Beauty and Personal Grooming

The day dawns beautifully for those who have had a night of good sleep. But the same day drags on for those who have spent a disturbing, sleepless night. Sleep is a biological necessity even as eating and drinking are. Sufficient sleep renders a person normally sociable, lively and high-spirited. It’s a nature’s way of rejuvenating the person for the next day. Realize all this, and make sleep a physiological habit. The consequences of long time sleep deprivation can be very grave. Lack of sleep takes its toll on the skin and hair. It causes acne-breakouts and makes one look aged and haggard beyond years. Experts opine that during sleep as our metabolic rate falls, blood goes to those areas which need the most repairing. This also steps up the production of collagen and keratin, which aid the regeneration of skin cells and help resist premature ageing. So for a younger looking and a problem free skin you need to have a good quality of sleep every night.

Another affliction which can affect some people in winter is chilblains. According to Wikipedia , chilblains are painful, red, itchy swellings on the skin which are caused when the skin is exposed to extreme cold, dampness and humidity. They usually affect toes, fingers, face, nose, and earlobes. Chilblains shouldn’t be confused with frost-bite states the article at Mayoclinic . It mentions that in some cases this even results in blisters and open sores. It goes on to add that chilblains usually clear up within seven to 14 days and suggests that affected persons should avoid or limit their exposure to cold and extremities of temperature change. Treatments suggested: * Keep your hands and feet warm. Wear gloves and socks when venturing outdoors. * Another suggestion is to warm-up with exercise before going out, so that there is proper blood circulation to the affected parts such as feet. * Soak your feet (if they are affected) in warm, not very hot water for a few minutes. Wi...

Winter air wreaks havoc on the tresses, it dries them considerably. If your hair type is naturally dry , then the drying effects are much more profound. If you find your hair becoming extra dry during winter then cut down on frequent washing . Restrict it to once a week and avoid harsh shampoos . Oily hair types can rejoice a bit as they get some respite from that usual greasy, lank look, as the drying effects of the cold winter air makes their mane look less oily. But nonetheless, it is imperative that everyone should exercise some restraint and care and not allow the vagaries of the harsh winter air to take their toll on the mane. Treating hair with an oil massage once or twice a week is something which one should never forget.Then dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap towel around your head. Keep it on for 5 minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap three or four times. This helps the hair and scalp absorb the oil better. (Read Oil massage for the hair .) Pure or ...

Normally all types of skins are prone to dryness during winters. Patches of red, scaling skin look ugly on the cheeks and lips. So, one should start tending to it as soon as winter sets in. Read Skin care in winter . A rich nourishing and emollient night cream on the face, arms and other vulnerable parts of the body will help to prevent and heal dry skin in winter. Here are some recipes to make such nourishing creams at home. Rich lanolin nourishing cream Ingredients: Lanolin – 1 cup (10 tbsp) Witch hazel – 2 tbsp Almond oil – 2 tbsp Method: You have to melt lanolin using the double boiling method. Blend witch-hazel and almond oil and beat it so that they mix well. Combine this with lanolin. Store this in an airtight container. Olive oil nourishing cream Ingredients: Olive oil – 3 tbsp Coconut oil – 2 tbsp Beeswax – ½ tbsp Borax – ½ tsp Water – 3 tbsp Method: Heat the oils slightly. Boil water until it is quite warm but not too hot. Add borax to it and...

Yes, you knew all along that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, too little of it or skipping it can prove to be detrimental to your health in the long run. Read Breakfast and your health . But did you know that eating your breakfast everyday can keep tooth decay at bay.

Cracked heels and rough scaly skin on the feet are usually the result of years of negligence towards feet care. This condition is still more aggravated by exposure to chilly winter air. Cracked soles or feet are painful and many a times they bleed. Such feet feel like sandpaper against towels and bed sheets, indicating an immediate need for treatment. At weddings, functions and parties, one tends to notice that beautifully attired women in expensive sarees , displaying sizeable gold ornaments, and wearing costly footwear, have cracked feet that look dry, dirty and extremely ugly. Yes, there are many creams and lotions available in the market promising us soft, smooth feet in just two or three days. But for those who have used it, they know that the results are not as magical as it is hyped nor are the results everlasting. Prevention is surely better than cure. So if you take care of your feet religiously so that it becomes a part of your daily routine, you will have beautiful, proble...

Pamper your oily skin with an at home facial once in a week. Exfoliate your skin with these facial scrubs . Cleanse, tone and moisturize and treat yourself with some of these do-it-yourself face packs. # Lemon (lime) juice and egg white face pack Ingredients: ½ cup cooked oatmeal 1 egg white 1 tbsp lemon juice ½ cup mashed apple Method: Blend all these into a smooth paste. Apply to face and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse with cold water. # Cabbage mask Ingredients: 1 cup shredded cabbage 1 tsp of brewer’s yeast 1 tsp honey Method: Make a fine paste of shredded cabbage in a blender, add brewer’s yeast and honey and mix well. Apply it on your face and neck and at the same time dip 2 cotton wads in rose water and place it over your eyes. Wash off after 15 minutes. This pack especially helps skin which is prone to blackheads . For extremely oily skins, a multani mitti (fuller’s earth) or this sandalwood face pack work wonders. Here are some more ...

You can make your own terrific hair rinses with some of the herbs and ingredients from your kitchen. All you have to do is make a basic infusion by boiling 4 tbsp of these herbs with 900 ml of water. After the water has boiled let it simmer for around 15 minutes. Remove from heat, keep it covered for around 3-4 hours. The herbs will settle down at the bottom. Strain and store it in a bottle. While washing your hair, after you are done with shampooing and rinsing, just put 2 tsp of any of these herbal rinses in a tumbler of water and pour this water on your head as the final rinse. All types of hair benefit with the usage of these hair rinses. But if you have oily hair which tends to become lifeless in a day or two of washing, then you should not forget to use any suitable after shampoo hair rinse. It will give your dull, limp hair shine, smoothness and luster and make them look bouncy. # Mint after Shampoo Rinse Ingredients: 4 tablespoons of mint (pudina) leaves 900 ml bo...

One of the things recommended by cosmetologists to keep your skin looking young is periodic exfoliation. Using scrubs to mildly exfoliate the upper layer of the skin of dead cells works quite well to improve the texture of the skin. Dead skin buildup over a period of time often results in a patchy looking skin. Scrubbing will help to even out such skin discoloration, to some extent. Oily skin needs more scrubbing than other skin types . However, do not use harsh, abrasive ones and don’t scrub your skin too vigorously. Here are some excellent homemade facial scrub recipes for oily skins. A tired, sluggish face will brighten up instantly after using these. Carrot scrub Ingredients : Grated carrot – 2 tsp Lime juice – 1 tsp Honey – ½ tsp Brewer’s yeast – 1 tsp Almond oil – ½ tsp Method: Mix all the ingredients well and apply all over your face, leaving the under eye area and the area around the mouth and massage gently with your fingers in circular motions. Leave on f...

Some pain and discomfort during menstruation is quite common and natural. But excessive bleeding, unbearable painful cramps, intense pain in the abdomen, backaches, extreme mood swings etc. – all these don’t seem so normal. In medical parlance, this is called as dysmenorrhea . If you are in the throes of such extremely severe symptoms during those days of the month, and home self-care measures don’t work for you then you should seriously think of consulting a gynecologist.

Exercise is great. It’s good for your physical, mental as well as your emotional well-being. But exercising outdoors is not as healthy and as safe as it used to – especially in cities where pollution is rampant. Recently it was mentioned in the Daily Mail that air pollution caused by diesel exhaust fumes could cause heart attacks and strokes. So experts have advised people with known heart conditions to exercise away from traffic, to be on the safer side. People living in cities with high pollution levels should be extra cautious about exercising outdoors as the possible damage to health far outweighs the benefits from exercise.  Air quality is something which everyone should be concerned about. Don’t assume that all this advice is meant for only sensitive persons and those with asthma, heart disease, dust-allergy and other lung problems.  Breathing dirty air can affect anyone, says the American Lung Association ( ALA ). The American Council on Exercise (ACE...

One fine morning, when you casually glance at your face in the mirror, you happen to see tiny wrinkles and fine lines forming at the outer corner of your eyes called crow’s feet and this can disturb you tremendously.  Ageing and excessive dryness around the eye area need not necessarily be the only factors responsible for the formation of these crow’s feet. When you are expressing yourself with the eyes by smiling, the corner of the eyes wrinkle up character lines and over time they are etched permanently.  Also, if most of the time you are out in the bright sun without protecting your eyes with suitable eyegear, chances are that you will be squinting. This repeated action also eventually causes crow’s feet. And these lines become more prominent when you laugh or grimace.  Eyes, being the most expressive parts of the face and ‘windows to the soul’ are the first to be noticed by people. And getting dark circles or having premature wrinkles and crow’s feet around the eye ...

Do you have the habit of fasting occasionally, that is, once in a month, or so? Then there is good news for you. You might be doing it to give rest to your already overburdened digestive system or as a customary religious practice, but you will stand to gain by this. Results from a recent survey have shown that those who fast for full 24 hours in a month have a lower risk of heart diseases. This bit of news should goad at least a few Indians, if not all, to go on a fast once in a while. As studies have shown, Indians, have a genetic predisposition of heart attacks, this risk being further enhanced by today’s sedentary lifestyle and consumption of unhealthy, junk food. Alarming statistics have revealed that nowadays people as young as 30 are falling prey to heart diseases. Only fasting once in a month might not reduce your overall risk-factor. You have to correct your erratic lifestyle, eat healthy food and exercise regularly also. So make amends before it is too late.

Just because you are blessed with a normal skin doesn’t mean that you can take it for granted. Read all about normal skin care . Here are some more great do-it-yourself face packs, especially for your skin type : Potato face pack Ingredients: Grated raw potato – 4 tsp Multani mitti (fuller’s earth) – 2 tsp Rosewater Method: Mix grated potato and multani mitti with enough rose water. Spread it on your face and lie down for 10-15 minutes. Then wash off with warm water followed by a splash of cold water. Jasmine-yoghurt face pack Ingredients: Handful of Jasmine petals Yoghurt – 4 tsp Method: Squeeze jasmine petals in yoghurt and apply the paste all over your face. Keep it on for 10-15 minutes and wash off with cold water. Cucumber-milk face pack Ingredients: Cucumber juice – 4 tsp Milk – 1 tsp Egg white – ½ tsp Besan (chickpea flour) – 1 tsp Method: Mix cucumber juice, milk with egg white and thicken it by adding besan to it. Spread this thick...

Agreed that in the hurly-burly of life today, it is not convenient for us to have a proper bath and as a result our daily baths are usually hurried affairs. But you can reserve at least a few days in the year to pamper yourself zealously by spending quality time in bathing. In most south Indian homes, a luxurious ‘oil bath’ is mandatory on Diwali day. However, we take this ritual of ‘oil bath’ very causally without realizing its significance on our health, well-being and beauty. Diwali eve coincides with the onset of winter and hence a thorough body massage with coconut oil followed by a long luxurious bath rejuvenates the skin and acts as a barrier against dry, moisture depleting winter air for several weeks. In some communities, an oil bath for the bride on the eve of the wedding, is not only a part of bridal beauty-care but is ritualistic too. Then there is this ritualistic post-natal bath that a woman is given few days after childbirth for about 1½ months. Befor...

Are you losing sleep over hair problems like premature graying , excessive hair - loss and split ends ? Raving and ranting over your misfortune or indulging in self-pity isn’t going to take you anywhere. As a matter of fact, constant worry, stress and its byproduct insomnia can worsen your problems. Instead, work towards finding a solution the herbal way. For centuries, several herbs, flowers and herbal oils have been used successfully to restore the grandeur of the crowning glory . Quite a few of these herbs and flowers are in fact, right in front of you and staring at you from your garden just waiting for your green signal to offer their invaluable service. Go and grab them. Amla (gooseberry), for instance is proven to work wonders in preventing and treating premature graying of hair. Aloe-oil promotes hair growth and prevents split ends. The herb ‘ Brahmi (Asiatic pennywort) ’ has a cooling effect on the scalp and prevents hair-loss. If you are losing hair excessively, then...

Fragrant sandalwood (Chandan) , is indeed a very valuable tree and is synonymous with our rich culture and tradition. It has been used both as a cosmetic and as a curative, down the ages. Women in ancient India have used it as a cosmetic to beautify their skins and to perfume themselves. Both sandalwood and its oil have been used in Ayurveda for many centuries. Unfortunately it often falls prey to the poacher’s axe who fells it down mercilessly for his own selfish and commercial interests. If this kind of indiscriminate poaching is not stopped then the day is not far off when this priceless tree will become extinct.

You must have observed some persons who behave queerly while conversing with others. They try to close their mouth with a hanky while talking, maintain a reasonable distance from the other person and are usually in a hurry to end the conversation. This peculiarity is immediately obvious to you. Knowing them to be otherwise confident and self-assured, you are left wondering as to what they are trying to hide. And then it dawns upon you that the reason for this abnormal behavior is bad breath. But it is no laughing matter when you are the sufferer and face such an embarrassing situation of bad breath, also known in medical parlance as ‘halitosis’.