Face Care Tips

Caring for your skin requires a daily routine programme. You have to give your skin some time and repeat the process every day, no matter what. The good news is that this process only has to take five minutes and includes four easy and pleasurable steps. And if you have selected quality skin care products appropriate for your kind of skin, performing this simple regimen can produce almost immediate and visible results. So you should carry out this skin care regimen just before going to bed because it gives you the chance to clean your skin of all make-up and environmental residue it has gathered during the day.

Hair Care Tips

Hair Loss
We loose 50 to 80 strands of hair per day. Do not get alarmed, this is quite normal. Unless there is some deficiency in diet, or ill health, lost hair is quickly replaced by new ones. Each hair grows between one quarter and one half inch each month.

Reasons for hair loss

Hair loss can be triggered off by various reasons, internal diseases, reaction to drugs, dietary deficiencies, scalp diseases, menopause, childbirth, are common causes, which lead to a loss of essential nutrients and minerals from the scalp. Another cause of hair loss that is usually overlooked is hair damage. Excessive stretching and tugging with hard combs and styling appliances, exposure to extreme heat, regular use of rollers and blow-drying, perming and colouring lead to this problem. Alopecia aerate is another alarming scalp disease. In this disease hair growth may be normal in most areas few bald patched occurring in many parts of the scalp. It maybe confined to one area or the patches may increase and enlarge, merging onto each other and finally resulting in total baldness. The main cause of this is tension and anxiety. It is essential to remember that hair must be treated gently. Vigorous scalp massage in out, it would result in further hair loss. A wide toothed comb should be used.

Hair Care Tips

Natural treatment

Success has been achieved through use of plant extracts that promote hair growth and improve the health of the scalp. Henna, reetha, shikakai, amla, bael have been used for controlling hair loss since age-old days. These extracts have no side effects.

Home Recipes

Applications of castor oil and iodine alternately for a week is excellent for this problem. Steam the head by wringing out a hot towel and wrapping it around the head. Then shampoo and use a conditioner. A conditioner offers your hair a buffer against external damage – also making it more manageable.
Soak about 200 grams of reetha in four glasses of water. Leave overnight. Next morning, boil the mixture for 10 to 15 minutes. Squash the reetha seeds and strain the water. Apply to hair.
A paste of lemon seeds and black pepper can be applied on bald patches, twice a week.
Massage whipped egg white all over the scalp. Allow it to dry before washing off.
Wash hair with a paste of cooked ‘ urad dal’ and fenugreek (methi), three times a week.
Combine together 5 tablespoons of pure undulated coconut milk with one tablespoon of lemon juice. Massage well into the scalp. Most soaps and shampoos have chemicals, use amla and shikakai instead. Oiling and massaging the scalp is a must once a week. Use aloe Vera oil, or coconut oil or mustard oil twice a week. Check your diet – take sufficient proteins and vitamins. Minerals and iodine are also important. Iodine helps improve circulation of blood in the scalp.
Hair must be protected from treatments that cause damage so a regular hair care routine must be followed. Unfortunately, we sit up only when we are confronted with a problem.

Is shampooing daily harmful for the hair?

Everyday washing shouldn't be a concern as long as you are using a mild shampoo, which can suit your normal hair. Something that nourishes while it cleanses. If your hair doesn't feel unclean, just sweaty it is okay to simply rinse out the sweat too if you choose to.
Also, after wash, keep your damp hair in a turbaned towel for about 15 minutes. Finger comb it in a gentle massage like movements and only brush gently.

The right way of washing Hair

Oiling my hair every time does not help it in any way. On the contrary, you end up using more shampoo every time, damaging the hairs natural oil balance, making it dry. Once a fortnight oiling is just fine.
To wash your hair, always wet it first before applying shampoo. Then, lather it by massaging with your fingertips. Rinse thoroughly until squeaky clean. Pat dry and finger comb out the tangles or use a wide tooth comb.

How to treat split ends?

Split ends, which are mainly caused when your hairs cell fail to hold together are result of exposure to harsh elements, chemicals or even excessive brushing.
The right kind of shampoo will minimize hair damage. Meanwhile it is also important to replenish ceramides, which are hairs natural cement, and is responsible for holding the hair cells together. A ceramides enriched shampoo will help repair hair fibre and reduce split ends.
To maintain Oily Hair
Oily hair always goes with any oily skin. The scalp has a tendency to secrete excess oil, which makes it lank and greasy. It is therefore important to keep the scalp will only activate the oil glands causing further oiliness. So will combing more than required more so ever, do not succumb to the temptations of a harsh shampoo, which temporarily restores your hair but in the long run harms it.
Using a special shampoo for oily hair is the best, which is gentle enough to be used often. Also essential is to rinse at the shampoo thoroughly finishing with cold water.

For thin and limp Hair

Thin, limp, hair does not have a tendency to fall flat and dead. What you need is a volume booster. For starters choose your shampoo carefully. Ordinary shampoos donut do much for your kind of hair. Look up a shampoo especially for limp hair
Secondly, donut comb your hair when wet, Let it dry naturally and finger comb it. A hair dryer can boost your hair for a while but on a regular basis can prove harmful for your hair. Then, brush your brush straight from your scalp and shake it free.

For Dry Brittle Hair

First check your shampoo! If you are using a harsh, unsuitable shampoo, it will not only dry your hair, it will cause breakage and dry scalp may turn flaky and cause a lot of other problems.
Use an especially mild shampoo made for dry hair. One fortified with essential oils to replace the last nourishment is ideal. A good conditioner also helps soften dry hair. After wash keep your damp hair in a turbaned towel for about 15 minutes. Finger comb it in a gentle massage like movements-this-will activate the oil glands in your scalp. Then brush it gently. Oil massages followed by a steamy, hot towel on your head every 15 days will also help get rid of dryness.

Skin Care with aloe

Winter cosmetic: aloe
You can find aloe as one of the components in many cosmetic products. Actually aloe is used in cosmetic and medical fields about 3500 years! South Africa is considered Motherland of aloe. Now it is widespread all over the world. The reason of such popularity is the rich composition of the plant. It has natural antiseptics (salicylic acid, phenol, sulfur and lupeol) and organic acids (cholesterol, camphor and B-sitosterin) and biostimulants.

In cosmetic aloe is used in creams and lotions in concentration 2-15%. Component aloe nourishes, moistens and recovers skin, protects skin from bacterial aggression. Aloe is especially effective in the facial skin care. Today I offer some recipes of facial masks with aloe.

Take 2 tablespoons of fresh aloe juice and mix with white of egg. Put the mask on the face for 15 minutes. This mask is especially recommended for inflamed skin with acne. Mix 2 tablespoons of fresh aloe juice with 1 tablespoon of camomile decoction and 1 tablespoon of honey. The mask is put on the face and neck for 10-15 minutes. Also you can use calendula or mint instead of camomile.

Here is “Mask of Youth”. Mix aloe juice and cream in equal proportions. Wet gauze napkins in the mixture and put on the face. This mask freshens up the skin and makes skin’s color better.

Dry LIps

No matter if lips are exposed to the drying heat of summer or the bitter cold of winter, oftentimes the delicate skin on the lips is the first to feel damage. With a little help from nature, chapped lips don’t have to hang around as long as the storm or heat wave does. Try one of these easy treatments for dry, cracked, and sore lips.



Honey

Honey is an excellent choice as a treatment for a bad case of chapped and cracked lips because it is moisturizing and healing. Honey is safe to use on small cuts, and it is antibacterial so it will also keep lips from getting infected. Use honey on lips before going to bed at night, or apply throughout the day. A half hour treatment should help smooth and heal chapped lips, and it can be done several times a day for severe cases.



Olive Oil

Extra virgin olive oil is a good moisturizer for a case of dry lips, and can usually be found in just about any kitchen. For natural product choices out on the market, aim for a blend of olive oil and beeswax for a smooth consistency and thick coverage, especially helpful in the blistering cold.



Aloe Vera

If the lips are chapped or over-dry from exposure to the sun, aloe vera might be a good choice for soothing and cooling the burn. Use the gel directly from a piece of aloe plant, or find a gel that is pure aloe vera for your lips. After using the gel from the inside of the plant, it can be broken open and the clear and wet inside flesh can be rubbed directly on the lips. Put it in the fridge to help refresh the piece until there is no more moisture.



Drink more Water

Chapped lips are often a sign that there is not enough water in the body to keep the skin hydrated. If chapped lips seem to be a recurring theme, try increasing your water consumption.



Shea Butter

Shea butter is extremely moisturizing and nourishing to the skin, and it is said to mimic the skin’s natural oils. If commercial products and other oils do not work for you, mild shea butter might. Shea butter is also a good choice for sensitive skin, which is what makes it a popular choice for baby lotions and other baby products.

Cold Weather

Cold weather can be a real drag. Freezing temperatures, bitter wind-chill factors, even frostbite can take their toll on health, motivation and productivity.

Here are some tips to keep you warm and well all winter long.

Temperature

The temperature of each body part is directly related to blood flow to that area. When the outside temperature drops your body automatically directs blood vessels near the surface of the skin to constrict in order to redirect blood flow toward vital internal organs like the heart and brain. It is the body's way of keeping vital organs warm and working. Hands and feet, which have many blood vessels at the skin's surface, are particularly sensitive to this process and lose alot of warming blood as a result.

Eat to Heat

Eating is another antidote to cold, since the digestion proocess produces heat. Choose something hot. Although the amount of actual heat ingested is small, hot foods and beverages give the nervous system a warmth signal that encourages blood flow to the extremities. Spicy foods will also do this.

While hot coffee and tea may seem like perfect warmer-uppers, caffeine actually constricts blood vessels, making extremities colder. Alcohol is another poor choice when you're chilled. Alcohol is dehydrating and may supress shivering, the involuntary muscle contractions through which the body warms itself. Tobacco also constricts blood vessels and acts to cool the body.

Layering

Air trapped between layers of clothes insulates better than a single heavy garment. Here are the basics.

Layer 1
Start with an undershirt or long johns in fabrics which trap body heat and wick moisture away from skin. Socks should be made of wool or wick-dry synthetics like Coolmax.

Layer 2
Wear long-sleeved cotton denim or flannel shirts which allow moisture to evaporate.

Layer 3
Pants and vests made of wool keep body core warm without bulk. Waterproof boots with felt liners or other insulation keep feet dry and warm.

Layer 4
Choose coats and jackets with fleece linings and outer shells made of wind and water-resistant nylon. Fleece is the fabric favored by professional skiers and mountain climbers because it retains natural body warmth even when wet and has a very high "warmth to weight" ratio making it effective without being bulky.

Layer 5
Hats and neck warmers go a long way in keeping the entire body warm, since we lose more than half our body heat from our heads.

Hot Rods

Keep you Warm. . . Even in Freezing Temperatures
Hot Rods Garmets and Hot Rods Warming Packs are in a class by themselves when it comes to protecting you against winter's worst weather conditions. Simply slip air-activated, time release Hot Rods Warming Packs into specially designed pockets of Hot Rods Bandanas, Headbands, Hats, Neckwarmers, or Vests to experience super warming, go everywhere, long lasting heat action. Warming Packs are also great for use in gloves, shoes and pockets.

Moisturizing Cream

Ingredients:
4 tablespoons apricot kernel oil.
8 tablespoons lecithin.
2 tablespoons water (distilled or purified).
2-4 drops of your favorite perfume,

Preparation:
Blend the ingredients well in a glass bowl until it becomes a smooth paste.

Use on face, neck, arms, hands, legs and feet.

This moisturizing lotion is also an excellent make-up base.

Beauty for Summer

Cool and Refresh Feeling.

Tip 1


Ingredients:
1/2 kg. peeled cucumbers.
1/2 kg. white lard.
1/2 pint milk.
1/2 kg. melon pulp.

Preparation:
Chop the cucumbers into tiny squares, Put all the ingredients into a non-metallic bowl and then into a bowl of water heated over a low flame.

Heat for a period of ten to twelve hours without letting the mixture boil.

Strain through a cheese cloth. As the mixture cools, let it congeal.

Keep in a glass jar. Use for a cooling and refreshing feeling.


Tip 2

Ingredients:
1/2 peeled and grated cucumber.
3 drops witch hazel.
1 teaspoon honey.
2 tablespoons milk.
1 drop peppermint oil.
1 teaspoon cold water.

Preparation:
Mix all the ingredients well and apply to the face. Other than softening and nourishing your skin, this cucumber mask cools and refreshes you.

Apply to face and keep on for 5-10 minutes. Wash off with plenty of cool Water. Moisturize.