Beauty and Personal Grooming

Obesity is a universal problem. It is bad not just because it makes us look ugly, but because it predisposes us to many diseases like increased blood-pressure (hypertension), heart problems, sluggishness in body movements leading to accidents, etc. Reduction of weight should not be restricted to rigorous exercising only. You will only feel hungrier after exercising. Only a proper combination of exercise and dieting will yield the desired result. Some useful tips to succeed in a reduction diet!

Eyes are very vulnerable and here are some first aid tips for eye emergencies.   For problems with contact lenses: Lift upper eyelid outward and down over the lower lid, let tears wash out the lenses. If the lenses are not washed out, keep the eye closed, bandage lightly and see a doctor immediately, preferably an ophthalmologist. Do not rub the eye. Take a cup full of water; open your eyes inside the water so that the lenses can be washed out.

Refer to the post Self-esteem- Why is it so important? Now answer these questions in positive or negative to test your level of self-esteem.

Soft, smooth and beautiful hands leave a lasting impression of your personality. Beautiful well-kept hands are an asset. A weekly manicure plays a vital role in achieving this. It is not necessary to go to a beauty parlor to get a manicure. It can be done at home, while relaxing, watching television or in your spare time.

For those of you, who have to work for long hours on the computer, your eyes are put to undue strain. Here are a few tips on how to relax them. * Don’t work on a computer for long hours at a stretch. Take short breaks in between. Take a stroll outside in the fresh air for a few minutes. Observe greenery and all green things around. Green color is said to be soothing and relaxing to the eyes. This will give your eyes, the much needed rest. * If you can’t take a break, then at least look at distant objects either in your office or outside. Looking at a distant object and then returning to your task helps your eyes focus better. Blink your eyes frequently. Try taking such visual breaks for about five to 10 minutes every hour.

Diamonds have a special, abiding image and an aura of being eternal. Over the years they have been associated with romance and love. The now famous slogan, “Diamonds are forever” , was coined by a New-York based advertising agency, and no one has been able to better this. A diamond is a life-time investment, and unlike gold, its resale value is arguable. A diamond is usually colorless and an exceptionally hard form of carbon. Rough diamonds are hardly beautiful to look at; they could easily be mistaken for an ordinary pebble. A diamond is a multi-faceted stone. A lay-man’s guide while buying a diamond is to look for the 4 C’s – cut, clarity, color and carat , which determine its value. However, if you are planning to buy a costly diamond, take some professional help; otherwise you could be cheated. Here are some useful hints to keep your diamonds dazzling for a long, long time:

If you think brushing is just to brush hair as one likes, you’re probably wrong. So for certain tips read on… * Start with a good brush. Spiky brushes can damage the hair. Nylon brushes are effective and bone combs are ideal. * Brush from the roots to the ends. * Brushing before shampooing can help to redistribute the natural oils to the hair. * To brush, in order to stimulate circulation to your scalp, and add extra fullness, bend from your waist, throw hair over the head, brush up from the nape to the ends of the hair. * A light daily brushing helps get rid of accumulated surface dirt, but any manipulating tends to make hair more oily, so don’t overdo it.

Facials are great-no doubt about it. They spring clean your pores and rebalance your skin to give a glowing look. Now a day, do-it-yourself home facials are a part of many women’s beauty regimen. What you don’t know about doing your own facials can hurt you. No matter what condition your skin is in, too much of a good thing (i.e. daily facials) will increase your problems. Here is how to do it right while avoiding the pitfalls.

Refer to the earlier post Beauty and emotions-kinship between them , which dealt with positive emotions.   Now let us have a look at a few negative emotions.  

The banana is one of the cheapest and favorite fruit of millions. It has immense nutritional value and medicinal properties apart from being an effective face pack. Any edible part of the plant, be it fruit, flower or stem, provides energy, vitamins and minerals. Cholesterol and fat content is minimal. But it has come under fire- unjustly, for being a high calorie snack. Ayurveda maintains that bananas are flesh-building and thirst quenching. No wonder people all over the world love it and splurge over it.

Our skin is often subjected to harmful effects of harsh environmental conditions. Pollution ravages the complexion, as dust, soot, smoke and chemicals drastically affect skin’s function. Essential oils have been scientifically acknowledged to be very useful to the skin and are enjoying a big revival. Where do these oils come from? Essential oils are the highly concentrated essences of aromatic plants. These oils are taken from certain parts of the plant-root, stem, bark, leaves, flowers, seeds, resin – when they are at their most active phase. These oils are also used in aromatherapy to promote healing of the body and the mind.

Home-pedicure is easy to do, and works wonders for your feet. Simply follow these steps and you will soon see how easy it is to have beautiful feet.

The urge to decorate and adorn ourselves is one of the most fundamental and primeval instincts in human nature. The fact that it was prevalent only in sophisticated societies is just not true. Women have cultivated the art of human embellishment from the very beginning of human civilization. So make-up is not restricted to a particular time-frame. It has been always there, will continue to remain… “Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder” goes a popular maxim. And though the definition of beauty sometimes changes with the times, what does not change is a woman’s desire to look beautiful. Make-up helps us achieve this goal by enhancing our positive features. Make-up polishes our image whether it is casual, classic or elegant. It enhances and embellishes it. It completes what nature has left unfinished. Make-up can give you a special look that spells confidence. A woman who looks like a simpleton without any make-up will look gorgeous and glamorous with a dash of make-up and a c...

Walking is one of the most pleasant and easiest methods to keep slim and fit for life.Here are some of the benefits of walking.

  Herbal beauty products take care of your beauty without any undesirable side-effects. They are effective, cheap and delightful to use and have many healing properties besides their cleansing and beautifying action. You too can prepare some of these beauty products at home and beautify yourself.

Health and hygiene are important for the very existence and well-being of mankind. Hygiene without soap is as unimaginable as breathing without oxygen. When soaps are rubbed on the skin, a little of it separates and unites with the grease of the skin. It also softens the superficial layers of the skin and facilitates their removal by water. This is the reason behind the fresh feel we get after a bath.   Why is soap used? Our skin gets enveloped in layers of dust, grime and dead cells in which bacteria and germs thrive well, also giving it an unclean dull appearance. To avoid this,soap is used in conjunction with water to clean the skin. The function of water is to wet the skin. Now the soap can be worked into a lather which disperses dirt and grease, enabling it to be washed with additional splashes of water.

Of the many problems that affect the hair, split ends is the most common one. Split ends make the hair look frizzy and untidy. A common idiom is that they make the hair look like broomsticks-dry, dull and lifeless. However there are ways and means to take care of your hair so that they do not develop split ends.   Causes: One of the main reasons why hair splits is their becoming excessively dry . The tip of the hair splits first, and, if untreated, even the roots of the hair get affected. Other reasons of hairsplitting include regular bleaching or coloring, too much use of hair dryer and roller, back combing, combing of wet hair, excessive hot air or too much exposure to the sun, regular use of dirty combs, perming, use of too much hair spray, bathing in the swimming pool or the sea, stress and lack of nutrition for the hair.

  For a smooth, wrinkle free, supple skin, it is very important to get a facial done at least once a month. It is not necessary to always go to a beauty salon for a facial. You can do it easily in your free time at home. A home-facial can be a morale booster, especially in those days when you are in the dumps about your looks.

Most of us exercise our bodies to keep fit and look trim, healthy and in shape, but what about our most visible asset – our face? Doing facial exercises everyday for just 5 minutes will make a real difference to the extent of which lines and wrinkles give away your age. Based on a system called isometrics , these facial exercises are even more beneficial than a beauty salon facial massage.

“As pickles are to a meal, accessories are to a dress.” The right types of accessories add spice and character to whatever you wear. A simple dress becomes glamorous with just the addition of a colorful brooch. A dull silk sari will look classy aided by the sheen of a pearl choker. So start collecting accessories whenever you spot an attractive piece; bangles, earrings, belts, bindis and brooches. You will never regret any buy as they always have their usefulness in any given moment. Never mind, even if it goes out of fashion after some days, it will always make a come-back again. But, in your over-enthusiasm don’t clutter yourself with too many items. Balance should be made to looks smart, keep chunky piece at the right distances. Like if you have worn a broad belt then you can wear large earrings. A heavy chain or necklace will overwhelm the torso. Heavy neck wear should be paired with slim belts and thin bangles or bracelets.

Herbal beauty products take care of your beauty without any undesirable side-effects. They are effective, cheap and delightful to use and have many healing properties besides their cleansing and beautifying action. You too can prepare some of these beauty products at home and beautify yourself.

For effective oral communication, the art of listening is an important requisite. In order to listen really well, one must keep not only one’s ears open but must also be able to gather information through body language. Maintain eye contact with your speaker; you can absorb more when you look directly at the person speaking to you. Avoid interrupting the person talking to you. At meetings, social gatherings and in the family let the person speaking finish what he or she has to say. Give your comments, ask questions when the person indicates to you a sign of approval by looking at you, nodding etc. In this way you will help the person speaking to give you all the information.

Besides shampooing and conditioning, drying the hair after a ‘head bath’ also deserves a mentioning as it is also a vital aspect of hair care routine. Hair, after being washed, is most delicate and needs to be handled with a lot of tender and loving care.   Some dos and don’t for drying hair * First scrunch-dry the hair, using fingers to wipe off excess water and moisture.

T hese are visible as pearly like elevations as big as pin points that appear on the face. They must not be squeezed, the content cannot be removed simply by squeezing them, and this is the distinction between them and blackheads. By squeezing you will only spoil the complexion. The cause of whiteheads is the retention of sebum which becomes lodged in a blind duct with no surface opening. They seldom disappear on their own accord.

Make up is perfectly acceptable with contact lenses. After all one good reason for wearing contact lenses is to bring out the beauty of the eyes which were hidden behind spectacles. But there are a few rules to follow:  

Here are some of the dos and don’t of tackling the monsoon blues. These tips may help you retain your elegant appearance even when it is pouring cats and dogs.  

Cucumbers have a very high water content of around 96% and are excellent body rehydrators. It contains ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and caffeic acid, fiber, along with minerals like silica, potassium and magnesium. One should eat lots of it, especially in summer. A widely cultivated vegetable in India, it has a cooling and refreshing effect on the body. This nature’s cool customer is also a beauty enhancer .

Why use a conditioner? For the hair to shine and look healthy, it is essential to follow a shampoo with a conditioner. A conditioner is not oily. It relaxes the cuticles of the hair; adds shine to them and gives a bounce to the hair follicles.