Beauty and Personal Grooming

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind … it doesn’t matter. - Mark Twain Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. - Chili Davis To live to 100, have something to live for. Living for something is part of living long. Never regret growing old; not everyone has that privilege. -Anonymous Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul. - Douglas McArthur Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age. - Anonymous A man is not old until regrets start taking place of dreams. - Anonymous If wrinkles must be written upon our brows, let them not be written upon the heart. The spirit should never grow old. - James A. Garfield

If you have been following this blog religiously, then you must be aware that I have an oily, acne-prone skin and am constantly on the lookout for products that can control excess sebum-secretion. Himalaya Gentle Face Wash Gel for oily skin . helped me to some extent. But I needed something stronger this summer. So I purchased Garnier Naturals Deep pore face wash and am quite happy with it. It contains salicyclic acid, alcohol among many other ingredients. As anyone with oily or spot prone skin will know, the ingredient Salicylic Acid should be a must in any product designed for oily, zit-prone skin. Salicylic Acid works by sloughing off the dead cells from the face, prevents pore clogging and the formation of zits. It’s a great product and I have been using it twice a day, everyday. Firstly, I wet my face and then squeeze a bit of it on my palm. It’s gel-like and transparent with blue granules. I then gently massage it with my finger tips all over my face concentrating ...

While we pursue happiness, we flee from contentment. - Anonymous Happiness itself does not stay -- only moments of happiness do. - Spanish Proverb The purpose of life is not to be happy – but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you have lived at all. - Leo Rosten, American teacher and humorist Happiness is not a destination. It is a method of life. - Burton Hills Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed. - Storm Jameson Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling. - Margaret B. Runbeck It is not length of life, but depth of life. - Ralph Waldo Emerson Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have. - Anonymous The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. - Allan K. Chalmers Discontent is the source of all trouble, but also of all progress, in individuals and nation...

Gulping down vegetable juices is also a great way to quench your thirst and cleanse your system not only in summer but in other seasons as well. They are packed with nutrients and minerals. In fact, a glass of your favorite vegetable juice everyday will prevent any breakouts if you have an acne-prone skin and rejuvenate it to reveal a sparking and glowing complexion. Vegetable juices can be very filling; so have them before meals. You might even try a vegetable juice fast by giving up food for a few days and leaving on vegetable juices alone to detoxify Carrot juice Ingredients: 2 grated carrots 1 tbsp of lemon juice Blend and chill. Spinach juice Ingredients: 100 gms spinach 1 tbsp tomato juice 1 tbsp of carrot juice Blend Beetroot juice Ingredients: 4 oz beetroot 4 oz grated carrot 3 tbsp orange juice 450 ml water Blend well Or alternatively you may try 4 oz beetroot diluted with water. Carrot juice Ingredients: 1 carrot 1 stick ...

On a warm summer’s day, when you are feeling tired and dehydrated, nothing is more refreshing than a tall glass of nice cool drink. Fresh fruit juices are so g ood for health too being full of vitamins, especially Vitamin C. As most skin problems arise from within, it’s a good idea to detoxify our system by treating ourselves to some of these nourishing health drinks. Never ever succumb to the temptation of drinking water, fruit juices or vegetable juices from roadside vendors as food and water-borne infections are very common during summers. Mixed Fruit juice: Ingredients: ½ mango cubed 2 tbsp lemon juice 200 ml apple juice Water to taste Procedure: Combine ingredients and blend well. Tangy mango juice Ingredients: 5 ripe mangoes (peel off skin) 1 tbsp lemon juice Blend well Icy Melon juice Ingredients: Water melon Blend 6 ounce melon and dilute with icy cold mineral water. Banana milk Ingredients: 150 ml skimmed milk 1 banana 1 tbsp lemon...

To soothe your skin from the harsh effects of sunlight, spritz on some of these cool sunburn gels. Ayur sunburn gel It cools and soothes skin instantly, helping to minimize the signs of short-term sun damage with the skin healing powder of Natural Chamomile. A blend of Aloe-Vera , Chamomile , Cucumber and multi-vitamin complex absorbs quickly to help minimize flaking and peeling. Also helps to reduce the signs of redness. Pure aloe gel Spritzing on pure aloe-gel will soften and soothe your skin instantaneously. Aloe being a major player in skin-care, it can also be used to get rid of blemishes , scars and age spots . Can also be used as a medication to treat cuts and minor burns . Pure Aloe Gel Fruit Of The Earth Aloe Vera 100 % Gel for Sunburn Made with the most concentrated amount fresh Aloe Vera leaves on the market, this cooling gel forms a protective barrier that helps retain moisture and promote healing. Very beneficial for reducing the blisters and sor...

Tips to ease sunburn ouch: * Chill a spray bottle of Vinegar in the fridge, then spritz it on your burn. * Puree a peeled Cucumber and rub it on your face. * Pop an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen. * Never be without Aloe vera Gel , the all-round skin saviour. * Wipe your face with a napkin kept soaking in chilled rose water (gulab jal) after a long tiring day. * Apply mayonnaise on sunburnt areas. * You can even try applying peanut oil (ground nut oil) too. * Try applying thin slices of cold cucumbers, apples, or potato directly to the skin. * Apply cold, plain yogurt, then rinse with cool water. * Apply cold, used tea bags to sun-burnt eyelids to relieve pain and swelling. Sunburn spray: 2 fluid ounces of distilled water 9 drops of lavender oil 2 drops of peppermint oil 1 drop of spearmint oil Mix all, and spritz lightly over sunburnt skin.

A handful of patience is worth a bushel of brains. - Dutch Proverb An idle brain is the devil's workshop. - English Proverb The mind is like a parachute - it works only when it is open . - Frank Zappa He who at thirty has no brains, will never purchase an estate. - Spanish Proverb It is good to rub and polish our brain against that of others. - Montaigne My own brain is to me the most unaccountable of machinery-always buzzing, humming, soaring, roaring, diving, and then buried in mud. And why? What's this passion for? - Virgina Woolf If my heart could do my thinking, would my brain begin to feel? - Van Morrison You know you've got to exercise your brain just like your muscles. - Will Rogers If the brain were so simple we could understand it, we would be so simple we couldn't. - Lyall Watson

The harmful UV rays of the sun penetrate the deeper layer of the skin cause cumulative damage over the years. The ravages are wreaked mainly on the elastic and collagen fibers that lie in the lower layer of the skin and which are responsible for its elasticity and smoothness and hence the cause for a majority of wrinkles can be blamed on the sun. Excessive exposure to UV rays can also cause brown patches of pigmentation on the face or the back of the hands, commonly called as age spots . Our eyes are also very vulnerable to the harmful UV rays and hence need to be protected with suitable eye gear while venturing out in the hot sun. So should you avoid the sun like plague? Isn’t there anything good about the sun or sunlight? A few good things about the Sun It makes you snooze . L ight helps synchronize your internal clock during the day so you sleep better at night. It keeps your bones healthy. When exposed to sun, our skin makes vitamin D, which helps the body absorb...

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%.

All types of skins respond well to fruits and fruit juice masks . The enzymes in fruits and fruit juices work to firm tighten and rejuvenate the facial skin. This refreshing fruit pack from Himalaya Herbals is packed with the goodness of papaya, apple, cucumber and fig, along with the wonder clay ‘ Multani mitti (fuller’s earth)’. Apple , a rich source of natural AHAs, nourishes and improves skin glow. Fig and Cucumber provide cooling effect to your skin. P apaya removes blemishes , freckles and other spots and smoothens the skin. Multani mitti (fuller’s earth) soothes the skin and removes blackheads and deeply embedded impurities.

Clothes that can keep track of your health may soon enter the market. To date, developments in this field were just restricted to measuring a wearer's body temperature, electro-cardiogram, electromyogram, breath rhythm, etc, mainly, to detect cardiovascular risk. A new European project BIOTEX has plans of weaving new functions into these smart textiles. It aims at developing dedicated biochemical-sensing techniques compatible with integration into textile that is comfortable and safe to the wearer. Miniaturised biosensors in a textile patch will analyse body fluids, even a tiny drop of sweat, and provide a much better assessment of someone's health. There will be several sensors embedded within the fabric, constantly monitoring your vital signs. If danger signs are detected, the garment will be programmed to contact your doctor – and send a text message telling you to take it easy.

Age spots , also called as liver spots are yellowish, brown or gray flat spots that look like large freckles and are usually caused by aging, too much sun, impaired liver function, and a dietary or nutritional deficiency. Age spots can appear on any skin that has been exposed to the sun, such as the back of the hands, face, feet and back. They are extremely common during and after middle age and are an indication of free radical intoxication. As they take years to form, eliminating them takes time too. Usually these spots are not considered dangerous; treatment is necessary for cosmetic reasons only. There are home remedies as well as medical procedures performed by dermatologists. Dermatologists usually prescribe creams containing Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA). Topical application of certain skin-lightening creams as well as over-the-counter bleaching creams and lotions is also found to improve the skin texture. Cryotherapy , dermabrasion, microdermabrasion or laser treatment may be...

Though direct evidence is not found, some dermatologists opine that slathering on shiny lip glosses can actually increase your risk of developing skin cancer. As lip glosses can make more of the light rays penetrate directly through the skin instead of getting reflected off the skin’s surface, the resulting sun damage can lead to potentially fatal forms of skin cancer. Less serious damages could be disfigurements and small brown spots which look like freckles on lips. Sun damage also leads to premature ageing of lips, making them look much thinner. Experts say that the culprit is the moisture in the lip-gloss which squashes the protective upper layer on the lips making them vulnerable to UV rays. Apart from the extra hydration, the “super shine” and “ultra shine” of the glosses could be damaging as well. Dermatologists recommend ditching lipglosses in favor of lip sticks and lip balms with SPF 30 as it would ensure that your lips are more protected from the UV rays. See also: Al...

Mud and clay packs should especially be reserved for summer months. I just can’t do without this homemade Multani-Mitti mask in summer. I use it thrice a week to get rid of the excess oil, deep-seated impurities and grime and freshen up my oily face. If you don’t have the time to whip up your own mask then you may want to try this marvelous purifying mud pack from Himalaya Herbals . It contains Mineral Clay, Multani mitti (fuller’s earth), Khus-khus (poppy seeds) and walnut. This mineral rich Mud Pack absorbs excess oil, cleans clogged pores and removes deep-seated impurities. It also helps to get rid of blackheads, stubborn blemishes and tightens your facial skin , thereby minimizing the appearance of wrinkles . Multani mitti (fuller’s earth) is not only a skin-cleanser but cooling as well, walnut removes skin impurities, blackheads and dead cells and mineral clay heals, improves circulation and makes the skin soft and tender.