Beauty and Personal Grooming

Swimming in the cool waters of the pool or paddling through the sea waves is a great way to unwind after a hectic weekend, but it doesn't do any good to your pretty curls . So if your naturally curly hair looks battered & frizzy after a swim, it's high time you did something for it.

An aesthetically attractive posture needs neither the classical features of a Venus or an attractive Shakuntala nor the figure of a celestial nymph or an Apsara . A pleasing posture can be easily acquired and perfected. Posture is an essential part of a well-groomed woman . One must walk erect-no hunching and no slouching. The body must be upright. At the same time, the body must be relaxed and one’s movements should be fluid . In other words, one must not give the impression or a bamboo pole or a military man or imitate the unduly gait of a camel. When walking , the leg should swing forward from the hip, in one gentle motion. Try to bend the knee as little as possible. When the foot touches the ground, its toes, and not heel, should contact the ground first. When the heel touches the ground first, the walk, or rather the movement, seems “heavy”.

Do you have difficulty hiding an area of dimpled, bumpy skin? Have you tried everything to camouflage the cottage cheese ? Most men and women have some degree of cellulite, fatty deposits located in our connective tissue directly beneath the skin. This causes an unwanted effect of rippling on the skins surface, sometimes referred to as orange peel syndrome. Women are most afflicted with this condition, which appears most commonly on the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks. The fatty deposits are difficult to remove and can require drastic changes in life style habits, and in severe cases, surgery. Although there is no fast and easy fix, cellulite can be disguised with a few simple steps .

We’ve all been guilty of buying beauty products we don’t really need just because they are the flavor of the month.  Be honest, you’ve purchased more lip-gloss in a single year than an entire girl’s boarding school could use up in a lifetime.  And don’t even get started on revitalizing creams!  In truth, most women are susceptible to advertising.  If we weren’t, all those ad agencies would be out of business.  We quickly buy into the images that are thrust in our faces every day on billboards, in magazines, and during commercial breaks.  We want the smoky eyes that can only come from a combination of expensive eye shadow palettes, liners, and mascara.  That girl with the perfect skin could be you if only you’d whip out your wallet and get an entirely new line of skincare (forget the fact that it’s totally wrong for your skin type).  The point is we could all be a little wiser when it comes to spending our hard-earned dollars on beauty products,...

It’s no secret that women are suckers for grooming products .  Heck, there’s an entire multi-billion dollar industry based on the simple concept that the fairer sex is always seeking the next best way to look better than ever.  Sadly, this penchant for primping and the products that go with it has led to a mass epidemic of medicine cabinets and under-sink cupboards overflowing with makeup, hair products, nail treatments, and skin creams galore.  And every time you have to go hunting for your nighttime moisturizer or your shiny red lipstick, you swear you’re going to take the time to organize everything.  But each time you get around to it, you wind up dumping related items into buckets and sticking them in no-man’s-land at the back of the cabinet.  However, there are a few tips that can make your organizational nightmare into an easily manageable undertaking.  Just follow these simple steps to get the neat and tidy cabinets you see in the magazines . ...

The maang , or the parting in the hair , enjoys a unique place in Indian culture . It has always had a special significance in our society because of the relationship it has with Sindoor and marital status. Many Bollywood films have tried to cash in on this sentimentality and romanticism and to lure audiences – Maang Bharo Sajana, Khoon Bhari Maang , Sindoor Tere naam ka to name a few. Bridegroom applying sindoor in maang (hair parting)  ( Pic Source )

As the leaves start falling, we’re all trying to get our hands on the hottest looks for the colder months. With the New York Fashion Week ongoing, it seems there are a host of trends popping up on the runway that will give hungry fashionistas what they are looking for, and a taste of what is to come in the world of fall makeup trends. Makeup artists for Marc Jacobs, Brian Reyes, and Peter Som have set the stage, and those of us anxiously awaiting can now rest easy knowing what to put on with the sweaters dutifully pulled from closets.

Women for years have bemoaned the use of self-tanner .  What happened to the good old days of beach blanket bingo, when spending all day (sans sun-block) at a beach filled with frolicking youngsters was considered hip?  These days, nobody wants to risk the horrors of skin cancer by sitting outside to achieve a sun-kissed glow.  And apparently tanning beds are just as bad .  And yet, contemplating the sticky, streaky mess of self-tanners is almost a deal-breaker.  But you don’t want to spend the winter months looking pasty and pale simply because you are loathe to lotion up.  Thankfully, there is a proper way to apply self-tanners so that you don’t end up orange or striped like a brown-and-white zebra.  If you follow a few simple tips and tricks, you can come out with a perfect and flawless tan every time .

Are you agonizing over those awful stains on your teeth , which are tenacious and don’t seem to budge to regular & proper brushing ? Are those time-tested and decidedly effective teeth whitening home-remedies , highly recommended by your friend not working for you? Now if you have been worrying over this constantly and wondering perhaps what could be done to erase these stubborn teeth stains that are tainting the beauty of your smile , don’t lose heart. Even Hillary Clinton has stained teeth.

There are numerous tips doled out to women on grooming nowadays, which include those on what to wear, which jewellery to choose, what make-up to don and when and how and what hairstyle to adopt, and so on. But one essential aspect of grooming that escapes our attention is that of wearing a smile ! We hardly realize that no dress, no ornament, no makeup and no-anything of its ilk can surpass the impact of a smile , which is the most beautiful ornament ever discovered! A smile is the language of inner culture and silent music from within. A smile invests life with joy and warmth. The most beautiful aspect of grooming has eluded us because we are too busy looking for the decoration of our body outwardly. By this, we miss this vital aspect of grooming, our inner self . A smile reflects an inner personality, which is at immense peace with oneself. An inscrutable tranquility and equanimity of mind, that pervades within, casts its radiance outwards in the form of a serene smile. ...

It may come as no surprise that your body undergoes a series of traumatic changes during pregnancy. Many people will experience anything from acne to intense cravings for chocolate . When your hormones are going wild, it may become necessary to change your makeup and skin care routines to adapt to your body’s changes. It is important to educate yourself on certain products and what they are made of in order to get yourself the best care possible during your pregnancy. Here are the do’s and don’ts of makeup and skincare that will help your skin look as beautiful as you feel .

Do you often find yourself pining over that gorgeous Herbal Essences model whose golden locks shine and flow like the gods? Have you tried everything in the books to tame your frizzy mane? If your hair falls under the categories of “dry” and “brittle ,” bad hair days may be more common than good ones. What can be done to turn every bad case of frizz into tumbling tresses forevermore? It may be easier then you thought. A simple change in your hair care methods may be all you need to make your hair and you happier. On closer examination, your hair, when at its best, appears smooth and soft. A microscope can easily reveal that chemically damaged, or dry hair looks cracked and tangled . The damaged strands of hair refuse to lie flat and become out of control. The key to taming your hair is conditioning . Conditioners, which re-hydrate your hair, are essential to rejuvenating your hair’s cuticle, or outer layer. This not only allows for the strands of hair to relax and lay down, but al...