Review: Biotique Sunflower LipBalm

Up for another review about a LipBalm n its..,
Biotque Botanical Extracts Sunflower Lip Balm, BIOLIP
For Chapped and Dehydrated Lips.

" Apply a thick layer on the lips"
Yeah..thats what its says on the product.

Most of U might have a bit of awareness of the so-called-ayurvedic brand called 'Biotique'. I must say that there are several loyal customers out there in the whole world as well. Well, oh well, Ive been using this for an year or so.. and now I'm on my second pot of it. Is it too late for a Review?? Anyways, never too late. Dont get in to a false impression after 'me being on second pot of it' . Lets read on..

A Tale begins
Before starting..I want to tell u a short story. I bought this LipBalm last year, and went to get another one after 5-6 months. To my surprise, the 2nd lip balm that Ive bought is completely different in everything. So, for that sake, I might be referring the 2 , simultaneously, all through the review.

Packaging
Comes in a Eco-friendly characterised Green pot. Inside its got a white colored rim. In terms of packaing, its handly. But sometimes, it can be a bit heavy/huge(a bit) to carry on. Its weighs 16gms. But afterall, it can be easily dumped in to ur hand bag.

Color, Texture, Fragrance..
Color as u can see in the pic, its pinkish (my 1st pot) n red(my 2nd pot). Confused? Well, Im pretty much confused as well. When Ive bought it for the first time, the color is Pinkish and after 6months, when I bought another one, the lip balm is Red tinted (as in pic below, its the second one). I even tried to ask the Store manager, but I was told, that herbals formulations tend to change color, which I agreed, because its true.

Texture again..2 stories. First LipBalm's texture is thick and kind of buttery, whereas the second one is gelly. Fragrance..same, smells like an ayurvedic. Some might find it difficult to carry it on, but its barely there after applying it on lips.

KeyIngredients
Coming to the ingredients list..here u go..a pic for U..

Let me write up here as well, cos the pic is so dim (sorry..:( I tried, but.. )
  • Arjun Chal -2%
  • Lodhra Chal -1%
  • Vach Mool - 2%
  • Mulethi - 2%
  • Badam Tail -1%
  • Surajmukhi Tail -3%
  • Arandi Tail - 16%
  • Til Tail - 5%
  • Kusumbhi Tail - 5%
  • Q.S Maram Base (what??)
Treats sores, swelling, dry dehydrated chapped lips, Restores natural suppleness of lips.
Ayurvedic medicine (For External Use only) This is not a Cosmetic Product. It has therapeutic properties.
The feature that I like about Biotique, is that their Key ingredients are more than 10%, unlike several other products, where its less than 10%. Now, thats the ingredients list, n if u r eager abt anything, u can google search it, or ask me, Il update with with further details.

Price
Cost is 130 INR for 16gms. Affordable, Not Expensive, I say. If u happened to use Lotus Herbals Strawberry Lip Balm(which costs 60 INR for 8gms), BioLipBalm is of the same price, with added quantity.

Efficacy
As I said, the 2 pots, that I got are different, their result/effectiveness is different as well. Let me put in 2 different segments..

1st pruchase of BioLipBalm:
I loved it, when I bought it for the first time. It moisturized my lips. I can apply it whenever I want, and It gave the lips, that hydrated, watery look. Unlike other lipbalms, which creates the illusion of greasyness on lips (talking abt Vaseline), this made my lips to look watery, not at all greasy. The color on the lips looked birghter as well. Added, it toned my lips by making it brighter by 2 shades. The only bad thing abt this, is that I have to reapply it after 3 hrs..but its OKAY with me, when its doing such. I can tell that I liked it so much, that I finished it within 6 months, though a friend of mine, took for about 8-9 months to hit pan.

2nd Pruchase of BioLipBalm:
After turning in to my Holy Grail Lip Balm, I bought another pot. Soon after I opened it, I can see that the color is different.It looked with a red tint, unlike the past one with pinkish tint. Then I took out and applied, and it is gelly (the earlier one is buttery). There is this tingly sense over, soon after the application. And I checked out, on lips, and looked greasy. It no more gave me that watery/hydrated look. Moreover, it felt like Vaseline, with some color( that greasy texture prevails). However, I dint believe my eyes, for awhile, and thought of to use for some more days, and went on further. But it was the same look.
I dint mind the look, if its enough hydrating. In the long run, it dint moisturize, besides, it started to peel the skin over my lips. Turned the lips darker. So, stopped using it forever. Now im thinking of to use it for cracks (Nice idea right! )

But, why do they have to change the quality when its doing that great. Anyways, I sometimes think that the 2nd one might be an illegal duplication, but I bought it at the same place where I bought the 1st one. Anyways, I can in no way keep on testing it, so I have to skip it.
Pros: Tinted Color, Price
Cons: Different quality with each product, tingling, turns lips darker, peels off, greasy

Repurchase
No. With such a huge difference with each n every batch, I cannot keep on experimenting them, on my lips.

By the way, Have u tried it..?? How is it? Share it with us..
Bye Belles

Made a Lip Balm yesterday.. !!

Hello there..
The title is all about what Im raving now. Few days back, I mentioned in my Blog post, that IVe bought "Petroleum Jelly with Vitamin E". Now after trying it as lip balm for 2 days( b4 going to bed), I could see that my lips plumped up a bit. Im not sure whats the main reason ( which Il get to know somehow, but later) but I'm just so surprised to have a second glance at my lips, myself.
With that I started to use it in the morning , the color is not much alluring, and for that sake, I thought of to add a tint to it.

Well, many of u know that there are several recipes for DIY Lip Balms..I choose Rose flavoured. So I went searching in my Vanity desk, to get some Rose petals powder and my luck, I found it.
Another search for Container (to store the new DIY lip balm) and I got the '25gms empty tin of Himalaya Herbals Revitalizing Night Cream'. So, let me share the way I did my LipBalm..

Ingredients
  1. Vaseline Petroleum Jelly : Now I have my 125 gms of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, I took out a scoop of 25gms out of it. U can even replace it with Beeswax or Shea butter, Cocoa Butter.

  2. Rose petal powder : U can make ur own, by letting the rose petals dry, untill there is no moisture, then grinding it in to a fine powder in a blender. 2-3 rose flowers are far more. OR, If u are in to first trail, U can visit ur nearby Ayurvedic/Indian store and get readymade Rose petal powder. I used 25gms of it.
Process
Process is simple. Just mixing up all of them together. Many say that its good to heat it a bit and then mix. But I dint heat it, since Petroleum Jelly has got Vitamin E(atleast it claims), im a bit afraid it might lose its properties. But anyways, Ive mixed with my Room heater on. :P
After mixing for about 5 minutes, untill the powder dissolved in it completely, without any clumps, I could notice that the color is not in pink color as I expected. Rather its in Mocha/coffee color and resembled just like a Coffee/Choclate Lip Balm.
Anyways, its just yesterday that I tried it for the first time, and il post the review of it soon. The rose DIY Lip balm is known for moisturizing and toning properties. Lets see

Till then..bye Belles.

Q-Tip: Wash b4 WorkOuts

When to wash face??Before OR After Working Out??
The Solution is simple..
Wash ur face before U start working out.

Explanation:
Okay..Let me give U what exactly happens during 'Work Out Sessions'.
When U start exercising, Ur body tends to shed away the toxins (or sometimes tries to cool down the body) through sweat. Whenever skin starts to excrete sweat, the pores gets enlarged, just to pump the sweat out.

If U exercise with Clean face , the Sweat excretes out and stays there, without any clogs. Sweat never irritates skin (does if it mixes up with environmental dirt), that after working out, its not damn necessary to wash off immediately.

But If u don't wash before, Ur make-up/dirt that's been accumulated till then, sinks down in to the skin further, when the pores gets enlarged, resulting the clogs.

This sort of question arises to several, whether its OKAY to go with make-up to the near-by gym? I'ld say "NO". Its just because, skin absorbs the make-up in, while secreting sweat.

Review: Vasline Intensive Care, Total Moisture

Yesterday, I was raving abt Vaseline Petroleum Jelly and today, I thought its better to post up the reviews about Vaseline things, that Ive used so far. So, now its..

Vaseline Intensive Care Total Moisture Dry Skin Lotion
U can go visit their website, and check out abt this product(thats available in India). Well, this claims that it is a body lotion that's meant especially for Dry Skin. With Soya & Oat extracts, for Healthy Skin.
To speak a few more cents, the product that's available across the world, is different from that what we get in India . Its basically manufactured by HUL (Hindustan Unilever Ltd.,) The word 'Different' implies on the terms of 'Packaging'. There is a lot of difference between the label graphics. But when it comes to the quality or the effectiveness of the lotion, I couldn't say anything cos, I haven't used the former one. But I've heard from a friend of mine, saying that its completely different and good, when she hated the one sold in India.

Anyways, it was last winter, that Ive bought this, since I was searching for a cheap Body Lotion to defend the winter dryness. My skin over body is normal (not dry even in winters), not at all problematic, goes with any kind of heavy lotions. The reason being that, I was left with several options to try, so I choose the word 'Cheap n Inexpensive' just to give it a bit of TLC. So, I went straight away to the drugstore and bought this bottle. So, here goes the review of it...

Packaging
The packaging is good. Its optimum. I don't need an expensive, glamorously looking product. Its handy as well. But the only problem, that I used to face is..its quite hard to get the lotion out of it. The lotion gets easily solidified and turns stubborn to come out, that I have to squeeze, shake it, make a heavy stepped dance to get a pea out of it. However, its Okay with me.

Color, Fragrance, Texture...
The color of the lotion is white in color. Fragrance, smells nice. I can say that there is an added fragrance ingredient (For those of u, who are allergic to topical fragrances). Texture, a bit thicker than lotions.

Ingredients
Check out the pic. Information regarding 'Key Ingredient' is all what Ive found on the rear label. In fact, its based on Indian norms, that no information about all the other ingredients be given..is something what I came to know recently.


Water, Stearic Acid, Glycerine, Petroleum Jelly, Vitamin E Acetate are the 'Key Ingredients'. On the front label, its mentioned that its got 'Soya & Oat Extracts', buts its no where mentioned in the Key Ingredients. I can think, they might have added it in the 'Other ingredients list', but doesn't that mean, that their concentrations will be less to make it a point?

Price
Dirt cheap. 40 INR for a 100ml bottle.

Efficacy
When it comes to SkinCare, how it plays its role,is what bothers me. The rest, like cost, packaging, fragrance,color, all these terms, I never bother. So, to talk about its efficacy, I'd say, it dint do what is said. Let me explain. I applied it the first day after my shower. It felt good, non-sticky/greasy, melts in to skin. Smelt good. Doesnt feel heavy, doesnt suffocate the skin. The whole day, Ive been doing the so-called 'Scratch-test' and it passed. I felt great for this product.

But the next day, when im off to take a shower, my skin is shedding flakes, allover. It was like, the lotion made my skin further more dry, by making it to get addicted. But I tried it further for few more days, and everyday, I see the same flakes. Losing hope, I gave this to my cousin and she got the same flakes too.

Later, Ive made a search, like why does it flake up the skin, when its got petroleum jelly with it. To my horror, I found certain information, saying that certain products zap the moisture from the internal layers of the skin to the upper layers, so that, the upper layers wont look/feel dry(thats where the scratch-test comes). By the next day, since it lost moisture in the deeper layers, the outer layers lose their hydration roots from the deeper layers and eventually turn dry and then in to dry flakes.

Due to this, I stopped it at once, putting it on, and the next day, my skin is back to normal, with no flakes. From then on, I never turned to any of their lotions.
Pros: Non-greasy, Light, melts in to skin, fragrance, cheap
Cons:Further dries up, by flaking the skin in a day.

Repurchase
No. I dont think I'l try this no matter what, when there are safe lotions out there in the market. Infact, its been several months, that they had launched 'Healthy White' Body Lotion, about which they claim it as the 'No.1 Whitening Lotion in India'. Perhaps, I saw several people who love it, but Im untouched with that.

Thats all..How did this product turn out to U ? Good or bad..??
Please share abt ur Opinions..
Till then Stay Beautiful..Ciao Belles..

Tiny Haul :Vaseline

Hi there..
Haven't posted any post for today..its just me being a bit busy.
Anyways, Ive been to Reliance super mart , on the way back home to get some fruits n vegetables and while I was just walking through the cosmetics/beauty aisle, Ive noticed Vaseline rack, with lotions, White petroleum Jelly and "another new one" in to the group. Its..
Vaseline Vitamin Enriched Petroleum Jelly , with Vitamin E

The packaging was indeed completely different from White Petroleum Jelly, but its not new. I remember the same packaging, several years ago. Though the packaging of the product is not completely different, the pot is cream in color, unlike Indian Vaseline, which comes in white color always. The Cream color, made me to think, that it resembled the ones in other foreign countries like USA n others.

So to investigate further, I took it in to my hands and observed. Its got a label over it, mentioning that it was manufactured by HUL (Hindustan Unilever Ltd.,) for Export sales. So, within a sec, without another thought, dumped it in to my cart :P . It costs 75 INR for 125 gms. Not expensive, but when compared to the ol traditional Petroleum Jelly, its obviously expensive. I'll be up with a review soon.

Till then,
Stay Beautifull..Ciao Belles.. :)

New in the Racks: Lakme Skin Perfect

If U browse the Lakme Website, U might have noticed by now, that they had introduced a new product. Following their fundamental moisturizers, there is a new moisturizer named as 'Lakme Skin Perfect Moisturizer'. Well, here are the details found on the web...

Lakme Skin Perfect Mositurizer
" Ever wished for that one product that took care of all of your skin’s needs? That moisturised skin, lightened its flaws and even protected it from the sun?
With soothing extracts of Orange flower and Lemon grass, Lakme Skin Perfect Moisturiser is all your skin ever wished for, and more.

How it works:
Heady extracts of Orange flower and lemon grass soothe skin, leaving it fragrant and fresh. While it also lightens your skin, its SPF enriched formulation lightens and protects, giving you skin that’s moisturised, smooth, sun-safe and well, perfect!

Results: Perfect, even-toned, beautiful skin."

Hmmm...
So..what do U say..?? Thinking of to try it?? Well, Im in no way tempted , because I have a certain brand loyality (which il make another post), after using Lakme Peach Milk Moisturizer and Sunscreen Lotion. Overall, I feel that Lakme is striving hard to elavate their products in terms of Packaging.
Anyways, I'l let U know, why I'm so sure abt their products and not at all tempting to give them a try, through my reviews coming up soon. :)

Mini Review
To speak abt this product, I could'nt judge the quality of the lotion(Cos I haven't tried it), but the overall look/packaging of the product is very awesome and quite elegant. Its got pump dispenser, which makes it to use comfortable n hygienic. The pink color makes it much more feminine.
Well, Lakme claims that its got SPF, but no other information regarding the ingredients are given, so Im left clueless over there. The price is not mentioned as well.
So, the only term that Ive liked in this product, is the 'Packaging'.(untill I come to know abt the cream/lotion effectiveness)

A Disclaimer: Im in no way associated with Lakme or any other brand. Im posting this not because of to improve the sales, but on the purpose of sharing and discussion.

Recent Tiny haul

Im here to just share my tiny haul, when Im off for a basic grocery shopping last week wednesday. This haul is regarding beauty related items, that Ive bought without any pre-plan, neither they are in my wish list. So the 2 things Ive bought are:

1: Himalaya Herbals Healthcare Anti-Hair Fall shampoo


A 200ml bottle, just to make sure that it is not too much, neither too less. Now-a-days, I just dont know whether its due to the cold weather or due to my less-importance towards my diet, my Hair is falling like hell. So, that being the reasong, I thought of to give this Himalaya Herbals Shampoo another try, after it had failed with ExtraMoisturising shampoo. I think i need to look after another brand as a whole, if this fails too. Costs 120 INR, 200ml. I'l be up with a review soon.

2: Johnson & Johnson Baby Lotion (mini, 40ml bottle, just to try)
Ive read several reviews abt this product, where several agreed & liked this product and for some, this lotion gave allergies. So, I couldn't decide which category I belong, unless I give it a try all by myself. For that sake, Ive bought a tiny 40ml bottle, so tiny, that i could easily skip it, in to my hand bag or use it while traveling, after Ive finished it. Whatever, I'm still a bit bothered to try it, cos of the fear of rashes/allergy. Its dirt cheap as well..costs around 39 INR for 40ml.. Il be reviewing this as well.

Thats all..Il be posting up all my hauls from now..only beauty related products.. :)
Good night everyone..

Q-Tip: Want soft and scented feet?

A treat for your feet!

This little piggy went to the spa! Want a luxurious foot soak at home?

Fill a large container with hot water.
Add grated orange peel, 3 tablespoons cinnamon, and a 1/2 cup olive oil.
Soak your feet for 20-30 min.

Want that great feeling to last? Sleep with booties on! If u cant get the above ingredients, U can just throw in some oil, any oil (coconut oil or whatever..), in that hot water and soak up ur feet.

For long lasting result, Sleep with ur socks on.. Next day, Uld wake up with beautiful soft, crack-free feet.
Ciao Belles... :)

Review: Brihans AloeVera Gel

SkinCare Product Review here.. its..
Brihans Green Leaf Pure AloeVera Skin Gel

Most of u might be completely unaware of this brand. Why, for that sake..even Im not aware of this until I bought this home. Ok, now to speak abt this product, Ive bought this an year back, at my local drug store, when the SA handed me this, along with 2-3 other products, when I asked him for AloeVera Creams. The others, being creams, I went thinking whether those creams mightn't suit my sensitive skin, so on a whim, I picked this Pretty Green thing, with elegant packaging. Then comes its usage and all the other practices.

So here goes the Review..

Packaging
The product comes in a transparent pot with a white cap. No spatula, nothing. U have to dip ur fingers in, to get. The pot looks so pretty with those curves, but asusual, I always feel whether its good to dip down ur fingers, which can be unhygienic sometimes. Ok, I can think twice, that there could be preservatives that are strong enough to defend, but what such preservatives could do to the sensitive skin.

Color, Fragrance, Texture, etc..
The product is Gelly in texture, with transparent green color. It looks just like the way it looks in the above pic. Smells like normal gel. Remember, how those Hair-styling gels smells?? This smells just the same.

Price
Its not at all expensive. Costs some 70 INR (im not sure abt the present price, Ive bought this last year, so this is the last year's news) for abt 125 gm(not much sure).

Ingredients
"Aloe vera 90% w/w, colour: brilliant blue FCF (E133), tartrazine (E102)"
These are the only ingredients listed out on the product.

Result
Is it effective?? Ask me, and Il straight away say "No!". Ive bought this, because my skin likes real plant AloeVera gel extract. So, this being the reason, bought this, in need of basic moisturization for my facial-skin, and which doesn't aggravate in to acne/allergy.

First application on face, I felt like heaven. Its a cooling sensation. After a while, my skin felt normal. Ive made several checks, just to make sure that there is no reaction. So Ive continued using it for weeks. Then after 2-3 weeks, I could see that there are small red bumps (like chicken skin) all over face. I thought, thats bcos, Ive skipped my workouts that week. Later Ive been to Dermatologist and was prescribed some other creams, and thats another story.

After abt 6-7 months, I went to see that this pot is sitting in my freezer. Took that out, checked the expiry date and started to use it again. Ive used if for abt 2-3 weeks again, finally finished the product. It brightened my skin a bit, added a certain glow to the skin. So, Ive stocked up with another pot. After some days later, those red bumps, that visited me 6 months back, visited me again. But this time, I haven't skipped my Workouts, neither my diet. In fact it is not enough moisturizing as well. After few hours, u get that papery textured skin appearing out. So, the realy culprit is this one. Ive saw, the same result on one of my freinds as well. Then is the time, that Ive dumped this.

Repurchase
No. Infact, everytime, I visit any Beauty store, these pots invite me to get them, cos of their lovely package, but I wouldn't think twice abt them.
Pros: Packaging, Price, Brightens n GlowsUp skin
Cons: Causes Allergy after 2 weeks of usage, not moisturizing enough.

Thats all..
Have U used it..?? How did u get the result turned out..?? Ild be glad to know abt ur results..
Please drop be some words abt it..
Ciao Bellas.. :)

Q-Tip: Splitting Hairs?

Use Castor Oil to smooth out split ends

Ive already mentioned it in my earlier post i.e., in 'Night Care' mentioning it among those 20 things thats best to use before going to bed. Anyways,If uve missed it, Im here to mention it again and again.

Well, to continue on...
Split ends are a total drag. Apply Castor Oil to the ends of hair to help repair damage and give ends a smoother appearance. Under consequent usage for abt 3-4 weeks, Ur splits will be moistened and the Split ends reduces.

This process.. Castor Oil helps in giving out the proper strength to the tips, when the moisture from the hair-root cannot reach the tip. Gradually, due to the Castor Oil's deep penetrating and highly moisturizing capacity, those splits moisturizes and When there is enough moisture at the tip, therll be less damage.

So this night, make sure that u just rub in some Castor oil to those splits.
Ciao Belles..

Facial Masks: DIY at home

Hey there..Im back with another post regarding the DIY Home facial Masks.

Now that the winter is here, Ur skin is prone to dryness, no matter how u take care of it, consequently, slathering on those heavy lotions wouldn't serve sometimes. There are several just-so-commercial creams/lotions out there in the market, that does nothing, rather than just sitting on the skin. Some creams even change the skin's texture in to dry, flakyly papery.

Then comes those Facial Masks to rescue. Basically, the masks for Dry skin are supposed to be highly moisturising, that penetrates deep in the skin tissues and makes them soft and supple. Follow this simple mask once every 2 days, and check the results.

Ingredients
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon rose water
  • 2 teaspoon cream
Process
Mix all the above ingredients.
Steam up your face and apply the mask for 10-15 minutes and wash off

Suitable for
This mask is highly suitable for Dry to Normal Skin Variations. If uve got Acne prone skin, check the ingredients list..its got Honey, Cream ,which may be allergetic to some acne/sensitive skin.

Keep Ur Facial Skin Glowing

Your face says it all. Your passing years, your worries, your schedule—name it and your face mirrors it. It makes you who you are. No wonder that everybody—man or woman—worries about it losing sheen. While ageing is inevitable you can take care of your face so well that it smiles back at you evertime you look at the mirror.

Tender Loving Care
Retain your youthful skin with tender loving care every day.
Keep your skin clean: use a mild cleanser, toner and moisturiser. Let skincare not be the first thing to be sacrificed if you are running short of time. Cleansing is a must at least twice a day.
Toning mainly depends on the skin type and weather. For instance, you would need to tone less in winter than in summer.
But you must moisturise no matter what. For those of you with oily skin, remember you, too, need to moisturise to keep your skin supple and glowing.

Protect your skin
Shield your skin from the harsh rays of the sun with a sunscreen lotion. Slather it on your face and other exposed parts of your body. Sunscreen prevents damage to the skin by UV rays that can cause age-spots, reduced elasticity and appearance of lines and wrinkles. Apply it 20 minutes before stepping out and if needed, reapply. Make sure the sunscreen suits your skin-type.

Beaute Products
Our skin ages because of genetic and chronological factors. We are programmed to look a certain way as we age. Besides, our genes, other factors such as excessive exposure to sunlight, stress, smoking and drinking also hastens our ageing process. There is a huge array of anti-ageing products to choose from. Regular use of a night cream, starting from your early 30s, can restore and replenish the skin’s moisture. These creams are also known to speed up the skin’s regeneration process which slows down with age. Look for one that contains vitamins, anti-oxidants, AHAs, ceramides and peptides.

Derma treatment
Consult a qualified dermatologist if you wish to go in for a cosmetic treatment. These treatments can partially restore the skin’s youthful appearance and slow down subsequent ageing. The skin texture can be improved by chemical peels or mechanical methods like microdermabrasion which target superficial imperfections. The loss of collagen which is responsible for reduced elasticity can be regenerated by the process of photorejuvenation in which lasers are used to promote skin tightening and reverse or at least slow down signs of ageing. Radiofrequency waves, too can be used for the same purpose. These lines are corrected faster.

Thats all..
But u should always remember that Beauty is not an Over night Achievement. Through consistent struggle, one can achieve that flawless result. :) So never ever skip the CTM Routine..
Ciao Belles..

Night Care for your Skin


Get gorgeous with these simple night time beauty rituals that leave you rested sleep.

The day finally comes to a close, the sheets have been turned down and the lights dimmed. The stresses of the day have left their mark, the shoulders ache, the hair is straggly, the skin rough to touch and the face marred by pollution, heat, dust and remnants of make-up. The comfort of the bed beckons, but before sleep overtakes you, it’s time to ready yourself for the next day—physically and emotionally. Night time rituals are as crucial as those that come with the sun’s rising. Check out what you need to do before checking in.

  • Take a bubble bath. Light scented candles, turn down the lights, switch on some soothing music. You can add 10 drops camomile, five drops geranium, seven drops of lavender, and four drops of lemon oil into a warm bath, and soak away the stress.
  • Use a body scrub during the night. It works better than using it in the morning.
  • Gently massage body lotion all over your body post the bath. The skin repairs itself during the night and it’s more effective to use the care products before going to bed.
  • Make sure you apply the night cream half an hour before going to bed. It should also be applied to the decollete as it the softest area and needs protection.
  • Give extra attention to your hands before going to bed. Cream your hands with an additional helping of skin care cream to feed your skin intensive moisturising substances and jojoba oil.
  • Gently scrub the feet and apply a foot cream before going to bed. It’s advisable to wear socks after applying the foot cream or body lotion.
  • Gently rub cool rose water on your skin, especially the face. It is one of the mildest astringents and the most natural way to make your skin come alive after a stressful day.
  • Add a few drops of calming aromas of lavender in sunflower oil and apply on temples or neck and shoulders. You can also use lime oil, eucalyptus oil or cardamom oil that are known for their stress busting properties.
  • Cleanse your face and neck with a mild cleanser to suit your skin type to remove all make-up and dirt from the neck and face. Always use a toner after to remove the residue of the cleaner. You can use a night time skincare formula on your face and neck. It could be a serum or a night cream that relaxes, repairs your skin’s epidermis while you sleep that is ideal for women who are 30 or older.
  • Lips retain less moisture than other parts of our body so they tend to dry out more quickly. A simple lip balm every night before you sleep works wonders.
  • Brush your hair and tie in a loose plait so that it doesn’t get tangled during sleep which could lead to breakage. Do not tie your hair too tight. Never sleep with wet hair as that’s when it’s most fragile and can get broken easily.
  • Once a week apply an olive oil-based cream on your hands and feet to keep skin supple and wrinkle free.
  • Have green tea every night before going to bed. It relaxes your nerves and detoxifies your system which will automatically show on your skin.
  • Do a little yoga, meditation or read a good book to help you clear your mind and relax.
  • Listen to soothing music and don’t think about what you need to do the next day.

Nature’s therapy
Dump those chemicals into the trash can and reach for natural products that will up the looking-good factor and help you unwind. Here is Bellepedia's list of the 20 best and especially good for the night care:

1: Aloe Vera Moisturises and softens the skin. It speeds up healing and is great as a sun screen.

2: Almonds are Rich in proteins and minerals. Almond oil prevents aging. Use it in your hair for a soft, silky feel and to keep away premature greying. Yogurt Eating one cup every day helps protect skin from damage from sun and acne.

3: Milk is the magic ingredient to supple skin that works as a gentle cleansing agent.

4: Honey with natural antioxidant and anti-microbial properties, protects the skin, is great to fight acne and ideal as a moisturiser.

5: Lemon acts as a natural bleach, anti dandruff, antiseptic and is an astringent.

6: Papaya is great as low calorie food. Put ripe papaya pulp on your face for 10-15 minutes. It will leave your skin refreshed and smooth.

7:Orange acts as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and is a good moisturiser for oily skin.

8:Tomato helps open pores and combat blackheads. Rub a sliced piece of tomato on your skin and leave for 15 minutes to help the pores.

9:Cucumber works as an astringent, has cooling and brightening properties.

10: Acai Berries are known as Energy booster, fights free radicals and may prevent wrinkles.

11: Wheatgrass Energises and reduces fatigue. Its juice improves digestion. Its good for Aneamics as well.

12: Turmeric prevents and helps remove blemishes.

13:Rose extract and rose oil promote youthful complexion with good tone and elasticity.

14:Mint relaxes, refreshes and hydrates the body. Crush mint leaves and apply around eyes to take away the dark circles.

15:Green Tea suppresses inflammation and irritation and reduces cellulite.

16:Potatoes rich in chlorophyll, reduces blemishes, burns scars and pigmentation.

17:Sandalwood oil is a natural barrier to UV rays. Its best to use it before hitting the sack to reverse the Sun's reactions on skin.

18: Strawberries has toning and moisturising properties. Mash three strawberries and apply as a face mask for 10 minutes.

19: Coconut Helps hair growth and regulates the functioning of thyroid gland.

20: Castor Oil for those split ends. Apply them to those dry/fscary split ends at the end of the day and shower off the next day.

Thats all Belles..
Ciao later.. :)

60 Day Grooming Schedule

This season if you are going to set a standard or schedule to turn urself beautiful..or if thers any Upcoming weddings u need to attend, Or to any horror, if its ur own wedding..the following are the tips and tricks that will help you look your best...Ive made a lot of calculation pertaining to the things that I should do, along with my fellow friends and here we are, finally up with a 60 day grooming schedule

First and foremost, set yourself a goal. If you are a bride-waiting ofcourse it is the wedding that you target; if not aim for a festival celebration, a family wedding, a special aniversary... experts agree that a pre-planned beauty routine followed properly for a couple of months will give that "bridal glow" everyone raves about, where the "Confidence" plays the key role.

Remember the make-up comes later, first, get glowing skin and then enhance it with the right make-up.

THE COUNT BEGINS...

Day 1: Consult a Dermatologist and get all your skin and hair queries addressed. If u r pretty much aware of all the stuff that goes well with u, U can start out all by Urself.

Day 2: Visit a Dietician and figure out your optimum weight. Get her to devise a tailor-made diet and exercise plan for you to look your body best. She may need you to undergo some medical tests; go prepared and armed with the results to save time. Don’t overdo the gym, swimming or even walking routine. Get as much exercise as you can to get your body in shape, but without stressing yourself out!

Day 3: Take a little time out – you have two experts’ advice. But add to it; work out a sustainable plan to add your own little steps bit by bit (you can crosscheck with your experts if you like). Eat smaller meals six times a day; increase your water intake (if you’re not already drinking at least about two 1-litre bottles per day); maintain a daily food diary; stay away from the five Cs: Colas, Chocolate, Cake, Coffee and Chips! Make a “healthy” lifestyle – take the stairs, walk to the market, and get your beauty sleep. Ask your friends and relatives to cooperate; set the alarm, get your house help to cook healthier meals and so on…

Day 4: Throw out old creams and lotions; indulge yourself, buy a range of products based on your needs (as per the expert’s advice), anti-ageing, deep moisture, and whitening… Opt for a brand that you have been loyal to, and that has had proven effects on your skin. If confused by conflicting advice, ask the dermatologist to recommend a specific brand – just make sure she’s not affiliated to any particular brand! Your kitty of good buys must include: Face wash, Toner, Daycream, Nightcream, Bodylotion, Make-upRemover, Face&BodyScrub, and a Facemask.

Day 5: Go for a body wax – this is important to check your skin’s sensitivity levels a long while before D-day. Also, this will also let you check your comfort levels with the salon expert. If you’re the slightest bit uncomfortable, switch to another. A body wax includes the limbs and the back. Your stomach and breasts are usually bleached, or epilator creams may be used to take off the hair. You can also opt for a bikini wax, which involves waxing the hair off the bikini line and further down south (a Brazilian wax) –check if your comfort levels allow you to do this.

Day 6: Visit the salon to get your beauty plan in order (manicure, pedicure, facials, face clean-ups, body massage and wraps, head massage, hair spas and any more such treatments) – it’s easier to go to a one-stop shop for all your needs, instead of going all over the place and getting a pedicure at one place and a facial at the other. Kaya, VLCC, Lakmé, Shahnaz Husain, Habib’s and other salons have chains all over the city; find the one that gives you the best value for money, nearest to where you live.

Day 7: If you’re to be a winter bride, and your trousseau has been decided, sit with the make-up artist you would like to go with and ask her to devise 3-4 looks for you. If you’re not happy with her, find another one. If you want a special look for any other memorable occasion, it’s still a good idea to figure out the ensembles you will wear and decide on your make-up, to complement them.

Day 8: Your plan in order and consultations done, indulge at the salon or… Get a hydrating facial, a head and body massage, and throw in a manicure and pedicure. Or do Urself the DIY Home made beauty routines.

Day 9: Just relax – watch a movie, get some sleep, read a book… (If you’re working, try to fit this into a workday off, not on the weekend, when you’re likely to have activities happening around you at home).

Day 10: Pay attention to your hair – follow your expert’s advice when it comes to scalp-related problems such as dandruff or weak roots. Visit your hairdresser and get the right shampoo, conditioner and styling products to use.

Day 11: Revisit your food plan and check your food diary – make sure you are following all that the dietician has advised you to do.

Day 12: Try a home remedy: After your shower, follow through with a milk-scrub. Literally. Dip a loofah in milk and scrub away – the milk will hydrate your skin and take away all the accumulated tan – and as a plus-plus, moisturise your skin!

Day 13: If you want / need a haircut, now is the time to do it – in the next 50 days or so, your hair won’t outgrow a cut; and if by chance it’s a terrible mistake, there’s still time to rectify it!

Day 14: Get your eyebrows shaped professionally – make a change if you want – go thinner(if urs is a skinny face) or thicker(if urs is a fatty face), the way you prefer. But it’s best to listen to the advice of a particularly well-informed or groomed friend. Here too, if things go wrong, there’s enough time to correct them before D-day.

Day 15: Try a never-before lip balm (try brands such as L’Occitane, The Body Shop, Elizabeth Arden) in tantalising flavours, and use it regularly to keep your lips soft and kissable… For more of a Desi touch, try Himalaya Herbals Lip Salve, Biotique Sunflower BioLipBalm, or Vaseline Pretoleum Jelly with Vitamin E is in the store, check them out.

Day 16: Take a day off. Go watch the latest “nothing-movie” and maybe indulge in some lingerie shopping with your friends… Buy a soft, fluffy pair of home slippers. Come home, wash the grime off your feet, apply a foot cream (Lush, The Body Shop, Dr Scholls, Avon, Oriflame, Himalaya Herbals FootCream…) or get your help to do so, slip your feet in the cushioned slippers… Relax.

Day 17: At your expert’s advice, make an appointment for a microdermabrasion or glycolic peel session, if need be. This will remove dead and damaged cells from your skin, leaving you feeling and looking fresh and youthful. Basically, this is the best time to do it, if u wanted it. If uve got sensitive skin, and wants to go all natural, I dont think this could be for u.

Day 18: Try grandma’s home remedy for skin lightening: besan, milk and haldi mixed into a paste and applied all over your body(follow this only if u r not allergetic to any of these ingredients). Keep on for 10-15 minutes and then scrub off with a loofah for rejuvenated skin. It always works! If Uve got Sandalwood stick..U can use that as well to lighten that crappy tan.

Day 19: Declare this a hair day – start with an oil massage in the morning; then shampoo off. Mix two portions of honey and one of olive oil and apply (yes, it’s rather gooey) to your tresses. Put on a shower cap, and shampoo again and condition after half an hour for glossy, shiny hair…

Day 20: Go through your perfumes – throw out any that have gone bad (a good indication is an eggy smell that arises after 5-10 minutes of application) and buy new ones.

Day 21: Apply a face mask that specifically suits your skin : fruit-based/moisturizing for dry skin, clay-based for oily skin.

Day22: Opt for a body massage to soothe away tension. Try a hot /cold stone massage that focuses on your body’s pressure points and makes stress disappear like magic… (Don’t hesitate to indulge at a quality spa.)

Day 23: Stubborn cellulite? Rub ground coffee mixed with body lotion all over your legs, hips and arms… Plan an intense Yoga session.

Day 24: Skip SPF too often and you’ll be left with age spots on your face. To combat these, rub lemon juice-for oily/combination skin , or Sandalwood-if uve got dry/sensitive skin, daily, follow up with moisturiser.

Day 25: A quick home remedy for dry hands and feet: Before going to bed, wash them well with a shower wash and scrub with a pumice stone. Apply a moisturiser and then a layer of petroleum jelly or glycerine. Slip your hands into gloves and feet into socks. Drift off to awake to soft skin…

Day 26: Dull hair? The same hair products used over and over can lead to product build-up in your hair… Starting this day, periodically, wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo to remove residue. Switch shampoos and conditioners often to decrease the chance of build-up. Follow the Oil Massage routine, which unclogs the build-up easily. Eating a healthy diet with Vitamins B and E also helps!

Day 27: Go for a good hair spa (most salons offer hair spas that involve a head massage, shampoo, an intense conditioner,
steam and then another shampoo and blow-dry). Get to bed early to de-stress.

Day 28: Make it a “do-nothing” day. Relaaax..n enjoy the space.

Day 29: Re-check your nighttime beauty routine. Always remember to take your make-up off, lest all your beauty treatments come to a head because of clogged pores! Use the make-up remover – soap and water is not enough even if all you’ve applied is kohl and a blush.

Day 30: A month gone, another to go. Stop and revise what you’re doing. Visit the dermatologist or the dietician again and revise your skin and fitness plans if need be. Ensure you get your beauty sleep for the month to come.

Day 31: Enlarged pores? Try tomatoes! You can make a “tomato lotion”: Take one tsp of tomato juice; add a couple of drops of lime juice. Apply on face and remove after 15 minutes. This reduces the appearance of pores.

Day 32: Stress causing break-outs? Keep your trusted zit-zapper handy but pick a home remedy to help you along: A mask made of grated apple mixed with a little honey is an excellent remedy for pimples. For the more adventurous, peel and mash eight cloves of fresh garlic and apply to the face, avoiding the area around the eyes. Leave on for about 15 minutes and wash off with a warm cloth. Use a face wash to get rid of the smell.

Day 33: Make sure you are using a good eye cream (La Prairie, L’Oréal Paris, Garnier or Iraya ). Make sure you use your ring finger for (the pressure exerted is gentler), keep your eyes closed, and just dab on the product lightly under and around the eyes. If u wanted to go all natural way, put on Potato slices, before u hit the sack and Cucumber slices at dawn.

Day 34: Get a luxury shot: a wine facial, a chocolate body wrap, a coffee scrub – use food-based spa treatments to tantalise your senses and nourish your skin. Check into a good city spa and pick your treatment.

Day 35: Drink two cups of green tea daily, starting now – the anti-oxidants will keep your skin fresh and youthful and flush out toxins from your body, giving you double benefits.

Day 36: Take out time every day, from today on, to meditate for 10 minutes. This will calm your senses, reduce stress and anxiety and bring an overall glow to your countenance. Of course, you don’t have to be a to-be bride to push up your calm quotient. Focus on a specific calming thought or vision, a verse, a piece of music, or your favourite deity; sit in a cool, quiet space and try not to move for the duration. You may find it difficult to do this for 10 minutes to begin with, but it does get easier as the days pass…

Day 37: You can turn any fruit into a quick facial mask by blending it with dahi or honey. Dahi works well for those with oily skin; those with dry skin should use a honey base. You can also use the fruits to condition your hair by blending them with your favourite conditioner, letting the mixture sit on your head for about 10 minutes. Then, using a hair dryer set on high heat for deeper absorption, shampoo as usual. For even deeper conditioning, mix the fruits with an essential oil such as almond oil.

Day 38: Another salon visit, another facial. Or follow a DIY Home Facial, which is a best option.

Day 39: Do your final lingerie shopping. Take the time to get fitted for the right size. (Remember to apply a cream or lotion with SPF whenever you step out.)

Day 40: Puffy eyes can be a problem. A sure fix is to splash ice-cold water onto your face for at least 5 minutes (longer if you can stand it). Or try the traditional approach: slices of cold cucumber placed on each eye. You can also buy eye masks to reduce puffiness (The Body Shop has one you can put in the freezer and place over eyes.)

Day 41: Treat your nails with some TLC'c To avoid breakage, always use a moisturiser after washing them. Start on a course of vitamins to make the nails stronger, after checking with your dietician. Apply a base coat on nails before applying colour to prevent discoloured nails.

Day 42: Here's how to enjoy a truly relaxing bath Take two teaspoons honey, 1 cup very hot water and a few drops of pure essential oil. Dissolve the honey in the water. Add the essential oil. Pour the mixture into your bath water. One cup is enough for your tub.

Day 43: Add extra brightness to your complexion: Take 1.4 cup dahi and 1.4 cup walnuts (very finely grounded). Mix well. Wet your face then gently work the scrub into your skin. Rinse off with warm water. Try this once a week, starting this day, and watch your face glow.

Day 44: Step up your exercise plan . focus on specific areas such as the stomach, triceps and buttocks . areas that tend to get flabby fast. Tone up with weights and cardio. Remember not to overdo it; get your trainer's advice at the gym.

Day 45: Coffee for your hair - Make a strong brew (espresso if possible) and allow to cool until only warm, not hot. Apply the coffee to dry hair and rinse with warm water after about 20 minutes to get glossy, shiny hair.

Day 46: Take a day off to detox – do a set of 10-20 Suryanamaskars to invigorate your body and senses. Eat plenty of fruits and crunchy, raw veggies all through the day; have lots of water and juice.

Day 47: Go for fun spa activities with your friends – indulge in a foot reflexology treatment, a body wrap and even a blow-dry, just for fun!

Day 48: Take a day off from beauty-related stuff and just have a gala time with friends or family. Let go just for today. Have that burger or cheesy pizza…

Day 49: If your skin is looking red, irritated or puffy, steep a bag of green tea for a minute, let it cool down, and dab it on your face. The anti-oxidants tackle the inflammation.

Day 50: Need a pep-up? Spray a light shot of fragrance into the bristles of your hair brush. Run the brush through from roots to ends , and you’ll end up with amazing-smelling hair!

Day 51: Ten days to D-day! Take stock of your beauty routine and stick to the recommended routines…

Day 52: Get your grooming bag ready for D-day – hair spray, hair pins or make-up remover wipes (try Kara or Oriflame), tissues, hand moisturiser, lip balm or the shade of lipstick you’d be wearing, a good compact and most importantly, a small vial of perfume and deodorant.

Day 53: Get your hair coloured if you have greys, else just get a trim and a deep-conditioning hair treatment or apply a henna pack (Biotique, Shahnaz Husain or VLCC) to keep up the shine in your tresses.

Day 54: This one is especially for the bride: Get your bridal make-up done to finalise every shade, every product used. There’s enough time to change anything you don’t like, and test if you’re allergic to a particular product.Get a photo clicked for referral.

Day 55: Exfoliate – get a body scrub (St Ives has some great scrubs) and if au naturelle is more your style, use the Forest Essentials Coconut Milk Body Scrub. For all home-remedy lovers – purée a papaya or two bananas in a mixer, add loads of sugar to it (don’t mix the sugar in lest it melts) and use this as a body scrub.

Day 56: A full body wax, face wax / bleach and eyebrow-shaping – this is going to be a painful day. Pop a painkiller an hour before your appointment to keep the pain at a minimum – and rub some ice on sore skin afterwards.

Day 57: A hair spa is a good idea; go get a L’Oréal or Kerastase treatment. Follow it up with a face clean-up, aromatherapy facial and a body-and-head massage.

Day 58: Get a manicure and pedicure – we love VLCC’s Paraffin Wax – they dip your hands and feet in warm wax as the last step – this ensures your hands, feet and nails are well moisturised and glossy.

Day 59: Today would be the “mehndi” day for many brides-to-be. To deepen the henna hue from orange to a lovely brown on your hands – roast some cloves on a hot pan (no oil) and then hold your hands over the “white” smoke that arises. Another age-old tradition is to mix lemon juice and sugar, and apply it to the dry mehndi that’s caked on – this will help the mehndi stick better. Remember to remove the mehndi; scrub it off – don’t wash off.

Day 60: Relax, take a long aromatic bath. Moisturise your skin well. Catch any stray hair on your face with a tweezer. Put on a mask and slather on body butter. Remember to drink lots of water. Tomorrow is the Big Day…

Review: Himalaya Herbals ExtraMoisturising Protien Shampoo [New Version]


Hello again...
Enuf of those boring Quick Tips..Im back with another Review.
Now its "Himalaya Herbals HealthCare Extra Moisturizing Protein Shampoo.., Normal to Dry Hair".

Few days back, Ive posted a Review abt the Shampoo from the same brand but it was the older version. I have to switch to this newer version, bcos the older one is no more available. So, 2 months ago, I happened to go to the Himalaya Herbal Healthcare store, to get some Skin Care essentials and the Shampoo(older version) as well. But the Sales Assistant told me that its not necessary cos the newer one is better than the older one. Ok, without being skeptic, honoring the brand, added the new shampoo in to my cart, without any second thought. So, its bee more than 2 months now and I think i can make a Review session.

So, here goes it:

Packaging
The packaging is really different from what Ive expected. Mean to say, its not that great, but rises a "?" whenever i see the cap. U can see in the picture, that there is a curve on the top head of the bottle. Its not bad, but I feel it a bit funny. The rest is Ok/Fine with me. Comes in 100ml, 200ml & 400ml bottle. But the one Ive bought is 200ml, cos Im supposed to test it for the first time and then jump back to the heavy/huge 400ml bottle.

Color, Frangrance, Texture etc...
Now to speak abt how it looks/smells like, the shampoo is in white color, with pearly shine, with floral fragrance, which lingers around for a day. Texture is very runny. This disappointed me very much. I mean, the earlier version is a bit thicker, but this is very runny, in very diluted state. I usually mix a bit of water, lather and then apply all over hair( so that there is always less friction on scalp/hair). But this shampoo doesnt need to mixed be up with water.

Ingredients
To talk abt Ingredients..this is where I was left with an awe.I took the snap of it to post it here. As u can see in the pic, that it contains:

Exts. Palandu (AlliumCepa) -4mg
If uve been thru Homeopathy, U would know what this could be. Im not pretty much sure though, but my Doc prescribed me 'Allium Cepa' when im suffering with Severe cold. But whats it doing in a shampoo?? Im completely clueless. May be, the shampoo helps in healing cold/flu as well?? But whatever..I dont want my shampoo to put the drug in to my head, whenever I shower.. :P
Kharbuja(Cucumis melo)- 4mg
Known as Anti-oxidant  and best as Anti-aging and hair care ingredients, which constitutes high levels of potein.
Kumari (Aloe barbadenis)- 4mg
The plant thats well known in every household, I guess. I love this plant . AloeVera is a natural moisturiser, which contains high levels of polysaccharides, enzymes..which nourishes the hair from the root to tip.
Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra)- 3mg
 Also know as Licorice. Known to promote Hair Growth.
Methi (Trigonella Foenum graecum) - 3mg
Fenugreek seeds/oil whatever. Best known for moisturizing properties. I personally like Fenugreek seeds as  Hair mask..once every month or a while..whenever i feel inspired.
Tila (Sesamum indicum)-2mg
Sesame oil/extract. Its known for its high content of proteins. Best as moisturizer. 
 Other Ingredients
Potassium Sorbate,  Sodium Benzoate,  Methylchloroisothiazolinone,  Methylisothiazolinone.
These must be the preservatives. Im not sure how far they could be safe enough for sensitive hair. Anyways..thats up for another post, I guess.

Price
Price is not expensive. Its 105 INR for 200ml, pretty cheap of course. But, Himalaya's known for "giving the best results within the budget rate" misses here. Price is within range, but the Shampoo is not great, infact not atleast good.

Verdict
Though Himalaya Herbals tried to boost out the best in terms of packaging, that shampoo couldn't meet the basic priority. It said "Extra Moisturizing", but it dint moiturize at all. The older version, did pretty job on those grounds. The shampoo, being too much runny in consistency and the lather-up tendency being minimum, too much shampoo gets in to use for just a single wash. Besides, I feel this shampoo must be labeled as 'Commercial Shampoo', which does nothing besides such huge promises. If u ask me if there is anything that I like in this shampoo, its fragrance and packaging. I dislike the shampoo outcomes, the after-affects  (dint moisturize an inch), instead hair tuned out dry, n  the price is not even worth it.

RePurchase
No. After being my Holy Grail shampoo (im talking abt the older version)  for several years, this new shampoo completely left me blank to look after for another shampoo. Im not going to repurchase it, under any terms. Neither I suggest any of U to get it.
Pros:Packaging, Fragrance
Cons:Couldnt Moisturise/hydrate, Very Runny, Not worth of its price, Turned out as a Commercial shampoo.

Thats all Belles..
Hows ur weekend?? Well, Im on with a Hair mask now..Did u check when u got ur Hair mask last time??

Well, Ciao Belles..in the next post.. :)

Q-Tip: Avocado

Avocado: Nature's cure for puffy eyes
You've probably heard of using cucumber slices to soothe your eyes, but did you know you can use avocado too? Just place a few thin slices under the eyes and rest for 15mins.

Viola! You could see ur depuffed eyes! :)

Q-Tip: Low on Shaving Cream?

Have you ever been in the shower and run out of shaving cream?One leg shaved and one leg not?

Rather than spending ur day with uneven legs, use ur conditioner to do the job..Just as the conditioner moisturizes and protects your hair, it will also protect and moisturise ur legs..

Ciao Belle.. :)

Homemade AyurVed Face Mask

Ever been so inspired to do ur own facial treatment? Well, If so I ve got the right facial for u and more over its Pure Ayurvedic Facial. I can say that its also good for Sensitive Skin types, Cos mine is Sensitive and it suits me well. The Ingredients are highly natural and Ayurvedic and so quite beneficial. Ok..so no lets move on to it:

Ingredients Required:
  • 2 Teaspoon Sandalwood Powder
  • A pinch of Turmeric powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Neem Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Multani Mitti
  • 1 Tablespoon Orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon Mashed Cucumber
Process:
Mix up all of the above ingredients. Steam up r face. Cleanse with ur Cleansing Milk and then apply the mask. Let it sit for abt 20mins and rinse off, pat dry. Viola, u must be seeing ur face quite bright by now.
This is good for Acne prone skin as well.

Dandruff..?? Is that a Problem??

If Anti-Dandruff shampoos don't work, try these home remedies
  • Add six spoonfuls of water to two spoonfuls of pure vinegar and apply it on the scalp with cotton wool before going to bed. Tie a towel around your head to protect from the pillow. Wash your hair next morning. After shampooing, rinse again with vinegar water. Continue this once a week for at least three months.
  • Mix a spoonful of lemon juice with two spoonfuls of vinegar and massage onto the scalp. Wash your hair with an egg shampoo after this.
  • Soak fenugreek (methi) seeds in yogurt overnight and apply the curd on your scalp for half an hour before washing in the morning.

Have A Natural Anti-Dandruff Massage!
  • Massage your scalp with warm coconut or castor oil twice a week. Massage with the tips of your fingers in a circular movement for at least half an hour. Leave it on overnight and shampoo the following morning.
This prevents the hair from becoming dry and moreover prevents dandruff and falling hair by improving the circulation and strengthening the hair roots.

(Hair) Pack Off Your Troubles
  • Methi Magic: Hair washed with methi seed paste prevents dandruff, falling hair, baldness and dandruff and keeps hair healthy. Just soak the fenugreek seeds overnight in water to soften the seeds and grind in the morning to make paste. Before hairwash, apply this paste on scalp and hair and leave it on for half an hour. Wash off with shampoo later.
  • Eggs Are Good Too: Beat two eggs and add two tablespoons of water to it. Wet the hair and apply the egg mixture over the hair. Now massage your scalp and let the mixture on for ten minutes to fifteen minutes. Then rinse the hair with lukewarm water. This will keep both dandruff and hairfall problem away from you.
The Golden Rules
  • Be regular enough to apply oil over ur scalp and massage, 1 hour prior to ur hair- wash.
  • Make sure that u follow oil-massage routine twice every week.
In most cases, dandruff can be removed by washing your hair thoroughly and regularly with an anti-dandruff shampoo. Most of the anti-dandruff products on the market are based on this idea and attempt to clear dandruff by controlling the growth of the micro-organisms on the surface of the scalp. But for persistent or chronic dandruff, clinical treatment may be necessary. On a side note 'Dandruff is NOT caused by any shampoo or styling product'.

Dandruff Causes

Dandruff weakens the roots, and consequently hair starts falling off. Dandruff sticks on to the skin of the scalp in a cake form and blocks free flow of air to the roots. As a result, hair becomes weak at the roots and loosen their hold.


Dandruff Formation: A Scientific Explanation
The outermost layer of skin, the epidermis, acts as a protective shield for the more sensitive tissue lying under it. The epidermis is made up of layers of hardened dead cells about 20 to 40 cells thick and fulfills the same protective function on the scalp as on all skin that covers our body.

After a new cell is born at the inside of the epidermis, it hardens and dies and moves to the outer most layer. The dead cells on top are constantly being worn or scraped off, but they are so tiny that we don't notice them. Usually, this process takes about 28 days for a cell to move from the bottom layer to the epidermis to be shed at the skin's surface.

But if you have dandruff, cell regeneration works slightly different. The cell growth in a dandruff scalp is disorderly and often the life cycle of the cell is not completed before it leaves the scalp. Normally, a discarded cell flake is only a few layers thick, whereas in the dandruff scalp, the disorderly cell growth keeps cells from separating as easily, plus the sebum (hair oil) secretions seem to be stickier and act to bind the cells into large scales 20 to 40 layers thick. The cluster of dead cells which make up a dandruff scale are large enough to be visible unlike the far greater number of normal cells which are discarded daily and go unnoticed.

Do you know why you get dandruff?
Studies indicate that 50% of adults are affected by dandruff at some time or the other in their lives. More often than not, it is the result of a disturbance in the body's metabolic process. Your scalp, like the rest of your skin, is constantly renewing and shedding itself. Old cells die out and give way to new ones. And when the natural balance in the metabolic process is upset, the new cells form faster than the old cells can be shed off. These then accumulate on the scalp in the form of flakes. The metabolic process can be disturbed by
  • Drugs
  • The onset of puberty
  • Emotional stress and strain
  • Sudden changes in the climate or your diet.
  • It is also believed that dandruff is caused by a fungal infection of the scalp.
Do you really have dandruff?
Before you start treating your hair for dandruff, make sure you really have dandruff. Sometimes a flaky scalp may be caused by too much sun, or excessive use of hair dryers. It can also be caused by the use of soaps on the hair, or harsh shampoos which do not wash out easily. But if you use a gentle shampoo plus conditioner , you need not worry. Avoid following certain home remedies , taking them up too much, cos that does more harm than good.

Your comb/brush and dandruff
Never use the brush or comb of the person suffering from dandruff as it is dangerous and contagious. Likewise, make sure that you wash your comb/brush after every shampoo if you have dandruff yourself! Many medicines, medicated soaps and shampoos are available to counter dandruff, but the most effective is cleanliness of hair. Brush your hair thrice a day and shampoo at least once a week. While washing your hair, take care the water does not trickle down your face. There are chances that you may get pimples.

Mixed Condition Hair And Dandruff
If your scalp feels oil, but your hair feels dry then you have mixed condition hair. The bad news is that Dandruff is a common occurrence with this type of hair. The sebum that is secreted is soaked up by the dandruff flakes which clog the follicle.This prevents the flow of the oil along the hair shaft and causes it to dry out. And voila you have tiny, white flakes floating your scalp that are dandruff!

Q Tips: Alum


Alum, also known as Phitkari in India, is a natural antiseptic that can calm irritated skin and stop bleeding on any cuts. To use, you simply get it wet and rub it over your skin, pausing for a few seconds on any cuts. Given that it is an astringent, it will sting a bit.
Alum can also be used as a natural deodorant often referred to as "crystal deodorant.
Its popularly used as a natural deodrant. It has no side effects like other deodrants.

QTips: Pale Skin


Pale skin and nails are usually a sign of lack of iron in your diet. The deficiency of iron leads to a condition called Anaemia. In India, nearly eight out of ten women suffer from various degrees of anaemia. This leads to Hair loss as well. And consequently loss of sight. Eating foods rich in Iron or considering the Iron supplements is the only cure for this.

Eat foods rich in iron :
  1. Green leafy vegetables - spinach
  2. Cereal, grains, millets especially bajra and ragi are good sources of iron.
  3. Dry fruits like Dates, Figs.
The best way to conclude whether 'U r Aneamic or not?' is to look at the color at the inside skin of ur eye. Just pull tthe skin at the lower lash line a bit, untill u see the skin inside, and check its color. If u can see red nerves or if the color is red all over..then uve got enough blood. If its pale or nude color, then u r Aneamic.

So just eat foods rich in Iron and ul see the difference.
Untill then Bye..
Ciao Belles.. :)

Review: Himalaya Herbals Protein Shampoo [OlderEdition]

When it comes to Hair Care, U r ought to use the right shampoo. Many claim that Shampoos don't do much in terms of hair growth, but what I say, 'They shouldnt be bad for ur hair either..' Since my childhood, Ive been through several shampoos going from this to that. I have no fascination towards any of the available drug store shampoos, used to think, all the shampoos are the same, just some cleansers/soap thingy in it. But some did a huge damage, like heavy hair fall, while some did nothing, and some cant even clean properly.

So, now to move on to the review part, Im here to tell u folks abt the Himalaya Herbals Protein Shampoo for Dry/Damaged Hair. Himalaya Herbals, discontinued the product and replaced it with the newer version.
Himalaya Herbals Protien Shampoo falls in that category, where I would go to it without any second thought.


Himalaya Herbals Protein Shampoo, For Dry/Damaged Hair. Extra Conditioing.
(This is how the older version looked like)


Packaging:
The product comes on a white plastic bottle, with a luxorious green cap. Comes in 200ml, 400ml bottles, the later is what I used to opt for always. The Packaging is not so fancy neither clumpsy. Just the optimum level of excellence for a drug-store pharmaceutical brand.

Color, Frangrance, Texture etc..
The color of the shampoo is transparent Orange in color. Smells like a basic herbal shampoo, a good one. I dont think anyone could go wrong with the smell. I can say that the fragrance lingers around with u for a day. The texture is gel-like. No pearly look to it. Just a transparent orangy gelly like shampoo. I could have taken the pic of it, but Its no more available across.

Price
Price is very very reasonable. In fact I would say, its cheaper for what it does. Honestly Ive been thru several High-end shampoos, but used to always come back to this one. Its 145 INR for 400ml bottle. Its quite cheap, I must say.

Results..
Ok..now to move on to the actual Review part...., how the shampoo works, I would say its a good shampoo for damaged hair. Its a mild shampoo, which makes the hair & scalp squeaky clean. I used to have severly damaged brittle hair over the top notch of the head, where there are several bunches of fly offs. This shampoo made that part moist that hair dint fly. Overall, its a good mild shampoo, which cleans and doesnt do any damage to the hair.
I dont say that it moisturised my hair enough, but it dint strip off the moisture as well. As far as the shampoos Ive use so far, all of them striped off the moisture and left with very dry n brittle hair, but this one dint.
I sometimes even get off with just the shampoo and without any conditioner and still the hair goes on manageable all day. Ive been using this since 3 years... n this tells how much I adore.

My Final note is that If uve got Dry hair..this is the best shampoo to get for that price.

Q-Tips: While u r in Shower

While U r in shower, try to wash ur face in the end of ur shower-session.

As far as possible, u have to go without splashing water on the face, from the start. Start with splashing water all over ur body, follow with soap, rinse off, and when u are all done by then, then splash water on face and follow the face-cleansing process.

Advantages:
  • By taking shower in that way, it ensures that there is not much moisture loss from face.
  • In other terms, ul be steaming up ur face since the start, while u r washing the rest of ur body and at the end, ul be cleaning the opened up pores on face, which reduces the need for heavy exfoliation.
  • This is a good thing to follow for dry skinned people.
So, Belles, next time when u r taking ur shower, wash ur face in the end when u r abt to step out of it.

Ciao Belle.. :)

Contour & Highlight

Contouring and Highlighting is not an ancient old tradition of make-up. Its made in to that charts through thorough advances in the Make Up Industry. Earlier, it was just a foundation, eye-liner, lipstick and its all done. Ofcourse lipstick is an exceptional case, that its been there from the day female started to live on earth. Hahaa.. But now-a-days, Foundation is not just enough. Due to the higher coverage of the foundations, the face looked almost like a 2-dimensional figure. No shadows, no shades etc. Bcos of that, the face looked completely feature-less. Then comes the 'Contouring & Highlighting part' in to the Make-Up world, where anyone can bring up the perfect features and hide the flaws. Added it reduces the puffy look of the face. So, lets see how to Contour and Highlight ur face.

Step 1: Highlight
Apply ur primer, liner, mascara and liquid foundation . Remember one strong rule: Always apply the liquid-things before, say for e.g primer, liner, mascara, liquid foundation are all liquid in texture, right! No eyeshadows or any powdered things now. since powder can create a messy paste of splotches if liquid is applied after it. 'Highlighting is all about shine, so pick your shiniest neutral products since we don’t want to go overboard trying to add color.

Since we’re starting with liquids, most of what we’re using will be highlighter. Start with something very shimmery Face Illuminator – it’s better than straight-up shine, as the glittery particles in it will catch more light. Just follow the diagram as a reference.

Using a clean lip brush, apply to the following areas (or please see the amazingly convenient diagram provided for you):
  • Underside of your eyebrow (blend down and avoid brow hairs)
  • The inner corners of your eyes
  • The inner top edge of your eyebrows near your T-zone
  • The tip of your nose (blend up the bridge)
  • The top of your cheekbones to the outside of your eyes in a “C” shape
  • Your Cupid’s bow (that little dip above your top lip)

The Underside of the eyebrow part is very flattering cos it makes an illusion of fuller and firmer eyebrows. The Cupid’s bow highlight is very flattering and more women should do it on a daily basis. Uld see by now that I dint say abt higlighting the apples of the cheeks. Why? I’ve got something better. Liquid blush.. that adds a hint of color and shine, and since this look would be hurt by a dark powdery cheek color, it fits perfectly. You don’t need a lot (trust me, you’ll look like a geisha); just swish the color on with a few short brush strokes on each cheek and blend with fingertips.

Step 2: Contour
Now that u r all done with Highlighting ur best feautres, its abt time to Contour some other areas. Use a liquid/creme eyeshadow for your top lid in a color between your skin color and deep brown, i. e. light brown, gold, mauve, or a blush color. For the crease, use a dark brown liquid eyeshadow – in general, powder in the crease is bad as that’s an area that tends to spread anyway. Use the drawing as a reference on shaping the color.

Now its done with the liquid, we can move on to powders. Be careful choosing and applying a finishing powder as it will reduce the young-looking shine of this look. Take one of those brushes you never use (you know, too big for eyeshadow, too small for blush?) and apply it where you need any concealer or foundation to stay, like over undereye circles or blemishes. Try to leave it alone other than that.

Finally, let’s bronze. Sweep ur favourite bronzer over your cheekbones as shown in the picture with a flexible blush brush (please don’t use a Kabuki, they cake terribly). Then get out a small eyeshadow brush (we need hair/bristles, not the little pads please) and get ready to do some real contouring. This is really dependent on the woman. If you think your face is too round, dab the bronzer at your hairline and temples with the aforementioned useless brush. Likewise, if your jawline isn’t defined enough, brush gently on the underside of your chin and along the jaw back to your ears. Use your finishing powder to blend – the shine will help to blur out any uneven color that might come from your contouring.

Finish with a very light natural pink lip color – dont go in to intense lips colors, with this look. Your skin is a star now. Marvel it!

Highlight and Contour looks amazing for any parties, but limit the usage of shimmer, if ur going for a day-time party.

Thats all Bellas..Hope u look marvelous with those shimmers.
Ciao Bellas.. ! :)

Q-Tip: Diet,Olive oil

Olive Oil is well known in terms of SkinCare ingredient. But u might never know that when taken internally, its a best food to lose those extra pounds.

Consume 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil early in the morning, in to the empty stomach. This helps to cleanse the body off the toxins and boost the metabolism rate and thereby shedding off those extra fat.

Apart from that..it even moisturizes your skin, giving the body the necessary E vitamin that it needs.


So next time, instead of putting it on the skin, try to consume it internally as well and see the difference within a week. Stay happy and healthy and look beautiful.. :)

Brief Encyclopedia :Herbs

Ever had a quick glance through the ingredients list and wondered what that could be? Well, Go thru this Encyclopedia for Herbs and say 'Ahah..??'



~A~
Alcohol: Alcohol is an antiseptic. It is used in astringents and act as a solvent in oils.

Almond: Almonds are used in making face packs. It is a good cleanser and it nourishes skin. Almond is also used as almond oil. Almond oil is used widely to prepare homemade herbal products. Almond oil is good for skin beauty care.

Apple: Apple is a fruit and it is acidic in nature. Apple nourishes and keeps the skin glowing.

Apricot: Apricot is a fruit, rich in vitamin A. Apricot’s pulp is used as face masks. Apricot oil is used in nourishing creams for skin beauty care.

Avocado: Avocado is rich in vitamin. Pulp of avocado is used as Face masks and oil in nourishing creams.

~B~
Banana: Banana is used as face masks; it is very good skin tightening masks.

Barley: Barley is a wild herb. Barley has great nutritional value, as it is rich in Vitamin B and Iron. In addition, barley has lots of medicinal value. It cools body and strengthened the nerves.

Basil: Basil is popularly known as Tulsi. Basil has strong medicinal value.

Beer: It is used to wash face also, it prevents skin rashes. Beer is used to wash hairs and to set hairs.

Bicarbonate Soda: it is an acid salt of carbonic acid used for cosmetics and it is used to clean teeth.

Blackberry: Blackberries are good for anemic people. It is used in lotion for skin beauty care. These berries are rich in Vitamin C.

Borax: It is commonly known as Suhaga. It is a Colorless transparent crystal with detergent and antiseptic properties.

Bran: Bran is choker, used in bath softening. Bran is used in preparing masks for face.

Buttermilk: It is used as cleanser bleaching agent. It is good for oily skin.

~C~
Cabbage: Cabbage is rich in Vitamins and Minerals.

Calamine Lotion: Calamine lotion is an alkaline lotion to soothe irritated skin. It contains lime water, glycerin, zinc oxide and calamine.

Camphor: Camphor is white crystalline substance and is used as antiseptic. It can be used in two ways either camphor cake or camphor spirit.

Camphor oil: It is used in aching muscles and in massage cremes.

Carrot: Carrot is rich in Vitamin A. Pulp of carrot can be used in making face-cleansing mask. Carrot oil is used in nourishing eye creme and its juice is used in face masks.

Castor Oil: Castor oil is used in various hair products.

Clove: Clove is commonly known as Laung. Clove is aromatic spice used in making skin tonics and face masks.

Cocoa Butter: Cocoa Butter is solidified oil from roasted cocoa beans. It is used in massage creams for dry skins.

Corn Oil: Corn Oil is also known as Gram seed oil. It is a heavy vegetable oil, used to make body and face creams.

Corn Milk: Corn milk is rich in Vitamin A and magnesium. It is used on dry skins.

Cucumber: Cucumber is commonly known as Kheera. It is slightly astringent, cool, refreshing, and used in lotions, creams and masks.

~D~
Dried Milk: It nourishes skin and used in thickening face masks.

~E~
Eggs: Egg is very useful aid to beauty. Yolk of egg is used to nourish and white is for drying and tightening. It is used in face masks and as hair conditioner.

Emulsifying wax B.P: It is extremely useful for stabilizing creams. It is made from Ceto Stearyl alcohol and sodium lauryl sulphate.

~F~
Fennel: This herb is for cleansing of the skin. It is used in steaming water to cleanse the face skin. Fennel is also useful for slimming.

Fitkari (Alum): It is a powder of yellow or white in color. It has an astringent property. It is used in lotions and as a dry shampoo to remove sweat and dirt.

Fuller’s Mud: It is commonly known as Multani Mitti. It is clay rich in minerals. It is used in face masks for cleansing of the skin. It is also good for hair and used as shampoo.

~G~
Garlic: Garlic is an antiseptic.

Gelatin: Gelatin is a rich source of protein. It is useful for hair conditioning and diluted as setting lotions for hairs. It is also used in nail hardening creams.

Glycerin: It is used in face creams and lotions. It is good for dry skin as it holds moisture.

Grapes: Grapes are acidic in nature. It is good for skin cleansing and bleaching.

Groundnut Oil: It is also known as peanut oil. Groundnut oil is a vegetable oil used in face creams and body lotions.

Gum resin: Gum resin is used for stabilizing the creams.

~H~
Henna: It is also known as mehandi. Henna has a cooling property. It is used as hair conditioner and hair dye. Henna is also for hands and feet decoration by applying in various artistic designs.

Honey: Honey is useful for nourishing and softening the skin. It is used widely in face masks, creams and lotions. It is good for dry skin as it provides moisture to skin.

Houseleek: This herb is used as healing and astringent in lotions.

~J~
Jasmine Oil: It is an aromatic oil of jasmine flower. It is used as perfume in many herbal beauty products.

~K~
Kaolin: Kaolin is fine clay used for absorption purpose in masks.

Kelp: It is seaweed rich in minerals. It is used in masks. It is good for spotty skin.

Kohl: It is a black powder used to outline eyes.

~L~
Lanolin: Lanolin is a kind of fat. It is used for moisturizing and softening the skin.

Lavender: Lavender is flower with refreshing fragrance. It is widely used to have scented bath. It is good for nerves, cures cough and is ant paralytic. It is also used as mouth wash. Lavender oil is useful in headaches, relaxes joints and muscles.

Lecithin: Lecithin is highly nutritious powder. It is a soft yellow powder found in egg yolk and soybean.

Lemon: Lemon is rich in Vitamin C. It is acidic in nature and used as astringent and bleach. It is used in skin tonics and creams.

Lemon balm: Lemon balm is good for cleansing the skin.

Lemon peel: Lemon peel is rich in oil. This oil is aromatic oil and is used for face masks.

Lettuce: It is known as chuqandar also. Lettuce is rich in minerals, iron and vitamins. It has a cooling nature and it is good for sunburn reddish.

~M~
Marigold: Marigold is an orange color flower. It is a disinfectant herb. Marigold has a strong effect on ulcer and open sores. The flowers may be eaten raw or can be applied as a lotion. Marigold is good for oily skin as it reduces oil.

Marshmallow: Marshmallow is found on wasteland. It is one the best herbal cough remedies. On its external application, it reduces soreness in the breasts.

Mayonnaise: It nourishes skin and used as face masks. Mayonnaise is also a good hair conditioner.

Melon: It is used on dry skin for refreshing and cleaning the skin.

Milk: Milk is useful for softening and cleaning the skin. It nourishes skin well.

Mineral Oil: It is colorless and non-penetrating oil. It is used in creams.

Mint: This herb is famous for its scent. Mint tea is useful in proper digestion, revival of appetite. Also pepper mint and spearmint is a useful herb. It is used for scented bath; peppermint helps in curing skin problems.

~O~
Oak: Oak leaves used in bathing water for deodorant. It is relaxing and provides freshness to body.

Oatmeal: Oatmeal is cleansing and soothing meal. It is useful for cleansing of skin or in face masks.

Olive Oil: It is a vegetable oil Used in nourishing creams. Olive oil is useful in massaging for smooth and relaxing skin.

Onion: Onion is an antiseptic. Onion is useful for washing face to prevent blemishes. Onion mixed with honey makes a great anti – wrinkle cream.

Orange: Orange is rich in vitamin C. Orange juice is used as skin tonic and for making masks. Orange flowers are useful for fragrant water bath. This helps in preventing body odor. Also, extract of orange flowers in used in creams and tonics.
Dried Orange peel is useful in making face masks and facial scrubs. It is also used in tooth powders.

~P~
Papaya: Papaya pulp is useful for cleansing and softening of the skin. It removes all the dead cells of skin.

Parsley: Parsley is tonic for the urinary system. Parsley is useful for purifying the breath.

Peach: It is useful for moisturizing, nourishing and perfuming the skin. It is useful for making face masks for dry skins.

Peppermint: Peppermint provides tightening and stimulating effect in skin tonics and face masks.

Petroleum Jelly: It is a lubricating jelly used in cleansing creams and hand creams.

Pine: Pine is used in bath to refresh and soothe aching muscles. Pine oil can also add to the bath.

Plum: Plum is useful in cleansing of skin. Also used in masks, tonics and creams.

Potatoes: Potato has cleansing properties. It clears the skin. Using thin slice of potatoes on eyes can reduce puffiness and dark circles around the eyes.

~R~
Raspberries: Raspberries has cleansing properties. Use crushed fruit in face masks. Juice of raspberries prevents blemishes on skin.

Rose: Rose is use as fragrant in various masks, creams, lotions and tonics. Rose is rich in Vitamin E, which nourishes skin. Rose oil is highly aromatic essential oil used in cosmetics. Rose water is scented water made from rose petals, used widely in skin tonics, face mask and creams.

Rosemary: Rosemary has valuable medicinal properties. It iss used in various tonics for heart, liver and it reduces High blood pressure. It is useful in treatment of nerves, digestive disorder and menstrual pains. It is used in lotions also, rosemary oil cures headache. Rosemary with honey cures coughing. Rosemary is a tonic for scalp and skin. Rosemary reduces skin wrinkles. Rosemary leaves and flowers when boiled in water make a good face wash. Regular washing of face with this solution keeps you young forever.

~S~
Salt: Salt mixed in equal quantity with bicarbonate of soda is an excellent tooth powder. Salt also makes a good scrub for the body to tone the skin and improves blood circulation.

Sesame Oil: It is polyunsaturated oil. Used in all cosmetics. It is very useful to prevent sun tanning as it absorbs ultra violet rays.

Soap Flakes: Soap Solutions used as emulsifying agent.

Stearic Acid: Stearic acid is a natural fatty acid. It is a crystalline white substance in wax form. It is useful in making creams and body lotions.

Strawberry: Strawberry has lots of medicinal value. In fever and excessive perspiration strawberry leaves work as good medicine. The plant is also helpful in curing diarrhea, over - copious menstruation, threatened abortion, risk of hemorrhage and digestive system. Strawberry contains maximum iron contents and cures anemia. Strawberry juice can be used to treat serious skin ailments. Strawberry juice is useful to treat discolored teeth by cleaning teeth with juice.

Sugar: Sugar is a very good face scrub. Lather skin with soap, then take handful of sugar and scrub, rinse off and apply lemon juice. This thoroughly cleanses and stimulates the skin.

Sulphur: Sulphur is a yellow powder used in acne preparations. It slows down the activity of the oil producing glands. Some people are allergic to sulphur so give a patch test on skin before using it fully.

Sunflower Oil: Sunflower oil is rich in Un – polysaturates. Widely used in creams.

~T~

Tea: Tea contains tannin that has soothing and healing effect. Tannin is used in sun creams as it absorbs ultra violet rays it prevents sun burning. Tea bags are soothing eye pads.

Thyme: Thyme grows wild on dry banks. Thyme has heavily scented flowers. Thyme has great cleansing properties. Thyme is a good digestive and a liver tonic too. It cures various illnesses like psychological disorders, headaches, hysteria, halitosis and various female ailments.

Tomato: Tomato is slightly acidic vegetable, containing potassium and vitamin C. Useful to treat blackheads, open pores and greasy skin.

Turnips: Turnip can be used raw, grated or boiled in cleansing skin care masks.

Turtle oil: Turtle oil is rich in vitamins. It is used in rich nourishing creams. It is effective oil but it smells very bad.

~V~
Vaseline: It is just like petroleum jelly.

Vinegar: Vinegar is acid. Dilute vinegars with eight times of water in it. Use this solution for softening of the skin.

Vitamins: Vitamins are valuable for skin and hairs. Vitamin A is useful for dry skin and acne. It also has soothing property. Vitamin B improves health of skin and hairs. Vitamin C heals acne. Vitamin D absorbs in skin and gives healing effect. Vitamin C has healing effects. Vitamin F cures dry and chapped skin. It is often used in face and skin creams.