Basics Of Skin Care

Our skin is an integral organ of our body and it is very important that we take its care and keep it healthy. Every individual has a different type of skin, some have dry skin, some oily and some have natural skin. For every different type of skin there is a different skin treatment that needs to be done to keep it healthy and alive.
We can see that with every changing season and weather where our moods change and our different organ systems react to it differently, the same way our skin reacts to it too. Like in warm weather months, we have increased sweating and we need to take clear our skin from the salts that get deposited on it, because if we do not, it can cause rashes and other sensitivities of skin. In cold weather months, the skin gets dry and tends to crack.
The cosmetic experts say that it does not matter to what season it is, proper skin care requires more than the application of moisturizer to maintain effective skin health.
You can take care of your skin in these simple steps outlined below:
Steam Your Face: You must steam your face for about one to one and a half minutes. The steam causes the skin pores to open up and cleanse the makeup and other material that is deposited on the skin throughout the day.
Cleanse Your Skin: After you have applied the steam and the skin pores are open, you need to clean your face with warm water. After this, you need to take some skin cleanser on your hands and add a little water to it and then mix it together in your hands and then you will see it has converted to lather. Now apply it to the skin of your face, which is wet and massage it for about 30 seconds. Also apply that lather on the skin of your neck. Always try to use a special skin cleanser and take care of the skin around your eyes in that you do not rub it hard.
Tone Your Skin: After you have applied the lather, you need to keep it on the skin for a few minutes and after that you need to damp cotton cloth with an alcohol free toner and wipe the lather off of your skin of face and neck, as this will clear your skin and will add a glow to it.
Now Apply Moisturizer: Take a few minutes after applying the toner to your skin, and then apply moisturizer on the skin of your face and neck and arms, but remember not to apply it too much. Moisturizer will condition your skin, moisten and guard your complexion.
These are the four basic steps that you can do everyday on your skin to make it smooth and glow all day long.

Make Your Skin Soft And Smooth

There are many creams and lotions are present in the market, which say that they make the skin soft and smooth and give it a younger look. On the other hand, with a little effort you can make your skin much soft and smooth with these homemade recipes.
STRAWBERRY FACIAL MASK:
Nature of Skin:
This mask is used for oily skin.
Ingredients:
9-10 strawberries.
Three tablespoons of honey.
Instructions To Prepare:
Clean the strawberries in tap water and let them dry for a little while in room air. When the strawberries are dry, you need to take either a spoon or fork to mash it. Do not blend it because it will give it a liquid consistency, which is not desired in making the mask. So keep mashing the strawberries till you get a fine mashed consistency of strawberries. Then add three tablespoons of honey in the strawberry mash and mix it for a few and then leave it for a while till it gets a little thick. Then after that apply it gently on your skin and leave it on your skin for about ten to fifteen minutes and after that rinse your skin with cool water.
Thing To Remember:
The ingredients that we have used are natural and there are no preservatives used in them so they will need to be refrigerated. The mask that you have made can be used for about a week.
BANANA FACIAL MASK:
Nature of Skin:
This mask is used for dry skin.
Ingredients:
Three medium sized bananas.
Two tablespoons of honey.
Instructions To Prepare:
Peel off the skin of bananas and then mash them up with a spoon or fork. Do not blend them or else they will get a liquid consistency. Mash them good till they are still thick in consistency and then add two tablespoons of honey. Now your mask is ready. Apply it on your face and leave it there for about ten minutes and then rinse your skin with cool water.
Things To Remember:
The ingredients that we have used are natural and there are no preservatives used in them so they will need to be refrigerated. The mask that you have made can be used for about a week.

Beauty Remedies

These are some homemade beauty remedies, which are going to help you look and feel good.
Today we are going to tell you as to how black or green tea brew can help you look so fresh and young, as well as it many other benefits, which you might not have known.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of unscented black or green tea leaves.
1 quart water in a pan.
Procedure:
Brew about 1/2 a cup of unscented black or green tea leaves in one quart of boiling water for at least 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, you need to strain the leaves and put them aside. The next step would be to cool the brewed water on room temperature for a while and then place it in the refrigerator. You have to keep the brewed water in the refrigerator for approximately 10 days.
Usage And Benefits Of The Brewed Tea Water
Cuts & Scrapes: You need to take out a very little amount of cold tea brew in a container depending how large or small the cuts and scrapes are, and then you need to soak the cotton in the brewed water and apply the cotton on the cuts and scrapes. You then need to leave the cotton pad on the affected area for at least 5 minutes. Remember, you do not need to wash off. You can repeat the process up to four times a day and you can see the benefits of it yourself.
Sunburns: Take out a small quantity of the cold tea brew in a container depending upon the area of sunburns and then apply a piece of cotton cloth, which has been soaked in the cold tea brew to the sunburned area. You can leave the cotton cloth there for about a good 15-20 minutes or until you feel that the burned area begins to cool down. This process can be repeated four to five times a day and see the difference yourself.
Puffy & Fatigued Eyes: Take out a small quantity of the cold tea brew in a container, then soak the cotton pads in the brew and gently apply them on your eyes. You can keep the pads on your lids for about at least 10 minutes. As another alternative, teabags can also be refrigerated and placed on eyes as well.
Tired Feet: Take out a small quantity of the cold tea brew in a container, now you can soak your feet in the cold tea brew for about a 15-20 minute period of time. You can always treat your feet with the cold tea brew on days when you have had a long day standing and walking or running.

Sunburn Remedy

The succulent leaves of the aloe vera plant provide such a healing gel for burns. Many burn centres use it on their patients. The gel contains aloectin B, an immune system stimulant, and penetrates all three layers of the skin. If you have an aloe vera house plant, simply snip off a two inch leaf end, slit it open, and rub the inside over the burn.

Homemade Skin Toner

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup cucumber juice (the same pH as the skin)
• 1/8 cup carrot juice (rich in Vitamin A)
• 1/2 cup spearmint infusion (considered one of the best cosmetic herbs)
• 1/4 cup chamomile infusion (avoid if you are sensitive to ragweed)
• 1/2 cup lemon juice (an alpha-hydroxy acid)

Blend the above ingredients and store in ice cube trays and pop out a cube as needed. Hope you like the above skin toner.

Fruit Cleanser

This one-ingredient fruit formula will fight free-radical damage, reducing age spots and fine lines. It also dissolves dead skin cells, cleansing and reviving the skin. Try this super simple formula that will leave your skin feeling soft and supple:
Take a slice ripe pineapple of 1 tablespoon fresh pineapple juice. Rub the fruit or juice onto your face and allow to set until dry. Rinse with warm water and gently pat dry.

Hair Perfume

It is pleasant to perfume the hair after washing it when the hair is half dry. The following ingredients are required to make this fragrant perfume.
6 tablespoons powdered charcoal
5 tablespoons powdered myrrh
1 tablespoon powdered red benzoic
1 tablespoon potassium nitrate
2-3 drops oil of bergamot
2-3 drops of sandalwood mucilage of tragacanth
Mix the powders together and sieve, and then add the oils. Add the potassium nitrate, and then sufficient mucilage of tragacanth to make a stiff paste. Heat the mixture over a water bath and then make into little cones and dry. Just light one of the cones and let the smoke go into the damp hair. The smell is highly aromatic and exotic.

Precautions to Skin Problems

The skin problems commonly arise due to polluted environmental conditions. Though there is no way to escape it in present fast-paced life, yet some precautionary measures can be beneficial.
Diet: Take a healthy diet consisting of fresh fruits, cereals and green leafy vegetables. These provide the necessary nutrients to the skin and help keep it soft and supple.
Exercise: It not only keeps the body fit but by regulating the oxygen, but enhances the glow on the skin too.
Rest: Proper rest that includes 6-8 hours of undisturbed sleep daily is the best way to rejuvenate the skin.
Cleansing regimen: Proper cleansing of the skin and follow-up works wonders for skin. Remember to clean face at least twice a day.

Tips to remove dark circles

Dip cotton pads in a mixture of cucumber and potato juice. and keep the cotton pads on your eyelids. After 15 to 20 minutes wash your eyes will cold water.
To reduce puffiness of your eyes, grate a potato, tie in a cloth and place the cloth over your eyes for about 15 minutes.
For bright and sparkling eyes ,add a small pinch of salt in water and wash your eyes.
Crush a cucumber and take the juice. Add a little rose water and apply around the eyes and wash it after 20 minutes.
Place cotton wool swabs dipped in cold milk on closed eyes for removing dark circles for 10-15 minutes daily before sleeping.
Crush a cucumber and take out the juice. Add a little rose water and apply around the eyes and wash it after 30 minutes.
You can also put cucumber slices on youe eye lids for 10 minutes to soothen your eyes.
Coconut oil massage daily for 5 minutes before sleeping will help will help you a lot in removing your dark circles.
Slice one small piece of a potato, and cut the slice in half. Put each slice under your eyes and leave them under your eyes for 20 minutes.
You can place slightly warm tea bags over your eyes 10-15 minutes to lessen dark circles.

Cabbage Mask

Grind a couple of cabbage leaves and extract juice. Dissolve one-fourth teaspoon of yeast in it and stir in one teaspoon of honey. Mix well and apply thickly over face and neck. Remove with cotton-wool soaked in water 15 minutes after application. This mask will counteract any tendency towards wrinkles and dryness and give your skin a flower like bloom.

Tomatoes to look young

Fresh tomatoes are a good source of vitamin C. Tomatoes also provide beta carotene, and their red color is due to another carotenoid called lycopene. Lycopene acts as an antioxidant and like betacarotene, offers protection against the damaging effects of free radicals, highly reactive molecules that can attack healthy cells.
Tomatoes are low in calories, just 29 in 2 small tomatoes. They are rich in fiber; vitamin C, B, vitamin E and potassium. They are useful addition to weight reducing diet. Zycopene becomes available to the body only from cooked tomatoes products like ketchup, puree not from raw tomatoes.

facial toners

Normal Skin: Toners with or without alcohol; rosewater or a still mineral water spray.
Dry Skin: Mild alcohol-free toners; rosewater or water.
Combination or Oily Skin: Alcohol-based toners (but avoid those with simple alcohols, such as ethanol, methanol, and isopropyl, which can dry the skin).
Sensitive Skin: Hypoallergenic or alcohol-free toners.

Makeup Tips for Eyes

Smoky Eyes Look: Apply a deep shadow on the eye lid. Dab some black eye shadow on the lower line on the kohl. Blend well, smudge and leave it at a darkish tone.
Natural Eyes Look: Apply pale, nertral eye shadow on the lids. Make sure the eyeliner is very thin. Curl the eyelashes.
Tips

• An eyelash curler is an important tool.
• Wash your makeup brushes regularly to disinfect them.
• Dry them at an angle whereby the water just drips out.
• Use Q tips to dust or wipe away excess color.

Fade Your Freckles

Freckles are small brownish spot on the skin, which often turn darker or increasing in number upon exposure to the sun. If you are a person who does not like freckles, you can always hide them under your makeup.
It should be noted that you cannot completely get rid of freckles, but you can consult your dermatologist regarding the treatment.
There are several different techniques with which you can fade freckles, which are freezing, acid, sanding and laser treatments. The freckles can fade with these techniques and it may take several treatment sessions and this can result in skin irritation as well.
Remedies For Freckles
One must know that the freckles are enhanced by sun exposure and there are many things that can be tried to help with the freckles. A simple way to lessen the intensity of the freckles becoming darker, you must use the sunscreen that has the highest SPF in it.
The vitamins A and C enhances the protection against sun’s dangerous rays and they reduce the darker pigments with time. There are a lot of creams that are available for people who have light tone. If the skin is medium to dark, it can cause hyperpigmentation and can darken the spots, so the product that you are using must be used with great care and caution according to the type of your skin.
The alpha-hydroxy acids increase the regeneration of the skin cells and thus lighten the freckles. The other things that you can use for freckles are lime juice, fruit and vegetable masks such as apricot and cucumber.
There is another way of dealing with the freckles is to cover them with makeup that is you can cover them under the foundation and a powder. You can also apply a concealer that is close to your natural skin tone.

Dark Lips

Heavy application of lipstick or the use of a cheap brand of lipstick turns the lips dark. Fresh air, vitamins and iron are required for maintaining red lips. Also keep them free from lipstick as much as possible and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Also, take carrot and orange juice. Every day before going to bed massage your lips with a few drops each of glycerine, lime juice and honey.
Hope that helps with the problem of dark lips.

Hide the Double Chin

Here is how to hide your double chin with the help of makeup…
After doing your complete makeup, use a darker tone like a brown blusher and apply it under the chin area. This will give the depth effect to your double chin, thus giving it a more regular effect

Milk Wash

Here is a quick homemade recipe for getting clean skin:
Make a paste out of skim milk and water; wash your face with this mixture instead of soap. Now, apply corn bread mix to your face and let it dry before washing it off with warm water. And you’ll see how clean your skin looks.

Homemade Recipe For Shiny Hair

You can give your hair a great shine and help remove soap build up:
Blondes — Add a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice to your rinse water.
Brunettes and Redheads — Add a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to your rinse water.
Stir 1 teaspoon of honey into 4 cups (1 quart) warm water. After shampooing, pour the mixture through you hair. Do not rinse out. Dry as normal.

Vitamin Cream to nourish skin

Here is how to prepare a “vitamin cream” to nourish your skin:
Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon beeswax
• 1 tablespoon emulsifying wax
• 1 tablespoon lanolin
• 3 tablespoons wheat germ oil (or two Vitamin E capsules)
• 3 tablespoons carrot oil (or two Vitamin A capsules)
• 6 tablespoons distilled water
• 1/2 teaspoon borax
• 2 drops tincture of benzoin
• a few drops of orange-flower oil

Melt the waxes and oils over a water bath, and at the same time in a separate bowl, dissolve borax in warm water. Quickly add water to the oils, and beat until it cools slightly, then add tincture of benzoin and continue beating until you get a thick nourishing cream. When mixing vitamin capsules, simply prick the capsules and add the contents.

Soothing Summer Body Spray

1 tablespoon witch hazel
1 teaspoon lemon essential/fragrance oil
1 teaspoon cucumber essential/fragrance oil
1 cup water
Directions:
For a refreshing cool feeling, make an after shower spray by combining all the ingredients. Place in a pump spray bottle.
*Note: Dont use if you have sensitive skin, the lemon may irritate it.