Skin care-follow these 5 golden rules

Following are the five golden rules for basic skin care:
Cleansing: Mere washing the skin with a soap or face will only remove the dirt and impurities on the surface. Impurities such as bacteria, excess sebum, stale make-up are lodged deep into the pores of the skin So in order to make the skin breathe freely, the pores must be cleansed in the morning and evening properly. Cleansing your skin at night will nurture your skin, repeating the procedure in the morning will remove the impurities that accumulated in the pores at night and your skin will be fresh for the application of makeup. For cleansing, use cleansing milk on a damp cotton wool and wipe your face using upward movements i.e. from neck to forehead.

Toning: Toning has an evaporating and cooling action that causes the muscles to contact and the pores to become temporarily smaller. Toning removes traces of grease and the cleanser may have left behind. It stimulates the pores and thus makes the skin active, healthy and lively.

Moisturizing: Moisture is necessary for the skin to look soft, elastic & young. Natural moisture is lost due to a number of factors like the exposure to sun, wind, weather changes, ageing etc. You have to protect your skin under a moisturizer especially before applying makeup. It helps to conserve the skin’s moisture. It is a must for dry skin. Greasy skinned people can use non greasy moisturizers.

Nourishing: Lubrication is a must for the skin’s long-lasting beauty. Nourishing post phones the arrival of wrinkles and lines. A good nourishing cream to suit your skin type will restore the precious oil and natural moisture. It seals the moisture of the skin and makes it look supple. Nourishing cream contains lanolin oil or
an oily substance which resembles natural sebum in the skin.

Weekly face packs: A weekly face mask or pack helps to absorb the excess oil and dirt from the skin. These can be in the form of powder, pastes, and creams. All these packs are designed to refine the complexion and make the skin look fresh and smooth. When the face pack dries, the tightening action gives a boost in the blood circulation, it also tightens the wrinkles. The dead cells are removed when the pack is washed off. All this helps to give a glow to the skin.
See also: Know your skin type

Natural remedies for dark circles around your eyes

Dark circles around your eyes. How unsightly they look and even your best dress and layers of make-up sometimes does not quite succeed in concealing them! Blame it on your genes or your lifestyle, but, you cannot deny the fact that these are a blot on your beauty . And they become more prominent as you age. Let’s just debunk some of the myths as well as unearth some of the facts about the causes of these ‘ panda eyes ’. Dark circles under eyes usually are temporary and not a medical concern. You may be surprised to learn that fatigue usually isn't the cause of dark circles. Instead, the most common cause is nasal congestion. When your nose is congested, veins that usually drain from your eyes into your nose become widened (dilated) and darker.

Coconut oil for beauty

Coconut oil, due its high saturated fat content was branded as unhealthy and artery-clogging which could cause heart diseases. This claim has been widely disproved by the scientific community and it is now being hailed as one of world’s healthiest cooking oils. Though it may take time, perceptions are slowly changing as people are beginning to realize its tremendous benefits. Coconuts and coconut oil have always been a part of the cuisine in tropical countries like India (South) and Sri Lanka and even today coconut is indispensable in their diet. For now, let’s leave aside the health benefits and focus our attention on the beauty uses of this wonderful oil. South Indian women swear by it. They attribute their dense, long, raven black hair and a flawless , clear complexion to good genes and the liberal use of coconut oil in their diet and beauty regimen.

Aspirin for acne-prone skin

Aspirin has been around for a long time and its health benefits are wide and varied. Aspirin , or acetylsalicylic acid is a salicylate drug, often used as an analgesic to relieve minor aches and pains , as an antipyretic to reduce fever , and as an anti-inflammatory medication. Aspirin's greatest benefit is reducing cardiovascular events including heart attacks and strokes. According to the American Heart Assoc. virtually all women are at risk of heart disease and doctors should more strongly consider prescribing a daily aspirin for their female patients. There is growing evidence to suggest regular aspirin use may reduce cancer and dementia as well. Investigators from the Women's Health Study have reported important new findings demonstrating that aspirin reduces the risk of a first stroke in women. When given to someone immediately after a heart attack, aspirin decreases death by 25%.

Simple ways of acquiring a clear & blemish free skin

It is not necessary to go to expensive beauty parlours or buy expensive creams and lotions to acquire a blemish free & clear complexion. A few homemade remedies are provided below which will serve the purpose equally well. Hope this will benefit the readers. 1. Always wash your face with mild soap so that the pores breathe fresh air. For a clear and attractive skin mix besan, turmeric (haldi), lemon and milk together. Make a paste. Apply it on the face. Let it dry. Wash with clean water. Wipe your face with a soft towel and pat it dry.

Aloevera, the wonder herb

Of all the herbs available in the kitchen garden, aloe is perhaps the richest in healing properties and has been rightly named the “first-aid” plant. It has moisturizing and emollient properties and is used in cosmetic creams, sun-lotions, shaving creams and face packs. It can easily be cultivated as a house-plant in a sunny warm spot with good drainage. Cosmetologists mix aloe with several other herbs and draft fancy names for it. Then these “herbal” avatars are sold at exorbitant prices. Growing a plant and using fresh gel is much more effective than bottled gel, simply because it is alive and therefore is more potent. It is the only plant whose extract is applied directly from plant to face in its natural and purest form.