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

Beauty Formulas Heat & Cleanse Clay Mask {Product Review}

Price: Rs 175 for one package which includes 3 treatments

Ingredients

Pros

- is deep cleansing mask

- cleans the pores well

- relaxing for the skin because of its self-heating properties

Cons

- definitely expensive!!! 

- I wish self-heating stays for longer

My Experience

I found this at one of the New U shelves and it intrigued me so much that I picked it up. There were other packs also from Beauty Formulas which are worth a try, I suppose!! One of things which attracted me was the ingredient Zeolite which is the second on the list. Zeolite is a mineral and a type of clay like multani mitti. It occurs in many types and most used for water purification. It is also used in body detoxification. 

The product has 3 separate pouches. It is white in color with small blue beads which I am supposing are jojoba beads. The product has to be applied on wet face as water activates the heat in the mask. It goes like a completely transparent gel on to the skin and heats up immediately. The heat is like a really warm towel placed on your face and feels very relaxing.

Its supposed to be kept for 60 seconds but I generally keep it for 10 minutes. The product in a single packet is actually more than you can use at one time but its not storage-friendly so you have to use it at one go. So, I use it on my neck too but it can cover still more than that!!! Results? My skin feels cleansed and my pores look smaller afterwards. It didn't remove all my blackheads though!!! But, overall, I really liked the mask and its worth a try. 

Have you tried this product?

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

Should a face pack tingle or not? {Skin Care}

[Source: Google Images]

Hey Everyone!!! You might have wondered about the missing posts for Saturday and Sunday. The reality is that I forgot!!! Yeah, I know I am a bad blogger :( I have so many pending posts especially reviews and I am simply ignoring them. Ok, the truth is that the photo editor and touchpad are giving me a hard time so I am hard put to put images in the posts!!! 

So, today, I really wanted to discuss about something serious in skin care but I falling short of time so I thought I would put up a doubt which occurred to me today while using the Vedic Line Papaya face pack (review coming up tomorrow but I would definitely say it is a product to try out!!). The face pack always tingles for a minute when I apply it and it does have papaya extract. 

I have always liked my face packs to tingle on the skin but no other product. That always gives me the feeling that the face pack is doing its work. But, do you think that it should happen? Even the best of the face packs do tingle - Biotique or Liz Earle or Vedic Line or Dabur Uveda. For me, it really means that these products have active ingredients but then, I like the feeling only for a minute at max and it shouldn't transform into a burn or itch or even a red patch or anything of the sort. 

 

What about you? Do you like your face packs to tingle?

Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask {Product Review}

Price:13.50 Pounds (Rs 1200 approx) for 50 ml

Ingredients

Packaging

Everything came wrapped within the Zip pouch

Liz Earle knows the knack of how to make their customers feel special. So, there are no second thoughts about packaging - it is simple, classic and full of utility.

"In a nutshell"

Pros Gives a beautiful glow to the face as if you have applied a foundation and leaves the face looking dewy and radiant

Cons The effect stays for a very less time measured in a couple of hours

Wish List I wish that the effects are more than temporary.

My Experience
I have been using this product since over a month and I have really worked hard to make it work.  Unfortunately, it doesn't. It works for a very less time and that's all there is to the product. I was thinking it would be path breaking but I would say that the Deep Cleansing Mask is amazing and does more than a cleansing job!!! I have tried using this in the morning everyday and for quick fixes and both times, I observed that the effect was temporary.

It leaves the skin soft and supple and plumped up and if you follow it with the Instant Boost Tonic, your skin will stay moisturized for a long time. And, your skin will look really radiant and dewy as if you have applied a foundation which matches your skin tone so well that it disappears into your skin color. But, this effect is probably an hour to a few hours long. And, that's all.

When I tried keeping the mask for 2 minutes, the mask was not entirely absorbed and it looked as if the product is wasted than used and it didn't do any good to my skin. Unlike the advise on the packaging, I keep the mask on for 15-20 minutes and the mask gets absorbed completely into the skin and then, I can wipe off the residue with the muslin cloth provided along with the mask. Keeping the mask for 15-20 minutes ensures that my skin absorbs all the goodness of the mask and it makes my skin hydrated and nourished which I really like.

The mask is creamy and easy to apply and two pumps are enough to cover the neck and face both. You would want to apply a very thin layer of the product so that it is absorbed into the skin properly and easily. Applying more of the product really gives no results and in case of Liz Earle, 'less is really more'. The only thing I have to say is that I wish it had worked better.

Availability
Online - Liz Earle Website

PS: Product sent by brand for consideration. This review has been written over a course of time so you can find the timeline references. Pin It

Check out other reviews from Liz Earle:
Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask
Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint - Beige
Update on Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic
Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturizer
Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic
Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

Lakme Fruit Blast Berrylicious Fruit Revitalizing Scrub Mask {Product Review}

I was very much intrigued by the pink color of the mask and bought it. Its really one of a kind!!!

Price: Rs 150 for 50gms

Ingredients

Packaging

Nothing amazing but the deep pink of the pack will definitely attract your eyes as it is quite unusual. 

My Experience

The mask has to be applied on a wet skin and left to dry for 15 minutes and then, scrubbed and washed off. Applying the mask is easy as it spread smoothly on the wet skin but sometimes, it can get clogged at certain places. Not much of a problem though. And, you do feel nice thinking about a pink mask on your face. I was in love with the pink color of the mask (though, I am not much fan of pink as a general rule). Since the product has Bentonite and Kaolin (clays), it wouldn't probably suit the dry skin though the product says nothing about the skin types. And, I would say, I expected too much out of the product.

But, sadly, this mask does nothing to the skin. It looks like a toothpaste as you can see in the pic above and has a waxy feel to it. The scrub beads are wax beads as indicated by the ingredients list and they are less in concentration and sharp enough. And, it gives a very unpleasant feel of the product. I think jojoba beads would have been better here. It left my skin just as it was before. Not even an extra radiance and no difference in the softness. The only thing which I found was that this product gives a feel-good factor which goes away after first few uses. My only regret is that I wish it had done some good to my skin. 

My Recommendation

I think finding this product is a little difficult and I don't have any idea if it is still in the market. But, I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone. I think it is a little expensive too.

Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask {Product Review}

I am definitely in love with the brand. Almost all of its products work so fabulously. And, I would love to try more of them. So, lets check out how this worked for me?

Price: 13.25 Pounds (Rs 1000 approx) for 75ml

Ingredients 

The sponges are made up of 100% cellulose

Packaging

I love the packaging. The whole thing came in a zip pouch as you can see in the pic. Don't you just love it when you are treated special with such small considerations??? They sent two sponges two along with the mask to wash off the mask. 

the sponges get hard after being rinsed in water but nothing to worry about!!!

My Experience

Ok, so I look almost like Shrek when I have this on my face. As you can see, its a dirty green to grayish in color and smells weird, frankly. It is supposed to have rose-scented geranium but the smell is no where like rose and I don't know what Geranium smells like but it must be bad. The fragrance is also earthy and herbal which makes you feel good about the mask. And, the smell is not at all over-powering so no problems.

So, you are supposed to apply the mask in a generous layer after cleansing with Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser and let it stay for 5-10 minutes before wiping it off. Well, I thought 5-10 minutes is pretty less so I let it stay for 15-20 minutes but actually you can wipe it off as soon as it dries. Now, the mask doesn't dry off like other clay masks and doesn't get hardened. It just dries off and makes the face a little stiff. That's it!! So, you will know its time to wipe it off. So, use the sponges given, take one in each hand and wring it in hot water and wipe off the mask. When the whole thing is gone, splash cool water on the face and follow with a moisturizer. 

So, how does it feel when the mask is on? Frankly, its awesome. It feels hot or warmed up to a comfortable extent (I don't know if its a psychological feeling) and the first time I used it, it did tingle for 2 minutes on my face but never again. And, if feels comfortable to keep it on so you will feel nice. The warmth feeling goes away after probably 4-5 minutes. And, boy, you do feel like its a deep cleansing mask you have applied on. You can actually feel it working. And, what's the skin like after washing off the mask?

Well, I would say nothing special. Yeah, I know. It cleanses the skin well but it doesn't make our face light like a bulb or something. Liz Earle has a separate mask for that. The skin looks exactly the same as before, just that its more dewy and soft and oil-free and may be plump too because it does look a little hydrated. The best part of the mask is that it is so good at removing the excess oils. It doesn't make my face dry or anything. In fact, I would say that the first time I applied the mask, I was disappointed to find not much difference in the face. But, next day, I observed that there was comparatively less oil production. And, with regular usage of the mask, my face does produce less oil but then the temperatures are also cooling off to be fair. And, also after removing the mask, your face feels pleasantly cool and whatever treatment you follow up after the mask is absorbed really quickly into the skin. And, since we are talking about Deep Cleansing, you would definitely want to know about blackheads and pores size. So, as I have shared with you, much of my blackheads problem was solved due to using Groundnut oil for cleansing, the remaining ones did get removed along with the mask. And, the pores size do get reduced but that effect is temporary. Overall, I am very happy with the mask.

My Recommendation

Yes, an unequivocal yes for all the oily and combination skin gals out there. It really works!!!

PS: Product provided by the brand for consideration. 

Also Read other reviews on the same brand:
Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint - Beige
Update on Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic
Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturizer
Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic
Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

Face Mask Sheets or Face Masks? {Your Opinion}

[Images taken from Google]

Guaranteed that face mask sheets are easy to use and less messy and best to use while traveling. And, I have used only two till day in my life and I can't help being curious to ask you all about your feedback with the experience with face mask sheets?? Do you really think its worth it or they really work?

For me, I would say that any day I would prefer face masks (either DIY or store-bought) than face mask sheets. Somehow, I can't feel that the liquid of the sheet penetrates the skin even if you keep the mask for half hour or more on your face and it does get tiring after a while too coz you have to lie down and close your eyes. Compared to that, the face masks are messy and need more work but I feel they really act on the skin directly and a part of the product does get absorbed and yield results. Well, this may be a personal prejudice too but I was just curious as to what you all think about it???

Papaya for skin complexion {Reader's Tip}

So, this tip was posted by Manoj. So, this is what he says:

Hi, I'm Manoj. I'm dark skinned. I have been trying some natural skin exfoliating things. From my experience, papaya is the best skin exfoliant. Here is what I did:
1) Take a papaya fruit and make its pulp.
2) Apply its directly on the skin about 1 cm thickness.
3) Leave it until it starts getting dry, which would take 20 to 30 minutes.
4) The result is instant.
Your skin will get more lighter .

I have tried lemon juice, curd, etc. and they are effective but they give results in 3 to 7 days where as papaya gives instant results.

Thanks a lot for the tip, Manoj. Papayas are really beneficial in skin care and the reason it works best is that it has high levels of Alpha Hydroxy Acids and so caution should be used in using Papaya - do not use it more than once a week because AHA's can cause photo-sensitivity and irritate the skin of applied in high concentrations.

Fairness face packs with Pomegranate {Reader's Tip}

So, this is sent by Lancy of Makeup and Beauty Tips. Please feel free to visit her blog for more such articles.

FOR OILY SKIN
1. Wash your face with lukewarm water.
2. Mix the peel powder with lime juice and rose water.
3. Apply this paste over your face and neck. Allow it to dry for 15 minutes.
4. Wash it off with clean cold water and pat dry your skin.

FOR DRY SKIN
1. Gently wash your face with an hydrating face wash and warm water
2. Mix pomegranate peel powder with honey and milk. Blend it well to form a paste.
3. Apply this smooth cream evenly on your face and neck avoiding eye areas. Leave it for 20 minutes.
4. Wash it off with clean water and apply a moisturizer.

FOR NORMAL SKIN
Follow the same procedures listed above as per your convenience. You can mix little fuller's earth and rose water with the pack for a relaxing and cooling effect.

Best Facial Treatment {Reader's Tip}

Mix curd, turmeric and honey together on face and apply on the face. Leave till it dries. It is the best facial treatment your face can get.

Masks on wet skin {Tip of the Day}

Hey All!!! 

Today I want to share a tip which I have been trying out since quite some time. As you are already aware that moisturizer should be applied on damp skin for better results, I tried applying masks on damp skin too. Damp skin is more absorbent and this way, I suppose, skin is able to retain more moisture than otherwise. So, next time you apply a mask, try it out on wet skin and don't forget to remove the mask before it dries up completely. As I have already mentioned this point in one of my previous posts, face masks (clay ones and ones which completely dry out) should be removed befre they completely dry out. The reason is that they suck moisture due to the reverse osmosis if they lose their moisture. So, try applying masks on a damp skin and remove them before they completely dry out and do share your experiences :)

Hydrating and Cooling Face Pack {DIY}

Watermelon is an amazing fruit known for hydration and cooling properties.

Ingredients:

• Milk powder
• Watermelon juice

Method: Mix them both and apply on the face. Wash off with cold water.

Results: Soft, supple and well-hydrated skin. The results are more visible next day so apply this at night and follow with toning and moisturizing.

Grape Juice Face Pack {DIY}

So, I had used this amazing face pack and the results were as good as it tastes :) Ok, so first let me share with you all how I like my fruit juices. First thing is a thumb of rule which I follow and have been regularly advising you all on. Reduce your sugar intake. I do not like sugar in my fruit juices and I abhor ice cubes too because they dilute the juice and you get less of the quantity for your money :D So, I can easily use these fruit juices as face packs too. 

Now, grapes are amazing for skin because they are rich in tartaric acid. Tartaric Acid is one of the Alpha-Hydroxy Acids which are natural exfoliators and provide antioxidants to the skin in abundance. Thus, grapes are amazing for wrinkles and skin softening.

Ingredients

• Grape Juice
• Multani Mitti

Method: Mix both the ingredients and apply on the face avoiding the eyes and lips. Now, apply only grape juice on the eye area and the lips. Relax and let the face pack dry. It will take around 20-30 minutes. Wash off with warm water flowed by a cold water splash. 

Results: Immediate brightened, soft, supple and well-hydrated fresh skin is revealed. Grape juice also controls the oil production in the skin so it is an amazing mask for oily and combination skin. If you have dry skin, use cocoa powder or besan or some other flour instead of using multani mitti coz grape juice and multani mitti combined can be drying for the skin. This mask is amazing to get rid of problem or troubled skin. But, if you have sensitive skin, do a patch test to check if it suits you or not. It might be irritating for sensitive skin because of the tartaric acid in it. Firms and tones the skin. Regular usage would help with wrinkles.

Mango Face pack {DIY}

So, king of fruits and this is the season for the king. So, make way for him in your daily diet and in your skin regimes. Of course, keep a control because it has high levels of sugar. So, what does mango do for the skin. It is moisturizing and makes the skin soft and smooth. 

Ingredients: 

• Multani Mitti
• Mango pulp

Mix both the ingredients and create a face pack of smooth consistency. Apply a thick layer over a clean damp skin. Wait for 15-20 minutes. This one doesn't dry out like the regular clay masks so it is easy to remove. Scrub lightly while removing and wash off with cold water. Moisturize. Your skin will be soft and supple by next morning. It also increases hydration in the skin.

Warning:

• Do not use the skin of the mango for any beauty activity. It can cause mild to severe skin irritations.

Tips: 

• Always apply face masks over damp skin. It increases penetration. Use hot water to open the pores for more penetration and absorption.
• For removing the face packs, use dry cotton. It removes the face packs much more easily than wet cotton pads or wet wipes. This tip applies to the face packs which are creamier and do not dry on skin like clay masks. For clay masks, you have to use wet wipes or cloth or cotton pads.

When to remove Face Masks and Hair Packs?

Hey guys!! I am really sorry for not being at all particular with the posts. Kinda really busy these days so I'll probably even miss the first birthday of my blog which is on December 14. I can not believe a whole year has passed. I definitely have been very lazy in writing my posts many a days but I have tried to be as regular as possible. In case, I do miss the birthday of my blog, I shall do the festivities along with the Christmas and New Year or may be Pongal even. Gosh!! That will be really late but I am sure you will all forgive me. So, for today, I have a very simple tip to share with you all regarding the face packs and the hair packs. Now, I had shared the correct procedure for applying face masks. So, this is one additional procedure which should be followed stringently. 

Always remove the face masks and hair packs as soon as they are close to drying. When the face masks and hair packs dry completely, they start absorbing water from your skin or hair to compensate the loss of moisture in them due to the reverse osmosis process. And, this becomes very drying for your skin and hair in the long run. So, always remember to wash off as soon as the mask is close to drying. For hair, I have a tip that wash off your mask after an hour. One hour is enough to let your hair get the nutrients from your mask. If you are applying henna, always remove when the mask has dried otherwise you will find that your hair has become dry in nature. This is especially true for dry hair. Whenever you apply a hair mask, always put a shower cap on. This helps to hold the moisture inside. When you keep the hair packs and face masks beyond stipulated period, they can causing aging of your skin and drying of your hair. This holds true with the home remedies too. So, follow this tip and reap the benefits.

Sweet Potato facial and eye mask

Sweet Potatoes have amazing anti-aging benefits. It is rich in fiber, beta-carotene (vitamin A equivalent which fights free radicals int he body) and vitamin C, iron apart from vitamin B6, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc. It is one of the most nutritious foods available and can prevent wrinkles. The darker the potato, richer is it in its carotene content. It is also anti-diabetic.But, this definitely does not mean that you sit and feed on sweet potatoes. Reason being excess of carotene in your body can cause yellowish color deposits on your skin. This is nothing harmful but definitely embarrassing.

Sweet Potato Beauty Recipes

• Boil sweet potatoes. Let them cool and mash them. Add a dollop of honey. And, spread over your face. Do not forget the eye area. Let it stay for 20-30 minutes and wash off. You can also add other fruits and veggies you prefer.
• Instead of throwing the boiled water, soak your feet in it. It will do wonders for your feet. 
• Cut slices of sweet potato and place them on your eyes. It will rejuvenate your eyes and help with dark circles and wrinkles.

Go ahead and share some of your own.

Baking Soda for Acne

We all know that baking soda is an all-purpose ingredient in the kitchen. It can be used to bring volume to your hair, whiten teeth naturally, as a lip scrub or body scrub, even washing the hair and, what is more, washing clothes and utensils about the house. 

Today, I bring another skin care use of baking soda. This is for acne. Make a paste of baking soda with water and apply to the affected parts anywhere on the body. Wait till it dries off and wash with cold water. Do it at least twice a week but no more than once a day. Your skin will become smooth and acne-free.

Vegetarian Sandwich Facial

Sounds intriguing!!! This is not my original idea of facial. I came across this in some magazine. The article was discussing a recently opened spa on some highway road where you can get a vegetarian sandwich facial. And, it also states why. Because, any vegetarian sandwich has the goodness of all the veggies, bread (yeast is good for skin) and butter (softening for skin). So, I thought that I should just give it a try. There are some considerations before you try this. Choose the bread carefully. Make sure there is no fungus on it and if you can bake it at home, nothing better than that. 

Prepare a vegetarian sandwich using your favorite vegetables like cucumber, tomato, onion, spinach, cabbage, carrot, broccoli, potato, mint, coriander, corn, broccoli, even cottage cheese (paneer). You can add anything else according to your preference. Be inventive like add a handful of sesame seeds or even try adding dry fruits or other fruits. Just make sure nothing is cooked. Everything should be raw. No salt, sugar, pepper or any other spice. Instead of regular butter, either use milk cream on the bread or white butter freshly churned at home. Now, put the sandwich in a blender and create a paste. You might need to add liquid to help in blending so use any fruit juice or vegetable juice or even milk. Blend only so much to make a consistent paste. Excess blending will make the mixture more watery and it will be all runny over the face. Now, smooth the mixture on your face. Keep till it dries off which may take a very long time. Or, for at least half an hour. Wash off. Your skin would be smooth and glowing.