Skin care

Skin:

Skin is a kind of sheath that separates you from the outer environment. It protects your internal organs from getting exposed to the harsh climatic condition. Skin helps in maintaining body temperature. It also helps you in perceiving sensation of touch.

Any problem in skin or any kind of infection to the skin can causes threat to the internal organs. So it is very essential to know the type of skin you possess, as right care of skin can help in reducing any skin problems and avoid diseases.
Know Your Skin

There are mainly five types of skin. These are:

• Normal skin
• Dry skin
• Oily or greasy skin
• Combination skin
• Sensitive skin

For the right care of skin, it is very important to know the type of skin we possess. It is very simple to know that what kind of skin you possess by following procedure mentioned below.

Whenever you wake up in morning, wipe your face with dry tissue soon after leaving your bed. If you find oil on that tissue, you possess oily or greasy skin. If you find grease on the center panel then you possess combination skin. If there is no grease at all then you either have dry or normal skin.

Now to check weather your skin is dry or normal. Just do one thing, wash your face with non-greasy soap and water. If you are left with the feeling of stretchiness and tightness on skin then you possess dry skin otherwise you have normal skin. If in daily routine you easily get skin allergies, rashes, itches and boils then your skin supposed to be sensitive.

Types of Skin:

There are mainly five types of skin.

• Normal skin: It not the most common type of skin. It is soft, smooth, velvety and evenly textured skin with no flaky dead cells and no pores visible. Proper distribution of oil and moisture is there that makes it a balanced skin i.e. not excessively dry and not excessively greasy. It is clear and free from blemishes.

• Dry skin: Skin is said to be dry, when skin is dull, patchy, reddened and flaky especially around eyes. Dry skin may cause formation of fine lines on cheeks, under eyes and corners of mouth. These conditions happen when oil or sebaceous glands are not supplying good nourishment and lubrication to the skin. If proper care is not given to the skin then it may lead to initiation of wrinkles in early age.

• Oily or greasy skin: This kind of skin is thick, dull in color and shiny in appearance. Due to over secretions of oils or sebum through oil gland, makes skin pores open and skin becomes sticky, which attracts dirt and dust from the environment. Due to this tendency, dirt and dust particles blocks the skin pores which are already widely open in oily skin leads to problems like black head, white head, acne and other skin related problems.

• Combination skin: Commonly seen skin texture which is the combination of two kind of skin i.e. some of the skin area is dry and some of the area is oily. Usually it follows the pattern of “T” i.e. the greasy part is usually the portion which is vertical to nose crossing nose (nose, mouth and chin) and horizontal on fore head and hence referred to as “T-Zone”. The area left i.e. cheeks is comparatively dry.

• Sensitive skin: This kind of skin is very sensitive to any change in environmental conditions or any kind allergies, which may be caused due to procedures like bleaching, makeup’s and other external applications.



Top 10 Skin Care Tips:

Healthy and glowing skin is the most cherished wish that everyone in this world thought about. With few easy guidelines you can make your dream comes true. They are:

• Wash your skin gently and with lots of care.
• Moisturize your skin regularly.
• Eat healthy food and avoid junk food.
• Avoid use of chemicals on your skin.
• Protect your skin from over exposure of sun by using sunscreens.
• Carry an umbrella or a cap with you when overexposed to external environment
• Don’t smoke and drink excessively
• Shave with care and softly. Only shave in direction of hair growth
• Use of good skin cleansers and toners regularly to open up blocked pores.
• Drink lots of water and fresh fruit juices.

Natural Beauty Recipes:

Beauty is largely associated with your look. Your glowing skin will speak more to others than you. So, it’s always very essential to take proper care your skin. Another great beauty asset is your long silky hairs. It just reveals your personality and confidence. But you need not to worry about them any more because there are some very easy home cures to take care of your natural beauty.

• Peel, grate and squeeze the juice of a cucumber. Mix it with ½ tsp each of glycerin and rose water. Apply this if you are suffering for sun burns.

• Try chocolate mask to make your skin smooth. Take 1/3 cup cocoa, 3 tsp of heavy cream, 1/3 cup ripe papaya, ¼ cup honey and 3 tsp of oatmeal powder. Mix them together. Smooth on your face. After 10 minutes, wash your face with warm water.

• Mix oats with honey, yogurt and ground almonds. Apply this to your face, leave it for five minutes and wash with lukewarm water.

• Melt paraffin wax; mix it with little mustard oil and apply on the affected area. Leave it on overnight. After 10 or 15 days, your cracked heels will become smooth.

• For dandruff problem; soak 1 tbsp of fenugreek seeds overnight. Grind them into a paste. Apply on hair for an hour and wash it off using gram flour paste.

• For dry, flaky skin on your arms and legs, try this concoction. Mix 6 tsp petroleum jelly, 2 tsp each of glycerin and lemon juice. Apply this moisturizing lotion at least twice a week.

• For a glowing skin, heat 4 tbsp of almond oil, 2 tbsp each of lanolin, petroleum jelly and extra virgin olive oil. Blend all these ingredients and massage into your skin.

• A facemask of egg white and honey gently removes the tan from your face.

Natural Beauty tips:

Keeping your skin fresh and healthy in this era of pollution and dust is really a great challenge. But with proper care and healthy routine, it’s easy to maintain your beauty for long and prevent aging. Some of the effective tips that help your skin to glow and reflect your great personality are:

• Protect your skin from harmful ultra violet (UV) rays. UV rays causes skin cancer and also makes your skin to age faster with unsightly wrinkles.

• Drink plenty of water (at least 8 glasses a day). It is very essential for good health which in turns leads to healthy skin.

• Keep your skin clean. Use a soft warm cloth. Skin does not require scrubbing.

• Take a well balanced diet. Include lots of fruits and vegetables. Improper eating habits can cause depression, weight gain, illness and an overall lethargy.

• Maintain a proper weight because weight gain causes your skin to stretch and as you get older, it loses its elasticity and you're left with sagging skin.

• Do physical activities for at least 30 minutes per day. Or 30 minutes of vigorous aerobics, or 12 minutes of weight lifting and 18 minutes of walking.

• Always try to be happy and relax. Talk to your friends, family or anyone you like and be in a happy mood.

• Take a good sleep of minimum eight hours. Avoid sitting a lot in front of computers, laptops or television. It makes you tired and may affect your health.

Body Scrubs for Natural Beauty:

There are number of Beauty Products in the market but Body Scrubs are very essential among them because they help to remove dead cells from your body and keeps them smooth and fresh looking. Normally skin sheds dead cells every day but after the age of 35, the dead cells that make up the outer layer of your skin are not shed as rapidly as when you were younger. As dead cells accumulate, they make your skin look dull and dry and you lose the healthy, radiant look that characterizes youthful skin.

You can improve the appearance of your skin by regularly removing the top layer of dead skin cells, a process called exfoliation. Exfoliation is accomplished by using grainy scrubs that physically remove dead cells through gentle abrasion, or fruit-enzyme skin peels or alpha-hydroxy acid skin peels, which dissolve the top layer of dead skin cells.

• Natural Scrubs: Natural scrubs are made from finely ground fibrous plant material such as oatmeal, corn meal, almonds, and apricot kernels. Be cautious when using grainy scrubs, because many are too harsh to use on the delicate skin of your face.

• Fruit Enzyme Skin Peels: Fruit-enzyme peels are made from fruit or vegetable enzymes that exfoliate the skin in approximately 20 minutes without scrubbing. Dead skin cells are composed primarily of protein, and enzyme peels digest the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin without harming new cell growth. Enzyme peels are gentle exfoliators and leave skin noticeably smoother and softer after only one treatment.

• Alpha Hydroxy Acid Skin Peels: Alpha-hydroxy acids are natural exfoliators derived from foods such as citrus fruits (citric acid), sour milk (lactic acid), grapes (tartaric acid), sugar cane (glycolic acid), and apples (malic acid). Alpha-hydroxy acids improve skin texture and color, reduce fine lines and age spots, and make pores appear smaller. Although you will usually notice smoother skin after the first treatment, you'll need to use alphahydroxy acids on a regular basis for two months or longer to see a significant improvement in skin texture and diminishment of fine lines.

Diet for Healthy Skin:

Everyone wants to possess a radiant glowing skin, thick lustrous hair, healthy nails and bright sparkling eyes. The food that we eat is of utmost important to achieve this goal. A balanced diet of proteins, carbohydrate and fats with the required amount of minerals and vitamins is essential for good, healthy looks.

Vitamins: Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, the deficiency of which causes lusterless hair and a dull complexion.

Vitamin A is an important Vitamin for over all health and beauty of your body. It encourages bright, healthy eyes, contributes to hair growth and discourages dandruff, keeps your skin healthy and prevents acne and also makes nails strong. A deficiency of Vitamin A causes rough scaly skin, brittle nails and inflamed eye lid.

Vitamin A is found in pineapple, mango, strawberries, carrots, spinach, tomatoes, green leafy, milk, cream, cheese, butter, yoghurt, chicken and fish.

A shortfall in Vitamin B might cause acne, excessive weight, dandruff, falling hair, and malfunctioning of the digestive system.

Vitamin B is found in meat, liver, fish, poultry, lentils, cabbage, peas, beans, potatoes, coconut, milk, tomato, orange, bran, oatmeal, rye, almonds, nuts, peanuts.

Inadequate quantities of Vitamin C cause skin eruptions. If taken in sufficient amounts, this Vitamin cures health problems, helps reduce weight, and encourages healthy bones, gums and body tissue. Vitamin C is present in tomato, potato, carrot, turnip, cabbage, lemon, orange, grapes, banana, mango, amla.

Adequate supply of Vitamin D prevents premature ageing. The deficiency of this vitamin can cause rickets, acne and brittle bones. Vitamin D is present in Cod liver oil, milk, cheese, yoghurt, eggs.

Besides helping cure hair problems, Vitamin E aids fertility and prevents premature ageing. Vitamin E is present in eggs, vegetable oils, peanut and wheatgerm oil, margarine.

Fibre: Fibre is very important. This indigestible carbohydrate is concentrated in the peel and rinds of fruits and vegetables and in the outer layers of grains and pulses. Fibre rich promote radiant glossy skin and clear eyes.

Protein: The proteins are needed for repair of body tissues. The skin and hair need enough protein and the deficiency causes dull and dry skin and scalp. Important sources of protein are soya beans, sprouts, cheese, paneer, milk, grains, peas and beans (rajmah).

Water: Drink 7-8 glasses of water daily.


Skin Care Tips:

Skin care not only helps in maintaining the looks of a person but also produces a sense of well-being and helps in rejuvenation of the mind. To maintain the god-given beauty, we have to take care of our skin.

For facial skin care, just whatever fruit you eat, keep a small piece for your face. Mash it and apply on your face. This way the fruit will work both ways at the same time – internally and externally, to give you good health and a beautiful glow to your face.

In general the mashed pulp or the juices of all the fruits are good for the healthy, glowing and a blemish free complexion. They stimulate the skin by improving blood circulation.

Below are some simple and effective home remedies for your healthy skin care:

• Mix equal amounts of almond oil with honey. Apply on face regularly. Keep for 10-15 minutes before washing off. It improves complexion.

• Mix 1 tsp wheat flour (atta or besan), 1 tsp cream (malai) and a paste of 10-12 almonds soaked overnight with little coconut oil to form a smooth paste. Apply on face. Leave for 20-25 minutes and then wash off. Doing this regularly will improve your complexion tremendously.

• Mash a ripe apricot (Khumani) and apply pulp or juice on the face and neck or simply take an apricot slice and rub it all over the face and neck. Leave it for 20 minutes before washing off. Apricot has nourishing and firming qualities. It therefore nourishes, rejuvenates and tightens your skin. It also helps in lightening stretch marks and smoothening wrinkles. It is a popular ingredient in many beauty/ cosmetic preparation such as face scrubs, masks etc. It is good for all type of skins.

• Mash a slice of ripe papaya and apply on the face. Leave it for 15-20 minutes and the wash off. Papaya contains enzymes which soften dead cells and removes them and so it makes an excellent nourishing and a rejuvenating mask.

• Mask a slice of a ripe peach and apply on the face or rub a peach slice all over your face and neck. An excellent nourishing mask for dry skins.

• Mix together 1 tablespoons of orange juice with ½ tablespoon of honey and apply on the face. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes and then wash off. A good moisturizing and toning mask for dry skins. Alternatively you can add some multani mitti to the face mask pack. Increase the amount of honey and orange juice to get a smooth paste.

Natural Beauty Secrets:

Beauty is the evergreen topic especially if you are very concerned to your look. Natural ingredients available at your home have essential vitamins, minerals, nutrients and healing properties that work with your body to heal and protect the skin naturally without any cosmetic cover ups.

• Mix a slice of pumpkin with egg yolk and milk. Let this mask set on your face for 30 minutes for a glowing skin.
• Mix ½ cup honey to your bath water for soft and smooth skin.
• Paste of mint leaves and almonds, mixed with warm water and applied all over body till it dries and rinsed off with warm water makes a soothing body pack.
• For dark underarms and neck - apply lemon juice mixed with cucumber juice and a pinch of turmeric daily. Leave this on for 20 minutes.
• A mix of crushed mint leaves and oats applied for 20 minutes and washed off with warm water will reduce pimples.
• For hairs on your face, apply a sticky paste of egg white blended with sugar and corn flour. When it dries, gently peel it off. Repeat this three to four times a week.
• For supple skin, apply a ripe mashed banana on your face for 20 minutes daily.
• Try this natural bleach to lighten the tan. Mix orange peels (sun dried and powdered) with milk. Apply this paste for 25 minutes and rinse off.


Beauty Recipes for Glowing Skin:

For a healthy, radiant and glowing skin you just need to open your kitchen cabinet and with a couple of minutes your can make some very effective natural beauty products. Many of the items in your kitchen can provide natural skin care that even those expensive, chemical filled beauty cosmetics and products do not provide that cost a big portion of your pocket money.

Below are some effective home made beauty preparations that will help you to keep your skin healthy and glowing.

• Try olive oil as a moisturizer. You can also use it to soothe sunburned skin.

• Vinegar can work wonders for smelly feet and armpits. Mix water and vinegar 50/50, and use in place of deodorant: it will keep the unpleasant sweat smell away, without any irritation.

• Egg yolk mixed with honey makes a good face mask. Put it on your skin, leave it on for 20 minutes, and rinse off. It is excellent for sensitive skins.
• Mash avocados, smooth it onto your face, and rinse off after 20 minutes. It is a great treatment for dry skin.

• Mix honey, lemon and vegetable oil for a great home made moisturizer for your dry skin. Apply this concoction for 10 minutes.

• For dark circles under the eyes, dip cotton pads in chilled mixture of cucumber and potato juice. Keep this on your eyelids for 15 to 20 minutes and gently wash it off.

Home Made Bath Salts for Natural Glow

Home Made Milk Bath Salt
Ingredients:
2 cups of powdered milk
1 cup of cornstarch
Instruction:
Blend together 2 cups of powdered milk with 1 cup of cornstarch.
Then add approximately 10 drops of the essence oil of your choice for
fragrance. You can store this mixture in a non-porous container for
about 1 week.

Romantic Bath Salts
Ingredients:
2 cups Epsom salts
1 cup Sea salt
10 drops red
10 drops of sandalwood essential oil
5 drops of ylang ylang essential oil
10 drops of rose essential oil
Instruction:
In a large bowl mix salts first, and then adds the other ingredients
slowly. Then add 3-4 tablespoons to hot running bath water.

Honey and Milk Bath Recipe
Ingredients:
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup powered or whole milk
Instructions:
Add ingredients to running hot bath water. Honey and milk will
soothe, soften, and moisturize your skin.

Uplifting Bath Salts
Ingredients:
2 cups Epsom salt
1 cup Sea salt
Food coloring (4 drops red, 6 drops yellow)
8 drops of orange essential oil
6 drops of neroli essential oil
6 drops of lavender essential oil
3 drops of lemon essential oil
Instruction:
Mix salts in a large bowl and then add the other ingredients slowly.
Then add 3-4 tablespoons to hot running bath water. This bath salt
will surely uplift your spirit.

Energizing Bath Salts
Ingredients:
2 cups Epsom salts
1 cup Sea salt
6 drops eucalyptus oil
10 drops green food coloring, 5 drops blue
10 drops rosemary oil
15 drops peppermint oil
Instruction:
Mix salts in a large bowl and then add the other ingredients slowly.
Then add 3-4 tablespoons to hot running bath water. This bath salt
will surely energizes you with freshness.