How to make cosmetics last longer? September 24, 2012 10:47
Whether it's a lippy or nail polish, beauty products are every woman's valued possession. Since most of them come with a hefty price tag, we tell you how to save make-up and your hard-earned money. Cover it with a lid Food gets soiled when exposed to air for long, so do beauty products. The key rule is to keep the enemy called air away from the products. If possible, purchase pump bottles or squeeze tubes instead of bottles with lids or caps that open up. "If you've got products with lids, handle them with clean hands and put back the lid tightly, right after using them," says Aakriti Kochar, beauty and make-up expert. "This won't allow air or dust in your products, keeping them bacteria-free," she adds. Keep them away from heat A sure shot way to make your cosmetics last long is to keep them away from heat and moisture; this prevents breaking up of ingredients. While you may keep your shampoo and conditioner in your shower, just make sure the caps are closed tightly to prevent air and water from getting in. There are times when you leave your make-up kit in the car or any other humid areas, making it more susceptible to exposure to dirt and bacteria. Avoid doing this. When storing perfume, keep it in a dark and cool place to enjoy the pleasant scent for long. Customise your cosmetics It's not over till it's over! Even cosmetics give you a chance to get creative and experimental. If your lipstick palette has hardly anything left, mix the remaining ones according to the shade you desire and you'll have a brand new shade of lipstick or blush. If your favourite nail paint is getting a little thicker, making it hard for you to apply, buy a nail polish thinner and add it to your polish, instead of discarding it completely. You can also try mixing your bronzer with moisturiser, to make a highlight for your face or a body shimmer or mix up your remaining eye shadows to make a new colour. These tricks will not only utilise the products you possess but also prolong their life. Pick cotton wisely Do you often use cotton balls to remove make-up or nail polish? Switch them with cotton pads as cotton balls soak up a lot of the product. So whether, it's a toner or a nail paint remover, cotton pads will ensure the product lasts longer. Moreover, cotton pads are not only cheaper but they also have a bigger surface to work with, leading to lesser usage of pads. Make the refrigerator your new shelf You may think of the refrigerator as a means of preserving food and drinks but how about storing your cosmetics in there? The ice box is a great storage place for beauty products, as it keeps them cool. Prolong the shelf life of nail polish, pencil liners and perfumes by keeping them in the fridge. Make sure your make-up is tightly sealed so that your perfume doesn't smell like food or vice versa. Add some alcohol A popular saviour, alcohol resets the product and makes it look like it was never damaged. Add a few drops of rubbing alcohol (a liquid prepared and used primarily for topical application) to a broken powder, eye shadow or blush and close it tightly. This will save you a lot of money and avoid the entire hassle of replacing the product with a new one. Brushes too need due care Make-up brushes aren't very cheap and hence, you need to clean them regularly so that they last longer and work better. To get rid of the excess product on your brush, tap the side of the handle against your wrist instead of blowing on our brushes. Blowing will cover them with bacteria from our mouth, which you surely wouldn't prefer. "Once a month, gently wash the bristles in light baby shampoo, reshape and lay flat on a clean towel to dry," says Kochar.
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Pamper your hair, yourself... September 22, 2012 17:18
Research has proven that hair and scalp massages actually do promote healthier scalp and hair over time. They can make hair shinier, longer, thicker, and reduce dandruff and the possibility of clogged follicles. A method of hair care known as Ayurveda has a strong faith in the effectiveness of such massages. There are Ayurveda centers all over the world, and can provide these treatments for a fee. It is well worth it, and you will feel pampered and refreshed when it’s all over. However, if you can’t afford to go to a professional for a good session of scalp stimulation, there’s good news for you! Hair and scalp massages can be done by you, right at home. If you do them yourself, the only thing you have to pay for is your product, and you can be in your comfortable old bathrobe while you do it. Light up some candles, and follow these steps to a healthy scalp and hair. •Put some warm oil (castor oil or jojoba oil is recommended) in a bowl. The oil should not be hot. Put the bottle in a pot of warm water until it’s a good temperature. •Use the balls of your fingers (soft part of your fingers) to put the oil in small amounts directly on your scalp. Then, using the same soft part of your fingers, use small circular motions to rub the oil deeper into your scalp. Also add some oil to your hair itself, just a little to the ends. •Then, add a generous amount, all over your head, covering your scalp and hair completely. Wrap your hair up in a satin scarf or soft warm towel and leave on for as long as you can, but not less than 30 minutes. •Shampoo your hair with a mild organic shampoo. That’s it, and you’ll be done. It’s a treat you can do for yourself, at only the cost of castor oil or whatever type of oil you choose. The best part is your hair will love it as much as you do!
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Spas for a healthy mind and body September 18, 2012 10:31
People are now riding high on the wave of wellness mantra. We tell you the benefits of going for body massages and spas. There were times when your elders would say "we never felt the need to go for a spa treatment" but now times are changing. Not just the young but even the elders are seen having a relaxing time at the spas these days. Today everyone is on their 24/7, be the males or females. Emotionally and physically both are drained because of the demand of work, home and well, often a turbulent love life. That is precisely why the focus is now on wellness - a healthy balance of the mind, body and spirit. Body massage and spas are a must in the to-do-list of everyone. Be it winters, summers or monsoons, body spas help you to relax and rejuvenate. These days people live a very stressful life and it is not easy to take frequent holidays, so going to a spa is the next best option. In fact it is travelling that has changed people's mindset. People travel so much that they are very well exposed to all these services. Internationally there is a culture that friends go to spa together and spend quality time and the same culture is now adopted in India too. Spending on oneself is no longer seen as a sin. "A saloon has to offer that something extra. From body buffing, body wraps and packs, to body treats and massages, people now want to revel in anything that would give them a sense of relaxation and rejuvenation. And wraps like aloe and lavender wrap, sea mud wrap, body treats like Vino therapic, organic milk and honey, as well as herbal, Ayurvedic, aroma and Swedish massages are quite popular now," says Janvi Menghani, a spa therapist at Shades of Blackk Spalon. She adds, "Body massages are a must today. People should opt for body massages once in a week for relaxation and if they want to heal their pain it should be done twice in week. Getting body massage improves blood circulation, tones and improves elasticity of the skin and gives strength to the bones." We quiz the ones for whom going to the spas are a top priority in their to-do list. "People constantly want to look different and majorly they opt for a complete makeover which includes their hair style and hair colour. Girls now regularly opt for radiance clean up which makes their face glow and look fresh. I visit the saloon regularly to stay up-to-date regularly. Body massages help me to stay fit, relaxed and in a positive frame of mind. I make it a point to get body massage/spa done once in 15 days," says Shreyasi Mehta, an engineering student.
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5 Unusual Makeup Tricks Using Lipsticks September 17, 2012 10:55
A lipstick as a makeup cosmetic has a great value. You might have not realised the full potential of this makeup stick till now. Infact, a lipstick alone can be your entire makeup kit. Surprised? We'll tell you how to use different lipstick shades to do all your makeup. Whenever you go to makeup tutorials, you see fancy makeup kits that have a plethora of cosmetics like eye shadows, blushers, highlighters, foundation shades etc. They are expensive and elaborate. But you can save a lot if you learn to use your lipstick properly. Apart from your lips, you lipstick can do wonders to your eyes, cheeks and forehead. 5 Lipsticks Makeup Tricks: 1. Makeshift Blusher: You cannot travel with the entire ensemble of your makeup kit every time. It is natural to forget a few things here and there. So, if you have left your blusher back at home and have a party to attend, then simply follow our tip. Rub a bit of your lipstick on your thumb and add a tinge of colour to your cheeks. This will give your cheeks the same blusher effect. 2. Proxy Eye Shadow: Just as we said earlier, it is natural to forget a few makeup essentials while traveling. But when you have your lipstick, makeup will not be restricted to cosmetics. You can use different shades of lipsticks to do a proxy job for your eyeshadow. Start with a nude lipstick shade as the base colour. Then highlight your eyelids with orange, brown or red hues around your brow bone. 3. Sindoor Stick: Sindoor is the Indian word for vermillion. Married women in India are expected to apply vermillion in the parting of their hair. Suppose you have a surprise visit from your mother in law and have run out of sindoor then you can easily cover up with a bit of red lipstick! 4. Bindi: This is another Indian makeup accessory. Your Indian look is not complete without a little dot in between your eyebrows. Chose a shade of lipstick that matches your dress and draw a line or a dot in between your eyebrows with it. 5. Covers Grey: When you notice a streak of grey hair just before leaving for a party, it ruins your mood totally. So, your immediate solution can be take a bit of black or dark brown lipstick and run it on the grey streaks. It really works! These makeup tips that use lipstick as a makeup essential, can save you lots of sweat. If you know of any other way to use lipstick for makeup, then do share it with us.
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Green tea... turns your beauty GREEN... September 15, 2012 10:51
By GREEN I mean, the color being so very positive, this energy would inculcate to our beauty as well. When you have known about Green tea and its aspects increasing our beauty, here are some more factors that can help you understand the benefits of adding GREEN to your tea; · It not just inhibits the growth of cancer cells but also helps in killing those dangerous cells without harming any healthy cell. The greenish-yellow tea has a green, slightly astringent flavor close to the taste of the fresh leaf. · Green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol. Moreover, it inhibits the abnormal formation of blood clots which is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke. Green tea represses angiotensin II which leads to high blood pressure & reduces the possibilities of heart attacks. · Green tea can even help in preventing tooth decay. As the bacteria destroying abilities of green tea helps in preventing food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that cause dental plaque. · Green tea drinkers have lower risk for a wide range of diseases, from simple bacterial or viral infections to chronic disease including cardiovascular disease, stroke, periodontal disease, and osteoporosis. · Green tea helps a lot in lowering down the sugar level in a body so its very god for a person who is suffering from diabetes. It will help them in controlling their sugar level without any extra effort. The polyphenols present in green tea extract reduces the amount of amylase produced by conversion of starch into sugar and hence the levels of sugar in the blood also decrease. · One of the great advantages of drinking green tea is still there & I know after listing about this reason you will surely have a hot green tea. That advantage is weight loss. All those who want to be slim, smart & gorgeous will enjoy the green tea because it is natural & don't have any side effect · Green tea acts as an antibacterial and antiviral agent. It also helps in getting relief from influenza and diarrhea. It relieves stress, improves bone structure and delays the onset of osteoporosis. · As all other tea it helps in getting relief from depression & headache which is a usual problem of a common man in this busy world.
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Ice Cube To Reduce Pimple In 1 Day! September 14, 2012 12:02
When you see a small pimple breaks out on your face, you get tensed and try various products to get rid of it instantly. However, the pimple or acne takes its own time and goes after 2-4 days. What happens when you apply a product to reduce the growing pimple? The pimple suppresses but leaves a dark spot behind. You can apply home products like mustard, clove, sandalwood or Fuller's earth to get rid of pimples in a day or two. However, ice cubes is one ingredient or rather a natural product that can help you get rid of pimple in just one day! Lets check out the simple ways of applying ice cubes on pimples. Step 1: Firstly, wash your face with a face wash. Do not use scrub when a pimple has breaks out. The pus of pimple can spread across the face and spread more pimples on the face. Just wash your face with warm water and use a face wash. If you want to use a scrub, go for an exfoliating scrub as it burst the pimple. Wipe off the face gently. Do not rub on the face. Step 2: Just mix multani mitti (fuller's earth) with sandalwood powder and lemon juice. Apply this face pack and leave for 5 minutes. You can apply only on the pimple or on the whole face. This face pack is good for oily skin and also reduces pimple from breaking out from the skin. If you have more than one pimple, it is good to apply the face pack. Step 3: After 5 minutes, take an ice cube and rub on the pimple. You can also rub the ice cube directly on the pimple (without applying a face pack). Keep rubbing with ice cube even if your skin around it becomes numb. You can take short breaks of few seconds to relax your burning skin but rub at least 2 ice cubes. The cold compress will reduce the redness and swelling thus making it easy to get rid of pimple in just one day! You can rub ice cubes twice a day on the pimple to get rid of it easily. Step 4: Use a clean piece of cloth to dry out the water from your face. Any pus that comes out while rubbing ice on the pimple should be wiped off immediately. Look at the mirror and see if the pimple has reduced. To avoid getting pimples, drink lots of water to stay hydrated. Many people do not know that dehydration is one of the top 2 reasons behind acne and pimples. Caffeine lovers have to control their affection towards coffee. Coffee leads to dehydration and also imbalances the hormones thus leading to break outs.
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How To Remove Your Hair Colour? September 13, 2012 11:31
Nothing flatters your look better than a new hair colour. But, it might go wrong sometimes and you may not get the desirable results. Hair colour can be seriously stubborn sometimes. Mistakes can happen, but that does not mean that you have to live with it. Well if your hair colour does not thrill you any more, remove hair colour with these easy ways. Ways To Remove Hair Colour: Visit A Hair Stylist- No matter if you are colouring your hair at a salon or at home, let your hair stylist know immediately if your hair colour went bad. Go for a hair colour correction. Well if you have coloured your hair too light then opt for a darker shade this time. Vitamin C Tablets- Vitamin C tablets are a natural hair colour remover. Buy the cheapest tablets from the market as they will work the same as the expensive ones. Crush about 25-30 Vitamin C tablets and form a thick paste by mixing with water. Now gently massage it onto your hair before shampooing and leave it for about 30 minutes. Remove hair colour using this handy trick and you will find your hair 2-3 shades lighter after the wash. Hot Oil Treatment- This is one more easy way to remove hair colour at home. It is not only a treatment to remove hair colour but it also nourishes and conditions your hair from the roots. But, do not repeat this process more than once a week as it might damage your hair. Laundry Detergents Or Soaps- Combine laundry detergents or soaps with your regular shampoo as they work miraculously to remove hair colour. But, you should be very careful; do not use products with too much of bleach content as they may damage your hair. Follow up the procedure several times to wash off your hair colour completely. Use Anti-dandruff Shampoo- Anti-dandruff shampoos are always very popular in stripping off hair colours. Also, wash your hair with warm water as it opens up our hair cuticle thus making hair colour discolouring a much easier process. Hair Colour Remover- If all these remedies fail and you are not in a mood to colour your hair again, then you can buy a good hair colour remover from any branded store. Choose a product that will be gentle on your hair and will remove the hair colour without causing much damage. Re Colour Your Hair- The easiest option to get rid of your hair colour is to re colour it. Experiment with shades this time or simply go for your natural hair colour shade. Hair colour correction procedures as such can be done both at home or at a salon. Try and remove hair colour with these easy tricks and, to get effective results if any other ways of removing hair colour is known to you, do share with us.a
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Use a night cream for better skin September 12, 2012 11:27
Night creams work wonders on your skin while you sleep... read on to find out more Skin is the most important part of one's body. And it is the most essential part of one's beauty as well. If your skin looks fresh and radiant, there is little that you need to do after that. And in the rush to look younger and slow down the process of ageing, night creams have come as a blessing to women who want to keep themselves beautiful. So how do these night creams work? And are they any good? Better than day creams? These are the normal questions that arise in a person's mind. But let me tell you, night creams are very good. They repair and moisturise your skin. These are called night creams because you apply them before you go to sleep and when you wake up, viola! You find your skin refreshing and the complexion soft and rosy. This is because the elements used in night creams remove all the dull and dead skin while you sleep. The night creams are thicker as compared to the ordinary moisturisers. Hence, they penetrate deep inside the skin and moisturise it. And the vitamins and snit-ageing components help your skin look younger, wrinkle-free. Also, when you are sleeping, the deep-breathing helps your skin produce new cells, which also helps in looking younger. But remember; don't apply the night cream on your upper lids of your eyes before sleeping or else you will wake up with puffy lids. So use the night creams and wake up to find a soft and supple skin and feel refreshed.
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Homemade Bath Salt Recipes September 11, 2012 12:41
Bath Salts Recipes, Homemade Bath Salt Recipes, Homemade Bath Salt: Homemade bath salt can transfer your basic bath into a wonderful therapeutic treat. Sea salt and Epsom salts are both cleansing and detoxifying and by simply. * One large mixing bowl, big enough to mix your bath salts recipe. * One medium or small bowl to mix dendritic salt (an essential salt when making scented bath salts) and essential oils or fragrance. * One set of measuring spoons, stainless steel. The entire set, measuring 1/8 teaspoon to a full tablespoon. One set of measuring cups, from ¼ cup to a full one cup. * A spice grinder or coffee grinder. (This is optional. If you’re making moisturising bath salts using milk powder, you could use the grinder to powder it well so it mixes in well with the salts. Or if you’re using herbs in your recipe, you may want to crush them into smaller bits.) * Pipettes to measure colours, essential oils, fragrances, etc. Get a bunch of these as you’ll need one for each colour or fragrance. * A small saucepan to melt plant butters, if you’re using any. * A dust mask is essential if you’re using very fine powders in your recipe. * Disposable gloves to protect your skin from staining when you’re using colours and to prevent skin irritation when using strong essential oils. * Measure all the salts or one kind of salt, whatever your recipe calls for, and place in the large mixing bowl. If you’re making scented bath salts, your recipe will call for dendritic salt. Don’t mix in this salt with the rest yet. * In the small mixing bowl, combine dendritic salt and your choice of essential oil or fragrance. This step is only if you’re making scented bath salts. Make sure you mix it well. * If you followed step 2, then add this mixture to your base salts mixture and mix thoroughly, making sure everything is well combined. * You’re almost done! But wait, if you’re making coloured bath salts, using milk powder or adding herbs to your bath salts, now is the time to add the essential ingredients. Just make sure everything is blended well so all the elements in your bath salts are evenly incorporated. * Voila! You’re done! Now smile ear to ear at your accomplishment and enjoy your very own handmade bath salts. Now it’s time to bask in the glory of having created your own bath salts. So go on, get measuring and mixing and create your signature bath salts and enjoy an extra special bath!
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Increase your Hairline... September 10, 2012 12:00
Here are the important tips, if followed, could help you regain your hairline that would add volume to your beauty; Scalp treatments can help increase blood circulation, oxygen and nourishment to the follicles, a good scalp massage stimulates blood circulation to the scalp. Hair follicles need blood circulation in order to grow a strong, healthy hair. When a single hair falls out, another one will grow in its place. If the follicle continues to receive good blood circulation, the hair will grow healthy and strong like the one it is replacing but, if it is not receiving blood circulation, it will not be quite as strong and will not be able to grow as long in length as the previous one. A cup of green tea a day keeps the hair healthy and strong, the truth about this saying refers to the fact that green tea helps stimulate hair growth, however make sure the green tea you drink is decaf. Topical green tea with caffeine has been shown to help remove dht, and stimulate hair growth, but oral/dietary caffeine actually increases free testosterone levels, and also stimulates stress hormones, both of which will lead to more hair loss. So stay away from dietary sources of caffeine. Are you using styling gel in your hair? If so this may be the cause, or it may be the hair glue. When you make your weave make sure that too much stress is not put on your hairline. Do not braid up the hairline...I cannot stress this enough it could be causing traction alopecia stress will make crown hair fall out , you can have your weave installed and can blend in your hairline by smoothing it down also apply your essential oils mixture, tie a silk/satin scarf around your hairline for about 15 minutes. This will lay down your edges nicely the oil will stain the scarf, but this method is worth it.
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Why women's creams don't work on men September 10, 2012 10:32
How many times have you spotted a man buying skincare products from the ladies section? Chances are, many times. But it's important for men to know that most women skincare products may not work well on their thick skin. And there's good scientific reason behind it. Beauty is not just a woman's routine anymore. This trend has started to change in the last couple of years and that's due to the awareness about looking good. "In fact, there are wives and girlfriends who want their man to enhance his looks and appearance with help of medical cosmetic assistance," says cosmetic dermatologist Dr Abhijit Desai. He continues in the same vein, stating that men have started taking keen interest in their appearance and they are turning out to be better patients than their female counterparts. As they are pretty satisfied with the realistic results they achieve and are also keen to go under the knife. Thickness mattersMen's skin texture is thicker than women's. Non-surgical dermatologist Dr Apratim Goel says that it's almost 25 per cent thicker and that's the basic reason why women's ointments don't work on them. He says, "Shaving exfoliates the top layer of dead skin daily. so, men do have an advantage there. But daily exfoliation can also expose the underlying layer of skin to the outside pollution. Thus, men must stop to shave a day before they undergo any beauty procedure unlike women." No hormonal changesWomen experience hormonal changes on a daily basis. Their menstrual cycle too, has an impact or effect on their skin texture. Men do not experience such frequent changes. Skin breakouts are more common in girls than in boys. "Since women's ointments are made considering hormonal changes and sensitivity levels, it may not be of much help in men's skincare regime, adds Dr Rashmi Shetty. Stretch marksMen and women both suffer from weight gain and loss. Unfortunately, the resulting strechmarks can never be removed permanently. But if they are very recent in origin then they can be made to appear less prominent and lighter with laser treatment and Dermaroller treatment. "Also, you can use a camouflage cream to conceal them very effectively," adds Dr Abhijit.
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Increase your complexion, Naturally... September 08, 2012 17:15
If you have a dark complexion, you might have always dreamt for a fair complexion. if you have a fair complexion, your aim would have been to attain a fairer complexion. for all those 'U', here are some home remedies to get a fair complexion, naturally; Egg white is used to make oily skin fair. Use it twice a week for better results. Mix some raw milk with a pinch of saffron. Use the solution on your face by the help of a cotton pad. This helps in skin fairness increase.Mix curd, oatmeal and tomato to get a fair complexion. Take some basil leaves (tulsi) and smash it to get the desired juice out of the leaves. Mix it with some lime juice and apply it for 15 minutes daily. You will see the results in two weeks time. Use cucumber juice mixed with honey to get rid of dry skin but with fairer complexion. Mix honey, yogurt, milk and ground seesame seeds and apply on the skin to get good results. Multani mitti (Fuller’s earth) is a great solution to fair complexion. Mix it with rose water and apply daily to get fair complexion. Papaya and watermelon mixed in equal amount serves as a facepack and gets rid of dark oily skin. Pour some sugar over lemon and scrub it gently on your face till the sugar granules start to melt. Apply throughout the body if desired. It helps in making the skin softer and fairer. Do not use if pimples or acne are there, as it can burst them up. Rosewater application on the skin daily makes the skin look soft and helps in disappear wrinkles. Boiled radish water is good for skin and apply the water on the face after an evening stroll out. It makes the skin look fresh and fairer. Rip off the pineapple juice and apply it gently on the skin by cotton. Wash it after sometime to get good results. Orange peels are proven to increase skin tone. Grind it and mix with honey or curd and apply on the face for proven results. Boiled cumin seeds water face wash helps in getting fair face and helps in prevent dark spots.
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