Beauty and Personal Grooming

Cornstarch , or cornflour (makkai ka atta) , is the starch of the maize grain, commonly known as corn. According to Dee Anna Glaser, MD, associate professor of dermatology at St. Louis University school of medicine, Cornstarch is one of the best home remedies to prevent irritated skin , as it relieves chafing by forming a protective absorbent layer between you and the outside world. With less friction, the irritation lessens when the skin rubs against itself or something else. Dr Glaser further says that you can also reduce the amount of moisture that normally develops over the course of a day by sprinkling odor-prone areas with cornstarch.

To all those gals with extremely oily & acne-prone skin, remember this tip. When you are preparing a DIY face pack, mix the ingredients with cucumber juice, tomato juice or plain water instead of milk for better results. (Contributed by Dhanya) Image: africa / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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.

I've used both Pears Original Transparent soap and Pears Oil Control Soaps . While Pears Original Transparent soap with glycerine is specially for those with dry to normal skin, I have found it great for winters. On the other hand, Pears Oil control Soap is specially formulated for oily skins and does its job exceedingly well, not to mention the sweet lingering fragrance that it leaves behind. So when I happened to spot Pears Oil Clear Cleansing Face Wash with lemon flower extracts at a shopping mall, I knew I had to buy it.

* 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...

I had always thought that it's not important to wash one's face before exercising and always preferred to do it  only after I was done with exercise. But a valuable tip from Dr. Neal Schultz (DermTV) enlightened me that it's far more important to cleanse your face thoroughly before a workout than afterwards .

Pears Oil-Control Soap – it’s being promoted in a big way these days. But that’s not the reason why I picked up this soap. With the goodness of lemon flower extracts that are supposed to have astringent and oil-control properties, I felt that it’s a soap that would be just right for my acne-prone, oily skin. And indeed it is a wonderful product; I have been using it for several weeks and I love it. The soap itself is transparent and pale-greenish in colour; the aroma is quite pleasant and soothing to the senses and lingers on for quite sometime. And the best part - despite having astringent qualities, it didn’t dry my skin. And as claimed, it only cleared off excess oil from the skin while retaining the natural moisture and my skin felt fresh and clean after bath . For just Rs.24/- for a 75g bar, it’s a good buy. You can also purchase expensive ones  from Amazon, Pears Oil Control Bathing Bar, 75g or it's equivalent Pears Oil Clear Hypoallergenic - Non Comedogenic Soap 125 gm (...

I happened to use Roopgarva Face pack from Gayatri Herbals and quite liked it. With a unique blend of pure herbs such as neem, tulsi (basil), jesthmadh etc and the wonderful multani mitti that removes the dirt and grime from the skin, it makes your facial skin look thoroughly cleansed and glowing. Good for oily, acne-prone skins and in summers. Roopgarva face pack

I don’t like to use an anti-bacterial soap as a regular bathing soap, mainly because I belong to the school of thought that does not advocate the regular usage of anti-bacterial/ antimicrobial soaps on a perfectly healthy skin as it tends to interfere with the normal skin flora and disturbs the ecology and health of the skin. Besides television ads have also impressed upon me that anti-bacterial soaps are mostly meant for athletes, wrestlers and those who do rigorous and strenuous work/exercise. However, anti-bacterial soaps may prove advantageous to those people whose skins are prone to bacterial infections as also to those who live in insect/bug /mosquito infested localities and folks who suffer from excessive perspiration and body odor .

These face packs from Ayur are ideal for oily and acne-prone skin in summers. I have used these packs several times before and they have worked for me. But, please test them on a small area of your skin before using them on your face and neck. It’s quite natural to develop rashes if you are allergic to any ingredient in them; so be forewarned. Tulsi face pack Ayur Tulsi face pack The herb Tulsi is known to fight and ward off skin infections and as such this pack is found to be good enough for normal to oily skins. Sandal face pack Ayur Sandal face pack Sandalwood is a coolant and anti-bacterial, fights prickly heat and acne and makes the skin glow. Neem face pack Ayur Neem face pack This highly antiseptic and anti-bacterial face pack is most effective for acne-prone skins and heals pimples. (See also: Himalaya neem face pack: review ) Mint face pack Ayur mint face pack This aromatic face pack with its cooling and refreshing properti...

Ayur Herbal Deep Pore Cleansing Milk. (for all skin types) A deep pore cleansing milk to get rid of the stickiness and grime during summer months is a must for me. I always make it a point to cleanse my face with it and also with a deep pore exfoliating face wash as soon as I reach home in the evening. I’ve used this homemade cleansing milk as well as Lakme Deep pore cleanser . But most of the time I use Ayur Herbal Deep Pore Cleansing Milk and I have found that it works well for me. With a creamy texture, it has the goodness of natural herbs like organic aloevera , emollient oils and rose water and its cleansing action gently removes deep seated dirt, sebum, sweat and make-up residue, making my face appear clean and soft. Plus, it’s quite inexpensive and costs only Rs. 36/- for 100 ml. I also use this cleansing milk before applying a mask (I use multani mitti cleansing face mask in summer.) and while removing makeup .

Everyuth granular face wash. (For normal to oily skin.) Recently I’ve started using ‘ Everyuth’s Granular face wash ’ and as the name suggests it’s granular and gel-like in consistency. It isn’t too harsh on the skin either and after washing my face with it, it I experience that fresh and clean feeling. I think it’s just wonderful for my oily skin , although I would prefer Garnier’s Deep Pore Exfoliating Face Wash in the hot summer months. As for the ingredients, this particular face wash has the natural goodness of Tea Tree Oil, Neem and Chamomile - all of which are believed to work wonders on an acne-prone skin by preventing the occurrence of blackheads , whiteheads or pimples as also in dealing with excessive sebum (oil) secretion capably.

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...

Try Himalaya Herbal Gentle Exfoliating Apricot Scrub - you will simply love it. Apricot kernel granules gently whisk off the dead skin cells and blackheads while wheatgerm oil, rich in natural vitamin E, moisturizes the skin and Apple nourishes and tones the skin. The result is a healthy, glowing skin. Application: Gently massage with fingertips in a circular motion over damp face and neck, avoiding the area around the eyes. Wash off and pat dry. Use once or twice a week. Suits all skin types. Himalaya Herbal Gentle Exfoliating Apricot Scrub 150 g Similar reading: Himalaya Gentle exfoliating walnut scrub: Review

My extremely greasy skin with a tendency for blackheads on the nose needs thorough scrubbing at least twice a week. Homemade facial scrubs are my first choice and they are the best for my skin – no doubts about it. Nonetheless once in a while I do purchase and try some ‘natural scrubs’ also. Amongst the several ones that I’ve tried, I’ve found that Himalaya Herbal Gentle Exfoliating Walnut Scrub is quite good. It has the goodness of walnut shell granules, wheat-germ oil and apple in it. Walnut shell granules gently exfoliate the skin to remove dead skin cells and blackheads while wheat germ oil , rich in natural vitamin E, moisturizes the skin and maintains its natural moisture balance and apple provides nourishment for a healthy, glowing skin.

Summer times are horrible on oily skins but that’s no reason to skip using a moisturizer . The fine moisture and oil balance that is often disrupted by constant exposure to environmental factors is best restored by using a lightweight, water-based 'mattifier' like ‘Lakme Matteffect Icy Fresh Gel’. It’s oil free, cool and instantly hydrates the skin. This gel restores the skin’s suppleness leaving the user’s skin feeling soft, moisturized and fresh. Gently massage it on your face and neck avoiding the undereye area and the eyes. Just perfect for oily skins and in summers . Similar Reading : Homemade moisturizer for oily skin

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.

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 ...

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%.