Beauty and Personal Grooming

The other day I was at a railway station waiting for the train to arrive. It was late in the evening and it was getting dark. Sadly enough, the platform where my train was supposed to arrive hadn’t enough lighting. Sitting on the bench and waiting in semi-darkness was sheer torture for me. My misery was further enhanced by a swarm of mosquitoes that started biting me. Now I hadn’t expected this and so I wasn’t carrying any mosquito repellant cream with me but I got caught in a whirlwind of negative thoughts! Are these deadly mosquitoes carriers of dengue, malaria or chickungunya viruses? What if, I contract one of these dreaded diseases? What are my chances of recovery? Will it prove fatal? My thoughts were racing…

Whether it’s the aroma of fresh flowers, a hot apple pie, or an old shoe, we live in a world of smells. Depending on the strength of your sniffer, every month may unofficially be “Olfactory Awareness Month.” With the spirit of smelling in mind, take a minute and click your body’s metaphorical “smell check” button and then read this quick summary on the science of body odors and the tips to combat the funky ones.

When you go for your morning jog, you are striding toward firm legs, a thinner middle and a strong heart. Little did you know, you were also getting your ears into shape. In a study at Miami University in Ohio, subjects who participated in 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercises two or three times a week found that their hearing actually improved. After two months of regular exercise, some of them doubled their ability to detect very faint sounds. A previous study at the university had demonstrated that fitness may protect you from hearing loss –  participants who were the most fit suffered less temporary hearing loss when exposed to loud noises than most sedentary people – but this is the first real evidence that it might also improve hearing . Another Netherlands-based study on a 55 plus age-group of people has found out that aerobic exercises tend to boost cognitive processing speed, memory functions and auditory and visual attention in healthy older people. Nearly two-...

These days I have been reading Maureen Lockhart’s  “Yoga for Youth, a young people's guide to a healthy life. ” and though the book is essentially about Yoga , Deep Breathing & Meditation , it also replete with yogic diet and  health tips. It’s a good read and I thoroughly recommend it to all Yoga lovers; I am reading the 1986 th Edition though. (I wasn’t able to locate this book online. You may contact India Book House for a hard copy. ) While skimming through the book, I stumbled upon these home beauty tips .

I hate to admit this, but I have some superfluous hair growing abundantly on my toes and a few straggly ones at the centre of my feet. I usually use a hair removing cream or a razor to get rid of that obnoxious fuzz. But those puny hairs have the audacity to pop up immediately in a few days time.

Siri asks: My neck is slender and long, but I have developed 3 lines on it, at equal distance from one another. I am in the habit of using a high pillow. I feel uncomfortable if I don’t use a pillow. I am only 19 years old.

Wanna get rid of blemishes and marks that seem to ruin your otherwise good-looking face? An easy way out is to eat cabbage in innumerable forms. Yes, you heard it right! According to this article from Total Beauty, cabbage contains "indole-3-carbonile, a powerful antioxidant that supports detoxification in the liver”. Detoxing your liver can "help to minimize toxicities that can build up in the bloodstream causing dull, blemished skin.”

The nose is a delicate and important part of the face. But how many of us are aware of the simple ways of taking care of our nose. I am not nosing my way into your nasal matters but only taking the liberty of suggesting some simple measures for the proper care of your nose, which constitutes a very important part of your face. Many people, for instance, are not aware of the right way of blowing their noses. They often tend to compress the lower part of the nose very tightly with their thumb and forefinger, and blow out with all their might.

  S asks: I have a good figure and like to wear low saris (below the navel). How can I ensure that my navel looks clean and shapely? If I clean it with a towel, it hurts a lot.

All of us have experienced, sometime or the other, that frustrated feeling of being ignored. You find you have to repeat yourself so many times! People seem preoccupied and not really listening to you. And worse, others seem to just butt in while you are still talking and steer the conversation away right from under your nose! Well, it happens to everybody sometimes. But if it happens more than sometimes, you must sit up and analyze yourself. To be habitually ignored, does not augur well for your emotional and physical well-being. It can adversely affect your career and life. Experts say the major reason for this sorry state is poor speech impact. You may be a brilliant person with original ideas and intelligent thoughts. But if your speech lacks even the average impact, all your ideas will fall flat. No one will listen to you. Like Rita. At her office meetings, her ideas and suggestions always go unheard and unnoticed while far more inferior ones actually get accepted. Ri...

Cleverbot & Jabberwacky are chatterbots that use Artificial intelligence algorithm to chat with humans. Here’s an interesting conversation with these bots. A humorous conversation with Cleverbot :

Confused about what to get that fancy lady in your life for Valentine's Day this year? Why not consider the wonderful array of beauty products at your disposal? Most women love a good pamper, and nothing says, "Because I think you're beautiful!" like receiving beauty gifts. Here are f ive suggestions for cosmetic and perfume presents that are just right for this Valentine's Day .

Do you want to rock a fantastic new look for this year's Valentine's Day? Professional makeup is cost prohibitive and far less convenient than you doing it yourself at home, but if you aren't sure exactly which direction to head toward, never fear. Eyes will pop as you burst onto the scene as the new you, lights flashing all around because you are so very ready for the camera! Here are five DIY makeup tips that will increase your impact this Valentine's Day .

Ah, February 14th ... a day that many single women look forward to about as much as they do the day that taxes are due. If you're one of the many single masses, or even if you have a steady, you will still want to look your hottest this Valentine's Day. Who knows ... love could be right around the corner! Here are a few grooming and makeup tips that will help you rock a sexy new look this V Day.

Valentine's Day is usually met with heartfelt wishes of adoration, or by the knowledge that you should have just stayed home in bed. If you're one of the people celebrating this year, perhaps you're feeling a yen for stepping up your game for this V-Day: maybe you've got a special someone you're trying to impress, or maybe you're just doing it for you! Whatever the reason, you could always do it yourself, applying makeup and doing your hair at home, or you could spend a little money, splurging on a professional. How do you know what's the best course of action without breaking the bank?

This DIY hair pack / conditioner is something that I use once in a week before I take a head bath.

Sanjana asks: My 12 year old daughter’s nose is very rough to touch. How can it be made smooth and normal? Is there are a home remedy or medicine that can be applied?