Choose and use the Right Night Cream   As you cross your thirties it’s  time to invest in a good night cream which helps you retain your youthful looks and protects your skin from wrinkles and pigmentation. A few points for you to keep in mind when you buy a night cream for yourself apart from buying a good quality branded product. 1.For Oily Skin- Check if contains alpha hydroxy acids or beta hydroxyl acids and which are non greasy. 2. For Dry Skin- Look for a night cream that offers you a heavy cream base, meant especially for your skin types. 3.For the 20’s – Who said you shouldn't use a night cream at 20.This is the beginning phase where you protect your skin from further damage. Your night creams should contain natural ingredients like aloe vera, honey and essential oils. 4.For the 30’s -Look for night creams with active ingredients like collagen, amino acids, ceramides and retinol, rich in anti-oxidants. 5.For the 40’s-Invest in a good night cream that has contents like peptides, retinol, lipids panthenol, collagen, essential oils, ceremides, soy extract and vitamins. It should be able to fight puffiness, wrinkles and pigmentation. 6. 50’s and afterwords-It is important that you get hold of extra-rich night creams which are tailor made for old and matured skin. They may be expensive but it’s worth the money as they make you look younger and also tighten your skin.

Youthful liquid face lift with Derma Fillers In the previous article we saw what Derma Rollers are and what they can do for your skin. The other beauty treatment which many of our celebrities subject themselves to for youthful skin are the Derma Fillers. Where is this given: Now this is similar to Botox as this also involves an injection on the face to the frown lines between your brows, the deep lines from the corners of your nose to the corners of your mouth, depressions along the jaw line, the sunken areas under your eyes, or the hollowed areas of your face, wrinkles and lines. Botox is injected around the forehead and wrinkles around the eyes (crow's feet) to stop muscle movement that results in wrinkles. It has nothing to do with the plumping smoothing effect dermal fillers have. What is used: Dermal fillers called Hyaluronic Acid (HA) are found naturally throughout our body.  HA is a complex sugar that maintains its three-dimensional shape in the body by attracting and holding large number of water molecules. In the skin, HA fills the space between collagen and elastin fibers and replenishes the natural support layers lost with aging while delivering essential nutrients and hydration. You also have the synthetic fillers depending on which Cosmetologist you go to, as they use different brands.   What it does: By age 50, you have roughly half the HA of childhood. Fortunately, with dermal fillers you can restore the HA in the skin and give your face the volume and structure lost with aging or enhance your current features without any surgical procedures. It is injected in the specific areas and makes sagging skin plump causing it to give a youthful look. Depending on your age it may last up to 6 months to 2 years. A qualified cosmetologist who knows what s/he is doing is very important as it requires experience to inject these serums into your face. There could be reactions based on your skin types and this treatment should not be done frequently. As a follow up for any cosmetic corrective procedure, daily use of well-formulated skin-care products and sun protection   is needed to keep your skin looking younger and healthier for a very long time.

Derma Rollers- How they work   We have a seen the rise of skin & beauty salons offering skin treatments in a dime and dozen. With their catchy tag lines in offering younger looking skin while luring women, one needs to be completely aware of what these procedures entail, like the Botox , Derma rollers, Derma fillers, Laser treatment etc. which they offer through their pamphlets. If the above mentioned procedures are not done by qualified cosmetologists it could lead to major derma disasters, sometimes permanent disfigurement also. Derma Roller Today we will see what a Derma Roller does. It is basically used for treating acne, wrinkles, cellulite, anti aging, surgical scar removal and hair re –growth. Basically what looks like miniature road roller with a handle, it has fine needles of certain gauge like .5 to 2mm on it. Process of Derma Rolling - First the skin needs to be cleaning with surgical spirit or antiseptic lotion to prevent infection. After the skin dries the derma roller is rubbed on the facial skin in sideways, upwards, downwards, diagonally. Each time the direction changes you have to lift the roller up first and start rubbing again. The skin bleeds for a short time, but that soon stops.   How it works - The skin develops multiple micro bruises in the dermis that initiate the complex cascade of growth factors that finally results in collagen production. Histology shows thickening of skin and a dramatic increase in new collagen and elastin fibers. Results - You cans see results after about 6 weeks, but the full effects can take at least three months to occur and, as the deposition of new collagen takes place slowly, the skin texture will continue to improve over a 12 month period. Clinical results vary between patients, but all patients achieve some improvements. But after each treatment you are left with a reddish face and you need to stay indoors till it heals.     A face masque should be applied to soothe the inflamed skin.     The needle should be made of titanium and not any other metal.     This should be done by qualified cosmetologists under hygienic conditions.     People with severe acne should avoid doing it as this can spread the acne further. It is better not to do it on inflamed skin. If you purchase the OTC Derma Rollers follow the instructions properly and ensure that you dip the roller in surgical spirit or antiseptic lotion before you do it on yourself.

Grape benefits for the face   The sweet and succulent grapes are not only good to taste but the fruit’s seeds also help to strengthen blood vessels and enhance skin elasticity. Which means not only can you eat them you can apply the pulp to your face for added benefits externally. Grape seed oil is rich in moisturising content and also provides Vitamin C and E to the skin. Try this interesting face mask with grapes. There is no need for any elaborate procedure all you have to do is just mash the grapes and apply it like a mask and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes before washing it off. For Oily Skin: For  oily skin  you should mash black grapes with some multani mitti (Fuller's earth). To make it in paste form, mix it well with drops of rose water in it. Let it stay for 15 minutes on your face and then rinse it off. For Dry skin: If you have dry skin you can take mashed black grapes, avocado pulp (optional )and mix the paste with two teaspoons of honey and rose water. Leave it on for 15 minutes before rinsing it off. For this summer try this succulent and fresh smelling grape mask – and remember to use the dark grapes, as they  have more benefit.

Triphala herbal treatment for Acne   Acne a bane in a teenagers life whether it’s a boy or girl , can leave the face scarred if proper care is not taken. This skin condition is characterized by red pimples on the skin, especially on the face, due to inflamed or infected sebaceous glands and prevalent chiefly among adolescents. This is also because of hormonal fluctuations after the onset of puberty. The first thing when the acne starts is to not get overly worried about it and go for any treatments unless it turns chronic. Mild acne can be easily taken care at home itself. A simple and natural treatment using herbs can be used to keep acne at bay. First go through a herbal steam to cleanse your face. Inhaling the ingredients can also clear your nasal passage in the process. After the steam go through very mild and gentle exfoliation. So here goes!   For the Herbal Steam: 1 bowl of boiling hot water, 1 tsp citrus peel powder, 1 tsp tulsi powder, 1 tsp fennel seed powder, 1 tsp peppermint leaves. Mix these into the boiling hot water. Dip a turkey cloth in this water, squeeze excess water and place the washcloth over your face for 10 minutes dipping as when the towel turns cold. An easier way would be to steam your face with a towel covering your head.   For the gentle exfoliation: Make a powder mixture with Neem 1/2 tsp, Chandan (sandalwood) 1/2 tsp, Triphala 1/2 tsp, Multani mitti 1/2 tsp. You could use milk or rosewater but the key here is not to make it a water paste but rub the powders gently just dabbing a bit of moisture so that it covers the face. After gently rubbing this over the face let it stay on your face for 5 minutes and wash off with cool water. When done on a weekly basis it can help reduce the acne inflammation. Note - you should not rub or massage your skin roughly, just a gentle clean up to close the pores after the steam is needed.

Tips to avoid skin darkening   When we saw actress Kajol turn up for an event a shade fairer than what she actually is , the media went on  a hype saying that she got a melanin treatment done for her skin to look fairer than what she is. Kajol has vehemently denied that she had any treatment done and attributed her fair looks to staying at home for a long period as she is not busy acting in movies anymore, which is true. Why we become dark are based on intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The intrinsic cause stems from imbalances in the hormone levels and is very difficult to treat and the external factors are  excessive sun exposure, wounds, skin treatments and procedures that might not suit one's skin and anything that stimulates the increased production of melanin (substance that gives skin and hair its colour).Now as women who are forever in the search for that magic potion or treatment for fair skin , check out these simple tips which you can follow daily to get a glowing & fair skin even when going out. -Avoid exposure to direct sunlight between 9am-4pm. - Apply SPF (sun protection factor) at regular intervals of 3 to 4 hours. -Water, water, water… drinking water and staying hydrated is an essential tip to prevent hyper pigmentation. -Avoid harsh colour cosmetics like 'blush-ons' and fragrances like lavender, as these absorb UV rays and can cause hyper-pigmentation and skin darkening. - Cut down or rather stop smoking, as this further stimulates the melanin causing darkness . - Try natural ingredients like potato, tomato, curd, lemon which are easily available at home and help in reducing pigmentation and make you fairer. Keep yourself covered while you go out in the sun if you have to (sunglasses, scarf, cotton coat to cover your hands etc) and stay Sun safe to avoid getting dark!  

Whacky remedy for dry feet   Yes! And when we say whacky we really mean it. Ever heard of using shaving cream and mouth wash for your feet? Try this interesting combination to clean and hydrate dry fit. Here’s how you do it… * Wash your feet clean off any grime and dust. * Take a generous amount of any branded shaving cream and apply it all over the feet. * Take a bottle of mouth wash and mix arm water .The quantity should be enough for a turkey towel to be soaked in. * With the shaving cream still on your feet, wrap the  towel that has been soaked in the mouth wash  and warm water . * Wrap this towel around your feet and let it set for 15 minutes * Rub the shaving cream off your feet using the same towel, this will remove dry skin * Apply a good lotion or foot cream which has mint in it and massage it well.  

Prevent Eyelash loss   Too much of eye makeup, excessive rubbing of the eyes, hormonal issues are some of the causes for loss of your precious eyelashes. These small strands of eye hair are extremely delicate and have to be treated gently. If you notice your lashes thinning right after you try a new produce, stop using it immediately as you are likely allergic to it. What not to do Be as gentle as possible when removing your makeup at night to avoid rubbing, pulling and tugging on your lashes. Avoid wearing waterproof mascara and false eyelashes as both are very difficult to remove and require much pulling on your natural lashes during removal. When you do wear mascara, apply it sparingly. Eyelash curlers are, in fact, as scary as they look and should be avoided. They pull on your eyelashes and can inadvertently pluck them out. If you curl your lashes, make sure to use an eyelash curler that has rubber tabs on the inside to protect your lashes. For re-growth Apply petroleum jelly to your eyes at night to keep them looking long, healthy and shiny. Apply castor oil on the tips for thick lashes. Eat healthy and nutritious food – apart from your hair on the head even your eye lashes will growth thick and strong. To save your lashes, always use hypoallergenic makeup.

జుట్టు అందంగా, వత్తుగా పెరగాలంటే     చక్కగా ఉండే జుట్టు అందమే వేరు. అందంగా ఆరోగ్యంగా ఉండే తల కట్టు స్వంతం కావాలంటే ఏ షాంపు వాడాలి, ఏ నూనె రాయాలి అని ఆలోచిస్తారు కాని ఏం తినాలి అని ఆలోచించారు ఎవరు. అయితే అందమైన ఆరోగ్యమైన జుట్టు కావాలంటే షాంపూలు,,కండీషనర్ లతోపాటు ఆహారం విషయంలో కూడా కొంత శ్రద్ద పెట్టక తప్పాదు అంటున్నారు నిపుణులు. సమతుల,పోషకాహారం, అలాగే కొన్ని ప్రత్యేక వ్యాయామాలు జుట్టును ఆరోగ్యంగా ఉంచుతాయట. మరి ఏ ఏ పోషకాలు మన జుట్టుకు అందాన్ని, ఆరోగ్యాన్ని ఇస్తాయో  చూద్దామా! ప్రోటీన్లతో పొడవైన జుట్టు : జుట్టును ఆరోగ్యంగా,బలంగా ఉంచేవి ప్రోటీన్లు ప్రోటీన్లు తగ్గిన కొద్దీ జుట్టు పలచబడిపోతుంది. అందుకు ప్రోటీన్లు సమృద్దిగా ఉండే పాలకూర, క్యాలీఫ్లవర్,కీరా, క్యాప్సికం,టమాటా, వంటి కూరగాయలని రోజు తీసుకునే ఆహారంలో ఉండేలా చూసుకోవాలి. అలాగే sulfur amino acids కూడా జుట్టు ఒత్తుగా ఉండేందుకు దోహదం చేస్తాయి. సోయాబీన్స్ ,రాగి,బీట్రూట్,నువ్వులు, అరటి,, ఖర్జూరం, ద్రాక్షా, కోడిగుడ్డు ల నుంచి ఈ సల్ఫర్ అమినో ఆమ్లాలు పుష్కలంగా దొరుకుతాయి.   సిల్కీ హెయిర్ కి విటమిన్స్ : జుట్టు సిల్కీగా, మెరుస్తూ కావాలంటే ఆకుకూరలు,నారింజ, అన్ని రకాల కూరగాయలు, రోజువారీ, ఆహారంలో తీసుకోవాలి. ఎందుకంటే ఇవి విటమిన్ ఎ ని అందిస్తాయి. అలాగే చికెన్, పాలకూర, నారింజ, బెండ, బీట్రూట్, గోదుమలు కూడా జుట్టు ఒత్తుగా పెరిగేలా చేస్తాయి. ఎందుకంటే వీటిలో ఫోలిక్ యాసిడ్,బీ- 12 లు అధికంగా ఉంటాయి. ఇక అటుకులు, రాగులు, వేరుశెనగ, బాదాములు,పాలు , పాల ఉత్పత్తుల నుంచి  ఇనుము, జింక్ లభిస్తాయి. ఇవి జుట్టును రాలిపోకుండా చేస్తాయి.ఇలా జుట్టుకు ఏ ఆహారం కావాలో తెలుసుకుని తింటే చాలు పట్టుకుచ్చులాంటి జుట్టు స్వంతం అవుతుంది. - రమ.

The Rose Magic For Skin         Rose is one flower that symbolizes love, enhances beauty, adds beauty to a place, brings broken hearts together and so on. Rose oil is used in most Cosmetology Clinics and Salons as a beauty potion. The significance of a rose is much more than one could even imagine.  Talking about a rose, it comes in various colors but the color red is something scintillating and vigorous. So here are some lovely tips for out beautiful ladies showing where this color can be put into use !!! 1. A red gown for a night party can give you a ravishing look  2. Blood Red Lip Sticks are always an attraction for people of all skin tones.  3. Red Nail Enamels can uplift the beauty of long nailed woman.  4. A red rose near the ear with hair braided in fish tail form to the left or right is an eye catching style.  5. Add red rose petals to your bathing tub to make the shower more satisfactory and sophisticated.  6. Using a bracelet made out red roses for a night on a black dress could be the perfect combination ever. Hope these tips of red will help you flaunt your beauty and make you look a step ahead from others. Red is the color of love and intensity. Make the best use of it and go red this season !!!

Algae Collagen Masque for Anti aging       Under sea products like sea algae and Chondrus Crispus commonly called Irish moss or carrageen moss are an excellent source of nutrients to treat wrinkles and fine lines which are a part of aging. The Anti aging Collagen Algae Mask which contain Plant Collagen, vitamins and .are not only good for  anti aging and firming the skin it also hydrates, rejuvenates and revitalizes the skin and is a perfect choice for dry skin.  It won’t take much time either- 30 minutes. After a relaxing massage, the masque is applied on the skin and the face is then massaged with an ultrasonic facial massager for about 15 minutes which allows the goodness of the masque to penetrate into your skin and then left for sometime so that it completely ingrains into your skin. Benefits   - Instant firming mask with wonderful results on wrinkles - Offers deep hydration  - Great mask to use before a special occasion - Helps revive and freshen stressed, sensitive skin - Great for those who have crossed their 30s   Check with your nearest salon for this Algae Collagen Masque and pamper yourself with this treatment.

Indulge in Self Massage There are times when we feel stressed out and lethargic and feel the need for some sort of stimulation for the body. The first thing that comes to our mind is to have therapeutic massage, but feel too lazy to go out. We found this interesting Massage session which you could try doing it at home and feel invigorated. Doing this regularly will help in detoxifying the body and improves circulation and keeps your body skin supple. Just try these few steps and feel the difference.   1.Take any oil, coconut, sesame or olive. Add some camphor to it and lightly  heat the oil  2. Pour a tablespoon of the warm oil onto your scalp and vigorously work in the oil. 3. Using your fingertips, vigorously massage your head and scalp with small circular strokes 4. Wipe your hands and take some more oil and gently  massage your  face and ears.   5. Rub and massage both the front and back of the neck. 6. Vigorously massage your arms, using a circular motion at the shoulders and elbows, and back-and-forth motions on the upper arms and forearms. 7. When massaging your chest and stomach, use a gentle circular motion and a straight up-and-down motion over the breastbone. 8. After applying a bit of oil to both hands, gently reach around to the back and spine and massage them as well as much as you can reach. 9. Vigorously massage your legs as you did your arms, using circular motions at the ankles and knees, back-and-forth motions on the long parts. 10. After massaging your legs, spend extra time on your feet. Don’t forget the  soles of the feet. This can be done sitting on a chair or on the floor with a cloth covering the chair from the oil grease. 11. Once this massage is done , take a Turkey towel and dip in hot water and squeeze out the excess water. Make sure the water is hot enough and wrap yourself with the hot towel. Repeat till you cover the whole body. Take a smaller turkey towel and dip it in hot water and wrap your hair .The same need to be done for the face also. After this “Turkey” steam you can go for your bath. You can use the herbal bath powders and scrub the oil from your skin or use a loofah and bath gel and scrub your skin. Enjoy this self indulgence in the comforts of your home and relax!

DIY Anti Tan Treatment at Home We have had an over dose of information for DIY Anti- Tan treatments with stuff available in the Kitchen. Yes ! We all know that lemon , honey glycerin, eggs , aloe gel, tomato juice etc. etc.,  do help us in naturally cleansing and removing tan from our skin. We also tend to end up going to the parlour /salon for that instant bleaching session when we feel that the tan has gone beyond home care.  To make things simpler and with usage of bleach and natural ingredients you could also try this Anti Tan Treatment at Home. Simple just follow these few steps and come out glowing. This can be done for the face, hands, neck and feet.   Step 1-Bleach your skin : Buy any good bleaching cream available in the market. Follow the instructions and apply the bleach on the required area ( face/hands/neck/feet). Once the bleaching process is complete- DON’T wipe of the bleach .   Step 2- Scrub with  Bleach on Skin : Take a nice scrub ( you get a variety in the market especially the walnut ones etc.) or you could make it at home with salt- castor sugar granules and massage the bleach in circular motion for about 5 minutes. That should do too much of scrubbing with bleach on could lead to itching.   Step 3- Wipe the bleach and Scrub: Clean the bleach and scrub from the skin and wash it clean. This should leave your skin squeaky clean. Wait! The process doesn’t end there.   Step-4 - Papaya Massage: After the bleach and scrub session , its time for some pampering. Take a really ripe Papaya, some honey and lemon juice and make this into a nice a squishy paste. Apply this on your skin and again massage this yummy paste in circular motion for about  a good 7- 8 minutes. You could sit in front of the TV with a cloth covering yourself and your sofa and do this.     Step-5- Papaya Pack: With the remaining paste apply some Fullers clay or Multani Mitti and apply the pack and let it dry .Wash of the paste and pat dry your skin. The nutrients in Papaya have a great skin nourishing and anti tanning effect and you will see visible results once your follow this process. The next would be to maintain your skin from the harsh UV rays of the sun with your – SPF cream, Scarf, hat,  umbrella, Glasses, coat to cover yourself, gloves to protect your arms and the socks to protect your feet. Can’t walk/drive in the heat without these armors can we?  

Smoky Eyed Look     The smoky eye look is one of the latest in eye make which is very simple and easy to create. Here's how to get a four-minute smoky eye look in these 5 steps. Step 1: Moisturize and apply concealer to even out your skin tone. Step 2: Dust loose powder all over your face to keep your makeup in place all day and add a touch of blush if you think you need it. Step 3: Choose one color of eyeshadow (brown, grey, bronze, whatever shade you prefer), and sweep across your lids (just to the creases) and lower lashlines. Step 4: Use a black eyeliner with a smudger attachment to line your top lids. Blend the liner into the shadow using the smudger. Repeat on the outer corners of the lower lashlines blending in toward the inner corners of your eyes a bit. Step 5: Finish with multiple coats of mascara and some lip balm or sheer gloss.

Try and Tie the Twisted Pony Tail   Summer is in and it’s time to tuck the hair into a neat bun or Pony tail so that your neck can breathe and not leave you feeling sweaty and hot. Pony tail is the easiest way to tie your hair and look stylish. You can wear different clasps , bands and metal holders to look stylish and give the classic low pony tail a new fashionable look. Try this twisted low ponytail in three simple steps to recreate this reverse French pleat: 1. First style your hair into a low ponytail. 2. Leave a three-inch section of hair out on      one side. 3. After the ponytail is tied, take the remaining section and roll toward your scalp, then secure with a bobby pin tucked into the ponytail elastic. Voila ! You have a classy & fashionable  twist to the humble ponytail...

Treating Summer Dry Hair     The blazing sun takes its toll first on your hair which is the first part to be exposed. The heat and the UV rays cause the hair to turn dry & parched leaving the hair feeling crunchy and fried. Ian Michael Black, Aveda Global Artistic Director for Hair Color, says that harmful rays of the sun zap hair -- especially color-treated or chemically treated hair that is extra porous -- of any moisture. How to Take care of Dry Hair? Hair Mask: You can undo the damage by sealing your hair's cuticle with a good quality hair mask packed with moisturizers.  There are different products available in the Beauty product stores which are formulated with avocado oil and olive fruit oil to nourish thirsty hair. You can also check with your Salonist to recommend a good product that suits your hair which they have with them. Hair Conditioner: A good conditioner to help your hair retain its moisture which contains moisturizing vitamin E and Monoi oil (coconut oil steeped in exotic gardenia blossoms) for hydration and UVA/UVB filters to protect against further damage by the Sun. Simple but effective ways to keep the Sun from drying your hair and keep your hair soft and healthy. And don’t forget to wear a hat, scarf or take the Umbrella before you go out!

Thicken your eyebrows         Over a period of time, age and excessive procedures like tweezing, threading and plucking our eyebrows end up becoming thinner than what they were. A sense of discomfort sets in and also with the natural thick eyebrow shape which is back in fashion fuels the need to re-grow your eyebrows. We know the age-old tip os using thick castor oil and coconut oil which is very good for hair growth. Another interesting new formulation which is known to boost brow growth is given here. All the ingridients used in this are easily available at home which  include Lemon / Lime Juice, Tea Tree Oil, and Coconut Oil.   ·        Lime/lemon juice (1/2 tsp) ·        Tea tree oil (1 tsp) ·        Coconut oil (4 tbsp)   Mix these ingredients in a glass jar and shake well. Apply this tonic and massage it for 10 minutes and leave on for half hour and wash it with cold water. Store this mixture in a cool place and continue to use this tonic for 6 to 8 weeks for effective results.

Tips to Soothe Sunburns   Summer is scorching and so is our skin! Check out these few tips to help you soothe your skin after sunburn. 1. Take a cool bath or shower .Cold water not only soothes the skin it also reduces the burning sensation of the heat and relaxes you. 2. The old grandma tip is to use fresh Aloe Vera gel which has healing properties on the exposed skin. If you have a plant takes a stem and remove the gel and store it in the fridge. This can be applied to the face, neck and hands periodically.   3. Vinegar either plain regular or apple cider vinegar is known to prevent unsightly blisters and peeling. Keep it in spray bottle and spray it as and when.   4. The tannic acids in Tea are a great remedy for sun-damaged skin. Boil a pot of spearmint or peppermint tea and cool it in the refrigerator. Pour it in a compressor spray bottle or just press the tea bag directly onto the skin. And solemnly swear to always apply sunscreen on your body before stepping outside, wear a hat or scarf and team it with a funky pair of glasses to protect your eyes and stay hydrated!