Beauty and Personal Grooming

I recently purchased Nature’s Essence Purifying Neem & Aloevera Face Wash and have been using it since last week. The Details: Ingredients: A soap free formulation, the chief ingredients in it are, Aloevera, Neem and turmeric . Neem is a known source for eliminating problem-inducing bacteria, Aloevera is an excellent moisture balance maintainer and Turmeric with its anti-bacterial properties keeps pimples at bay. What it claims: Prevents acne and pimples and deep cleanses all impurities from the pores. Everyday use advised for clear acne/pimple free skin with dew like freshness and softness. Suitable for all skin types. Usage: Moisten face, apply few drops of the face wash and work up lather with a circular motion. Wash off and pat dry. Use twice a day and follow it up with a lotion. My experience: It’s a nice one, not at all harsh but very gentle on my skin. I felt that it’s almost similar to Himalaya Neem Face Wash , but this one is more hydrating. It doe...

The weather may be getting colder, but the fall beauty trends are sizzling hot. As I mentioned before , London Fashion Week 2009 runways were awash with shades of grey. So where are we supposed to get our edginess this season? The Pixie Haircut Short haircuts are usually synonymous with breezy, summer days. And they also served a practical purpose as well since, historically, long heavy frocks were shed during the warmer seasons. But celebrities such as Victoria Beckham and Rihanna were showing edgy new dos that prove that short hair is back in! Matte Nail Polish It’s such a strange concept, but matte nail polish is definitely in this fall as the must have beauty item. Matte nail polish is exactly as it sounds—nail polish color without the quintessential glossy sheen. The result is a deeper, richer color with a velvety finish. Some great shades for this fall are matte black nail polish, matte indigo nail polish and matte grey nail polish. The OPI matte nail polish collection features ...

* Undoubtedly, genes do play a major role in your appearance as you get older, but the real villains of the wrinkles of aging involve behavioral choices such as smoking, eating, and excessive sun exposure, recent studies suggest. * According to a study, other than clothes, house and flashy cars, the socio-economic status (SES) of a person can be guessed by his or her body language, according to a study. * According to a study, a strange new fact has come to light. It seems that someone who has momentarily lost confidence in her intelligence is more likely to purchase a pen than a candy bar; the pen helps restore her belief in herself as an intelligent person. * Lead concentrations in the blood are associated with an increased risk of death from coronary heart diseases. A study of 533 American women has shown that those with blood lead concentrations above a certain amount were three times more likely to die of coronary heart diseases. * Exercising is good for overall health. We all k...

Get out of that rut. Don’t do the same things over and over again. Generally as a basic pointer, if you look the same whether you are wearing jeans or a skirt, then it’s time to change. There’s no need to go overboard and do some irreversible changes like chopping off your long tresses or thinning your lush eyebrows. Do a little bit everyday. Think, survey, plan and think again if that is what you want to do it. Reinventing oneself is a good thing and how better than to start with visible ones? Be bold. Try a new type of dress, a new color you never ventured to buy as “magazines” said it was not your “type”, some funky accessory, something you never dared to do till now. If you are scared to buy a dress in a very different color, say mustard or shocking red, buy something smaller, a scarf or a top.  If you like it, buy a dress the next season (or when you have enough money). (Style tip contributed by reader Geeta)

Wishing you all A Happy & Prosperous Diwali!!

Most of you must be knowing that today (October 15 th ) is Global Hand Washing Day . As for me, I am very particular about washing my hands . I normally use  Dettol handwash or Dettol antibacterial soap every now and then to clean my hands thoroughly. It's not really necessary to use an antibacterial soap , even an ordinary soap will do, as recent research has found that antibacterial soaps offer no more protection than good ol' fashioned soap and water.

A spiritually inclined friend of my mine gifted me this soap; the name being Sanatana Soap and the chief ingredients, Neem and Panchagavya . It has a nice smell, doesn't lather much and is rather kind on my normal to dry skin ( it didn't strip my skin dry like many other soaps). It could be suitable for oily & acn-prone skin too (Neem and Panchagavya have antibacterial and antiseptic properties). Now I have to admit that I have used it only thrice, so that's all I can say about it right now. A 75g bar costs just Rs.13/-  (Guest Post by Smitha)

Here's another interesting collection of some fascinating and little known facts about hair and hair care products:   Hair is made of keratin , an extremely strong protein, largely responsible for hair health. The thicker the layer of keratin, the healthier the hair. Ceramides and proteins are found naturally just under the hair cuticle-which lies flat on a shaft of hair, making it look smooth and shiny. When the hair is damaged, ceramides are the first casualty.