Beauty and Personal Grooming

Just because the cosmetic industry may spend billions on marketing expensive dry skin care products at considerable expense to you, doesn’t mean you have to follow suit. The above natural remedies we have mentioned above are effective and great ways to take care of yourself, without adding expense to your life you could be enjoying elsewhere! Most people don’t know that they can take care of their skin naturally and without huge expense, using a little known household kitchen item – Baking soda !

Taking care of your skin varies throughout the year.  What may be best for summer will no longer work in fall or winter due to factors in the environment that a woman must face. To avoid dry skin problems in the winter season, it is best to prepare during the fall season. What causes dry skin dry skin in fall to winter?

If you have dry skin it can be an annoying, embarrassing, and bothersome problem to deal with. There are a number of different things that can cause your dry skin. Normally the cause of this problem is due to some type of skin condition like eczema, hypothyroidism, or psoriasis. However, other factors like the weather, taking too many showers, high blood glucose, excessive exposure to the sun, old age or using harsh soaps can cause excessive dry skin.

If you don't have moisture in your skin it will look less attractive, dry, cracked, and irritated. Also, when your skin doesn't have enough moisture in it the skin will become excessively itchy.

The skin consists of 3 layers, namely, the cutis, the dermis and the epidermis which is the outermost layer. It takes roughly 28 days for the cells of the dermis to travel upwards to form the new epidermal layer. Of course, this growth of cells depends on a variety of factors such as sunlight, age, skin disorders, etc. which can accelerate or retard the process. The adult skin covers an area of about 18, 000 sq cm and weighs around 3.2 kg in women as compared to 4.8 kg in men. Isn’t that quite a sizeable proportion to look after and more so when it has to face the winter breeze?

Oily skin definitely presents problems when it comes to makeup, since the overproduction of sebum from your pores can leave you looking shiny by lunch if you don’t continually blot and reapply powder.  And combination skin makes it extremely hard to choose a singular type of makeup because of the dual nature of skin that is equal parts oily and dry.  So the majority of women would probably love to go for dry skin if given a choice.  But alas, the grass is always greener…you know.  For those of us that deal with dry skin on a daily basis, the alternative seems more appealing.  And yet, there are many ways to prepare for the application of makeup as well as choose cosmetic formulas that will work with your skin to leave your face looking dewy, fresh, and not at all dry.  Here are a few tips for the ladies who want a flawless finish despite their battle with dryness.

There are plenty of rejuvenating and hydrating face masks available for purchase at your local pharmacy or cosmetics counter, and while some come at only minor expense, others can be pretty pricy.  You can certainly find options that eschew the use of harmful chemicals, dyes, and fragrances, but these sensitive skin options may end up costing even more.  However, there are ways to get the natural products you crave without spending an arm and a leg.  The easiest way, of course, is to make them yourself from the comfort of your own kitchen , and you don’t have to be a scientist to work out the formulas.

* Use rose water to cleanse your face every morning and evening. * You may be skeptical of this one but I swear by this remedy. Apply castor oil regularly to your eyebrows and eyelashes before going to bed to enrich their growth .

Here's a review of a soap, supposedly touted as herbal and spiritual; the name being Sanatan Soap or rather Sanatan Panchamrut soap . A spiritually inclined friend of my mine gifted me this Sanantan Panchamrut soap .  And yes, it is the same soap manufactured by the controversial Sanatan Sanstha. Sanatan Soap, claims to be a Indian traditional soap with its promise of pure, chemical-free skincare and with a spiritual significance . But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into what unique about this soap and whether it’s worth adding to your routine. What is Sanatan Panchamrut Soap ? Sanatan Panchamrut Soap is not just another bar of soap; it's an embodiment of the Panchamrut or Panchamrutham and Panchagavya , the 2 sacred blends traditionally used in Hindu rituals. Or rather, this Natural Ayurvedic soap combines the five natural ingredients of Panchamruta along with Panchagavya . These elements are supposed to enrich the skin, making this soap a holistic skincare sol...

Ayur cold cream is the one that I regularly use on my legs before retiring to bed to keep them soft and nourished. Enriched with wonder herb aloe vera and vitamin E it keeps the skin satin-soft and prevents moisture-loss and dehydration. Ideal for winters and dry skin , it’s very inexpensive, costing just Rs37/- . I’ve used all the 3 variants, of Ayur cold creams for several winters and in other seasons as well with good results. Easily absorbed by the skin, all the three creams have a rich concentration of natural moisturizers and lubricants which when regularly massaged into the skin help fight excessive dryness, premature ageing, and dehydration and tighten the skin to make it taut and agile. Ayur Herbal Cold cream with aloe vera Ayur Herbal All Purpose cream with aloevera Ayur Herbal Massage cream with aloe vera

To fight winter dryness , I had used Emami Pure Skin glycerine bar, a bath soap meant for dry and delicate skin. It has extracts of aloe vera and olive s as well to nourish and moisturize the skin and to keep it glowing throughout the day. The soap itself is of a transparent green color and exudes a gentle fragrance. It’s mild on the skin and seems most suitable for dry skin . For just Rs.23/- for 75g, it’s a good buy. Emami Pure Skin Glycerine Bar See also: Doy care Aloe Vera Soap

Total Moisture Dry Skin Lotion, with Vitamin E, 10 oz Vaseline Intensive care - Total Moisture Dry Skin Lotion seems to be a good product. I’ve used it and it has certainly worked to my advantage. Especially in winter when my skin becomes a bit rough and dry, I need to apply a good hand and body lotion several times a day and this came in handy. Though it’s a little sticky, it does get soaked into the skin fully. Mildly scented and enriched with vitamins E & A and other essential minerals it nourishes dry skin on hands and legs considerably well, leaving it smooth and silky. You can see the effects within 4-5 days of application; just move your hand over your skin and you can feel that smoothness instantly. Ideal for dry skin and in winter.

Everyuth Cream Face Wash I simply can’t do without cleansing my face at least twice a day; it’s a must for me or else my face ends up looking dull , tired and oily . This practice is continued even in winter when my skin tends to become quite dry. But I do avoid certain strong , anti-bacterial face cleansers meant for zit-prone, oily/greasy skins and my winter skin care routine does include frequent application of a good moisturiser to keep my skin well nourished and hydrated . Last winter, I preferred a gentle face cleanser like Himalaya Gentle Face Wash Cream over other harsh ones. This winter, though, for some reason I used Everyuth cream face wash for dry skin and it isn’t bad either. Specially formulated for dry skin, this 100% soap-free face wash contains rich, natural moisturizing ingredients like peach and aloe along with wild cherry which helps to rejuvenate and refresh the facial skin. Highly recommended for dry skin and in winters.

I’ve been using Dove Beauty Bar Pink/Rosa to protect my skin from the perils of winter. I chose to buy this beauty bar after my friend raved about its virtues and since I had already used their Dove Gentle Exfoliating Body Wash before and loved the way it left my skin feeling exfoliated, soft and smooth, I decided that I should also try this particular Dove product. Further it was also mentioned on the cover that it contains a good amount (one fourths) of moisturizing lotion and doesn’t dry the skin like any ordinary soap , also Dove soaps are known to be pH neutral and non-alkaline; so without much ado I purchased it. Besides as I love the color ‘pink’, pink/rosa seemed a better choice compared to the other white Dove beauty bar . Dove Beauty Bar, Pink-Rosa Eight 4.25 oz. Bars (Pack of 2)

If you have read the post “ Winter Skin Care ” thoroughly, then you maybe on the lookout for rich nourishing and emollient creams for your face, arms and skin on other parts of your body . Some of these night-time homemade creams claim to do just that and will definitely help you to nourish and heal dry skin in winter . Do read Skin care at night in detail before proceeding further. Marigold nourishing cream Ingredients: Marigold flowers 500 grams Spirit of wine 500 ml Vegetable lard 500 gram Essenceq.s Tincture of benzoin 1 tsp Method: Place marigold flowers in a large glass jar and cover them with spirit of wone. Leave it in the sun for a week’s time. Shake the jar everyday. Heat vegetable lard and when it melts stir in essence. Add tincture of benzoin to preserve it. As it starts cooling pour into a jar slowly and mix thoroughly. Good for oily skin . Related: Homemade moisturizer for oily skin Almond nourishing cream Ingredients: Sweet alm...

Emami Malai Kesar Cold cream To combat the harsh effects of cold winter airs, Emami has come up with Malai Kesar cold cream. As the name suggests, Emami Malai Kesar Cold Cream has the natural goodness of time-tested ingredients such as Malai ( milk -cream), Kesar (saffron) and Aloe Vera. Malai has been traditionally used by Indian women from ancient times and is the ingredient of choice for winter chapping and skin dryness .   Kesar or saffron is well-known for its skin lightening and rejuvenating properties while aloevera is a great skin nourisher , moisturiser and a soothing sunburn gel as well. Emami claims that the softness of malai makes your skin supple while the radiance of kesar enhances the natural glow of your skin; so go ahead and experience the goodness of this non-greasy Emami Malai Kesar Cold Cream and face the winter with a soft and glowing skin.

Amongst the array of facial cleansers that I have purchased and tried, I have found that Garnier Naturals’ Deep pore exfoliating face wash is the best – it was very effective in oil control during the hot summer months when my skin had become increasingly greasy and unmanageable. Now that summer is over, I wanted to try some ‘natural product’ that could not only cleanse but also help with acne and pimples. So I purchased this Himalaya Herbals’ Purifying neem face wash 72g for Rs.45/- (around $1). It’s a soap-free formulation enriched with awesome herbal ingredients like Neem and turmeric ( buy here ) that have anti-bacterial and purifying properties. However this cleanser is not 100% natural as methyl paraben and propyl paraben are being used as preservatives. By the way, I have tried many of Himalayas ’ products as well. Himalaya Herbals’ neem face pack / mud pack for instance has had an amazing effect on my complexion and also helped me deal with excessive oiliness and pimp...

I picked up this tube on an impulse. It had slightly sparkling red gel stuff inside it. Yes, I’m talking about Lakmé Strawberry Silk Splash Face Wash. The cleansing power of strawberries is said to be packed in this small tube and it’s gentle on the skin and suits most skin types. Most certainly, this face wash left my face clean and fresh and the lovely fragrance of strawberries lingered for quite some time. But, I have to admit that it’s a bit too mild for my acne-prone oily skin. I’d prefer Garnier Naturals’ Deep Pore Cleansing face wash any day in summer, especially, when I return home in the evening with a sweaty, grubby face. Otherwise, it’s a great product as I can use it several times during the day without unduly drying my skin. It also helps retain the natural moisture and leaves my skin silky smooth. I would say, it’s just perfect for those with normal-dry and even slightly oily skins.

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.

I have never had to deal with ‘super dry skin woes’ at any point of time in my life as my skin is extremely oily . It’s only in winters that I really pamper my skin with a luxurious pre-bath oil massage , heavy moisturizers and lotions. This winter , I used Skin MD Natural Shielding lotion and it has worked for me. Recently I got an opportunity to try another shielding lotion ‘ Gloves in a bottle ’. Now I do moisturize my skin minimally during other seasons as well; usually after a shower to lock in the moisture and prevent ‘after- bath dryness.’ So instead of using any other moisturizer, I applied this shielding lotion all over my skin specially concentrating on my neck , elbows, ankles, knees and heels . And a week’s usage has left my skin smooth, soft and glowing . The lotion itself isn’t too thick and gets absorbed into the skin within a matter of seconds. so, you don’t have to use too much of it – just a little goes a long way. Besides this, it is almost odorless, hypoal...