia is a dangerous condition by itself, even bigger concerns surround the fact that it is very easy to miss; a person can have it and never even know it.

So before anyone heads outside to shovel the driveway, take a long walk or hit the ski slopes and/or sleigh riding trails this winter, 24 Protect Plus would like to offer this friendly heads-up: Before “playing chicken” with Old Man Winter, be sure to watch out for hypothermia, and consider these timely tips and warnings:

-- Snap out of it. One of the most common symptoms of hypothermia is confusion and sleepiness. When out in the cold alone, try to stay alert. Sudden dizziness or disorientation could mean hypothermia is starting. And in very cold conditions, the urge to sleep can be overwhelming. Fight it and try to get warm — fast.

-- When in doubt, dry out. Chattering teeth and physical exhaustion are a bad combination in a cold environment — and even in conditions above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If it’s raining or the perspiration is really flowing, the body can go from hot to cold quickly, sending body temperature plummeting. So when cold turns into cold and clammy, do whatever it takes to get dry.

-- Unchain my heart. While hypothermia is more than happy to strike anyone, elderly people with heart-related illnesses are often prime candidates. Someone with heart disease or circulation problems should avoid being exposed to severe winter weather at all costs — especially since a lot of heart medications can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate itself.

-- Silence isn’t golden. Perhaps the biggest danger associated with hypothermia is that it can strike quietly. A person can be out in the cold and not even realize that he is rapidly slowing down, slurring words — even “acting drunk.” Since many victims are alone and can’t easily recognize the symptoms, such circumstances can result in an irregular heartbeat, heart failure, and even death.

No one has to like Old Man Winter, but it does pay to respect him. With the dangers of winter-related maladies like hypothermia lurking about, winter weather enthusiasts — and the rest of us — can stay one step ahead of him with these tips from AP9*24ProtectPlus.

Privacy Matters Identity Urges Consumers to Safeguard Their Identity While Job-Hunting

When posting a resume online, a job-seeker has mostly one thing in mind: finding the ideal job. What many don’t even consider is the risk they are under when all of their personal information is circulating in cyberspace. Privacy Matters Identity (SM), a leading security and privacy membership program from Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, prompts its members and all consumers to be very cautious while looking for a job online.

A job-seeker might want his or her resume to be viewed by as many potential employers as possible, and in most cases, people focus on the resume itself: verbiage, experience and overall look. But the possibility that scammers and identity thieves might have access to the same information is something most people don’t even think about. The truth is that they are out there, phishing for all the information they can gather.

The first step for people who want to guard their privacy while job-hunting is to carefully study the privacy practices of the job sites, then choose the ones that seem to have the best practices and controls while providing appropriate exposure to interested employers. In addition to this important tip, PMIdentity.com also recommends that job-hunters:

-- Be picky. Investigate every site, examine all of its features, and ask other people about it before posting the resume. There are “bogus” job sites, with long forms to fill out and no real jobs available, that were created only to collect personal information. Also, when contacted via phone or e-mail about a job, be sure to avoid sharing personal information such as Social Security numbers, your mother’s maiden name or any banking information.

-- Limit the contact information. Some sites hide all personal information and only contact the job-seeker through e-mail once there’s an interested employer. Other sites limit the contact information on the resume to initials and e-mail address. This should be enough to reach you and initiate the contact.

-- Control access to complete resume. Most job sites get their income from advertisers and employers willing to pay a fee to look for potential candidates. This fee is a first filter for scammers, but it’s not enough. When available, choose the “semi-private” option, through which employers can see the full resume, except for the contact information. If any of them are interested, the site e-mails the applicant about the opportunity and passes along the employer’s information.

-- Create a specific e-mail address. Home or business e-mail addresses should be removed from online resumes, especially if the job site doesn’t allow resume posters to hide information. Instead, create a disposable address on any of the free e-mail portals, one that can be cancelled after landing the new job or when it starts getting full of spam.

-- Omit references. Other people may find this information and use it for illegal purposes. Even if such references have given their consent, there’s no need to post their information online. Their names and information can be given to the company once they have initiated a formal interview process.

PMIdentity.com provides members with continuous access to their credit report and scores at the click of a button. Managing, monitoring and protecting personal credit information are just some of the advantages of a membership in Privacy Matters Identity.

Privacy Matters Identity Advises Consumers to Safeguard Their Financial Information from Thieves

Protecting your financial information is a critical factor in preventing identity theft, reports Privacy Matters Identity (SM), a leading security membership program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, but too often, consumers fail to take even the smallest precautions. Unfortunately, these oversights can wind up costing them significant amounts of time and money to restore their identities.

A 2006 survey released by the Council of Better Business Bureaus and Javelin Strategy & Research noted that 63% of potential acts of identity fraud could be avoided through heightened consumer awareness. Meanwhile, an “Identity Theft: The Aftermath 2006” survey conducted by the Identity Theft Resource Center® (ITRC) noted that the average fraud victim spent $1,884 in out-of-pocket expenses in 2006 to combat the effects of identity fraud on existing accounts and $1,342 in out-of-pocket expenses for newly opened fraudulent accounts. The ITRC survey also noted that the average victim needed 97 hours to resolve problems with existing accounts and 231 hours — nearly six full work weeks — to repair the damage created by newly opened fraudulent accounts.

Clearly, the best way to deal with identity theft is to avoid it altogether, but that requires an understanding of what the biggest risks are and how to protect against them. As a public service, Privacy Matters Identity offers a few valuable tips on safeguarding financial information:

-- Lock up the mail. Regular mail, whether it’s an incoming offer for a new credit card or an outgoing bill being paid with a signed check, can contain enough information for an identity thief to set up a new identity, and ID thieves love to rummage through other people’s mail. The safest way to send and receive mail is through a locked mailbox or the local post office. Vacationers should be sure to have the post office hold their mail rather than allowing it to accumulate in the mailbox or on the front stoop.

-- Shred “actionable” materials. It’s not enough to just throw away credit card receipts, credit card offers and other papers that contain personal data, warns PMIdentity.com. ID thieves are happy to engage in “dumpster diving,” i.e., wading through garbage for information and offers that can be used to establish false identities. It’s therefore critical to put any documents that contain identifying information through a paper shredder before hauling them out to the garbage cans.

-- Ignore unsolicited, unfamiliar e-mails and web links. Identity thieves who use “spam” to target their victims count on curiosity, urgency and ignorance. E-mails that promise readers something that sounds too good to be true are usually just that — too good to be true. NEVER supply personal information — bank or credit card account numbers, Social Security numbers and more — in response to an unsolicited e-mail or e-mail link. People who receive “urgent” e-mails that appear to come from their banks or credit card issuers should respond by calling or showing up at the financial institution to investigate the matter further.

-- Protect passwords. Online transactions, including banking, shopping and more, continue to rise, as do attempts by hackers and other cyber-thieves to find ways to tap into that “market.” To protect their financial information, consumers need to develop online passwords that can’t be guessed or deciphered. That means eliminating passwords that rely on family names and birthdays — or any other words or phrases that can be easily associated with someone. Fortunately, there are password manager programs available today that can help consumers manage and access their passwords with a high degree of confidence.

-- Store financial documents safely. This may seem like an obvious tip, but too many consumers throw their credit card receipts into their shopping bags rather than storing them in their wallets or purses. Once the shopping bag is thrown out, so is the receipt, and all it takes is one enterprising dumpster diver to create a whole new identity. The point is that anything and everything that contains identifying information about an account and/or the account holder should be considered a “financial document” and should be protected as diligently as, say, a credit or ATM card.

The good news is that, these days, identity theft is no longer a crime that flies under the radar. As consumers take greater notice of the risks, they can also take a variety of commonsense steps to safeguard their financial information, notes Privacy Matters Identity.

Passport to Fun Plans to Get the New Year Started Right

Passport to Fun (SM), a premier recreation and entertainment savings program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, knows what’s coming — 2008. And with the advent of the new calendar year comes the chance for new beginnings, promises and resolutions, and, of course, New Year’s Eve parties.

Now that the 2007 holiday season is in full swing, it pays to start making party plans as soon as possible. While spontaneity certainly has its place, establishing a solid idea for ringing out the old year and welcoming in the new probably requires some forethought — the kind that AP9 PassportToFun provides to its members throughout the entire year.

By the same token, though, and just as 18th-century Scottish poet Robert Burns once wrote, “The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agely.” In other words, the most carefully calculated plans can still go awry. And that’s a big reason why Passport to Fun offers these right-on-time party planning ideas — to make that first chorus of “Auld Lang Syne” (coincidentally, also written by Burns in 1788) sound a whole lot sweeter come New Year’s Eve:

-- Bring out the buffet. AP9 PassportToFun suggests that New Year’s Eve isn’t the best night for a full-course meal. Instead, wow the guests with an array of pre-made finger foods and hors d’oeuvres — everything from assorted gourmet cheeses to mini quiches to shrimp treats. This way, no one will get stuck cooking once the party gets going.

-- Mix it up. There’s no need to have a fully stocked bar. Getting creative with drink options should fill the bill; consider serving beer, wine and pitchers of some great cocktail recipe. A new year calls for an experimental spirit. What’s to lose?

-- “… We DON’T interrupt this broadcast …”. Creating mix tapes and shuffling CDs is not only fun, it can also guarantee hours and hours of music. Another hassle-free musical option is finding a commercial-free satellite radio station. Either way, a constant playlist of tunes will keep the party going right up until what the late, great soul music legend “Wicked” Wilson Pickett called the “Midnight Hour.”

-- Don’t touch that dial. When the clock does strike midnight back in New York’s Times Square, that’s the queue to go wild. Have guests ready with the necessary props — funky hats and crazy noisemakers.

-- Make room at the inn. Just to be on the safe side, get ready to make up the couch or maybe even a spare room. Appointing a designated driver or two is also a solid idea. Remember, getting a new year off to a good start depends on everyone getting home safely.

No matter what time of year it is, there’s always a way to have fun for less, courtesy of Passport to Fun.

At Home Rewards Says, “Stay Warm While You Save This Winter”

At Home Rewards (SM), a leading membership discount program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, knows that home heating and fuel prices are headed for the roof — just in time, it seems, for winter. So whether it’s gas or oil heat that keeps things warm inside, when the thermometer starts heading in the opposite direction outside, it has never been more important to try to reduce home heating bills.

AP9 AtHomeRewards knows that saving money on energy costs isn’t exactly a “slam dunk” these days, given those currently outrageous fuel prices and some recent problems with natural gas production.

Reducing energy loss and keeping utility bills down this winter will no doubt be a tall order. That’s why a few tips from At Home Rewards might just make it easier to stay warm, while remembering a popular World War I ditty — Keep The Home Fires Burning — in the bargain:

-- Take ’er down. Now that the energy crunch is decidedly on, turn the heat down whenever possible. Recent studies show that for inside temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees, every degree lower can represent a three-percent savings on overall heating costs. And when the house is empty for an extended period, consider lowering the thermostat to about 55 degrees, which can translate into savings of 5-20 percent over time. Either way, some experts say that keeping things at or below 68 degrees should reduce heating costs.

-- Wear it in. Fashion meets function in a sound in-home heating strategy. When inside temps are lowered, keep body temps at normal levels by donning sweaters, fleeces and other comfy outerwear.

-- Fiddle with the furnace. Keeping furnaces tuned up and clean on a regular basis is a smart move, especially since dirty filters can reduce airflow and increase overall energy use. Replacing or cleaning those furnace filters at least once a month can keep overall fuel costs down by as much as five percent.

-- Some like it hot. Maybe so, but some energy experts say that about 16 percent of an overall average energy bill can go towards heating water. Sure, a warm but damp load of laundry might seem more cozy than a cold one, but that’s what the dryer is for. Wash clothes in cold water instead of hot this winter, and take steps to save hot water in general. Think of it this way: Saving hot water saves energy.

At Home Rewards is all about giving its members useful tricks and tips on all kinds of in-home savings ideas. From the kitchen to the garage to the den — and every room in between — count on AP9 AtHomeRewards.