I remember reading a story about an encounter between an enlightened man and his student. One day, the student caught his teacher spending time in front of the mirror, fixing himself. The student then asked him, 'Guru, why do you still check yourself in the mirror when the beauty of the soul is what truly matters?' The Master replied, 'So as not to offend others with my look.'

Keeping a good appearance is sometimes not about vanity. Not only does it make yourself feel good, you make others feel better in your presence as well. Proactiv dermatologist Dr. Laura Savage shares with us her tips on how to take care of your skin

Tip #1 - Cleanse gently and wisely

While deep cleansing sounds desirable to purify oily blemish-prone skin, over-washing and harsh cleansers can do more damage than good – by stripping away the protective barrier, skin is left dry and vulnerable to bacteria. Avoid using soap too – the high pH of soap will dry the skin and cause a compensatory surge in oil production, leaving skin in a confused state with an undesirable combination of dry and greasy patches.

Choose a cleanser containing helpful anti-inflammatory ingredients such as salicylic
acid to help soothe inflamed pimples, and gently massage over the entire face and neck for at least 60 seconds (to allow any active ingredients to take effect). Avoid cleaners and toners containing harsh alcohol-based astringents and ingredients such as witch hazel, which typically cause a sting on application and make the skin appear red. Small flaking patches might indicate you’re over-cleansing, so ease back and then gradually increase the frequency of use as your skin adjusts and gets used to the product.

Tip #2 - Make salicylic acid your star ingredient

Salicylic acid is one of the most effective breakout-fighting non-prescription ingredients and is a great choice of exfoliant for those with spot-prone and oily skin. Salicylic acid targets pimples by sloughing away dead skin cells that clog pores and lead to breakouts, and also minimizes pore visibility.

Tip #3 - Moisturize!

A common misconception is that moisturizing is bad for oily skin prone to breakouts. It’s true that many creams and lotions contain ingredients that can block pores and make breakouts worse, so never put a product designed for your body near your face.
Look for products labelled 'non-comedogenic', which is a fancy way of saying they don’t contain ingredients that block pores and lead to the formation of blackheads and whiteheads. Hydrating the skin with an oil-free moisturizer will not only counteract the drying effect of many spot treatments, but also loosen the pore-blocking sebum (skin debris and grease) leading to clearer and healthier skin overall.

Tip #4 - Give it time and be optimistic

Sometimes your skin can take a while to adjust to new products or active ingredients.
Direct your attention away from the guide on the bottle and focus only on your skin. If you experience signs of irritation or over-drying, try reducing the application to every other day (or even less often) for a couple of weeks before gradually increasing back to daily.
Remember that it can take 4-6 weeks for breakouts to diminish, so you need to persevere with a new product for at least this long (and ideally a bit longer) before really deciding whether it is doing the trick and clearing your skin.

Tip #5 - Keep your hands off!

As tempting and satisfying as it is, squeezing a pimple really is the worst thing you can do so keep your hands off! Pressure on an inflamed pimple will push the contents of the grease gland (oil, bacteria and dead skin cells) into the surrounding healthy skin which causes damage and more inflammation.
Squeezing can lead to a temporary darkening of the skin (so called ‘post-inflammatory pigmentation’) that can take weeks, even months to settle, and scarring, which can be permanent and difficult to treat – not cool. If you really find it difficult to resist squeezing, instead try applying a warm compress (like a clean face cloth) to the pimple for 5 minutes to reduce any swelling and then apply a for example a` salicylic acid-based product.

Tip #6 - Review your make up choices and clean your brushes

It’s a fact that as breakouts worsen, the more make-up we use to try to conceal the problem. For pimple-prone skin, making the right cosmetic choices and regularly cleaning applicators are essential if future breakouts are to be prevented.
Mineral-based make up products are a good option as they contain ingredients such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and silica that mop up excess oil without blocking pores. Also, switch to a concealer that contains a blemish-fighting ingredient such as salicylic acid to not only reduce the visibility of blemishes but also help reduce the size. And just as would be the case if you didn’t wash your face each day, make-up brushes accumulate a daily layer of pore-clogging product, dirt and bacteria – your skin’s worst enemy.
Aim to cleanse your brushes at least once a week using baby shampoo or a professional brush cleaner to keep them in tip top condition.

Tip #7 - Review your diet

For many years, the jury was out as to whether there was a link between diet and breakouts – the hard evidence was simply lacking. But over the past decade, many dermatologists now agree that hormones in cow’s milk may stimulate oil production and promote breakouts.
Similarly, foods with a high glycemic index can cause a spike in blood sugars, causing a rise in hormone levels and sending grease glands into an oily overdrive.
Try reducing cow’s milk intake to just 1-2 servings per day (or choose an unsweetened alternative like almond milk), and cut out fatty foods high in omega-6 fatty acids and refined sugars (generally found in all the foods you know are bad for you!) – even if your skin doesn’t dramatically improve, your waistline will!

Tip #8 – Use a good skincare routine like Proactiv+

Proactiv+ 3 Step Clear Skin System has Smart Target technology that delivers acne-fighting formulation directly into the pores. It is formulated to address blemishes help deliver PLUS benefits such as improved visible texture and clarity, brighten and smoothen skin, and diminish the look of dark marks. The 3-step system starts with a Smoothing Exfoliator which removes excess dirt and other impurities. The exfoliator is applied on damp skin and rinsed with warm water after two minutes. The second step is called the Pore Targeting treatment. It stops the acne at the source because it delivers blemish-fighting ingredient directly into the pore. The lotion is
applied all over face to allow full absorption. The final process of the Proactiv+ 3 Step Clear Skin System hydrates the skin with the Complexion Perfect Hydrator. The moisturizer will reduce redness, help lighten acne marks and help brighten skin.
Try Proactiv+ today!

About Dr. Laura Savage:
Dr. Savage studied Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, where she also obtained an honours degree in pathology. She trained as a Dermatologist within the Yorkshire Deanery. This included three-and-a-half years of research investigating the use of biological therapy in psoriatic disease culminating in the award of a PhD degree.
Please share this video by Dr. Savage on your blog.
Dermatologist skin tips: The importance of sticking with a skin routine to get rid of blemishes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBYAyytTPv8&feature=youtu.be

I still remember our induction in Switzerland and Juba. They have always emphasized that our first month in the country feels like a honeymoon. Everything will be new and novel to us; like tourists. We would be excited about everything we see, feel, taste, and experience. 

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A post shared by Ge Ann (@gedaleann) on Jun 25, 2019 at 11:54pm PDT

1. Injera. If rice is for Asians and bread is for Europeans, then Injera is the staple for Ethiopians! It looks and tastes like a giant spongy pancake or as my best friends describe it, a towel. It is made from the grain teff which is fermented up to three days before it is cooked. It comes in red, brown, or white but the general rule is 'the paler the injera, the better.' The dark ones tends to be coarser.
   
   This is usually spread out and then you pour the shiro or food on top of it. It is the perfect food wrap and you can also dip it into sauces! The injera tastes tangy...a bit bitter and sour. I love it but my friend just spat it out!(not the one on the pic) I could even see him with tears in his eyes!
   
2. Shiro. Shiro is a red sauce usually served with injera. It is commonly served on Ethiopian 'fasting days'.
3. Tibs. This is the usual accompaniment to injera. It is a spicy beef or lamb fried in butter.
4. Jebena or coffee. Coffee is said to have originated in Ethiopia so it is natural to see sidewalk coffee spots. Each tiny serving of freshly brewed black coffee will set you back 5 Birr if you take it on these roadside hole in the wall restaurants but if you order it in a restaurant, it will cost 20 Birr. This is traditionally served in a coffee ceremony. 
   
5. Macchiato. This is the popular form of coffee in Ethiopia. I had one in In-N-Out Burger for 15 Birr. It was by Tomoca which they say is the gold standard of Ethiopian Coffee! However, it is best to go to  Tomoca (To.Mo.Ca) Coffee Shop at the Piazza. 
   
   
   
6. Tej. Tej is a honey wine or a mead made of honey and a local leaf known as gesho. It is only served at a tej beit or a tej bar. We had ours at Habishan2000 at 300 Birr for 1 liter. It was a good deal though as we also got to watch a cultural show.
   
7. St. George or Giorgis Beer. If you are a beer drinker, then you must check this pale lager off of your list. This is the oldest beer in Ethiopia! Since I do not drink, read more about it here.
   

Booking tickets for Ethiopian Airlines on-line works out very expensive when compared with booking at their office in Addis Ababa. For example, the route Addis -> Gondar -> Lalibela -> Addis was quoted on-line for USD450 whereas at their booking office (at the Hilton in Addis) the ticket cost only USD150. Even better: if you have booked your international trip to Ethiopia via Ethiopian Airlines' webpages you will get a 60% discount on domestic flights. Even if you have arrived on an airline other than Ethiopian, you can still get the discounted prices (booked at offices in Ethiopia) by having proof of an international reservation with Ethiopian regardless of whether you have flown the flight or not. So you can get the discount by booking a refundable (eco flex) or cheap flight to a neighbouring country for the future and quoting the ticket number when booking domestic flights. Rumour has it proof of international flights is never checked, but they do ask for it occasionally especially if paying for it at the airport.

The Addis Ababa International Airport is kindda small so it is pretty straightforward and easy to navigate.

VISA
Lines for Visa on Arrival is shorter than all the other lines. You can also get a an e-visa here for 52USD but the line is longer since Ethiopian Citizens and holders of transit and e-visa's use just one line.


ATMs and MONEY EXCHANGE

There are three places with ATM machines:

1. Before the Immigration. Withdraw here only if you need it to process your visa on arrival.
2. After the Immigration. It is a bit crowded here.
3. By the baggage carousel. There is hardly any lines. 

The bank exchange rate is 28 Birr to 1 USD (June 2019). You can also exchange your money in banks that are found almost at every corner of the city and on the front desk of big hotels for about the same rate. If you want a higher rate, there is the black market but if you are a tourist, tapping into one is a bit dodgy. The black market rate in Addis Ababa is about 30 BIrr and 32 Birr in Lalibela.

The ATMs are not always reliable. I tried three of my cards in different ATMs littered around the city and I was unable to withdraw cash. Although the machine recognizes my name, it does not recognize my PIN. It is better to bring in cash with you.

SIM CARD

Right outside the Arrival area where the hotel kiosks are, you will find the booth for Ethio Telecom. Each sim card costs 30Birr. Once you have the sim card, you can top it up either weekly, biweekly or monthly.

GETTING TO YOUR ACCOMMODATION

Just right outside of the Customs Check, you can see a lot of hotel kiosks. Most of them offer a ride to their hotels. However, if you do not have a hotel pick up, walk out of the building and keep walking down until you see the parking lot. You might get approached by a helpful for person who will arrange a ride for you. Beeline them and head to the yellow taxis.These are the only ones allowed and has a standard fee of 30 Birr or 10USD.