Beauty and Personal Grooming

You are in need of a cleansing cream to get rid of the embedded dust, gunk and grime and also to remove the last traces of any stale makeup in order to freshen you up after a long hard day. It should work without stripping your skin of its natural moisture. If you would like to prepare one such cream all by yourself then here’s the recipe for it: Herbal Cleansing cream Ingredients: 5 teaspoons fresh coconut oil 5 teaspoons olive oil 2 teaspoons glycerine 4 teaspoons beeswax 5 tablespoons cucumber juice A pinch of borax Method: Melt the oils and wax by the double boiling method . Warm cucumber juice, glycerine and borax in a separate bowl until borax is dissolved. Add the cucumber juice, borax and glycerine mixture to the oil and whisk the mixture till it thickens. Cool. Store excess in your fridge. See also: Golden rules of skin care Homemade moisturizer for oily skin Homemade daytime nourishing creams Sunflower toning lotion for dry skin Home-made c...

It’s so easy to preach and so difficult to practice. Especially, when you are told to control your wrath and keep your cool in the most trying circumstances. More often than not, in the heat of an infuriating situation it is very difficult to even think of following any anger management steps. More so, when you feel that your anger is completely justified. The age-old advice “ Count to 10 to control your temper ” simply doesn’t work when you are held in the throes of anger.

The Bael tree is revered and worshipped in India . And almost every part of this amazing tree can be used in home-remedies . Read Medicinal uses of Bael (Bilva) , to know about the significance and other uses of this wonderful tree.  Savor and enjoy the taste of the delicious Bael fruit juice – it will leave you craving for more. But at same time do not forget that this fruit has cosmetic uses as well. Here’s how you can use the bael fruit as a face pack to firm up your sagging skin .

Most of us are familiar with ‘ tamarind ’ or ‘imli’. The pulp which is extracted from the long bean like pods of tamarind can be used fresh and it can also be dried and stored to be used for the whole year. Pic credits: Wikipedia

You have already set your heart for the big day, visualizing yourself as a radiant bride, all aglow in glittering finery. You are excited and you have taken up the challenge to look your best by plunging headlong into the preparations with full zest and enthusiasm - pampering yourself and your skin with all sorts of beauty aids. Ideally you should be working at it at least a month before. If you are doing just that and following all the skin care rituals mentioned in the post Skin care for the bride meticulously, then you have made the right start. As mentioned in that post, you can now dare to spend long hours in your bath and pamper yourself. Here’s a body mask which you should massage yourself with at least 15 days before your marriage date. It will greatly enhance your beauty. Special Body mask for the bride Ingredients : 1 tbsp dried and sieved lemon peel 1 tbsp dried and sieved orange peel 2 tbsp ground almond 4 tbsp wheat germ flour 1 tbsp thymes 2 tbsp...

Hypertension or high blood pressure is often referred to as the silent killer , because there are usually no symptoms until blood pressure reaches dangerous levels. Recent statistics reveal that at least 10 crore people in India are suffering from this disease. It has become the single most important factor causing strokes, heart attacks, diabetes, blindness and paralysis, high BP affects 30% of the country's urban population and 10% of the rural folk . This piece of news is alarming and certainly a cause for concern. Dr. Chapman says : "Most cases of hypertension are gradual -- you don't shoot up into a high blood pressure range overnight. That's why we urge people -- especially those at risk -- to have their blood pressure checked frequently." High blood pressure can be caused by a number of factors. It runs in families, and can be caused by lack of exercise, smoking or a poor diet. Recent studies have pinpointed stress, coffee, and salt as triggers f...

Dark circles around your eyes. How unsightly they look and even your best dress and layers of make-up sometimes does not quite succeed in concealing them! Blame it on your genes or your lifestyle, but, you cannot deny the fact that these are a blot on your beauty . And they become more prominent as you age. Let’s just debunk some of the myths as well as unearth some of the facts about the causes of these ‘ panda eyes ’.   Dark circles under eyes usually are temporary and not a medical concern. You may be surprised to learn that fatigue usually isn't the cause of dark circles. Instead, the most common cause is nasal congestion. When your nose is congested, veins that usually drain from your eyes into your nose become widened (dilated) and darker. 

When we consider the chronic and considerable insults that are heaped on our bodies, it’s a wonder our youthful looks last as long as they do. Forget about the part played by factors like heredity, sun, gravity, stress and time on our skin, plain lethargy or lackadaisical attitude towards skin care on our part also hastens its ageing. Since women’s skin ages more rapidly than men’s , they have to be splurge more in maintaining their beauty and youthfulness. But not all women relish the idea of dolling up or fussing and pampering their skin and body. If you come under the category of such persons who even forget to remove their make-up before retiring to bed then most certainly you don’t care for the nightly skin care rituals . Facials , pedicure , manicure , hair care , smearing pastes and masks on your face – you simply find all these things highly despicable. You just don’t seem to have the precious time or inclination for indulging in such frivolities, as you call it. ...

When a person goes through the agony of a muscle cramp, even if it is for a couple of minutes, it can be very disconcerting. Extreme cold weather, inappropriate movements during work or exercise also triggers it. We often hear elderly women and even growing children complaining of being rudely awakened from their peaceful slumber with an excruciating pain in their calves. Surely, each one of us has experienced these bothersome cramps at one time or the other. How are these caused? A muscle cramp is defined as an involuntarily and forcibly contracted muscle that does not relax. It is not known exactly why muscle cramps develop. Insufficient stretching before exercise, exercising in the heat, and muscle fatigue may all play a role in their causation. Imbalances in the levels of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and phosphate) in the blood can also lead to muscle cramps. [ Source ]

In the morning you are as fresh as a daisy, but towards dusk you always end up with a tired look and a dull, sallow complexion. No, you are not sick or fatigued . The culprits are your own dead cells sticking on to your skin virtually giving you a tired, haggard look. Yes, you might feel a twinge of envy by looking at some others (No, they don’t touch up their face frequently.) who continue to look fresh and gleaming even towards the end of the day. It’s just that your dead cells are more stubborn in shedding off than theirs or maybe your skin is too greasy . But that’s the way it is. Instead of brooding or cribbing over their good fortune, it’s better to spend that time in resolving your own problem. And the solution lies in sloughing off those obstinate dead cells by exfoliating your skin more often to give way to new cells. An easy fix for a dull, worn-out face can be found here and here . As soon as you reach home after a long weary day try to revive your jaded looks with th...

On the occasion of 61st Independence Day, I extend my warm wishes to all the Indian readers. This e-card is just for you all.

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These pictures will leave you spellbound. The deft strokes from the brush of an expert artist and body painter Guido Daniele have literally transformed human hands into animal and bird look-alikes. [ Source ] (Pictures published with permission from the artist)

Super straight hair is out. Natural curls are in. Also, those with straight hair sometimes feel like having curls for a change. After all, variety is the spice of life. And since most people’s hair has at least a bit of natural bend, so having slightly mussed waves won’t alter your appearance drastically. If you don’t want to chemically treat your hair to get those curls, there’s an easy way out. All you have to do is to lightly spritz your hair with salt water and let it dry. When it’s dry, your hair will take on interesting shapes to give a natural wavy look. Then you should scrunch your hair a bit. And, voila, you can go around sporting natural curls. When I first heard of this little trick I was a bit skeptical, but, nevertheless, decided to give it a try. And, yes my straight hair now has interesting twists and bends. At least for the next couple of days, until it’s time for the next wash.

Dust that gets accumulated in our houses is a host to millions of germs and microorganisms. Dusting and cleaning the house in itself is a cumbersome task, what with dust settling on sofas and beds, carpets, curtains and clothes. We all bother so much about insects, mosquitoes, houseflies and do our best to get rid of them. But we often forget about the tiny, almost invisible creatures called dust mites , which are present and booming in millions in the cozy comforts of our homes.

Bael fruit Tree ( Image Source ) At least in India , most of us have heard of the Bael (Bilva) tree. The Bael tree has a religious significance attached to it. With a wise motive, our ancestors probably thought that if at all they attach an aura of religious sanctity to precious herbs and trees, the future generations, fraught with a feeling of reverence, will feel the compulsion to preserve and cherish them. But are we doing that? No!! Indiscriminate felling of trees and wide spread deforestation is rampant, resulting in the loss of rare flora and fauna. The consequences of this merciless assault on nature by man to meet his immediate selfish needs will prove to be disastrous in the long run and backfire on him. Global warming, natural disasters, environmental pollution, ozone layer depletion - all these are the results of man’s insensitivity towards Mother Nature. So all of us should act now and do our bit to save the environment. Let’s go green before it is too late. ...

More than any other type, it is dry hair that needs a thorough conditioning after shampooing . You just can’t afford to skip conditioning and oiling in your hair care routine, especially, if you have dry hair. Dry hair also tends to develop split ends – an oil massage , twice a week with this homemade aloe-oil will nourish your dry strands and prevent split ends. You need not buy expensive conditioners when you can easily prepare some of these recipes yourself – these are quite effective in giving a luminous shine and body to your tresses. Here are 2 such easy-to-make conditioners for you to use after shampooing your hair. Lavender-treated conditioner for dry hair Ingredients: 1 egg yolk or ½ cup of aloe gel ½ cup coconut milk 1 cup papaya pulp 2 drops lavender oil ½ cup whole milk Method: Whip all ingredients in a blender till the mixture is thick. After shampooing and rinsing, part your hair into small sections and apply conditioner from hair roots to the ...

Ever heard of a ‘ cyberchondriac ’? It’s a term coined for those hypochondriacs who search online for information about their supposed medical woes. Hypochondriacs , as we all know, are over-obsessed with their health and keep on worrying that they are susceptible to a variety of common as well as deadly diseases. Am I a hypochondriac? You are a pretty serious hypochondriac, and you probably don't know it. A lot of those aches and pains you are feeling are all in your head! Even a mild cough, a pain in the arm, a headache - just about any minor symptom is enough to drive them crazy. Even after the doctor’s reassurances about their well-being, they are not convinced and continue to lose sleep over their health. Are you a hypochondriac? Then take this test to find out. If you are one, then this is the site for you.

The use of moisturizers is highly recommended if you want to protect your skin against possible loss of moisture and preserve its elasticity and youthfulness for many years to come. Ideally moisturizers are applied after a thorough cleansing and toning of your skin. It is the first thing that you should apply before makeup to serve as a protective base for your skin. Those with dry skins should apply moisturizers even under a face pack as their skin has less lubrication compared to other types . Here’s how you can make a light moisturizing cream which is gentle blend of waxes and oils. This economical, easy to make cream is specially suited for oily skin . Moisturizing cream for oily skin Ingredients: 1 ½ tsp almond oil 1 tsp lanolin ½ tbsp olive oil 1 ½ tbsp emulsifying wax 2 tsp glycerin 6 tbsp rose water Method: Melt waxes using double boiling method and add almond and olive oil. Stir in glycerine and rose water slowly. Continue to stir until the mixture is thick. Apply mo...