Lakme Perfect Radiance Intense Whitening Capsules Treatment {Product Review}

This is my first ever try of Lakme’s skin care range. I have always loved their makeup products but this time I am madly in love with these capsules from their skin care range.

Price: 1250 for 28 capsules (very expensive, I must say!!)

 

My Experience

These capsules contain pale yellow serum which is very light in texture. When I apply it on my skin, it feels so soft!! Its absolutely non greasy and gets absorbed instantly into the skin. My skin is oily and I am, generally, afraid of creams and serums but this one rocks for my skin as it provides perfect moisture to my skin without making it oily. And, the best part is it never broke me out!!

Though the product says "twist the capsule to open it", I prefer scissors. The quantity of each capsule is 0.33gms and its enough for the entire face (I am wondering what about neck?? they could have given a bit more for the neck!!). Currently, I am on my second purchase and I am totally loving it. I can see wonderful glow on my face. (Thanks to my sister who forced me to use it and see the magic).

My uneven skin tone is more even and clearer. And the best part is my dark spots and post-pimple marks are lightened to some extent. It also keeps oil at bay for at leats 7-8 hours (when used at night). I don’t know why they called it a whitening treatment. It’s a great brightening treatment. I am absolutely in love with this serum though it’s little expensive for 28 capsules but its worth it.

Now, my friends are asking me what have I done on my face :D Lakme’s claim of freedom from 6 fairness blocks - dark spots, acne marks, uneven skin tone, oiliness, tanning and dullness is true. I think I have 5 of these problems and the product helped me reduce all of them. I am not tanned (you are so lucky!!). For me, it worked really great so I am going to buy it again.

Editor's Note: I was attracted to the product right form the start and now, your review is literally making me run to the shop and get one for myself but damn the expense!!! :(

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Great review, Punam!! Don't forget to check out her blog here.

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Other product I loved/hated from Lakme: 
Lakme Vital Indulgence
Lakme Perfect Radiance Fairness Facewash
Lakme Fruit Blast Berrylicious Fruit Revitalizing Scrub Mask

Lotus Herbals SAFE SUN COLLAGENSHIELD SUNBLOCK SPF 90 PA+++ {Product Review}

Price: Rs 595 for 50gms

Ingredients

Pros

- blends easily with my skin

- goes well on the bare skin too

- gives a nice base layer for makeup

- can be finished off with a loose powder dusting and a lipstick

Cons

- expensive!!!

- too high claims from my point of view

- can't apply the required dosage of sunscreen because of the tint

My Experience

I have been using this sunscreen since almost a month. Frankly, doing a review of a sunscreen is a very difficult task for me :( Either I know too much about it or I have an obsessive compulsive disorder. So, let me try to give an impartial review.First of all, I was actually frightened by the claims and the spf. I mean 90 is way too high and actually there is only a marginal protection increase between 30 and 50 and 90.

Anyway, talking about the product, if you need a proper protection, you need to apply proper amount of sunscreen. So, nearly 1/4th to 1/3rd of a tea spoon of sunscreen should be applied daily. Now, since this sunscreen is tinted, that proves to be a huge problem as the tint tends to get patchy and sits on the skin which looks really bad, obviously!!!

And, one more thing I noticed is that my skin gets heated up sometimes to an uncomfortable degree when I am applying the product. That's kinda weird, actually!!! Another con for me was that the sunscreen used to flake off my skin!!! Yes, I tested the sunscreen on bare skin and on skin with moisturiser and there was no pattern to flaking off. And, that was actually very inconvenient.

Yes, lots of cons so let me talk a little about the pros. It really gives a nice tint and is more or less sheer on the skin. But, it does give an even look to the skin. Finishing off this product with a loose powder and a lipstick is a really good idea. The sunscreen does give good protection and I am not the kind who reapplies. I did go out in the sun in the afternoons with this on but no, I didn't tan out considerably.

Ok, another con is that this can't be used as a body sunscreen. One more thing is that I think the tint is too dark and may make the fairer ones look a shade darker than they are. It blends nicely with the skin, though. And, to be frank, I did try to apply the required amount of sunscreen which is an impossibility when it comes to tinted products but yes, I have to use a tissue paper to remove the excess product almost always.

And, it does make my skin look shiny immediately on application. Though, the skin sort of settles down after an hour or so. And, yes, it does make the skin look a little brighter and that stays till the evening. And, this photographs well also. So, can be used as a foundation as well. So, as a sunscreen, my answer is no because its a chemical one and my personal preference is a physical sunscreen but if I have to say something, its a decent enough sunscreen though my preference would still be Neutrogena because of the stability factor.

PS: Product sent by the brand.

Other product reviews from Lotus Herbals:

Lotus Herbals WHITEGLOW Oatmeal and Yogurt Skin Whitening Scrub

Lotus Herbals VanilaSmooth Body Lotion

My Top 5 Home Remedies this Summer {DIY}

[Source:radiomirchi.com]

Summers are beating the hell out of me and as I said earlier, I am not a fan of this weather at all. I prefer winters. So, I thought I would share my 5 favourite home remedies for skin. 

Tomato

Yes, I am not a fan of lemon. I find it too drying for my skin and its too acidic as well so I prefer to garnish my salads and dals (lentils) and sabzi's (curries) with lemon instead of applying it on face. Tomato is much gentler and equally amazing at almost everything. 

It removes tan, blemishes and dark spots, evens out the skin tone and makes my skin bright and glowing. And, not only that, I can use it on my hair for the extra shine and to undo the effects of sun damage. And, it doesn't leave my skin dry. And, its perfect even for sensitive skins for which is lemon is not really suitable. 

And, since I am lazy, I take a slice of tomato from my salad and rub it on my skin and let ot dry up and then, I wash it off. 

Cucumber

Who doesn't love cucumber in summers? They feel so hydrating and cool to eat and not to speak of their effects on skin. They are again amazing at evening out the skin tone and removing the tan. And, I forgot to say this above but both tomato and cucumber are great on acne and breakouts too. It cools off ths skin inside and outside both. 

Watermelon

Ok, this is not on my favorite fruit list and is highly unlikely it will ever make to one. But, I wouldn't deny that its the fruit which makes me feel refreshing on the name itself and its a favourite among many people. Again, it gives a hydrated skin staying true to its name and also helps with blemishes and tan. 

Coconut Water

Ok, to be frank, I have never used coconut water on my skin. But, I have heard so many people rave about it that it always makes me curious that how well does it do for the skin and hair. But, still, I can't deny the changes it does to skin even from the inside ;D It keeps the body temperature cooler from the inside and is supposed to be amazing for the complexion. 

Buttermilk

Yes, my favorite. Thought I love to drink it more than applying it on my skin, I do that sometimes. And, its just fabulous. Be it tanning or breakouts or blemishes or need for a glowing skin, this one remedy address to all. And, if you can spare a cup of buttermilk, add it to your bath as well. It shows a lot of difference. 

So, those were my favorite home remedies for the summers. What are yours???

Related Posts:

Summer Skin Care Essentials
Dry Skin and Cracked lips in Summers
Take a refreshing Orange Bath
Wear a scarf - Summer Hair Care
Drink, Drink and Drink - Summer Skin Care
Take care of your skin and hair by drinking water

Top 5 DIY Ingredients for Brides {Bridal Files}

[Source: Google Images]

So, as I said that I would be doing some posts on bridal series, the first and foremost request is always how to brighten the complexion.I am listing down 5 of the ingredients which can help a bride achieve the most wanted glow.

• Tomato: Rub a slice of tomato on your face and neck. Let the juice dry on the skin and wash off with cold water. Tomato is great for removing the skin tan and also suits all skin types a sit is comparatively less acidic than lemon. And, it also makes hair shiny.

• Honey: A thick honey mask helps to keep the skin supple and moisturized always. It can be used every day too and helps with all skin types. Honey is also a great cleanser.

• Almond Oil: As Punam commented on earlier post, dark circles and puffy eyes are a common occurrence when one spends their nights talking to the fiancées, almond oil comes to rescue. Apply almond oil on the eye area while going to bed. It helps with the dark circles and also with wrinkles which might be developing there.

• Sugar: Sugar is the most amazing and cheapest scrub you can ever find and this is my most favorite DIY till date. Sugar has glycolic acid in some measure (depending on how much it has been been processed) and thus cleanses and exfoliates the skin thoroughly and makes it glow. And, you can add your favorite ingredients to it.

• Spices: A mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves did wonders to my skin. It clears the skin and also helps deal with acne and pimples in the long run. It should be used on alternate days for best results.

These are some of my favorite DIY's with outstanding results so hope you will enjoy them :) And, do remember to treat your neck as part of your face otherwise it can betray your age!!

Dabur Uveda Lightening & Radiance Face Mask {Product Review}

This is a requested review so I hope you find it satisfactory :)

Price: Rs 165 for 100ml (near abouts)

Ingredients

I quite like its ingredients but I guess a face mask could definitely use less of them :)

My Experience

The mask is soft to touch and is muddy in color. It spreads easily on the face and dries fast enough. The mask smells strongly of sandalwood!!! Ok, so getting to the serious aspects, the mask might breakdown when not used for long. No need to worry at all coz that happens. And, the mask breaking down means you can see some water coming out separately. It is red in color so you can be sure that it has all the ingredients it mentions. Otherwise, there are no issues and frankly, it is not an issue at all. Just that you should be aware of it. 

The mask dries up in 10 - 15 minutes or even less. And, yes, it is a little pain to remove as it has clay but if you remove it a minute before it dries up entirely, it is pretty easy to remove and even if it dries up, it's not as difficult to remove like fuller's Earth. Ok, now a warning - it tingles for 30 seconds or so but soon settles down. I didn't get any burning sensation or anything and I don't really think there is a need to worry about it. 

Now, the results - the skin probably glows a little but not much. I am not entirely sure if it removes tan or not but skin does look really bright the next morning. But, the results are not long-lasting. It does help reduce the pore size and a little with the blackheads too. But, otherwise, it is probably a product which would behave differently with each. I think it should be tried once. And, I do like the packaging of the entire range.

Have you tried anything from the range?

Other products from Dabur:
Dabur Gulabari Moisturizing Cold Cream with Rose Extracts

How to get rid of skin tanning? {Skin Care}

Happy Shivratri :)

 

First thing is that I had long ago done a post on what causes dark knees and elbows and how to get rid of them so I advise you to please go through it.

[Source: Google Images]

Diet for Fairer Complexion
I would only suggest a healthy and balanced diet which has all the possible nutritious foods according to your eating habits. Don't overdo anything. A cleaner body means lesser skin problems.

How to remove the tan?
The basic reason for skin darkness is excess exposure to sun and the excess melanin production resulting from the exposure. So, there are some things which one can do to prevent tan and remove it.

• Apply Zinc Oxide sunscreen to prevent tanning. And, even if you are not able to find any physical sunscreen, don't forget to use a normal sunscreen which is good and reliable and has spf 30 or more. 

• Using Himalaya fairness face pack and Vedic Line papaya face pack really helped with removing the tanned skin. So, you should definitely check them out. I generally used the face packs on alternate days. Applying a thick mask helps.

• Tomato and potato are great for bleaching and removing tan and bringing a glow to the face. 

• Exercise is very very important for bringing a fresh glow to the face and regular hydration of the skin from outside and inside helps the skin maintain a healthy glow and a radiant skin. 

• Always use accessories like scarf and umbrella when outside in the sun. It helped me most to prevent skin tan. 

Have you any ideas on how to prevent tan?

Vedic Line Papaya Scrub and Papaya Face Pack {Product Review}

Wish you a very happy Valentine's Day!!! 

In case the title is misleading, they are separate products but I wanted to review them together because I used them together and they are complimentary products. Papaya extract is one of the most powerful Alpha Hydroxy Acids and does a lot of good to the skin. So, let's get to the review part.

Price: Rs 175 for 100ml (for both)

Ingredients

So, you can see that the ingredients are all same except that the scrub has walnut shells for scrubbing!!!

"In a nutshell"

Pros Ingredient List is very impressive, no parabens Both make the skin glow beautifully and make it look pink

Cons Scrub is not the one you would reply for a hardcore job Smells sickly sweet (con for sensitive noses)

Wish List (to the brand) Packaging - I really wish they could be put in dark glass jars. That makes it look classy and is good for the active papaya extract too.

My Experience with the Scrub and Pack

They both are muddy and brown in color and have a very sweet fragrance. I can't describe it but its very familiar. And, needless to say, I don't really like it. But, the good thing is that it doesn't get inside my nose and bother me. Otherwise, it would have been very difficult for me to use them. As you already must have checked out, the ingredients are entirely the same.

Let's talk about scrub first. First time I used it, I hated it and liked it as well. I hated it because the walnut shells are really harsh and they really hurt my skin!!! It's grown sensitive over time. But, I liked it because it gives a rosy glow to the face after you are done and even the clay helps in the exfoliation.

And, now comes the problem, it is a little difficult to wash off!!! The clay tends to accumulate on the skin so it needs more water to wash off. I have used it for the entire body too and is good enough for that job as well. But, another issue I have with this is that this is not a heavy duty scrub. It is good for regular exfoliation but if you are ex foliating after a very long time, this is not ideal for that.

And, coming to face pack, I have lesser complaints. It is supposed to go on moist skin and spreads easily. I like to put on a thick layer and keep it on for 15-20 minutes when it gets a little dry. The pack states it should be wiped off when its half-dry so I get it off after that. And, my skin is always invariably glowing and pinkish and really bright which I love.

Like the scrub, it takes a little time to wash off but on the good side, it removes my tan and also with the uneven skin tone of my forehead!!! So, as a final word, I think this is a good pack to try. Ok, this pack does tingle a bit when applied on but then it has papaya extract and that is the reason for the tingling nature. The pack doesn't burn or anything.

The final word I would say is that they should really change the packaging. I have no issues with tub packagings but it is made of cheap plastic and has a false bottom and strictly speaking, it might be a bit expensive too (but the product works so that's fine). I would rather say that an elegant glass packaging might give a different look to the entire product. Btw, both would probably last 10-15 times each more or less which is decent enough for the price.

Availability

Online - UrbanTouch.com

Have you tried this brand?

PS: Product sent by the brand.

Other reviews from the brand:

Vedic Line Neem & Brahmi Disinfecting Face Wash

Aloevera for soft skin {Skin Care}

Ok, so this is something really simple. I used the Papaya Peeling Gel I reviewed a little while back and then, I wanted to use something as a face pack and didn't want to go for the market face masks. So, I used the Patanajali aloe vera gel and I applied a thick layer of the gel on my face and left it for half hour. I think it is because of the ingredients of the product that my face wasn't all dried up and stayed well-moisturized otherwise aloe vera is notorious for drying up the skin. But, I am not entirely sure so I leave on to you to tell me how it goes if you use the aloe gel from the plant.

What to do?

Apply a thick layer of aloe gel on your face and leave it for half hour. It might tingle in the starting and even sting a little if you have inflamed skin but it subsides in a few minutes. You should apply it around the eyes and the lips too. Just be sure you don't eat it :D

Results

An extremely soft skin with a really silky feel that you want to touch your skin again and again!!! I am really amazed at the results. And, aloe is good at removing tan and blemishes so it does help in that matter too. And, the main benefit is that you can use it everyday for a little perking up the skin. It hydrates the skin and soothes it after a long day in the dust, pollution and sun.And, also, it reduces the size of the pores. So, those who have such problems should definitely try this remedy. My pores are looking way smaller.

Caution

Ok, so this information I have from a very credible source - one of my readers. And, this is what she said: 

"Though I agree with the silky softness acquired post application, I'd noticed an alarming increase in those 'keel' of 'keel-muhaase' around my jawline. A room-mate experienced tiny boils erupting. We both discontinued use after a week."

Now, my opinion of this problem is that the culprit is not the aloevera gel but the Patanjali product. I checked the ingredients of the product.

Ingredients: 90% aloe gel and rest are permitted colors, Vitamin E, preservatives and fragrance.

So, either the preservatives or the colors or fragrance might have initiated the breakout reaction. Though, well, they might even be allergic to aloe gel but that's some what less likely. So, check out if the product suits you before you try this out. 

Tomato for Vitamin C {Tip of the Day}

Tomato is a versatile vegetable which can be used in any cuisine or for any beauty routine too whether as a hair pack or for brightening the face. Another great advantage of tomato is that it is extremely rich in Vitamin A and C. For daily need of Vitamin C, consume two medium-sized tomatoes. 

Do you exfoliate your eye area?

So, yes, we are all told never to exfoliate the skin around the eyes. But, I didn't really ever heed that suggestion. But, I have seen many people avoid that area. While applying masks, scrubs or doing any skin care treatment, the skin around the eyes are left out. So, how to remove the dead skin around the eyes. The simplest answer which came to me was Sugarcane juice.

Sugarcane juice has the highest concentration of glycolic acid. Glycolic Acid is one of the Alpha Hydroxy Acids which are amazing for the skin. Now, I'll save the details about Alpha-Hydroxy Acids for another post. Let us discuss about what Glycolic acid can do for us. You must have heard of various kinds of skin peels of different concentrations from your dermatologist.

Benefits of Glycolic Acid

• It has the highest penetration capability into the skin. This is one of the reasons why they are used in chemical peels.
• It helps in improving the skin texture and conditions. It may help in reducing the wrinkles, scars, pigmentation on the skin, blemishes and even acne.
• When applied on the skin, Glycolic acid reacts with the upper layer of the skin and weakens the bonds which holds the dead skin together. So, this is how it helps in exfoliation.

Exfoliation for the skin around the Eyes

Simply apply a layer of sugarcane juice on the area around the eyes or even whole of your face and neck. Let it dry and wash it off with lukewarm water and follow with cold water. Follow with a moisturizer. It is extremely important that this is done in the evening or at night and sun exposure should be avoided as much as possible on the next day.

Results

The skin is brighter immediately and softer and your face glows. I had even made a chocolate mask using sugarcane juice which I had posted sometime back. Check that out too!!! And, for me results, are better on the next morning.

Btw, when I had applied it entirely around my eyes, the fine lines under my eyes which had become deeper lately coz of my lack of sleep had softened to a lot of extent. So, yes, it did work on my fine lines :)

Acne people can exfoliate too

Oh, so since there is no scrubbing and scratching of the skin involved, everyone who has acne can also give this a try. No bacteria transfers and no dangers of irritating or popping out the acne or breakouts by chance. And, there is an equal chance that it will heal your acne too. So, a double thumbs up for this remedy. Actually, if I remember correctly, I probably did use sugarcane juice on one of my breakouts and it did not really get aggravated :)

Caution

Glycolic acid used in chemical peels is generally not derived from sugarcanes. I think it is chemically manufactured. Since it is an acid and has a high penetration capability, it can irritating to some people. Thus, make sure you are not sensitive to sugarcane.

On a good note, sugarcane juice is entirely natural. So, there are extremely low chances of irritation on the skin due to sugarcane juice.

Oh, btw, use freshly extracted sugarcane juice and do not leave the juice around for more than 15 minutes. I starts to oxidize. So, use the sugarcane juice as soon as possible and drink the rest.

Do not pick on your skin!!

Ohk, so yes, I have been MIA for a very long time now and you have been seeing quite a few sporadic posts from me. The reason is I'm just being plain lazy. Give me a laptop and I will read all 24 hours but when it comes to writing for my own blog, it takes lot of diligence and patience. I do like to particular about my posts and make it as easy to read as possible so if I am not in mood, it kinda becomes difficult. So, yeah, life is not so good at the moment but then there is always a beacon of light shining at the end of the tunnel. I am just waiting to reach the end. And, before I run away with my philosophical perspicacity on my circumstances, I shall come to the topic of the day. If you remember, I had started a series of bad habits which we are not aware of consciously but are extremely harmful for our skin in December. So, continuing in that vein, today's bad habit to be eradicated is - Picking or Poking or unnecessarily irritating your skin.

Yes, I suffer from this very very bad habit and I have my college to blame for it. In my college, I has 1 or 2 stray hairs on my chin which my friends made fun of :( and I got into the habit of plucking them out with my nails. Very very Harmful habit as I have come to realize. It has many implications which I'll discuss with you in a short while. I have also seen a few other people who are addicted to this habit. 

Effects on Skin

So, what happens to skin if you pick or pluck on it?? Well, for one, your skin sags at those areas. Yes, it will make you look old. Secondly, blemishes and dark spots are a direct consequence because of the blood clots under your skin and it really takes a long while to heal. Thirdly, when you pick at your skin using your nails, you are harming the nails in the process. They get brittle, drier and unattractive. So, another incentive to stay away from this  habit.

Worst of all the consequences is bad breakouts. Oh Yes, it has happened with me and I am currently dealing with the situation :( It is not pretty at all, trust me. When you pick at your skin for whatever reason, the cells under the skin get irritated and if you are really insensitive with your skin, it can trigger and inflammation. This can easily happen when you are dealing with facial hairs or eyebrows and popping pimples. This inflammation can result in the worst form of acne - the bubbles filled with pus which you can't treat using anything (trust me, I have been there and done that !!). So, stop this habit right now. Your skin will thank you. Either learn to live with your skin as it is or do something else but do not pick at your skin. Just stop touching your skin with your fingers coz its equally bad as we know that bacteria from the fingers get settled on the face.

Now, I would not discuss in detail how to get rid of this habit coz I have been trying since quite a long time but have not yet been able to. But, strict self-control seems to be the light of the day. Habits die hard but it is said that if you can carry a habit for 21 days to be precise, it becomes a habit. So, control yourself for 21 days and you will live!!  

Honey as face cleanser

Happy Karwachauth to all of you :)

Well, I did nothing innovative today. I was just feeling like pampering myself and the only thing I had was honey. So, tried to use it as a cleanser. Today I used it after my scrub but a few days before, I used only honey to cleanse my face after a very long day. And, it worked so wonderfully :)

You do not have to do anything except take a little honey in your hands and rub it into your face in upward massage movements. I did the massage for around 15 minutes and then left it for 5 minutes. You should apply honey even on the eye area. Do not miss it out. It is good for wrinkles. After waiting, I washed it off with warm water followed by water at room temperature. My skin was amazing. It was glowing and had perfectly even skin tone. 

Note: Try to use organic honey. 

My blackheads did not disappear though. But, I did not expect them to. They need a little more work than simply working honey into your face. So, happy cleansing with honey and do share your experiences :)

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.

Daily Body Massage to cleanse your body

Body Massage is one of the oldest ways to detoxify your body. It has been recommended in Ayurveda as one of the best ways to keep your body and skin soft and radiant. It is touted that one should make body massage a daily habit. It helps relieve stress, muscle pains, improves blood circulation, nourishes skin, lose weight and detoxifies your body. A daily massage also helps your body become immune to muscle spasms and sprains and all other kinds of injuries. A warm oil body massage is even better. It helps prevent wrinkles and fine lines and blemishes, not only on your face but also on your body, and helps you take years off your body. It helps make your skin more elastic, firm and flexible preventing any aging signs for a longer time. Oh, the best benefit of daily body massage is that it helps you sleep and also helps get rid of insomnia.

We might want to indulge in spa massage luxuries as frequently as possible but the main hitch comes  as lack of time and money. So, the simplest way is to include a 5 minute daily massage into your daily routine. Of course, the relaxation and soothing effect of a masseuse would be missing but at least you can gain a little benefit than nothing at all. And, you can always ask your spouse or friends to help with it. Making kids walk all over your back is another great way of providing acupressure relief.. Just make sure your kid is below 5  and you can handle the weight otherwise you might end up breaking your back. I have been trying to make the body massage a daily routine for a week and would say that I have found many differences in my body in a week only. My skin has become more radiant, luxuriant and soft. And, it does not get dry skin bouts which I used to get from time to time. The fine lines under my eyes and on my neck have started diminishing. And, I have also done a little experiment by leaving the massage after a week. And, I have also noticed the effects of leaving the daily body massage. The skin is not so soft and smooth and luxuriant and of course, the fine lines and other aging signs are not any more vanishing. So, I have decided to stick on to the daily body massage regime.

In case pampering yourself with massage daily seems too much difficult due to reservations on your time, you might consider going for a professional body massage once in a month.  Find out a spa which has professional and trained masseurs. Kerela massage therapists are one of the best available in India so in case you re going for vacation there, reserve a day for their massages. I have heard that it costs anywhere between 15,000 - 30,000 for one sitting. And, a sitting is for around 3-5 hours.

Now, how to massage your body?

• First dilemma I faced with massaging my body was the time of massage. I, first, thought that body massage after a long day would be the best as it would help me relax. But, soon, I realized that the skin is not clean after all the exposure to sun and dust and pollution in the day. So, I figured a shower at night and massage in the morning would be a better routine. 
• Warm a bowl full of your favorite oil in the morning. Close all the windows and the doors to prevent exposure to cold wind. 
• Divide your body into 6 parts: chest and stomach, back, arms, legs, feet and face and neck. Now, start massaging your body starting from legs and arms. Use long single upward strokes on your arms and legs. Work towards the middle of your body or towards your heart. Use circular motions on your chest and back. You could ask anyone else to massage your back for you because it is not easy to reach your back. 
• Do not forget to massage your feet. This would relax your feet and prevent the skin to turn hard and crack in the heels.
• While massaging your face and neck, use the facial massage techniques.
• Keep massaging your body with your palms with even pressure applied from whole of your palm. I know that finger pads provide better results but you might get tired easily while doing self-massages so your might want to stick to using palms. You can spend two to five minutes on each of your body parts and you would get finished in fifteen minutes at max. 
• Wait for half an hour or so before you go for a shower. You can take a sauna or lie in a bath tub full of warm water to help your body absorb oil. 
• After the waiting period, you can take a shower. Just make sure you do not slip on the bathroom floor. You might want to wash your feet before entering the shower. 
• Use a mild soap to wash off the oil. You need not moisturize your body afterward. Or, you can, if you wish.

A tip: Sesame Oil is the best for an oil massage. Sesame oil is the only oil which can get absorbed in the blood stream and removes the toxins from inside. You can also infuse your massage oil with herbs like lavender, jasmine, rose, sage or other herbs. Read this post to know how to infuse oils with herbs.

Update: After a hot shower at night, you can devote 10-15 minutes to massage your body. Do not be generous with your oil. Instead use 5 drops of oil for each part of the body.

Use ginger to get rid of acne

Ginger is a very useful spice. And, it has great anti-oxidant and anti-aging properties along with its astringent properties which comes handy when you are dealing with a stubborn problem like acne. Acne can come in form of pimples, outbreaks or even worse. So, let us discuss what all you can do from ginger.

Ginger is great as a drink every day. Yes, it is pretty bitter in taste but it improves your skin from inside. It helps your body fight the free radicals and keeps your digestive system in order. It cleans out the toxins from your system. Ginger improves the blood circulation throughout the body and also cleans out the blood. Not only this, it also improves the skin tone and helps in getting rid of blemishes and spots. 

Squeeze out a little of ginger juice and apply it on your face or just the acne-affected areas and see your skin improve in a matter of days. It works very well for unexpected outbreaks and pimples. You can also use the juice as a face mask for blemished and sun-burnt skin. And, you can also help your body by including this spice in your daily diet. A little every day goes a long way. You can also use a little ginger in your spinach-lettuce juice in the morning. Pass a small slice of ginger along with spinach and lettuce while making the juice. It would give a spicy taste to your drink. And, not to mention, ginger is really good for throat infections, dry coughs and colds.

Honey: Elexir for Hair and Skin {Ingredient}

Honey is a natural humectant. It traps moisture and keeps your skin supple. It is anti-bacterial and prevents the skin breakouts. Many of the skin care and hair care products swear by the goodness of honey. The home remedies have their stock full of goodness of honey.

• put on a thick layer of honey on your face for 30 minutes and wash off.
• to remove scars, blemishes, even out complexion or any other marks on skin, apply honey on it.
• use it as an ingredients of various face masks.
• use it to clean your eyes
• use it as a hair conditioner (wash off or leave-in)
• use it as a last rinse for shine
• pour a table spoon of honey in bath water for a silky smooth skin