Sunday, 13 April 2014

DIY Hibiscus hair mask for hair growth and shiny hair

DIY Hibiscus hair mask for hair growth and shiny hair

While most of are familiar with hibiscus plants, very few are aware of its use for the treatment of hair. In fact, plants have been highly valued in India and other Asian countries, for the purpose specified in hair and skin care. It is an important herb used in Ayurvedic hair products. 
The red hibsicus (also known as Jaswand) is more than just a flower - it has nurmerous costemic properties and health benefits that have been used since centuries by Aurvedic practitoners as a vital ingredient in beauty treatments. And that's not all - even sience backs up the vlaims , asserting that:

  • The oil from the red hibiscus petals creates a hydro-lipid film that gives a silky smoothness to even the most brittle stands.
  • Red hibiscus oil has hydroxy acids that restore the balance of cellular divison, hence treating dandruff. 
  • It is rich in antioxidants that restore vitality and neutralize the effects of enviornmental pollutants.
  • Hibiscus are rich in linolenic and hyaluronic acids that stimulate hair growth and streghten your hair:

You'll Need:

  • hibisuc flowers (or you can buy dried hibisuc powder online)
  • coconut oil (or you can use any of your favourite oil) 

1. First, crush the hibiscus flower (petals) using the motar and pestle to make paste. 















2. Then mix them with cocunut oil (or your favourite oil) - one teaspoon of crushed/powdered petals to once teaspoon of oil is a good ratio.

3. Message this concoction into the scalp and let it sit for 20-30 mintues and rinse as usual. DO this once a dat for at least a week. 

Note: The results take 3-4 days to start showing but when they do - va va voom. My hair has honestly never looked so glossy. I am prepared for any hair turbulence now! 

Oil extracted from hibiscus flower or the leaves, helps to grow hair longer and maintain long hair, prevent split ends by using the oil on your hair ends. The flower can use as a hair rinse to thicken your hair. 

To make the Hair Rinse:

Crush about ten flowers depending on your hair length, you may need more or less. Crush it until it become a paste, add a little water to the paste and mix well. Apply it to your hair after shampoo. Leave it on for 15 to 30 mintues then rinse it out. This treatment make your hair soft and shiney too. 

How To Get Rid Of Large Pores Naturally

How To Get Rid Of Large Pores Naturally

Before trying to get rid of large pores, you should first learn what causes the enlarged pores. Many people are not really able to shrink the size of the pores, but could only make it look smaller. With age, the pores will generally be bigger because of the decrease in skin elasticity.


Large pore size of the face must be quite disturbing. Beside reducing the perfection appearance, the pore size can also make the skin look no smooth and dull. The pores are usually more obvious on the nose, forehead and chin. There is no solution to shrink pore size permanently. However you can help reduce the appearance of large pores.

Causes of Enlarged Pores


Genetics plays a considerable role in determining the size of the pores, and unfortunately nothing can be done to change these factors.

Oil on the skin will naturally contribute to determine the pore size. The body produces sebum (skin oil) naturally to prevent the skin from drying out.

If you have very oily skin, dirt will easily attach to and settle in the pores making the pores swollen and stretch.

Some causes of enlarged pores
  • Pore ​​blockage caused by dirt or cosmetics
  • Improper use of cosmetics in a certain period
  • Excess facial oil production
  • Facial skin hygiene is not maintained

Home Remedies to Get rid of Large Pores Naturally


1. Ice cube
This treatment is very simple, wrap ice cubes in a cotton suluruh then rub it into the face. Ice cubes will tighten the pores. Perform this ritual every morning to pamper the skin. It is also beneficial to keep the production of sebum (oil glands) in normal

2. Honey
Honey will shrink your pores and oily skin also overcome the problem for the pores. Make herb honey mask, by mixing 2-3 tablespoons of honey and lemon juice, herb use on the face. Massage for a few minutes, let stand for 5 minutes then rinse with warm water.

3. Tomato juice
Tomato juice when used for facial and will shrink pores. Use tomato juice on the face, then let sit for 20 minutes, rinse with warm water. Perform this ritual three times a week to make a perfect skin.

4. Cucumber juice
Cucumbers are admittedly very useful in dealing with skin problems. Including problems large pores. Cucumber juice can be used as a mask or drink to remove toxins in the body. Mix cucumber juice with a little salt then applied to the face let sit for a few minutes.

5. Oatmeal
Add 5 tablespoons of honey and two tablespoons of oatmeal with 2 tablespoons of milk powder. Mix ingredients together. Apply evenly on the face while given a little massage with circular movements. When finished, rinse thoroughly. Treat your face with this mixture regularly at least 2 times a week.

Tips To Shrink Pores


1. Clean makeup every night carefully. No matter how tired you are, you should not go straight to bed without cleaning it first. Even if you do not wear makeup every day (just wear moisturizer, powder, and lipstick), take the time to clean the face with a cleanser. This is to remove dirt and oils on the skin together.

2. Wash your face with a soap containing salicylic acid. This material will destroy oil and dirt that clog pores, and helps to improve the surface.

3. Wear a moisturiser that does not contain oil, and does not cause allergies. Salicylic acid is likely to cause irritation to some particular skin type. Because it is combined with a gentle moisturiser

4. Wear sunscreen every day. Perhaps many of us do not realize that the sun can damage the skin. Exposure to sunlight damage the collagen layers that create smooth skin. Being outdoors without sunscreen protection will also destroy the benefits of the three steps that you did before.

Friday, 11 April 2014

Easy Home Remedies to Eliminate dark joints



Having a clean, soft, beautiful face helps you make a first impression. However, your hands get quite a bit attention as well. You want hands that are soft, moisturised and beautiful. Hands that wrinkled or dry can you look older than you are. One problem that effect the hands are dark knuckles. This problem can occur due to sun exposure, working regularly with chemicals or failing to care for the skin on your hands properly. The good news is that you can easily use home remedies to eliminate dark knuckles, giving you the smooth, lovely hands you want. 




Home remedies to get rid of dark finger joints:

 1. Scrub everyday while taking bath. This is one simple home remedy to get rid of dark finger joints. You can use a loofah to remove dead skin. Always apply a moisturiser after scrubbing to avoid dry skin.

 2. Lemon is one effective ingredient to lighten dark finger joints. Rub slice on the fingers for 5-8 minutes everyday. This is a natural home remedy to reduce darken finger joints. 

3. Mix lemon juice with sugar and scrub on the dark joints. Follow up with a moisturiser. Do this regularly to lighten dark finger joints. 

4. Milk cream is another easy home remedy to get rid of dark finger joints. Massage with the cream and leave for 9-10 minutes. Rub a lemon slice and then rinse with cold water. Follow up with a moisturiser. 

5. You can soak a bread slice in milk and apply on the dark skin. It is a natural scrub to lighten dark joints. 

6. Lemon and salt is a natural exfoliant to remove dead skin and lighten it. Lemon can dry the skin so add 2-3 drops. Apply moisturiser after washing the fingers. 

7. Buttermilk also lightens lightens dark joints. Add few drops of lemon juice and apply on the joints. Leave for 10-15 minutes and rinse with warm water. Follow these home remedies to get rid of dark finger joints.

Sunday, 6 April 2014

Simple Sugar and Olive Oil Scrub

Between winter, cleaners, and well life…my hands tend to dry up and show an age that I’d rather them not.  Scrubbing off the top layer of dry skin is the quickest way to soften them and take off years.

A few times a week I pour about 1-2 tablespoons of sugar into one hand. Then I pour about the same amount of Olive Oil into my hand.  I think coconut oil would be fabulous for this too – actually I will have to try that next time.  You can adjust these amounts to your preference.

Then over my kitchen sink I rub the mixture in between my palms to combine and then spread it all over my hands.

Working in little circular motions all over my hands I scrub off all that dead skin.  I like to take it up my arm a bit too. Last I scrub a little on my cuticles, they really get dry so this helps to soften them.
Rinse well, and voilà, soft supple skin that looks years younger.  Now apply lotion as needed throughout the day to protect that new skin.  You’ll be amazed with the difference in your hands.
Don’t be afraid to take your oil and sugar bowl into the shower, this works wonders on the entire body.  

Friday, 4 April 2014

10 Common Night-time Beauty Habits You should be Doing



Your body does a lot recovery during the night. Are you helping it? The beauty rituals you perform before going to the bed are essential for having healthy, glowing skin and making your hair smooth and silky. Here are some of the most important things you should get in the habit of doing before going to the bed, in case you are avoiding these vital beauty steps. 

1. Remove your make-up—all of it. The most important thing to do to wake up looking fresh is to remove all of your make-up before bedtime. That means leftover mascara, lip colour—everything. This ensures that your pores will be clean and your eyes free of leftover gunk

2. Use two pillows
.
Prop your head up on an extra pillow to prevent puffiness. You can also prop up the head of your bed on 2- to 4-inch pieces of wood. This is a time when gravity helps you with lymph and blood flow so fluids won’t accumulate under your eyes and in your face.
3. Do a spot treatment…with a purifying mask.
You can use it to target acne and rosacea pimples, and leave it on overnight. The extended skin contact time brings much better results.
4. Turn on a humidifier.
A barrier repair moisturiser, combined with an air humidifier in your bedroom produces durably hydrated, plump skin which is more resistant to irritants and allergens but also to appearing dry and fine-lined.
5. Go to town with hand cream.

Moisturising your hands with a thick, plain, somewhat greasy hand cream will keep your hands and fingernails looking their best first thing in the morning. Hands get dried out throughout the day with exposure to dry air and excessive washing, and few of us apply hand cream with every water exposure as we should. Night is a chance to try to undo some of the damage, which will also keep cuticles and fingernails moisturised so they will grow longer and stronger and break and peel less.” 
6. Sleep on a luxe pillowcase
.
Wash your hair with a silicone-free shampoo and use a silk pillowcase—sleeping on a silk or satin pillowcase also helps your hair’s overall health. Fibers on most cotton pillows are rough against the hair cuticles. Don’t want to splurge on silk? Changing a cotton or linen pillowcase every one to two days can also bring an improvement.
7. Pin your hair back
.
Your hair contains oils and dirt that can get on your face and pillowcase and cause breakouts. Braid your hair or pin it up into a bun to keep it off your face as you sleep.
8. Get eight hours of sleep.
Catching a good night’s sleep can really effect the way you look. Sleep can reduce dark circles because a lack of sleep compromises your body’s circulatory system and you get stagnant blood in the vessels under the eyes because it hasn’t properly drained. 
9. Try a leave-on exfoliator
.
While you sleep, the skin is working its hardest to repair itself. It’s the best time to apply leave-on exfoliators, to give the ingredients time to absorb and correct daily damage to the skin caused by UV exposure and environmental aggressors.
10. Use eye cream
.
No doubt you've heard it a million times, but eye cream is important. Start using great moisturisers and eye cream at night (even if you’re in your 20s). When the morning rolls around, your skin will be plump and hydrated.

Wednesday, 2 April 2014

10 Ways to Detoxify Your Body

Feeling sluggish or out of sync? Struggling with skin problems, aches and pains, or digestive problems? Can't seem to lose weight? It might be time for a body detox.
Practiced for centuries by cultures around the world — including ayurvedic and Chinese medicine systems — detoxification is about resting, cleaning and nourishing the body from the inside out. By removing and eliminating toxins, then feeding your body with healthy nutrients, detoxifying can help protect you from disease and renew your ability to maintain optimum health.

How does detoxification work?

Basically, detoxification means cleaning the blood. This is done by removing impurities from the blood in the liver, where toxins are processed for elimination. The body also eliminates toxins through the kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymph and skin. However, when this system is compromised, impurities aren't properly filtered and every cell in the body is adversely affected. 

A detox program can help the body's natural cleansing process by:
1. Resting the organs through fasting;
2. Stimulating the liver to drive toxins from the body;
3. Promoting elimination through the intestines, kidneys and skin;
4. Improving circulation of the blood; and
5. Refuelling the body with healthy nutrients.

Detoxification works because it addresses the needs of individual cells, the smallest units of human life.

How do you know if you need to detoxify?

Bennett suggests that everyone should detox at least once a year. However, Bennett cautions against detoxing for nursing mothers, children, and patients with chronic degenerative diseases, cancer or tuberculosis. Consult your health care practitioner if you have questions about whether detoxing is right for you.

Today, with more toxins in the environment than ever, it's critical to detox. 

Detox, for symptoms such as:
  • Unexplained fatigue
  • Sluggish elimination
  • Irritated skin
  • Allergies
  • Low-grade infections
  • Puffy eye or bags under the eyes
  • Bloating
  • Menstrual problems
  • Mental confusion

How do you start a detox?

First, lighten up your toxin load. Eliminate alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, refined sugars and saturated fats, all of which act as toxins in the body and are obstacles to your healing process. Also, minimize use of chemical-based household,  personal health care products (cleansers, shampoos, deodorants and toothpastes), and substitute natural alternatives.

Another deterrent to good health is stress, which triggers your body to release stress hormones into your system. While these hormones can provide the "adrenaline rush" to win a race or meet a deadline, in large amounts they create toxins and slow down detoxification enzymes in the liver. Yoga, Qigong andmeditation are simple and effective ways to relieve stress by resetting your physical and mental reactions to the inevitable stress life will bring.

Which detox program is right for you?

There are many detoxification programs and detox recipes, depending on your individual needs. Many programs follow a 7-day schedule because, as Bennett explains, "it takes the body time to clean the blood." His program involves fasting on liquids for two days, followed by a carefully-planned five-day detox diet to allow the digestive system to rest. Page recommends a 3-7 day juice fast (drinking only fresh fruit and vegetable juices and water) as an effective way to release toxins.

Here are our five detox diets: 
1. Simple Fruit and Veggie Detox
2. Smoothie cleanse
3. Juice Cleanse
4. Sugar Detox
5. Hypoallergenic Detox

Top 10 ways to help your body detoxify

After a detoxification program, you can cleanse your body daily with these diet, supplements and lifestyle practices:

1. Eat plenty of fiber, including brown rice and organically-grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Beets, radishes, artichokes, cabbage, broccoli, spirulina, chlorella, and seaweed are excellent detoxifying foods.

2. Cleanse and protect the liver by taking herbs such as dandelion root, burdock and milk thistle, and drinking green tea.

3. Take vitamin C, which helps the body produce glutathione, a liver compound that drives away toxins.

4. Drink at least two quarts of water a day.

5. Breathe deeply to allow oxygen to circulate more completely through your system.

6. Transform stress by emphasizing positive emotions.

7. Practice hydrotherapy by taking a very hot shower for five minutes, allowing the water to run on your back. Follow with cold water for 30 seconds. Do this three times, and then get into bed for 30 minutes.

8. Sweat in a sauna so your body can eliminate wastes through perspiration.

9. Dry-brush your skin or try detox foot spas/foot baths to remove toxins through your pores. Special brushes are available at natural products stores.

10. The most important way to detoxify is Exercise daily (At least one hour a day).

Home Remedies For Fading Stretch Marks


Stretch marks pose no real health risk, but they can seem unsightly and often prove themselves to be a grave cosmetic annoyance. There are a few scientific treatments and folk remedies you can use to treat stretch marks—and to get rid of them fast. Keep reading to learn more about some of the different measures you can take.


Use potato juice. The juice of raw potatoes is believed to have a high enough content of vitamins and minerals to speed up the restoration of new skin cells when applied topically.
  • Cut a medium potato into thick slices.
  • Gently rub one of the slices over your stretch marks for several minutes. Make sure that the potato juice comes into contact with the skin.
  • Let the juice air dry.
  • Rinse the skin with lukewarm water later.
Use aloe vera gel. Aloe vera has been touted as a treatment against burns, but some also use it as a treatment for stretch marks. It contains compounds that replenish the skin, soothing and healing it simultaneously.[4]
  • Combine 1/4 cup (60 ml) aloe vera with the oil from 10 vitamin E capsules and the oil from 5 vitamin A capsules.
  • Apply this mixture onto your stretch marks once a day, rubbing it in until your skin absorbs it.
Try lemon juice. Lemon juice aids the skin in removing dead skin cells and developing new skin cell. The acidity in the lemon can strip away dying skin cells, but the lemon contains enough moisture to help hydrate the skin.
  • Cut a lemon in half and gently rub the cut-end one half over the stretch marks. Squeeze the lemon slightly to release the juice onto the stretch marks, and apply it using a circular motion.
  • Let the lemon juice sit on your skin for 10 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.
Consider using egg whites. The amino acids contained in egg whites are often used to treat stretch marks. If used correctly, you may see results within two weeks.
  • Gently whip two egg whites with a whisk until soft peaks form.
  • Use a makeup brush or sponge to apply the whipped egg white on the stretch marks in a thick layer. Let dry completely.
  • Rinse with cold water.
  • Apply a little olive oil over the skin to hydrate it after rinsing off the egg whites.

Moisturise frequently. Hydrating creams and lotions infuse moisture back into your skin, allowing it to free itself of stretch marks more readily.
  • When skin is hydrated, it becomes more flexible and stretches more readily. As a result, stretch marks are less likely to form or deepen.
  • For best results, use a deep moisturising product containing cocoa butter or shea butter. These natural ingredients are both highly effective as moisturisers.
  • Moisturise at least three to four times a day for the best possible results.

Apply virgin olive oil. Olive oil contains nutrients and antioxidants, and when warmed slightly, it also improves blood circulation to the skin.
  • Warm extra virgin olive oil to just above room temperature using a microwave or saucepan. Do not let it smoke or become too hot.
  • Gently massage the oil into the stretch marks, letting it sit for 30 minutes before rinsing it away with mild soap and warm water.

Tuesday, 1 April 2014

The Honey Cleansing Method for Clear, Smooth Skin.

If you have tons of beauty products around your house, take a look at the ingredients on those products. You may be surprised at how many chemicals are in your products, and if your products include chemicals, your skin can absorb those chemiacals. The good news is that there are some fablous options you can use for beautiful skin. In fact, you probably have once excellent ingredient in your kitchen already.  Honey! 

It should be noted that not all honey is created equal. Most of the honey found in grocery stores has been processed with heat, which kills off healing enzymes and destroys a lot of the nutrient-rich content. But, raw honey hasn't been processed and will give your skin the healing benefits that it needs. Also, if you have allergies, try a patch test first and/or ask you physician if raw honey is a right for you.

BENEFITS
Raw honey is an amazing natural beauty solution for all skin types because of its healing skin benefits. It does wonders for a wide variety of skin ailments including:
Acne and enlarged pores
Rosacea
Eczema
Hyperpigmentation
Sensitive, mature, and dull lifeless skin
With its natural pH level of 4.5, raw honey falls within skin’s naturally healthy pH range (Is pH Balanced Skin Care Important?). Its antiseptic and antimicrobial properties make it great for healing cuts and burns by killing bacteria and fungus. Raw honey also contains gluconic acid, a mild alpha hydroxy acid that brightens the complexion, evens out skin tone, and lightens scars and age spots.
Depending on where the honey is collected from, it contains many nutrients and minerals excellent for skin health such as vitamin B, iron, manganese, copper, potassium and calcium. It also acts as a humectant drawing moisture to the skin and is perfect as a gentle cleansing solution for even very sensitive skin. When mixed with water, honey releases peroxide properties which helps heal acne and impede bacterial growth causing more acne.
HOW TO USE

Mask: To use raw honey as a mask, simply cleanse your skin, put a layer of honey on your face, and relax for 10 to 15 minutes. The heat from your skin can make it thin out, so raw honey works best.
Cleanser: As a face wash, add a quarter size amount or more to wet hands, massage into skin and rinse. Follow with your usual serum or moisturiser.

No matter your skin type or the state of your skin, honey is a great product to incorporate.