Beauty & Style

How do I bleach my skin naturally at home?

Beauty

There are many natural ingredients which have bleaching properties and their regular use can not only lighten these spots, but also make your skin look more radiant. Here are a few face packs you can try.

Potato pack

Grate a potato after peeling its skin. Now add some rose water to it and beat it to make a paste. You can add some drops of lemon juice or honey if you have oily or dry skin respectively. Apply it on your face for at least 15 minutes and then wash away with water. Potato has mild bleaching properties and regular use of this paste will reduce spots and lighten your skin.

Tomato toner

Mash a ripe tomato and pass it through a sieve to strain out the seeds. Add some curd to it and mix well. Apply the pack on your face evenly and then leave it to dry. Then wash it off with lukewarm water and pat your skin dry. Tomato is acidic in nature and has vitamin C in it. It will lighten the marks on regular use.

Cucumber juice

Peel a cucumber and then grate it. Now squeeze it to take out its juice. Mix some aloe vera gel in it and then apply this pack on your face. Literally a cooling pack, this helps soothe the skin and also lighten it.

Orange peel

Don’t throw away the skin of orange. It contains vitamin C and helps bleach the skin. Let the peel dry and then grind it to make its powder. Now add some rose water and honey to it and then apply it on your face. After it dries, wash with plain water.

Lemon juice

Lemon is also one of the best natural bleaching agents and you can skin results after the first use itself. You can squeeze a lemon and apply its juice directly on the skin or even add other natural ingredients such as glycerine or honey or curd to make it slightly less acidic.

Use these packs weekly once to see results. Make sure you avoid the area around the eyes and do not go out in direct sunlight after applying these packs. Follow it up with a good moisturising sunscreen to protect your skin.

Source: The health site

Tips To Repair Split Ends

cure-split-ends

Split ends means your hair is not getting enough nourishment and lacks moisture. Harsh shampoos, sun exposure , blow drying, straightening, dyes and bleaches dry out the hair and damages the amino acids in your hair. Dry and damaged hair breaks easily while styling or brushing. If you think your hair is not growing fast then split ends could be the possible reason.

Here are some easy tips to cure split ends:

Alcohol Free Shampoo :

Avoid using shampoos that contain alcohol as it dries out hair. Use shampoos that contain natural ingredients. Also, Excessive washing with harsh shampoos makes your hair ends dry. You should not shampoo more than 3 times a week. It is better to wash your hair every alternate day than everyday. ALso, do not use hot water to wash your hair.

Let It Dry Naturally :

Avoid heat as much as possible. Heat is the worst enemy for your hair but its hard to completely avoid hair dryers and flat iron. It is best to apply a heat resistant serum to your hair before using heat. Towel dry your hair before drying, this way you minimize the damage of heat on wet hair. Also, use flat irons and curlers occasionally instead of everyday.

Get a Trim:
The best solution for split ends is to get a trim. You get split ends when you dont trim your hair for a long time. Always trim your hair once every 6-8 weeks to get rid of dry & weak parks and promote hair growth.

Treatments:
There are many treatments available which repair hair damage and provide moisture and nourishment. They can seal the split ends but not completely cure them so its better to use them with regular trimming to keep off split ends and help prevent future damage. Use a deep conditioner twice a week after you shampoo your hair. There are many easy homemade treatments that you can do to repair split ends.

Here are some easy homemade treatments for split ends :

Egg Mask :
Mix egg yolk in 3 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp honey. Gently massage this mask in your hair and cover with a shower cap. Leave it on for half an hour and wash it with a mild shampoo.

Oil :
Message your scalp with oil. Oiling regularly can restore moisture of your hair. Use olive oil, almond oil, coconut oil or a combination of these oils. Apply oil on your hair and message gently. Leave it on for about an hour then wash with shampoo.

Papaya Mask :
Papaya is rich in proteins which your hair needs in order to maintain its shine, moisture and growth. Mash 2 medium slices of papaya with a fork or in a blender. Mix 2 tbsp yogurt in it, apply it your scalp and hair.Cover your hair with a shower cap to lock the moisture. Leave it on for 30 minutes then wash with shampoo.

Honey rinse :
Another easy homemade conditioner for hair is honey. Mix 2 tbsp honey in 4 cups warm water and apply it to your hair after you shampoo/ condition your hair. Leave it in your hair. It will control hair dryness/frizz.

Source: 7beauty tips

 

7 herbal alternatives to cosmetics

natural-cosmetics

Lip gloss, body lotion, shampoo… the list goes on! Most women use various cosmetic products every day to prep their skin. But are these chemical laden tubes good for our skin and hair in the long run? Nature has provided several products that have the ability to improve the condition of our skin and hair in a totally safe manner, free of chemicals. Here are a few natural alternatives to everyday cosmetics which will help you make the switch.

Coconut oil – Body lotion and anti-dandruff agent

With its composition of medium chain fatty acids, coconut oil is extremely effective at keeping skin healthy and free from dryness and wrinkles. Use it alone or in combination with some other oil or herb, for your skin or also hair – coconut oil works equally well. Because of its ability to penetrate deep into the hair shaft and also the skin, this oil acts from deep within to ensure conditioning and moisturising effects that last for long. Coconut oil is also a source of antioxidants such as vitamin E and so, using it regularly can also help prevent those wrinkles that appear on the skin with ageing.

Henna – Hair dye

Hair dyes work their magic instantly and this is what makes it tempting to reach out for one when you need to hide your greys and look your best. But most synthetic hair dye products contain chemicals called secondary amines or tar derivatives that have been linked to cancer. Switch over to a natural hair dye used since times immemorial – henna. Combine with sesame oil and curry leaves, or mix with beetroot juice, or add into a mix of curd, lemon juice and tea – whatever the shade you desire, henna can help you get it and in the process, also keep your body cool.

Turmeric (haldi) and fruits – Rejuvenating face pack

If you don’t have the time or motivation to head to a beauty parlour, the easiest way to get glowing skin on-the-go is to use a face pack. However, a commercial face pack is quite likely to contain chemicals – preservatives at the very least – that may not be good for you in the long run. Instead, make use of simple ingredients in your kitchen to rejuvenate your skin and give it a soft glow. Mix in some turmeric powder with a little curd and apply on your face. Or, mash ripe papaya fruit into a rough pulp and apply – this will also help reduce the appearance of black spots on the skin.

Aloe vera – Dry skin moisturiser

Moisturising creams for dry skin generally contain ingredients such as petrolatum that tend to be contaminated with harmful chemicals. Instead of taking the risk of these being absorbed into the body through the skin, opt for one of nature’s best skin moisturisers and softeners – aloe vera. Simply make a cut on the fleshy leaves of aloe vera plant, collect the gel that oozes out and apply to your skin.

Garlic and sandalwood (chandan) – Anti-acne effects

A natural powerhouse of antioxidants, garlic helps purify blood and this gives the skin a distinct glow. However, it can also be used directly on the skin for instantaneous relief from pimples. Just peel out the outer covering over garlic clove and rub the clove over the area where the pimple has sprouted. An alternative way to use garlic is to grind a few cloves and make into a paste using some curd; this face pack is effective in reducing acne.

Sandalwood is another excellent alternative to anti-acne creams and also has a moisturising effect. Mix a few drops of sandalwood oil with almond oil and massage this into the skin. Or you can add a few drops of the oil into boiling water and inhale the steam.

Make a paste by using one cup of curd, half a teaspoon of turmeric, a pinch of sandalwood powder and one teaspoon of sugar. Massage the paste on your face with gentle circular movements, leave on for half a minute and then remove by rinsing the face with cool water and pat dry.

Soap nuts (reetha) and shikakai – Gentle cleansing shampoo

Shampoos available in the market make use of chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulfate to produce foam that can cleanse dirt and grease from hair. But along with this, they also remove all oil from the scalp that is so essential to nourish your hair. A natural alternative that avoids such damage is soapnut or reetha in combination with shikakai. Mix equal quantities of soap nut and shikakai powders and make into a paste with warm water; wash hair using this paste. If you find your hair feels a bit too dry with this 1:1 proportion, experiment with lesser quantity of soapnut powder.

Pomegranate seeds (anar ke dane) – Natural lip colour

Exposure to the sun, smoking, dehydration and too much caffeine can darken your lips. But dark lips may also be a result of using lipstick daily for a prolonged time. The chemicals in it can cause this and you’ll need more lipstick to hide the darkness… the cycle goes on! Break this cycle and get back the natural pink of your lips with a scrub made from pomegranate seeds. Crush pomegranate seeds and mix in some milk cream; apply to your lips every day and your lips will be naturally red and full. You can also combine crushed pomegranate seeds with sugar and olive oil and use this paste to gently scrub your lips.

Whether it is a skin lightening cream, a hair dye, moisturiser, body lotion or any other cosmetic you need, there is a natural alternative available that is free from harmful chemicals, make use of them.

Source: the health site

Are nail salon UV lamps a skin cancer risk?

Nail-lamp

The ultraviolet lamps used in some nail salons to dry and cure nail polish deliver the same hazardous rays as tanning beds, but it would take many manicures to actually cause damage, suggests a new study.

After testing 17 different lamps in nail salons, researchers calculated that it would take between eight and 208 visits – depending on the machine – to damage skin cells in a way that raises cancer risk.

“I wouldn’t tell a patient to stop going unless they were going multiple times a month,” lead author Dr. Lyndsay Shipp from Georgia Regents University in Augusta told Reuters Health.

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a risk factor for most skin cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. Natural sunlight and UV lamps used for tanning give off the harmful rays, as do the small lamps used to speed drying in nail salons.

Previous studies have looked at the polish-drying UV lamps and suggested the rays may be powerful enough to cause damage, Shipp’s team notes in JAMA Dermatology, but those studies had flaws.

“They didn’t actually go out and measure the nail lamps themselves and measure the UV radiation they’re exposed to,” Shipp said.

For the new study, the researchers measured the UV-A rays produced by 17 different nail polish drying devices at 16 salons. UV-A is one of three types of UV ray. It ages the skin to cause wrinkles and breaks DNA strands within skin cells, which can lead to cancer.

The lamps tested by the researchers differed in their power levels, but generally UV lamps with higher wattages put out higher levels of UV-A radiation.

Based on a calculation of how much UV-A radiation exposure is needed to damage DNA, the researchers found that it would take – on average – 11 uses for the devices to deliver enough UV-A to raise cancer risk.

They estimated that hands would be in the device for about eight minutes per manicure, and the risky total exposure times ranged from eight minutes to 208 minutes, depending on the machine.

Although the risk is low, Shipp’s team endorsed the idea of wearing sunscreen to protect hands from UV damage. Dr. Alina Markova, who was not involved in the new study, told Reuters Health it’s also important to note that DNA damage doesn’t mean the person will develop cancer.

“Just one risk factor of DNA damage doesn’t mean you’ll have a clinical outcome of skin cancer or photoaging,” she said. Markova, who works within the Boston University Department of Dermatology, has studied the UV rays put off by nail salon lamps.

“While we’re starting to realize these UV nail lamps are relatively safe, we still need to realize that the artificial UV devices that are hazardous are tanning beds,” she said.

The World Health Organization (WHO), the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Dermatology have come out against indoor tanning in recent years. In 2009, WHO labeled tanning devices as high-level carcinogens, which puts tanning on par with tobacco use as a public health threat.

Shipp said doctors can’t say anything is perfectly safe, but nail salon lamps seem relatively safe. “Personally, I won’t stop getting manicures myself,” she said.

Source: Reuters

10 natural, home-made scrubs to get rid of dead skin cells

natural-scrubs

Want to keep your skin looking young? Apart from cleansing and moisturising it, you also need to use a scrub. Even if you have the most sensitive skin, you will still have to exfoliate it using a mild scrub. Exfoliation helps clear out the layer of dead skin cells and helps in better blood circulation as well giving you renewed and younger looking skin. It is a good practice to scrub your skin – not just your face but knees, elbows, etc too – at least once a week of once every two weeks. But if you are wary of using chemical laden products, here are 10 scrubs made using natural ingredients. Make them at home and use regularly to have clear skin.

Lentil or daal body scrub

Lentils are a common kitchen ingredient in every Indian home and you can use them to make scrubs. Red lentil or masoor ki daal makes an excellent scrub. To make this, take about 2 spoonfuls and grind it into a powder and then mix it with either honey or milk. Apply it before taking a bath and keep it for 15 minutes before washing it off. Another option is using moong ki daal. You need to keep it under the sun for a day before you can make the paste. Next, add rice (about one-fourth of the daal) and grind it. Add haldi and milk to it and make a thick paste. Apply it on your face and body for glowing and blemish-free skin.

Sandalwood or chandan face scrub

Make a chandan face scrub to get rid of dead skin cells and other impurities like dirt, oil which are hard to get rid of with face packs. Mix sandalwood with rice powder (chawal ka aata), gram flour (besan), milk and rose water. Remember, not to add too much milk or water as scrubs are thick in consistency. Apply this once in two weeks for the desired results.

Rice-curd-rose oil scrub

This is a creamy, moisturising scrub that gently removes dead cells leaving the skin soft. The scrub also helps remove tan and prevents cell damage by neutralising free radicals. It is suited for dry and sensitive skin. Add rice (you can grind it to make it less coarse), curd or dahi and two drops of rose oil. Apply this on the face and allow it to dry before washing it off with water.

Natural foot scrub

Combine the juice of half a lemon, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar. Massage the mix on your feet thoroughly and leave for 15 minutes, then rinse off and pat dry. This mixture scrubs and moisturises your feet and helps in eliminating the dryness. Make this a weekly ritual to pamper your feet and keep them looking good.

Pomegranate or anar lip scrub

Do your lips look too dark or chapped? One reason could be that you haven’t exfoliated the dead skin from it. Get back the natural pink of your lips with a scrub made from pomegranate seeds. Crush a few seeds and mix in some milk cream or malai. Apply this on your lips and rub gently. You can also combine crushed pomegranate seeds with sugar and olive oil for added beauty benefits. Wash with plain water and pat dry.

Chocolate scrub

Take some cocoa powder and add rose water or lime juice (if you have oily skin) in it. Now, grind some oatmeal and add to the mixture. Add some raw sugar and honey too. Mix well but make sure the paste is semi-solid. Rub it on your face, knees, and elbows in a circular motion. If you feel it is too harsh for your face, add olive oil to the paste to balance it out.

Baking soda scrub

Yes, this ingredient used in desserts can also come in handy to remove dead skin cells. Mix about quarter of a teaspoon of baking soda with rose water and rub it on your elbows and knees and even feet. Avoid using it on the face if you have very sensitive or dry skin.

Anti-ageing coffee scrub

Coffee is rich in antioxidants which makes it excellent for removing dead skin as well as preventing sagging skin and wrinkles to a certain extent. Take some coarse, ground coffee beans and add olive oil to it. Add raw sugar if required and then gently rub it on your face. Wash with warm water and pat dry.

Oatmeal and sugar scrub

Both the ingredients have a grainy texture. Soak oatmeal in water for 10 minutes and then mix it with a few granules of sugar. Add honey to the mixture and then apply it on your face. Avoid area around the eyes. Remember, it should not be too harsh on the skin.

Sea salt hand scrub

Since sea salt is slightly harsh, you should consider using it on areas such as hands or feet instead of the face. But you need to add oil to the scrub to mellow down the harshness. Opt for an essential oil such as lavender or you could also try extra virgin olive oil or sweet almond. Mix it together and then apply on your hands before washing it off with water.

Source: The health site

Easy homemade packs to remove skin tan

Homemade+Tan+Removal+Pack

Summer is here with all its heat, sweat and high humidity levels which can seriously damage your skin. A lot of care must be taken in order to avoid beauty woes like body tanning.

Tanning occurs when there is increased production of melanin in the skin which comes up when the UV rays come in contact with skin.

Here are a few easy homemade packs to get rid of skin tan naturally:

-Aloe vera gel: It has wonder benefits when it comes to skin as just by rubbing a little amount of aloe vera gel, you can get rid of tan in just about 2-3 months of regular use. Not just this, it is also helpful in curing blisters, insect bites, eczema etcetera.

-Raw papaya pack: Grate a little raw papaya and use it as a mask on your skin regularly for 2-3 months. It effectively removes tan and will eventually lead to fairer complexion.

– Cucumber juice and rose water pack: Take some rose water, cucumber juice and a dash of lemon juice in a bowl, now mix it all well. Apply this paste once a day to effectively reduce tan and see the difference yourself.

Source: zee news

Timeless beauty tips to follow

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Cleansing twice a day, getting good sleep and drinking water are some of the beauty tips that stand the test of time.

  • Cleanse regularly two times per day and use a SPF.
  • Use the best cosmeceutical products you can afford.
  • Good sleep is vital to any beauty regime.
  • Inflammation and dehydration accelerate ageing – so always use an antioxidant to fight free radicals first before you apply your moisturiser and sun block.
  • Drink one and a half litres of water a day.
  • Walk briskly for 30 minutes every day – yoga and Pilates are good too.
  • Keep your mind focused and energised by reading up on your favourite topics or authors.

Source: Times of India

Skin care: 5 easy ways to keep pimples at bay

acne

Acne is amongst the most common skin problems that people of all age groups, especially teenagers face. There can be many reasons that attribute to the cause of acne like stress, puberty, hormonal changes, menopause etc.

Here are a few acne defense tips:

  • -Wash your face properly. It is recommended to clean your face twice a day and not more than that as it can leave your skin more oily.
  • -Always remember to wear sunblock as the sun has UVA and UVB rays which initially may worsen those pimples.
  • -Don’t use make-up all the time or if required switch to water based make-up.
  • -Caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea are a strict no-no as they harm the skin a lot and further aggravate acne problem.
  • -Avoid using soaps as they damage skin by making it drier, rougher and more permeable to bacteria.

Source: Zee news

Beard transplants a growing trend

beard

Rudy Ionides recently had a beard transplant and has absolutely no regrets.

“I felt uncomfortable growing out a beard before because I had some patches that didn’t grow in the same way. Now I’m much more confident.”

And he’s not the only one. Beard transplants are a growing trend — literally. The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery ( an association of physicians) found that the number of facial hair transplants increased by 9.5 per cent globally from 2010 to 2012.

Dr. Jamil Asaria, a facial plastic surgeon in Toronto specializing in this procedure, has noticed a similar trend in Canada.

“It’s something that in our clinic we would see patients for maybe once or twice a year a few years ago, and now we’re doing it on a weekly basis,” Asaria said in an interview.

He said the growth is primarily in the major cities, with three or four surgeons who perform this in Toronto and one or two people offering it in Western Canada. Fifty per cent of Asaria’s patients are from out of town, including Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and the U.S.

The procedure costs anywhere between $5,000 and $15,000 for a major restoration. The cost depends on the number of hairs transplanted — each hair follicle has to be individually harvested from one part of the body and transplanted onto the face. The number of “grafts” or follicles can range from 500 to 2,000.

Facial hair transplant procedure

Beard transplants can take a few hours to almost a full day. They are usually done under local anesthetic.

Asaria said side-effects are minimal, and include:

Infection — one per cent risk of “folliculitis” or infection of the follicle. To prevent this, patients are given antibiotics for a week.
Swelling that can last up to a week (during which time patients may choose to work from home). Rejection of the follicle can be up to 10 per cent, lower than with scalp hair.

In-grown hairs.
Patients are usually able to shave 10 to 14 days after the procedure. Asaria said most patients do quite well and have minimal complications.

“I’m 100 per cent happy with the results,” says Ionides, one of Asaria’s Toronto patients. “The opportunity to have a beard is fantastic.”

The scalp and beard aren’t the only place hair is being transplanted. Asaria’s practice is 15 per cent hair restoration, and includes not only facial hair for men, but eyebrow restoration, eyelash restoration and even chest hair transplantation.

In fact, facial hair transplants (1.5 per cent) are the third most popular hair transplantations worldwide, behind scalp (92.9 per cent) and eyebrow (4.5 per cent), according to the international society.

Why the ‘growing’ popularity?

“I think it’s a societal trend,” Asaria says. “If we look at Hollywood as a reflection of society, this year at the Oscars we saw men like Brad Pitt, Bradley Cooper, Leonardo Dicaprio, Jared Leto, all these celebrities who are known for their clean-cut appearance who were all sporting full beards at the Oscars.”

Not to mention U.S. Press Secretary Jay Carney and all those guys who take part in Movember, the November campaign to raise awareness of male cancers.

But while facial hair is part of the current “hipster” culture, Ionides says for him, it was just awareness.

“I’d always wanted to have a beard, and when I heard about the procedure through my social network and the news I started thinking about making it happen.”

For Ionides it doesn’t seem to be a body image issue either; he jokingly told CBC News that he was “always hot,” but now he gets to be hot with a beard.

Asaria says that beard transplants are being done across every demographic and age group for a variety of reasons.

“For some people, facial hair is much more important than their receding hairline. So some people will say, ‘You know, I’ve had receding hair for a long time, my whole family has receding hair, I’m happy with that. But I want a fuller, thicker beard.'”

In the Middle East, where beards are strongly linked to masculinity, the International Society of Hair Restoration found in its most recent census that beard transplants went up 263 per cent between 2010 and 2012. The census also showed that the procedure was most common in Asia (1,904), with the U.S. (1,315) and Middle East (1,017) following.

“There’s no question that it’s a sign of masculinity,” Asaria said. “I’ll get patients coming in from the Middle East who already have a full beard but just want more beard.”

To naysayers who believe this procedure is a form of ‘beard cheating,’ Asaria says “it’s no different from a nose-job or other cosmetic procedure like laser hair removal. The safety profile is great and patients are very happy with the results. And unlike other trends where the change is permanent, you can always shave it off.”

Are beards the new male sex symbol?

According to several members of The Toronto Facial Hair Club, if they are not a sex symbol, beards certainly attract attention.

“I’ll get people come over and just start touching it and I have to be like, ‘Hey, hands off the merchandise (unless she’s hot, in which case I sometimes let it go).'” said one member.

“My girlfriend told me she loves it. She’d never let me get rid of it,” said another.

“Sometimes when people talk to me, they are actually looking at the beard. I have to say, ‘Hey! Eyes up here!’ said a third.

They say that they started their beards long before the trend and will be sporting them long after the trend is over. And that beards have changed their lives.

“It does make it easier when applying for jobs and things”” says Samuel Jamzen of the club. “People used to see the beard and do a double take and I wouldn’t get a job because of the beard. Now it’s okay. It also gives me a lot more credibility in my band. Before when I played, people would think it was just okay. Now I get way more credit for my music.”

But not everyone is giving the beard trend a warm welcome.

“I don’t like beards because they get all wiry and you can get food in them. Especially the longer ones,” says Cassandra Toris, who echoed the sentiments of others CBC interviewed on the streets of Toronto.

David Hughes from the Toronto Facial Hair Club disagrees.

“Women love it! Before my beard I barely got any female attention. Now I get women wanting to touch my beard all the time.”

“My daughter won’t even come out with me in public anymore because women keep coming up to me and engaging me in conversation, about the beard,” says Mark Wrzesniewski, another proud club member.

It just so happens, Wrzesniewski won the Gold Medal for best Fu Manchu at the World Beard Championships in Las Vegas last year. The Toronto Facial Hair club thinks that its chances at this year’s world championships are better than ever.

“Women are hit and miss. I’ll tell you that,” Asaria says. “There are women who hate facial hair ‘I do not want you to have it,’ and some women who love it. I don’t think a lot of people are in that middle ground.”

At least for the time being, beards are no longer unacceptable. The Society of Bearded Gentlemen, an international, online community dedicated to “all beard wearing folks and those who admire them” has 4159 members and has been “serving the bearded community since 2009” as stated on its website. Founder Gary Norman says it helps form a natural bond among men, and is a forum where men can discuss issues like ‘beard maintenance tools,’ ‘beard discrimination’ and ‘grooming techniques.’

And for people like Rudy Ionides who have been thinking about growing a beard for some time, this new cultural ‘green-light’ combined with the relative success of beard transplants has made this possible.

Source: CBC news

 

Simple Beauty tips that work

beauty-tips

Use toothpaste on yellow nails.
This usually happens when you let nail polish stay on your nails for very long and when you’ve used cheap nail polish. Whiten them all up by rubbing toothpaste to remove the stains. You can also add a few drops of lemon for extra whitening, it’s a natural bleaching agent.

Use suntan oil to treat damaged hair.
Here’s another use for that coconut suntan oil you love so much. If your tresses have been damaged from over styling or coloring, you can use this oil to treat it. Rinse your hair with warm water and then with a dollop of suntan oil, rub this on your hair. Wrap it in plastic cling wrap and secure with a towel. Sleep with this on overnight. The next day, wash your hair with baby shampoo (or anything moisturizing) to get the greasiness out.

Protect skin from the pool and the beach.
Don’t you hate the chlorine smell after swimming in the pool and the sticky feel of sea salt on your hair and skin after a dip in the beach? You can help minimize these effects by showering first with non-chlorinated water, which fills your pores and hair follicles. By doing this your hair won’t soak up much more water and then the residues will be easy to shower off.

Treat burns with milk.
If you’re burnt badly, first aid treatment could be standing under the shower and pouring canned milk over the burns. It will help pull the heat from the burn until you can get medical treatment.

Hydrate before travelling.
Since when you’re in a plane, you’re much closer to the sun, the proximity lets you be exposed more to the solar rays. Avoid drinking alcohol and salty foods because they are dehydrating. Drink lots of water instead, this will help your skin a lot.

Powder Your Roots
If by any chance you have no chance to jump into the shower and you need to look your best. Say for example you’ve spend the whole night preparing for an important presentation. Get a fluffy makeup brush and dab it onto loose powder and then brush it on the roots of your hair. Shake off the excess. The powder will soak off the grease in your locks.

Cure Calluses with Vaseline or petroleum jelly
It’s very unsightly to see hard calluses on your feet especially when you’ve been wearing closed shoes for a long time. I’ve seen a friend do this. To soften these tough calluses, she puts on petroleum jelly on them and puts on socks before going to bed.

Spot-Treat Smudges
I find cotton tips very usual for this. You can use it on your eyelids if you’ve made a mistake with your eyeliner and for your nails to correct a stray nail polish line.

Soften Your Body with an Avocado
Since avocadoes are natural moisturizers. Mash one up and slather this on your body just before taking a shower. The body mask will do wonders for your skin.

uper-Glue a Nail
Yikes! Accidents sometimes happen and when one of your nails break, you can choose to Super Glue it for the meantime. Add an opaque nail polish to cover the crack. Then when you get the chance to, better to cut it off.

Use Makeup Remover on Stubborn Lipstick
Instead of rubbing vigorously on your lips to remove red or dark lipstick, just dab on a cotton ball with makeup remover instead. This will help your lips from getting chapped and bruised.

Tame Brows with Eye Cream
Don’t you just hate it when there appears unsightly white specks on your brows that look like dandruff? This means they’re a bit dry, keep them hydrated with rich eye cream.

Use brown sugar to treat dandruff
If you’ve tried all the dandruff shampoos that you can buy and still your dandruff persists, try out this homemade treatment instead. Mix two parts of brown sugar with one part conditioner and then use this on your scalp. Leave on for about 3 minutes and then rinse it off.

Buff with Baking Soda
I’ve laughed at that episode in Friends when Ross went to a self-tanning sauna and got disastrous results. If you find yourself streaking (not glowing) after applying self-tanner (not all of us become experts at the first try), scrub away the unsightly spots with a loofah doused with baking soda.

Brush on Hair Spray
What I hate about hair sprays is that your hair becomes so stiff and the overall look doesn’t look natural anymore. For a neat hair trick, spray the hair spray on your hair brush after blow drying it. This way, you’ll still get the effects of the hair spray without making your hair look very stiff.

Boost Body Lotion with Baby Oil
For that shiny leg effect but don’t have any bronzing lotion with you, mix in a little baby oil into your everyday lotion to get the same effect.

Dab Body Oil on a Hangnail
Put on apricot oil, the kind found in health-food stores, to protect cuticles from turning rough and raggedy.

For younger hands, rub lemon and salt
Remove dead skin cells by rubbing lemon juice and sea salt on your hands with the aid of a toothbrush.

Freeze Your Eyeliner
I love eyeliners because they perk your eyes right back up. However sometimes they get too soft to be applied. A quick remedy for this will be to stick this into a freezer for 15 minutes.

Use Toothpaste on a Zit
Use just a pea-size amount. Let sit for 15 minutes to absorb the oil so the pimple won’t get more clogged, then wash off. Additional tip from Heyhaie: Don’t use any toothpaste that whitens, the bleach will cause the zit to redden.

Heat Up Your Curler
If you have stick-straight lashes, try blasting your metal eyelash curler with a hair dryer for a couple seconds to heat it up so your lashes bend more easily. And use a waterproof mascara. The formula dries faster than other mascaras, so it sets the curl more effectively.

Use Soap Without Water
You know those fancy bars that are actually too pretty to use? Toss them in your underwear or tee-shirt drawers to make your skin smell delicious. You may also use fabric softener in packets.

Lubricate Your Lashes
An easy way to draw attention to your eyes without putting on a pile of makeup is to comb petroleum jelly lightly through the tips of eyelashes to get a sexy, subtle sparkle. It might feel icky if you put on a lot, so watch how much you’ll rub in.

Steamroll Flyaways
Spray on hair spray, then roll the can over your strands. The round bottle fits the curved shape of your head, locks in the spray, and flattens out frizz. You can also use a bit of lotion to further tame the flyaway.

Air-Dry Your Curls
Let your hair dry indoors before going out in the cold. Sometimes my curls look best when dried naturally instead of using a blow drier. It’s friendlier to your tresses too.

Press a Tea Bag on Splotches
If your skin is sensitive or just looking irritated and puffy for some reason, steep a bag of green tea for a minute or two, let it cool down, and dab it over your face. The antioxidants in the tea take down inflammation.

Shave with Conditioner
If you’ve ran out of shaving cream, you can use conditioner instead. Yep don’t use that body wash, the moisturizer in the conditioner will help prevent razor burns and will keep your skin smooth.

Amp Shine with Vinegar
Mix one part vinegar with four parts carbonated water, and soak dry hair. Leave on for 15 minutes before you shampoo to lock in shine and combat dullness.

Exfoliate Your Pits
If your underarms start to look dry and flaky, an easy trick is to exfoliate them with a gentle face scrub to keep that skin pretty when going sleeveless.

Customize Your Body Lotion
Instead of shelling out for an expensive perfumed body product, you can make your own by pouring a few drops of fragrance into any scent-free lotion. Rub it on-the scent will last for hours.

“Brush” with Mouthwash
If you’re too wiped out after a late night of partying to clean your teeth, rinse with water and mouthwash, then use a dry toothbrush on the area where your teeth hit your gums.

Use egg-whites for eyebags
The egg whites will tighten the skin right up. Let the egg whites dry before putting on make-up.

Make an Egg-White Mask
To revive tired, dull skin without hitting the spa table, try this: Crack open an egg in a bowl, separate the yolk, and use the egg whites to make a face mask. The proteins help to heal and restore skin’s moisture. Leave it on for five minutes, and rinse off. A note though, since egg whites tighten the skin and egg yolks moisturize, best not to use the egg white mask on a dry skin.

Source: Cher Cabula’s Mindbox