Beauty and Personal Grooming

Roundup of some of the best posts from the year 2009. Enjoy!. How tos, Beauty Tips, Skin care tips, Style Tips, Homemade beauty aids and Home remedies: ·         Bleaching your skin? Follow these dos and donts ·         Skin pick-me-up ·         Should you use shampoo and conditioner of the same brand ? ·         Home remedies for hardened palms ·         Puff out puffy eyes ·         Glass stuck in your palm? Here's what you should do. ·         Style tips from a reader ·         Beauty tips from a reader ·         Style tip: Get out of that rut and reinvent yourself ·         Happy Feet during monsoon ·         Beautiful Mane this monsoon ·         Beautiful eyes this monsoon ·         Homemade Facial Masks with ingredients from your kitchen ·         Homemade Masoor Dal Scrub ·         Skin care tip: Wash your face thoroughly before you exercise

For very itchy dandruff , try the following home remedy. Take about 1½  teaspoons of powdered black pepper (Kali mirch) seeds, mix with half cup of milk and 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Apply to the scalp and a little more on the irritated area. Let it stay for 35 minutes. Wash it off with any shampoo of your choice. Continue this treatment once a week till all the dandruff disappears. Don’t discontinue this treatment altogether. Instead of a week, use it once in two months. (Contributed by reader Meetu)

Here are 3 common myths regarding dental care, gear up to stash them away. Myth 1: You don’t need to see a dentist unless you have a problem. You couldn’t be more mistaken. Tooth decay is completely painless in the initial stages. And some decays are not evident, but have progressed profoundly all the same and so present you with swelling and pain indicative of infection. Visit a dentist every six months so he can fill teeth with cavities, cleanse the oral environment by removing tartar and ascertain that you are brushing your teeth right. Myth 2: Cleaning at the dentist makes teeth loose. On the contrary! If you do not get teeth cleansed, you could end up with several loose teeth. Poor oral hygiene initiates formation and growth of soft plaque (comprising of microorganisms) on the surfaces of and in between teeth which, when left untouched hardens to form an adherent mass called tartar. This tartar encroaches on the gums and over a period of time aids in diminishing support to

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

A homemade, highly economical face scrub that you can use without much trouble. Soak the pink washed 2 tbsp whole masoor or split masoor dal ( red lentils ) (You can also buy it from here ) overnight in a cup of water. In the morning grind it into a paste and add a few drops of coconut oil / olive oil in it. Apply on your face and allow it to dry a bit. Then scrub it off with a cotton wool soaked in glycerine in small circular motions to slough off dead skin. Your skin will literally glow. Do this twice a week if your skin is oily / combination and once a week if it's normal to dry . Masoor Dal (Red lentils) (Contributed by reader Vaishali Sinha)

Interesting quotes on makeup. Enjoy! Taking joy in living is a woman's best cosmetic. - Rosalind Russell The most beautiful make-up of a woman is passion. But cosmetics are easier to buy. - Yves Saint Laurent Beneath the makeup and behind the smile is just a girl who wishes for the world. - Marilyn Monroe Pretty smiles and makeup can hide so much these days. - Unknown I don't think makeup is rocket science or a cure for cancer. - Cindy Crawford I want to be a guy, but I want to wear a lot of makeup. - Gwen Stefani I love the confidence that makeup gives me. - Tyra Banks It is said that no star is a heroine to her makeup artist - Richard Corliss I'm attracted to roles where I don't have to wear makeup. - Robin Tunney The sweetest thing a guy said is that I look pretty with or without makeup. - Vanessa Hudgens The best thing is to look natural, but it takes makeup to look natural. - Calvin Klein Just because you want to be glamorou

Tress distress? No worries. Here are some great solutions to get the look you want: Get it straight For a smooth, sleek look, try shape contouring non-sticky gel which will provide "hold" and even protect hair from heat styling. Don't expect it to iron out the curliest of locks but it will tame wavy hair into submission.

Upcoming actress Neetu Chandra of Garam Masala, Traffic Signal and Oye Lucky Lucky Oye fame is a fitness freak and a total sports person (She loves playing basketball whenever she's free!). This sexy and seductive actress with a passion and boldness to do whatever she wants to do reveals some of her beauty and fitness secrets. Neetu Chandra's Beauty and Fitness Tips & Secrets I kick-start my day with: Yoga and my vocal trainer who trains me to modulate my voice for better dialogue delivery. My skin loves: Body Shop face packs. I pamper my skin with: Clinique Sunscreen. My hair loves: Tigi Bedhead products . I also condition with a curd pack. My lips love: MAC lip balms. I primp my eyes with: Maybelline Mascara My fitness Mantra: Kathak and gym workouts. Little known facts about me: I'm a black belt holder in Taekwondo and besides being a national games silver medal winner in the martial art, I also represented India in Internati

You may be having your reasons for loving or loathing winters; that's not what we are going to discuss. We'll just give a dekko at an interesting collection of quotes on "Winter" and muse over them. Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home. -- Edith Sitwell Take winter as you find him, and he turns out to be a thoroughly honest fellow; with no nonsense in him, which is a great comfort in the long-run. -- James Russell Lowell Goodness, Time's rude hand defies, And winter lives when beauty dies. --  Henry Kirke White Winter, which strips the leaves from around us, makes us see the distant regions they formerly concealed; so does old age nob us of our enjoyments, only to enlarge the prospect of eternity before us. -- Richter After winter spring will come. -- Hans Andersen Never are voices so beautiful as on a

Dr. Snehal Sriram, Head, Medical Services, Kaya Skin Clinic has certain essential tips that will help keep your skin glowing even in the chill. For one, she says, eat a balanced diet, which includes vegetables, fruits, and fresh fish every day. Try to avoid alcohol and coffee. Both dehydrate the skin and cause more drying and itching. Use a humidifier inside the house to keep the skin moist. Exercise helps produce sweat and increases blood flow to the skin, which improves the skin’s hydration. Colloidal oat meal baths, in addition to preventing water loss, also soothe the skin. While taking a shower in winter, alternate moderately hot water with cold water for a few seconds. This provides an internal massaging effect with improved circulation and better hydration of the skin. Don’t worry too much about the havoc played on the skin by the changing weather. Just lead your life normally and welcome the arrival of winter.

Hot and happening, Sameera Reddy , is an absolute stunner. However few know that Sameera had to really work hard to shed all her baby fat when she decided to make her debut on the silver screen. A fitness freak, Sameera shares how to keep fit with proper food intake and exercise: Her day begins with: I start my day with a glass of coconut water followed with a papaya, couple of oranges and figs. Preferably, I eat only fruits in the morning. Her diet: Even if I have a shoot, I carry food from home that mom lovingly packs for me. In fact, she keeps track of what I need to eat all through my day. I eat 2 rotis with bhaji and green salads for my lunch. In the evening again, I have to have my fruits and nariyal pani (tender coconut water). At night, I relish grilled chicken or else fish with lots of green salads. It’s better not to eat late at night as the body’s metabolism slows down. So I make it a point to have an early dinner between 8-9 PM. Besides, I also find it heal

A delightful collection of Fashion and Style Quotes. Enjoy! There’s never a new fashion but it’s old. - Geoffrey Chaucer Fashion is something that goes in one year and out the other. - Denise Klahn If you are not in fashion, you are nobody. - Lord Chesterfield Style is a simple way of saying complicated things - Jean Cocteau Style is an expression of individualism mixed with charisma. Fashion is something that comes after style. - John Fairchild Fashions fade, style is eternal. - Yves Saint Laurent Looking good and dressing well is a necessity. Having a purpose in life is not. - Oscar Wilde Style is the dress of thoughts - Lord Chesterfield A fashion is nothing but an induced epidemic. - George Bernard Shaw Beauty too often sacrifices to fashion. The spirit of fashion is not the beautiful, but the wilful; not the graceful, but the fantastic; not the superior in the abstract, but the superior in the worst of all concretes,--t

I’ve never had an obsession for fair complexion but as my skin tends to become dull and lifeless at the end of the day, I went ahead and purchased Garnier Skin Naturals Light Fairness Face Wash . How it works? Enriched with exfoliating pure lemon essence, its formula cleanses and clarifies the skin thoroughly and removes impurities that make skin dull. How to use? With moist hands, work a small amount of product into a lather and apply to face. Gently massage onto moist skin with fingertips. Rinse thoroughly. My review: It’s creamy and has a nice fragrance. Just a little of it goes a long way. It doesn’t work up too much lather. After washing, the face feels radiant and bright and it doesn’t dry the skin. For Rs 65, it’s good value for money. I would love to buy it again and again.

I have used quite a few Dove products ( Dove Beauty Bar Pink/Rosa & Dove Gentle Exfoliating Body Wash ) before and really liked them. Currently I am using their Hair Fall Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner. Will post a review on that soon. So when 3 bottles of Dove Body Wash with NutriumMoisture™ – Deep Moisture, Sensitive Skin, and Gentle Exfoliating arrived at my doorstep all the way from US, I was thrilled.(The folks from Dove sent it.) It was all the more exciting for me as I was getting a chance to try a product that has won one of Allure magazine’s 2009 Best of Beauty Breakthrough awards . How it works: All regular body washes cause skin damage as they actually damage proteins and lipids in the skin’s outer layer (called the stratum corneum) during the cleansing process, which leads to critical moisture loss. Even the heavy moisturizers that are often added to compensate for this loss just tend to sit on the surface of the skin without getting fully a

The following beauty tips from my mother helped discover a new ‘me’!

Here, reader Vibha, shares with you some of her favorite homemade face masks. All these can be prepared from the lowly vegetables and fruits from your kitchen. Perfect for those who want to achieve a glowing complexion on a shoe-string budget.

Yana Gupta , the stunning Czech beauty with her piercing grey eyes and well-toned body has got herself quite a fan following in India. Did you know that this model turned actress whose hot item numbers in several Bollywood movies won her many accolades as well as brickbats, is also a fitness freak and a pure vegetarian? Well, here she shares her health and fitness secrets: Day begins with I drink one liter of water as soon as I get up, to clear all the toxins from the body. I usually eat an apple and a pear in the morning. Daily Diet I eat almost five to six times a day in small quantities, depending on my hunger. I drink lots of water and fruit juices including coconut water . I am a pure vegetarian. I eat brown rice with lots of green salads during the day and night and maintain a low oil cuisine. My favorite is coconut chutney with idlis and fruits. I used to fast, but now I have stopped. Once in a week, I just live on fruits and fresh fruit juices. Binge Of course I do! On

Sometime back, Maybelline , New York introduced a new Whitestay UV compact with SPF 18 in India . It comes in five amazing shades – White Ivory, Light Ivory, Natural, Nude and fawn – to suit the variety of Indian skin tones. The compact also has vitamin C which supposedly brightens the skin tone instantly to give visible fairness all day long. The composition is also supposed to keep the oil away from your face leaving it fresh for the day.

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.

I had always thought that it's not important to wash one's face before exercising and always preferred to do it  only after I was done with exercise. But a valuable tip from Dr. Neal Schultz (DermTV) enlightened me that it's far more important to cleanse your face thoroughly before a workout than afterwards .

Right off the heels of the New York Fashion Week comes the London Fashion Week 2009! Lesser known than its Parisian counterpart, London’s Fashion Week emanates the grungy street style unique to the UK alone. And grey seems to be the colour of the season. Designers such as Todd Lynn, Erdem, and Peter Pilotto all played with muted blues, greens and yellows for their spring/summer 2010 lines. The opening shows have all seemed to be awash in a gloomy overcast mood which is why it was so easy to hone in on the catwalk makeup these gorgeous models were sporting! Although it is still early, Monday and Tuesday’s shows showcased bare-naked faces with minimal foundation, blush and nude lip color. How can you achieve the look that’s sweeping London this season? Here are a few suggestions: Start with as clean, bare face and apply a matte foundation primer such as Smashbox Photo Finish Primer or Urban Decay Complexion Primer Potion. Worn alone, foundation primers minimize the look of

Image via Wikipedia It's a known fact that Vitamin C is very effective as an anti-aging nutrient; the intake of vitamin C aids in the production of collagen which greatly reduces varying signs of aging, such as the wrinkles on your face and even the sagging of the skin. It also works as a powerful anti-oxidant, helping your skin fight against free radicals that destroy the natural beauty of the skin.A great source of vitamin C are oranges, grapefruit, lemon and other citrus fruits. As a matter of fact, instead of relying on anti-aging creams, eating an orange everyday can keep your skin taut and youthful.

(Guest Post) Are you ready for autumn? Are your nails? Check out these pointers to find out: 1. Get Dark Are you keeping up on fashion-forward colors for this fall? According to the latest New York runway reports , designers this season are trending toward olives, browns, and burgundy to match the natural deep shades of autumn, with luxe matte textures to evoke the rich cold-weather appeal of velvet and leather. Where summer’s colors were light and candied, fall’s colors are bold and elegant.  2. Shine On! Are you the kind of girl who just can’t stay away from the light? Don’t worry: just because dark colors are in, that doesn’t rule out the opportunity for a whole lot of sparkle. Many of the season’s hottest shades right now are filled with a healthy dose of silver and gold glitter, for a futuristic sparkle that will shine on long after the short winter sun has gone down.   3. Its All in the Details Nails are longer this season , leaving plenty of room fo

Sleeplessness , too many late nights and fatigue takes its toll on the under eye skin. Result? Darkened eye contour and puffy eyes. Now Garnier’s new innovation ‘ light Eye Roll On’ , a first of its kind massaging roller claims to tackle the problem of puffy eyes and dark circles. Massage is a technique used by experts to boost natural draining and decongest tired eyes. The formula, enriched with caffeine pro-vitamin 5, which are known for their stimulating properties on micro-circulation and hydration respectively, energizes the eyes, taking away all signs of tiredness and helps brighten the skin and boosts radiance. It’s available all over India for Rs199 per 15ml !!!

Your voice is a fair indicator of your personality- the way you feel,your attitude, and your moods. If you are the irritable type, your voice will have an edgy note. If you are under confident or a chronic-worrier, your voice will have a tendency to whine. Maybe you find life devoid of any excitement and end up speaking in a dull monotonous tone. Poor health and fatigue could give you a dreary flat voice. There are good reasons for you to consider how you sound because even a well-groomed, beautiful woman could give a nasty knock to her personality if her voice is shrill and thin or loud and coarse- all the more so, because these voice defects can be corrected with a little conscious effort and self-training to make the voice sound soft, nice, and pleasant. If you doubt the power of effective and engaging speech, listen carefully to the calls you get in the course of the day. You will be amazed by the range of patterns you hear, and realize how instantly you judge a person by the

As 85 percent of bad breath originates in the mouth, simple treatment strategies like brushing teeth twice a day, flossing the spaces between 2 teeth, rinsing and gargling after every food intake, professional cleansing of the teeth by a dentist and treatment for oral diseases, especially gum diseases usually is necessary to tackle this problem. But in most cases an unclean tongue can be the culprit too. In fact, dentists suggest that brushing and flossing should be accompanied by tongue cleaning also in order to thoroughly cleanse your oral cavity. The bacterial count on your tongue can be drastically reduced (as much as 50% in one day) with effective tongue cleaning.

Women's Friendship Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in August. Check out these awesome friendship quotes as well. Pic Credits

Wishing a Very Happy Independence Day to all Indian Readers.

In my quest to find a cheap bathing soap,  I had chanced upon  Jo Sandal soap  sometime back and gingerly made a purchase . So without much ado, here's my detailed review of Jo Sandal and Turmeric Soap .

Your hair care routine and style too needs a makeover this monsoon. Some tips: Hair care: Avoid colouring your hair this season. Blow drying and ironing are not good options, as the repeated flow of hot air can cause breakages and split ends . Say no to hair brushes this season. Combs work best to de-tangle knotty strands after leave-in conditioner is applied on the hair. Tress style: Select hairstyles which are easy to make, simple and uncommon. Go in for shorter hairstyles this season. Bangs and fringes are to be avoided. Instead, opt for the short Chelsea bob. Natural and wavy hair also looks beautiful. A monsoon tip: Some hair wax applied to the hair, makes it look natural and keeps it manageable. Clips and more: Fancy gem studded glittery clips on a short bob look classy for a night out. Broad hairbands in nude or funky colors also look good, as they make both curly and straight hair look chic and stylish. (Guest Post by Smitha)

In the rains, it makes sense to note the following things while doing your eyes . Mascara: It's best to go for neutral coloured eyes this season, with an application of waterproof mascara on curled lashes. However, if you do want to add colour to your eyes, mix powder and cream eyeshadows . Besides  aqua and neon green, purple and lavender are in, this season. Avoid Kajal: Opt for coloured waterproof liners instead. Apply it on the top lashes of the eyes and make sure the lines are not too bold; this gives a very young and fresh look. Apply a coat of mascara to your lashes. (Guest Post by Smitha)

Dr Snehal Sriram (MD) , Kaya Skin Clinic shares a few tips on taking care of your skin this monsoon : Summer is the season for growth - our skin cell turnover increases; this leads to piling up of dead layers of skin by the time monsoon begins. Also, the UV rays that harm the skin are invisible but do penetrate the clouds and harm the skin. Without right skin care, our skin starts looking dull and lifeless in the monsoon. Acidic water adds to our woes and hair tends to get rough and frizzy. Skincare: - Cleanse your skin daily using a soap free cleanser. Also make use of a gentle scrub (with uniform mild beads) once a day to get rid of dead cells. - Cleansing should be followed by toning using an alcohol free toner, since increased humidity could open up your pores - Use a sunscreen even on a cloudy day since the harmful UV radiations are capable of penetrating the clouds - Use a light lotion based moisturizer or serum with a lightening agent as

Wishing you all a very Happy Friendship Day . Let us go through some quotes of famous personalities to know their views, sentiments and thoughts about this wonderful bonding called 'friendship'. Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather is one of those things that give value to survival. - C. S. Lewis Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you. - Elbert Hubard A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. - Walter Winchell A friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be anywhere else. - Len Wein A friend is one who believes in you when you have ceased to believe in yourself. - Unknown Anybody can sympathise with the sufferings of a friend, but it requires a very fine nature to sympathise with a friend's success. - Oscar Wilde Friends are the most important ingredient in this recipe of life. - Unknown The b

With monsoon in full swing in India, it’s time to look for a shampoo that helps fight frizz. The extreme humidity and rains in monsoon tend to make hair rough, frizzy and unmanageable. So when I came across an ad depicting the virtues of Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Fortifying Shampoo as the perfect frizz-control shampoo, I immediately purchased it. I don’t stick to shampoos or conditioners of the same brand ; I like to experiment with different combinations. It’s a myth that changing shampoos frequently causes excessive hair-fall . All you have to look for in a shampoo is the ingredient list (some may have issues with the presence of SLS/SLES in shampoos), it’s suitability for the season and the hair-type.

Beauty is not a prerogative of models, film stars and other celebrities. Given proper and affordable beauty products, you too can look great without cutting a huge hole in your pocket. The question, however, is where to find good beauty products that fit right into your budget.

Follow these simple pointers during the rains to keep your feet looking great. * Get regular pedicures and keep your toenails trimmed. Also cut your toe-nails straight across and not the corners to prevent ingrown nails . Once in a week, you should also clean the insides of your nails with an orange stick dipped in hydrogen-peroxide to ward off nail infections. * Paint your toenails bright, happy colours. * Steer clear of leather footwear. They become soggy when wet, and are not suitable for monsoons. But perchance if you were wearing leather footwear during an unexpected shower, here's what you should do with your leather sandals . * Say goodbye to closed footwear and start wearing open footwear, it'll allow your feet to dry quickly and let your toes breathe. Flip flops let your feet breathe and help that moisture evaporate in no time. * Before wearing your shoes or sandals, clean them thoroughly with a dry cloth. This helps remove any fungal growth or moulds in your we