Beauty and Personal Grooming

Aloe Gel may be a great home-remedy to treat burns , but honey isn’t bad either. A New Zealand study has found that treating burned skin with honey from the kitchen cupboard promotes faster healing than skin treated with antibiotic creams or surgical dressings. It is already known that this sweet stuff from the kitchen has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and for long people have been using it to cure minor burns and wounds , but the fact that the recovery period is faster by as much as 4 days as compared to other standard treatments is something worth mentioning. In fact, recently it has been found that a cream popularly used to cure burns may actually delay healing. Furthermore, Cochrane Researchers after a thorough study have revealed that despite the wide range of wound dressings available for burns, there is no consensus on the most effective alternative treatment.

Eczema , a chronic skin condition also affects 10-15 percent of children causing their skin to become itchy, red, dry and cracked. It often affects those prone to allergies. Swedish researchers have recently found that babies who are fed with fish are less likely to develop eczema. Introduction of any type of fish into the diet of babies before the age of nine months reduces the risk of developing this skin condition; there was no extra protection from fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which provided other health benefits, so it must have something to do with its influence on the developing immune system, they added. In the course of their study, they also found that those with a genetic history of this disease were twice as likely to be affected by the age of 12 months. See also: Home remedies for eczema

Everyuth’s lemon face wash is also a good buy. Suitable for all skin types , it is enriched with the goodness of Lemon , Green Apple and Honey . The lemon refreshes your skin, green apple acts as a natural, gentle scrub, cleansing your skin of the dirt and grime while honey softens and nourishes your skin. When you squeeze a little of it in your palm you can see that it’s of a pale yellow colour and doesn’t have an overpowering fragrance either. As stated, it is 100% oil-free and does not dry or stretch the facial skin; the result after washing is a visibly smooth, soft and glowing skin. Applying it too frequently may however, make the skin somewhat dry , especially if your skin is not too oily , so just apply it just once or twice a day, preferably.

Recently I tried Vivel Di Wills Sheer Radiance, a soap that promises to enliven the skin and make it radiant. It’s pretty cheap, costs Rs.42/- for a pack of 3. The fact that it is enriched with olive oil goaded me to buy this particular soap. I have been using it for a week and my skin seems to like it. Plus it has a lovely aroma. Another variant of the Vivel Di Willis range, Vivel Di Wills Sheer Crème is enriched with Shea Butter and claims to moisturize the skin to make it soft and supple.

I love body washes. I had tried Lux Silk Nourishment Body Wash sometime ago and was pleased with the results. Recently I purchased Dove Exfoliating Moisturizing Body Wash and I must admit that it’s quite good. With a creamy consistency and blue flecks, it has a wonderful, fresh scent that isn’t too overpowering. I poured a little of it on my loofah and worked up a lather. As I applied the loofah to my body, I could feel the blue things exfoliating my skin. It rinses off easily and it leaves my skin feeling soft, moisturized and smelling great. For a greater exfoliating experience, however, you should pour it onto your palm and apply it to your skin directly with your fingers. You’ll notice a few of those blue flecks scattered everywhere in the bathroom after you are done with the shower and cleaning that up may take some time. But, overall it’s a wonderful product for gentle, everyday exfoliation.

The importance of a long, beautiful and elegant neck has been an integral part of conventional beauty from ancient days. In Africa , many tribes have a dreadful custom of putting copper rings around the necks of their baby girls to elongate them and show how prosperous they are! It is the tendency of many women to neglect their necks, while a firm, young-looking neck is one of the greatest beauty assets, especially when women wear low necklines in summer . In winter , it is very easy to neglect your neck because you are all muffled up in sweaters and scarves and polo necks.

My face usually becomes an oil-slick towards the end of the day. That’s why I prefer to cleanse it first with a deep pore cleansing milk before cleaning/washing it thoroughly with water. Recently I have been using Lakme Deep Pore Cleanser and I’m quite happy with it. It comes in a 60ml (Rs.45/-) and 120 ml (Rs. 75/-) bottle. With a mild fragrance and a creamy texture, it’s an awesome product and excellent for makeup-removal . Formulated with natural avocado extracts and anti-oxidants like vitamin E, it gently deep cleans the skin of all the surface impurities while its light moisture based formula conditions and nourishes the skin leaving it smooth and silky. I apply it all over my face and neck and then with a damp cotton wool gently scrub off the dirt and grime from my face. And indeed my face feels clean and silky with no greasiness afterwards.

Forget anti-wrinkle creams , botox , microdermabrasion , cosmetic surgery , facelifts or even laser resurfacing for that matter. Why? Simply because researchers have developed a copper oxide pillow case, designed to iron out wrinkles and crow's feet . This pillow comes with gloves and a mask as well. The details: Clinical trials, supervised by a dermatologist, were carried out on 57 volunteers for four weeks. While some volunteers were given anti-wrinkle pillows that felt no different from any normal fabric pillow, others were given the usual conventional pillows to sleep. By the end of the trial, it was seen that those sleeping on copper pillows were statistically more likely to have experienced a reduction in the appearance of wrinkles . In fact, it was found that though the exceptional fabric had an impact on all facial lines it was best at ironing out the finer lines. How does this fabric work on wrinkles and fine lines? Researchers believe that moisture from the 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...

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

Indulge yourself with this awesome raspberry mask - a sheer delight for your skin. The natural acids from fresh, organic raspberries together with the goodness of pure honey and cream refresh and invigorate your skin to give a beautiful, healthy glow. Ingredients 2 tablespoons heavy cream 2 tablespoons honey , preferably organic 2 table spoons oat flour 3-4 drops of lavender essential oil 1/2 cup raspberries, preferably organic Method: Except for oat flour, mix all of the ingredients except oat flour and pour it into a bowl. Then add oat flour to thicken the paste and get the desired consistency. Apply to a clean face, avoiding the undereye area immediately after mixing, allow the mask to sit for 30 minutes, and rinse with warm water followed by a splash of cool water. (Guest post by RJ)

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.

My love for the wonder-herb aloe is such that any product with aloe in it catches my attention. This summer I tried Vaseline Aloe Fresh Hydrating body lotion . As you can see in the picture, it comes in a pale green bottle, with a nozzle and flip lid. The lotion itself is, like the bottle, pale green in colour, and contains aloe and cucumber extracts. The smell is quite fresh and pleasant and not too overpowering. This lotion can also be used to relieve sunburn or as an after- shave lotion or as an after- shower moisturizer . You have to just squeeze a small blob of it into your palms and slather it on your body. It quickly soaks in and soothes the skin, without that sticky feeling. It’s not an amazing or out-of-the-world product, but does live up to its promise of keeping the skin refreshed, rehydrated, fresh and soft. Vaseline Aloe Fresh Hydrating Body Lotion with Aloe and Cucumber 24.5oz (Pack of 3) See also: Gels to soothe sunburn

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.

Red sandalwood also called as Rakta Chandan has always been held in high-esteem in Ayurvedic medicine. Unlike its other counterpart sandalwood or chandan , it has a dark, blood red hue. Being an antiseptic, it is used to treat variety of aliments. It is successfully used to heal wounds , treat inflammations, redness, acne , acne scars , sunburn , prickly heat and the like.

Check out some of these amazing scrubs to whisk off those dead cells from your skin. COFFEE BODY SCRUB Ingredients: 2 cups of coarsely ground coffee 1/2 cup raw sugar or sea salt 2-3 Tbsp massage oil Method: Mix all ingredients together. Take a hot shower to moisten your skin and open your pores. Using wide, circular motions, rub the coffee exfoliant onto your skin with strong, even pressure. Shower off, pat skin dry, and apply a thin layer of your favorite body lotion. GLYCERIN AND HONEY SUGAR SCRUB Ingredients: 1 cup fine sugar 3 tsp liquid glycerin 1 tsp pure honey 3-5 drops of your favorite essential oil Optional: Pinch of lavender blossoms, chamomile, or dried herbs of your choice, (finely chopped) Method: Mix ingredients well and store in an airtight container. Add more liquid ingredients if you prefer a thinner end-product. Stir thoroughly before use. This keeps very well, and in fact, the honey acts as preservative. Use small amounts when scrubbing ...

Several natural ingredients like black pepper have been found to work wonders on the dreaded and embarrassing skin pigmentation disorder vitiligo (leucoderma), though more research is required in this area to ascertain the efficacy of these ingredients. A recent review reveals that the Gingko biloba ( a Chinese herb) taken orally and the amino acid L-phenylalanine , administered along with light exposure may prove to be quite effective in treating this disease. Drs. Orest Szczurko and Heather S. Boon of the University of Toronto report in the BioMed Central journal Dermatology: "Gingko's apparent efficacy without the need for phototherapy, thus eliminating the adverse events inherent with phototherapy, make it a therapeutic option worth investigating," They further emphasize for more research into the use of this herb as well as L-phenylalanine.

I just can’t do without this Multani mitti (fuller’s earth) face pack in summer, it’s a must for my extremely oily and acne-prone skin. Another natural ingredient which I can’t live without in summer is sandalwood (chandan) . I dust sandalwood powder all over my skin to get relief from prickly heat and rashes. Sometimes I pummel a small piece of sandalwood on a flat stone to extract its paste. Then I add a drop of honey to it and smear it all over my face to rejuvenate my greasy skin. Recently I purchased this sandalwood face pack. It costs less than $3 and besides sandalwood it contains several other natural ingredients like mineral clay and sandalwood oil.

If you have used Everyuth Peel-off Skin Vitaliser and loved the way your facial skin felt afterwards, then you should try Himalaya Herbals’ almond cucumber face pack also. It is packed with the goodness of a number of amazing herbal ingredients to cleanse and nourish your skin. While pineapple removes impurities and dead cells, and firms up the skin, cool cucumber , almond, amla (Indian Gooseberry) all soothe and soften the skin . This is one of the best peel-off face masks not only to exfoliate your skin but also to feel refreshed and rejuvenated in a matter of minutes. Application: Apply all over your face and neck, avoiding the under eye area . Leave it to dry for 15-20 minutes. Then gently peel it off starting from the forehead. Then rinse off with cool water. Suits all skin types . Himalaya almond-cucumber peel-off face mask