Facials from the fridge {Reader's Tips}

It always seems difficult to find time to make all these recipes to maintain yourself regularly. I found a shortcut to maintain my face - I usually create a base by grinding 1/2 cup oats and 1/2 cup milk powder and store it. Then depending on what I have in the fridge - I mix it in this powder base.

To tighten - mix egg whites and honey into 1 tsp powder base and apply on face, wash off after dry.

To moisturize - add avocado and almond oil into 1tsp powder base and apply - wash off after dry.

To absorb oil - mix egg whites and lemon juice into 1tsp powder base - apply, wash off after dry.

To tone and cleanse - mix yogurt and cucumber juice ( when you grate and press, juice can be extracted, no need to grind) in 1 tsp powder base and apply , rinse after dry.

If the paste is too tight I mix rose water or water to it. And the list goes on - anything you find like fresh fruits - I usually go to the ones that need no grinding or preparation. This really works - try it! As we don't find a lot of time as working moms with kids...anything easy works!!

Its an awesome tip, Padmaja. Thanks so much :)

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Read more of your favourite reader's tips here and you can submit one too (here). And, don't forget to enter the giveaway (last 3 days).

Image Courtesy:health.howstuffworks.com

My mini-giveaway winner!!

So, finally, I stopped being lazy and here is the winner - Monisha Thampi :) Congratulations, Monisha and your name reminds me of Sarabhai vs Sarabhai :D I hope you received my mail and in case you didn't, feel free to contact me.  Do contact me by Friday night otherwise I will have to pick another winner!!

And, here is her beauty tip (or rather "are her beauty tips"):

1. To reduce Pimples: Apply fresh ginger juice on pimples for not more than 10 minutes and wash it off. Do it for 7 days and pimples will vanish. Don't apply near eyebrows. 

2. This one is a little interesting. I have a wider forehead. So I combed my hair sidewise so as to reduce its distance b/n eyebrows and head. And now I have those tiny weeny hair started growing from there and now i have a less wider forehead.

3. Fairness: Grind 3 almonds without skin like a paste and mix it with curd. Apply this mixture every night and wash it off just before going to bed. Use Besan or Gram flour instead of soap while you use this face pack. It gives an instant glow to your face and will lighten the skin if continuously done for a week.

4. Anti-Blemish: Take a thin slice of potato and rub on your face continuously. Do it for 5-10 minutes. Do it twice a day. You will see quick results.

5. Any natural treatments that are acidic in nature (eg: lemon, ginger, vinegar, orange, tomato, papaya) should be mixed with some besan, gram flour or honey to avoid over reaction.

6. Its a mail I got one day and try it out because it is amazing.Take a bunch of parsley leaves and wash it clean. Then cut it in small pieces and put it in a pot and pour clean water and boil it for ten minutes and let it cool down and then filter it and Drink one glass once a week. You will notice the difference which you never felt before. It cleanses your body like anything.

And, this is what she likes and hates about my blog:

"It is really a genuine blog. When I had the first look, I was really surprised as it had a lot of DIYs and natural beauty tips.The blog was very, very simple and had nothing which would suit for a beauty blog. Then I knew that this blog was solely concentrating on the matter it had and not on its looks. But now, the blog is far ahead of what i saw at first. I have been through most of your blog changes. But I think the new look is apt. The font is very simple. Now there are not so many natural tips like before. I would say the posts are now on advanced topics like Reviews, treatments, Perfumes :), Oils etc. I think your blog covers almost everything related to beauty. 
Do give more product reviews, Your take on different myths (which is my favorite), and more on hair growth recipes, Add more polls, Answers to reader's queries. I appreciate one fact of yours that you find time to respond to all your follower's queries. You browse and search a lot and give a complete note on any subject so that I did not have to search on the same topic more. I wanted to write down point by point, but it went on like that. All the wishes for your blog, Swati."

And, boy, doesn't she have patience?? She has answered both the questions so perseveringly, thank you so much for all your kind words :) Oh btw, in case any of you thinks, I have chosen her on the basis of the length of her answers, NO. Her entry popped up in random.org and I forgot to take the screen shot so please don't accuse me of being under-handed. I do think she deserves winning. I mean look at the tips, one could say she keeps a separate diary at her home :D Oh btw, absolutely agree with the wider forehead thing, Monisha. I too have a huge forehead plus less density at the crown really made me look a little weird but I got side bangs and now, it just looks awesome.  Btw, do we get parsley in India??? Will have to search for it. [Btw, guys, don't think I am boasting about my blog by putting up what she has so kindly mentioned above, its just too flattering to not share **giggles**]

PS: Anyways, I am so happy I am leaving for Delhi tomorrow. Btw, it's my mom's birthday so do fire up suggestions for the gift. I am hopeless at selecting gifts. Budget is 10k. 

Image Courtesy:mindingspot.blogspot.in, graminakitchen.blogspot.com, foodcourt.wordpress.com, victorias-alphabet-soup.blogspot.com, nah.wikipedia.org

Random Beauty Tips {Reader's Tips}

"Whenever a pimple pops up, crush a few neem leaves or apply neem powder available in the market on the affected, the size of the pimple reduces & if applied regularly it subsides" - Uzma

"To make your skin glow, Take honey and apply on ur face for 15 mins n wash" - Umesh

"In summers after washing your face use ice cubes for toning your face" - Swapna

"My favourite beauty tip would be a mixture of powdered rose petals,a lil bit of sandalwood powder and mix it all up wid rose water or curd..Apply it on the face everyday after a tiring day at work or college for glowing and soft skin.Works for me every time!" - Shruti

"My favourite beauty tip is to rub tomatoes on the face to remove tan naturally! One can use it after roaming about in the sun instead of after sun gels." - Shruti

Read more of your favourite reader's tips here and you can submit one too (here). And, don't forget to enter the giveaway.

PS: Sorry guys for the missing regular posts but I am kinda really tired and in anticipation of going home so not able to do any write ups. I have lots of product reviews pending and I really hope to get back soon with the posts too :) Till then, enjoy the beauty tips. They were from the giveaway which reminds me to announce the winner as well, shit!!!

Image Courtesy:medtips.in

Top 5 Beauty Tips for Men {Guest Post}

[Source: Google Images]

Men and women have different needs when it comes to grooming. Unlike women, men cannot hide tiredness, acne or wrinkles with the help of make-up. The following tips will help men retain a more youthful appearance as they age.

Skin Care
Men have specific skin care needs when it comes to staying attractive and looking young. Since men sweat more than women, their chances of collecting dirt and having enlarged facial pores are great. Put together a skin care regimen that includes cleansing your face regularly, exfoliating your skin and applying moisturizer daily, especially around the eyes. Look for all natural, fragrance free products to reduce irritation to facial skin. When choosing a moisturizer, look for a product that is right for your skin type. To keep skin looking fresh and to combat wrinkles, try making time to get a regular facial. Also, to keep your skin looking healthy and hydrated, drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Exercise
Staying active is a key factor when it comes to finding the fountain of youth. Exercise keeps men balanced both mentally and physically. Plus, not only does exercise build strong and healthy muscles, but it also inspires confidence and relieves stress. Exercise also induces sweat, which will aid in removing unhealthy toxins from the body.

Body Care
Remove unwanted hair from eyebrows, nose and ears at regular intervals. Waxing the chest is a good option to consider if you’re into the bare body look. Make sure to keep finger nails and toe nails trimmed and clean by getting a manicure and pedicure. This promotes an overall clean and well groomed appearance. Try getting a body massage to improve blood circulation, tone up the body and to relieve stress.

Hair Care
Consider a hair style shorter in length. Well groomed short hair-cuts give off a younger looking vibe and cleaner outward appearance. Make sure to use shampoo and conditioners to keep hair looking healthy and shiny. Styling products are also useful in taming wild and unruly hair.

Shaving
Shaving can be particularly hard on the skin. To get that perfect smooth shave make sure to exfoliate your skin first to rub away any dead skin. Make sure to shave right after a hot shower to soften the growth of hair and to get a clean, close shave. When shaving is complete, use an aloe vera based moisturizer that will tighten pores and it won’t dry out skin like most products that have alcohol in them can. If you have facial hair such as a beard or mustache, keep them trimmed and well-groomed.

About the author: My name is Muzammil Bashir and I am working with the editors of wish.co.uk - Take the stress out of present purchasing with our Spa Days, click here for more info.

Wear a scarf - Summer Hair Care

The summer sun is brilliantly hot and dehydrating for the hair as well as the skin. So, while you hydrate your skin by drinking water and eating hydrating foods, wear a scarf around your head whenever you step out to avoid the sun's rays and pollution. As the sun's rays can dehydrate and parch the skin, they can do the same to the hair leaving them rough and straw like. So, if you are already suffering from a rough and parched hair, try tomato on hair. And, don't forget to get a scarf for the next time you go out.

Now, generally, silk scarves or satin scarves are recommended for hair as they prevent static and keeps the hair hydrated as opposed to cotton which sucks the moisture out of the hair. As much as this is true, I beg to differ from this at least for summers. Using cotton scarves help with the air circulation in the hair which is extremely important otherwise the sweat clogs the hair follicles. Also, for people who like to tie the scarf completely on their faces, cotton scarves are much easier to handle and allow the skin to breathe through it where as silk or satin scarves simply choke and suffocate the nose. Of course, we all know that cotton allows breathing and air ventilation thats why it is preferred in summers. Also, if you use silk scarves, it can result in blocked pores and cause breakouts. So, wear cotton scarves. And, don't forget to moisturize your hair everyday with a hydrating serum or simply use aloevera gel straight from the plant.

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.