beauty

Natural Beauty Tip — Fade stretch marks away with egg white

Stretch marks are those whitish-bluish lines on our skin which often are a result of sudden growth, weight loss or stretching of the skin. Most people have stretch marks on their body, especially around the buttocks, arms and thigh area. After pregnancy, many women also have these marks around their belly region. Though you cannot completely do away with stretch marks, one way to lighten them is by applying egg white.

Egg white helps in fading away those ugly lines as it is rich in protein. Our skin too is made up of protein and when nourished with it, it goes back to its healthy state. Here’s how to use it.

  • Steps:
    Get the white of two eggs (you can take more depending on the areas you wish to apply it on).
    Whip them properly to get a thick paste.
    Now apply it on the stretch marks, make sure it is a thick layer.
    Leave it to dry.
    Later, wash the area with lukewarm water.
    You need to keep the area well-moisturised, so apply olive oil or a good moisturiser.
    Use this paste once a week to see visible results.

Remember, your skin takes time to heal, so do not discontinue it after a week or two. You will start seeing results within a month for sure. If you are not too fond of using egg whites, here are some more home remedies to fade them away. You may also like to read a few myths about stretch marks and these cosmetic options to treat them.

Source: The health site

3 hydrating face masks you can make at home

face-pack

 

The harsh summer heat can play havoc with your skin by robbing it of its moisture and sheen and leaving you with a dull-looking, tanned appearance. Not just this, it can also give you age spots, fine lines and wrinkles. It is essential to keep your skin hydrated at all times to prevent these from happening. Apart from moisturising your skin, you can make hydrating face masks at home using natural ingredients such as mango, multani mitti, lemon juice, etc. Priti Mehta, founder and director, Omved, suggests a few DIY hydrating face masks.

Mask 1:

Mango and chia hydrating mask: Suitable for all skin types, the summer mask revitalises and rejuvenates by balancing and moisturising your skin.

Ingredients:

  • Two tablespoons of mango pulp
  • One teaspoon of chia seeds
  • One teaspoon of aloe vera gel

Directions:

  • Blend or mash half a mango until smooth and creamy. Do not mash the mango with peels.
  • Soak the chia seeds in one tablespoon of cool water. Mix with a whisk and let it stand for a few minutes. Whisk again, and let stand for 10 minutes. Whisk the mixture again and let it sit in the refrigerator for 15 minutes or till they expand into a gel.
  • Scrape the gel fresh from the inside of aloe vera leaves.
  • Combine all the ingredients in a clean and dry mixing bowl and you can add or decrease the chia seeds gel according to the consistency you want for the mask.
  • Apply it on your face and leave on for about 15 minutes.

Use a warm and moist washcloth to remove the mask gently. Follow up with a splash of cool water on the face to rinse completely and pat dry with a soft towel.

Mask 2:

Sabudana and lime exfoliating face mask: The thick and gentle exfoliating mask made with sabudana will do wonders to your skin leaving it clean, smooth and soft! Good for all skin types, it works best for sensitive and oily skin.

Ingredients:

  • One tablespoon of small sabudana
  • Three tablespoons of lime juice
  • One tablespoon of brown sugar
  • One teaspoon of Fuller’s earth (Multani mitti)

Directions:

  • Add sabudana and lime juice in a pan and let it thicken over low fire, stirring occasionally.
  • Remove from the heat and let it cool.
  • Add sugar, Multani mitti and the cooled ingredients in a dry bowl and mix well.
  • Gently massage scrub on your face while avoiding eye area.
  • Let the scrub stay on the face for 10 to 15 minutes.

Use a warm and moist washcloth to remove the mask gently. Follow up with a splash of cool water on the face to rinse completely and pat dry with a soft towel. Follow up with a moisturiser.

Mask 3:

Khus Cocoa glow mask: It is effective in nourishing your skin and reversing sun damage.

Ingredients:

  • Two tablespoons of khuskhus
  • Two tablespoons of cocoa powder
  • Three tablespoons of raw milk
  • Three tablespoons of oatmeal powder
  • Half teaspoon of mint powder or two drops of mint essential oil

Directions:

  • Soak the khuskhus in raw milk overnight.
  • Next morning grind it to a paste.
  • If you don’t have oatmeal powder, simply blend some oats in a processor.
  • Mix all ingredients and apply the paste on the face and neck, avoiding the eye area.
  • Massage in the upward direction for a few minutes. Place some cucumber slices on the eyes.
  • Let the scrub stay on the face for 10 to 15 minutes.

Use a warm and moist washcloth to remove the mask gently. Follow up with a splash of cool water on the face to rinse completely and pat dry with a soft towel. Follow up with a moisturiser.

Source: the health site

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

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

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

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

Reverse signs of ageing with healthy lifestyle

StopTheClockPic1_large

Wrinkles, hyper pigmentation and greying hair add decades to your chronological age. Though many cosmetic companies assure you of reversing the signs of early ageing, are they enough to compensate for the wear-and-tear of the cells caused by years of living a sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle and exposure to ultraviolet rays and pollutants?

What is premature ageing?
Ageing is a natural phenomenon occurring due to the interplay between genetic, metabolic and environmental factors. The rate of ageing is an actively regulated metabolic process and so is not fixed. Premature ageing refers to the unnatural acceleration of the natural process of ageing. Possession of certain unfavorable genetic variants and/or an unhealthy lifestyle can become the cause of premature ageing, reflecting the importance of your well being both from the inside and the outside.

What are the factors that speed up the process?
Skin health correlates with the genetic makeup and metabolic condition, and is influenced by environmental and lifestyle-related factors like nutrition, exercise, personal habits and stress. Our body cells are exposed to the damage provoked by external and internal stressors including heat, radiation, pollution, genetic variations, excess glucose, oxygen free radicals, and collagen breakdown among others. The rate at which we age is determined by the ability of our body cells to cope with this damage.

What are the lifestyle changes that can help delay the ageing process?
A healthy lifestyle can postpone the visible signs of skin ageing and favorably influence the longevity of the skin. So focus on a balanced diet, drink lots of natural fluids and make sure that your day doesn’t end without an adequate intake of fruits and vegetables. A simple pranayama or yoga for a few minutes can relax your mind, while easy floor exercises and brisk walking can contribute to your fitness level. Indeed, the inside of the body must always be made to work in tandem with the outside of the body.

How does one understand that the body is ageing faster compared to the chronological age?
Skin changes are amongst the most visible signs of ageing. Skin ageing is evidenced by wrinkles, age spots, dryness and sagging. Ageing skin appears thinner, less plump, more pale, and translucent; and it repairs itself more slowly than younger skin. Overt signs of premature ageing as noticed by one’s self, or by comments on our appearance from others, tell a lot about our ageing tendency. But a genetic assessment on age-regulating genes can provide strong insights on ageing rate.

What is the role of gender in the ageing process? Do women age faster than men?
Dermis (the skin layer lodging skin-firmness protein, collagen) in men is much thicker than in women, hence men have a higher collagen density. As collagen relates to skin ageing signs, assumedly a woman’s skin appears about 15 years older than a man of the same age. Men seldom use sunscreens; hence UV damage negates the benefits of slowed intrinsic ageing in men, shadowing the noticeable difference.

How can understanding genetics help age better?
You are unique, so is your skin. Though the human genome sequence is 99.6% identical in all people, a small genetic change, or variation, that occurs within a person`s DNA sequence can have an impact on his/her health. Genetic assessment will give you a clear picture of your genetic information in relation to your health condition and ageing pattern. The skin might exhibit similar signs of ageing from the outside, but from the inside its genetic and metabolic regulations stand unique. Managing genetic risks for premature ageing by appropriate lifestyle changes can help us age better.

Source: Zee news

4 beauty benefits of baking soda

Did you know that baking soda, a commonly used kitchen ingredient can also double-up as a beauty ingredient? It can come in handy as a deodorant, detox bath and more. Here’s how to use it effectively.

Baking Soda as deodarant

Run out of body spray? Quickly go to your kitchen and get some baking soda. It will help eliminate underarm wetness. Rub your armpits with a combination of one-eighth of a teaspoon of baking soda and one tablespoon of water and you are good to go.

Baking soda detox bath
You don’t always need scented candles and bath salts for a relaxing bath. Add a cup of baking soda and one-fourth cup of baby oil to your bath and relax. It has anti-fungal properties which will keep infections at bay and its cleansing action will help further. The addition of baby oil will leave your skin feeling soft.

Cuticle care with baking soda

Hand and nail care often gets neglected but they do most of our everyday tasks. Scrubbing dry, cracked cuticles with a paste made out of equal amounts of baking soda and warm water will help exfoliate dead skin cells and soften your hands.

Baking soda as an acne solution

Acne appears when the sebaceous glands work overtime and the pores get clogged leading to the formation of pimples. An inexpensive way to make the acne disappear faster is by mixing baking soda with a little bit of water and applying it on the acne until the pimple dries.

Source: Health

8 Ways Aloe Can Be Used For Everday Health And Beauty

The Aloe plant is part of the genus, succulent plants, which comprises of over 500 different types of species. It has been cultivated for many years because of its pharmaceutical uses. Dating back 5,000 years to ancient Egypt, aloe was known as a powerful herbal medicine. The plant produces gel and latex, which are both used for medicinal purposes. The gel is the clear gooey substance that is found when you break the plant, and the (yellow) latex comes from right under its skin. Many beauty experts and other health care professionals list aloe as an important plant curing many skin ailments. Here are a few of its suggested uses:

Burns
Applying aloe cream to the skin might help to heal certain burns. A 2009 study found that 30 patients with second-degree burns, who applied aloe cream, healed in areas with minor wounds in less than 16 days.

High cholesterol and Hyperlipidemia
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), preliminary evidence suggests that taking 10 to 20 milliliters of aloe orally daily for 12 weeks can reduce total cholesterol by about 15 percent, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by about 18 percent, and triglycerides by about 25 to 30 percent in people with hyperlipidemia.

Cold Sores
Research suggest that aloe gel speeds up canker sores and helps to alleviate some of the pain

Acne
Some research has shown that aloe helps to heal present acne and acne scars because of its antimicrobial properties. It’s also moisturizing without being greasy.

Dry Hair
The inside of the plant makes a great hair conditioner because of the its hydrating properties. Use the plant’s “juice” and gel in your hair, then rinse and apply your normal conditioner.

Diabetes
The NIH says that, while it’s inconclusive aloe may reduce blood sugar in people with diabetes. “Two studies indicate that taking aloe gel by mouth can reduce blood sugar in women with type 2 diabetes. But another study did not show the same benefit.”

Sunburns
Due to the cooling effect aloe has on the skin, it’s often an over-the-counter recommendation by physicians and pharmacists for minor sunburns.

Weight Loss
Aloe Vera juice made its way last year as a health drink. According to the Daily Mail, aloe contains a number vitamins “including A, C, E, folic acid, B1, B2, B3, B6, and it is one of the few plants that contains vitamin B12, which helps with brain and nervous system function.” As a super food it helps with digestion and clears your skin from the inside.

Source: Medical daily

Some surprising health benefits of the cool cucumber!

Next time you hit the vegetable market make sure you grab some crunchy cucumbers! Apparently, there is much more to this low calorie member of the melon family than keeping you cool and refreshed!

The humble cucumber has more nutrients to offer than just water and electrolytes. It is chock-full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants which are vital for health

One of the oldest vegetables, cultivated for thousands of years in India and parts of Asia, the veggie is an excellent source of vitamin C and A (anti-oxidants), folate, manganese, molybdenum, potassium, silica, sulfur, and vitamin B complex, sodium, calcium, and phosphorus in slighter lesser amounts.

Often referred to as a superfood, cucumber is one of the best vegetables for your body’s overall health. We list below some of the surprising health benefits of cucumber.

Hydrates body
Given that cucumbers contain 96% of water content, they help keep our body hydrated during the hot scorching summers. Apart from providing a cooling effect in the blazing sun, dietary fiber in cucumbers work wonders in flushing out toxins from the body.

Cancer
Studies suggest some of the compounds found in cucumbers have the potential to reduce estrogen-dependent cancers such as breast and other gynecological malignancies like ovarian, uterine and prostate cancer.

Weight loss & digestion
Since cucumbers have low calories and high water content, they are an ideal snack for people wanting to shift pounds. The veggie also aids digestion and is a wonderful remedy for chronic constipation.

Joint pain
Cucumber is enriched with silicon which alleviates joint pain and strengthens connective tissues in the bones, ligaments, muscles, tendons and cartilage. In addition, vitamin A, B1, B6 or magnesium and potassium found in the vegetable helps in lowering uric levels in the body. Daily intake of cucumber juice is beneficial in dissolving kidney stones and treating bladder infections.

Anti-inflammatory
Cucumbers are effective in inhibiting inflammatory enzymes and preventing the overproduction of nitric oxide in the body that increases inflammation. This in turn can avert health issues ranging from asthma to heart disease and many more.

Hangover headache
The beneficial vitamins contained in cucumbers can relieve a terrible headache especially that triggered by a hangover. Eating a few cucumber slices before retiring to bed after a night of binge drinking can replenish essential nutrients and help bring the body back into equilibrium avoiding a headache.

Diabetes, cholesterol & blood pressure
Cucumber has been found to be beneficial for diabetics, for reducing cholesterol levels and is effective in regulating blood pressure.

Breath freshener
The phytochemcials found in cucumber kill the bacteria in your mouth that causing bad breath. If you have run out of gum or mints, simply place a thin slice of cucumber against the roof of your mouth for 30 seconds before chewing it. It will not only make your breath minty fresh but also provide a cooling sensation.

Cucumber therapy for beauty

  • Cucumbers contain vitamin C and caffeic acid, two antioxidants which when applied to the skin ward off wrinkles, sun damage and more. Chilled and sliced cucumbers placed over eye sockets relieve puffy lids. The natural anti-inflammatory properties of cucumber soothe skin reddened by sunburn.
  • Cucumbers are great for conditioning damaged hair. Puree cucumber and blend with an egg and a tablespoon of olive oil. Leave it in for about 10 minutes and then rinse thoroughly.
  • Cucumber is a quick fix to remove cellulite. Rub sliced cucumbers along your dimply area for a few minutes. The phytochemicals in the veggie cause the collagen to tighten, firming up the outer layer of skin and diminishing cellulite.

Source: medguru