Essential things to carry in your purse/handbag

Everybody (or mostly everybody) carries a purse or a handbag when outside. But how many times have you been asked for a pen? Or a paper to write on? People tend to miss out simple yet important items that could ease out situations that you face while outside home.

So what should you carry in your purse? Ofcourse, it widely varies from person to person, but some items just ought to be there -

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  For starters, a pen (which works!) and little sticky papers that are convenient to use
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  Wallet with money (and change), ID and driving license
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  Keys and cell phones too!
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  Tissues and hand sanitizers
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  Feminine necessities
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  Reading glasses/sunglasses or your contact lens case with solution
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  A compact mirror
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  Whichever of the following you may need for a touch up - facial cleanser, compact powder, kajal, lipgloss/Vaseline, lipstick etc etc.
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  A hairbrush/comb
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  Safety pins! Yes, they are tiny and oh so important to pin away and be hassle free. A good idea would be take a few tissues/papers, fold them up to be thick and then pin the entire set of safety pins neatly on to the tissues and place them in the tiny compartment of your purse. You'll never waste time looking for them in your purse then. You could pin them up to the insides of your purse too, but I'm too careful with my handbags and couldn't take any pin marks or tears anywhere.
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  Painkillers or any other medication you use
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  Your will or any last words written on a piece of paper, stashed away in your handbag, just in case you were in a freak accident or something

Kidding about the last one! Intriguing idea though..8->

Ayur anti-sun tan face pack - Review

I've been using Ayur's anti-sun tan face pack for some 2 years now. And I love it. Especially because it is inexpensive and works quite well for its cost. According to the pack -

Ingredients - Ayur's special sun tanning face pack is made up of herbs like multani mitti, calamine powder, kaolin powder, pudina, haldi powder etc. This is a pure herbal pack having no chemicals.

How to use - Wash the face with water. Mix 1 tablespoon of this pack with 'Ayur' rose water or tap water and apply the paste evenly on the face. Allow it to get dry. Then wash the face with cold water.

Effect - This is an excellent face pack for oily and sensitive skin. Regular use of this pack, removes the tanning of the skin and makes the skin fairer.

Costs - Rs. 40 for 100 gms (Best use before 36 months from date of manufacture)

Pros - I'd agree with what they have to say. After using the pack, my skin always feel clean and fresh. And over time, you can definitely notice the tan decreasing (as long as you'r not prancing about in the sun everyday obviously). Since I'm a fan of haldi, I often add some more haldi to the powder and then apply the pack on my face. Its quantity is good, which lasts for 2 months, depending on how often and how much you use.

Cons - My only grouse with Ayur is that it's difficult to find this face pack in shops. Not all shops keep it and quite often, I've been forced to check from market to market, before finally laying my hands on it. It's packaging is pretty boring, but that's not really a big deal, as long as the product does the trick. Other than that, the fact that they don't really advertise their products much doesn't really bother me. Because eventually, I'd be paying for it, so it's better this way!

Would I recommend this product? - Yes, I would!

For baby soft skin around eyes

I'd started using under eye creams and gels to get rid of my dark eye circles. But what I noticed after almost a year of using them, was how soft the skin around my eyes had become. Not that I had wrinkly old skin anyway, but the skin looked plumped up, soft to touch and gave my eyes a fresh, dewy look.

And I plan to continue using eye gels for long now. So an excellent way to minimize any damage to the delicate skin around the eye, is to use almond oil every night before sleeping. Gently massage almond oil around your eyes with your ring finger and make sure you are regular with this.

Keep up with this routine for atleast 3-4 months, to see visible difference to the skin around your eyes. Remember, the earlier you start with this routine, the better it is for your eyes.

Homemade waxing strips

If you are looking to learn and wax yourself over time, then investing in wax strips made out of cloth is a good idea. It keeps for long and the cloth absorbs any moisture from the wax and helps in a clean pull.

You could use any thick cotton cloth (I've heard old jeans works fine, though haven't ever tried it myself). You could use some old curtains or you could buy casement cloth from a shop. I'd used casement cloth initially, but then found some rags which were thicker and worked better. If you still can't find any suitable cloth at home, check out any shop and ask them for thicker varities of cotton cloth and you could choose one accordingly.

Once you buy a cloth, cut it into strips of 4-4.5 inches wide (wider than you need), so that you can fold in the edges and stitch them over. You could skip the stitching part, but doing this avoids any unravelling threads after you wash them over and over again.

Now how many strips you'd like to make depends on how much waxing you do at a time. Since I wax my arms and legs at one go sometimes, I have some 15-20 strips with me. They are more than enough for waxing this much.

Plus, I have strips of varying widths as well, though most of them are around 3-4 inches wide, and some a little narrower. There is no hard and fast rule. For example, when I wax my arms, I use a little narrower strips and for my legs, the wider ones do a better job.

This might sound cumbersome, but prepare the strips once and then you can use them for years. After waxing, simply soak them in water and once the wax dissolves, you can wash them as usual. I've been using my own wax strips for years and that's a whole lot of cost saving!

Waxing at home - Things you need

Once you are ready to wax, it's time to get down to the nitty gritty of the things you need.  So you will be needing the following -

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  Wax (ready made or homemade)
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  Wax strips (you can buy them or make your own using cotton or casement cloth)
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  Spatula (or a butter knife if you don't have a spatula)
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  Wax heating machine (you can heat using a microwave otherwise)
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  Powder for dusting
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  Towel(s) for wiping any sticky messes

This is all you need for waxing at home. If you are looking to save money by waxing at home, then I'd definitely recommend making homemade wax. You could additionally purchase a wax heating machine (I'd bought mine around 7-8 years back, for around 200 Rs I think). It's an excellent investment, and will save you the trouble of heating in the microwave or on the stove constantly. Not to mention, it's cheap!

For the waxing strips, check out this post. It explains all about how to make your own long lasting waxing strips. 

Black seed oil (Nigella Sativa) for hair growth

Black seeds (also known as black onion seeds, kalaunji in Hindi and Nigella Sativa as the scientific name)have been used for it's medicinal properties for centuries and I figured I ought to try it myself. Luckily, there was a bottle of black seed oil at home, so I could start using it immediately. The oil sure has a strong smell, but nothing unpleasant. I like the crunchiness and flavour of kalaunji seeds anyway, when used on buns and paranthas.

I also came across its uses for growing strong, healthy and shiny hair. So I've just started using it for the first time, by massaging it on to my scalp and leaving it on. It seemed to cause a tingling sensation as soon as I applied it, unlike any other oil I've used. So I really hope it works.

I'll keep up with this routine and will post of updates, about whether it's working or not.

To healthy, strong hair!

Update (6th October, 2010) - I used the oil topically for a few days and then began taking a teaspoon with honey. I must've used this for some 2-3 weeks, but to no avail. It could be that I didn't keep up with the routine for a period, long enough to see results.

In any case, this didn't work for my hair growth, although I'm certain having a teaspoon of black seed oil with pure honey everyday is as healthy as healthy can get! 

Homemade wax recipe

I prefer using fresh, homemade wax instead of store bought ones because atleast I'm sure the wax I make at home is completely natural and chemical free. Not to mention homemade wax is alot cheaper than purchasing a ready made one. Some ready made ones can irritate sensitive skin, causing tiny boils or rashes too.

So for this homemade wax, my only disclaimer - it does take some practice! I remember trying to make wax initially and would end up with some hardened, thickened mass which really didn't work like wax was supposed to. But once I got the hang of it, it's been a piece of cake. Do remember, if you can't so much as boil an egg, you won't be able to prepare this wax either. :P

For other adventurous souls, you'd be needing -

• A pot/vessel for preparing the wax
• Wooden spoon (preferable)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/8th cup lemon juice (Half of 1/4th cup basically)
• 2-4 tablespoons of water
• A container/tub for storing the wax

Now, to make this task easier, grind the coarse sugar granules into a powder. This makes it super easy for the powder to dissolve in the lemon juice and water and you wouldn't need to slave over the stove for half an hour, stirring in constantly to get the sugar to dissolve. And this was actually my mom's idea to use powdered sugar instead.

So, on medium heat, add the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and water and stir in till the sugar dissolves completely. Keep stirring for 5 minutes or so and then, let the mix come to a rolling boil. 

You will know your wax is ready when you see a pale golden colour appearing and the consistency is honey like. If you'r not sure if it's ready, simple test with a butter knife. Take a tiny amount and let it cool for a minute (be careful, you don't want to burn yourself!) and then apply a small patch on the back of your hand.

If you've ever been waxed before, you'll know how easily the wax spreads on your skin and how it hardens just a little bit on cooling. If the patch you applied is too runny/watery, then you need to let the mix cook for some more time on low heat only (using high heat will cause the mix to boil quickly and turn deep golden, which would indicate a toughened mass of sugar).

And if the wax you applied on your skin wouldn't spread too easily, then you need to add 1-2 tablespoons of water (don't add all of it together, mix in little by little to see how much more it needs to soften and more or less accordingly).

Finally, the wax needs to be sticky enough and if it isn't, you can add a dash of lemon juice to make it so. Once you get the desired consistency and the pale golden colour, take off from heat and immediately pour into the container that you will be using to store the wax. (If you let it cool in the vessel, it will harden and you'll have to heat it all over again to pour it into the container)

I use a microwavable container, so it's real easy for me to heat it and take out the desired amount to put in the wax heating machine, when I need to wax.

This makes roughly a cup of wax, and can easily be stored at room temperatue. Remember, it may be a little difficult in the beginning, but after so much practice, I don't even measure the amounts of lemon juice and water anymore and make it perfectly anyhow!

PS: For anything gone wrong, well, it's happened to me too and there's always a second time. Also, to get rid of burnt/hardened sugar, just keep the vessel and spoons dipped in water for a few hours and then wash as usual.

3 foods for healthy hair

Now some people have it real easy, when regardless of what they eat or how they handle their hair, it just remains strong, healthy and shiny. One of my aunt's friend, back in the 70's, had lush, thick hair and without her even working hard to maintain it. When my aunt once enquired what she uses to wash her hair, she said nothing special at all. Sometimes when she'd forget to take shampoo in while taking a shower, she'd simply use Rin (clothes washing detergent!) to wash her hair! So much for not using harsh chemicals on your hair.

Anyway, since most of us aren't that lucky, eating your way to healthy hair assumes greater importance as a way of ensuring healthy locks. Since everybody advises 'eat lots of fruits, vegetables and drinks lots of water' for good hair, it eventually remains just an advice and nothing more.

So here are 3 easy foods that you can make a part of your daily routine. Just make a habit of eating these foods every single day, and soon, you'll forget that you'r eating healthier till you notice your hair looking shinier and stronger in 2-3 months time. So here are my favourites -

1. Nuts and some more nuts - These are by far the easiest to snack on and are tasty too. You can choose from almonds, walnuts, cashew nuts, peanuts etc. And simply make a habit of eating a handful as a snack everyday. These nuts are an excellent source of zinc, a deficiency of which causes hair shedding. So make sure this is a regular part of your diet. (Tell me this bowl of walnuts, peanuts, cashew nuts and almonds doesn't look tasty!)

2. Low fat dairy products - Yup, a glass of skimmed milk or a cup of low fat milk everyday would do wonders for your hair. They are great sources of calcium, which is an important mineral for hair growth. I often have a cup of warm milk, with honey and cinnamon. It makes for a tasty and healthy drink too.

3. Eggs - Your hair is made up of protein and eggs are an excellent source of protein, with other beauty nutrients like biotin and vitamin B12 too. You can have them boiled, fried, scrambled or any other way you like it. Plus, one egg is only some 85 calories and that makes eggs low on calories and big on nutrients - definitely healthy!

There are alot of other healthy hair foods as well, but if you atleast made a start with just these 3, you'd be spurred on to work harder on your hair from the inside out, and can easily add more to your diet later on.

The best anti sun tan remedy

Sun tans obviously vary from person to person, but if the tan lines are severe or are visible to the naked eye, they definitely won't reduce easily and quickly.

So what's the best anti sun tan remedy? Well, simply save yourself from the harsh sun rays in the first place. Yes, that is a remedy because some wise person mentioned that prevention is better than cure. And no, slathering on sunscreen as your only protection does not count for 'avoiding' the sun. Though sunscreens do work, they don't ward off the risk of tanning completely and only delay it.

The only measure which is 100% effective against sun tans, uneven skin tones, pigmentation, skin aging and wrinkles is actually the most neglected - staying out of the sun as much as possible. Especially the harsher sun rays from 10-4 PM. And that doesn't mean you can't step out to enjoy in the sun altogether. Just do so with umbrellas, hats, caps, scarves etc. These are opaque and the sun rays won't hit your skin, and consequently, won't cause any skin damage.

And what if you've already suffered some skin damage? Then go through the remedies I've posted here and use them regularly. They should work because I've used them to get rid of tans myself. And yes, they WON'T work if you keep baking yourself a good tandoori chicken complexion out in the sun every day. So it's important for you to go out in the sun only with protective gear in place and then work on the skin at home as well.

You are bound to see results if you keep at it consistently. But that's the key - being regular with the face packs and supplementing new skin growth with fresh fruits, vegetables, water and an active lifestyle. It does take alot of effort, but a smooth, flawless complexion? It sure is worth it!

3 must do's for healthy eyes

Eyes are delicate organs and rough, insensitivity towards them can cause irreversible damage. No amount of money/expertise can bring back the original, natural state. This is what an eye doctor had told me once. And it really did make sense too. So here are 3 things you must be careful about for healthier, radiant eyes -

• Be gentle while handling your eyes. Don't pull, scratch or rub your eyes and the area around them. The skin around eyes is very delicate and being rough with them isn't a good idea at all. Nobody wants aging eyes, with crows feet and fine lines, right past age 30. So it's very necessary to be gentle while removing eye make up, while plucking a dust particle out of your eye or while dealing with eye styes and other such infections.

• Your eyes are worth alot more than the money saved while purchasing some cheap, locally manufactured eye products. Take special care to buy quality, branded items for your eyes. You can limit the quantity of eye makeup you have, but you shouldn't do the same with the quality. And do remember to discard them, once they are past the expiry date.

• Be careful of straining your eyes while reading, watching TV and other such activities. Bad or insufficient lighting, improper posture while reading, using the computer for hours at a stretch or inadequate sleeping hours are just some of the instances of how we strain our eyes day in and day out. The results? Tired, over worked eyes, with dark circles, which lack the lustre and sparkle. You should make a conscious effort to minimize the strain on your eyes and let them relax too. They help you soak in the beauty around. They do deserve this much care!

Why sunshine is better than artificial lights

If you are trying to get rid of some skin tan, dark under eye circles, pimple or acne scars, or any other such blemishes, you would, in most probability, be checking your skin in the mirror day after day, for any noticeable changes.

And in most cases, you'd end up checking out the mirror with tubelights, bulbs or lamps on. And this is where you need to know that your skin shows alot (of damage or improvement) when you check it in daylight instead. I noticed this myself, when I could clearly see diminishing pores/patches on my face in sunlight, but while checking out the same in tubelight, I couldn't see any difference on my skin.

The same applies to when you are out purchasing cosmetics. It's so so important to buy foundation, concealer, lipsticks, blusher etc. etc. during day time only! Trying a patch test inside a shop's glossy artificial lights really doesn't reflect the true picture and if you are really looking for that 'perfect' shade, you must try stepping out into the sun and then checking out how the shade suits you (Take a friend along, or just use a compact mirror - though it would look a little odd looking into the mirror standing outside a shop, but hey, it's worth it if you get the perfect shade!)

And trust me, if you want to see how many pores, blackheads, whiteheads, or other discolourations your skin is living with, then do yourself a favour and open those curtains wide, let sunlight stream in and gloss over in front of that mirror for the 'moment of truth'!

You'd feel alot better knowing your problem areas and then work accordingly to fix them. Happy gazing! :)

Home remedy for blemishes

Blemishes are spots or patches of discolouration, left behind by pimples, acne, boils, insect bites, bruising, sun tans, or just plain stress. If you have blemishes caused due to stress, then nothing would work better than calming yourself down and reducing stress levels first. No home remedy would work as long as the stress continues to bother you.

However, for other blemishes, using the following paste is an excellent remedy for getting rid of such spots and blemishes -

Paste of Neem leaves (Wash, boil and grind the neem leaves to a paste) (Or you could simply boil the neem leaves and use the water instead)

Turmeric powder (haldi)

Lemon juice (optional)

I haven't specified any quantities, because it depends on the area you need to apply the paste to. I don't mind using a little more turmeric powder than usual, even if it stains, because it works wonderfully as an antiseptic and makes skin radiant and glowy.

Apply a thick paste of the above and let dry. Don't use soap on the area right after this application; let your skin absorb the goodness.

Using this regularly for 2-3 weeks can markedly reduce the blemishes. This paste also cools your skin, so it's good to use in summers when your skin is tired of the heat and pollution.

Waxing at home

Waxing in one of the best hair removal methods available because regular waxing results in slower hair growth over time. I've been waxing for years now and it's great because now I wax once in a month or so and the hair takes longer to grow out each time.

What's even better is that I can wax myself at home, and have perfected the art of doing so. I always found visiting beauty parlours/salons for waxing every month so time consuming, not to mention the costs involved for something which is just 'heat-apply-pull'. Plus, I've always had a penchant of learning how to do things myself, and this is one of the numerous things I do myself (and often, better than the beautician's themselves).

And it's not something like cosmetic surgery that only expert professionals can handle you know? Not to mention that while waxing yourself, you can make sure not a single hair is left behind and waxing in the comfort and privacy of your home is great!

And ofcourse, like with all other things, it takes practice! Initially I used to be scared just to yank the strip off me. And I have to admit, I did suffer some red bumps here and there, because of wrong waxing techniques. Fortunately, I learnt quickly and now, not only do I wax myself easily, but I do it in a such a way that there is minimun pain (Yup, there are tricks to minimize the pain as well).

So here, I'll be sharing all the things I've learnt over the years and hope to make waxing alot more of a pleasurable experience for you. Keep watching this space for more!

Pimples and breakouts? Try this!

Pimples and breakouts have a way around and for some funny reason, we tend to get them most when we'd rather not have them. So try the following quick fix to calm the swellings and dry them out -

1-2 tsp honey (use lesser if it's a lone pimple; more otherwise)

Cinnamon powder

Drops of lemon juice (if you have oily skin)

Apply this over the pimples and let dry. Wash off with warm water. Don't pick on the pimples for sure and use this 2 times a week to keep such breakouts at bay. Precaution is better than cure! :)

For glossy, shiny hair

If you have dull, lifeless hair and are looking to bring on the shine, then simply use the following rinse after shampooing your hair -

1/2 cup of plain tea (unsweetened and without milk obviously)

A generous squeeze of lemon juice

After you are done shampooing, take a jug of water, and add the tea lemon mix to it. This will dilute the mixture and allow you to rinse your hair nicely. Then use this as a final rinse to your hair and that's it.

You might be uncomfortable with the idea of leaving tea in your hair; I used to feel the same. But after I started seeing how soft and shiny my hair would be after drying, I didn't mind as much. The half cup of tea works fine for shoulder length hair; use more or less depending on how long your hair is. If you find the mix is still too strong, then dilute it more with water and then rinse as usual. 

A word of caution though. Your towel would stain when you dry your hair with it. So keep one towel aside just for this. And you might want to use a dark coloured towel, instead of a white/cream coloured one.

Do this once or twice a week for best results.

For getting rid of dark under eye circles

I should know best - when it comes to dark under eye circles, there would hardly be any remedy that I haven't tried. Most didn't work, but the some that did, made me feel alot better when I looked into the mirror every morning. I know how frustrating it can be, checking in on all the time, hoping to see the dark circles diminishing.

Even though I sleep well, eat well, lead a stress free life, I've been plagued with dark circles since my teenage years. Only difference, now, I know how to tackle them and have definitely succeeded in lightening the pesky dark shadows.

Now you'd need to use the following mix for atleast a month, regularly, to see visible results. I was on iron supplements as well while using this eye pack, so at the end of the month, I wasn't quite sure what worked. Was it the increase in heamoglobin levels? Or did the mix do the work all by itself?

Either way, there's a 50% chance this would work. So why not give it a shot? Mix the following -

1/2 tsp of powdered fenugreek seeds (methi) (Grind 2 tablespoons of fenugreek seeds and store the powder in a tiny bottle. It'll last a long time.)

1 tbsp of full cream milk (It shouldn't be too watery; add a little milk cream or milk powder to thicken)

Drops of rose water (optional)

Let the powder soak in the creamy milk for an hour in the fridge. Then apply thickly all around over the dark circles and let dry. Wash gently with cool water.

My dark circles diminished by half when I tried this for a month (and boy, was I delighted!). Maybe it was a combination of the iron supplements and this pack, but either way, if you've tried alot of other remedies which haven't worked, there's no harm is trying this as well.

And let me know if it works for you!

Uses of rose water

Rose water sure is one of my favourite ingredients when it comes to skin care. It smells delicious, fresh and is so cooling on the skin.

You could add rose to absolutely any face pack and enjoy it's benefits. Or simply spritz on rose water after a long, tiring day outside and the refreshing scent will make you feel fresh and energized immediately.

I myself apply rose water on my face, after I rinse away any face pack. This tones my skin and tightens the pores to keep out bacteria and germs. Especially in summers when my skin can't take any more heat, I apply rose water before sleeping to soak in on the goodness.

If you have skin that's prone to break outs, acne or pimples, regularly using rose water is a good idea. It cleans and hydrates skin and is completely natural, so it's a safe bet to steer clear of blemishes.

If you want, you can keep rose water in the refridgerator and dip cotton balls in cool rose water, to apply on your tired, puffy eyes. Though this won't help lighten any dark circles (I've tried it, never worked), it really refreshes tired, dry eyes and is soothing.

Now the fact that your skin would smell alot more sweet ought to make you go buy a bottle of rose water and keep it handy for all times, isn't it? :)

Tomato - An excellent remedy for tanned skin

Now using tomatoes for skin care? Yeah, I can vouch for this one. While I was in school, I'd tanned quite a bit because of the time spent outside in the sun. So the one thing I did routinely, was to slice a ripe tomato into two, and rub one slice onto my face and neck, making sure to apply as much juice as possible.

And guess what? Two months down the line, I actually got rid of the tan! And I was so hooked on to it (because it was such an easy thing to do everyday), that I used tomato juice regularly, just to keep my skin clean and fresh. I used to have an oily T-zone as well, but after using tomatoes, my skin became completely oil free.

Ofcourse, the tomato juice doesn't really smell nice and it is kinda watered down to apply just the juice. And oh yes, who can forget that tingling sensation you get when you apply it? Initially, that tingly scratchy sensation that I used to feel was annoying, but once I started seeing results (and after I kinda got used to it), I didn't mind as much. My mom tried the same, but the tomato juice would irritate her skin alot, so she used to apply other face packs and just add the tomato juice to it, instead of applying plain concentrated tomato juice.

In other words, you ought to give it a try if you are trying to get rid of tanned skin or are looking for a glowing, brighter complexion. Since tomatoes are drying, I wouldn't suggest it for people with dry skin. It works great on oily or combination type skins, as long as you can handle the tingly sensation.

And if you want, you could puree half a tomato and apply the paste too. Or just squeezing out the juice and applying it works just as well. Your pick!

Pretty feet et vous?

I don't know about you, but I can't help but notice clean, neatly maintained hands, feet, nails etc. Everybody notices clothes, hairstyles and shoes, and most make sure that they turn out in their best while they are out. But what about the oft neglected feet? Most people forget that well maintained feet, make the shoes that wrap them look better as well.

I remember socializing at a party, where I noticed a young mother's feet so badly dehydrated and scaly and unkept, that I almost wanted to point it out to her! (No no, but I didn't!)

Anyhow, having pretty feet does not involve costly and lengthy pedicures every alternate week (though these would certainly help). For me, I make sure I scrub my feet with a pumice stone while taking a shower and moisturize them after the shower, to keep them soft and smooth.

If you really really have dry feet, then one of the best and quickest ways to hydrate them, is to apply any moisturizer on your feet (vaseline works great as well) and wear socks to let the cream get absorbed generously and go off to sleep. You will wake up in the morning to amazingly soft and happy feet.

Your feet do carry you places. Isn't it time you nourished them to keep them healthy as well? Think about it!

Vaseline to the rescue!

Eyeliner gone fuzzy? Smudged kajal (kohl)? A runny mascara? Yeah, we've all been in situations where we'r oustide at a party and need a quick fix for wiping away make up gone wrong. And unless you carry a make up remover in your purse/handbag all the time, chances are you'll be left with water as an option to rub away messy lines.

So my favourite quick fix is Vaseline. I carry it all the time and it's real simple to use as well. Just dab some on a tissue or cotton, and gently rub on the smudged area. After wiping clean with vaseline, simply use a clean cotton to dab away any oily excess and voila! You'r good to go!

It works well with removing eyeliner, mascara, kajal or lipstick stains and  it's moist, so it's gentle on skin as well. Vaseline to the rescue, it really is! :)

Soothing tan remover

In the summers, when your skin takes a beating from the heat all around, try this cooling pack to calm your nerves and lighten skin tan in the process -

1 tbsp yoghurt

1-2 tbsp lemon juice

Paste of ground mint leaves

The chilled yoghurt and cool mint, along with citrusy fresh lemon makes for a refreshning pack. Apply all over your skin. Wash off after it dries and repeat 2-3 times a week.

For moisturizing and softening dry skin

This pack is very simple and hydrating. Use it to soothe and moisturize your skin -

1-2 tbsp yoghurt

1 tsp honey

Apply this to your face and neck and relax while it dries. This pack would penetrate your skin and soften it in the process. Wash off with cool water and repeat atleast 2 times a week for best results.

Getting rid of dandruff

Gorgeous, silky hair but plagued by dandruff? Fikar (worry) not! It's pretty easy getting rid of those dreaded white flakes if you simply nourish your hair atleast twice a month with a hot oil massage and lemon juce application.

Oil your hair generously for a minimum of 2 hours. Then 15-30 minutes before taking a shower, take a juicy wedge of lemon and squeeze out the juice on to your hair roots and rub gently. Make sure you apply the juice to your scalp and hair roots specifically. Use as much as required. You'll feel a gentle tingling for a while, and soon it dries up.

You can shampoo as usual after this (try using a gentle herbal shampoo and not chemically loaded ones). Preferably air dry your hair, instead of using a blow dryer. You'll love how soft and silky your hair feels and no more white flakes to deal with!

You could oil your hair once a week, and use the lemon juice as well, every 15 days. It's really worth the effort!

Anti wrinkle face mask for women over 30

Wrinkles, fine lines, crows feet - all signs of aging skin, which can be delayed if a proper skin care regimen is followed even when you are in your 20's. Don't wait for signs of aging to show up. Start right now! The following face mask is great for women over 30, who should start using this to delay the onset of wrinkles.

And no harm in using this twice every week even if you'r below 30, because this face mask results in skin lightening as well -

1-2 tbsp creamy yoghurt

1 tsp of tomato juice

Make sure this mix isn't too runny when you are going to apply it on your skin (If you add too much tomato juice, resulting in a watery consistency, you can refridgerate the mix for 15-30 minutes to make it easier to apply).

Apply generously all over and let dry. The lactic acid in the yoghurt and the acidity of the tomato work well in getting rid of tan lines and softening the skin. Rinse with cool water and remember to be regular with this (for atleast a month) to see long term effects of wrinkle-free skin and faded tan lines.

Exfoliating scrub for dry skin

Keeping dry skin well hydrated even after cleansing routines is of utmost importance. Which is why the ingredients you use should be well suited to your skin type. Use the following quick fix for sloughing off dead cells, without stripping your skin of all moisture -

1 tbsp of honey

Granulated sugar

A pinch of dried orange peels (coarsely ground) (optional)

Massage the sugar on to your skin, till the sugar crystals dissolve into the honey. Take your time and be gentle with your skin while scrubbing!

I haven't been able to use this myself, no matter how yummy I find it, because my skin remains normal to oily most of the time. Anyway, honey is moisturizing and is a great ingredient for any face pack for dry or mature skin. Do use it!

Body exfoliation using a pumice stone

Most people use scrubs to exfoliate facial skin but neglect the rest of their bodies. This results in lacklustre body skin. Infact, I used to do the same. But a few years back, when I noticed waxing resulting in quite alot of ingrown hair on my legs, I realized the importance of scrubbing skin all over while taking a shower.

Initially I used to use a spongy loofah, but once I tried a pumice stone, I got hooked on to it, because I could actually feel my skin tingle after I scrubbed and could feel the revved up skin circulation. Not to mention that the pumice stone worked better than the loofah in clearing up the ingrown hairs a whole lot.

Ever since, scrubbing with a pumice stone is a part of regular showers for me. The benefits are many, but the best is that it opens up pores of your skin, and after taking a shower, any cream that you rub on will be absorbed deliciously.

Few things to note about it though -

• Always scrub your skin upwards, towards the heart, starting from your legs and thighs, up your abdomen and finally up your arms.
• Don't forget to scrub your back (as much as you can reach out) and neck too.
• Be gentle with the scrubbing! After you've lathered up soap or body wash, scrub gently in a circular upward motion and then rinse as usual.
• If you've got rough or cracking foot heels, then scrubbing with a pumice stone while taking a shower helps immensely. Do remember to moisturize your feet thereafter. In 2 weeks or so, you should begin noticing softer, smoother feet.
• If your knees and elbows are dark or are rougher in texture than the rest of your body, then scrub over these areas specifically and regularly. Moisturize after this for sure and within a month, your knees and elbows will look and feel much much better. Promise!
• You could always use a loofah instead of a pumice stone. The loofah is gentler on skin, and works pretty good. But I personally prefer using a pumice stone, because I like the grainy feel on my skin.
• This is obvious but don't scrub over bruised, cut or sore skin. Ouch.
• And over freshly waxed skin as well. It doesnt require scrubbing for 2-3 days and doesn't feel good either. (Though since a loofah is softer, it won't hurt.)
• And finally, don't expect your skin to be silky smooth after a few scrubs itself. It takes time, but trust me, it's worth it.

Now scrub away those dead cells and watch your skin feel baby soft! :)

Let the luscious lips do the talking!

Soft and pouty lips are a dream. And trust me, it isn't difficult to achieve lush lips that grab attention. For one, naturally reddish lips work way better for me, than lips coated with layers of lipstick. Ofcourse, lipstick does add to the glam quotient, but what can I say? I'm a sucker for the au naturale look!

So my favourite 'lip food'? It's nothing fancy and just good ol' Vaseline! This is one thing you'll always find in my purse when I'm out. I can't seem to do without my reliable Vaseline pot ever!

I make sure my lips are always moist with vaseline on them, to avoid them cracking and getting sore at any time. And it's really easy to gently exfoliate your lips with vaseline too (yes, lips can be exfoliated too!).

Just apply it generously on your lips before sleeping and the next morning, simply massage your lips in a circular motion, with the softest tooth brush you can find. (You can keep aside one inexpensive brush for this routine)

Massage for 2-3 minutes and then wash away. You should notice your lips looking fresher and they really will be softer. You could dab your lips with a little vaseline again, or leave it as is.

Welcome to my space!

I am just twenteen, Desi and fascinated by the pure, healing powers of all things natural. I've always spent time reading up on herbal ingredients and then tried various types of mixes on my skin too. I love experimenting and seeing what works well on my skin and what doesn't.

I don't enjoy slopping on chemically loaded creams, face washes, moisturizers etc and I'm always looking for simpler, effective and natural alternatives to keep my skin radiant.

So this blog came about simply to demystify the fact that something as simple as hydrating your skin, doesn't always require a lab in Switzerland to provide you with wholesome moisturizers - nature has it's own secrets! The recipes mentioned here are ones that I really believe will work and most have been tried and tested by myself (or a family member), some time or the other.

Along with the mixes, I've also specified what I like about an ingredient or so and how it's worked (or not worked) for me -unlike websites that list a hundred remedies where many (as I've learnt after trying out myself) are simply ineffective or just plain impossible to apply in the first place!

So here I am, looking to share, discuss, learn new things and get pretty in the process too :) There's lot more to come, so do keep visiting or simply subscribe to my blog and feel free to drop in comments, suggestions and how any such home made recipes have worked for you. I'd love to hear 'em all!

Have a beautiful day ahead!

Aloe vera skin benefits

I just used fresh aloe vera gel to moisturize my skin. And boy, does it feel good! My skin feels creamy soft to touch and is so hydrated.

I recently purchased a potted aloe vera plant, having heard so much about the wonderful uses and benefits. Maintaining it at home is real easy too, since it only needs to be watered alternate days or so and thrives in the summer heat. And now I'm so glad I did buy it.

If you wish, you could purchase bottled aloe vera gel from a shop or just extract the gel from a potted one at home - either way, there are so many ways you could use it. It works great as a skin cleaner, moisturizer, soother and generally, for plumping up skin and removing fine lines and wrinkles (if used regularly for atleast a month).

So the easiest way to use it? Just apply it generously on your skin and let dry. You could sleep with it on too, if you don't mind it, because it's entirely natural. Or you could wash it off after a while with cool water.

Your skin sure will thank you for giving it a rest from chemically loaded cleansers and moisturizers!

PS: Check out this for more ways of using aloe vera for deep cleansing action.

Exfoliating scrub for dry skin

I personally enjoy using gram flour because it works well as a scrub and is easily available at home all the time. So the following mix does well to slough off dead skin cells, and consequently brightening the skin. Use it when you feel like your skin needs a good massage -

2-3 tsps of gram flour (besan)
Coarsely ground almonds
Milk cream (malai)
1/2 tsp honey (optional)

Apply this all over and let dry. Moisten the dried pack with milk or water and begin scrubbing in a circular motion for 3-5 minutes. Make sure you massage all over and continue moistening and scrubbing away the flakes. Then splash your face with water, gently washing away the remnants and pat your skin dry.

Do run a finger to feel how soft your skin feels! :)

For rejuvenating dull skin

If your skin looks dull and blotchy, then use this quick whip to bring out the glow and radiance -

1-2 tsp of sandalwood powder
1/2 tsp of turmeric powder (haldi)
1 or 2 strands of saffron
Unboiled milk

Make sure you soak the saffron strands in the milk for atleast half an hour. Mix in the remaining ingredients and make sure the paste isn't too runny.

Apply this thickly all over your face and neck and let dry. Wash off with cool water and spritz on rose water.

To really absorb the goodness of this pack, exfoliate your skin with any facial scrub or use this simple and effective homemade one to cleanse and open up pores. Apply this pack right after exfoliating and soak in the yummy treat.

You'll see cleaner, brighter skin after 2-3 weeks of regular use.

To get rid of pimple and acne scars

Some scars are just stubborn. Period. No matter how unlikely it is for others to notice that little- blemish-on-your-cheek, none of us want to contend with it anyway. So here is a little indulgent creamish mix that will eat away those scars, blemishes and dark spots to their graves. *Evil grin*

Milk cream (malai) or any fresh cream
2-3 strands of saffron
1/2 tsp of honey

Let the saffron soak in the milk cream for an hour or more. When ready to apply, add enough honey to make a thick paste and apply this generously over the spots. When it dries, wash away with cool water. Repeat this everyday for atleast 3 weeks to see the blemish-free you!

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Face mask for glowing skin

For glowing, luminiscient skin, use the following pack atleast thrice a week -

Powdered orange (dry orange peels in sunlight and then grind them)
Milk cream (malai)

Mix the above and apply on face and neck. Wash off with cool water after it dries and bask in the softness thereafter!

Update (5th May, 2010) - I did grind orange peels and used the powder as well. My only reservation was that the powder didn't smell zesty and nice like oranges do. The smell wasn't too bad, but I guess I shouldn't expect dried orange peels to smell citrus-y nice like fresh, juicy oranges do! :)

All the same, the powder is granulated and works nicely as a scrub. Using it with other ingredients like lemon or tomato juice overpowers the smell a bit. So it's good to use for a change. Not one of my favourites though!

For softer, fresher skin

Use this mix for softening and pampering your skin -

Papaya pulp
Yoghurt

Apply this simple mix on your face and relax while it dries. Wash off with milk or water. Use this pack during summers, to give your skin the much needed rest after the day’s heat, sweat and pollution.

Exfoliating mix for oily or normal skin

This is a quick and wonderful fix for dull skin that needs exfoliation (only for oily to normal skin). Use every alternate day or everyday if you face alot of pollution, dust and dirt while outside -

Lemon juice
And salt for scrubbing!

After applying lemon juice, massage gently with salt for 3-4 minutes, in circular upward motion. Wash with tepid water and get ready to be amazed by the smoothness of your skin!

For silky, smooth skin

If you have dry skin and are looking to moisturize your skin, then the following mix will go a long way in plumping up your skin -

1 tbsp of yoghurt
1 tsp of honey

Mix these and apply thickly all over your face. Once it dries, wash off with cool water. Use this everyday to invigorate your skin.

For dry, patchy skin

A quick fix for dry skin with uneven tones is the following simple mix -

1 tbsp of oatmeal
1/2 tbsp of yoghurt
1/2 tsp of honey

Mix to a creamy consistency and apply all over. Wash your face with water, by scrubbing gently in a circular motion, giving your skin a nice exfoliated fresh feeling.

Rich facial scrub

When it comes to giving your skin a glow, nothing works better than scrubbing away dead and dull skin cells, paving way for fresh, brighter skin. Whip up this rich scrub for a softer, youthful look -

Banana pulp
1 tbsp of milk cream (malai)
1 tsp of milk

Apply this luscious mix generously over your face and neck. Relax while it dries and wash away with cool water. Pat skin dry to feel the freshness.

Face mask for skin lightening

If your skin has dulled down due to constant exposure to the sun, heat and pollution, apply this mix to lift away the dust and dirt to bring out the radiant you -

1 tbsp ground almonds
Unboiled milk (to make a thick paste)

Spread this on your face and wash away with water after it dries. Apply this mask every alternate day for best results.

Tan removing face pack

To gently get rid of tan lines or uneven skin tones, try the following -

1 egg white
1/2 tsp honey

Whip the egg white till it forms soft peaks. Add the honey and then spread the mix on your face. Wash off gently with water. Use regularly for 5 weeks for optimum skin lightening.

Simple home made face cleanser

To clean your skin at the end of a long day, dip into this simple yet amazingly refreshing mix -

Cucumber juice
Unboiled milk

Combine these 2 and apply this with a cotton ball all over in a gentle, upward motion. Wash off and spritz your skin with rose water for closing your pores, leaving behind a tingly, fresh aroma on your skin!

Eye gel for removing dark circles and puffiness

Whip up this delicious gel to rejuvenate and relax your eyes. You can refrigerate this mix for upto a week -

1 tbsp aloe vera
Drops of lemon and cucumber juice

Mix this, and add the juice sparingly or add more aloe vera to make sure the gel isn’t too runny. Apply this around your eyes every night before sleeping. And there is no need to rinse it off because it’s all natural! :)

You should begin seeing a difference in 2 months time (yes, dark circles are stubborn).

Soothing eye pack

For tired, itchy and dry eyes, try this simple and effective pack -

1/2 tsp of apple puree
1/2 tsp of potato pulp
Milk cream (malai)

Mix rich milk cream with the apple and potato pulp to make a creamy thick mixture. Appl this generously around your eyes and relax for 15 minutes.

Rinse gently with cool water. This mix is ideal for everyday use and would work wonders in perking up your eyes.

Eye pack for nourishing away crows feet

If you are looking to banish crows feet and plump up the skin around your eyes, then this is just the pack for you! -

1/2 tsp of almond oil
Drops of honey
Milk cream (malai)

Apply this softening pack around your eyes and wash away with cool water. Regular application of this will ensure softer, smoother skin around your eyes.

Getting rid of puffy eyes

If you suffer with puffy eyes, then using this extremely cooling paste will do wonders -

1 tsp of ground mint leaves
1/2 tsp of gram flour (besan)
Drops of rose water (optional)

Only add the rose water, if the paste is too thick. Apply this generously around your eyes and relax while your eyes ‘feed’ on this! You can say good bye to puffy eyes with this effective paste. Just make sure to be regular with applying this!

Exfoliating scrub using oatmeal

This scrub sloughs away dead cells and increases skin circulation -

1-2 tbsp oatmeal

Orange juice (you can use lemon as well)

Make a paste of this and gently scrub your skin for 3-5 minutes. Rinse and pat your skin dry. Apply a moisturizer, so that your skin can easily absorb the cream. And your skin will feel soft for hours after this!

Simple way of staying acne free

If you are prone to acne and breakouts, then a simple and effective way of keeping a check on them, is to use warm water with some salt added in it. Add some lemon juice to this (if you have oily skin), or use it as is without the lemon juice if you have normal or dry skin.

Make sure you rinse your face well everyday with this solution. This will open up the pores and kill the bacteria. Then use a skin toner like rose water or simply splash your face with cool water, to close all the pores. Do this before sleeping (preferably), so that your skin can breathe and stay clean.

Being regular with this will help your skin unclog it's pores and will keep blacheads at bay as well.

How to thread your upper lips - Tips and tricks

Once you are able to thread your upper lips yourself, it gives you complete freedom to be fuzz free all the time. Plus, now that you can pluck hair easily, you can thread any stray hairs you find on ur face, or anywhere else.

So some tips to make threading a better experience for you -

• Initially, it might hurt you some bit to thread, especially if you've only just started. But nothing to worry, with time, as you continue threading, the hair follicles loosen up and it becomes almost painless to thread your upper lips.
• To lessen the friction between the thread and your skin, just dust your upper lips with powder. With this, you'll be able to see the hair more clearly too.
• If you have sensitive skin, which tends to redden after threading, then rinse with cool water and apply some calamine lotion or aloe vera gel. If you don't have either, rub some ice over the area and then dab on a little cream to moisturize and calm.
• If it hurts you alot while threading, then the easiest way to reduce this pain, is to thread earlier than usual, while the hairs are still shorter. It makes alot of a difference and I thread my upper lips often, to avoid any unpleasantness of threading alot of (longer) hair together. Plus, I look like I'm always de-fuzzed!

Sweet lip scrub

This makes for a quick lip scrub and works great to soften your lips -

1 tsp honey

Some granulated sugar

Simply scrub gently in circular motion with your finger, and then wash with cool water. And for a while, you'll be able to taste a little sugar as well. Sweet indeed! :)

How to thread your upper lips - The technique

Once you are ready, cut a thread, roughly 20 inches in length and loop it by tying the free ends into a knot. You should have something like this -

Now hold the looped thread with both hands and twist it (or wind it) around the center of the loop, about 3-4 times. It should look like this -

Hold the wound thread with your fingers pointing outward (ie, away from your face), just as shown in the picture above. Now this is how you would be working on your upper lip. You'll need to practice the 'opening and closing' action, done by your fingers, to get a hang of it.

Like in the picture below, open your right hand wide (somewhat like a claw, except using only your index finger and your thumb to manoeuvre the central wound to the left of the loop) -  

Now while closing the open right hand, simultaneously open the left hand, using the same index finger and thumb movement. The criss crossed point would move from the left to the right of the loop as you do this -

And that's it! Keep repeating this open and close action till you can do it easily. Once you'r comfortable with this action, simply try plucking a hair off your leg (since it's easiest to reach). Sit with your leg propped up, bent at the knee, and position the thread in such a way, that the single hair is on the left and the criss crossed (or wound part) of the loop is to it's right. Then repeat the above steps, opening with the right (in effect, pushing the wound point over the hair, twisting it to come out) and then back and forth till it comes out.

Initially, you will have to go back and forth quite a lot, before the hair starts plucking out easily. Keep at this for days or weeks, till you can easily pluck hair from your legs. When comfortable, try the same on your upper lip, and within 2-3 months, you should be alot more efficient at threading.

Nobody taught me how to thread myself and I learnt all by trial and error after having some read some vague instructions on how to go about it. But hey, I did learn it and so can you! If you have any confusion, or need some more clarification, drop me a line. I'll be glad to help out! :)

How to thread your upper lips

Threading upper lips is the safest way of getting rid of unwanted hair, without waiting for it to grow to a certain length (like waxing requires). I've been threading my upper lips for years now and do it whenever I see even the slightest of fuzz.

It's one of the best things I've learnt to do on my own, because rushing off to a parlour for a 5 minute threading session is such a waste of time. Ofcourse, it did take me around 3 months of solid practice before I could efficiently pluck out all hair. But now it's real easy and infact, I can thread other people too using the same technique!

Now threading yourself does not require you to get all technical like ladies at salons do, holding one end of the thread in their mouth and then, pulling back anf forth with their hands. So for this do it yourself technique of threading, you simply need the following -

• 
  
  Threading thread (there are threads available just for threading, or you could simply use a strong cotton thread available at home. Only problem is, it snaps rather quickly, but if you'r in a hurry, this would do just fine) (The one in the picture is the threading thread that I've been using for years)
• 
  
  A mirror
• 
  
  Good lighting right above the mirror
• 
  
  Powder for dusting (not necessary though)

Once you have the above ready, get comfortable in front of the mirror. I wouldn't suggest using the washroom mirror, which is usually placed above the sink, which creates a distance between the mirror and where you are standing. So use the dressing table mirror, or the almirah mirror, where you can stand or sit closest to the mirror to have a good, clear look at the hair that you want to thread.

I prefer standing and threading, though if it's comfortable to sit in front of the mirror and thread, you sure can do that. Check out the next post on the technique of DIY threading.

Face mask for removing sun tan

Tan lines are a common problem and using this simple home made face pack, you can get rid of sun burnt or tanned skin -

1 tbsp of gram flour (besan)
1 tsp turmeric (haldi)
Rose water or tap water (enough to make a paste)

Mix these and apply over tanned areas. After it dries, moisten your face with a little water and then scrub away gently, in circular motion, giving your skin a good final cleanse as well. Infact, I just applied this and my skin feels so clean and soft. This is one of my favourite mixes, partly because you'd hardly find an Indian household without besan and haldi, and mostly because this really works!

Just make sure you apply this regularly for 4-5 weeks to see visible results. :)