Beauty Tips
Home Hair Cleanser: Take a handful each of dried reetha,
amla and shikakai. Soak them in one liter water overnight. Next day, simmer the
herbs on a low fire till the water reduces by half. Allow the mixture to cool
and then strain it with a clean cloth. Use the liquid to wash hair. This
quantity should be enough for four to five washes. Refrigerate it. Make small
quantities at a time.
Pimples occur on
the oily areas of the skin. Therefore, applying cold cream can lead
to further pimples. Mix one part of pure glycerin with four parts of rosewater
and keep it in the fridge. Apply it on the face after washing and before
applying it, add a few drops of lemon juice to it. Once daily, apply curd mixed
with a little turmeric on the entire face, and wash it off with plenty of water
after 20 minutes. Apply sandalwood paste on the
pimples.
Dandruff: Twice a week, heat pure coconut oil and apply
it on the scalp at night, using cotton wool. Leave it on overnight. Next
morning, apply the juice of a lemon on the scalp and wash your hair after half
an hour. Apply henna once a week.
Lifeless Hair: Once or twice a week, heat pure coconut
oil and apply it on the scalp and hair. Then dip a towel in hot water, squeeze
out the water and wrap the towel around your head like a turban. Keep it on for
five minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap three or four times. This helps the hair
and the scalp absorb the oil better. Use a mild herbal shampoo. After each
shampoo, apply a conditioner, massaging it lightly into the hair. Leave it on
for two minutes before washing it off with water. You can have henna treatment
thrice a month, adding four teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, two raw
eggs, two teaspoons of oil and enough curd to the henna powder. It will make
your hair look healthy and lustrous.
Grey Hair: Amla is said to check greyness. Have the juice of
one raw amla after adding it to a glass of water. Also try adding amla to the
henna powder. Henna turns white hair reddish brown. It will not color dark
hair. Soak a handful of dry amla in about two cups of water overnight. Next
morning, strain the water, but do not throw the water away. Grind the amla. To
the henna powder, add the ground amla, four teaspoons each of lemon juice and
coffee, two raw eggs and enough amla water, so that the henna can be mixed into
a thick paste. Apply it on the hair, covering the entire head. Keep it on for
two hours and wash it off with water. It will also add shine and substance to
the hair. Ask your doctor to prescribe Vitamins B-Complex and
C.
Oily Hair, Hair Loss:
Excessive oiliness of the scalp can lead to hair loss. Wash your hair daily,
using very little shampoo ? one teaspoon for long hair and half teaspoon for
short hair. Dilute it with a little water and use it. After washing, add the
juice of a lemon to half a mug of water and use it as a last rinse. Have henna
treatment once a week. Add four teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, two
raw eggs and enough tea water to the henna powder and mix it into a thick paste.
Apply it on the hair and wash it off after an hour. If you do not wish to use
egg, add more tea water. For tea water, boil used tealeaves in water. Cool and
strain before using. Include fresh fruits, raw salads and sprouts in your daily
diet. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water. Add the juice of a lemon to a glass of
water and have it first thing in the
morning.
Dry, Lifeless
Skin: Use a facial scrub once a week. For very dry skin, avoid soap
and use a cleansing gel or cream. For the body, use a mild, glycerin soap.
Apply sesame seed (til) oil on the body before your bath. Mix honey with egg
yolk and a little milk and apply it daily on the face, washing it off with plain
water after 20 minutes. At night, apply a good nourishing cream and massage it
on the face with a few drops of water. Wipe it off with moist cotton wool. Apply
sunscreen 20 minutes before going out in the sun. Til oil actually has sunscreen
properties, but it is better to use a sunscreen lotion for proper protection.
Aloe Vera is a powerful moisturizer and an anti-oxidant. It helps keep the skin
soft and healthy. It is better to use moisturizers and creams containing aloe
vera.
Double Chin:
exercises ? open your mouth as wide as you can. Hold this position
for about 10 seconds, then relax your mouth, and repeat the exercise a few more
times. For faster results, add resistance by placing a tennis ball underneath
your chin, while testing your jaw span. Sleeping without a pillow is said to
help. Also, you can massage the area daily with a cream. Start from the chin and
go downwards using both hands, one hand following the
other.
Oily
T-Zone: either buy a facial scrub or mix rice powder with curd and
use it as a scrub. You may add a little turmeric if you wish. Apply the scrub on
the face, rubbing gently with small circular movements. Leave it on for five
minutes and then wash it off. This will keep the pores free of clogged oil. Once
daily, at any time, mix one teaspoon of honey with one teaspoon of lemon juice
and egg white and apply it on the oily areas, washing it off after 20
minutes.
Glowing
Skin: After cleansing, wipe the face with rose water, using cotton
wool and then pat it briskly. Use a face mask once or twice a week. You can make
a mask at home with two teaspoons of choker, one teaspoon of oatmeal or ground
almonds and one teaspoon each of curd, honey and egg white. Apply it on the face
and wash it off after 20-30 minutes.
Thin Waist: Join a gym or health club and lose weight
under professional guidance. Or, practice yoga daily. You can also do the
following exercises after seeking your doctor?s advice. First, lie on the floor
on your back, feet together and arms at the sides. Lift your legs about six
inches above the ground and hold this position for a count of ten. Then lower
your legs to the floor. Repeat this exercise 3 to 4 times and increase
gradually. Then, keep lying on the floor, the same way. Bend your knees and keep
your feet flat on the floor. Raise your body to a half-sitting position, holding
your arms stretched out before you. Lower your body to the floor and repeat 3 or
4 times. Take a look at your eating habits. Avoid eating desserts after meals
and stick to fresh fruits. Take clear soups (without butter) and salads before
the main dish. Avoid rich gravies. Cut down on your intake of cereals. For
example, if you have been eating three chapatis, eat only two. Or, eat only one
cup of cooked rice. Eat fresh fruits, salads, sprouts, curd and paneer made from
skimmed milk and lightly cooked vegetables. If you feel like a snack, eat fruit,
carrot or cucumber.
Combination Skin,
Pimples: In combination skins, usually the T-zone (forehead, nose and
chin) is oily, while the rest of the face is dry. Pimples on the forehead can
occur due to oiliness of the skin. You should wash the face only twice a day
with a medicated soap. After washing, wipe the oily areas with rose water mixed
with an astringent lotion in equal quantities. Use this two or three times a
day. Avoid applying besan or multani mitti as they can sometimes clog the pores
and cause pimples, blackheads or whiteheads, especially in pimple-prone skin.
Add a little turmeric to curd and apply daily on the face, washing it off well
with water after 20 minutes. Add a few drops of rose water to sandalwood paste
and apply on the forehead and areas with spots. Keep it on for at least one
hour.
Dry
Skin: If you wish to use soap, you can try a mild glycerin soap and
see if it suits your skin. You should keep your skin well moisturized during the
day, or if you are going out in the sun, apply a sunscreen. At night, use a
nourishing cream, massaging it on the skin for two to three minutes. Massage the
forehead too, starting from the bridge of the nose and using both hands. Go
upwards and then in an arc on either side, go towards the temples. Wipe off with
moist cotton wool. Once daily, mix one teaspoon honey with egg white and apply
on the skin, washing off with plain water after 20
minutes.
Blackheads: the daily use of a facial scrub will help. You
can either buy a facial scrub, or you can mix rice powder with curd or rose
water and use as a facial scrub. Apply on the face and rub gently on the skin
using small circular movements. Concentrate on the blackhead prone areas. Leave
on for five minutes and then wash off with water. Once daily, mix honey and
lemon juice in equal quantities with egg white and apply on the face, washing it
off after 20 minutes.
Using oil base foundation means having excess of oil on the face in make-up after some hours. Other then foundations, water base blushes also help you in maintaining your make-up for a long period of time. Besides blushes and foundations you should use water base sun blocks in summer, not oil base. The sun blocks must be of SPF 15. Otherwise oil base sun block can cover your face with another layer of oil; and this will have drastic results in the form of pimples.
So prefer water based blushes, foundations & sun blocks to have fresh summer make-up.