Beauty and Personal Grooming

During summer, it’s not just the skin on the other parts of your body which sweats, even your scalp does. So you need to wash your hair more frequently. Use a good shampoo and conditioner. If you have oily hair then the problem is even more severe. However don’t overdo this washing business. A hair-wash once in two days will suffice even for the oiliest of scalps. Too much of washing and shampooing will do more harm than good. And when you are out in the sun for longer periods, the rays can give your hair an unruly, straw-like, lusterless look. Of course, dark hair is much more resistant to the sun than any other hair color. All the same, keep your head covered with a towel or scarf if you intend staying out in the sun for long periods. Hair is best worn tied back and secured under a band during summer. If the ravages of the sun have mercilessly assaulted your hair, consider giving it a hair-spa treatment , which will breathe life into it and resurrect it to its original glory....

In summer there is a tendency for increased secretion of the skin’s natural oils. So one ends up looking oily and sticky. And as a consequence of this one is likely to develop blackheads or has to cope up with a flare up of acne . At any time, it is bad for skins to have blemishes , spots, or sport an uncared-for look. More so, in summer, when the world probably sees rather more of you than is normally displayed. How to counteract this? A scrupulous cleansing regimen to prevent a grease build-up on the surface of your skin. Besides washing your face more than twice a day with a suitable cleanser and dabbing astringents to tighten your pores, you need to use a clay mask once in a week or twice a week if you feel too sticky. Why clay mask? Simply, because unlike harsh astringents, clay masks don’t interfere with the moisture-producing glands that naturally lubricate your skin. Besides, masks pull embedded grime and impurities from your pores, then tighten them. But before usi...

This excessive sweating of the feet is not necessarily a problem faced during the summer . In some the sweat glands do not function well. The sweat combines with bacteria and decomposition sets in. But whosever has this problem has to face a lot of discomfiture because the foul smell and the strong odor emitted makes everyone around to turn up their noses in disgust. In summers almost everyone is susceptible to it. Moreover as the feet are covered up by footwear most of the time, the sweat gets trapped and has no escape. After a long walk or traveling in the hot and humid weather, the feet are almost soaked in perspiration and hence start reeking of sweat. * Take footbaths often. (See here .) Soak your feet in warm water to which epsom salt is added. Then add either boric powder or alum to the water. This footbath is not just good for perspiring feet but also helps to overcome fatigue and also provides relief from headaches and mental tension . * For smelly feet, use some essenti...

How many of us care to think of our poor wrists ? Our work at the desktop abuses them like anything.  So we must ensure that they get as much attention as other parts of our body and a proper exercise as well. Exercising stimulates the circulation of blood in those parts and prevents the stiffening of the wrist joints making them more flexible. 

Some people experience a burning sensation in their feet on hot summer days. No need to panic or resort to medications in such cases. These simple cures will help counteract this problem.

Continuous late nights, lack of sleep , excess of sleep, fatigue and strain take their toll on the eyes, resulting in puffy eye lids and dark circles . Extreme hot weather, dust, wind, smoky rooms, can leave eyes red and strained. Our eyes are an index of general health and lusterless, strained and puffy eyes clearly indicate ill health and overstrain and do not portray us in a good light. Take extra care of your eyes. Use a clay pad once in a week to soothe your tired eyes . To reduce puffiness and contours around your eyes try this effective eye nourisher using the good old, sweet, and versatile honey . The method: Prepare a decoction of chamomile tea in boiling water. Strain and set aside to cool. Then blend cucumber , aloe vera gel and honey so that they mix well. Add chamomile tea. Blend until smooth. Apply gently under eyes using ring finger. The ring finger being the weakest does not exert much pressure and hence it can be comfortably used for massaging the del...

Thinking of changing your shampoo ? For a change, try one of these 2 simple home-made shampoos on your hair. They require the minimum possible ingredients and are very easy to make. You will be amazed at the good results. Shikakai has been used since ancient times to wash one’s hair. Methi and moong not just cleanse the hair, but have a conditioning effect as well. Methi Shikakai Shampoo Ingredients: Methi seeds(Fenugreek) – 250 grams Shikakai – 1 kilogram Dried orange/lemon peels – handful Method: Crush all the ingredients to a fine powder and store. Use this powder shampoo to wash your hair as you would do with others. However, remember to soak this powder in ½ cup of boiling water 2 hours before using it on your hair. Methi-Moong Shampoo Ingredients Moong (Green gram) – 1/4 kilogram Methi seeds – ¼ kilogram Hibiscus leaves Rice Kanji water Method: Combine the first two ingredients and make a fine powder of it. Store well. Just before using it on...