Thursday, March 29, 2007

Lips Soft, Smooth And Kissable

A sweet smile gives pleasure to everyone. To light up your day have a beautiful and wide smile on your face. Behind the beautiful smile are beautiful lips. The lips are the most important and exquisitely sensitive part of your body. And therefore you have to take special care of your lips.

Our lips unlike most part of our body do not have any melanin pigment to protect them. Lips are covered on the outside by a thin layer of skin and on the inside by virtually transparent mucous membranes.

Therefore it is necessary to take care of our lips and to eat well-balanced food and lots of fruits.

The common lips problems are:

* Dark lips
* Cracked lips
* Chapped lips


Tips to get nice and beautiful lips:

1) Dark Lips:

If you have dark lips you have to do the following………

* Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
* Stop smoking.
* Avoid lipstick.
* Apply a layer of oil and leave it on for several hours. Best apply before going to bed
* Mix coconut oil and almond oil in equal quantity. Apply a coat of this on the lips and leave on overnight. This has to be done daily for at least two weeks for best results.
* Massage lips: Every night with a mixture of 1/2 tsp. Glycerin and 1/2 tsp. Castor oil with 1/2 tsp. Lemon juice and leave overnight.
* Apply cream from curds with saffron on your lips.

2) Cracked Lips:

Lips do not produce oil like our skin, because they have no oil producing glands. The skin on our lips is actually mucous membrane, so for them to remain smooth and chap free is a bit of a challenge. The most common cause of cracked lips are allergic reaction to cosmetics, skin infections, extreme weather conditions like excess sun and wind exposure, biting of the lips or a vitamin B deficiency.

To cure cracked lips do the following………

* Protect the lips from weather by applying heavy plain cream.
* Avoid licking your lips.
* To cure dry chapped lips apply peanut butter or coco butter to your lips before going to bed.
* Grind rose petals with cream on the top of milk and apply on lips to cure the cracked lips
* Take vitamin B, C foods in diet.
* Mix 2 drops of glycerin with 1 tsp of cream on the top of milk and apply to lips to cure the chapped lips and keep overnight to get smooth and shiny lips.
* Mix equal quantities of nutmeg, turmeric, and fresh butter and apply to lips.
* Hot water fomentation, followed by a mixture of Vaseline and honey applied on the lips at least thrice a week will prevent lips from chapping.

3. Chapped Lips

Tips to avoid chapped lips
:

Don't lick your lips! Especially in cold weather, frequent lip-licking (something most of us do without even thinking about it) can lead to dry, cracked, painful lips. That's because as the saliva on your lips evaporates, it takes your lips' natural moisture with it -- and since lips don't have oil glands, their natural moisture is scarce to begin with. Once you've sworn off licking, here are some other tricks to turn your lips smooth and soft:
• Use a lip balm to help seal in moisture. Stay away from flavored balms; you may just end up smacking your lips unable to resist the great taste. Try Vaseline Lip Guard.
• Exfoliate your lips once a week. Wet a soft toothbrush and gently brush your lips with a circular motion.
• Instead of using drying matte lipsticks, line your lips with a lip liner, then fill them in and cover with a gloss.
• Apply and reapply a thick, moisturizing lip balm. For already-chapped lips, look for a medicated balm containing cooling, pain-reducing ingredients such as camphor, menthol, and phenol.
• Once your lips have healed, switch to a non-medicated balm with ingredients like vitamin E, allantoin, and honey. Apply in the morning, throughout the day under or over lipstick, and before bed.
• Slough off flakes. To keep lips silky, use a washcloth or wet toothbrush (skip the paste) to gently buff your lips every other day.
• Use a humidifier. Dry indoor air can sap the moisture from lips, so use a humidifier when you're indoors, and especially while you sleep.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Acne Home Remedies

Acne has both internal and external causes. Almost everyone at some time in their lives has been affected by the acne problem. Adolescents and young adults between the ages of 12 and 24 develop the condition, and some people continue to be affected into their forties and fifties.The best way to prevent acne breakouts is the precautions.

Here are some tips to keep their skin clear:

* Don’t pick, pop or squeeze, or otherwise mess with your skin. Squeezing blemishes or whiteheads can lead to infection or scarring. It almost always makes the acne you have worse.

* Wash your pillowcase often and always use clean face towels. Dirty towels and pillowcases can harbor bacteria and germs that can make acne worse.

* Be sure to pull your hair away from your skin when you sleep.

* Try to shower as soon as possible after your workout since sweat combined with skin oils can trap dirt and bacteria in your pores.

* Don’t go to bed with makeup on. It can clog your pores and lead to breakouts.

* Make sure to clean cosmetic brushes regularly in soapy water and throw out old, contaminated makeup.

* Exercising regularly can help reduce stress and it increases blood circulation and oxygen penetration to the skin, which may help to prevent acne.

* Drink at lots of water in a day to help "detoxify" the body from the inside out.

* Men who shave and who have acne can test both electric and safety razors to see which is more comfortable. Men who use a safety razor should use a sharp blade and soften their beard thoroughly with soap and water before applying shaving cream. Nicking blemishes can be avoided by shaving lightly and only when necessary.

By taking these simple precautions, most people can reduce the occurrence of acne.


Home Remedies for Acne

All home remedies for acne are enhanced by proper vitamin and mineral supplementation.

1. Apply a paste of fresh methi (fenugreek) leaves over the face every night for 10-15 minutes and washed with warm water. This will prevent acne, pimples, blackheads, and wrinkles.

2. Place strawberry leaves on the acne, the alkalinity helps to reduce the swelling.

3. Extract juice of one lemon and mix with equal quantity of rose water. Apply this mixture on the face and let it stay for about half an hour. Wash the face with fresh water. About 15 days application helps cure acne, pimples and reduces blemishes and scars.

4. Another method is to massage the face with the skin of lemon before washing with lukewarm water.

5. Apply fresh mint juice over the face every night for the treatment of acne, pimples, insect stings, eczema,
scabies, & other skin infections.

6. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. At least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables should be included in your diet. All acne home remedies should include a healthy diet.

7. Apply fresh lemon juice on the affected area overnight. Wash off with warm water next morning.

8. Use 2-3 tsp. dried basil leaves to 1 cup boiling water. Steep 10-20 minutes. Cool, and apply with cotton ball.

9. Grind orange peel with some water to a paste and apply on affected parts. One of the best acne home remedy.

10. Clean face with cotton wool dipped in rose water 2-3 times a day.

11. Mix 1 teaspoon lemon juice in 1 teaspoon finely ground cinnamon powder and apply on affected areas frequently.

12. Aloe Vera juice applied twice a day can greatly speed up the healing of acne lesions.

13. Blend cucumber and make a paste. Apply this as a mask on your face and leave it for 1/2 hour and then rinse. This refreshes your skin and prevents acne.

14. Mix corn flour with egg white and apply on your face. Let is dry completely for 1/2 hour. Dip your hands in warm water and massage your face and wash off. This when repeated regularly gives you a smooth skin.

15. Mix sandalwood paste with rosewater and apply on the face. Rinse off after 30 minutes.

16. Grind some nutmeg with milk and apply on affected area. Pimples disappear like magic without leaving a mark.

17. Make a mixture of lime juice and rose water. Apply on face and leave it for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

18. Make a paste by mixing 3 tablespoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. Repeat for two weeks, pimples will disappear forever.

19. Rub fresh garlic on and around pimples. Pimples will disappear without a mark with regular applications.

20. Mix 1 tspn groundnut oil with 1 tspn fresh lime juice to prevent formation of blackheads and pimples.

21. Ground drumstick pods and leaves and mix mixed with fresh lime juice, and apply on pimples. This is also good for blackheads and dark spots.

22. Mix groundnut oil with an equal amount of fresh lime juice and apply on face. Leave for 10-15 minutes and wash. It may be applied daily to prevent formation of blackheads, acne and pimples.

23. Apply juice of raw papaya (including the skin and seed) on swelling acne, pimples.

24. Apply fresh lime juice mixed to a glass of boiled milk as a face wash for acne, pimples, blackheads, and cracked skin.

25. Apply ripe Tomatoes pulp on acne, pimples and kept upto 1 hour, then wash.

26. Make a paste of roasted & powdered pomegranate skin with fresh lime juice and apply over acne, boils, pimple, blackheads and whiteheads.

27. Apply grated potatoes as poultice to treat skin blemishes, wrinkles, boils, pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, etc.

28. Make a paste of ground radish seeds with water and apply on face to remove blackheads.

29. Apply a paste of ground sesames seeds with water as poultice for inflammation of the skin due to allergies, skin rashes, and pimples.

30. Large pores on facial skin can be treated with paste of sandalwood powder with masoor dal.

31. Use an oatmeal or almond mask thoroughly to cleanse your face. Mix either oatmeal or almond powder with enough rose water to make a soft paste that spreads easily on the skin. Rub it on your skin with your fingertips, paying special attention the problem areas. Leave to dry for about 15 minutes and then rinse off with cold water. This is very good in getting rid of blackheads.

32. Honey is a great remedy for skin blemishes and acne because the honey kills bacteria.



Friday, March 23, 2007

Hair Care - Summer Special

The summer is approaching and it is getting hotter day by day, your skin and hair need special care. In summer hair loose sheen and chemical and pollutants get cling to the scalp makes hair dull and rough. Here are few tips to take care of your hair and keep them shining as ever.

An effective hair care discipline involves cleansing, toning , conditioning and oiling routines carried out in a systematic fashion.

In summer, hair should be washed three times a week or more, if needed. But use a small quantity of shampoo and choose a mild, herbal one. Regular shampooing of hair frees it from dirt, thus cleansing it and giving it the much desired shiny look. But shampoos must be selected cautiously, according to your hair type- normal, oily or dry. For a specific hair type, a specific shampoo has to be used. But always remember to use a good shampoo or a mild shampoo. A harsh shampoo or soap can cause a great deal of damage to your tresses.

Cleansing of hair

1. Squeezed lemons can be soaked overnight and the water can then be used to clean the hair.
2. Rub lemon juice all over your scalp and leave for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse off.
3. Mix equal quantities of onion and lemon juice and apply to your hair before shampoo.


Toning of hair

Gentle massage of the hair leads to hair toning. It helps to stimulate the blood circulation leading to a healthy growth.

1. AMLA is a known hair tonic and a hair nourisher. It also promotes hair pigmentation, which makes the hair look dark. Soak amla in water overnight. Use this water to rinse hair.

2. Mix equal amounts of dried shikakai, amla and ritha and powder them. They can either be mixed and then powdered or powdered first and then mixed together. Soak 2-3 handfuls of this mixture over night in some water. It should not be too thin. Next day sieve it and use it to wash hair. It also promotes hair growth and prevents dandruff.


Conditioning of hair

It is the most vital part of hair care. It aims at correcting the imbalance, caused due to harsh cleansing, sun or application of harsh chemicals such as hair lotions. After shampooing your hair, apply a good conditioner. A leave- in conditioner forms a coating on the hair preventing dirt and pollution from setting down in the process.

• Amla, shikaki powder mixed with curd is a good conditioner and should be made use of.
• Egg is a natural conditioner and gives bounce and shine to the hair
• Lemon acts as a natural conditioner and used to make hair more silky and add shine to it.
• BEER You can simply apply flat beer before washing hair. It helps in toning and conditioning the hair. It adds bounce and shine to the hair making it silky and shiny.


Oiling of hair

Oiling at least once a week is necessary which improves the quality of your hair. It strengthens the hair roots, removes dryness in hair, gets rid of dandruff and repairs hair damage. The application of oil also facilitates the message which helps in the circulation of the blood. This in turn is responsible for good hair

• Boil some dried amla pieces in coconut oil for a few minutes. Cool and sieve. Massage hair regularly with this oil for thick and lustrous hair. It also works as a hair tonic for enriching hair growth and prevent hair loss
• Massaging with aroma oils once a week reduces hair fall and makes them soft and silky. Rosemary oil can also be used.


Frequent application of henna further dries your hair, but application before a dance party or any other function will help keep hair soft and shiny.

Don't use blow-dry too frequently. It makes the hair weak and makes it too dry.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Skin Care - Summer Special

In summer scorching sun play havoc with the exposed parts of your skin. Summer is harsh for your face, which remains uncovered almost all times. So you need to take special care of your skin in summers.

Simple Tips To Take Care Of Your Skin

1. In summer we sit inside centrally air conditioned rooms, it snatches moisture from your skin. So spray glycerin, rose water on your skin from time to time. You can also spray with make up on.

2. To keep your skin moisture throughout the day, before you apply cream spray rose water on your face.

3. If your skin is too dry, don’t use too much of soap to wash your face as soap snatches moisture from your skin, but do give your skin regular splashes of water.

4. Drink lots n lots of water. If your water intake is about 5-6 glasses of water then increase it up to 10-12 glasses of water in summer as water content gets reduce due to sweating.

5. Avoid going in the sun as much as you can, and when you are out in the sun make sure that you have applied sunscreen with SPF of 15 minimum. Use hats ,caps, umbrella to protect yourself from sun. Wear full sleeve shirt if possible.

6. Cleanliness is important. Dust particles get stuck in the pores of the skin, so clean your face thoroughly before applying makeup.

7. In summer, there is more of oil secretion, so wash your face 3-4 times a day with cold water.

8. If you go for a walk, then first cool down and then splash cold water.

9. Apply ice packs on face, it reduces sweating to a larger extent.

10. Don't use scrubs daily it makes your skin dry.
Home made face packs with tomato and lemon takes out excess oil and black heads. If your skin is carrying pimples or rashes then don't use lemon.

11. Toning helps to tone and refresh the skin and help to add a finishing touch to the process of cleansing as it removes all cream and greasy residue.

12. Daily home care home made face packs prepared with yogurt, honey and egg is very effective on the dead cells.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Spread The Good Work To Your Hands And Feet

Finding difficulty in trimming your toe nails here is the tip to cure ingrown toenail.


Before you go to bed, put a small wedge of lemon on the toenail, securing it with a band-aid. Put on a sock. When you wake up, the nail should be soft enough to ease it away from the skin so that you can trim it. Always cut the nail straight across and not any shorter than the toe.


Our elbows and knees become dark, dry and scaly here is an easy tip to cure your elbows and knees.

Mash up some pineapple (Fresh pineapple is ideal, but you can use canned as well) in the blender and rub it into your elbows and knees. Leave it on for about 15 minutes so the natural enzymes can do their work. Rinse off and apply a rich moisturizer or Vaseline.


Easy and very effective remedy for softer feet and hands

At least once a week, make a scrub for both your hands and feet. Here is one good scrub.
* You may also slough off dead skin cells with a solution made of sea salt lemon. Brush it into hands with an old toothbrush.
Do this twice a week to soften hands and remove discoloration.
* Take 1 spoon of sugar, lemon juice and fresh cream. Rub it in your hands till the sugar completely dissolves. This really makes the hands soft.


Wearing nail paint on well shaped nails makes hands look beautiful and sexy. But wearing nail paint regularly and for long time makes nails yellow. To cure yellowing nails try this effective remedy:

1. One of the easiest ways to bleach your nails back to a healthy-looking pink is with a lemon. Slice it in half and stick your finger in for a few minutes. The natural acids will whiten and soften the nail. Rinse and apply a lotion.
2. Try toothpaste to give shine to nails. Apply toothpaste on nails and gentle rub it for sometime and rinse your hands.


The summer is in and winter is out. Its time to show-off your legs. Those of you like wearing skirts here is a tip to make your legs soft as silk.

Mix two Tbs. of petroleum jelly with the contents of one 400 IU vitamin E capsule and massage all over your legs. Slip on cotton pajamas and go to bed. In the morning, wash legs with a moisturizing body wash and apply a body lotion. Soft as silk!

Monday, March 12, 2007

Pamper Your Hands

Your hands are the ultimate tool invented ever. You just use them all day, Shaking hands, cooking, doing your hair, feel, touch, work, write, endless.

The best way to take care of your hands is to protect them.

• The skin of the hand is so thin, protect the skin.
Pamper your hands with your personal hand lotion, 4 times a day.
• Exfoliate once a week with a face exfoliates.
• Use once a week your face night creams also on your hands before you go to sleep.
• Get accustomed to using rubber gloves whenever you do housework.
• Prevent your hands from aging or abusing.
• Protect your hands from dry weather as well as protecting them from the sun.
• Use daily a protective barrier.

Take Care of Your Hands

1- Apply olive oil on your hands.
2- Apply the juice of cucumber juice and glycerin on your hands.
3- Mix olive oil and lime juice and apply on your hands.
4- Make a paste of tomato juice, glycerin and lime juice in equal proportion and apply on your hands.
5- Massage with almond oil a night to glow your hands.
6- Apply a paste of ground almonds, milk cream and few drops of glycerin and lemon juice for bleaching.
7- Soak your hands in water in which potatoes have been boiled.
8- One effective method is to rub warm boiled water and mashed potatoes on hands and finger
9- Make a mixture of Vaseline and carbolic acid and rub in on your hands.
10- Hands can be softened by taking a mixture of orange juice and honey.
11- Mix rose water and glycerin and apply on your hands with cotton.

Monday, March 5, 2007

Accentuate Your Face Beauty with Beautiful Eyes

The skin needs extra care and pampering to make it 'look' instead of waging war on you skin by blasting blemishes wit supersonic zit creams and harsh scrubbing, take the kinder, gentler approach.

Today most of us spend hours sitting in front of computers which make our eyes tired, saggy and puffy. Gradually ghostly dark under eye circles start appearing. They make an individual appear older much beyond the years with a fainted or tainted look.

As age catches up the skin and blood vessels beneath your eyes becomes dilated and wrinkled causing the visible puffiness and dark circles pronouncing aging. The skin around the eyes looks creased and saggy. Wrinkles are the resultants of loss of collagen in the facial skin that helps to keep the skin intact.

The natural home remedies are the effective way of healing under eye dark circles. Though you have to wait patiently for a complete healing, it is worth that entire wait.

Natural Home Remedies

• Drink at least ten glasses of water everyday. It helps you to cleanse your body impurities that will enhance to lighter the shadowy circles.
• Dip cotton balls in rose water or chilled water and keep it over the darker areas for 5-10 minutes.
• Squeeze out a cold, used tea bag and carefully place it over your eyes for about 10 minutes. Make sure the tea doesn't get inside your eye.
• Slurp this juice to get rid of those tainted circles. Drink tomato juice with some mint leaves, lemon juice and salt.
• Pineapple rubbed into the skin and allowed to stay on the skin for some time helps in the reduction of wrinkles.
• A mixture of lemon and cucumber juice applied around the eyes for 10-15 minutes can also be of good help.
• Almond oil massaged under the eyes at bedtime for consecutive 14 days will help banish the dark circles.
• A mixture of lemon and tomato juices mixed in equal parts can help remove dark circles.
• Place two thin slices of raw cucumber over your closed eyes for 15-20 minutes. You can also use thinly striped potatoes under the eyes.


Eating The Right Food

Eating right is one of the easiest and best remedies for wrinkles under your eyes. A diet rich in antidioxidants can improve the health of the skin. This helps in good blood circulation and keeps the skin hydrated and plump looking. Consumption of fruits and vegetables that are rich in color, supplies the essential nutrients for keeping the skin healthy.

• Eat food with rich vitamins and iron. Include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.
• Slurp this juice to get rid of those tainted circles. Drink tomato juice with some mint leaves, lemon juice and salt.

Saturday, March 3, 2007

Get A Glowing Skin Naturally

It is well known that the wellness of the skin is dependent upon the wellness of the individual. If there is a regular intake of nutritious and well balanced diet then the skin definitely has a glow that is admired by everyone.The cosmetics cannot keep the skin’s beauty and healthiness forever. However, if herbal products are used instead of chemically prepared cosmetics then better care of skin can be taken. These natural products do not have any harmful effect on the skin and instead use of natural products makes the skin glowing and beautiful.

Here are some of the tips which can help maintain a glowing & beautiful skin :-

• Applying powder of orange peel dried in shade with some milk cream added to it and washing it off after 10 minutes with fresh water makes the skin glowing and clean.
• Applying the paste of a mixture of Gramflour (Besan) (one teaspoon), a pinch of Tamarind powder and a few drops of honey and olive oil on the face and washing if off with fresh water after 15 minutes removes dryness of the skin.
• Mixture of Honey and Lemon juice applied on the skin, makes skin softer.
• Regular intake of some amount of Carrot’s Jam preserve (Murrabba) improves the glow of the face.
• Once in a week apply cold cream on the face and after that take steam on the face, by this the pores of the facial skin will open up and the dirt etc. stuck in the skin will come on the surface of the skin. This will act as an exercise for the facial skin and improves the glow of the skin.
• Regular intake of carrot and tomato juice improves the blood content in the body and also adds glow to the skin.

Note: Some people might be allergic to some of the ingredients. Do not use the ingedients you may be allergic to.