Makeup and Beauty

Normal, Oily and Dry Skin

makeupbody — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 05:00:09 +0000

Normal Skin
Clean your face in the morning with milk and wheat flour. Use a moisturizer and protect it from the sun. At night clean with milk again; massage with a nourishing cream and wipe off before sleeping. Once a week use a honey and egg mask.
• A daily routine of skin care is a must for everyone. A good complexion is the background for an attractive face. If your skin is in bad condition because of acne, pimples, or blackheads, consult a dermatologist. Cleanliness is the beginning of a clear complexion. Different types of skin require different care.
• keep your skin-care programme simple, so that you will do it every day. Again, it is the daily care that counts.
• Wear makeup that is appropriate for you and your job.
Oily Skin
Oily skins are sometimes quite troublesome as the excessive secretion of oil leads to not only dull looking skin but also blackheads and pimples. One must be very careful and regular with a proper cleansing routine as well as be careful about what one eats. If you can follow a strict diet control routine for a month you will see the difference in your skin. Start by emphasizing more on salads, fruits, fresh green veg. and lots of water and fresh veg and fruit juices. As for your skin wipe face with cold rose water several times a day and also start to use a face gel that will remove excess oil. At home make a pack with the following : sandalwood powder, fuller’s earth, lemon, juice, paste of neem leaves and a little grated cucumber. Mix this paste and apply all over the face and neck and leave on till dry. Dab with milk and then wash off with ice cold water, you will feel your skin tingling afresh.
Oily Skin :
• Deep cleanse with skin tonic or antiseptic solution before using soap. Any neem soap is preferable to keep common skin problems at bay.
• Oily hair makes the face look oily too, one must keep hair clean and dandruff-free.
• Always apply a non-oily base before going out since your skin is exposed to sunrays, pollution, dust and dirt. The base will protect your skin to a large extent.
Dry Skin
Dry skin is’ difficult to handle and it is necessary for you moisturize it well daily. Use cactus and almond based creams and also use face packs that have a moisturizing as well as tightening effect on the skin. Apply honey all over face and neck and leave on for about 15 to 20 minutes. Almond oil applied and massaged into the skin is very good, but should be wiped off with a moist cotton wool.
Dry Skin :
• Keep your skin well-moisturized preferably with herbal skin lotions since premature aging is more obvious on dry skin.
• Keep your hair dandruff-free as it causes scarring on dry skin.
• Drink a lot of water to keep your skin looking fresh and supple.

Skin Care - Naturally

makeupbody — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:00:48 +0000

The basic cause of any skin problem is more internal than external. Heredity, genetic reasons and common sickness like constipation, acidity, dandruff etc. are the main causes of chronic skin problems like pimples, pigmentation and blackheads. Oily skin needs more attention than dry skin, even though oily skin does not show signs of aging and is less prone to wrinkles compared to dry skin.
What you eat also affects your skin. If the diet intake consists of oily foodstuff one is prone to acne; lack of fresh fruit and green vegetables causes dullness of skin, scars and dark circles under your eyes.
A low intake of water deprives your skin of much needed moisture giving it a dull and stressed look.
Good blood circulation is important for a fresh, radiant skin and so is the regular intake of blood purifiers which are available at Ayurvedic medicine outlets.
Clean scalp means clean skin. One must keep the scalp free from dandruff and excessive oil.
Generally there are three types of skin textures — normal, oily and dry. The oily skin is due to excessive secretion of sebum from the oil glands and has a shiny appearance. The excess oil accumulates dirt and grime and the resulting blockage of oil ducts causes pimples and acne on the face which is very common ailment in the younger generation today. The dry skin on the other hand, is caused due to lack of oil secretion and dehydration. External causes of dryness are use of strong soaps, exposure to sun, wind, indoor heating, air conditioning and unbalanced diet. Proper skin care can be achieved by cleansing, nourishing and toning processes. Cleansing is necessary to remove dirt and grime from the face. Use mild baby soap for dry skin. Use standard skin foods for this purpose. Toning of oily skin is best done by an astringent cream and for dry skin use cold water splashes.

Cleansers and Toners

makeupbody — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:00:33 +0000

Beans, Cabbage & Rose Water Toner:
Save the water you’ve cooked beans or cabbage in and use it as a vitamin-enriched face rinse. Or make a rosewater toner, take two handfuls of dark-scented rose petals. Put them into a large screwtop jar and pour over a litre of still mineral water and eight ounces of sugar. Close the top, shake vigorously and leave for two hours. Then shake it again, strain and store in the fridge.
For oily skin, mix a quarter of a cup of alcohol (such as vodka) with half a cup of rosewater. Into this put two tablespoons of rosemary leaves, the peel and pith of an orange quarter and a lemon half, and four sprigs of mint. Let it stand for at least 48 hours, shaking frequently, then strain and bottle.
Almonds & Lemon Cleansers:
For a general purpose cleanser, just pour a little oatmeal or ground almonds into the palm of your hand and add enough water to make a paste. Apply to the skin in circular movements, then rinse thoroughly. Watermelon juice makes a good cleanser for dry skin and is said to reduce wrinkles. Another face-washing tip is to add a handful of sugar to the lather when you use soap or a foaming cleanser, and massage for a couple of minutes. Rinse with warm water that has lemon juice added to it.
• Incorporate this five-minute body brush into your daily bathing routine to tone and soften skin and pep up circulation. Brush skin when it’s dry (before bathing), with a natural bristle body brush, and always towards your heart.
• After showering, massage and exfoliate wet skin to remove dead cells and boost circulation. Use a body scrub in upward, spiral motions. Concentrate on rough, dry skin, e.g, heels, knees and elbows.
• Rinse off and direct the shower head at zones that need toning such as thighs and upper arms. Towel-dry, leaving skin slightly damp, then smooth on moisturizer.
Base for Make-up:
If your skin lets you down, new complexion primers and foundations can help.
• Prime skin with a firming, moisturizing and protective gel or emulsion. Apply prefoundation products after cleansing, while skin is still warm. Leave to settle for a few minutes before putting on make-up.
• If your skin is up to scratch, use primer instead of foundation. Just add blusher, concealer and a dusting of loose powder on your nose.
• Mix foundation with moisturizer and a primer or facial spritzer for fast, easy application and to give skin a well-toned look.
• Prepare skin with a premake-up mask : add a dash of olive oil.

Steps to Prevent Acne and Treat mild cases

makeupbody — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:00:14 +0000

Wash gently with a mild soap
Once or twice a day is usually sufficient to remove surface, oil, dead skin, and dirt. Always wash at bedtime and perhaps more often during the warm summer months. Since acne is not caused exclusively by dirt, washing with a strong soap or scrubbing violently may only cause undue irritation.
Avoid oil-base make-up
Cosmetics can make acne worse; the oil base plugs pores. Look for water-base make-up such as Almay and Allercreme foundations, which are available in a number of shades for both light and dark skins.
Eat a sensible diet
Specific foods have not been proven to affect acne, but good nutrition helps the body maintain healthy skin. Some scientists have suggested that caffeine products and excessively salty foods aggravate acne in certain individuals.
Avoid excessive exposure to the sun
Your August suntan may lead to late fall or winter skin problems. Most acne seems to improve during the summer months with increased exposure to the sun. However, sunburned or suntanned skin is actually damaged skin. As your skin rebuilds and repairs itself, it sheds the dead sun-damaged skin cells. This may cause dead skin debris to clog oil glands, leading to acne.
If you use over-the-counter medications, be wary of adverse reactions
Benzoyl peroxide the primary active ingredient of these remedies. Many people are allergic or sensitive to this chemical. These individuals may see little improvement or even a worsening of their skin condition when using products that contain benzoyl peroxide.

Conditioners & Moisturiser

makeupbody — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 05:00:48 +0000

Traditional home-brewed hair rinses are lemon juice for fair hair and vinegar for brunettes—dilute them eight parts to one with water. This will neutralize alkalinity and give hair a real shine.
For dry hair, try an egg and honey conditioning treatment, mix one egg with one teaspoon of honey and two teaspoons of olive oil. Apply to wet hair. Put on a shower cap or a layer of cling film, cover with a towel, and leave for as long as possible before shampooing out. If you have an over-ripe avocado, use it as a nourishing hair pack in the same way.
Egg is a very good conditioner, besides it also nourishes the hair. However, you mix in curd, tea water, coffee-powder, amla powder and your henna. Leave it in an iron vessel for a couple of hours, then use it.
Should you avoid alcohol formulas ? Although the trend is for gentler control, dermatologists still maintain that very oily skins benefit from alcohol’s decreasing influence—used wisely, it’s an oil control that dissolves plugged pores. But abuse may parch skin into panic producing sebum and establishing a vicious circle. Many toners now have soothing, moisturizing and stimulating properties, taking them up a level from basic cleansing to the treatment zone. The newest way to use these formulas is as a hydrating spray. Apply moisturizer while your face is still wet for maximum benefit. An entire system is based around misting before moisturizing, to rehydrate parched cells. Desperately dry skin can take up to ten misting daily. It’s a wise idea to carry simple mineral or floral water sprays to spritz over your face in low-humidity atmospheres like offices and aeroplanes. They refresh even over make-up—but shut your eyes before you spray.

Falling Hair Problem

makeupbody — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 05:00:22 +0000

Take a blood/stool/urine test to find out any internal cause for hair loss. Try the following home remedy. Take very hot olive oil and gently massage into the hair roots; leave it all night. Next morning apply egg and wash off. Take a well balanced diet rich in proteins.
Improve your diet, and eat sprouted black gram regularly. Consult your family doctor and take an iron tonic twice a week. Follow this recipe : 1 beaten egg, 2 tablespoon castor oil, 1 teaspoon glycerin. Mix and apply to hair roots. Wrap the head with hot towels 3-4 times. Wash off after one hour.
Use the following mixture once a week to counter dryness and hairfall : 3 egg yolks, 3-4 tablespoon curd, 2-3 tablespoon castor oil. Leave it on the hair for one hour and wash off.
Boil dry pieces of arnica in coconut oil and use it warm to massage the scalp. This will enrich hair growth and help in clearing dandruff.

Greying Hair
Prematuregreying of hair is sometimes caused by a chronic cold and sinusitis which can be effectively dealt with. To prevent further greying, activate the sebaceous glands by rubbing the scalp vigorously. Make a paste of amla, mandur and hibiscus flowers in equal quantities and apply to the head. Wash it off when it is dry.
Grey hair can appear at any age. Heridity plays a major role as also stress, worry and lack of vitamins. Nourishing the scalp with Arnica hair oil and use a good herbal shampoo.
To prevent hair loss and premature greying, try the following : Mix 1 cup bay mm with 1 egg yolk and apply to the scalp rubbing into the roots. This should help your condition.
Sometimes lack of hair care causes it to grey early. Use of very hot water and electric dryers or use of a hair dye are precipitating factors. Make a paste of 2 parts amla, 2 parts harad and 2 parts mandur. Keep this in an iron karahi over night. Apply this paste to the hair. Let it dry. Apply oil on this and wash it off with room temperature water. Rub the scalp vigorously with fingers. This will activate oil glands and improve blood circulation.

Hair Care

makeupbody — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 05:00:13 +0000

A vigorous rubbing of scalp with fingers after washing the hair with cold water is one of the most effective among the several home remedies for the prevention and treatment of loss of hair. The scalp should be rubbed vigourously till it starts to tingle with the heat. It
will activate the sebaceous glands and energise the circulation of blood in the affected area, making the hair grow healthy.
The use of fenugreek seeds is one of the most important remedies in the treatment of dandruff. Two tsp of these seeds should be soaked overnight in water and ground into a fine paste in the morning. This paste should be applied all over the scalp and left for half an hour. The hair should then be washed thoroughly with ritha solution or shikakai. Mix ginger and tulsi juice. Apply to scalp at night and tie a scalp. This will eradicate lice. Do this daily for 2 weeks.
Dandruff, Lice and Hair Loss
Oily dandruff is a bit stubborn, it sticks to the scalp. Avoid spicy, fried foods, sweets. Eat more salads, fresh soups. Mix egg white, lime juice twice a week to wash your hair. Rinse with 2 teaspoon warm water mixed with 2 teaspoon vinegar. This will remedy your condition.
A hot oil massage weekly with castor oil will eradicate the dandruff and roughness of hair. Wrap a towel rinsed out in hot water after the massage. Improve your diet— eat proteins, iron and vitamins in their natural form.
You should get rid of lice in hair fast. Boil Neem and Tulsi leaves and apply to the scalp daily for a few days.
Treat the hair with castor oil at night and shampoo it off in the morning. Do this twice a week at first and then once a fortnight; keep your comb and brush very clean, change your pillow cover daily.
Mix in gokhru with honey and take a teaspoonful thrice a day. Check your HB for any anaemia. Remedy it with iron tonics. Coconut milk massaged into the hair roots 2-3 times a week prevents hair loss. Grind the coconut in a mixi and squeeze out the milk. Amla shampoo is very good for the hair.
Regular use of mustard oil keeps the hair dark. Boil henna leaves in mustard oil, filter and bottle.
Once a week do a hot herbal massage followed by application of henna. Mix henna with egg, curd, coffee and tea water to make a paste. Apply on hair. Leave it for 2-3 hours. It is a revitaliser hair food. You should use a herbal henna shampoo to wash your hair. Take an iron tonic. Include sprouted gram in your meal daily.

Hand Care

makeupbody — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 05:00:05 +0000

Many times our hands are neglected the most. Always moisturize your hands well especially after washing. There is no harm in applying a face pack from time to time. Take some chickpeas flour and mix with milk and the juice of half a lemon. Apply this on the back of hands and when it is dry remove by adapting a circular movement so that it has an exfoliating action. Remember that your hands are as important as your face. So learn to look after them.
• Be sure your hands look clean, neat, and attractive. Use a good hand cream or lotion before going to bed each night.
• Nail biting is a nervous habit. Applying artificial nails may help you eliminate the habit. Regular manicures will keep your free-edge smooth and cuticles soft.
• After your bath or shower, take a few moments to care for your cuticles by pushing them back gently with a terry towel.
• Your nails should be well manicured. If you wear nail enamel of clear gloss, change or repair it whenever it becomes chipped.
• Ingrown toenails are usually caused by cutting too deeply into the comers of nails. Keep the nail slightly rounded or straight across the top.
• For score, dry hands, blend a large banana with half of its peel and a tablespoon of honey until liquidized. Apply to hands and allow to dry. Or make your own hand cream with equal amounts of lanolin, white petroleum jelly, cold cream and almond oil. Stir together with a wooden spoon—it’s easier if you soften the ingredients first for a few seconds in the microwave.
• To soften your hands rub them with granulated sugar and lemon juice in the morning. At night use rose water and glycerin. You will soon have smooth hands.

Tips for Face Care

makeupbody — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 05:00:34 +0000

• Wash your face regularly and thoroughly. Mix multani mini with cucumber juice and apply to the face. Let it dry and wash off. Do this thrice a week. Drink plenty of water and lemon juice during summer. Avoid oil and spicy food. Sterilize your shaving kit.
• To brighten your skin use the following lotion daily : combine coconut milk with cucumber juice. Dab on the face. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes and wash off. This will solve your problem. For the area around your mouth mix lemon juice and turmeric powder. Apply the paste, let it dry and wash off.
• Freckles can be faded and intensity reduced with daily care. Scrub you face well with your shaving brush. This increases the circulation thus eliminating heavy deposits of freckles. Combine cucumber juice and crushed Vitamin C tablet to a paste. Apply on a clean face. Allow it to remain for 10-15 minutes.
• Rubbing of beauty grains mixed with rose water helps the pores. Mix lemon juice and mint extract. Dab on with cotton on pores twice a day. For the sparse eyebrows add few drops of glycerine to little castor oil. Apply every night on the eyebrows.

Because of frequent exposure to the sun and pollutants your face has become dull and give a dry look. Moisturize your face well and use a sandalwood based sunscreen whenever you are going out in sun. Apply chickpeas flour, milk and lemon juice on your face and leave on until dry. Wash off with milk and then wipe clean with rose water. Because you are exposed to dust and pollutants it would be advisable to go in for a face scrub daily as part of your cleansing routine which will remove dead dry cells on the surface of the skin.

Foot Care

makeupbody — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 05:00:27 +0000

Feet are most hardworking component of the body. Your feet absorb 2.5 million pounds of pressure daily. In your life, you’ll have taken enough steps to circle the globe four times. Feet have fewer cold receptors than other parts of the body, so they’re not a good indicator of temperature.
Feet have a tough job to do, and life is even harder for the feet of overweight people. Anyone can develop feet disorders, but they start sooner and become even more severe in heavy people. Interestingly, it is not just a question of extra kilos. Obesity seems to alter load-bearing patterns, say foot specialists. Overweight people walk differently to maintain better balance and support, particularly if they are short. They take smaller steps and angle their toes outward for better stability. Fallen arches may cause their feet to roll inwards. Many have to walk with their feet apart to prevent thighs from brushing painfully against each other. These unconscious tactics put an unnatural strain on the human hoof. Typically, overweight people find walking hard work and prefer to stay off their feet. Over time, this reduces flexibility and hardiness of their feet. When heavy people start a walking programme, experts suggest particularly broad based footwear, with padding under the arches.
Tips:
• Do your feet look abused and neglected? Shoes that are too small or that do no fit properly can cause calluses, corns, and bunions. You cannot look your best or perform your job well if your feet hurt.
• Your work shoes are the most important shoes that you buy. Be sure they fit well and give your feet the support they need. Tired feet are usually caused by shoes that do not fit properly. Keep your feet happy by making sure all your shoes fit properly.
• It is a good idea to have two pairs of work shoes, so you can alternate wearing them. Foot powder sprinkled in your shoes will help to keep them from smelling.
• Your shoes must be clean and polished, and if laced, the laces should be clean. The heels should not be worn down. Worn heels are hard on your feet and damage your posture.
• Hot weather and long-haul flights can mean misery for people who suffer from puffy feet and ankles. To relieve the problem:
— Lie flat, with feet higher than your heart, preferably at right angles to a wall for about ten minutes.
— Give yourself a relaxing foot bath.
Reduce your salt intake, as excess sodium encourages fluid retention.