Masks on wet skin {Tip of the Day}

Hey All!!! 

Today I want to share a tip which I have been trying out since quite some time. As you are already aware that moisturizer should be applied on damp skin for better results, I tried applying masks on damp skin too. Damp skin is more absorbent and this way, I suppose, skin is able to retain more moisture than otherwise. So, next time you apply a mask, try it out on wet skin and don't forget to remove the mask before it dries up completely. As I have already mentioned this point in one of my previous posts, face masks (clay ones and ones which completely dry out) should be removed befre they completely dry out. The reason is that they suck moisture due to the reverse osmosis if they lose their moisture. So, try applying masks on a damp skin and remove them before they completely dry out and do share your experiences :)

READ MORE - Masks on wet skin {Tip of the Day}

Hydrating and Cooling Face Pack {DIY}

Watermelon is an amazing fruit known for hydration and cooling properties.

Ingredients:

• Milk powder
• Watermelon juice

Method: Mix them both and apply on the face. Wash off with cold water.

Results: Soft, supple and well-hydrated skin. The results are more visible next day so apply this at night and follow with toning and moisturizing.

READ MORE - Hydrating and Cooling Face Pack {DIY}

Grape Juice Face Pack {DIY}

So, I had used this amazing face pack and the results were as good as it tastes :) Ok, so first let me share with you all how I like my fruit juices. First thing is a thumb of rule which I follow and have been regularly advising you all on. Reduce your sugar intake. I do not like sugar in my fruit juices and I abhor ice cubes too because they dilute the juice and you get less of the quantity for your money :D So, I can easily use these fruit juices as face packs too. 

Now, grapes are amazing for skin because they are rich in tartaric acid. Tartaric Acid is one of the Alpha-Hydroxy Acids which are natural exfoliators and provide antioxidants to the skin in abundance. Thus, grapes are amazing for wrinkles and skin softening.

Ingredients

• Grape Juice
• Multani Mitti

Method: Mix both the ingredients and apply on the face avoiding the eyes and lips. Now, apply only grape juice on the eye area and the lips. Relax and let the face pack dry. It will take around 20-30 minutes. Wash off with warm water flowed by a cold water splash. 

Results: Immediate brightened, soft, supple and well-hydrated fresh skin is revealed. Grape juice also controls the oil production in the skin so it is an amazing mask for oily and combination skin. If you have dry skin, use cocoa powder or besan or some other flour instead of using multani mitti coz grape juice and multani mitti combined can be drying for the skin. This mask is amazing to get rid of problem or troubled skin. But, if you have sensitive skin, do a patch test to check if it suits you or not. It might be irritating for sensitive skin because of the tartaric acid in it. Firms and tones the skin. Regular usage would help with wrinkles.

READ MORE - Grape Juice Face Pack {DIY}

Mango Face pack {DIY}

So, king of fruits and this is the season for the king. So, make way for him in your daily diet and in your skin regimes. Of course, keep a control because it has high levels of sugar. So, what does mango do for the skin. It is moisturizing and makes the skin soft and smooth. 

Ingredients: 

• Multani Mitti
• Mango pulp

Mix both the ingredients and create a face pack of smooth consistency. Apply a thick layer over a clean damp skin. Wait for 15-20 minutes. This one doesn't dry out like the regular clay masks so it is easy to remove. Scrub lightly while removing and wash off with cold water. Moisturize. Your skin will be soft and supple by next morning. It also increases hydration in the skin.

Warning:

• Do not use the skin of the mango for any beauty activity. It can cause mild to severe skin irritations.

Tips: 

• Always apply face masks over damp skin. It increases penetration. Use hot water to open the pores for more penetration and absorption.
• For removing the face packs, use dry cotton. It removes the face packs much more easily than wet cotton pads or wet wipes. This tip applies to the face packs which are creamier and do not dry on skin like clay masks. For clay masks, you have to use wet wipes or cloth or cotton pads.

READ MORE - Mango Face pack {DIY}

When to remove Face Masks and Hair Packs?

Hey guys!! I am really sorry for not being at all particular with the posts. Kinda really busy these days so I'll probably even miss the first birthday of my blog which is on December 14. I can not believe a whole year has passed. I definitely have been very lazy in writing my posts many a days but I have tried to be as regular as possible. In case, I do miss the birthday of my blog, I shall do the festivities along with the Christmas and New Year or may be Pongal even. Gosh!! That will be really late but I am sure you will all forgive me. So, for today, I have a very simple tip to share with you all regarding the face packs and the hair packs. Now, I had shared the correct procedure for applying face masks. So, this is one additional procedure which should be followed stringently. 

Always remove the face masks and hair packs as soon as they are close to drying. When the face masks and hair packs dry completely, they start absorbing water from your skin or hair to compensate the loss of moisture in them due to the reverse osmosis process. And, this becomes very drying for your skin and hair in the long run. So, always remember to wash off as soon as the mask is close to drying. For hair, I have a tip that wash off your mask after an hour. One hour is enough to let your hair get the nutrients from your mask. If you are applying henna, always remove when the mask has dried otherwise you will find that your hair has become dry in nature. This is especially true for dry hair. Whenever you apply a hair mask, always put a shower cap on. This helps to hold the moisture inside. When you keep the hair packs and face masks beyond stipulated period, they can causing aging of your skin and drying of your hair. This holds true with the home remedies too. So, follow this tip and reap the benefits.

READ MORE - When to remove Face Masks and Hair Packs?

Sweet Potato facial and eye mask

Sweet Potatoes have amazing anti-aging benefits. It is rich in fiber, beta-carotene (vitamin A equivalent which fights free radicals int he body) and vitamin C, iron apart from vitamin B6, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc. It is one of the most nutritious foods available and can prevent wrinkles. The darker the potato, richer is it in its carotene content. It is also anti-diabetic.But, this definitely does not mean that you sit and feed on sweet potatoes. Reason being excess of carotene in your body can cause yellowish color deposits on your skin. This is nothing harmful but definitely embarrassing.

Sweet Potato Beauty Recipes

• Boil sweet potatoes. Let them cool and mash them. Add a dollop of honey. And, spread over your face. Do not forget the eye area. Let it stay for 20-30 minutes and wash off. You can also add other fruits and veggies you prefer.
• Instead of throwing the boiled water, soak your feet in it. It will do wonders for your feet. 
• Cut slices of sweet potato and place them on your eyes. It will rejuvenate your eyes and help with dark circles and wrinkles.

Go ahead and share some of your own.

READ MORE - Sweet Potato facial and eye mask

Baking Soda for Acne

We all know that baking soda is an all-purpose ingredient in the kitchen. It can be used to bring volume to your hair, whiten teeth naturally, as a lip scrub or body scrub, even washing the hair and, what is more, washing clothes and utensils about the house. 

Today, I bring another skin care use of baking soda. This is for acne. Make a paste of baking soda with water and apply to the affected parts anywhere on the body. Wait till it dries off and wash with cold water. Do it at least twice a week but no more than once a day. Your skin will become smooth and acne-free.

READ MORE - Baking Soda for Acne

Vegetarian Sandwich Facial

Sounds intriguing!!! This is not my original idea of facial. I came across this in some magazine. The article was discussing a recently opened spa on some highway road where you can get a vegetarian sandwich facial. And, it also states why. Because, any vegetarian sandwich has the goodness of all the veggies, bread (yeast is good for skin) and butter (softening for skin). So, I thought that I should just give it a try. There are some considerations before you try this. Choose the bread carefully. Make sure there is no fungus on it and if you can bake it at home, nothing better than that. 

Prepare a vegetarian sandwich using your favorite vegetables like cucumber, tomato, onion, spinach, cabbage, carrot, broccoli, potato, mint, coriander, corn, broccoli, even cottage cheese (paneer). You can add anything else according to your preference. Be inventive like add a handful of sesame seeds or even try adding dry fruits or other fruits. Just make sure nothing is cooked. Everything should be raw. No salt, sugar, pepper or any other spice. Instead of regular butter, either use milk cream on the bread or white butter freshly churned at home. Now, put the sandwich in a blender and create a paste. You might need to add liquid to help in blending so use any fruit juice or vegetable juice or even milk. Blend only so much to make a consistent paste. Excess blending will make the mixture more watery and it will be all runny over the face. Now, smooth the mixture on your face. Keep till it dries off which may take a very long time. Or, for at least half an hour. Wash off. Your skin would be smooth and glowing.

READ MORE - Vegetarian Sandwich Facial

Carrot Face Mask

As I have pointed out earlier that not only fruits but vegetables also make great face masks and are extensively endowed with nutrients required for our skin. Spinach serves as a great hydrating face mask and beetroot can be used to give color to a pale complexion.

Today, I would like to discuss carrots with you. Carrots are, as you all are well aware, rich in vitamin A and helps improve our vision. But, actually, carrot is also very helpful for oily skin. It clears the extra oil from the skin and also takes care of pimples, acne and dark spots. Boil a carrot for 15 minutes. It would turn very soft and easy to mash. Mash it or blend it with lemon juice, orange juice or even the water in which it was boiled. Apply it on your face for 30 minutes and wash off with cold water. Your skin would be glowing. You can open your pores before you apply this mask as it helps carrot to act better on the skin. 

For people with dry skin or normal skin, you can blend carrot with honey or milk cream or even any nourishing and moisturizing fruit.

READ MORE - Carrot Face Mask

Oat meal face pack

A very Happy Friendship's Day to you all!!

Today, I would be sharing with you a simple face mask recipe made from oats. The oats which we eat are equally good for our skin. They provide smoothness and suppleness to the skin. 

• Mix a handful of oats in honey and use it to cleanse your skin. 
• Indulge in oat bath. Put a handful of oats in a muslin or cheesecloth and tie it. Put the cloth under running water in the bath tub. The water would turn milky in texture. After filling your tub, you can use the cheesecloth as a sponge to cleanse your body. 
• Prepare a face mask of oats by grounding them and mixing them with milk. 

Voila! Your skin would turn soft as a baby's bottom. Go on and enjoy these face masks.

READ MORE - Oat meal face pack

Homemade Head to Toe Beauty Recipes

I would like to share with you an interesting collection of the beauty recipes I found online which cover your whole body so you can set aside an afternoon or an evening for yourself and give yourself a spa-like indulgence. These homemade recipe collection includes a foot soak, milk bath, papaya face mask, honey hair pack, a lavender face spray, facial massage oil, fresh strawberry mask, avocado hair conditioner and recipes for various kinds of bath soaks like a bubble bath or an invigorating bath. So, go ahead and enjoy the recipes here.

While you are there looking at the recipes, you can also have a look at various homemade beauty care tips. These tips include recipes for an aloe vera facial cleanser, a chamomile and oatmeal facial scrub, an avocado facial mask, honey lip scrub, pineapple sage facial mask, hand and foot scrubs, a lavender bath, a skin forming clay mask, a refreshing toner, an eye cream and an all purpose moisturizer. Look for them here. 

READ MORE - Homemade Head to Toe Beauty Recipes

Benefits of Neem leaves

Today, I would be sharing with you some home remedies which use neem leaves. Neem is the best natural medicine available. It can take care of things from skin disorders to health problems. We will talk about the beauty aspects of neem.

• I know this one is the most difficult. Chew everyday 2-3 leaves of Neem. I know it sounds disgusting. Believe me, it tastes really horrible. I have done it. At last, I could not bear to chew so I started swallowing the leaves. Wash them properly before in taking them. Do not boil them. A help would be take them with honey or jaggery. And, follow it up with a glass of water. Do not worry if you vomit in the starting days. Your body and taste buds will adapt gradually to it. And, the results are too good to ignore. In take of neem leaves would clean your system internally, improve the body metabolism and toxins elimination process. It would clean your blood of impurities and as a result, give you a clear skin. It even helps you get rid of constipation and improves your immune system. 
• You can boil neem leaves in water and pour the water in your bath tub or use it for bathing. It would get rid of all skin disorders gradually. It helps in getting rid of bacteria at private parts and even the repelling body odor.
• If you get any skin allergy, boil the neem leaves and apply the water on the allergy after letting it cool. Chilled will work even better. It will soothe your skin. And, the allergy will subside in a day or two. Last September, I had got this severe allergy which my dermatologist could not even diagnose. It had subsided with application of neem water.You can even apply neem paste on your allergies. I think it should be more effective.
• You can store the neem water in small batches and use it to make face packs. It would be great help with pimples and acne.
• If you get hold of neem oil, it treats acne really quick. Applying neem oil keeps your skin safe from any bacteria and fungal infection.
• Of course, I forget to mention. Chewing neem leaves would help with cleaning your teeth also. And, just in case, you are thinking that you can substitute neem leaves with neem water. Do not do that. Because, when you boil neem leaves, a strange pungent odor comes which will repel you from drinking the water. Surely, you would even lose you apetite, the odor is that strong.
• You can make a neem face pack by grinding the neem leaves with some water. It is a great face mask for anti-bacterial purposes. It heals acne really quick.
• In case of any nicks and cuts, injuries and skin burns, you can apply neem oil, neem water or neem leaves paste over it. It gives great relief.
• Neem can also be a part of the refreshing face spray. 
• Dry the neem leaves well under sun and powder them. Make small pouches containing the powder and put several of these pouches in your cupboards. Your cupboards would be free of moth infestation. And, you do not have to bother with changing the pouches everyday. They will work up to an year. You can replace them again after an year. You may put your favorite essential oil in the neem leaves powder to impart a pleasant fragrance to your cupboards and clothes.

READ MORE - Benefits of Neem leaves

A simple tip for a glowing face {DIY}

Mix running honey and some lemon juice. Apply on your face for as long as you can. Wash off. You will have a glowing face.

Lemon juice bleaches your facial hair and cleans the pores. It also restores the capacity to renew skin.

Honey acts as humectant and traps moisture. It makes you skin supple and soft.

READ MORE - A simple tip for a glowing face {DIY}

Instant glow for you {DIY}

A mixture of a teaspoon each of honey, milk powder and lemon juice plus 1/2 teaspoon of almond oil should be applied on the face. Leave it for 10-15 minutes before washing it off. This will make the skin lighter and make it shine.

READ MORE - Instant glow for you {DIY}