Tomatoes for clear, radiant skin

How many of u hate tomatoes?? Well, now ull love dem :)

Tomatoes are a staple in every kitchen but hardly will you hear anyone extolling its cosmetic benefits. Whether you want to cure large pores or reduce acne and rashes or sooth a nasty sunburn or simply to revive the glow on dull skin, tomatoes are beneficial in enormous ways.

Tomatoes are an excellent source of antioxidants which acts as a natural toner and reduce ur skin pores. Give a try and ull never regret J

Some quick tips for my bloggies below:

♥  Smash a tomatoe till a nice paste and mix 1 spoon of honey and apply evenly over fresh face. Remember a clean skin absorbs the vitamins much deeper.

♥  Add little almond oil and extra virgin olive oil to the above paste for that extra smoooth skin.This mixture works wonders specially for dry skin and during winter.

♥  Take half a cup of oatmeal , 1 smashed tomatoe, honey and little almond oil. Mix well till you get a thick paste. Apply gently over face,neck and hands and scrub over for 5 mins. Leave on for 15 mins and rinse with warm water followed by your moisturiser. I jus loooove dis scrub coz you can instantly see ur skin glowing J . Repeat this twice a week.

Takecare

~ ♥ Shilpa

Wrinkle Free

♥ Sleep On Your Back

Sleeping in certain positions night after night leads to "sleep lines" -- wrinkles that become etched into the top layers of skin and don't fade once you're up. Sleeping on your side leads to wrinkles on cheeks and chin, while sleeping face down gives you a furrowed brow. To cut down on new wrinkles, sleep on your back.

♥ Eat More Fish Like Salmon

Salmon (along with other cold-water fish) is a great source of protein, one of the building blocks of great skin. It’s also an awesome source of omega-3 fatty acids. Experts say that essential fatty acids nourish skin and keep it plump and youthful, helping minimize wrinkles.

♥ Don't Squint -- Get Reading Glasses!

Making the same expressions over and over -- like squinting -- overworks facial muscles, forming a groove beneath the skin's surface. Eventually the groove becomes a wrinkle. Keep those eyes wide: Wear reading glasses if you need them. And get savvy about sunglasses, which can protect skin around the eyes from sun damage and keep you from squinting.

♥ Don't Over-Wash Your Face

Tap water strips skin of moisture and natural oils that protect against wrinkles. Wash your face too often, and you wash away its protection. And unless your soap contains moisturizers, use a gel or cream facial cleanser instead. If u are not sure which face wash would suit you, contact ur dermatologist.

♥ Wear Your Vitamin C

Some studies have found that creams with vitamin C can raise collagen production, protect against damage from UVA and UVB rays, help reduce dark spots and uneven skin tone, and reduce redness. You have to use a skin product with the right type of vitamin C, may be the best for wrinkle relief.

♥ Trade Coffee for Cocoa

Try a wrinkle-reducing drink. In one study, researchers found that cocoa with high levels of two antioxidants (epicatechin and catechin) protected skin from sun damage, improved blood flow to skin cells, helped hydration, and made the skin look and feel smoother. Delicious! Chocolicious  J J J

♥ Practice Good Skin Care Basics

If you really want to keep your skin looking young, start with the essentials. You've probably heard this advice before, but it's important:

·         Avoid the sun

·         Wear sunscreen

·         Wear sun protective clothing

·         Don't smoke

·         Use moisturizer

Takecare

~ ♥ Shilpa

Yogurt : Ur Skin's Best Friend

Yogurt?

For those who are wondering “What is yogurt?” , well here u go! Yogurt is basically a form of curdled milk much like sour creme ad creme frachie , but with less fat. Bacteria in the milk ferments and coagulates to thicken the milk to a creamy texture, adding a tangy, slightly astringent flavor. In commercial manufacturing, the friendly bacteria is added, but if you were to heat fresh milk and keep it at about 100 degrees F. for a few hours, it would naturally turn to yogurt.

Where do u get it?

For ppl in HYD, u can find it in Hypercity-Inorbit mall, Nature’s Basket-Madhapur,Banjara hills.

Yogurt is available in diff flavours. For ur external application on skin, don’t forget to use the “plain yogurt”.

If u plan to intake, u can jus jumpin n try all flavours. Strawberry is my favv …yummmm J

So whatz about yogurt to skin?

Yeah yeah…coming to dat point ! Yogurt is undeniably good for you. It aids in digestion, boosts your immune system, supplies a healthy dose of protein and calcium and often probiotics. But did you know that using yogurt on your skin can make it healthier? Yogurt adds enzymes and oils to the skin, working as a natural moisturizer. It can also reduce pore size, improve overall skin texture, and give you that healthy glow. Here’s how to use yogurt for healthier skin.

♥ Yogurt is so mild that even those with highly sensitive skin can use it every day. Refreshing, safe, and a natural exfoliant, many use yogurt to even out their skin tone, fade freckles, lighten moles, and leave their skin soft, moist, and smooth. Just apply a thin layer of plain yogurt to your freshly cleansed face, throat, and chest, then lie down and rest for 10 to 20 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

♥ Whether the skin on your face is dry, combination, oily, or just plain tired and sallow-looking, apply a weekly yogurt mask. Yogurt has zinc and a good amount of lactic acid, a natural skin smoother that makes it an inexpensive, easy, and effective facial mask. Just spread plain yogurt on your face and leave it on for 20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.

♥ Got acne? Slather yogurt on your pimples every day. The rich zinc content may help clear your blemishes and shrink your pores. Be sure to avoid the flavored varieties, as these often contain ingredients that can irritate skin. Wash your face, remove all makeup, spread on plain yogurt, massage into skin, and then rinse with cool water.

♥ Are you watching that mark on your face to see if it turns into a pimple? Stop its progress now by mixing brewer's yeast with plain yogurt and applying it on your face.

♥ If your face needs a hydrating boost, try using a homemade mask made from lentils and yogurt. Let it dry, then remove with your fingertips and wash off with water. Your skin will glow and look healthier immediately.

♥ If your skin is extra dry and irritated, mix olive oil, turmeric, and sandalwood with yogurt and honey, spread on face or arms for five to 15 minutes, then wash off with water.

♥ It’s good to exfoliate your skin every week, and yogurt is a cheap and healthy way to do this. Combine yogurt with dried, ground orange peels. Leave it on for about 15 minutes, and then rinse off with water.

♥ Aging skin looks healthier and more youthful when treated with a paste of banana, avocado, and yogurt.

♥ Dry, hard-working hands can be made healthier with yogurt. Simply combine half a cup of plain yogurt with the juice of one lemon. Chill in the fridge for a few hours and then use it to massage your hands and nails. Rinse and pat your hands dry.

Some yogurt each day can keep the skin doctor away! Ha ha J

Takecare

~ ♥ Shilpa

The TRUTH about Fairness Creams - Wakeup call

Here is something that haunts everyone of us. FAIRNESS. The admiration for the lighter skin tones always makes us the regular users of one or more fairness products. The 'lightening' and 'brightening' strategies used by most of the commercials and brands make us the 'fair' targets of these number one brands.

FACTS :

♥ The fairness creams block sun rays and prevent secretion of Melanin, which gives the dark colour to the skin. So in effect fairness cream reduce tan, prevent the skin from getting darker by preventing melanin secretion; but fairness creams cannot change a person’s natural skin color.
♥ Nothing can change that structure of melanin.
♥ Fairness creams can contain harmful bleaching agent such as hydroquinone, the percentage of which is between 3- 4%, but most of them do not mention the percentage of the chemicals on the packets which can cause skin allergy, cancer, kidney problem.
♥ Hydroquinone is a strong inhibitor of melanin production, meaning that it prevents skin from making the substance responsible for skin color. Hydroquinone does not bleach the skin but lightens it, and can only disrupt the synthesis and production of melanin hyperpigmentation. It has been banned in some countries (e.g. France) because of fears of a cancer risk.
♥ The obvious side-effect is thinning of the skin. Daily use of these creams leads to the skin losing its tightness and becoming thinner in return. Growth of acne is another harm that these creams cause to the skin.
♥ Elaborating further, most fairness cream consumers are unaware of the photosensitive reaction which these creams cause. Due to this the more exposed one is to the sun, worse one's skin condition becomes. This would mean anything from getting pink and red rashes – the degree of which would vary from person to person to sun burns, blisters, itchiness to burning sensation, each time the person steps out in the sun.Such a skin, that has become photosensitive, could also lead to one having problems if he went in for any kind of packs or massage treatments, for those oils or packs could further react on the skin.
♥ No matter how TRUSTABLE or BIG or POPULAR the brand is, it doesn’t make u fair. It jus repairs ur skins pigmentation TEMPORARILY.

MYTHS :

♥ Whitening/Fairness creams make u FAIR : All fairness creams or skin whitening creams are effective only if the pigment is in the epidermis (epidermis is the outer layers of the skin). If the pigment is deeper, the product cannot help or make changes. Thus, fairness cream can help remove a tan or discoloration due to some pigment in the top layer of the skin. It cannot make a dark person fair.

♥ Manufacturers list all their ingredients on the product label:This is not true. Manufacturers are not required by law to mention all the ingredients on the product label.

♥ Fair skin is better than dark skin: Medically, dark skin is believed to be less vulnerable to skin diseases than light skin. More melanin in dark skins provides protection from the sun and, in turn, disease. Light skin contains less melanin and thus less protection.

♥ Ayurvedic or herbal fairness creams have no chemicals: This is a myth. Only home remedies for fairness can be free of chemicals. All commercial products have chemical bases that give them the texture and consistency and preservatives that prevent them from going bad.

♥ Herbal ingredients have no side effects: A person can be allergic to plant based herbal ingredients also. It is advisable that they apply the cream to a small area on their hands before using them.

So now u might be saying “what nonsense? I’ve been using this XYZ cream since a long time now and it worked great and I never had any side effects”….well, there might be two reasons for this.

1. U might have ur pigments in ur epidermis. Hence this XYZ has worked on ur skin, just avoiding further damage to ur skin from the UV rays thus stopping melanin secretion and tanning. IT HAS NOT IMPROVED UR COMPLEXION which u were actually thinking of. But, this change is TEMPORARY.

2. If this cream has been advised by your dermatologist, well then this is safe to use, depending on the prescription ur doc gave.

Having said all the facts and myths about whitening/fairness creams, I jus want everyone to spread this to ur dear ones. A good sunscreen and a good moisturizer and exfoliating regularly is more than a routine to keep ur skin healthy externally, provided u have a good diet internally.

Whatever the complexion u have, jus be happy with it. Infact, BROWN IS BEAUTIFUL. Take care of the skin naturally (homemade). Natural beauty stays long. Do Not waste ur money on such creams and spoil ur skin furthur. Donot fall for the words of any beautician at the malls/stores/parlors/salons etc. I know they tempt u sooo much. Jus deny them with a smile and u are jus saving ur skin from a great danger. After all,they jus want to sell their product and this is business to them. Don’t let ur skin become a slave to such business tactics.
Isnt it weird how brown ppl run after these whitening creams while the fair ones spend a fortune to get tanned??? Nomatter how u are, carrying urself confidently is one big factor that adds beauty...naturally :)

BEING BEAUTIFUL IS NOT HAVING FAIR SKIN BUT HAVING HEALTHY CLEAR SKIN.

Take care,

~ ♥ Shilpa

* Summer Care - Coco Splash *

It really drives out the energy from within when we roam around in the hot sun! The moment we come home n drop ourselves in the couch helpless and say PHEWWW...FINALLY HOME!

Here is something i wanna share with.

♥ Never ever drink water as soon as you come into the shade. Wait for atleast FIVE minutes.
♥ Never even wash urself immediatley. U need to give a FIVE minute gap here as well.
♥ A glass of coco water not only quenches the thirst but also soothes ur senses.

So u say,"ahh...i know all this!"...Well, here is the main point!

Ur skin too needs to quench its thirst.So what do you do for that?

♥ Splash some FRESH coconut water onto ur face,neck and hands.This soothes the skin from the heat.
♥ You can even dip cotton into the coco water and apply gently on the face and neck.Allow it to dry and repeat this every 5 minutes.Wash off with plain water after 20 minutes.
♥ You can observe an instant natural glow in ur skin!
♥ When u have a rash or skin irritation or even a breakout, apply coco water gently on the area. This will calm down the rash and ull feel pampered (^_^)

Take Care
~ ♥ Shilpa

*How to avoid skin darkening at elbows and knees*

Well, This is a problem found with almost everyone. Here is a simple tip that would help reduce the tan or skin darkening at the elbows,armpits and knees.

Why Lime ??

One of the benefits of lime in the field of beauty is the amount of vitamin C that can make your skin white, smooth, and fast. This fruit contains vitamin C for antioxidant benefits. Vitamin C has L bond in every molecule, great to brighten skin tone.

All u need :

♥ Lime Juice : 4-5 Tea Spoons
♥ Cotton
♥ Hot Water
♥ Napkin or any cotton cloth

What to Do :

♥ Wash ur hands.
♥ Dip the cotton in the lime juice and gently rub on elbows,armpits and knees.
♥ Repeat this for 10 to 15 minutes.
♥ Take the cloth or napkin and dip in the warm/hot water.
♥ Gently rub on the area where lime juice is applied.This is kind of exfoliating the area and removes dead skin and dirt.
♥ Repeat this procedure twice or thrice a week.

Take Care
~ ♥ Shilpa

* Green Tea - a fairy *

One of my daily routine! A tea bag which serves you like a fairy! I could just list few imp benefits out of many. Chk deez out!

♥ Awesome for Weight Loss! It has been scientifically proven that drinking green tea, increases our metabolism and helps us shed fat! Yup, making us slim up faster and much easier! (^_^)
♥ Avoids Dental Cavities! One small study found that drinking green tea helped prevent dental cavities.
♥ Best for hair! Incorporating green tea into your diet may help combat or help prevent hair loss. One of the most powerful antioxidants in green tea is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).Research also suggests that green tea can help with scalp conditions such as dandruff and psoriasis by soothing skin and reducing inflammation.Green tea also contains vitamin C, vitamin E and panthenol, which are all common ingredients in hair conditioner. Vitamin E restores dry or damaged hair, while vitamin C guards against damage from UV radiation. Panthenol, a provitamin, strengthens and softens hair and prevents split ends.
♥ AMAZING for Skin! We all know antioxidants are great for skin and green tea is full of them, but what exactly are they for? Wellll, as we age, our skin cells begin to oxidize, which means they shrivel up, wrinkle and scar more easily—NOT FUN! Green tea is loaded with antioxidants that not only help prevent all of this from happening, but actually help reverse skin damage! This will keep you young and fresh! Make this a regular habit and ull for sure oberver the health of ur skin improving.
♥ Bag of Vitamins! Green tea is packed full of vitamins A, C & E, which are ingredients that are necessary for gorgeousness inside out! Ill defenitely not expect more than this in a bag of tea!

How to prepare:
Well, u neednt actually boil the leaves and bla bla bla.
Thankfully these days you find this awsome food packed into TEA BAGS.
Jus take a cup of warm/hot water and drop a tea bag into it!

Where to get?
There are many brands out there producing this. You can find them at any supermarkets.

Does it tastes yummy?
 Denefitely not! Its bitter :(  But then, good things are always bitter to taste :p
I myself use Himalaya Green Tea Bags (less bitter than other brands).

Takecare
~ ♥ Shilpa

* Rose water - Homemade *

Well, most of us rush to the store  to buy rosewater! Here is one simple way to make one at home!

Benefits :

Rose water is an absolute beauty must-have, especially if you suffer from acne, pimples or any other skin problem. The antiseptic and anti-microbial properties of rose water can kill bacteria that cause those sudden those scary BREAKOUTS!
You can use rose water by itself as a toner (astringent) to tighten pores and rejuvenate tired skin, as a soothing under eye treatment to get rid of dark eye circles or puffy eyes, to moisten a face mask, or as a base in many homemade facial recipes.
Rose water can also be used as an aftershave to soothe irritated skin (unisex :p)

Ull need :

♥ Handful of rose petals .Dried rose buds also works beautifully.
♥ 2 cups water, boiling.

Procedure :

In a bowl, place the roses and pour water on top. Cover with a plate and let sit for a few hours. Using a strainer, drain water into a spray bottle and keep with you. You can use this several times a day!

Takecare
~ ♥ Shilpa

* General mistakes and Remedies *

♥ Before you start brushing,wash the toothbrush with plain water.During idle time, the toothbrush attracts flies n dirt,which we start using the next mrng.Dont ever forget this as u r directly putting all dat into ur mouth!

♥ Changing ur toothbrush once in three months is a good practice.Dont use it for years together.
♥ Whenever u have a hairwah,double ensure u also wash and clean ur comb in warm water throughly. Else, its of no use taking a hairwash.
♥Always ensure u use warm water for ur hair. It should neither be hot nor cold.
♥ DO NOT rub ur skin too much after bathing.This is a big NO.Use a soft cloth or towel and gently dry out.
♥ Apply a moisturiser all over ur body.Not just face and neck.Do this when there is still moisture on ur body after bathing so that the moisturiser gets absorbed easily and skin remains soft.
♥ Have a pumic stone and foot brush (any soft brush will do) handy in ur bathroom. Jus rub gently on ur feet to get rid of the dead skin and ur feet will never get cracks.
♥ Always dilute ur shampoo. DO NOT use it directly ever!
♥ While u sleep,DO NOT tie up ur hair too tight with a band or clip. This will cause breaks in the hair when u move ur head in sleep.Either leave ur hair open or loosly tie it up.
♥ Splash ur face with plain cold water twice a day. This improves blood circulation.Again, do not rub the face to dry. gently pat it.
♥ Whenevr u wash ur hands,apply a moisturiser to ur palms to avoid drying.
♥ Touch ur comb at its ends and check if they r smooth or rough. It its rough n sharp, this is ur biggest enemy,jus throw it off.The ends should always be BLUNT and SMOOTH.
 

Take care
~ ♥ Shilpa

*Bloossoms Quick Tip : Natural Toner - Homemade *

♥ Take a tomato and slice it into two.
♥ Remove da skin gently (so dat it might not hurt da skin as its sharp after slicing)
♥ Take 2/3 spoons of honey.
♥ Dip each slice of the tomato in da honey and gently rub the slice all over da face,neck and hands..Let ur skin absorb it for 10 mins.

Why tomato and honey??

Tomato is known for its natural acidic properties and rejuvenating antioxidants. Honey, which naturally contains hydrogen peroxide, is used for its antibacterial properties.

 ~ ♥ shilpa

* Bloossoms Quick Tip : Pimples*

Make a thick paste of a turmeric powder with 3-4 drops of water and apply on those BIG pimples!
U can notice the intensity of the pimple(s) will come down and will not leave any marks when they vanish....yayi yayi...isnt it what we jus want to (^_^)

Takecare
~ ♥ Shilpa

* Remove tan from hands and feet - Home remedies *

♥ Scrub ur hands and feet to exfoliate and remove the deadskin first.U can use any scrub you are comfortable with..
♥ While scrubbing, use a pumice stone and VERY GENTLY rub on the hands.

♥ Wash off with warm water and pat dry.
♥ Once done with scrubbing,mix honey and lemon in equal amounts and massage onto hands.Leave till dry.
♥ Wash off with warm water and pat dry.
♥ Take egg white and whisk it till you get a white foam. Apply this onto hands to tighten the skin since uve been sagging it now. Leave for 15 min.
♥ Wash off with warm water and pat dry.
♥ Apply a moisturiser that suits ur skin.
♥ Repeat this thrice a week to have that smile back on ur face :)

Takecare
~ ♥ Shilpa

* Maybelline Clear Glow All In One Fairness Compact Powder Review *

DESCRIPTION :

Maybelline Clear Glow All In One Fairness Compact Powder is infused with Pro Vitamin C, it instantly illuminates skin’s appearance revealing a healthy fair glow. This is shine free, perfectly matte and fresh compact powder which helps defend from skin darkening & appearance of spots with SPF 26 PA++. This ultra fine lightweight powder blends easily giving optimum coverage for smooth, even skin.

DETAILS :

Well the first thing u will notice is the pinky packing which will almost instantly make u grab it :P I love the color and packing . Kudos to Maybelline J This is available in three diff shades and the one in below pic is ‘NUDE’ shade(shade 02 for medium skintone).

PROS :

♥ Packing

♥ Price within reach

♥ Spreads well n easy

♥ Lightweight

♥ Suitable for daily use

♥ Has SPF 26/PA++

CONS : I don’t find any :P

PRICE : INR.175

HOW TO USE : Apply evenly with sponge all over face and neck. Suitable for everyday use.

RATING : 5/5

Takecare

~ ♥ Shilpa

* Nail Care *

 

What many of us face is this weak nails problem.So here are some very easy and CAN-DO tips.I am not going to preach what I don't practice, like eat healthy, drink lots of water and stuff like that.

These are just tips that work for me.
 ♥ Avoid clipping nails, unless they are very long and it would take forever to file them short. I read in some magazine a long time ago that clipping your nails cause them to break easily, so it's better to file them instead. Refer below pic for filer.
♥ Aware of buffing? Buff your nails once a week. This is like exfoliating your nails. If you use a scrub on your face every week to remove dead skin, why not do the same to your nails?! This will make your nails healthier and remove the yellowness caused by nail polish. Buffing also encourages your nails to grow.I have attached a pic of buffer in the below pic. 

 

♥ Use a hand cream or moisturizing lotion,after every time you wash your hands.
♥ Soak ur hands in warm Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Coconut Oil once or twice a month. This makes the hands soft and nails less prone to breakage and peeling.
♥ If ur nails are too weak, u can start taking clacium tablets.Fresh fruits in ur daily diet will also help.
♥ Apply nail polish.Nails will not break so easily if there's a coat of polish on them. Forget all that "Let your nails breathe" stuff. You'll need the protection of a nail polish, be it colored or clear, if you want them to not break.

 ♥ Most importantly, DO NOT use unbranded nailpaint removers or unbranded nailpaints ever. These have harmful chemicals and artificial colors which may spoil the health of ur nails.That is why ur nails look white coated all over or yellowish when you use such things..Always opt for branded products. Cost dosent differ much though.

There are a lot more you can do, but I've jus posted the ones i follow :)

WHERE TO GET : Indian market, u can get the buffer and filer @ any of : health-n-glow/Body shop/New U/Supermarkets(selected) stores.

Takecare
~ ♥ shilpa

* Don't Treat Dandruff with Oils *

Dandruff isn't caused by a dry scalp, but by an inflammatory process that affects the scalp. Rubbing oil into the scalp can make the inflammation WORSE, resulting in more unsightly white flakes. That's why medicated shampoos -- either over-the-counter or from a dermatologist -- can best treat dandruff. Just be sure to rinse thoroughly after using medicated shampoo.You can even choose a better dandruff shampoo that suits ur hair texture.

Takecare
~ ♥ Shilpa

* Daily Hair Care *

Ever wondered if you are actually taking proper care of ur hair? Most of us don’t bother it as much as we do to our body. People are too busy thesedayz to find time for themselves.So whats the trend?? U just find an expensive shampoo or a top brand shampoo , wash ur hair off wid it and thats it..ur hair care is done! And the outcome would be… dull,dam...aged hair...huh!
95% of the members in Bloossoms group are working women.So lets look into some general mistakes that we do and the tips to avoid them on daily basis.

♥ Before you could step into any haircare tips, jus take 5 minutes time to look at ur hair deeply,ur hair ends, ur scalp,the texture of ur hair. This is very important since u’ll have to choose ur shampoos and conditioners based on this. So jus touch ur hair to know its texture,look onto ur hair ends to check if any splitends popped in, ask someone to look at ur scalp closely to check for any dandruff .
♥ If ur scalp is pinkinsh or red, urs is s sensitive scalp. You will have to opt for herbals or non-chemical products.
♥ If you have dandruff, DO NOT for godsake apply oil. It just multiplies it.
♥ Once you are aware of ur hair texture, dandruff yes/no and the sensitivity of ur scalp, now do take time to go through the products and choose the best one that suits ur requirements. Avoid chemical shampoos.
♥ Avoid going outdoors with oil on hair. This is a big no no.
♥ Avoid washing ur hair daily.
♥ For every hairwash, make sure the water is neither too hot nor too cold. It should be warm.
♥ Whenever oil is applied, make it warm so that it penetrates to the roots.
♥ Never let ur nails touch the scalp. Massage always with ur fingertips.
♥ When oil/conditioner is applied,wrap ur hair and scalp with a hot towel and leave on for 20 minutes. This deep conditions ur hair.
♥ Always let ur hair dry naturally. Avoid using dryers unless an emergency. In case of a dryer, make sure you use a diffuser without fail and place the dryer atleast 8 inches from ur hair.
♥ Always clean ur comb(s) each time u have a hairwash.
♥ DONOT switch combs with others….YUK!
♥ Change ur pillowcovers each time u hairwash, if u are dandruff prone.
♥ Donot let ur hair fall on ur face. The pimples and acne that you find on foreheads is caused by this.
♥ Once you touch ur hair or scalp, immediately wash ur hands. DONOT ever put the same hand without washing ,on ur face.
♥ Depending on the length of your hair, choose a scarf and cover ur hair whenevr you are stepping out, be it day or night.This is a must if you want to protect ur hair.
Any queries regarding what shampoos would suit you and which one to select, please do write to me or you can even post it down here.

Takecare
~ ♥ Shilpa

* Glowing Skin : Natural Way*

NEED :

♥ Gasagasalu/Poppy seeds/KusKus
♥ Almond/Badams
♥ Raw Milk

PROCESS :

♥ Wash the almonds gently in plain water.
♥ Take equal amount of the Gasagasalu/Poppy seeds/KusKus and almonds (eg: two spoonfull of poppyseeds, then 3-4 almonds).
♥ Grind them untill a smooth paste.
♥ Before you could takeout the paste, add some raw milk and grind again.

APPLICATION :

♥ Wash ur face.
♥ Apply the paste and massage gently in upward circular moments.
♥ Do this on face,neck.hands and feet. Can use for the whole body.
♥ Massage for 5-10 minutes and leave till dry. Wash off with warm water and pat dry.
♥ NOTE : some might be elllergetic to either poppyseeds or almonds.Hence have a patch test before applying. But 90% suits for all. Suited for me luckily

BENEFITS :

♥ Poppy seeds and almonds are embedded with natural oils within them, which is very essesntial for skin during dry time. These oils comeout when you grind them hence making the paste smooth.
♥ Ur skin gets the required moisture enough to keep it smooth and soft from this. Very useful for dry skins splly during winter.
♥ Can be used daily.
♥ Nothing shows you results overnight. Since this is a natural way, try using this atleast thrice a week.
♥ You can make a paste enough for 3-4 days and store in the refrigirator in an airtight container and use whenever required. Jus add some raw milk to the paste when you are taking it out from the fridge.
♥ This is something ive been doing since years to save my most dryiable skin during winter.Hence advised.

TakeCare
~ ♥ Shilpa

* Messy Plait *

Bored of the same old pony or da loose hair styles???
Wel ladies! herez an intresting new style for u!
Chck da pics for the latest and the hottest style ! THE MESSY PLAIT ♥ 8-)

 U turnout to be jus gorgeous wid dis simple, easy, hot n trendy hairstyle!
... Closely observe the pics and am sure u neednt have a tutorial for dis :P
coz da more messy, the more trendy it is! LOL!
Try it out n look divalicious dis summer! ;)

Takecare
~ ♥ Shilpa

* Lip Care *

A beautiful smile lits up a day! Smooth,soft and healthy lips play an important role ! it is very important to have a nutritional diet and regular exercises to keep yourself looking health.So here are few general tips and care :
♥ Avoid licking your lips and don't bite the skin on the surface of your lips.
♥ Always keep them covered with a good lipbalm.
♥ If you r gonna be a longtime outdoors, make sure u sue a lipbalm/lipstick that has an SPF.
♥ Biting also dries out your lips, along with taking off small amounts the little skin that already exist there.
♥ Every morning “brush your lips” with a soft baby toothbrush and then apply some lip balm to your lips.
♥ If no lipbalm, apply butter /milk creme/ghee on the lips.
♥ Before going to bed apply the moisturizing cream on your lips. Do so regularly every night and you will wake up every morning with softer lips.
♥ When the delicate upper and lower parts of your lip lose moisture, they tend to split and on most occasions, bleed too. If you apply honey, coconut oil or almond oil on a daily basis then you're sure to acquire gorgeous looking lips!
♥ Applying a petrolium jelly also helps to maintain the moisture in the lips.
♥ Make sure you drink enough amount of water daily to maintain the moisture levels and to avoid hydration.
♥ Remove your lipstick before going to bed using a cleanser and apply a thin layer of ghee on lips.

Takecare
~ ♥ Shilpa

* L’OREAL Professional Haircare Range *

My favvv of all times. Am sure all of us have experimented with quite a number of shampoos till date. But lemme tel u, the L’Oreal Professional range is THE BEST I have ever used. I jus love the range of haircare in these products. Most importantly, THESE HAIR CARE PRODUCTS ARE NOT THE REGULAR L’OREAL SHAMPO...O THAT IS SHOWN IN TV. These are a separate range called “L’oreal Professional”. Available only at certain salons, these serve the best for ur needs. Ive been using this range since a year and a half am completely in love.Ive not even tried to look at another brand from then on.
Depeneding on ur hair texture and need, these come with :

♥ Liss Ultime : for starightened/dry/frizzy hair.
♥ Vitamine Color : For colored hair.
♥ Shine Blonde : For dull hair that lacks shine.
♥ Absolut Repair : For damanged hair.
♥ Shine Curl : For curly hair to have well defined curls.
♥ Sensi Balance : For De-stressing, soothing and moisturising. : Ideal for hair prone to irritation and sensitivities. Perfect as an everyday shampoo.
♥ Silver : Clarity and shine for grey and white hair. Reduces yellow tones and revives the shine of grey and white hair.
♥ Force Vector : reinforces weakened, fragile and brittle hair by depositing a super charge of Incell. Hair is left feeling stronger, softer and shinier.
♥ Instant Clear : For dandruff prone hair.
♥ Volume Expand : To boost up the volume for thin lifeless hair.
♥ Density Advanced : A volumizing shampoo for enhancing density & taming locks.

Hope I din miss any thing here.Every range has a shampoo,conditioner,serum and a leavon of its kind.
Best part is, these do not harm ur hair at all.And the bad part is, they are BIT EXPENSIVE!

A shampoo ranges from Rs.500-Rs.580.
Conditioner : Rs.550-Rs.600.
Serum: Rs.500-Rs.550.

If you wash ur hair twice in a week,for a middle length hair, one bottle would last for a month and a half easily. (If u use the shampoo wisely :P).
But something which dosent harm ur hair and repairs, protects and gives good look to ur hair is worth the cost.

Where To Get: Any L’Oreal orginal Salons/Mirrors Salon and Spa/Envi Salon (inorbit mall)/Katiawar stores.

Jus dive in sometime when u r free, take a look at all the products throughly, and select the one that best suits ur hair needs.

Takecare
~ ♥ Shilpa.

* Taning : How To Avoid n Repair *

♥ Dip some cotton in raw milk and gently apply on the skin.Wait till it dry.Apply again.Repeat 3-4 times.
♥ Clean the skin.Mix honey and lemon in equal amounts and apply.Leave for 10-15 minutes.
♥ Use sunglasses.Polaroid will serve the best....
♥ Use sunscreen that has a higher SPF (Sun Protection Factor). More the SPF,better it is.
♥ Never apply a sunscreen directly on the skin.Apply a moisturiser as a base coat. Then apply the sunscreen to all the areas which will be exposed to the sun.The top layer should always be ur suncreen.
♥ You should always remember to apply the sunscreen before 20-30 mins you go out.
♥ If you are staying for a longer period outdoors, apply suncreen for every 3 hours.
♥ Cover ur skin with a scarf/hat/umbrella.
♥ Before going out in the sun, take a mixture of ice water and milk and apply on your face. Keep it for 10-15 mins and wash off.
♥ After every outing, remember to exfoliate your skin with a good scrub.
♥ One of the readily available products at home-Curd. You can just use plain curd or mix 1 cup curd with 2 tsp of lemon juice and make a pack with besan powder added to it.Apply and wash off with cold water.
♥ If your face is already tanned, lemon or orange is the best natural bleach. Apply the juice on the affected area and surely you can see your skin lighten.
♥ Mix yougurt and orange juice in equal amounts and applly.Was off after 15 minutes.
♥ Potato pack : Find small to medium sized potatoes. Peel away the skin and make a paste of the .The paste you get might be watery. Don’t try to filter the water out. Use the paste as such. Apply generously all over the arms and face. Let it dry (I hate the raw smell – but the result is worthy enough). Allow it to dry well and then wash it off with plain cold water.
♥ Cucumber juice or pulp is the best for tanned skin. Apply it to the skin and gently massage in circular rings. Leave on till dry.Wash off.
♥ For dry and sensitive skin, you can mix milk and lemon juice and apply on your face.

Takecare
~ ♥ Shilpa

* Beauty Benefits of Turmeric *

Being of South Asian origin, spices are very important ingredients added into the cuisines. Turmeric is one of these spices. This spice is often used for its antiseptic properties, but it is also beneficial as a beauty product. So before you head out to your cosmetic counter, check out these 6 beauty secrets of turmeric. You may... have the solution to your beauty problem right in your cupboard! 

♥ Turmeric for Acne : You can create a face mask with turmeric to help fight acne and gain a youthful glow. This traditional face mask is often used by the bride and groom the day before their wedding. It will brighten your skin tone and helps diminish unsightly blemishes overnight.
To make this, add 2 tablespoons of starch to 1 tablespoon of raw milk. Then add two drops of olive oil and a pinch of turmeric. Blend to make a paste. Apply a thin layer to your face and let it set for 20 minutes. It is best to apply the mask before you shower so you can easily rinse it off.
♥ Turmeric to Treat Wrinkles : To treat wrinkles, you can make an eye cream with turmeric and use it at least twice a week. This will help to eliminate not only wrinkles around your eyes, but also dark circles. Add a pinch of turmeric to 2 tablespoons of buttermilk. Smooth the paste around your eyes and let it set for 20 minutes. Rinse off with cool water.
♥ Turmeric to Alleviate Dry or Oily Skin : For dry skin, combine 1 egg white, 2 drops of olive oil, fresh lemon juice and rose water. Add a pinch of turmeric and mix well. Apply this to all the dry areas including face, neck, elbows and knees. Let it set until it is completely dry, and then wash off with warm water.For oily skin, add a pinch of turmeric to 2 tablespoons of sandlewood powder. Mix in 2 tablespoons of milk and 2 drops of lemon juice, then apply to your face and let it dry. Rinse off with warm water.
♥ Turmeric for Cracked Heels : For immediate relief from cracked heels, apply a mixture of 3 tablespoons of turmeric with 3 drops of coconut oil. This mix will also help prevent fungal infections that may form between the toes, also known as athlete’s foot.
♥ Turmeric for Pigmentation : If you suffer from acne scars or other types of hyperpigmentation, apply a mixture of turmeric and lemon juice to the affected area for 20 minutes. For best results, apply this mixture once a day.
♥ Turmeric for Scalp Health : Dandruff and other scalp issues can easily be treated with turmeric and olive oil. Apply a mixture to your scalp in the shower, and allow it to set for 15 minutes, until finally washing out the mixture with a natural shampoo.

Takecare
~ ♥ Shilpa