5 Things your skin needs daily:

1.     Water:
Drink at least half gallon (around 2 liters) of water daily as it flushes all the toxins out of the body, helps your body cells to absorb nutrients and keeps your digestive system working properly. Water removes impurities from the skin hence preventing occurrence of pimples and keeps your skin hydrated to make it look plump and smooth.

2.     Essential fatty acids:
Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are some of the “good fats” necessary for the body for its healthy performance. EFAs are must for healthy and youthful skin. Youthful skin is plumpy due to water filled cells but with age skin cell’s ability to hold water decreases. It is the job of fatty acids to keep skin cells healthy and membranes functioning properly that hold in water and nutrients. EFAs helps in preventing acne break out by dissolving fatty deposits (as fatty deposits blocks pores and causes acne). Walnuts, flaxseed, Soya oil, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and leafy vegetables are the sources of EFAs.

3.     Cleansing:
Cleansing is the basic element of the skin care routine. It removes excess oil and dirt from the epidermis to make your skin clean. Cleansing prepares the skin for subsequent application of moisturizer or cream and ensures its better penetration. Cleanse your face properly twice a day.

4.     Sun protection:

Always shield your skin with sunscreen (SPF 15-30) at least 20 minutes before stepping out  to safeguard it from UV radiation as it will help in protecting your skin from skin cancer and preventing the signs of skin aging due to sun exposure. Exposure of the naked skin to the sun rays can cause skin darkening and wrinkles.

5.     Antioxidants:
Antioxidants protect your skin by limiting the production of free radicals hence preventing damage of skin cells. Antioxidants improve the skin health; rejuvenate skin appearance, help in reducing the signs of aging, minimize the scars (by increasing the blood flow to scar tissue), calm inflammation and repair sun damage.

Many antioxidants are beneficial for skin but two in particular get more attention:

• Vitamin C- It helps in building collagen which is very helpful in keeping your skin plump and tight.  Sources of vitamin C are whole grains, lemon, orange, amla and other citrus fruits.
• Vitamin E- It protects cell membranes and helps in fighting off UV damage. Sources of vitamin E are wheat germ oil, almonds and peanut butter.

How to look good without makeup:

Make-up has its own place in making us feel good; but it is not essential at all spending a great deal of time everyday wearing makeup to look good. You can just be natural and still look beautiful. It’s just a matter of basic body and skin care.

1.     Keep yourself clean:

Take shower everyday, choose soap or body wash according to your skin type (for dry skin- use cream based soaps). Scrub your body once a week to shed dead skin and dirt. Moisturize your body after taking bath.

2.     Skin care:

Wash your face twice a day with a mild face wash to remove any excess oil or dirt. Moisturize your skin to keep your skin soft, healthy and supple. If you get pimples, treat them at the initial stage. Always wear SPF 15 before stepping out (to avoid any sun damage).

3.     Hair care:

Give proper nourishment to your hair, massage your hair with natural oil before every wash. Shampoo your hair regularly (twice a week) with a mild shampoo to keep your hair and scalp clean. Use a conditioner after the shampoo to make your hair look shiny and manageable. Don’t keep your hair loose daily as it may pull dust from the surrounding. You can pick various hair styles to enhance your looks.

4.     Dress up well:

A well dressed person always fetches the attention. Well dressed, doesn’t mean scantily dressed!  Wear clothes that suit and make you feel comfortable.

• Dress up according to the season- If its summer, go for soft shades and light fabrics. In winters prefer something warm and dark shaded.
• Wear a light perfume (avoid overpowering fragrance).
• Pick appropriate shoes for the dress you are wearing.

5.     Grooming:

One tip to look beautiful without make-up is to be well groomed-trim and shape your eyebrows regularly; get rid of unwanted body hair using wax or hair removal creams, trim and shape your nails regularly, consult a dentist in case you have misaligned teeth. Take care of these basic details to look beautiful even without any make-up.

6.     Cool hair cut:

A cool and stylish haircut will certainly make you look beautiful that too without any makeup. You just need to find a hair cut that suits your face and the right stylist for you.

7.     Be confident:

Just feel confident! Be proud of who you are.

• Keep your shoulders and back up straight.
• Don’t try to be someone you are not, just be yourself.
• Remember none is flawless, so don’t feel ashamed of your flaws.

8.     Nap and Nutrition:

• To make your skin look beautiful feed it with proper nutrition. Include lots of salad, fresh fruits, juices and green vegetables in your diet and drink plenty of water. 

• Get enough sleep (at least 8 hours a day) to make your skin look fresh and beautiful.

9.     Regular exercise:

Exercise regularly (at least 30-45 minutes daily) as exercise promotes blood circulation giving you natural glow and proper body shape.

10. Wear a smile:

A smile is the best accessory one can wear. Always wear a smile on your face to make yourself look beautiful.

How to get rid of split ends:

Every woman desires to have long, healthy and beautiful hair but, erratic lifestyle and carelessness can bring on so many hair problems which can deform your hair, split ends is one of them. There can be various causes of split ends like lack of nourishment /dry hair, use of harsh chemical products, damage due to sun rays, hair styling equipments and pollution. Split ends can definitely be treated at home with some simple and easy remedies.

Home Remedies for split ends:

1.     Papaya and yoghurt:

Papaya can make your dull and dry hair alive. All you need to do is, take 1 cup papaya dices and blend it into pulp. Add ½ cup yoghurt to the papaya pulp and mix them well to form a consistent paste. Apply the mask onto your hair properly. Leave it on for half an hour and rinse it off.

2.     Milk and milk cream:

This is my grandma’s tip for split ends. You need half cup raw milk and 1 tablespoon fresh milk cream, mix them well and apply this in your hair from roots to tips. Leave it on for 15 minutes and wash it away.

3.     Honey and yoghurt:

Honey has great moisturizing properties which help in nourishing split ends. Take ½ cup yoghurt, mix 1 tablespoon honey in it. Cover your hair strands with the mask (concentrate on split ends). Leave it for 30 minutes and rinse it off.

4.     Beer:

Beer works as a wonderful conditioner. Apart from a boozy party element, Beer can also be an effective element in your hair care range. Massage your hair with some beer (make sure your hair follicles have soaked the beer) and wash it off after 5 minutes (bear in mind there would be lingering smell of bear in hair).

5.     Olive oil:

Massage your hair with Luke warm olive oil to treat split ends. Leave it on overnight and shampoo your hair the following dawn. Olive oil helps in deep conditioning of hair.

6.  Egg:
Beat 1 egg yolk with 1 tablespoon almond oil. Massage your hair with the mixture from roots to tips of hair. Leave it on for an hour and wash it off.

Some tips to head off split ends:

• Don’t brush your hair when they are wet.
• Avoid using blow dryers and other styling and heating equipments.
• Don’t wash your hair with hot water.
• Split ends are generally witnessed in dry hair nourish your hair regularly with coconut oil, almond oil or any other oil.
• Use a mild conditioner after the shampoo.
• Get regular haircuts or trims.
• Protect your hair from pollution and sun damage.
• Avoid using harsh chemical products.

Homemade Christmas gifts ideas- Do It Yourself

Christmas is approaching, I can already hear jingle bells all around!!!

This Christmas try some fabulous festive craft ideas to create something really special, innovative and useful for your loved ones and make  them feel special. Here we have some exciting homemade gift ideas to add personalized touch to your Christmas presents:

1.     Heart key chain:

You’ll need- a piece of red and black cotton fabric (or any fabric of your choice), black velvet ribbon, key ring (from your old key chain), scissors, stuffing, a needle and black thread.

Procedure:

Cut two equal pieces of the red fabric in the heart shape. Blanket stitch both the pieces along the borders with black thread, leaving 1 cm gap and stuff some sponge or cotton into it, to make it puffy. Sew up the remaining gap. Cut two 5cm long thin strips of red and black fabric. Take a black and red strip, start rolling into a swirl and sew both the swirls to the heart.  Make a small loop of the black velvet ribbon (so that it can be linked to the chain) and stitch it on the top of heart where the heart forms V shape. Pass a metal key ring (from your old key chain) through the loop.

2. Rhinestone studded pens and pencils:

You’ll need-A pen/pencil, rhinestones and glue.

Procedure:

Take a simple good quality pen or pencil. Paste rhinestones on pen/ pencil with the help of glue making your own patterns. Let it dry overnight and pen/pencil is ready to be gifted.

3. A Gift basket:

You’ll need- A wicker basket, food items (of your choice), a ribbon and a sheet of transparent paper.

You can present a gift basket stuffed with various food items and the best part is, it can be customized according to one’s taste. You can include chocolates, juices (tetra packs), wafers, candies, cookies, dry fruits etc.

Procedure:

Take a basket and place all the desired items in it. Place the basket on the transparent sheet. Gather the edges of the transparent sheet and tie the ribbon around, into a bow.

4. A set of CDs:

You’ll need-Blank CDs, a comuter/laptop loaded with songs you want to add.

Procedure:

Burning CDs for your friend or loved one is a wonderful gift idea; just add few songs of their choice. You can categorize your CDs loading one with sweet romantic songs, another with sad songs, next one with rocking party hits and not to forget the oldies or you can say the evergreen songs, here you get a complete gift set.

5. A trinket box:

You’ll need- An old box with lid, paint (any color of your choice), glue and gems/beads.

Procedure:

Take an old cardboard candy box or any metal box or any wooden box with a lid. If you have a cardboard box or wooden box, paint it with latex paint. In case of metal box you need to paint it with anti-corrosive primer/oil based primer and then with the selected oil based paint. Decorate the box by gluing gems, beads etc making your own pattern. Your exquisite trinket box is ready to be gifted.

Home remedies to remove Milia:

Milia are the white tiny bumps (sometimes pale yellow) on the facial skin (mainly around eyes, nose and chin area) that forms due to accumulation of dead skin on the top layer of skin, it can pop up due to various other reasons as well like sun exposure, hereditary factors and use of heavy make up and oily cosmetics products. Milia can appear at any age, but is quite common in newborns. Milia are considered same as acne or pimples, but they are completely different.

Home remedies to get rid of Milia:

1.     Honey:

Spread the honey evenly over milia affected area, leave it on for 15 minutes and wash it off using a mild face wash. This is the best way to get rid of milia.

2.     Scrubbing:

Scrub your face using a mild facial scrub thrice a week to shed dead skin and dirt from your face (be careful while treating area under eyes as the skin is very sensitive and can cause irritation in eyes).

3.     Facial Sauna:

Soak a towel in hot water, cover your face with the hot towel for few minutes to loosen and remove dead skin cells.

4.     Sandalwood powder and rosewater:

Mix sandalwood powder and rosewater to form a paste. Apply the paste on affected area for 10-15 minutes and wash it away.

Some suggestions to prevent Milia:

• Drink plenty of water and juices daily to flush out toxins form your body.
• Wash your face twice a day using a mild face wash to keep your skin clean.
• Reduce sun exposure and use sunscreen lotion (SPF 15) before stepping out.
• Avoid the use of heavy cosmetics and make up, switch to lighter make up.
• Stop using oily creams and moisturizers as they tend to clog the skin cells.