Beauty ingredients and their functions (A – B)

“A”

Alfalfa - helps to promote hair growth.

Aloe Vera - this fleshy leaved plant has a cooling effect on skin. Especially beneficial to hair and skin, it may be combined to form shampoos, creams and hair oils.

Almond - belongs to the nut family. It has high nutritious value. Promote healthy teeth, bones and skin. It is an excellent skin cleanser, softener and provide nourishment. Widely used in facial scrubs and face masks.

Almond oil - rich oil with softening and nourishing properties

Alum - a sulphate of potash and alumina. Used as a styptic.



Amla or Phylanthus Emblica - helps hair growth, prevent premature graying and controls dandruff. It has excellent 'darkening' properties.

Apple - a lovely, juicy fruit. It contains vitamin A, C, potassium and pectin. Improves texture of the skin and can be made into cider or vinegar.

Apricot - golden, peachy looking fruit with high nutritional value. It can be eaten fresh or dried. Apricot is used in peel off facial mask.

Avocados - high nutrition content; rich in vitamins, minerals, and oil. The greenish yellow pulp may be eaten. It is also used in face masks.

“B”

Butter milk -'the residue' after butter has been churned from cream.

Banana - herbaceous plant edible with nutritious value. It can be used in face masks.

Barley - the grain of barley i.e., pearl barley is rich in iron and phosphorous. Widely used to soothe and cool the body system. Also used in face masks and as a beauty drink.

Basil- Tulsi is an aromatic culinary plant with medicinal properties.

Beer - made from fermented malt barley, sugar, hops, yeast and water. It can be used to set the hair.

Beeswax - used in the preparation of face cream.

Bengal gram flour - has smoothening properties. It is used widely in face packs and complexion scrubs.

Benzoin - 'gum' from Eastern tree used in medicine and perfumery. When heated it yields benzoic acid.

Benzoic Acid - used as preservative in the preparation of cosmetic creams.

Bi carbonate of soda - used to whiten teeth.

Black berry - 'the bramble'. A scrub with fruits.

Borax - a softener for hard water and an antiseptic.

Boracic Acid - acts as an antiseptic and checks excessive perspiration. Boric is the shortened form of the word Boracic.

Bran - the 'husk' of wheat and other grains. It has been separated in milling from the flour. May be used in face masks for its nourishing cleansing and boosting properties.

Brewer's yeast - rich in vitamin B and protein. It is used in cleansing masks.

Read more...

Sun protecting Skincare

Sunrays have dual effect on our body. On one hand it elevates mood, protects our bone by improving bone density and may be protecting against some form of cancer; but on the other hand the UV rays lead to premature aging of our skin. So the use of sunscreen lotion is essential to protect our skin from the ill effects, while enjoying the benefits of sun rays.

Are all sunscreen products are safe?

Chemical UV light sponges when applied repeatedly to the wide areas of the skin, they are absorbed and these oestrogen like chemicals are fond in the breast milk and the urine. This is not desirable. Check for the ingredients while buying your products and avoid those with the following chemicals Benzophone, Azobenzone, PABA (Para Amino Benzoic Acid), PABA esters, cinnamates and nano particles of titanium oxide and zinc oxides.


Go for reputed brands, those use natural ingredients to protect sun rays.

Other things you should do to protect your skin from sun:

Sun-protection fruit blend

All the fruits in this smoothie are fantastic antioxidants and the pomegranate juice also helps protect the skin from damage caused by the sun.

• ½ mango
• ½ papaya
• slice of honeydew melon
• 1 nectarine
• 3 apricots
• 12 black grapes
• Small glass of pomegranate juice

Slice and collect the pulps of all, deseed the grapes. Place all the fruit slices and pulps into a blender and blend them until they are well blended. Pour the blend into a glass and top off with chilled pomegranate juice, stirring well to combine. Relish the drink fresh. Pomegranate juice has been shown to extend the SPF of a sunscreen by as much as 20 percent.

Some exposure to sun is beneficial

Expose your non sun blocked skin to early morning sunrays for 5 – 15 minutes three times a week. This will give you the natural dose of vitamin D you require.


Use hat judiciously

Protect your face and the Décolletage by wearing wide brimmed dark colored hat between 11 am to 4 pm routinely. This will prevent age related pigmentation.


Care after a sun bath

Skin may some times feel sore after a sun bath. This can be soothed by applying cider vinegar by cotton swabs.



Better don’t use sun beds

UV rays from sun beds may cause the breakdown of folic acid in the body. This B vitamin seems to protect against some later-life diseases, such as dementia and cardiovascular disease. Using sun beds may also worsen age related pigmentation problems.


Using self tanners

If you are using any self tanners ,better use any organic one.
Fake tan and tanning moisturizers have been associated with DNA damage because of their active ingredient dihydroxyacetone (DHA).


Your snacks may help to protect you from the ill effect of sunrays


Food containing beta carotene, lutein, the antioxidants like Vitamin C protect the skin from sun damage. Rely on oranges, tomatoes and green leafy vegetables. Vitamin E in these foods also help to reduce the redness caused by the sun exposure.

Read more...

Daily skin care is required after 30!

Skin renews itself and repairs the damages in night. Before 30 you may not require special care but after 30 an intensive replenishing management is required to maintain youthfulness of the skin.

Basic principle of applying cream at night

Remember not use excess quantity of your night care products. Use only the quantity, which can be readily absorbed by the skin. Wipe away any excess quantity by tissue paper after 2 minutes.


Home made night care oil for your face

For cleansing use the home made cleanser for sensitive skin.

For making the night care product of your own use the following:

1 tsp each avocado and wheat germ oil
1 capsule evening primrose oil
4 drops essential oil of lavender
2 drops each essential oils of myrrh and frankincense
1 drop each essential oils of cypress


Pour all the ingredients in a dark glass bottle. Drop the essential oils into it. Shake well to mix. Store it in a cool and ark place. To apply, massage the oil on freshly cleansed damp skin.


Massage your feet to ensure good sleep

The relaxation and good sleep at night shows on the face in the morning. To ensure good sleep massage the feet with warm colorless sesame oil before reclining to bed.

Read more...

How to care the face on daily basis by homemade Cleanser, toner, moisturizer and makeup removers:

Clean your face and remove make ups before you go to bed:

Vigilantly remove all the makeup and grime by cleansing before you retire to bed. Any small remaining trace may irritate the eyes and block the skin pores and eventually result in dull skin complexion. Avoid dragging and pulling the skin when you are applying cleanser. Take cleanser on your fingers; massage the skin by rolling actions of fingers. Same procedure to be done for your neck too.

Homemade makeup remover:

To remove makeup a homemade remover can be made by blending 2 table spoon of almond oil and 3 drops of essential oil of neroli. You can store such preparation in dark glass bottle in cool and dark place. Shake the bottle before using. Use warm cloth while you are removing the makeup. Soak a piece of muslin in warm water, remove the excess water by wringing out and place the cloth over your face. Warmth will open the pores of the skin. Cleanse your face and wash your face with cold water to close the pores.

Milk can act as tonic to your skin:

A cotton pad soaked in full fat milk, when lightly place on your face help to remove dead cells and rejuvenate the skin by renewal of skin cells.

Homemade cleanser to remove grime from your face:

Detergents and soaps should be avoided for the delicate skin of your face. An oil rich antioxidant cleanser you can make at your home as follows

Ingredients:

1 green tea bag

1 tsp ground almonds

1 tsp grape seed oil

1 tsp milk powder

Soak the tea bag in a mug of boiling water. Then blend this green tea with almond paste, grape seed oil and the milk powder to make smooth paste. Massage this paste to your face and neck. Leave there for 10 minutes and then remove with the splash of warm water. Rewash your face with cool water.

Homemade cleanser for sensitive skin:

The following homemade blend is very helpful for the sensitive skin, which need gentle cleansing

Ingredients:

1 tsp fine oatmeal

1 tsp jojoba oil

1 tsp milk powder

1–2 tbsp rosewater

Blend the above ingredients and make smooth paste. Application is same as above.

Toners for your skin from the kitchen cupboard:

Try these antioxidants from your kitchen – Green tea, Rose water, Grape juice. Cider vinegar, peppermint or fennel tea are also good pore reducing toner.

Moisturizers are essential to calm your skin preserve the moisture and render glow and radiance to your skin.

Try this homemade moisturizer for sensitive skin:

Ingredients:

1 green tea bag

3 drops essential oil of rosemary

2 drops essential oil of chamomile

2 tbsp Aloe Vera gel

Brew the tea bag in a mug of boiled water. To the aloe Vera gel mix the oil of rosemary and chamomile and blend. Mix a little tea after it is cooled. Your moisturizer is now ready to use.

Intense moisturizer for very dehydrated skin:

Ingredients:

2 tbsp hemp oil

1 tsp wheat germ oil

1 capsule evening primrose oil

3 drops essential oil of frankincense

2 drops essential oil of neroli

Take all these ingredients in an amber colored bottle. Squeeze the contents of the capsules after puncturing it into it. Shake it well before use. If you want to store you can store it in cool and dark place.

Homemade Moisturizer for sun damaged skin:

Ingredients

1 tbsp grape seed oil

2 tsp rose hip oil

1 tsp wheat germ oil

3 drops essential oil of lavender

1 drop each essential oils of chamomile and geranium

Take all these ingredients in an amber colored bottle. Mix then thoroughly. Shake it well before use. If you want to store you can store it in cool and dark place.

This article is republished in India Study Channel

Read more...