Beauty and Personal Grooming

An easy to-do recipe for an invigorating body scrub, all organic, and delicious! It is way too easy to get wrapped up and spend thousands of dollars to have beautiful skin . We go to spas and salons to stay young and have the best, most youthful glowing skin, but do we even know what the ingredients are that we are using? Personally, I believe that if you can’t eat it, then neither should your skin. In this day and age of wanting to economize and save some money, it’s so simple to use everyday household goods to take amazing care of your skin for a fraction of the price you would spend in any store. I have tried every product under the sun and I have found that some of the best ingredients are the ones made by Mother Earth, herself.

Better Living Through Chemistry Back during the last century, when the technological revolution started sweeping the planet, one of the phrases enjoined by scientists, often under the purview of big corporations, was: “Better Living Through Chemistry.” Nowadays we know that many of the chemicals cooked up in scientific laboratories over the past decades are actually quite harmful and are not found anywhere in nature, making nature sorely pressed to deal with them. Unfortunately, we've infused just about everything we eat and use with harmful toxins. Home-Made Is Always Best 

  Thailand is a beautiful country and a popular vacation spot. Thai women are counted amongst world's most beautiful women. They have porcelain perfect skin with smooth, even-toned, radiant complexion, silky hair and gorgeous nails . What's the secret of their good looks and how do they retain their youthful looks even in their advancing years? One of the reasons is that they sip lots of antioxidant rich Green Tea , consume omega-3 fatty acids rich sea food and gulp down lots of vegetable & fruit   juices . Secondly, they rely on traditional beauty tips and  concoct their own DIY beauty recipes with natural ingredients that gives them the most astounding results. 

Pomegranates are one of the most antioxidant rich fruits. According to a study conducted by researchers from Center for Human Nutrition at the University of California-Los Angeles' David Geffen School of Medicine and published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, it has been found  that this fruit's juice has more inflammation fighting antioxidants than red wine or green tea. Eat pomegranates on a regular basis for a smooth, youthful and glowing skin. Also use the below mentioned scrub once or twice a week to do away with dead skin cells.  

A homemade, highly economical face scrub that you can use without much trouble. Soak the pink washed 2 tbsp whole masoor or split masoor dal ( red lentils ) (You can also buy it from here ) overnight in a cup of water. In the morning grind it into a paste and add a few drops of coconut oil / olive oil in it. Apply on your face and allow it to dry a bit. Then scrub it off with a cotton wool soaked in glycerine in small circular motions to slough off dead skin. Your skin will literally glow. Do this twice a week if your skin is oily / combination and once a week if it's normal to dry . Masoor Dal (Red lentils) (Contributed by reader Vaishali Sinha)

Pollution, sun, dust and grime play havoc on your skin; so even sensitive and delicate skin needs to be scrubbed clean as often as once a week. Mere cleansing is not enough, you shouldn’t skip this beauty routine of scrubbing just because your skin is sensitive; go in for a mild facial scrub that suits your skin instead. Everyuth ultra-mild facial scrub with micro granules is one such mild-scrub; do give it a try. As mentioned on the pack, this specially formulated Apricot and Papaya scrub’s mild exfoliating action deep cleanses pores from within and gently removes dead skin cells, blackheads and whiteheads – making skin feel fresh, healthy and smooth. While a pricot moisturises skin making it soft and supple, p apaya smoothens skin texture and removes dead skin cells. Everyuth ultra-mild facial scrub with micro granules See also: Himalaya Herbal Gentle Exfoliating Apricot scrub Himalaya Gentle exfoliating walnut scrub: Review

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.

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 ...

You can concoct your own beauty products in the convenience of your home by mixing a few ingredients from your kitchen shelves. This statement might seem so oft-repeated and cliché, but surely we all have no second thoughts about the veracity of this claim. While olive oil is one such versatile product with a number of beauty uses, baking soda is another. It’s a known fact that baking soda is widely used in baking, deodorizing refrigerators, microwaves and in household cleaning; so now let’s look into some common as well as uncommon health and beauty uses of this household ingredient.

Are you the lucky one with normal skin ? Then here are some terrific scrubs to gently exfoliate and whisk off those dead cells from your face and make it appear fresh and glowing. They are neither too harsh, nor too mild. Just the right ones for your skin type . Use them once in a week or twice a month. Oatmeal face scrub Ingredients: Oatmeal 1 tbsp Almond oil 1 tsp Method: Mix these ingredients well and apply it to your face. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Before it dries up, gently start rubbing with your finger tips in gentle circular motions. Then wash off with lukewarm water, followed by a splash of cold water. Orange peel face scrub Ingredients: Dried orange peel powder 2 tbsp Oatmeal 2 tsp Any cold cream 2 tbsp Method: Mix all the ingredients to get a paste and apply it on your face. When it slightly dries up, gently start scrubbing your face without tugging at the skin. Wash off with lukewarm water and ri...

One of the things recommended by cosmetologists to keep your skin looking young is periodic exfoliation. Using scrubs to mildly exfoliate the upper layer of the skin of dead cells works quite well to improve the texture of the skin. Dead skin buildup over a period of time often results in a patchy looking skin. Scrubbing will help to even out such skin discoloration, to some extent. Oily skin needs more scrubbing than other skin types . However, do not use harsh, abrasive ones and don’t scrub your skin too vigorously. Here are some excellent homemade facial scrub recipes for oily skins. A tired, sluggish face will brighten up instantly after using these. Carrot scrub Ingredients : Grated carrot – 2 tsp Lime juice – 1 tsp Honey – ½ tsp Brewer’s yeast – 1 tsp Almond oil – ½ tsp Method: Mix all the ingredients well and apply all over your face, leaving the under eye area and the area around the mouth and massage gently with your fingers in circular motions. Leave on f...

Whether your skin is oily or dry you need to exfoliate it once in a while to get rid of dead cells. Harsh abrasive scrubs are not suitable for extremely flaky, dry skins. Dry skins need mild scrubs such as these. The presence of yoghurt in these scrubs makes them gentle and less coarse on dry skins. Use them once in two weeks (a month if your skin is too dry) and watch your face glow . # Scrub 1 Ingredients: Dry Orange peel powder 1 tsp Dry Lemon peel powder 1 tsp Yoghurt (curds) 2 tbsp Method: Mix the dried peel powders and add yoghurt to it. Blend well. Gently massage it onto you skin or 2 minutes. Leave on for 5 minutes and then wash off. # Scrub 2 Ingredients: Oat meal powder 1 tsp Yoghurt 2 tsp Method: Blend the two ingredients and massage the paste onto your face. Keep it on for 5 minutes and then wash off with cold water. See also: Face packs for dry skin Exfoliating masks Fix your dull and tired skin with masks and complexion scrubs Pic...

You need not ban sugar from your life completely. In fact, there are certain good things about sugar for you to consider. For instance, aloe-sugar syrup works as a good antidote for pre-menstrual syndrome ( PMS ) and delayed periods . If you are still keen on avoiding sugar in your diet, then why not consider using it as a beauty aid . 

In the morning you are as fresh as a daisy, but towards dusk you always end up with a tired look and a dull, sallow complexion. No, you are not sick or fatigued . The culprits are your own dead cells sticking on to your skin virtually giving you a tired, haggard look. Yes, you might feel a twinge of envy by looking at some others (No, they don’t touch up their face frequently.) who continue to look fresh and gleaming even towards the end of the day. It’s just that your dead cells are more stubborn in shedding off than theirs or maybe your skin is too greasy . But that’s the way it is. Instead of brooding or cribbing over their good fortune, it’s better to spend that time in resolving your own problem. And the solution lies in sloughing off those obstinate dead cells by exfoliating your skin more often to give way to new cells. An easy fix for a dull, worn-out face can be found here and here . As soon as you reach home after a long weary day try to revive your jaded looks with th...

These masks are designed to remove the dead cells and stale oil from the surface of the skin leaving it soft and tender. While using a scrub, use your fingertips to apply with circular movements. However, don’t become too enthusiastic while scrubbing the skin. These can leave your face feeling sore because they have tiny abrasive bits in them. Don’t do this often.