Blossom Kochchar's tips for a glowing skin

Who does not like a glowing skin, free of dark spots, pimples or marks? Here are a few simple home remedies for that unblemished complexion.

To get rid of light patches, rub a mix of a little mustard oil and one drop of Bergamot essential oil vigorously on the patch.

Leave it on for a few hours before washing off with water. Do this twice a day.

To lighten dark patches, rub them with a mixture of lime, tomato and cucumber juices.

For dull complexion, mix a teaspoon of gram flour with a pinch of turmeric powder, a few drops of lime juice and half a teaspoon each of olive oil and milk. Leave on for half an hour, and wash off with water.

For pimples and other blemishes, wash and grind a few mint leaves to a smooth paste. Apply over the face every night before going to sleep.

To brighten the complexion, rub face with coconut water for 15 minutes.

For combating greasiness, mix one tablespoon of apple juice with quarter teaspoon of lime juice, and leave on for 20 minutes. The mixture is an excellent tonic.

Looking at shrinking enlarged pores? To one tablespoon of tomato juice, add a few drops of lime juice. Apply on face and remove after 15 minutes.

To prevent the skin around your heels from becoming hard and cracked, scrub heels with a stiff brush using generous amounts of soap. Follow it up with pumice stone rubbing. Wash with water, wipe dry and massage with castor oil mixed with one drop of lavender essential oil.

For tired eyes, take four tablespoons each of lime juice and iced rose water. Dip cotton pads in this water and then place gently over the eyelids for 10 minutes.

Credit - The Hindu

Natural face packs and moisturisers

Here’s quick pack for your face that you can apply 15 minutes before you take bath.

Beauty mask for dry skin

1 egg
1 teaspoon honey1/2 teaspoon olive oil
Few drops of rose water

Mix the ingredients thoroughly and use as a mask.

Normal skin type

1 eggs yolk
1 teaspoon orange juice
1 teaspoon olive oil
Few drops of rose water
Few drops of lime juice

Mix the above ingredients together and apply on your skin.

Honey and egg moisturizer

1 teaspoon honey
1 egg yolk
2 to 5 drops of pure olive oil

Mix all the ingredients and beat well for 2- 3 minutes. Spread the mixture all over your body and leave for 10 – 15 minutes. Rinse off and get a radiant and naturally moisturized skin.

Honey and coconut moisturizing treatment

1 cup fresh grated coconut
2 tablespoon ground rice
2 tablespoon coconut milk
25 ml coconut oil

Mix them and massage your skin with the mixture to exfoliate and moisturize the skin. Wrap up in a towel for 10 minutes. Remove the mixture with the warm water , damp cloth to reveal soft and smooth skin.

Himalayan Honey and Rose Facial

A blend of sandalwood and rose essential oil is applied on the face with pure Himalayan honey massaged into skin. A cucumber mask is apply to conclude the invigorating beauty treatment. This is a stimulating experience and makes your skin naturally radiant.

Homemade facial sprays

Boil herbs like tulsi ( basil ) , neem or any other coolant and pour it into a spray bottle. If cucumber is your choice of coolant , soak the slices in water and leave it in the refrigerator for two hours . Adding a drop of sunscreen to the water will shield your skin. To enhance the coolness effect of any spray , always refrigerate.

Eye Shadow beauty tips

For Deep-set eyes

Shape the eyebrows in a slight upward shape. These eyes have a pronounced crease and can look dramatic on their own without any make up at all. Never put dark color in the crease line. Use light colors on your eyelids. Add a highlighter above the eye crease line. Outline the eyes with a slightly darker shadow than the shadow used on the eyelids. Use lots of mascara.

For Wide-Set Eyes

Keep the brow full not too thin. Make them appear closer by applying a deeper shade from inner corner to mid-lid. Apply a lighter shade from mid-lid to outer corner. Blend in the middle of lid where shades meet. Also reverse the mascara - darker inside and lighter outside.

For Close-Set Eyes

Pull the eyebrow up and out. Use a lighter shade from inner corner to mid-lid; apply a just-slightly deeper shade from mid-lid to outer corner; blend in the middle. Keep your strokes in an upward-outward movement.

Keep the eyeliner dark at the outer corner and lighter as it moves towards the inner corner. Apply mascara and then add a second coat only to the outside lashes. Do not add color close to the nose.

For Glasses-Wearers

Most glass wearer feel that since their eyes are hidden behind the glasses so their eyes can't be noticed - but nothing can be further from the truth. Glasses can magnify the eye bringing them into prominence. First select a glass shape that compliments the eyes and face. Now paint your eyes starting with a dark color close to the eyelashes and move upwards with a lighter color as you near the eyebrows. Add 2 coats of mascara.

Healthy skin care tips

Drink plenty of water

Make it a point to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day to hydrate your skin and body cells. And don't wait until you feel thirsty to drink a refreshing glass of water. Water helps improve your circulation and flush out toxins from your body, which in turn have a direct effect on your skin's radiance. Water also helps fill you up, so you eat less at mealtimes, keeping you feeling lighter. Fresh juices and smoothies also help nourish your complexion, hydrate your body and leave you feeling energized.

Skincare experts recommend starting your day with a big glass of water in order to help cleanse your skin. You should ideally increase your water intake to 12 glasses a day when you are exercising, on days filled with activities or when the heat reaches its extremes.

Include lots of fruits and vegetables during summer season

Summer brings an abundance of tasty and nutritious foods, including berries, watermelon, tomatoes and sweet bell peppers. It’s the perfect season to enjoy the natural benefits of fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamins, minerals, fiber, as well as full of antioxidants and water.

For beautiful moisturized skin:

Eat at least eight servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Choose a variety of different colours and textures.
Have ripe summer fruits such as peaches, apricots, plums, pears as well as juicy summer fruits such as watermelons.
Include food sources rich in minerals that are lost through sweat during hot summer days, such as potatoes, bananas, melons, and tomatoes.
Vitamin A is essential for healthy skin. Introduce plenty of dark orange (carrots) and dark green vegetables (like broccoli and spinach) as part of your diet.
Use fresh food as often as you can to give your skin a boost.

Run out of fresh fruits and vegetables? Always keep frozen vegetables and fruits handy! These are usually hand-picked, and are deep-frozen immediately, thus retain more nutrients than fresh ones left in a refrigerator for days.

Get familiar with top foods for a healthy skin

Healthy fats: For healthy and hydrated skin, include healthy fats in your diet, such as those found in fish, avocados and olive oil.
Calcium: Since calcium can also be lost through sweating, try to replace it by eating more low-fat dairy products like skim milk, yogurt, labneh and low-fat cheese.
Vitamin E: For great skin, also eat foods rich vitamin E which is found in nuts like almonds and in fruits like avocados.

Cook healthy for healthy skin

The way you cook also can affects the health of your skin, so avoid frying and go for grilling, broiling and steaming.

Take care of your body and skin and enjoy a beautiful you all through summer every year!

Lipstick Tips

Start with looking at yourself carefully in the mirror. Use swatches of fabric to see what looks good on your facial skin – that will give you a clue which colour family to look at. The colour that makes your face seem muddy and dull is a complete no-no. When you find the shade that makes you seem as if you are lighted up and glowing, you will know it almost immediately. Every woman knows when she looks good.

The first step – take your time and examine the range of lipstick shades carefully. Choose a colour that gives you the same kind of 'glow' as the fabric did. To make it easier for you, you can use the following rule of thumb.

If your skin is fairly light, opt for medium tones – pinks, beige, pale peach, orange, taupe.

If your hair and skin are dark, choose deep tones – maroon, fuschia, dark chocolate, plum, wine, ruby.

If your colouring is somewhere in between, you are lucky – you can wear almost anything you like, from a pale nude to a brilliant scarlet to a gentle caramel.

If you are olive-toned, like many Indians, be careful with the violets and pale lavenders. Use brighter colours with less blue in them.

The general rule is to keep lips soft and natural if your eyes are dramatic. During the day, stick with lighter, softer, more matte colours, to present a more professional and sober appearance. Night time allows more glitz and glamour, so up the voltage with brights and lots of drama. Gloss and glitter is best saved for a special evening out.

If you are looking for a long stay lipstick, go for Lakme 9to5. Usually long-lasting lip stains dry out your lips. But Lakme 9to5 moisturizes the lips without fading or ruining the lipstick’s color.

For regular lipstick users, every bit of moisture helps. So look for lipsticks with vitamin E to moisturize and protect your lips. Lakme Enrich Lip Color is enriched with Vitamin E to keep lips feeling softer and smoother.

Lip glosses are very popular these days because they add softness, moisture, and sheen to the lips; making them look a bit fuller, younger, and oh-so-yummy!

Lipliners are useful when you want a carefully defined lip contour, and essential if you are wearing a dark (plum, maroon) or very bright (red, fuschia) shade, since any bleeding will be clearly visible.

Find out here more Lakme products........

Home made packs for Hands and Feet

Take aloe vera gel; add some turmeric and a little tomato juice to it. Massage hands and feet with almond oil and then apply this paste. Leave it for 20 minutes, then rinse.

Take papaya paste, mix with mashed apples. Clean your hands and feet with warm water, massage them with sunflower oil and then apply paste on them. Leave for 20 minutes, then rinse.

Mix pomegranate juice with soya flour and make a paste. Put on hands and feet after washing them with warm water and a mild handwash. Leave for 20 minutes, then rinse.

Bleaching tips

1, Bleaching is only a skin lightening or tan- removal process. It can’t remove hair. It can only camouflage fine hair.

2, Be extremely cautious when bleaching the face. Get it done from a recognized professional and insist on a patch test. If you break out in an allergy , apply an ice pack, have an allergic tablet and drink plenty of water.

3, The bleaching time is dependent on your skin tone. For dark skin it’s 7-8 minutes and fair skin 10-15 minutes.

4, Bleaching dries the skin. It should be done only once in two months. For face- bleach always opt for recognized brands.

Golden glow in minutes

Mix 2 tablespoon orange juice with 2 pinches of coarsely ground turmeric. Leave on for 15-20 minutes and wash off with cold water.

Soft and supple skin

Scrub your skin with 1 teaspoon each of walnut powder, honey and lemon juice.

Skin treatment with Tomatoes

Tomatoes are excellent for oily skin and help the skin feel clean and tight. They also help tackle pores and blackheads. Cut the tomato in half and rub on skin. Leave on for 15 minutes to let skin ‘’ feed ‘’ on the juice. Wash off.

Smoother skin with Cabbage

Cabbage is rich in minerals and vitamins. The next time you boil cabbage, don’t throw away the water. Wash your face with this water for soft, smooth skin.

Relaxation tips for eyes and skin

Relaxation tip for eyes

Soak cotton wool pads in rose water. Place them over closed eyelids, lie down and relax for 20 minutes. This induces relaxation, reduces stress, removes fatigue and brighten the eyes.

Tips for refresh and relax the skin

Mix rose water and lemon juice in equal quantities. Apply on the face and wash off with plain water after 15 minutes. It is ideal for stress related acne, helps to reduce oiliness and refreshes the skin.

Mix milk powder with papaya and apply on your skin. Keep it on for five minutes and then wipe off. This will relax you.

In a bowl of warm water add some rose petals and a few drops of rose essential oil. Steam your face with this water for two minutes and wipe off with a cotton towel. It’s perfect for oily skin.

Beauty tips with milk

If your skin feels like it's burning up from too much sun exposure or if itchy bug bites are driving you crazy, try using a little milk paste for soothing relief. Mix one part powdered milk with two parts water and add a pinch or two of salt. Dab it on the burn or bite. The enzymes in the milk powder will help neutralize the insect-bite venom and help relieve sunburn pain.

Makeup remover

When you run out of makeup remover and you can't get to the store, use powdered milk instead. Just mix 3 tablespoons powdered milk with 1/3 cup warm water in a jar and shake well. Add more water or powder as necessary to achieve the consistency of heavy cream. Now you are ready to apply your makeshift makeup remover with a face cloth. When you're done, wipe it off and rinse with water.

Give yourself a facial
Here's another way to give yourself a fancy spa facial at home. Make a mask by mixing 1/4 cup powdered milk with enough water to form a thick paste. Thoroughly coat your face with the mixture, let dry completely, then rinse with warm water. Your face will feel fresh and rejuvenated.

Soften skin
Treat yourself to a luxurious foamy milk bath. Toss 1/2 cup or so of powdered milk into the tub as it fills. Milk acts as a natural skin softener.

Clean and soften dirty hands
You come back from the garden with stained and gritty hands. Regular soap just won't do, but this will: Make a paste of oatmeal and milk and rub it vigorously on your hands. The stains will be gone and the oatmeal-and-milk mixture will soften and soothe your skin.

Foods for healthy skin

Green Tea
Its free oxygen radical scavengers protect against sun damage.

Pomegranates
When applied topically, they help skin make more collagen and speed healing.

Tomatoes
Study participants who ate tomato paste with olive oil daily for ten weeks reduced their risk of sunburn.

Eggs, Legumes, Avocados, Nuts, Soybeans
All contain biotin, an essential vitamin for fat and carb metabolism. A deficiency can lead to dry skin and brittle hair and nails.

Salmon
It contains astaxanthin, a carotenoid that improves skin elasticity, so you'll have fewer fine lines.

Omega-3s (from walnuts, DHA-fortified foods, even lemon-flavored cod-liver oil)
Omega-3s seem to put shine in your hair and help skin look and feel young.

Pedicure and Manicure tips

Petroleum Jelly
During home manicures, it's hard to keep the nail polish from running over on your cuticles. Petroleum jelly can help your manicures look more professional. Dab some along the base of your nails and the sides. If polish seeps off the nail during the manicure, all you do is wipe off the petroleum jelly and the sloppy nail polish is gone.

Styrofoam
When applying nail polish, a foam pellet or a small chunk cut from a block of foam packaging placed between each finger or toe will help spread them apart and keep the polish unblemished until it can dry.

Vinegar
You can soften the cuticles on your fingers and toes before manicuring them by soaking your digits in a bowl of undiluted white vinegar for five minutes.

Your nail polish will have a longer life expectancy if you first dampen your nails with some vinegar on a cotton ball and let it dry before applying your favorite polish.

Bath Oil
Heat 1/2 cup bath oil mixed with 1/2 cup water on High in your microwave for 30 seconds. Place the solution in a deep bowl and soak your fingers or toes in it for 10-15 minutes to soften cuticles or calluses. After drying, use a pumice stone to smooth over calluses or a file to push down cuticles. Follow up by rubbing in hand cream until fully absorbed.

Castor Oil
If you were ever forced to swallow castor oil as a child, this may be a pleasant surprise: The high vitamin-E content of that awful-tasting thick oil can work wonders on brittle nails and ragged cuticles. And you don't have to swallow the stuff. Just massage a small amount on your cuticles and nails each day and within three months you will have supple cuticles and healthy nails.

Cooking Spray
Need your nail polish to dry in a hurry? Spray it with a coat of cooking spray and let dry. The spray is also a great moisturizer for your hands

Film Canisters
Create a small, spillproof carry case for nail polish remover by tucking a small piece of sponge into a plastic film canister. Saturate the sponge with polish remover and snap on the lid. For an emergency repair, simply insert a finger and rub the nail against the fluid-soaked sponge to remove the polish.

Lemons
Pamper your fingernails without the help of a manicurist. Add the juice of 1/2 lemon to 1 cup warm water and soak your fingertips in the mixture for 5 minutes. After pushing back the cuticles, rub some lemon peel back and forth against the nail.

Marshmallows
Get the comfort of a salon treatment when giving yourself a home pedicure. Just place marshmallows between your toes to separate them before you apply the nail polish.

Mayonnaise
To add some oomph to your fingernails, just plunge them into a bowl of mayonnaise every so often. Keep them bathed in the mayo for about 5 minutes and then wash with warm water.

Banana face mask

Make a face mask

Who needs Botox when you have bananas? That's right: You can use a banana as an all-natural face mask that moisturizes your skin and leaves it looking and feeling softer. Mash up a medium-sized ripe banana into a smooth paste, then gently apply it to your face and neck. Let it set for 10-20 minutes, then rinse it off with cold water. Another popular mask recipe calls for 1/4 cup plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey, and 1 medium banana.

Yogurt & Beauty

Make a facial mask

You don't have to go to a spa to give your face a quick assist:
To cleanse your skin and tighten the pores, slather some plain yogurt on your face and let it sit for about 20 minutes.

For a revitalizing facial mask, mix 1 teaspoon plain yogurt with the juice from 1/4 slice of orange, some of the orange pulp, and 1 teaspoon aloe. Leave the mixture on your face for at least five minutes before rinsing it off.

Relieve sunburn - For quick, temporary relief of mild sunburn, apply cold plain yogurt. The yogurt adds much needed moisture and, at the same time, its coldness soothes. Rinse with cool water.

Beauty tips during monsoon

Follow these home remedies for healthy and glowing skin.

Oily skin

Those who have oily skin need to get rid of the dead cells and grime. A mild cleanser will work best for your skin type. Pure oatmeal scrub can be used to cleanse your skin. You can also use ripe papaya pulp as a mild exfoliator.

Dry skin

A honey cleanser and almond paste is good for your skin. Make a paste of almonds by crushing 10 of them and then add two teaspoons of honey to it. Massage it on the face for five to seven minutes. Rinse your face and pat-dry. One teaspoon honey, one teaspoon jojoba oil can do wonders for our skin. Make a paste of all these and apply it on your face and neck. Leave it on for 10 minutes and then wash it off with water.

Combination skin

Apply on your face and neck a mixture of two teaspoons of rose water, two drops of strawberry oil and fresh orange oil. Leave the pack on for 10 minutes and then wash it off. Follow this and you will look as fresh as ever during the rains.

Rose Water and beauty tips

Roses are not only for Valentine's day. But apart from romantic and beauty connotations, rose have healing properties too !!!!

Keep a bottle of rose water in the fridge and use cotton pads soaked in it for tired eyes.

Spray your skin with rose water during the day to hydrate your skin.

Add a few drops of rose essential oil to your bath water and add rose petals. Lie back and relax.

Take some rose essential in your palm and then gently massage the oil into the sun affected skin areas with your finger tips. Do this until the oil is completely absorbed before going to bed. Avoid contact with direct sunlight or apply a sun block over it. Used regularly at least a day for about three months nourishes the skin from inside.

The smell of rose helps to ease depression and stress.

Tips for a healthy skin

Drink plenty of water to rehydrate your skin - aim for eight glasses a day. Tea, coffee and juices do count, but for really great skin stick to plain water and don't smoke.

Go for foods rich in vitamin E, such as almonds, avocado, hazelnuts, pine nuts and sunflower and corn oils.

Zinc-rich foods, such as wheatgerm, liver, pumpkin seeds, sardines and oysters, help to repair skin damage and keep it soft and supple.

Foods rich in vitamin A help new skin to grow. Liver, eggs, milk and oily fish are good sources along with fortified cereals and margarines.

Eat a few dried apricots every day. They're full of iron to help improve your skin tone. So are sesame seeds - add them to cereals and muesli. Eat plenty of foods rich in vitamin C such as blackcurrants, blueberries, broccoli, guava, kiwi fruits, oranges, papaya, strawberries and sweet potatoes; they all help to produce collagen that strengthens the capillaries that feed the skin.

Make sure you get enough omega-3 and omega-6, both essential fatty acids. You will find omega-3 in oily fish, but plant sources like linseeds and flax oil are excellent, too. For omega-6 try safflower, sunflower and corn oils.

Eating foods that contain sulphur can help to keep skin smooth - garlic and onions are ideal.

Home remedies for a beautiful skin

Normal skin

Mash one –fourth of a ripe banana. Apply on the face, taking care to avoid the area under the eyes. Leave it on for 10 minutes and wash off with cool water. Banana is excellent to do away with the dead skin that makes your skin look lifeless. Regular use gives your skin a healthy glow.

Dry skin

Add half a teaspoon of rose water to one teaspoon of honey and gently apply to the face. Leave for 15 to 20 minutes and then wash off with tepid water. Honey moisturise and soothes dry skin and it’s gentle enough for daily use. Massaging your face regularly with almond oil or olive oil works wonders for dry skin.

Oily skin

Splash cold water on your face three to four times a day. Cold water will not only leave you feeling refreshed but will also tighten the pores. Fuller’s earth or a clay mask is an excellent face pack for oily skin.

Combination skin

Take three to four tablespoons of ripe de- seeded papaya pulp. Mash well and cool in the refrigerator. Apply on the face and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Wash off with cool water. Papaya helps normalize combination skin and gives it a healthier glow.

Healthy balanced diet that includes fruits and green leafy vegetables daily, keeps the skin supple and young.

Think positive and keep smiling.... : ))))

Home made Face Packs

Strawberry Face Pack

Ingredients

1 small cup fresh strawberries

1 small cup yoghurt

1 small cup honey

Remove leaves from the strawberries and place in blender along with honey and yoghurt. Blend until smooth. Apply on skin, let sit for 10-15 minutes. Remove with cool water and damp cloth. This pack is ideal for sensitive skins or problem skins.

Papaya Face Pack

You need

One quarter of fresh papaya

Quarter cup honey

Quarter cup yoghurt

Deseed papaya and remove the skin. In a blender, blend papaya, yoghurt and honey until smooth. Apply on clean skin for 10- 15 minutes. Remove with cool water. It helps the skin to glow.

Banana Face Pack

You need

One yellow banana

Quarter cup honey

Quarter cup yoghurt

Blend banana, yoghurt and honey in a blender until smooth. Apply on clean skin; leave for 10-15 minutes. Wash with cool water. Your skin will moisturise and it is suitable for dry skin.