Beauty and Personal Grooming

Ponchos were originally raincoats, a single piece of garment with an opening for the head and occasionally for the arms. The new-age variation of the garment has been in vogue for some time now. These fashionable ponchos use the same shape but are made of very different material- wool or any other stringy material. As ponchos are loose and comfortable they are perfect accessories for all occasions. Ponchos also come with hoods. Today’s ponchos are elegant and practical at the same time. It is great to cover yourself in cold, air-conditioned offices and movie theatres. Chiffon ponchos, though expensive, are good for the ‘day look’. It is the ideal attire for brunches or running errands, it’s casual yet not clumsy. A slightly tighter cotton poncho that emphasizes on your figure is good for evenings. They are stylish and yet keep you warm. And when you combine it with a camisole, you give an impression of revealing more than you actually are. See also: Groom yourself with access...

Lipsticks not only lend color to the lips, they protect as well. A lip pencil does wonders for the lip. But do ensure that the pencil and lipstick are of the same shade. If you use a lot of shades, identify the ones you use most and buy matching pencils for them and you can use a lip brush for the rest. Outline the natural contour of your lips with the pencil and enhance/reduce depending on whether you want them to look larger/smaller. The advantage of a lip liner is that it prevents the lipstick from running or seeping. These done, apply lipstick using a lip brush only. It spreads evenly and stays longer. We usually start from the centre and go towards the ends of the mouth. Do not do that. Start from the corners and go to the center. You will be surprised at the good results. Then, fill in the centre well and full. The advantage is that the corners of the mouth are a little tricky and so can be looked into clearly at the start when the lips are not colored. Then press lips ...

A daily skin care is a must. The neglect or care that the skin receives over years plays a part in how quickly it ages, though there are other factors involved like- general health, diet, environment and hereditary characteristics. Having recognized your skin type and having chosen proper skin care products, you must allow yourself an extra few minutes in night (Refer Skin care at night ) and morning to complete your skin care beauty routine. Also keep in mind these 5 golden rules of skin-care , mentioned in a previous post. It should become as automatic as brushing your teeth. 1. Cleaning: Thoroughly clean your skin while bathing with a mild soap that is non- drying. Ideally, your soap should be enriched with moisturizers to prevent giving you a tight, dry feeling after the bath . Every alternate day, use a face scrub (Try lemon face scrub ) to gently exfoliate the dead skin. 2. Moisturizing: Use a good moisturizer and massage it all over the face with the fingertips. Preferably, ...

A nap in the middle of the day is one of life’s pleasures. But many people do without it because of a vague, sneaky feeling of guilt – it seems like an indulgence that is so unproductive. Shove aside those guilt pangs, snatch a half-hour siesta everyday and discover its long-term health benefits. Some reasons to nap: * Napping at noon is natural . As humans, we naturally operate with a 12-hour cycle superimposed on a 24-hour day. Our body temperature, blood sugar, work efficiency and mood drop after an afternoon meal. So it is natural that our bodies ‘expect’ to take a rest in the post meal period at noon. * An afternoon nap improves alertness in the later hours. Though everyone feels a little lazy after a nap – this state lasts only for 5-15 minutes. After that, you will almost definitely be left in a better mood and be more alert than if you had not napped. In fact, that extra edge can last for up to 10 hours after you wake up from a nap. Napping is a natural stress-buster. Evidenc...

Shampoos with soap nut (reetha) , shikakai , amla (gooseberry) , brahmi (Asiatic pennywort), triphala , henna etc. are mild and have a very good cleansing effect. Rinses such as yoghurt and amla have conditioning and nourishing properties. The following herbal concoctions will not only beautify your hair but also will help you to have a healthy hair growth. Fresh soap nut shampoo (reetha shampoo) Ingredients: A handful of reetha nuts A handful of shikakai pods 50 gm of dried amla 50 gm of dried brahmi leaves 250-400 ml. of water. Method: Boil all these ingredients together. Mash strain and use it to shampoo your hair. Reetha, shikakai, amla and brahmi impart a natural cleansing and glossy finish to any type of hair. Lotion for unruly hair Ingredients: A handful of neem leaves, hibiscus leaves, brahmi leaves and lemon leaves. 1 tbsp. eau de cologne 1 tbsp glycerin Method: Make an *infusion of the herbs. Add the eau de cologne and then add glycerin. Whisk well and store in a bottle. Ru...

Read through the post Know your skin type to know if you have a normal skin. Normal skin is an abnormal thing. Your skin will be oilier during your youthful days and as you grow older it will get drier. It is usually trouble-free and needs simple care to keep it healthy and glowing. If you are one of those rare and lucky people to have normal skin take good care of it. Normal skin also tolerates most popular lotions and creams well. A regular skin-care program combined with a balanced diet helps keep normal skin stay supple and young. Regular care for normal skin should include a few simple steps: * Cleansing, toning, and moisturizing daily keeps normal skin in great shape for a long time. It is advisable to use natural products on your skin. * It’s easy to take trouble-free skin for granted. But, if neglected, it will begin to develop fine lines and wrinkles. So, always remember to nourish and moisturize your skin. * Creams and lotions that contain vitamin A, C, and E help improv...

Eczema means a ‘boiling over’ of the skin and is characterized by spontaneous eruptions with mild to severe itching, redness, flaking and tiny blisters. In chronic cases, the skin becomes thickened and appears like the ‘bark of a tree’. Eczema is one of the diseases which are inadequately treated by medical science. ‘Housewife’s eczema’ is an irritant eczema caused by prolonged exposure of the hands to detergents, washing liquids, shampoos and other caustic items. In this variety the skin may crack, flake and itch. Home remedies for eczema 1) The affected part should be cleaned daily with warm water boiled with bark of the neem tree. This simple measure prevents secondary infections and itching. 2) The paste prepared from neem bark should be applied on the affected part and allowed to dry and then washed off. 3) Pure neem oil, in a dosage of 2-4 drops well mixed in a cup of warm milk with sugar should be taken daily for 40 days. 4) In itching eczema- Camphor can be added to any prepa...

Everyone spends considerable amount of time in sitting and most of us believe that sitting is a form of relaxation and that it does not cause any harm to the body. We often associate our back pain with standing. But, in fact, according to medical experts, pressure on the vertebral discs is higher when sitting than when standing. The dangers of sitting for a prolonged period may not be felt immediately, but over the years, it has a cumulative effect on the spine. We should limit the time spent in sitting as much as possible and also re-design our sitting places to make them more comfortable to the back and spine. Tips for long period sitting 1. Do not sit for more than 20 minutes at a time. 2. While sitting, keep changing the position of your legs to feet up, feet apart, feet together etc. 3. Get up often from your sitting position even if it is only for a short duration or 5 to 10 minutes. 4. If you work at a computer monitor or typewriter or anything that you refer to often with your ...

In monsoons, our skin is often at the receiving end, especially our feet. With our kind of streets, wading through knee-deep water and accidentally stepping into an open drain is quite possible. Wet footwear is the worst. Fungal infections caused by using covered footwear through the day lead to irritating itches and subsequently, the scaling of the toes and the spaces between them. The crinkled skin and brittle toenails can cause a disease called ‘ Athlete’s foot ’ which if neglected, can be chronic. Therefore maintain scrupulous hygiene . Wash your feet with a medicated, preferably an anti-fungal soap as soon as you reach home, pat-dry with a soft towel and ensure that you dry your feet completely and also the space between the toes, which are vulnerable to fungal infection. Do not use covered footwear. Avoid wearing socks. If you still end up with cracked and wet spaces between your toes, then fungicidal ointments and lotions are the best and most efficient method of treatment a...

These are a few rules that most successful people follow. It may not be a complete list in itself, but nevertheless some of the rules mentioned below are invaluable and if followed, bound to bring success in our life, business and in almost all walks of life. 1) Begin with that for which you have talent. 2) Centralize your energies. 3) Take excellent care of your health. 4) Save your money, develop habits of industry and money making. 5) Prepare for opportunities. 6) Improve your vitality. 7) Develop social magnetism. 8) Develop confidence in your own abilities. 9) Develop an optimistic state of mind. Expect success; talk success. 10) Be honest in your dealings with people, and the people will patronize you. 11) Never associate too much with unimportant people. 12) Act unseen as much as you can. People should not know your business. 13) Study the past experience of successful people. 14) Study causes of failure and causes of success. 15) Agree with the people. The secret...

Common cold is a very common malady which affects people during monsoons. (Also see the post Beauty and body care in monsoon for a monsoon beauty regimen.) It can be caused by any one of more than 200 viruses. Normally it is confined to the nose and throat although the virus can infect the larynx and lungs. It is said that there is no particular cure for colds, they are naturally relieved within a week. Treatment is just an attempt to relieve its symptoms such as headache, stuffy nose, sore-throat and congestion. Paracetamol tablets are generally taken to get relief from these symptoms.

Few people realize what a wholesome and nutritive fruit the papaya is. It has more carotene when compared to other fruits such as apples and guava, custard apple, plantains. The ripe papaya fruit contains large quantities of carotene. Papayas are high in ascorbic acid content (vitamin C) and the flesh is very high in vitamin A. There are also small amounts of calcium, iron, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin present in papaya. It is low in calories and sodium, and high in potassium. Papaya is a common man’s fruit which is reasonably priced and has a high nutritive value. This fruit is available throughout the year. Like the banana tree nearly every part of the papaya tree is said to be useful and of medicinal value.

A regular skin care regimen can actually slow down the ageing process. Choose appropriate skin care products and allow yourself an extra few minutes in night and morning to pamper your skin. A night skin care routine is as essential as a day care routine. 1. Cleansing: Pour a little cleansing milk or lotion in the palm of one hand, rub the hands together and massage into the face. Clean off the lotion and dirt with cotton wool with gentle upward movements. Repeat the process but this time spend a little longer time on the massage. Now simply splash your face with cool water. 2. Toning: Toning closes the pores and stimulates circulation. Use a mild skin toner and pat it on greasier areas of your skin with cotton wool. 3. Feeding: Take a little moisturizer or a little night cream on your palm and then massage into the face with the movements shown in the picture above. In the course of massage, lightly circle the eyes with fingertips, very, very gently, 20 times. Be sure there is enou...

The scarf has been an integral accessory of a woman’s wardrobe for long. Whether worn around the neck or on the head, these colorful pieces of silk have always attracted our attention. Though the scarf came to India from the west, women in India have been wearing scarves in the form of dupattas for ages. Old silk saris and unused silk blouses can also be converted into scarves by cutting to the required length and width, edging it, and adding tassels to it.

Apart from the face, the whole body needs to be taken care of. The skin has a fantastic capacity to absorb the valuable nutrients that are applied to it. This luxurious mask is ideal for pampering your entire body. It moisturizers and softens you from top to toe. Ingredients: 2 eggs 1/3 cup groundnut oil 4 tbsp whipped butter ½ cup plain curd 1 tsp vinegar 3 tbsp rose water 2 tsp glycerine 1 ½ cups apple juice 1/3 cup eau de cologne

Dandruff is a common problem and one can fall victim to excessive dandruff at any time. Common practice is treating dandruff with anti-dandruff shampoos. Also refer to an earlier post on dandruff, Fight dandruff yourself for more information. But simple effective home remedies can treat dandruff. Home remedies may offer complete solutions for controlling dandruff. * You can also prepare a mixture of one part of sandalwood oil and three parts of lemon juice. Store it in a bottle. Massage the scalp with this solution. After the massage, treat your hair with an egg shampoo.

The most expressive features of our face are the eyes and the eyebrows; our moods and thoughts are reflected through them. Eyebrows are usually the most neglected part of a person’s face. However, few people realize the role they play in balancing your features. They draw attention to the eyes like a picture frame. Too bushy or too highly arched eyebrows will spoil the end-result of your makeup. They can be made to look very attractive and perfect, even if they are not, as you can have the shape changed to your advantage. Properly shaped eyebrows can even camouflage some of the other imperfect features of your face, such as a broad nose, closed-in eyes etc.

It is very difficult to come across a happy, contented face in a crowd these days. Stress has become a way of life with people these days. Sure, we all need to be a little tense once in a blue moon. After all it acts as a positive force and helps us get things done. But when tension becomes a habit with us and we are unable to cope up with it, we say we are undergoing stress. Some people are simply born more tense than others. Children of over-anxious parents generally grow up to be more anxious than the others.

A hairstyle helps to accentuate or draw away certain facial characteristics. There are a whole lot of ways to style our hair depending on your face structure. If you like your hair styled long, there are long frizzy hair styles, long curly hair styles, long layered hair styles, long braided hairstyles, etc.

You may be wearing soft contact lenses to correct your vision problems or colored cosmetic lenses to enhance the look of your eyes. However a thorough contact lens care regimen is essential to ensure maximum comfort, visual clarity and maintain eye health while you are wearing your lenses. Good contact lens care helps prolong the life of your lenses.

All of us have suffered from headaches at some time or the other. No one needs to be told about the agony it can cause. They just hit you at any time with a nagging, throbbing pain in the head and spoil your day. There could be many causes for headaches. Well… let’s not go deep into that. Here are a few home remedies which you could try out when a headache hits you.

Concentration is the key to success in most spheres. To achieve something, you need to be able to concentrate on your aims and your immediate tasks. It is one of the hardest lessons to learn which we try to do right from childhood.  We all feel, at sometime or the other, that our concentration could be improved. There are no miraculous shortcuts to this power. Although a degree of ability to concentrate is inbuilt, everyone has to work at improving these skills according to the needs of their ambitions.

Long lustrous flowing hair is a dream of every woman, but possessed only by a few. Nowadays hair is the most manhandled part by most of us. Cutting, dyeing, perming, crimping, coloring etc. again and again can play havoc with its natural texture and color. Some tips-

For determining whether you have a dry skin, refer to the post Know your skin type . Dry skin is easily recognizable as it is more finely textured than an oily skin. Mostly dry skin is noticed around the nose between brows and around the lips. Dry, cold, windy weather evaporates the water in cells and leaves the skin flaky and chapped. Rainy weather on the other hand benefits the skin. Use of wrong soap and over exposure to air-conditioner also contributes to dryness of skin. Ageing is another factor that leads to dryness. As one grows old, the amount of oil secretion is insufficient. A few measures help alleviate dryness and keep your skin supple and, at the same time, guard against premature ageing.

Refer to the post on Essential oils Lavender oil: Lavender with its delicate aroma is the safest of all essential oils, for it can be applied undiluted on the skin. It promotes cell growth, rejuvenates skin and has a mild sedative power. Besides, it calms and soothes and soothes and is ideal for sensitive skin and also for boils, sores, eczema and fungal skin condition. In case of burns, apply ice on the affected area and then place a drop of lavender oil. Sandalwood oil: Sandalwood, with its musky fragrance, is suitable for all types of skin and helps clear blemishes, spots and acne. It is used in creams and potions to amplify their staying power and is ideal for treating dry and dehydrated skin.

Nails are more than just a pack of dead cells. Besides making your fingers look good, they also tell you more than you know about your health. Any nutritional deficiency or illness first manifests itself on your nails, just like your skin or hair. The most impeccable manicure in the world won’t make your nails look great if they’re not in good shape or good health to start with. Here is some nail know-how to keep the world at your fingertips.   Brittle nails: Nails that chip, split or peel are usually due to iron, vitamin or calcium deficiency, overexposure to household cleansers and acetone or due to dehydration. In the winter, nails can become even more brittle. Drink plenty of water and moisturize your nails and cuticles daily with some oil. Try eating foods rich in calcium (like milk products and dark, leafy vegetables) and iron (dried fruits, spinach) etc. Never use nails for digging and prying and keep them filed and snag free. In some cases, kidney disease, liver proble...