Goodness of citrus fruits, apples & cucumber

~~Citrus fruits like, oranges and limes contain high concentrations of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid). This Vitamin C has a fat burning quality. Vitamin C reduces the effectiveness of fat. It reduces its content and can liquefy or dilute fat. By diluting the fat, it makes it less effective, and easier to flush out of your system. Vitamin C also works on cholesterol deposits. By adding Citrus Fruits to your daily diet, you will greatly increase your metabolism, increase your ability to get rid of fat, and also control your cholesterol levels

~~Add apple sauce (it's loaded with pectin), apples, fresh fruit and berries, to your diet and let the power of pectin pulverize the fat that accumulates on your cells. An apple a day can help keep the fat away.

~~Cucumbers are usually used in many salads, besides tasting great their high water content adds to your bulk hence making you feel full. They can be consumed before every meal which will greatly help you from over-eating!

Be Blessed

Problems accompanying Summer...(Compiled)

Summers and its accompanying heat often bring with it a range of problems like those of sunburns, rashes, heat stroke and prickly heat. Prickly heat is a problem most common in those parts of our body where sweat does not get space to evaporate.

For instance, feet and underarms are most susceptible to prickly heat because sweat often gets trapped there. This in turn leads to formation of rashes on the skin. Given below are some helpful home remedies to get rid of prickly heat.

~The best way to deal with prickly heat is by preventing it. This can be done by taking certain preventive measures like avoiding intake of excessive alcohol, smoking and spicy and fried food. You need to keep your body cool and avoid excessive exposure to hot and humid conditions.

~If you are suffering from prickly heat rashes then you must apply some cold water or ice cubes on the affected parts to cool the body down and prevent or reduce inflammation.

~Having an oatmeal bath also helps. All you need to do is to add oatmeal powder in your bath tub and take a bath to get relief from prickly heat.

~A neem bath can also help.

~After having baths, you should apply talcum powder to prevent sweat formation in your body. There are also many prickly heat powders available in the markets.

~Drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated.

~You can also drink fruit juices and coconut water.

The main aim is to keep your body cool and comfortable. Another effective home remedy for the treatment of prickly heat is by applying a paste of sandalwood and rose water to the affected parts.

Follow the above given tips to effectively deal with the problem of prickly heat.

Some Home remedies:

- Oatmeal powder is a useful home treatment for getting relief from prickly heat. Add little amount of oatmeal powder in a bath tub and stir it well. Take a dip in the bath tub, this will give fast relief from inflammation and soothes the skin.

- You can also try this simple home remedy to get relief from inflammation and prickly heat. Take cotton cloth or sponge and soak in cold water. Keep it over the affected area until all the water is not absorbed away. Do this 2-3 times a day.

- Ice cubes are another easy home remedy for treating prickly heat caused due to hot and humid temperature. Rub small ice cubes over the red bulges. The cool ice cubes will reduce the inflammation and will also puncture the red swellings.

- Apply gram flour (besan) paste over the infected area. Cover the red bulges with this paste and allow it to dry. Wash it off with cold water. This will help in removing all the dead skins and relieves from inflammation.

- Dry the barks of banyan tree and grind it into find powder. Apply it over the infected area. This also gives fast relief from prickly heat.

- You can also apply an herbal or non-perfumed talcum powder after bath. This will help in absorbing extra moisture from the body and protect from prickly heat. Repeat this process 4-5 times a day.

- Fuller's earth (multani mitti) is useful home remedy for prickly heat. Make multani mitti pack by adding 4-5 tablespoon of it with 2-3 tablespoon of rose water and plain water to make a thick paste. Apply it over the back, and other affected area. Allow it to dry and then wash it off using cold water. 

WRINKLE BUSTER (Compiled)

WRINKLE BUSTER:

1) Seedless grapes! It has one of the ingredients in those big time expensive wrinkle creams. 

All you do is cut a grape in half and gently crush it on your face and neck. 

Make sure that youapply this juice on"crows-feet" and the lines around your mouth. Leave it on for twenty minutes or so and rinse with tepid water and pat dry. 

Repeat every day and before you know it... those old lines will be hard to find!

Don't forget to drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. 
And... eat veggies rich in Vitamin A, such as carrots, celery and spinach. 
If you can, get 8 hours of sleep every night!

Mix together Tomato pulp and Badam paste.
Apply on face and wash after 10-15 mins.Use this pack 3 times a week.

Make a paste of fresh methi (fenugreek) leaves. Apply it over the face every night for 10-15 minutes and washed with warm water. This will prevent pimples, blackheads, and wrinkles.

1) Take 1 tbsp of cold milk and add 3-4 drops of lime juice. Rub this paste well into the wrinkles before going to sleep. The next morning wash with warm water and dry with a rough towel firmly. Once again rub in the cream - in the direction opposite to the wrinkles. Wait for ½ an hour and wash, avoid using soap.
2) Take 1 tbsp of cold milk and add 3-4 drops of lime juice. Rub this paste well into the wrinkles before going to sleep. The next morning wash with warm water and dry with a rough towel firmly. Once again rub in the cream - in the direction opposite to the wrinkles. Wait for ½ an hour and wash, avoid using soap.
3) Rub the pulp of a ripe Papaya on the face and leave for ½ an hour before washing.
This is a very good toner also.
4) Rub almond oil on the wrinkles in upward strokes. Leave overnight and wash with warm water next morning.
5) Cut open a Vitamin -E capsule, add ½ tsp of glycerine and apply. Wash after 15- 20 minutes.
6) Add ½ tsp honey to 1 tsp rice powder. Smoothen the lines with this paste. Leave for ½ an hour and wash.
7) Mix 1 tsp honey with 1 tsp of milk cream. Apply well. Wash after 20 minutes.Note: Treatment for wrinkles should be done everyday for a period of 30 - 40 days to have visible results.

HOME MADE ANTI-WRINKLE FACE MASKS

The most sure-fire ways of keeping wrinkles at bay is adequate sun protection, nutritious diet, regular exercise, a stress-free lifestyle and proper sleep.

It’s a fact that you cannot get rid of wrinkles with homemade masks, nonetheless some of these face packs help rejuvenate, revitalize and give your skin a firmer texture.

Honey anti-wrinkle mask

Ingredients:

1 ½ tbsp honey

½ tsp carrot juice

A pinch of baking soda.

Method:

Combine honey and juice of carrots. Apply on face. Leave on for 20 minutes. Remove using cotton wool dipped into warm water to which a pinch of baking soda has been added.

 

Egg and Cream mask

Ingredients:

1 white of an egg

1 tablespoon of milk-cream (malai)

Method:

Combine together to make a paste. Apply on face and neck for 20 minutes. Rinse off with tepid water. This mask tautens the facial skin quickly and your face will look rejuvenated almost immediately but this doesn’t last for longer. If you're want to make your skin look tighter and younger for the evening, this is a great mask to use.

 

Cornflour mask:

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon corn flour (makki ka atta)

1 tablespoon of honey

Method:

Make a paste with the above ingredients without any lumps.

Application:
Apply on face and allow it to dry before rinsing off.

 

Apple facial mask

Ingredients:

Apple – 1

Method:

Mash apple and use as a facial mask to tighten your skin.

Application:

Use on face for 10 minutes and wash thoroughly with cold water.

 

Egg white-olive oil face mask

Ingredients:

Egg white – 1

Lemon juice – 1 tsp

Olive oil – 1 tbsp

Method:

Beat egg white until smooth add the juice of lemon and olive oil. Apply to face and neck a few hours before retiring to bed and leave it on for 20 minutes. Wash off and follow with your moisturizer.

 

Egg white-lemon mask

Ingredients:

Eggwhite- 1

Juice of half a lemon

Salt- ½ tsp

Method:

Mix beaten egg white with the juice of 1/2 a lemon and salt. Apply for 15-20 min and wash off. Works wonders on wrinkled skin.

Banana mask

Ingredients:

1 ripe banana

1 tablespoon rose water

Method:

Mash banana and add in rose water.

Application:

Apply as often as you can. Wash with lukewarm water after 30 minutes. If used regularly it gives your skin a firm texture.

Mint-kaolin mask

Ingredients:

1 egg white

2 teaspoon kaolin

2 tablespoon mint leaves (pudina) juice

Method:

Crush a handful of mint leaves and allow it to steep in water for half an hour. Strain the liquid. Alternatively, you may extract the juice of mint. Beat the egg white until stiff. Add to the mint extract. Stir in kaolin to make a paste.

Application:

Apply the mask all over face and wash it off after 15 minutes.

 

Eggwhite-cucumber-mint anti wrinkle face pack

Ingredients:

1 tsp cucumber  juice

1 egg white

1 tbsp mint juice

½ tsp honey

1 tsp curd (yoghurt)

Method:

Beat egg white until stiff. Blend ingredients thoroughly.

Application:

Apply thickly on face. Leave on for 15 minutes and rinse.

 

Green-gram flour anti-wrinkle face pack

Ingredients:

Green Gram (moong) flour – 1 tbsp

Coconut oil – 1 tsp

Turmeric (Haldi) powder – ½ tsp

Method:

Mix all the ingredients and apply evenly all over the face and wash off with cold water after 20 minutes.

 

Papaya-cream face pack

Ingredients:

Mashed papaya – 2 tbsp

Milk cream – 1 tbsp

Method:

Mix the two ingredients well and apply on your face for 15-20 minutes to wash it off with cold water later. Do this at least thrice in a week.

Peach-lemon face pack

Ingredients:

Peaches – 2

Lemon juice – 1tsp

Method:

Mash the peaches and to this mixture add lemon juice. Apply on your face and neck for 15-20 min. Wash off and follow it up with a moisturizer.

 

Green seedless grape mask

Ingredients:

Green seedless grapes

Method:

Cut a green seedless grape in half, and gently rub it on your face concentrating on places which are more wrinkle-prone likecrow's feet,  laughter lines etc. Leave the mask on your face for around fifteen to twenty minutes before washing it off with cold or warm water. Gently pat your face dry. You may then apply a good herbal moisturizer.

Pamper your under eyes skin area by using egg white or castor oil, as it keeps the skin soft and nourishes with required nutrients in your body and slows down the aging sign (wrinkles). One of the useful home remedies for wrinkles.

Lip care (Compiled)

Lip CareYou can mix one-tablespoon cranberry sauce juice with two tablespoons Vaseline for a delicious home made lip balm. 

Apply the juice of lemon skin for avoiding black colour of lips

Massage your lips with coriander leaf juice for soft and rosy lips.

Apply a thin coat of natural balm on your lips before applying lipsticks.

Dip a black tea bag in warm water and press it on lips for three to four minutes. This increases moisture level on skin of lips.

Do not lick lips repeatedly.

Dip small cotton gauze in warm clarified butter (ghee) and place it on lips for 20 minutes.

Remove your lipstick before going to bed using a herbal cleanser and apply a thin layer of ghee on lips.

If your black lips have been caused by drinking too much tea, coffee or by smoking, you will need to cut it down before your lips can lighten. Apply Vaseline to your lips regularly. Ghee is also very good, apply a little ghee every night. This keeps lips moisturised. You could also apply lemon juice to your lips daily, to lighten them slightly. Wear lipstick with sunscreen, as uv radiation may cause pigmentation.

As long as you wear good quality lipstick that has not expired, you need not worry about dark lips. Never wear lipstick from unheard-of brands that you may find while browsing random street stalls.
Never wear lipstick that has expired, and don't wear it constantly. Clean out the lipstick when you are at home.

Darkened and spot of pink lips from smoking ?? 
Your lips will not undergo improvement until you stop smoking.
SMOKING IN NOT GOOD ANYWAYS!!
The stains are caused by nicotine, and they will only keep getting darker and darker.
If you quit smoking and then start trying these remedies, stains caused by smoking should decrease within a month.

Apply a mixture of almond oil and lemon juice to your lips at night to reduce the darkness in outer area of my lower lip or both lips.

Apply glycerine to your lips regularly every night before going to sleep, and prevent them from getting dry. Don't lick your lips.

Drink ten glasses of water daily to detox your system

~Skin care in winter~

SKIN CARE IN WINTER:
1)During winter, dry skin regains its glow by massaging.
Massage hands, arms and other exposed parts of the body with good 'winter lotion' 
It prevents skin from chapping while working in kitchen. 
2) 'Hand lotion' can be prepared by mixing lemon juice in rose water.
3) 'Milk cream' can be applied on wrist and fingers to keep them soft. 
4) Dryness of skin can be removed by a massage with olive oil, or mustard oil or almond oil followed by a sun bath.
5) To prevent the lips from chapping, alight application of cold cream or vaseline on the lips is essential before going to bed. Using chap-stick also helps. 
Winter Lip Care
Lips tend to dry out the fastest at this time of year. Cover them with a good lip balm. Avoid licking your lips and don't bite the skin on the surface of your lips.
6) If you want your skin smooth this winter, here is a recipe that should help. All it involves is mixing equal parts of olive, mustard oil and sesame oil and then massage it all over the body. 
7) For Dry Legs
Just remember, after each shower be sure to leave your legs just a little damp and massage in the moisturizer. 
Your legs will thank you! 
To keep feet soft in the winter, look for a lotion that contains petroleum or glycerin to soften the feet.This oil is very good for the skin and leaves it smooth and free from blemishes. 
8) Facial skin care:
Protect facial skin from Icy winds.
Icy winds also fade the complexion of your skin.
If the skin is dry; then minimise the use of soap to as little as possible. Cold cream and olive oil are effective in reducing dryness. But, before this it is essential to deep-cleanse your face. For deep-cleansing, take a cotton swab, dip it in water and squeeze it. Apply cleansing-milk and rub it thoroughly on your face and neck. Do not use unheated milk which might result in opening up unwanted pores on face. 
Tomato and raspberry juice is best suited for facial cleaning. At night, do not use water after cleansing, but use wet towel for wiping. The towel should be drenched in hot water and then squeezed. After this, facial massage with skin-tonic mixed with almond oil is beneficial. Massage should be continued for at least ten minutes so as to enable the cream to penetrate the skin.

Skin care in Summer

If the skin is not cared properly and neglected it suffers from premature aging and becomes dull and blemished.

Summer is the season when skin is to be ignored no way.

Healthy skin is the result of overall health condition. Medically skin is a sensory organ that responds to reflexes and is a protective system that shields the entire living body. Apart from perceiving sensations such as cold, warm, heavy, light, rough, smooth, etc. skin is also an excretory agent for sweat. 

For Healthy skin....

1)  Drink lot of water through the day, not only to replenish moisture lost to the heat and sweat but also to help flush toxins out of the body and keep skin looking clear and lustrous.

 2) Eat lots of fruits. Sweet juicy fruits such as pears, grapes, watermelon and mangoes both nourish our skin faces a constant barrage of chemicals everyday from pollution to harsh chemically formulated products that strip the skin of its natural balance.

3) Get plenty of quality rest each night. Keep your bedroom cool, dark and comfortable and sleep on cotton or linen sheets. Get to bed early and awaken early for clear healthy skin and sparkling eyes.

4) When you feel stressed, angry or frustrated, your skin will show it over time as furrows and small lines and breakouts.

5) Keep skin nourished with herbal moisturisers.

6) Get plenty of quality rest each night. Keep your bedroom cool, dark and comfortable and sleep on cotton or linen sheets. Get to bed early and awaken early for clear healthy skin and sparkling eyes.

7) Fibre is very important. This indigestible carbohydrate is concentrated in the peel and rinds of fruits and vegetables and in the outer layers of grains and pulses. Fibre rich promote radiant glossy skin and clear eyes

8) Wash your skin gently and with lots of care. Don't rub hard.

9) Moisturize your skin regularly.

10) Eat healthy food and avoid junk food.

11) Avoid use of chemicals on your skin.

12) Protect your skin from over exposure of sun by using sunscreens.

13) Carry an umbrella or a cap with you when overexposed to external environment

Home made face packs for healthy skin.

1) At least once a week, treat yourself to a fruit or vegetable mask appropriate for your skin type. Cucumbers, avocados, apricots and papayas lend themselves well to homemade masks.

Use some fruit or vegetable and blend with some yogurt, honey, oatmeal and lemon juice or rosewater and apply evenly to the face. Let stay for 15-20 minutes and then rinse off with lukewarm water. It will make the skin shining.

2) For facial skin care, just whatever fruit you eat, keep a small piece for your face. Mash it and apply on your face. This way the fruit will work both ways at the same time – internally and externally, to give you good health and a beautiful glow to your face.3)In general the mashed pulp or the juices of all the fruits are good for the healthy, glowing and a blemish free complexion. They stimulate the skin by improving blood circulation.

4) Mix equal amounts of almond oil with honey. Apply on face regularly. Keep for 10-15 minutes before washing off. It improves complexion.

5) Mix 1 tsp wheat flour (atta or besan), 1 tsp cream (malai) and a paste of 10-12 almonds soaked overnight with little coconut oil to form a smooth paste. Apply on face. Leave for 20-25 minutes and then wash off. Doing this regularly will improve your complexion tremendously.

6) Mash a ripe apricot (Khumani) and apply pulp or juice on the face and neck or simply take an apricot slice and rub it all over the face and neck. Leave it for 20 minutes before washing off. Apricot has nourishing and firming qualities. It therefore nourishes, rejuvenates and tightens your skin. It also helps in lightening stretch marks and smoothening wrinkles. It is a popular ingredient in many beauty/ cosmetic preparation such as face scrubs, masks etc. It is good for all type of skins.

7) Mash a slice of ripe papaya and apply on the face. Leave it for 15-20 minutes and the wash off. Papaya contains enzymes which soften dead cells and removes them and so it makes an excellent nourishing and a rejuvenating mask.

8) Mask a slice of a ripe peach and apply on the face or rub a peach slice all over your face and neck. An excellent nourishing mask for dry skins.

9) Mix together 1 tablespoons of orange juice with ½ tablespoon of honey and apply on the face. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes and then wash off. A good moisturizing and toning mask for dry skins. Alternatively you can add some multani mitti to the face mask pack. Increase the amount of honey and orange juice to get a smooth paste

Papaya Beauty care(Compiled)

Papaya for beauty care:

The Beauty Benefits of Green Papaya Fruit: Young, Radiant Skin
Papaya is also used in traditional cultures to lighten the skin, leaving a radiant, glowing complexion. Melanin is the pigment that gives skin its color. Dark skinned individuals have more melanin than light-skinned individuals, and melanin acts as a natural sunscreen protecting our skin from ultraviolet light. The papaya enzyme is believed to produce even skin tone by inhibiting melanin production, through its affect on our tyrosinase enzyme.

Skin lightening procedures, such as papain which works topically, seek to inhibit tyrosinase, the enzyme in our skin pigment cells (melanocites) which make melanin. Many individuals are concerned with excessive melanin development including issues such as liver spots or darkened areas due to sun exposure.

Ripe papaya pulp can be applied on face for 10-15 minutes and then wash off with water.It will leave your skin refreshed and smooth to touch.
Extremely cleansing internally, and therefore helps clear up skin ailments. Rubbing partially ripe papayas on the skin softens and dissolves dead skin, repairs skin damage and wrinkles, lightens freckles, and clears the complexion. Avoid the eyes.
Papaya face pack for pimples, blemishes and freckles
Apply finely ground paste of raw papaya on the face for 15-20 minutes. It is beneficial for pimples, freckles and other embarrassing blemishes besides making the skin smooth and soft.
Papaya face pack for dry skin:
Mash a small section of papaya; mix it with one tsp of milk cream (malai). Apply on the face for 15-20 minutes. Then wash it off. This pack is very effective for dry skin.