Scrub for the Back {DIY}

Have someone definitely help you with this :) Back is not very easily accessible and it needs to be cleaned now and then. So, here is a simple scrub to keep the back soft. 

Ingredients

• Masoor Dal (Red Lentil)
• Almond Oil

Method

Grind masoor dal till it is fine. Pass it through a sieve and separate out the bigger granules and softer ones. Mix the softer ones with almond oil and apply it to your back for 15 minutes. Scrub with a light hand and wash off. 

Results

The skin will be extra soft and clean. This will also prevent back acne.

READ MORE - Scrub for the Back {DIY}

The Body Shop Olive Body Scrub {Product Review}

You can love it or hate it!!!

Price: 300 INR for smaller tub (approx.) (I got it at 50% sale)

Ingredients

I have the smaller tub and I guess ingredients are not listed on it.

My Experience

The first thing you notice is its smell. Its bad :( The scrub is a gross green in color and is not runny at all which is good. It has apparently apricot granules and they are not scratchy or harsh like in their Spiced Vanilla Scrub. Except for its smell, its actually a really nice scrub though it might feel a little mild for some people on the body especially on the areas of thighs and hips where there is more of fat. It makes the skin really soft and supple. It does not dry the skin out but you should always follow scrubbing with a moisturizer. And, it keeps your skin soft for 2-3 days easily. 

A big disappointment I faced with TBS scrubs are that they get over really soon and when you are paying such high prices for a product you do expect 10 washes out of it at least. So, that's a con. A very big problem also arises due to the fact that the product gets stuck on the lid and the screw area of the lid. Its sold in the tubs (big and small) so a little of water does enter every time you use the scrub which is pretty unhygienic if a lot of people put their hands in the tub.

My Recommendation

Yes. It will suit the normal to dry skin and even sensitive skin. It is gentle enough for that but kindly keep away from the face. A bit harsh for it.

READ MORE - The Body Shop Olive Body Scrub {Product Review}

Auravedic Pure Brightening Skin Polish Amla Tamarind {Product Review}

An amazing scrub from Auravedic!!! I don't know the price but you can get the price list and the availability here on Bhumika's blog.

Ingredients

Ingredients as listed: Kokum Butter, Mango Butter, Beeswax, Sunflower oil, amla extract, mulberry extract, lemon oil, polymer granules, jojoba beads, tamarind extract, olivem 1000, oliwax, purified water, phenoxyethanol

All natural and amazing ingredients. Special mention about Kokum Butter: substitute of cocoa butter and is high in essential fatty acids for skin. Read more about Kokum butter here.

My Experience

It is more of a butter than a scrub

Amazing scrub. When you open the lid, you are greeted with a faint smell which is herbal and doesn't irritate. There is a vacuum lid which prevents spilling of the scrub outside so no problem of the scrub getting on to the lid or the sides of the bottle. The scrub is really gentle. Ok, here is a con of the product. It is supposed to be a body polish but it is so gentle that I simply used it only on the face. There are very less scrubby granules and more of butters so ultimately it proved to be a moisturizing scrub. I did not even try it on my body so can't really say how it will work there. But, thing is that I like something more granular on the body. But, it is great for face and neck. The granules are enough to scrub the skin and they are not harsh at all and very sparse but they do scrub well. It does remove the blackheads too. Though, I do not use scrubs daily and do not even recommend but I have been using the scrub daily at night and I faced no problems with using it everyday. No breakouts on my combination skin even though it is full of the butters and oils in the product. It brightens and makes the skin glow immediately and makes it really soft and the best part is that it keeps the skin moisturized and hydrated. I follow this with the Auravedic Facial Repair Moisturizer.

My Recommendation

Yes, definitely!!! Amazing product but you can get the products only in Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Goa and Bangalore :(

READ MORE - Auravedic Pure Brightening Skin Polish Amla Tamarind {Product Review}

Rice Powder Face Scrub {DIY}

Hey guys!!!

After a lot of days, I am again back with a DIY.

Ingredients: 

• Rice flour (1/2 table spoon)
• Besan (1 table spoon)
• Milk / Rose Water

Method: Mix them all in a smooth paste and apply on your face. Use rose water if your face is acne-prone otherwise it is safe to use milk. Leave for 15 minutes and then, gently scrub it off. Wash wth warm water.

Warnings: 

• Do not use Rice flour alone as it is very coarse and may harm the skin if exfoliation is overdone.
• Do not use this recipe if you have a sensitive skin. It will definitely make your skin sour. Tried and Tested. Trust me, it hurts bad.
• Do not exfoliate with scrubs if you have pimples and acne. 

Tips: 

• The scrub can be made in more quantity and can be used as a body scrub but keep the proportion same. 
• Use the finer rice flour, not the coarse one.
• You can mix it with other scrubs too to make your own DIY recipes but make sure that you use a gentle agent with rice four to reduce its abrasiveness. 

READ MORE - Rice Powder Face Scrub {DIY}

The Body Shop Bath Gloves {Accessory Review}

They are so famous among the blogosphere. So, I had to try them.

Price: 225 INR for a pair (I got at 15% discount!!)

My Experience

First of all, the biggest point of these gloves are that they are so easy to put on even when your hands are wet. I have extremely small hands and generally no size fits me. I have to wear kid gloves. These gloves are elastic fit and free size so one fits all. And, not only that, I have never been in my entire life able to wear gloves properly without taking them off at least once. But, this one is so easy to put on and I have never gone wrong with them till now. I have used these gloves like probably four-five times. In the starting, the gloves might feel a bit rough but they soften up in the consequent uses but it is very necessary to use the gloves with a light hand otherwise it can cause the skin to become sore due to over-exfoliation. It is very easy to go overboard with the gloves.

They make the soap or face wash or body wash lather well (I do use face wash as body wash too sometimes!!). And, they clean the skin really well. Squeaky clean. I guess they will remove the film which some products tend to leave but since I use no such product, I have no idea. Also, the gloves don't entirely dry out the skin leaving it to feel stretchy or something. They are not that costly especially for a TBS product but they should be washed after every usage coz they get really dirty!!! I toss them into surf after every use (which I am really not sure is a great idea so next time I'll see what to do). And, yes, the gloves leave the skin feeling extremely soft and supple and hydrated after the bath. That's the reason why your skin doesn't feel stretchy. But, I have no idea how long a pair would last!! Some change it in a year and some in six months so it depends mainly on how much you use them. Oh, and you can see the loops which are for hanging the gloves. And, it really makes the skin glow.

I tried to use this on the face but it made my face really dry afterwards. I used only a single finger very lightly for scrubbing the face so it wasn't very harsh on the face. But, it is best to avoid it on the face and neck as they are sensitive regions and can get sore very quickly. The best part is that they are very portable and handy during travel.  

My Recommendation

It is great for all kinds of skin but I am not very sure if it is a good idea for sensitive skin. So, sensitive skin gals should watch out!!! Otherwise, it is a must try at least once :) and I am sure, you wouldn't leave them ever. They can be used with exfoliators too but I guess that would be too harsh (I am not sure, though) but for me, it replaces the body scrubs. I don't belive in over-doing things so if I am using this, I wouldn't use anything else and if I use the body scrubs, I wouldn't dream of using this.  

READ MORE - The Body Shop Bath Gloves {Accessory Review}

Orange Sugar Body Scrub {DIY}

It has been so long since I have done some DIY and I have been lately indulging in some things so I shall share some experiments which were successful. So, today, I am sharing a simple body scrub you can make from oranges.

Ingredients

• 1 complete orange mashed along with the pulp
• 2 tablespoon honey
• sugar (in my case I used raw sugar called 'khandsari' in Hindi)
• 2 tea spoons salt (I used rock salt or sendha namak)
• apricot powder (optional)

Method

Mash a complete orange removing its seeds. Add the honey. Now, the mixture would be extremely watery so add enough amount of sugar to create a scrubby texture. Sidewise, add the salt. The mixture would be still very watery so I used apricot powder to give some stiffness to it.

Now, scrub your body with the mixture. Keep it on the body for 5-10 minutes. Of course, do not forget your face or the feet. This scrub would be useful on all parts of your body. Make this scrub just before your bath because vitamin C in oranges breaks down soon after being exposed to air and becomes useless. So, the fresher your scrub and sooner it is used, the better the results you will get. And, let me add, the pulp in the orange will fall all over in the bathroom so make sure that you finish your shower before your maid cleans the bathroom or do this at night (which is my advise because vitamin C makes the skin photosensitive and also because I found my skin was looking much brighter and softer the next morning).

Tips

• Use Jaggery powder or cane sugar in place of regular sugar.
• You can also add cocoa powder, besan, multani mitti or anything else which you can think of. Even oats are a good choice.

READ MORE - Orange Sugar Body Scrub {DIY}

Lotus Herbals WHITEGLOW Oatmeal and Yogurt Skin Whitening Scrub {Product Review}

This is one of the best products I have been using lately. So, lets proceed to see why it works??

Price: 145 INR for 100 gms (affordable!!)

Ingredients

Lotus Herbals is a herbal brand but not free of chemicals so it has its own share of them as you can see in the pic. The active ingredients include oatmeal and yogurt as stated in the name though they appear in the middle of the ingredient list (not the highest concentration of the active ingredients).

My Experience

So, in the pic, you see what the company says about the product and its method of usage. Of course, you all must already be familiar with how to use a scrub. I like to use this scrub after cleansing my face and I generally use it in shower. There is a reason to that which I'll tell you in a minute. 

So, this scrub is very yogurty in look and feel too. For the first time, a scrub has looked so different to me. Its just as if you have dried the yogurt and powdered it. It is quiet granular and the granules are not at all spiky or ragged that they will tear at your skin. They are just enough granular to provide a good exfoliation. And, its smell is kinda weird. I donno how to classify it but you can like it or you might not like it but it is definitely not overpowering. Instead, the smell is quite subtle.

Now, coming to the claims of this scrub, yes, it does pass all the tests you can hope. No, it will not turn you white and into a fairy after a single use. But, it considerably makes your skin brighter and removes tanning to quite an extent. The reason I am saying this is coz I have used it on my arms and this one is one of the few products which actually showed a difference (not a lot but yes better enough to be considered). That's the reason I like to use this in the shower and it is easy to apply on the neck too in the shower.

My Recommendation

I do not really end up falling for many products and this is one I like. So, yes, you will like it too and its pretty much affordable and lasts quite long if used only on face and neck. Since I am using on the arms, I think it might go away soon. So, go ahead and give it a try!! And, for the record, almost all the bloggers (wherever I have read till now) have given it a thumbs up.

READ MORE - Lotus Herbals WHITEGLOW Oatmeal and Yogurt Skin Whitening Scrub {Product Review}

The Body Shop Spiced Vanilla Body Scrub {Product Review}

Yes, I joined the Body Shop community, yayyy!! So, this body scrub is one of the first products I hauled at TBS. I went on February 1st and spent around 2800 INR which includes a membership card. I got this scrub at 50% so I would say it was quite worth that. Its an amazing product. But, doesn't last long, unfortunately :(

Price : 875 INR for a single tub of 200 ml (very expensive!!)

Ingredients

Ok, sometimes, I just leave out reading the ingredients list if I like the look of the product and I wanted vanilla so I picked it up. It has a lot of coca butter which you will see in the snaps below. And, has walnut shells and spices among other things. But, then, TBS is not a herbal brand so I do ignore that. And, a complete list of ingredients is also not mentioned.

My Experience

Lets start with smell. It just smells awesome - vanilla with a lot of hint of spice. As you can see it in the pic, it is creamy colored inclining towards brown due to cocoa butter and has a lot of spice and walnut shells. The walnut shells may feel harsh for the first time coz I didn't enjoy it at all. I think sensitive skin should give it a go. But, the second and third time were amazing with the scrub. Using it after shower is a good idea coz the skin is wet thoroughly and warm so the butter gets absorbed well and moisturizes the skin from inside. And, the scrub is not so harsh on the skin.The scrub is extremely creamy and moderately thin in consistency so it keeps on sticking to the cap of the tub if it gets tilted or turned upside down. 

The packaging of the scrub is a huge problem. Some of the scrub gets stuck in the screw grooves of the tub - both cap and the tub as you can see in the pic. And, when you try to take out the scrub, water does enter in the scrub if your hands are wet so that's something one needs to be careful about. Another prob is that I have used it only 3 times on my whole body and the scrub is nearly down 1/3rd or probably 1/4th of the tub by the look in the pic. Probably, a single tub lasts only 5 washes so you might want to be a little miser. I didn't splurge the scrub but then I was not saving also so I think you can squeeze the tub if you are not so generous to 6-7 or at max 8 uses which is pretty bad for something so costly even at 50% discount. It did cost me 450 bucks or something. I mean, its not cheap at all.

So, now coming to the best part of the experience, it is a fabulous body scrub. I applied the whole scrub on my body and kept on massaging for probably 2-3 minutes or may be 4 and then, I washed it off. My skin was so soft and smooth and well moisturized. I didn't use any body lotion or anything just to see how well it keeps my skin. And, guess what, my skin was not at all dry for the whole day and even next day it was very little dry (means I ran a nail tip on my thigh and leg areas which get pretty dry at the end of the day and there was barely a white line to be seen). Of course, its summers too so yes, the weather might have also contributed. And, my skin is soft even today though I used the scrub on Tuesday. So, if you use this in summers, you would need to apply a moisturizer which is a good thing considering lotions can make the skin pretty oily if its too hot or humid. I just wish it had been a little cheaper and lasted more or even either of the two. And, my advise to get the best of this product is to let it stay a good 10-15 minutes on your body while you are in the shower. Come on, you need to get your money's worth, ain't it?? And, no one is gonna peek into your bathroom and see how you use your products :D

My Recommendation

Yes, yes and a yes!! Only for people with normal to dry to combination skin, not for oily skin coz Cocoa Butter might make your skin greasy but get it only when there is a sale at TBS otherwise you will feel cheated out of your money as it runs out so fast.

READ MORE - The Body Shop Spiced Vanilla Body Scrub {Product Review}

Sendha Namak - Indian Rock Salt Beauty Benefits

I do not know how many of you are aware that Sendha namak is the pure rock salt of India and is a little costlier than the normal salt because it is found in very less quantities in the Indian sub-continent. The commercial salt available is iodized where as the rock salt is pure from nature, is more granular, has less salty taste as you would have already noticed and is not chemically processed. It is rich in lot of minerals and if used in regular cooking as a substitute of common salt, it can control all the health problems posed by common salt like high blood pressure, puffiness in the body or the eyes, is cooling for the body, helpful in digestion, relieves gas and soothes heartburn and helps in weight loss.

Not only health but many beauty benefits can also be acquired from rock salt. 

• Rock salt can be used as a body scrub. Since high in mineral content, it is a perfect substitute for spa standard products made at home.
• Drop a table spoon of rock salt in your bath every time and enjoy a relaxing bath. It also detoxifies your body externally as well as internally. Eases stress and body pains.
• Can be used as a teeth whitener or a mouth freshener. Also clears a sour throat if used for gargling.
• Can be used as a foot soak, foot scrub or a hand scrub too. It is not drying on the skin.
• Removes the yellowness under the nails and makes your nails shine beautifully.
• Use it to cleanse your skin at night. Mix a table spoon of rock salt with your cleanser or face wash and rub it gently into the skin. Make sure to remove make up before this routine.

In Pakistan, there is a salt range of Himalayas, called the 'Himalayan Salt Range', which has the purest form of rock salt in the whole world. It is sold as 'Himalayan salt' but it actually is just a rock salt too. The only specialty of this salt is that it is pure and does not need any kind of filtering. So, those who have easy access to Himalayan salt or Pakistan rock salt, make sure you use it regularly in your food and beauty routines.

Do not forget to differentiate between Epsom salt and Rock salt. They have different mineral contents and Epsom salt is the best for skin. If you have access to Epsom salt, you can use it for

• Removing product build up from your hair. Mix a cup of Epsom salt in your shampoo.
• Volumnize your hair. Mix equal parts of your conditioner and salt and apply it to your hair. Keep it on for 20-30 minutes and wash off. 
• Removes excess oil from the hair. If you have oily hair, this is for you. Mix a cup of Epsom salt with your shampoo and leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing. The salt soaks up all the oil present in the hair. 

You can read about more uses of Epsom salt here.

We have always heard that salt is not good for hair but it is not so. The common salt is not suitable because it has many chemicals in it where as naturally occurring salts are as good for hair as they are for other parts of your body.

READ MORE - Sendha Namak - Indian Rock Salt Beauty Benefits

Dark Knees and Elbows Home Remedies

What do we know about the skin around knees and elbows?

It is usually thicker than its surroundings and has more folds, is rough and dry and appears to be dirty even though the part may have been covered like full sleeved clothes and jeans. The skin is at least a tone darker than the original skin color. It looks ugly and never seems to restore to its original state. 

Why is the skin dark?

Have you seen a baby with dark elbows and knees? No, obviously. It is the result of friction like leaning on the elbows or knees which causes the maximum problem. In schools, we are supposed to sit on the ground or participate in sports activities which causes the knee skin to grow drier. And, of course, due to our bad habits, we seem to lean on our elbows rather than sit straight and keep a good posture. The other cause is lack of hygiene and improper care. So, your affected areas need more care now on.

There are other reasons as well. Being overweight is one of them. And, another of the most pertinent reasons is eating a lot of sugar. Now, I would suggest you to ponder on certain points? Is your menstrual cycle highly irregular? Have you been to a doctor or ignored it? Are you a teenager going through puberty? Are you having any other dark patches or blotches on your skin, especially near your genitals or breast or neck? If all these questions are answered in negative, you do not need any professional advice. If not, you might need to consult a doctor and get yourself checked. Darkening of skin is usually a symptom to some of the diseases caused by hormonal imbalance in the body. 

An Advice: When you read these questions, I am sure everyone of you would feel that all the questions are positive and may get panicked. So, I would like to suggest that you talk to your mom about all these issues and then come up to a conclusion. Always remember many of our problems including skin and hair conditions are due to weight issues which seems always out of control. So, take time and start with losing weight. I am sure that many of your would notice an immediate change. Even the cure for the said diseases is to lose weight so no need to think much. Now, on a lighter note, let us go to the home remedies and see what we can do to get rid of the dark skin.

Home Remedies and Habits to get rid of the Dark Skin

• First things first. Lose weight. Start pranayam. It is the simplest of the exercises and extremely relaxing. 
• Secondly, stop munching on sugar and processed food. All the processed food including breads, cereals, energy drinks, soft drinks, energy bars and health foods are extremely high in their sugar content. And, they can wreak havoc with your system. Feel like having a dessert. Go for yogurt banana custard which is satisfying enough for the palate. Or, prepare the particular junk food which you feel like munching on at home. 
• Stop leaning on your elbows and knees and you would see the difference in two days. Trust me, I have been there and done that.
• Always use a moisturizing and little rough body scrub made from honey or oils like coconut, almond, olive and such. They help in getting rid of the dead cells in these areas in an effective way. Sugar and rock salt are obvious choices for the granular part of the scrub. Use Cane Sugar (powdered jaggery). It is widely available and use organic products as much as possible.
• Apply a heavy moisturizer on your legs and arms. They are, generally, the driest parts of the body even if your skin type is oily. Keep the elbows and knees moisturized.
• Use a loofah at least 3 times a week in your bath if you have sensitive and dry skin and once a day for other skin types. It helps in regular exfoliation of the area and keeps the skin smooth.
  
• Applying coconut oil or almond oil is also beneficial as they are best oils for curing dry skin.
• Use bleaching fruits (fruits good for oily skin) in conjunction with moisturizing agents (liquids good for dry skin) of your applying as a knee packs, elbow pack or scrub. Like, lemon juice with sugar is a good option, even better is tomato juice or pomegranate juice with honey or oils. Fresh Lime (mausambi) juice or orange will give more potent results than lemon.
  
• Coconut oil and Walnut powder make good exfoliators for dark skin patches.
• Another great remedy which surely works is milk cream. Mix milk cream with a pinch of turmeric and apply on the affected areas. 
• Aloevera (straight from the plant) also shows lightening of the skin.
• Keep the elbows and knees covered as much as possible. 
• There should be no deep lines visible on the joints. If you can see lines, that means your skin is dry and you need to moisturize it. Apply oil from Vitamin E supplements topically.
• Sesame oil is great for moisturizing such areas as it has especially high proportion of essential fatty acids. 
• Massage the areas with oil daily. That will make the skin soft.

Note: The skin on elbows and knees always look little darker than original skin color because of the folds in the skin which increases if you are overweight. So, to check if the color of knees and elbows have lightened, folds on the elbows or knees and see the color. That should give you the accurate state of your skin.

READ MORE - Dark Knees and Elbows Home Remedies

Besan turns skin black?

Ok, so this might be a surprising news for you. But, the good news is that this is NOT TRUE. It is one of the long living myths which came into my notice yesterday. I had a talk about it with one of my friends and she told me that besan turns your skin dark even though it makes it glow. Kinda conflicting, right? I tried telling her that it is not possible but all my words were for deaf ears. Seeing her conviction in this myth, I decided to clear it on a mass basis and state the reason why the skin might turn dark after using the scrub. And, I know that this is not true because of my personal experiences and also because I have asked a lot of people about this.

Besan or 'Sunnipindi' or whatever scrub you may use like masoor dal (red lentils) or rice flour polish your skin by removing the dead skin. And, in this process, they reveal a new layer of skin. Thus, the result is a clean glowing skin. As a matter of fact, besan is extremely useful in getting rid of dark spots and other conditions of the skin and gives a flawless complexion. But, if you venture out in the sun unprotected by sunscreen, your newly revealed skin is going to be subjected to a lot of environmental factors like dust, pollution and sun. The result is dull and tired looking dark skin. Thus, the connection that besan turns skin black. So, always wear a sunscreen. And, clean your skin well after a session in the sun.

And, I would love to know of any such myths which might be existing and clear them.

READ MORE - Besan turns skin black?

Get the most out of your scrubs

When you are scrubbing your face or any other part of your body, the general trend is to scrub and wash it off. But, yesterday, I thought of improvising a little. While scrubbing my face yesterday, I did it for no more than 3 minutes and then left the scrub on to let it dry. After it dried, I washed it off. My skin was smooth and moisturized. And, I ended the routine with a little of cleanser to wash off any scrub residue left on my skin. There was no need of a face mask and I firmly believe in not overdoing my beauty routines. The result was an even complexion with perfectly glowing skin. 

Tip: You can use the products from the market or you can make various scrubs at home. For over the counter products, you can improve the results by adding a capsule of vitamin E oil or a little of aloevera gel before scrubbing. This would give even better results.

READ MORE - Get the most out of your scrubs

Strawberry Body Scrub

Strawberries are the most sensuous of fruits and what would be better than starting your day with these delicious and invigorating fruits as your scrub. They leave a lingering scent on your body for almost whole day. And, the scrub is not at all difficult to prepare.

Mash 5-6 strawberries and mix adequate amount of cane sugar (jaggery powder). You can add chickpea flour if the mixture is too runny. And, your scrub is ready. You can also add honey and other moisturizing ingredients like coconut oil or almond oil in case of dry weather or dry skin. Your skin would be glowing after the shower.
You can also use the strawberries as hair mask for gloss and shine or enjoy the awesome chocolate strawberry face mask. 

READ MORE - Strawberry Body Scrub

Almond Orange Body Polisher

Do you ever get bored using the same old scrubs available in the market or at home. I do. So, time for innovation. And, this time, it was just a little better than the regular almond scrub we use.

So, take a handful of almonds and soak them in milk overnight. In the morning, make a paste of the milk soaked almonds and dried orange peels. The result would be sort of a paste. Now, use this scrub in the shower instead of your regular soap or cleanser. Milk would cleanse your skin, almonds would provide the required vitamin E and orange peels would bring a glow to your skin resulting in a fresh and dewy look. And, the scrub smells nice too. You can also add your favorite essential oils.

READ MORE - Almond Orange Body Polisher

Ten assorted body scrubs

Exfoliation is one important routine of skin care which has to be followed regularly and what better than going for homemade recipes. You can indulge yourself as much as you want without a thought to the cost of your scrub. Here are ten different body scrubs which are extremely easy to prepare and extremely beneficial for the skin. You can substitute the ingredients of these recipes with something available easily in case you are not able to find any. 

READ MORE - Ten assorted body scrubs

Gentle Body Scrub

You do not need any more than two ingredients to make the most wonderful body scrub which you can ever use. Mix cane sugar (powdered jaggery) with some olive, coconut or almond oil. You can even use all three of them together. Or, you can improvise using oils like vitamin E, wheatgerm, jojoba, evening primrose or any other oils of your choice. Avoid using any essential oils if you are not sure of your skin sensitivity. The result is a glowing and super soft skin. Cane Sugar is the best available natural body scrub as it is derived from sugar canes without involving any chemical processes. You can also read about its benefits for the body.

READ MORE - Gentle Body Scrub

Almonds for Brain Power and Skin Care

We all know what good are almonds for our skin and hair and brain and our overall living. There is nothing different I am going to tell you today except for recounting everything again so that you get yet another reason of liking almonds again. 

First, eating almonds soaked in water overnight everyday is very good for our brain. It is especially good for the growing kids as they need more nourishment. The almonds have been found to increase the brain activity considerably. 

Second, almonds is extremely good for skin, hair and overall health. Daily ingestion of adequate almonds nourish our skin and make it look more beautiful from the inside. It also prevents early aging of your skin. Same goes for the hair. You will see an immediate change in a matter of month of starting to take almonds everyday first thing in the morning. 

Third, almonds are not only great for internal care but also for external. So, today, I wanted to share a very small tip with you about eating almonds. Please do not peel the almonds and throw away the skin. Skin of almond is fiber and necessary for our body. Second is almonds are supposed to be taken with milk. So, take the soaked almonds and a little milk and make a paste. Ingest the paste. It is said to be delicious in its own way. You can even use this paste to scrub your skin. 

One should not eat more than 5 almonds a day as it increases the body heat. This caution is for the people who live in tropical climate or hot climate; especially if you are not sitting in air-conditioner all day long . In cold areas, you can eat as many almonds as you feel like. So, this is for people who feel that they can live on dry fruits all day, please do not excessively take them and increase your body heat which will give rise to a varied number of problems like constipation, outbreaks on the skin, excessive sweating and many internal problems.

READ MORE - Almonds for Brain Power and Skin Care

Masoor Dal Body Scrub

Pulses in our kitchen prove to be good scrubs as well. Earlier, I had talked about 'Mung Dal'. Today, I would be talking about 'Masoor Dal' (Red Lentil). Ground red lentil is a very good scrub for the body.

How to make the scrub?

Grind the masoor dal into a fine powder and pass through a utensil with small holes (percolated utensils) to seperate the fine powder and the impurities. Store the fine powder in an air-tight container and use a little occasionally. If you find that the texture of the powder is too harsh for your skin, you can mix it with cornflour or chickpea flour (besan). 

Using the Scrub

• Mix it with honey or milk and use as body scrub while in shower.
• Use as a face scrub twice in a week for oily and combination skin and once for normal to dry skin.
• Alternatives: If you do not want to store it as a scrub, you can soak a cup of red lentils in milk or water overnight and make a paste in the morning and use it as a scrub or a face pack. You may even add the skin of almonds soaked overnight. It would make your skin glow like never before.
• You can even mix the powder with pure ghee (made at home) and use it as a scrub. Pure ghee acts as lubricant reducing the harshness of the scrub on your skin and simultaneously nourishing it with the necessary fats to make skin look beautiful.
• You can mix other ingredients like dried tulsi leaves, rose petals or orange peels also and make the scrub a invigorating scrub. They will provide a scrub a distinct smell if use separately.

READ MORE - Masoor Dal Body Scrub

Use 'Sunnipindi' on you or your baby

Today, I would be sharing with you a very old age home remedy for glowing skin. 'Sunnipindi' is the powdered form of dried green gram dal (mung dal in Hindi). I am not very sure that you can get this powdered form in the market easily. So, time to make it. Not to worry. Its not a very difficult thing. Buy preferred quantity of green gram dal (with 'chilka' or its outer skin covering). It will be green in color as shown in the image.

Method: Air dry them in direct sun light. Grind them to get powdered green gram dal.You should mix 1/4 quantity of rice to the total quantity of green gram dal while grinding.You can include turmeric in the mixture. Remember to use the turmeric sticks instead of the commercially available packets.

Application:

1. Use it as a face scrub. Mix it with water, milk or honey and apply on face and body. It gives you glowing skin and removes all blemishes within a very short period.And, also removes facial hair. 'Sunnipindi is more effective that 'Besan'.

2. Use this mixture instead of soap while having bath. It is completely natural and a very old custom.

3. You should use this on babies too. Using it on babies removes the roots of their body hairs before they get strong and your babies will grow hairless (on body).

4. And, if you do not feel like using it everyday, you can use it weekly once. Oil your whole body nicely and stay for 30 minutes to 1 hour before bath. Then use the mixture to scrub your body. You should use this mixture without diluting it in water. Or, you can mix it in milk and then use it as a whole body scrub. 

READ MORE - Use 'Sunnipindi' on you or your baby

A luxurious treat to your body

Today, I would be sharing with you a body scrub which I tried out today. I am exploring cocoa in skin care these days. You might have already read about the Chocolate Mask. Now, comes the turn of a luxurious creamy body scrub which will leave you feeling intoxicated with cocoa aroma and your skin extremely smooth and silky.

Ingredients:

Cocoa Powder

Milk Cream

Method: I mixed them both to form a consistent paste.

Application: Before going in the shower, I applied the paste on my face and neck as a mask and left for 30 minutes. Then, after going into the shower, I applied it as a scrub to my whole body. After that, I dipped a wash cloth into milk and used to it to finish my scrubbing. And, poured the remaining milk into the bath water.

My skin feels great. Its extremely smooth, silky and creamy.

READ MORE - A luxurious treat to your body