Beauty & Style

Medical tourism on the rise despite warnings

A new breed of tourist is taking the post-holiday glow to a new level and booking in for cosmetic surgery abroad.

No official statistics are available on the number of Australians leaving the country for surgery, but Patients Beyond Borders, which publishes guides for such tourists, estimates that globally about 8 million patients go overseas for medical care – and that figure is growing about 15 to 25 per cent a year.

The announcement by private health insurer NIB to provide overseas surgical packages has reignited the debate which pits cut-priced procedures against the concern of many Australian medical professionals who warn against the practice.

Medical tourism operators co-ordinate travel, accommodation and medical care for clients. For those travelling alone, escorted groups can be organised.

The director of Medi Makeovers, Daniela Pratico, says the company works with a team of GPs and surgeons in Australia to eliminate some of the most common complications.

“There are only three factors that affect medical tourists – cost, availability and quality,” Pratico says. “Price is very obvious. There are no waiting lists in Thailand for patients, and the quality of the procedures and service are very high.”
She adds that patients can save 70 per cent on some procedures.
But reconstructive and cosmetic surgeon Mark Edinburg of the Eden Institute says that while the cost may appear lower, this isn’t always the case.

“We are frequently required to rectify cosmetic tourism surgery, which means that the initial planned costs are considerably higher to rectify the issue and can sometimes increase up to three or fourfold.”

Melissa Dever is unhappy with the results of her overseas surgery. After losing 55 kilograms, she wanted surgery to remove excess skin. So she travelled to Malaysia for a tummy tuck, breast lift and liposuction on her arms and thighs.

She says the facilities and medical care were on par with those in Australia but a “dog-ear” flap of skin on her breast has been left uncorrected, despite a “satisfaction guarantee” she assumed she was eligible for.

“I’m still happy with the overall look and would still recommend people investigate foreign options for surgery.

“Anyone considering it should ask lots of questions and also certainly research any guarantee policy,” she says.

While Ms Dever’s complications were minor, some aren’t so lucky. Dr Edinburg says: “I’ve seen patients who have returned from overseas with breast implants placed at different levels, asymmetries, poor face lifting results and wound ruptures.”

“We are then left to improve the result which, at times, is not possible because of poor planning, poor placement of incision lines, the wrong implant type or position of insertion of the implants.”

It’s not all bad news though. When Erin Williams’ quote for plastic surgery came in at more than $50,000, she researched overseas options before on the Philippines for the tummy tuck, arm lift, butt lift, thigh lift and corrective breast surgery. Despite the pain from surgery, for her the experience was treated as a holiday. “After a week of tolerable yet unpleasant pain, I was up to going out and doing a little bit of shopping. By the end of my fourth week in Manila, I was still impressively swollen but feeling fit, healthy and great.

“My time in Manila was absolutely magnificent. I had a brilliant holiday and will look back on this experience with fondness for the rest of my life.”
The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons advises Australians contemplating going overseas for surgery to research their surgeon and qualifications thoroughly, suggesting a member of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery is best suited.
The society also encourages patients to research the person promoting the surgery to see if they are medically trained and accept liability – or will provide help if problems arise.

Travel agents or brokers are considered high risk and extra questions should be asked on who will do the surgery.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

Home Remedies for Cracked Heels

Cracked heels are a very common problem and can range in severity from a cosmetic issue to a painful problem. Taking proper precautions right away can prevent cracks from getting deeper and causing bleeding and pain. Some of the causes of cracked heels are dry air, lack of moisture, improper foot care, an unhealthy diet and wearing the wrong types of shoes.

There are several home remedies for cracked heels that you can try to resolve the problem. Here are the top 10 remedies for cracked heels.

1. Vegetable Oil
A variety of vegetable oils can be used to treat and prevent cracked heels. Olive oil, sesame oil, coconut oil or any other hydrogenated vegetable oil will work. For best results, use this remedy before going to bed to allow ample time for the oil to fully penetrate your skin.

First scrub your feet with a pumice stone and wash them thoroughly. Apply the vegetable oil liberally on your heels and soles.
Put on a pair of clean socks and leave them on overnight while you sleep. In the morning, your heels will be noticeably softer.
Repeat this for a few days until the cracks in your heels are gone completely.

2. Rice Flour
Exfoliating the skin on your feet and heels will help remove dead skin from the dryness and cracking. Rice flour can be used as an homemade exfoliating scrub.

To make the scrub, mix a handful of ground rice with a few tablespoons of honey and apple cider vinegar. Stir it until it becomes a thick paste. If the cracking on your heels is extremely bad, add a tablespoon of olive oil or sweet almond oil.
Soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes and then gently scrub them with the rice flour paste.

3. Indian Lilac
Indian lilac, also known as margosa leaves or neem, contains fungicidal properties that are very effective in treating cracked heels.

Crush a handful of Indian lilac leaves to make a fine paste and add three teaspoons of turmeric powder. Mix it well.
Apply the paste on the cracks and leave it on for half an hour.
Wash your feet with warm water and dry them with a clean cloth.

4. Lemon
The acidic property in lemons can be very effective in reducing rough skin that can lead to cracking.

Apply lemon juice directly on the rough skin. Alternatively, you can soak your feet for 10 to 15 minutes in warm water with lemon juice added to it. Avoid using very hot water, which can cause your feet to dry out more
Wash your feet using a pumice stone and soap, and pat your feet dry with a towel.

5. Rosewater and Glycerin
The combination of glycerin and rose water makes an effective home treatment for cracked heels. Glycerin softens the skin, which is why it is widely used in cosmetics. Rose water adds vitamins A, B3, C, D, and E as well as antibacterial and antiseptic properties. Just mix equal amounts of glycerin and rose water thoroughly and rub it on your heels and feet daily before going to bed at night.

6. Paraffin Wax
If the condition of the cracks on your heels is really bad and causing a lot of pain, a paraffin wax treatment can provide quick relief.

Mix paraffin wax with mustard oil or coconut oil and heat it until the wax melts thoroughly. Allow the mixture to come to room temperature before applying it on your feet.
For best results, apply the mixture before going to bed and wash it off in the morning.

7. Banana
Ripe bananas are one of the cheapest home remedies for cracked and dry heels.

Mash one ripe banana into a smooth paste. Clean your feet thoroughly and apply the banana paste on your feet.
Let it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes so that your skin can absorb the natural nourishment. Wash your feet gently with some warm water and then soak your feet in cold water for some time.
Do this daily for a few weeks to restore soft and smooth heels.

8. Honey
Honey has moisturizing and antibacterial properties, making it an excellent treatment for both dry and cracked heels.

Stir one cup of honey into half a bucket of warm water.
Soak your feet in the water for 15 to 20 minutes.
Scrub your feet gently.

9. Warm Salt Water
If you have cracked heels, it’s important to take extra care to keep your heels well moisturized.

Pamper your feet by soaking them in warm, salty water for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Then put your feet in cold water, which will help improve blood circulation to your feet and relieve pain.
Pat your feet dry and apply some foot cream or petroleum jelly to lock in the moisture. For best results, put on a pair of socks to prevent the added moisture from evaporating.

10. Petroleum Jelly
You can use petroleum jelly on dry, rough skin to prevent cracked heels and leave your feet soft and well moisturized.

You must scrub the dead hard dead skin around your feet regularly and then apply some petroleum jelly covering the entire heel area.
After applying petroleum jelly you must cover your feet with socks so that the petroleum jelly can get soaksed into the skin properly. This will prevent your heels from getting cracks and make it soft and well moisturized.

For best results, try to follow this cracked heel remedy daily before going to bed.
At the first sign of cracked heels, try these natural treatments to restore soft and smooth skin on your heels. Keep your body well hydrated by drinking plenty of water and follow a diet high in Omega-3 fatty acids.

Source: top 10 home remedies

4 ways tulsi or basil can help enhance your beauty

Tulsi or basil is one plant you are sure to find in most Indian homes. Considered a herb with several medicinal and healing properties, tulsi leaves are added to dishes or even eaten raw for its numerous benefits. What you perhaps may not know are its beauty secrets. The plant can come in handy when it comes to dealing with everyday beauty woes like pimples, dandruff, etc. Here are some basil packs you can try making for better hair and skin.

Dandruff no more

Tulsi (basil) is known since eons for its healing properties. If you have dandruff, make this paste. Take a few tulsi leaves, make a paste of them and then mix this paste in amla powder. Apply this paste for around 30 minutes on your scalp and then wash your hair thoroughly. You will see that this remedy works wonders. Use it regularly for better results.Try other home remedies to get rid of dandruff.

Say goodbye to pimples

Still grown in many households, tulsi is god’s gift to skin. A simple paste made of basil and neem leaves can help drive those pimples away and nourish the skin. Grind the leaves together and then add a little lime juice. You can even add a few drops of honey if your skin is dry. Mix well and apply on the pimple. Leave it till it dries off and then wash with water. You can beat acne with the help of this mega guide.

Another pack you can make is a paste of saffron (kesar) and tulsi leaves by grinding the two. Its anti-bacterial properties will help reduce the infection. Apply it on the acne and blemish and leave it to dry before washing it off with water. But you will need regular application for the acne to disappear. Read more about the health benefits of Tulsi.

Get the itch out of your scalp

The constant urge to scratch your scalp to get rid of the itch can be embarrassing especially if you are in a public place. Tulsi’s fighting action can come in handy to help with this problem. Grind some tulsi leaves and in a pot, add about half cup of coconut oil and the ground leaves. Heat on a low flame. Once they give out fumes, add methi seeds till they pop. Now cool and strain the liquid and apply on the scalp. This will give you relief from an itchy scalp. You can even use sesame oil instead of coconut.

Whiten your pearly whites

Your teeth can add a lot to your smile and due to the food we eat and oral hygiene habits, they can have a layer of yellow on them. A natural way to bring back the white shine in them is by using tulsi. Simply rub some dried, powdered basil leaves every night. You can also make a paste by adding some orange peel with it. Tulsi will not just whiten but also prevent bleeding gums.

Source: skin care tips

 

Hair rebonding, smoothening or keratin treatment: which one suits you?

According to Adhuna Bhabani Akhtar, celebrity hairstylist, there are three basic ways to chemically straighten hair – by rebonding, smoothening or by keratin treatment, depending on how straight the hair is required to be. Find out which one is best-suited for your hair.

Keratin treatment

According to Rod Anker, Creative Director of Monsoon Salon and Spa, keratin treatment relaxes the curls and frizziness of the hair – making it only appear to be straight. It not only promises to make your hair smooth, shiny and frizz-free, it also makes it straight but not in an unnatural-looking, poker-straight strands. It softens your curls and with the help of other chemicals, helps retain the look for a good few months

Hair rebonding

This treatment is quite suited for people who have very curly hair and the end result is poker straight hair. In this process, the bonds of your hair are broken with the help of a chemical formula and then again neutralisers are applied to restructure the bonds. By doing this, the existing bonds that exist in curly hair are broken and once the hair is straightened, new bonds are made to rearrange the physical structure of your hair. This is a more permanent method than keratin or smoothening. However, if you love your curls, here are some tips to manage very curly, dry hair.

Hair smoothening

This process is similar to keratin but instead of keratin a different cream is used. It is best-suited for people who have wavy hair or even straight hair which is frizzy. It will smoothen out the frizz and make the hair more manageable and straight but not make it look too unnatural. People with very curly hair may not like the results as it won’t stay for too long. But if you wish to have natural-looking, straight hair which does not look artificially straightened, opt for this. The results won’t last too long unless you have very light waves or straight hair but will save you from having bad hair days. Here are some more tips to manage frizzy hair.

Anker advises to opt for either rebonding or smoothening as the re-growth in rebonding is completely natural and in case of smoothening, while it won’t make hair extremely straight, it looks more natural and does not damage hair as much.

Source: newsr

Parabens in Our Lotions and Shampoos

Are parabens dangerous?

Parabens are old-time chemical preservatives – they were first introduced in the 1950s after bacteria-contaminated facial lotions caused a small outbreak of blindness. Today, they are used in a wide range of personal care items – from cosmetics to toothpaste, as well as some foods and drugs.

It is partly because of their stable history that the Food and Drug Administration describes them as safe, at least in the trace amounts – 0.01 to 0.3 percent – found in most consumer products.

However, and here’s where the answer gets complicated, in recent years, environmental health advocates have challenged that conclusion. Their concerns grew after a 2004 study found paraben compounds in breast cancer tumors.

Although no real link to the cancer was established, research has also found that parabens are weak estrogen mimics, capable of altering cell growth in culture, and may also act as endocrine disruptors, which can disrupt the normal function of hormones and interfere with development. The F.D.A.’s position is that parabens are too weak in this regard to cause any real concern.

The primary issue has become their ubiquity. “Parabens are found in between 13,000 and 15,000 personal care products,” said Janet Gray, director of the science, technology and society program at Vassar College. “So we are not talking about a single exposure but a more pervasive one.”

A 2006 analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found evidence of parabens in more than 90 percent of people tested, with women – who use more cosmetics – registering higher levels than men. And a recent report in Environmental Science & Toxicology found that parabens were so common in products like baby lotion that infants may also receive a relatively high dose.

Researchers like Dr. Gray say we need to get a much better sense of such potentially riskier exposures. “The standard model of studying one paraben at a time isn’t telling us what we need to know,” she said. “It’s the bigger picture that matters.”

Source: New York Times

 

Got Lemon? 6 Beauty Tips And Tricks Using The Fruit

Beauty treatments can dig deep holes into your pocket and not only that, but some of the treatments might not be that effective. So hundreds of dollars might be spent with no positive outcome. Before heading to the dermatologist or the department store, take a look in your own kitchen for your own beauty remedies. Lemons are a versatile fruit providing a number of aesthetic benefits. Originating in Asia, lemons have an extensive history but mostly of one used in cooking. However, many dermatologists and beauty gurus have recommended the use of lemons in daily skin maintenance.

“The alpha hydroxyl acid in lemons is similar to the ingredients you’d find in a dermatologist’s peel,” the Oz blog reported, speaking to Dr. Elizabeth Hale, professor of dermatology at the New York University School of Medicine. Lemons also provide a number of other skin, nail, and hair benefits. Take a look at six helpful beauty tips below:

1. Remove Blackheads: Take a lemon and slice it in half, rub the juice all over your face and wait five minutes before rinsing it off with cold water. Lemons have antibacterial properties, making it a perfect blackhead remedy. Blackheads are caused by clogged pores, and the acid called alpha hydroxyl from the lemons help to exfoliate the skin.

2. Lighten Old Acne Scars: Instead of heading to the dermatologist to help fade acne scars, just take a look in your refrigerator. Take a cotton ball and soak it with a little freshly squeezed lemon juice, and rub it all over your face. The lemon juice when applied daily will gradually help to lightens up the scars as it works as a chemical peel.

3. Removes Calluses, Corns, And Warts: Using the inside of a lemon (the white part) and placing it against any of these skin imperfections will help to dry out the callus, corn, or wart. Leave it on overnight and in about week they should fall off.

4. Lighten Your Hair: Skip the dye. This is a perfect and gradual remedy for those sunny summer days. Mix the juice from four lemons with ¼ cup of warm water, put it in a spray bottle, and spray it in your hair until it’s damp. Make sure you only expose your hair to the sun for about 30-60 minutes, depending on how light you want to make it. After you’re done, take a shower and use conditioner, as lemon juice can sometimes dry out your hair.

5. Strengthen Nails: Soaking nails into lemon juice for about 10 minutes and rinsing them with warm water once a week will not only help them to grow but will also remove any discoloration.

6. Lighten Discolored Armpits and Elbows: Discoloration and hyperpigmentation happens to people when there is more melanin in their skin. The more melanin a person has in their skin, the darker it will be. Since lemon acts as a bleaching agent, rubbing a cut lemon on armpits or elbows will help to lighten the skin in those areas.

We hope you try some of these home remedies. However, in no way are these tips intended to cure or teat any type of skin, hair, or nail issue. Before trying any of these, please seek out the approval from your health care provider.

Source: medical daily

Do your muscles hurt more when it’s cold outside?

Cold weather causes muscles to lose more heat and contract, causing tightness throughout the body. Joints get tighter, muscles can lose their range of motion and nerves can more easily be pinched, according to Los Angeles-based orthopedic physical therapist Vivian Eisenstadt.

Thanks to the effects of colder temps, muscles are forced to work much harder to complete the same tasks they complete easily in milder weather. This causes more damage to the muscle tissue and can result in increased soreness. To counteract the damage, be sure to warm up for a little longer than usual.

“It is normal to feel muscle soreness for a few days after exercise, especially if it is a different type of activity or at a more intense level than your body is used to,” says Amy McDowell, a physical therapist and Pilates instructor from ARC Physical Therapy in Chicago.

“If you feel more sore in the winter after the same level of exercise than you do the rest of the year, it could be that your body needs a longer warm-up period.”
Try beginning your workout with light cardio exercises, like brisk walking. This will raise your core temperature and ensure that oxygen and blood are flowing throughout your body.

A basic rule of thumb is that you should warm up for 10 minutes when the temperature is between 35 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit. For each 10-degree temperature drop below 35, extend your warm-up by five minutes.

Some bodyweight exercises — like push-ups, dips, squats, lunges and bicycle crunches — are ideal for getting your blood flowing after your warm-up walk, Mentore says. Then, after those exercises, stretch only the tightest muscle groups in your body; for most people, these groups include the hamstrings, quadriceps, chest and shoulders.

Follow your warm-up with a cool-down that takes about the same amount of time. However, in addition to stretching the body’s tightest muscle groups, also focus on other areas like the back, arms and calves. “This will prevent muscle soreness and enhance your overall performance during the winter,” Mentore says.

Source: upwave

Natural cosmetics, fresh from a winter garden

Sof McVeigh, author of ‘Treat Yourself Natural’, shares three recipes for cosmetics you can make using ingredients from your garden this winter

Winter is the time to hunker down and make the most of what you have gathered over the year. Don’t worry if you didn’t collect much; there are still many evergreen herbs available to use, such as rosemary and sage.
This is also the time of year when the kitchen spice rack comes into its own: cinnamon, ginger and cloves all make great cold busting remedies.

With the cold winter days this is a fantastic time of year for indoor activities and making presents is a fun way to keep out of the cold – even after Christmas. Try making ginger chocolates, relaxing bath salts or invigorating body scrubs. Whatever gifts you choose to make, adding a personal label and a pretty ribbon makes all the difference, so let your creativity run wild.

Sage makes a good toner for oily skin due to its antibacterial and astringent properties. Create your own oily skin toner with sage, witch hazel (to tighten the pores) and rosemary (to increase circulation to dull skin). Also for a lovely smell add either rose essential oil to soothe, or lavender essential oil to cleanse. Apply nightly with cotton wool, although it is important to carry out a skin sensitivity test before using for the first time. Once made up, this skin toner will last for three months.

What you need
• 200ml (7fl oz) still spring water
• 4 tsp (20ml) glycerine
• 2 tsp (10ml) sage tincture*
• 1 tsp (5ml) witch hazel tincture*
• 1 tsp (5ml) rosemary tincture*
• 5 drops of rose essential oil or lavender essential oil
1. Mix all of the above in a bottle.
2. Use nightly with cotton wool.

Winter body scrub

This was one of the first ‘potions’ I ever made and is incredibly easy; it also makes a great present with the addition of a pretty ribbon and label. Body scrubs are great for reviving dull winter skin: the salt sloughs away dead skin and the oil moisturizes it. Depending on the herbs you use, a body scrub can be invigorating or relaxing. Your herb choice is personal: you can choose ones whose scent you like, or you can choose them for their benefits. Mint, eucalyptus and rosemary or sage work well together as a winter decongestant body scrub, which is also invigorating and warming.

You can use this as a body scrub or add a spoonful to a hot bath rather like bath salts. However please don’t use it if you have sores or cuts, as it will really sting. If you can’t find some of the herbs or plants, just add a few drops of their essential oil instead.

What you need
To make enough to fill two 300ml (10fl oz) jam jars:
• 600ml (20fl oz) fi ne sea salt, or enough to fill both your jars
• Approximately 3 sprigs of rosemary, or 20 sage leaves, 30 mint leaves and 20 eucalyptus leaves
• 650ml (1¼ pints) olive or sunfl ower oil, to fill both your jars plus a little extra
• Pan
• Sieve lined with muslin
• 2 clean jars and labels

1. Roughly chop the plants and put them in a pan.
2. Cover them with oil and warm them on a very low heat for one hour. Do not even simmer, as the idea is just to warm the contents, encouraging the plants to release some of their goodness into the oil.
3. Line a sieve with muslin and drain the mixture into a bowl, keeping the oil; the leaves can be thrown away.
4. In another bowl pour in your sea salt, then slowly stir the oil into the salt until it reaches a consistency where the salt has completelyabsorbed all the oil. Keep any left over oil in a jar for later use.
5. Finally, spoon into clean jars and label.
6. This will last for up to one year, though the smell may start to go.

Alternative herbs
To make your own unique scrub you could try some other ideas:
• Marigold (calendula) makes a healing skin scrub.
• Lavender or chamomile creates a relaxing and soothing one.
• Honey, with it natural antibacterial properties, will add an extra element to any body scrub, as well as providing it with a great consistency and smell.
• As well as changing the herbs you use, you can also replace the salt with any of the following: sugar, ground almonds, ground oats, ground rice, bran, jojoba exfoliating grains, or apricot kernel powder. The latter two are even smooth and gentle enough to use on your face

Witch hazel spot gel

This recipe makes a strong gel to put on individual spots only, as it is very drying. Always carry out a skin sensitivity test before using.

What you need
• 40ml (1½fl oz) water
• 40ml (1½fl oz) homemade witch hazel decoction*
• 1 tsp xanthum gum
• 5 drops of tea tree oil
• 5 drops of lavender essential oil
• 12 drops of Preservative 12, used in the vegan food industry in Denmark (optional)
• Small, clean pot, approximately 80ml size
1. First add the witch hazel decoction to the water.
2. Sprinkle on the xanthum gum, whisking it in well so there are no lumps.
3. Add five drops of tea tree oil for its antibacterial properties then five drops of lavender essential oil for its lovely smell and antibacterial properties.
4. Then add 12 drops of Preservative 12 if you want the gel to last; if you don’t use this, the gel will last for a week.
5. Pour the gel into a small pot and dab it on a spot when you need to.

 TINCTURES

Make a tincture with any part of the plant you choose: put it in a jar, cover it with strong 40 per cent proof vodka and then let it soak for at least two weeks. The alcohol extracts the beneficial properties of the plant and acts as a preservative; if you don’t like the idea of using alcohol, you can substitute it with vinegar. Tinctures last a long time – on average three to four years – and they can be used either externally, or internally for some plants.

DECOCTIONS

Decoctions are easy to make, using just water. Boil the plant in water for between 15 to 20 minutes so that all the goodness from the plant is extracted into the water. Once boiled, drain and throw away the plant and use the liquid either externally, or internally for some plants. The best parts of the plant to use for making decoctions are the ‘tough’ ones: the roots, woody stems, bark, seeds and berries. As decoctions are water-based, bacteria grows in them so they don’t last as long as tinctures and vinegars: either use them straight away or add a preservative, such as sugar or citric acid. Decoctions are the base for many syrups and jellies, and are also useful for some skincare recipes.

Source: The Telegraph

Tips to make your eyes look more beautiful with kajal or kohl

Kajal has been used since centuries not only in India but also in other parts of the world especially Egypt, Africa and the Middle East. Women used it to enhance the beauty of their eyes and continue to do so. Soon, the tradition became popular and spread to other parts of the world. This made this cosmetic quite popular and these days, you can find kajal or kohl in almost every cosmetic store.

In earlier days, kajal was made using galena (obtained from lead) or soot. Some animal fat was added to it by Egyptians for easy application. Kajal was stored in boxes and also in the form of sticks. Not only was it used for beautification, it was also believed to protect one’s eyes from the harmful rays of the sun and to ward off insects. The dark colour of the kajal was responsible for this function. Many Indians apply small dots of kajal on the newborn’s face to protect the baby from any evil.

How to apply kajal correctly

Kohl application can be tricky for many as it needs to be right to look good. Smudgy or irregular lines can make your eyes look bad and spoil the look. In order to avoid such a scenario, follow these tips:

Kajal comes in a variety of packaging. From traditional surma boxes which needs to be applied with the help of your finger, to pencil sticks which are much easier to apply. Depending on the look you wish to create, keep both the thick and thin sticks handy.

Start from the inner corners of your eyelids to the outside. You can experiment with your look by drawing out the line a little more than where your eyelid ends, giving it a cat-eye look.

To apply on your lower lid, gently pull the lower lid with the help of your ring finger and look in the upward direction. Now draw out a line with the kajal stick with the help of your other hand. Don’t press too hard and avoid getting any inside your eye.

Try to get the line as straight as possible. The best way to achieve this is by standing in front of the mirror and practising. Make a single clean sweep with the pencil to get it right. You can then make it darker or thicker if you wish.

Sharpen the tip of the pencil from time to time. A blunt tip will give you thicker lines.

These days, you also get liquid kajal eyeliners in the market. You can use these too as they will be long-lasting, more dramatic in their effect and won’t smudge once they dry completely. But keep its application limited to just your upper eyelids. For lower eyelids, use dry kajal. Also, when applying liquid kajal, keep your eyes shut for a minute to let it dry.

Also, cosmetic kohl may contain preservatives so it is best to remove them before going to bed with the help of an eye make-up remover.

Some other eye make-up etiquettes

  • The first rule for eye make-up is to avoid sharing it with anyone, not even with your best friend or sister as it is easy to get bacterial infection from one person to the other.
  • Avoid applying any form of cosmetic inside the eye or the inner lining especially if you wear contact lens.
  • If you have an eye infection then do not apply any make-up as it will further irritate the eye and can also lead to more infection.
  • Do not use cosmetics beyond their expiry date.
  • Always remove any speck of make-up at the end of the day.
  • Always cap the cosmetics after use to avoid any chance of infection.
  • If the make-up or make-up remover irritates your eyes, just stop its use.
  • Never apply eye make-up when you are in a vehicle as one bump is enough to poke your eye and cause serious damage.

Source: The health site

4home remedies for ageing skin

Who isn’t trying to save money these days? This can be difficult, especially when searching for skin care products for aging skin. You might be surprised to find that many great skin care ingredients are already in your home. When you aren’t ready to shell out money for expensive products, here are some easy home remedies that will help with common problems of aging skin.

1.Honey and Lemon Mask

The best kitchen ingredient that help lighten the appearance of unwanted age spots is lemon juice. Lemon juice is rich in citric and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) which are both known for their skin lightening properties. When the acidic lemons are mixed with the soothing properties of honey, it is a great combination to naturally lighten the look of your skin. Be sure to stay out of the sun with any lemon juice products.

Mix 1 tsp of lemon juice with 1 tsp of honey

Directions: Gently massage into the skin and leave on for 20 minutes before washing off. Use every night for 1 month. Be sure to avoid the eyes and use sunscreen when in direct sunlight. If the lemon is too irritating, try adding more honey to the mixture.

2.Cucumber and Yogurt Mask

Plain yogurt contains many ingredients that can help firm your skin. The lactic acid will aid in exfoliation of the dead skin cells and encourage turnover of skin cells. Yogurt also contains natural lipids and minerals that bring proper cellular nutrition and moisture. You can also add grated cucumber to help tighten pore size.

Grate 1/8 cup of cucumber and mix into 1/2 cup of plain yogurt.

Directions: Liberally apply yogurt to entire face and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water and then splash cool water on face. Use 3-5 nights per week.

3.Cocoa, Honey, Oatmeal, and Heavy Cream Mask

One of the richest sources of polyphenolic anti-oxidants is cocoa. It helps reverse signs of aging by fighting UV induced oxidation. When added with other natural moisturizers, cocoa helps renew your skin after daily damage from the sun, pollution, and natural aging.

Mix 1/4 cup of cocoa, 3 tablespoons of heavy cream, and 1/4 cup of honey. Lastly, mix in 3 teaspoons of oatmeal powder.

Directions: Gently apply thick mask to entire face. After 10 minutes, wash off with warm water.

4. Olive Oil and Avocado Night Lotion

Dry skin desperately needs moisture and lipids (oils) to enforce the natural barriers in skin and soften the feel. Olive oil and avocados are great natural oils for your skin. Olive oil is high in anti-oxidant polyphenols and avocados provide rich support for the deep layers of skin. Both of these ingredients give your skin a nice drink throughout the night and replenish necessary lipids to smooth your finish.

Puree 1 tablespoon of Avocado. Add 2 tablespoons of Olive Oil and 1/2 tsp of lemon juice. Mix well until completely uniform.

Directions: Apply a thin layer of lotion to the entire face and leave on the entire night. Rinse off in the morning.

Source: Bio Renew skin care