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"Embarrassing" travel pillow frequent flyers swear by

When it comes to travelling in economy, looking glamorous usually takes a back seat, with many people prioritising comfort over anything else. Travelling in cattle class presents its own issues with getting comfy on a plane, especially when sitting in the middle seat. However, a committed frequent flyer has discovered the "travel hack of the year" with an unusual looking travel pillow that means you can get comfy anywhere. “When you got the middle seat for a 13-hour plane ride,” wrote adventurer Annie Wright, 23, in the captions of a viral TikTok testimonial dedicated to the strange-looking, yet in-demand inflatable travel pillow. In the video, which has racked in a whopping 26.6 million views, Ms Wright, a law student in the US, shared footage of herself puffing into the plushy prop that’s offered by <a href="https://www.kmart.com.au/product/inflatable-front-travel-pillow-43238989/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amazon</a>. For Aussies, you can snag the innovative travel pillow from <a href="https://www.kmart.com.au/product/inflatable-front-travel-pillow-43238989/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kmart</a> for a breezy $18. “I wasn’t sure if I’d like it and omg SO worth it!” cheered Ms Wright in the clip’s caption. “Total upgrade.” This new pillow puts the round-the-neck pillows to shame, as the expandable cushion, designed with an ergonomic 45-degree angle, offers support to the head and neck and inflates in just seconds. Once inflated, users are meant to position the pillow — created with a face cutout at its apex and two arm holes on its sides — on their passenger tray tables and lean forward into a relaxed position. The hot commodity’s details also noted that it can “help you stay away from injury and insomnia, make you rest more comfortable during the journey, easier to fall asleep, and sleep longer,” according to Amazon. According to the online Kmart reviews of the product, one traveller said it was “awkward looking” but “really comfortable” and perfect for long-haul flights. Folks under the #InflatableTravelPillow TikTok hashtag have hailed the headrest the “travel hack of the year.” However, haters of the portable bedding have deemed it an “embarrassment.” “My back just hurts watching this,” said one commenter beneath Ms Wright’s post. “Yeah I have social anxiety I would be too embarrassed to use it,” penned another. But in response to the criticisms, Ms Wright wrote, “People keep saying this [pillow] is embarrassing, but what’s more embarrassing is being caught with your mouth open just knocked out.” Image credits: TikTok

Travel Tips

Opioids don’t relieve acute low back or neck pain – and can result in worse pain, new study finds

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christine-lin-346821">Christine Lin</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/andrew-mclachlan-255312">Andrew McLachlan</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/caitlin-jones-1263090">Caitlin Jones</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christopher-maher-826241">Christopher Maher</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Opioids are the one of the most prescribed pain-relief for people with low back and neck pain. In Australia, around <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00586-017-5178-4">40% of people</a> with low back and neck pain who present to their GP and <a href="https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/28/10/826">70% of people</a> with low back pain who visit a hospital emergency department are prescribed opioids such as oxycodone. But our <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)00404-X/fulltext">new study</a>, published today in the Lancet medical journal, found opioids do not relieve “acute” low back or neck pain (lasting up to 12 weeks) and can result in worse pain. Prescribing opioids for low back and neck pain can also cause <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/taking-opioid-medicines-safely">harms</a> ranging from common side effects – such as nausea, constipation and dizziness – to <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/illicit-use-of-drugs/opioid-harm-in-australia/summary">misuse, dependency, poisoning and death</a>. Our findings show opioids should not be recommended for acute low back pain or neck pain. A change in prescribing for low back pain and neck pain is urgently needed in <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/publication/publications/addressing-prescription-opioid-use-and-misuse-australia">Australia</a> and <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/commissions/opioid-crisis">globally</a> to reduce opioid-related harms. <h2>Comparing opioids to a placebo</h2> In our trial, we randomly allocated 347 people with acute low back pain and neck pain to take either an opioid (oxycodone plus naloxone) or <a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/placebo-effect">placebo</a> (a tablet that looked the same but had no active ingredients). Oxycodone is an opioid pain medicine which can be given orally. <a href="https://www.nps.org.au/radar/articles/oxycodone-with-naloxone-controlled-release-tablets-targin-for-chronic-severe-pain">Naloxone</a>, an opioid-reversal drug, reduces the severity of constipation while not disrupting the pain relieving effects of oxycodone. Participants took the opioid or placebo for a maximum of six weeks. People in the both groups also received <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1836955321000941">education and advice</a> from their treating doctor. This could be, for example, advice on returning to their normal activities and avoiding bed rest. We assessed their outcomes over a one-year period. <h2>What did we find?</h2> After six weeks of treatment, taking opioids did not result in better pain relief compared to the placebo. Nor were there benefits to other outcomes such as physical function, quality of life, recovery time or work absenteeism. More people in the group treated with opioids experienced nausea, constipation and dizziness than in the placebo group. Results at one year highlight the potential long-term harm of opioids even with short-term use. Compared to the placebo group, people in the opioid group experienced slightly worse pain, and reported a higher risk of <a href="https://academic.oup.com/painmedicine/article/20/1/113/4728236#129780622">opioid misuse</a> (problems with their thinking, mood or behaviour, or using opioids differently from how the medicines were prescribed). More people in the opioid group reported pain at one year: 66 people compared to 50 in the placebo group. <h2>What will this mean for opioid prescribing?</h2> In recent years, international low back pain guidelines have shifted the focus of treatment from drug to non-drug treatment due to <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(18)30489-6/fulltext">evidence</a> of limited treatment benefits and concern of medication-related harm. For acute low back pain, <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00586-018-5673-2">guidelines</a> recommend patient education and advice, and if required, anti-inflammatory pain medicines such as ibuprofen. Opioids are <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00586-018-5673-2">recommended only</a> when other treatments haven’t worked or aren’t appropriate. Guidelines for <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33064878/">neck</a> pain similarly discourage the use of opioids. Our latest research clearly demonstrates the benefits of opioids do not outweigh possible harms in people with acute low back pain and neck pain. Instead of advising opioid use for these conditions in selected circumstances, opioids should be discouraged without qualification. <h2>Change is possible</h2> Complex problems such as opioid use need smart solutions, and another study we recently conducted provides convincing data opioid prescribing can be successfully reduced. The <a href="https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/30/10/825">study</a> involved four hospital emergency departments, 269 clinicians and 4,625 patients with low back pain. The intervention comprised of: <ul> <li>clinician education about <a href="https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/networks/musculoskeletal/resources/low-back-pain">evidence-based management</a> of low back pain</li> <li>patient education using posters and handouts to highlight the benefits and harms of opioids</li> <li>providing heat packs and anti-inflammatory pain medicines as alternative pain-management treatments</li> <li>fast-tracking referrals to outpatient clinics to avoid long waiting lists</li> <li>audits and feedback to clinicians on information about opioid prescribing rates.</li> </ul> This intervention reduced opioid prescribing from <a href="https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/30/10/825">63% to 51% of low back pain presentations</a>. The <a href="https://emj.bmj.com/content/early/2023/04/02/emermed-2022-212874">reduction was sustained for 30 months</a>. Key to this successful approach is that we worked with clinicians to develop suitable pain-management treatments without opioids that were feasible in their setting. More work is needed to evaluate this and other interventions aimed at reducing opioid prescribing in other settings including GP clinics. A nuanced approach is often necessary to avoid causing <a href="https://theconversation.com/opioid-script-changes-mean-well-but-have-left-some-people-in-chronic-pain-156753">unintended consequences</a> in reducing opioid use. If people with low back pain or neck pain are using opioids, especially at higher doses over an extended period of time, it’s important they seek advice from their doctor or pharmacist before stopping these medicines to avoid <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/opioid-withdrawal-symptoms">unwanted effects when the medicines are abruptly stopped</a>. Our research provides compelling evidence opioids have a limited role in the management of acute low back and neck pain. The challenge is getting this new information to clinicians and the general public, and to implement this evidence into practice.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/203244/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christine-lin-346821">Christine Lin</a>, Professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/andrew-mclachlan-255312">Andrew McLachlan</a>, Head of School and Dean of Pharmacy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/caitlin-jones-1263090">Caitlin Jones</a>, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Musculoskeletal Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christopher-maher-826241">Christopher Maher</a>, Professor, Sydney School of Public Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/opioids-dont-relieve-acute-low-back-or-neck-pain-and-can-result-in-worse-pain-new-study-finds-203244">original article</a>.

Body

17th-century Polish ‘vampire’ found buried with sickle across neck

The remains of a woman found in a 17th-century graveyard in Poland are believed to be an example of an ‘anti-vampire’ burial after a sickle was also found placed across her neck to prevent her from rising from the dead. Dariusz Poliński, a professor at Nicholas Copernicus University, led the archaeological dig where the remains were uncovered, with the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11173505/Remains-VAMPIRE-pinned-ground-sickle-throat-Poland.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail</a> reporting that the skeleton was found wearing a silk cap and with a protruding front tooth. “The sickle was not laid flat but placed on the neck in such a way that if the deceased had tried to get up… the head would have been cut off,” Professor Poliński told the outlet. According to the <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/17th-century-poland-vampires-werent-boogeymen-out-town-girl-or-boy-next-door-180953476/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smithsonian</a> magazine, Eastern Europeans reported fears of vampires and began treating their dead with anti-vampire rituals during the 11th century. By the 17th century, these practices were common across Poland in response to reports of a vampire outbreak, per <a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/research-reveals-the-origin-of-poland-s-mysterious-vampires" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ScienceAlert</a>. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/skeleton-lady1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> The skeletal remains, pictured from above. Image: Łukasz Czyżewski, NCU Professor Poliński told the New York Post that there were other forms of protection to prevent vampires from returning from the dead, including cutting off limbs and using fire. “Other ways to protect against the return of the dead include cutting off the head or legs, placing the deceased face down to bite into the ground, burning them, and smashing them with a stone,” he said. The skeleton’s toe was also padlocked, which Professor Poliński said likely symbolised “the closing of a stage and the impossibility of returning”. This isn’t the first time a ‘vampire’ has been discovered by archaeologists either. Matteo Borrini, a lecturer at Liverpool John Moore University, discovered the remains of a woman who died in the 16th century and was buried with a stone in her mouth in a mass grave with plague victims. He explained that outbreaks of ‘vampires’ were often associated with periods where people were dying from unknown causes at the time - such as pandemics or mass poisoning. “These ‘vampires’ start to hunt and kill family members first, then the neighbours, and then all the other villages,” he said. “This is the classical pattern of a disease that is contagious.” The most recent ‘vampire’ remains, which were dug up in August, are being further investigated by scientists. Image: Mirosław Blicharski

International Travel

Woman avoids baggage fees with genius neck pillow hack

While many travellers love to take advantage of cheap airline seats, the deals often come hand in hand with hefty baggage fees. One savvy TikTok user has devised a unique way to avoid the extra charges for luggage, using a travel neck pillow. The traveller, who shares videos under the name @anayotothe on TikTok, uses the cheap neck pillow as a secret carry-on bag to get out of those pesky extra fees. "Trying the Spirit and Frontier pillow hack cuz I ain't tryna pay $60 for a carry on," the woman wrote on the video, referencing two American airlines. She captioned the video, “My flight is in three hours let’s see how this goes!” The woman picked up the travel pillow for just $9 from the US supermarket Walgreens, and proceeded to take the pillow stuffing out of the case. She then stuffed all the clothes that wouldn’t fit in her backpack into the pillowcase, which could still be used to stay comfortable during her flight. "Everything fits except for this shirt!" the woman exclaimed, while showing followers her clever technique. After sharing the video with her followers, the woman later confirmed that she boarded her flight successfully with her hidden carry-on luggage. "On the way to Vegas and the way back, I didn't have to pay, with my travel pillow and my backpack," she said. While dozens of people commented to thank the savvy traveller for the tip, others also questioned if it was worth it to save money. When questioned about her methods, the woman responded, "It took five minutes, also it was an hour flight… there was no reason I should pay $300 for a flight if you can just take one of the budget airlines." Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Tips

Wild elk finally gets tyre removed from around its neck after two years

A wild elk in Colorado is free after a years-long ordeal to remove a rubber tyre from around its neck. Wildlife officers were <a rel="noopener" href="https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/News-Release-Details.aspx?NewsID=7971" target="_blank">able to free it</a> over the weekend after local residents alerted them to the creature’s location. The elk was a four-and-a-half year-old male weighing over 600 pounds, or over 270 kilograms. He had spent the past few years travelling between neighbouring counties, disappearing for long periods of time, particularly in the winter, and acting normally for a wild animal, not wanting to be around humans. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The saga of the bull elk with a tire around its neck is over. Thanks to the residents just south of Pine Junction on CR 126 for reporting its location, wildlife officers were able to free it of that tire Saturday. Story: <a href="https://t.co/WHfkfPuAck">https://t.co/WHfkfPuAck</a> 📸's courtesy of Pat Hemstreet <a href="https://t.co/OcnceuZrpk">pic.twitter.com/OcnceuZrpk</a> — CPW NE Region (@CPW_NE) <a href="https://twitter.com/CPW_NE/status/1447601850878812161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2021</a></blockquote> Wildlife officers were first alerted to the elk’s plight in June 2019. While conducting a population survey for bighorn sheep and mountain goats, an officer saw the bull through a spotting scope. Wildlife officer Scott Murdoch said, “Being up in the wilderness, we didn’t really expect to be able to get our hands on the elk just because of the proximity or the distance away from civilization. “It is harder to get the further they are back in there and usually the further these elk are away from people, the wilder they act. That certainly played true the last couple of years, this elk was difficult to find, and harder to get close to.” In the past week alone, officers had made four attempts to try and tranquilise the animal. They were finally successful on Saturday evening, after wildlife officer Dawson Swanson found the elk amongst a larger group, and managed to tranquilise it, after which officer Murdoch arrived to aid in the removal of the tyre. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Why we cut the antlers off & not the tire: 1⃣ We tried, sawzall was slow going thru steel in the bead of the tire 2⃣ The animal was under anesthesia, time was limited 3⃣ Does not harm the elk, will grow back next year 4⃣ Reduces the chance the bull would be harvested this year <a href="https://t.co/C24rgd5krs">pic.twitter.com/C24rgd5krs</a> — CPW NE Region (@CPW_NE) <a href="https://twitter.com/CPW_NE/status/1448023318590672896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2021</a></blockquote> Of the removal process, Murdoch said, “It was tight removing it,” even after cutting its antlers off. “It was not easy for sure, we had to move it just right to get it off because we weren’t able to cut the steel in the bead of the tire. Fortunately, the bull’s neck still had a little room to move. “We would have preferred to cut the tire and leave the antlers for his rutting activity, but the situation was dynamic and we had to just get the tire off in any way possible.” Once the tyre had been removed, the officers were surprised to see that the elk’s neck was in relatively good condition. “The hair was rubbed off a little bit, there was one small open wound maybe the size of a nickel or quarter, but other than that it looked really good,” Murdoch said. “I was actually quite shocked to see how good it looked.” <div> <div class="reply-list-component"> <div class="reply-component"> <div class="reply-body-component"> <div class="reply_body body linkify"> <div class="reply-body-wrapper"> <div class="reply-body-inner"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> According to Colorado Parks & Wildlife, "the elk would have gotten the tyre around its antlers either when it was very young, before it had antlers, or during the winter when it shed its antlers. It could have been a big stack of tires that the elk stuck its head in." </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Removing its antlers does not hurt the elk, as they will grow back next year. Image: Twitter/@CPW_NE

Travel Trouble

The potato trick to help get rid of neck pain and migraines

An expert has revealed an unlikely item that serves to relieve neck pain and migraines. Those dealing with neck stiffness could use humble potatoes to treat themselves, said Stephen Makinde, the clinical director of Perfect Balance Clinic in London. “We’ve seen an increase in the number of clients with neck problems and migraines associated with neck stiffness since the start of the coronavirus lockdown,” Makinde told the <a href="https://www.dailystar.co.uk/health/bizarre-baking-potato-trick-could-22096583">Daily Star</a>. The problem could be attributed to increased use of electronic devices during the pandemic, which affects the upper back, he said. “If you are looking down, which you do when working on a laptop, what tends to happen is the head starts to hang forward and that puts a lot of strain on the upper back,” he said. “This can often cause a burning sensation in the trapezius muscles and affects other muscles in the neck, the spine and the nerves.” Makinde said lying down with tennis balls placed underneath the back of the head can help loosen muscles, release tension and help “reset the neck position”. “Tennis balls are really useful for this, but most people don’t have tennis balls at home,” he said. “So baking potatoes work well, too. You just sellotape them together and lie down flat, with the potatoes placed underneath the back of your head. “This is a really easy and useful thing people can do at home to release their neck tension and the pressure around there themselves.” In an interview with <a href="https://7news.com.au/sunrise/on-the-show/coronavirus-australia-how-to-prevent-back-and-neck-pain-when-working-from-home-c-1059473">Sunrise</a>, Australian Chiropractors Association President Dr Anthony Coxon also recommended getting up and moving every half an hour as well as increasing the height of the screens we are using.

Body

Research has revealed that technology is a literal pain in the neck

Researchers have revealed that technology is changing the bones in our necks and skulls, which is setting people up for a lifetime of pain. This comes from device overuse, as it can cause posture problems. Researchers at the University of the Sunshine Coast have found something unusual that tends to go unnoticed. They used a sample of more than 1,200 people aged between 18 and 30. They discovered that 41 percent of the participants had grown a bony lump on the back of their skull. The horn-like spurs were between 10 to 30 millimetres thick. “We suspect the reason for this bone spur formation is because they carry their head forward,” University of the Sunshine Coast’s David Shahar said to <a href="https://thewest.com.au/news/health/researchers-reveal-technology-is-proving-a-pain-in-the-neck-ng-b881234805z">The West.</a> The sustained stress on the skull is creating bone de-position which usually takes years. The simple solution? Lift your head. “Bringing the weight of the head back to rest on the bones and not on the muscles,” Dr Shahar said.

Technology

How often should you be washing your pillowcase?

Time to face the facts, the best part of everyone’s day is bedtime, when you can drift off into a deep sleep and wake up the next morning looking forward to doing it all over again. But have you ever stopped to think about the bacteria that has accumulated on your pillowcase over time? I mean, think about it, you sleep for seven hours a day, every day, so if you aren’t washing them regularly, you may end up dealing with a number of issues. Dirty pillowcases are said to cause several skin problems such as breakouts, irritation and face acne – so if you have a new friend on your face every morning, think of it as your skin telling you it’s time to give your pillow case a good wash. Throughout those blissful hours of relaxation, your pillowcase is collecting remnants of skin, bacteria, fungus and oils from your face and hair. So how often should you replace your pillowcases? Speaking to <a rel="noopener" href="https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/not-washing-pillowcases-nearly-often-043030630.html" target="_blank">Yahoo Lifestyle</a>, Jordana Mattioli, an aesthetician, says you should ideally wash your sheets every day. But if that sounds too excessive, turn your pillowcase inside out to get an extra night’s use. Ms Mattioli also recommends wrapping your hair in a scarf while you sleep so your pillowcase remains free from hair products and leftover residues. How often do you wash your pillowcase? Left us know in the comments below.

Caring

Gentle yoga moves to help ease neck and shoulder tension

Tracy Adshead is a yoga teacher specialising in yoga for seniors. She is passionate about bringing healing and healthy ageing to the community. This is a gentle yoga practice for improving neck, upper back and shoulder mobility and for relieving mental tension that sometimes causes shoulder discomfort. It should be practiced from a seated position. Move slowly with awareness. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N1i0OcG52Ro" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Follow Tracy on Facebook <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/%20https:/www.facebook.com/TracyChairYoga/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf">here</a>.

Body

Should you take your own pillow on a cruise?

Going on a cruise, no matter how long your journey may be, requires you to pack some essential items to make it through the trip. One cruiser has asked other travellers on <a href="https://boards.cruisecritic.com.au/showthread.php?t=833016" target="_blank">Cruise Critic</a> if it is necessary to pack his pillow for his sea adventure. “I was wondering if anybody every brings their own pillows. If the pillows are good, I won't worry about it. I just don't want to have neck cramps all week,” he asked. Here are the responses he received from a community of avid cruisers. CruiseDude_83 said: “Yes every cruise. It is not because I feel that the ones on the cruise are dirty i just sleep on my own better…” ChristieNJ wrote” “Never! It's sad that the cruise pillows are WAYYY more comfortable than my own!” CL-JW agreed: “We’ve found the pillows to be good on board.” Tika shared: “I always take my little travel pillow with me when I travel. It is about half the size of a standard pillow and scrunches real small so easy to pack. I know some folks have asked their cabin stewards for different pillows and they always accommodate their requests. One line we cruised on actually asked us in a pre-cruise questionnaire what type of pillows we wanted and bed duvet or standard spread.” Retiredawacs said: “I’ve travelled all over the world and I don't leave home without my pillow. I always find a way to make room for it. I've been told though that on our cruise in three weeks that there is a pillow menu to select from. We are staying in a GS. I still think I will take my own.” Cruiser starlake shared his tricks to travelling with his pillow. “I always take my own pillow. I don't have any problem with the ship's pillows, I just like my own,” he wrote. “I have a standard size pillow and either make room for it in my checked luggage, or if there is no room there I have simply tied it to my carry-on and go through airport security. I have never been asked to find room inside the carry-on and have never had anyone even say anything about it. It is amazing if you look around airports and see how many people carry their own pillow.” Do you pack your pillow when you go on a cruise? Let us know in the comments below.

Cruising

4 ways to reduce the signs of ageing on your neck

If you’re like many of us, you seen a lot of time using beauty products on your face. But what about the skin exposed just a few centimetres below the face? The neck is just as visible as the face, yet it is often very much neglected in the beauty routines of women around the world. Try these simple tips to keep the skin on your neck in good shape (to match your gorgeous face). 1. Use your cleansers, moisturiser and anti-ageing creams on your neck Don’t stop your creams and cleansers at your jaw line; go all the way down to your neck, where the skin is thinner and more prone to showing the signs of ageing. 2. Choose natural fibres for jumpers and scarves If you’re wrapping up with a scarf or wearing a jumper that goes onto your neck, be sure to avoid synthetic fibres that can irritate the sensitive skin there. They’re also more likely to pull moisture from the skin if they’re not natural wool or cotton. 3. Keep perfume to a minimum There’s no need to just spray your fragrance on the neck area only, as this can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight. Instead, dab a little perfume on the neck, wrists and behind the ears where it’s less likely to cause issue. 4. Avoid irritants like sun and cigarette smoke Skin damage from the sun can quickly age you, and smoking can cause more wrinkles on the face and neck. Be sure to cover up with a good quality sunscreen on your face and neck, and steer clear of smoke if at all possible. Have you got any further advice that we might have missed that you’d like to share in the comments?

Beauty & Style

Why you should never travel without a pillow case

An empty pillow case is probably the last thing you’re thinking about bringing on your next overseas trip, particularly if you’re planning to stay at a hotel that offers a turndown service. But, with a bit of creativity, they can be quite useful. If you’ve ever bemoaned the way dirty clothes become entangled with clean ones on a long journey, an empty pillow case is the answer you’ve been looking for, providing a makeshift dirty-laundry bag that takes up no extra space. Not worried about dirty clothes? Well an empty pillow case is also a handy way to keep socks and underwear organised, and separate from the rest of your items. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/axIwbpMdqZk" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> And what’s more, an empty pillow case can also come in handy if you’ve been shopping overseas. If you’ve purchased any breakable souvenirs on your travels, and empty pillow case is the perfect way to wrap and protect them on the trip home. So, do you think you’ll bring an empty pillow case on your travels? Do you have any tips you would like to share? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you.

Travel Tips

How many pillows is too many?

During our two seasons on The Block, I was given the illustrious title of “bedroom queen” as we had lots of positive feedback from the judges about the styling of our beds. Since then, the question of how many pillows should be used on a bed is one that I am most frequently asked. So how many is too many? When are you at risk of looking cushion crazy? Here are my tips for getting the balance just right. Style Decide what style you want for your bed. A casual, slightly undone bed looks better with less pillows and little to no decorative cushions. Think three or four standard pillows in natural linen with a throw loosely draped over the end of the bed. The next level up would be a more dressed bed that includes European pillows and decorative cushions. This style is an everyday look that requires a little bit more effort for a more finished result. Finally, the formal bed goes all out with layers of European pillows, multiple standard pillows and at least three decorative cushions to finish it off. The result is dramatic, plush and polished. This option is every significant other’s worst nightmare as it takes considerable time, and many laps of the bed, to remove all of those pillows each night. Size The obvious rule of thumb is the smaller the bed, the fewer pillows it needs. I have gone one step further and created a basic guide. Single bed: one European pillow plus one standard pillow or two standard pillows. One or two decorative cushions at the most. Double/Queen bed: Two European pillows plus two to four standard pillows. A maximum of three decorative cushions. King size bed: Three European pillows plus two to four standard pillows. A maximum of three decorative cushions. Pillow arrangement There are many ways to arrange pillows, some more formal than others. Decide whether you prefer the pillows to be the same on both sides of the bed or slightly different for an interesting twist. A classic option for double and queen beds is to start with two European pillows at the back, followed by two standards on both sides and one large decorative cushion in the centre. Alternatively, you can have two decorative cushions that sit on either side or three layered across the middle. Another option is two European pillows at the back with two standard pillows stacked on top of each other on one side and two standard pillows sitting one in front of each other on the opposite side to throw the symmetry off. Both of these work well on a king sized bed with an extra European pillow to fill in the gaps along the back. For a king-sized bed, a clean and simple arrangement is to stack two standard pillows on each side and then stand one European pillow in front on both sides and a third European in the middle. European pillows are a must for any beautifully made bed as they add all important height. The combinations really are endless so don’t be scared of your pillows. Have fun playing with different arrangements until you find the one that feels right. Written by Dea Jolly. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.domain.com.au" target="_blank">Domain.com.au.</a>

Home & Garden

This might be Australia’s most remarkable natural formation

Visit one of Australia’s most remarkable natural formations. What is it? Eaglehawk Neck Tessellated Pavement in Tasmania is one of the world’s most spectacular geological phenomena. A tessellated pavement is an incredibly rare rock formation that is only found in a few places on earth. Over thousands of years, a section of flat sedimentary rock that sits close to the ocean gets broken up into a series of regular blocks through cracking and erosion. There are two potential results: a series of small rectangular pools that fill and empty with the tides or rounded rocks that bulge upwards in a ‘loaf’ formation. Though it looks manmade, the formations are entirely natural. The rock comes to resemble a traditional Roman mosaic floor, which is where the name ‘tessellated pavement’ comes from. Where is it? Eaglehawk Neck is the thin strip of land that separated the Tasman Peninsula to the Forestier Peninsula, on the southeast coast of the island of Tasmania. It is around 400 metres long and 30 metres wide. The Port Arthur prison was opened on the Tasman Peninsula in the 1830s and the narrow isthmus formed a natural barrier to prevent convicts escaping to the main island. To add an extra degree of difficulty, the entrance to the peninsula was guarded by a line of fearsome dogs chained together. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3W8nS0wyQzs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> How can I visit? The Tessellated Pavement is a one-hour drive from Hobart along a pretty coastal route. You can stop at the lookout on the sea cliffs above to get a birds’ eye view of the entire formation. At low tide, you can walk across the rocks and out to Clydes Island. The rocks can be uneven and slippery, so take care and wear appropriate footwear. Have you ever visited this incredible attraction?

International Travel

The easy trick to whiten old pillows

We spend a third of our lives sleeping, so it’s natural that our pillows will turn yellow because sweat – even in winter. We try to cover those nasty stains with white pillowcases, but if the stain is really bad, it can still be seen through the case. Thankfully, there’s a simple way to banish those yellow marks once and for all. You will need: <ul> <li>Very hot water</li> <li>1 cup laundry detergent</li> <li>1 cup dishwasher detergent (powder)</li> <li>1 cup bleach</li> <li>½ cup borax</li> </ul> How to: Now that you have the essentials, follow the steps in the video above to get your pillows looking brand new. Source: Onegoodthingbyjillee.com Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/07/cleaning-secrets-your-mother-taught-you/">13 cleaning secrets your mother taught you</a> <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/07/why-you-should-never-make-your-bed/">Why you should never make your bed</a> <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/07/5-very-dirty-things-in-bedrooms-people-arent-aware-of/">5 very dirty things in bedrooms people aren’t aware of</a>

Home & Garden

Three yoga exercises to relieve neck and shoulder stress

Tracy Adshead is a yoga teacher specialising in yoga for seniors. She is passionate about bringing healing and healthy ageing to the community. Try letting your shoulders drop or settle now into their most comfortable position, take them back and down a little. It isn’t too difficult to do for the moment but to maintain this position unconsciously in our daily lives is another matter. We raise our shoulders unnaturally when on the computer, when we’re shocked by a loud noise or when we feel stressed. All your muscles are all linked together, firing together, supporting each other. However, if one muscle group is being overused then discomfort (and possibly pain) will soon follow. It only takes a slight but frequent rising of the shoulders to create enough tension to throw the nervous system out of balance, producing anxiety, stiff necks or headaches. An excellent way to start managing stress is to use these three yoga practices for necks and shoulders along with deep breathing. Practiced daily they will signal the muscles to release and to relax. Yoga postures should be practiced slowly and gently, with awareness, ideally synchronized with the breath. They should not be practiced absent-mindedly as you may hurt yourself. If you encounter any discomfort or pain stop immediately. For the shoulders Sitting on a sturdy straight backed chair, lengthen your spine by lifting the crown of the head up towards the ceiling. Take the shoulders back and down a little. Hold this posture. As you inhale lift the shoulders up towards the ears, hold the shoulders here and hold the breath. Count to four. Now slowly exhale, counting to eight, while relaxing the shoulders down. Repeat four more times. <img width="498" height="665" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/22875/for-the-shoulders_498x665.jpg" alt="For The Shoulders (1)"/> For the neck Note: For anyone with whiplash or neck injuries, take extreme caution in approaching any new exercises. Lift your chin and look up as you inhale, exhale relax your chin down towards your chest. Repeat twice more. Bring your head back to a neutral position; begin to move your chin around in small circles so that you are literally just moving your skull around at the top of your spine. Make it relaxing and easy. When you have gone seven to ten times in one direction, pause, and reverse the movement for the same number of rotations. Over time, when it feels comfortable, you may find that you can increase the size of the circles you are making with your chin. For the neck and shoulders Place your fingertips on to your shoulders, inhale, as you exhale drop your chin towards your chin and bring the elbows towards each other, possibly touching them together in front of your chest. Feel the shoulder blades behind separating. Inhale, take to elbows wide out to the side and lift your chin to look up. Press the shoulder blades together behind as you gently press the elbows back. Repeat this three to five times. <img width="500" height="333" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/22873/neck_500x333.jpg" alt="Neck"/> Awareness improves as time goes on The key is to keep doing these practices regularly; you will eventually become aware of emotions or situations that trigger feelings of tension and be able to consciously relax, letting the tension go before it builds up. Where do you find you hold the most tension, neck or shoulders? Let us know in the comments below. Related links: <a href="/health/body/2016/05/how-to-improve-your-balance-with-yoga/">How to improve your balance with yoga</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/02/yoga-to-relieve-still-muscles-and-joints/">Gentle yoga moves you can do in bed</a> <a href="/health/body/2016/02/reasons-to-give-yoga-a-chance/">10 reasons to give yoga chance</a>

Body

Fashion tips for flattering the neck

Josephine Lalwan is the owner of fashion blog <a href="http://www.chicatanyage.com/" target="_blank">Chic at any age</a>, a fashion resource for women over 50 who want to learn more about style, fashion and what will suit them as mature women. I recently discovered the series Grace and Frankie on Netflix. It can be little over the top, but quite fun to watch on an evening when there is nothing inspiring on terrestrial TV. Jane Fonda, who plays the character of Grace, portrays a chic and elegant style in my opinion. At times a little too classic for my taste but overall I like her look, especially the knitwear. One aspect that particularly got my attention was how she continually wore her shirt collars up. I began to realise that this “trick” gave a flattering frame to the face. You would need to have a reasonable long neck for this to work for you. I do, so it seems to suit me. I have even started using it for some of my jackets. Scroll through the gallery above to see some more examples of how Jane pulls of this look. Have you been taking note of the fashions on “Grace and Frankie”? Let us know in the comments below. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/04/5-tips-for-creating-the-perfect-wardrobe/">5 tips for creating the perfect wardrobe</a> <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/04/ways-to-use-vaseline-in-your-beauty-routine/">6 surprising ways to use Vaseline in your beauty routine</a> <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/04/things-to-do-with-shampoo/">9 surprising things you can do with shampoo</a>

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