sunburn

Sunburn is caused by the heat of the sun, which affects the skin due to the overexposure to the ultraviolet rays from the sun. It looks like red color rash on the skin, which at times turns, swollen and very painful. This burn from the sun can be mild or severe. It depends on the type of the skin and the amount of exposure to the sun. If the skin is sensitive then there are more chances of getting bad sunburn. It should not be taken lightly as it's a serious risk factor for the cancer of the skin. Skin, which is affected by the sunburn, gets old earlier and gets wrinkles soon. If one spends most of the time of a day out on the sun then that person has strong chances of having sunburn on the skin. Fairer skin has more chances to get sunburn as it has lesser melanin in the body to protect the skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. Geographical location of a country and place too is equally responsible in giving sunburn to the people living in those locations.

Along with the red rashes many people do get blisters, weakness, low blood pressure and nausea because of the sun. One should protect oneself from the direct sunlight of the sun. Always move out of the house after applying a good sunscreen lotion on the skin and after drinking lots of water. So that the skin is totally hydrated. Dehydrate skin has more chances to get affected from the sun. Do wear glasses on the eyes and use umbrella to cover the skin.

Certain home remedies are quite helpful in soothing and healing the burns caused by the sun-

• Drink lots of water and make sure to drink at least 2 glasses of water before going in the sun. You can even drink lemon water, orange or watermelon juice or coconut water. They all keep the body hydrate and diminish the strong harmful effects of the sun.
• Cucumber has cooling agents. When there is a burn on the skin, keep chilled cucumber slices on it or dab cucumber juice with the help of a cotton ball. You can even grate the chilled cucumber and apply it on the effected part of the skin.
• Keep rose water in the refrigerator and apply it on the skin to soothe the sunburn.
• Calamine powder is one of the best things to be applied on the affected skin. Make a paste of it with the help of rose water or cucumber juice and apply it regularly on the skin.
• Never peel the skin on your won if it comes out as severe sunburn peels off the skin. Rather seek a medical help if the burning is unbearable.
• Apply thick chilled curd on the affected skin. You can mix it with calamine powder or sandalwood powder.
• Sandalwood powder paste made with rose water, watermelon juice or cucumber juice helps a lot.
• You can keep chilled watermelon slice or juice on the effected skin to soothe it from the sun damage.
• Buttermilk too is a good option to heal sunburn. You can wash off the effaced skin with the chilled buttermilk to heal it.
• A paste made of neem stems if applied on the skin, helps a lot in healing the burn fast. You can make the paste and keep it in the fridge for further usage.
• A mixture of olive oil and vinegar can be applied on the skin few hours before the bath. It might give a little itching to the skin but is quite helpful on the burns.
• Plain odorless aloe Vera gel helps in healing the burns faster if applied on them.
• When the burning is unbearable, you can keep some ice cubes made by rose water, cucumber juice or watermelon juice wrapped in a cotton cloth on the skin. You can try this method out on your skin every time when you come back from the sun. It protects the skin from the sun damage.
• On the tan, which you have got due to sun, you can apply a mixture of honey and tomato juice. Honey has some agents in it, which lightens the skin and removes the suntan.
  

A little protection and care taken every time when going to the sun and when coming back from the sun can prevent your skin from the sun damage. Ultra violet rays are really harmful to the skin and remember that beauty once lost cannot be regained so always be careful about your skin. You can protect it and even keep it as beautiful and young as a child's skin. Take extra care of your skin when you go out at some places where the sun is close as on the beaches and hill stations. Always make sure to apply sunscreen lotion on your ski before going to the sun. Sensitive skin requires more care than normal skin types.

teeth whitening

Teeth become yellow and pale due to age, consumption of tea and coffee, tobacco and cigarette. People who get their teeth yellow get teeth polish or tooth bleach done to remove the tarter from the teeth, which makes them appear pale and dull in the color. Professional dentist do the cleaning of the teeth with many sittings. But further consumption of the tea, coffee and tobacco keeps making the teeth pale. So one time cleaning can never keep the clean permanently. One requires teeth cleaning done many times in life if one wants the teeth to look pearl white. Some home remedies help to keep the teeth white in color to some extent, which can be applied on everybody's teeth except the sensitive teeth. As people with sensitive teeth don't know what is going to affect their teeth. You can try these home remedies to whiten the pale and yellow teeth to some extent.

• A mixture of eatable soda with few drops of lemon juice should be applied on the teeth and should be left for few minutes. Then gargle the teeth. You can practice this everyday till you notice the change in the color of your teeth.
• Dried orange peel's powder can be rubbed on the teeth. It is a rich source of calcium and vitamin C, which keeps the teeth healthy, strong and improves the color.
• A little salt with a few drops of lemon juice should be applied on the teeth and should be left on the teeth for few minutes so that it could remove the tarter and could lighten the tint of the teeth.
• The white part of the orange peels adds shine to the teeth if rubbed on them.
• Oldies recommend soft neem branches to be used as a toothbrush to clean the teeth. They believe that chewing neem branches helps in tackling teeth problems and clears the yellowness from the teeth.
• Ancient people used to make a powder of almond peels and used to use to it with a little salt on the teeth to whiten them.
• Pepper essence mixed with salt should be applied on the teeth to whiten them.
  
  

You can try any of the options suitable for you to whiten the teeth. You can make your teeth pearly white but you have to be careful about the excess consumption of tea, coffee and nicotine as they decay the teeth and spoil their color.

home made face mask

Home made facial masks are very easy to make and very beneficial if applied. They have no side effects and saves lots of your money, as most of the ingredients are easily available in the kitchen. So they are cost effective, time consuming and can do wonders to one's skin. One can make facial masks at home depending on one's skin type. Regular use of homemade facial masks can make drastic positive changes to one's skin.

Facemask for oily skin-certain homemade facemasks are extremely good for oily skin.

• Keep calamine power and sandalwood powder at home. They have extremely good agents to reduce oiliness from the skin. By adding other ingredients to them we can make many face masks for the good of the skin.
• Take two spoonful of calamine powder in a bowl and add rose water to it. Make a paste and apply it on the skin. When it dries, remove it with a sponge and then wash off. Don't laugh and talk when this paste is applied on your skin. It removes the greasiness from the skin and tones it up.
• Take a spoonful of calamine powder, one spoonful of sandalwood powder, add few drops of lemon juice to it. If you want, you can add cucumber juice to it. Make a paste and apply it on the skin. Wash it off when dries. It clears the complexion, diminishes the blemishes from the skin and reduces oil.
• Take two spoonful of gram flour and make a paste with curd or yogurt. Yogurt has bleaching agents so clears the complexion. Add a pinch of turmeric powder to it, which helps in reducing the marks caused by acne and pimples. This pack can be used as a scrubber also. Scrub it off from the skin in adverse direction when half dries. It will remove the dead skin also.
• Take tomato juice, cucumber juice and lemon juice; add a little calamine powder or gram flour to it. Make a paste and apply it on the skin. Wash off with lukewarm water when dries. It cleanses the skin and adds glow to it. Tomato has toning agents so it helps in toning the open pores caused with oily skin.
• You can rub a lemon peel on the skin to reduce the oiliness and grease from the face.
• Honey and lemon paste if applied on the skin reduces the tan and oil from the skin.
• Make a paste of neem leaves and add it with calamine powder. Apply this paste on problematic skin. It helps in reducing acne and pimples.
• Dry orange and lemon peels and make a powder. Add rose water and milk cream to it apply on skin. Wash off with water when dry. It clears the complexion and makes the skin tone even. It is extremely useful for highly oily skin.

Packs for dry skin-kitchen is full of lots of ingredients, which can do wonders to a dry skin.

• Take gram flour powder, add a pinch of turmeric powder to it and make the paste using milk cream or raw milk. Apply it on the face and wash it with lukewarm water.
• Take milk powder and add honey to it to make a paste. Apply it on your skin and wash off after 20 minutes with lukewarm water.
• Take wheat flour and add milk cream in it. Make a paste and apply it on the skin. It makes the skin smooth and supple and reduces the dryness.
• Soak almonds in the water. Make a paste by adding honey to it and apply it on the skin. Leave it for at least 20 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water. It adds glow to the skin, enhances the complexion and makes the skin smooth.
• Make a paste of gram flour and rose water, add milk cream to it. Apply it on the skin and scrub off when half dry.
• Milk cream is a very good solution to soothe dry skin. It can be added in any of these packs to reduce the dryness of the skin.

For normal skin-for a normal skin any of these packs can be applied, the only thing which has to be kept in the mind is that normal skin requires both the things as milk cream and lemon juice. But the proportion should be equal. As normal skin needs both the things a little of cream to give smoothness and a little of lemon juice to reduce oiliness. Normal skin is the best skin which requires least care and have few problems.

Make any of these packs; just add both the ingredients to them required for oily and dry skin. Regular usage of such homemade packs is extremely helpful for one's skin. One can make and apply them depending on the weather also.

Home Remedies to Prevent Hair Loss

Hair loss is caused due to many reasons such as lack of vitamins, minerals or iron in the body, age, pollution, heredity, stress, lack of sleep, hormonal imbalance and illness. It is said that that losing almost100 hair in a day is normal. If you lose hair more than that then it's an alarming sign. Usually hair fall in normal quantity is normal as even they have a life and grow back again. But if they are going through the roots and you can see bald patches on your head then its high time to go to a doctor to find out the reason and get the perfect cure for it. Its only when the situation is rally bad, you need to go to a doctor otherwise its very much in hand to tackle the problem of hair fall. Some other hair problems as dandruff, uncleanness or split ends too tend to break the hair. It's very important to look after the hair well. One needs to eat healthy food, regular cleaning of the hair, drinking plenty of water, sleeping properly to keep the hair healthy and shining. You can follow some routine care at home to prevent the hair from damage. Always keep your hair clean. It will protect them from dandruff, itching and hair lice, which ultimately results in hair fall. Always use the shampoo and conditioner depending on your hair type. As for oily hair, you should use a shampoo, which is meant for specifically for oily hair. Give regular massages to your scalp and hair with lukewarm oil at least twice a month. You can choose coconut oil, olive oil or almond oil for your hair. You can even mix these oil and apply the solution on your hair. If there is dandruff in your hair you can mix camphor cubes in coconut oil to massage on your hair and scalp. It helps in reducing the dandruff. Rub a lime on your scalp if there is dandruff on your scalp, leave it for 10 minutes and shampoo the hair. You should use medicated dandruff shampoo and oil to apply on your hair when they are suffering from dandruff. Never comb your hair when they are wet. The roots of the hairs are the weakest when they are wet. Keep the hair wrapped in a towel for a while then let them dry in natural air as excess usage of hair dryer too damages the hair texture and makes them weak and then ultimately they fall. When your hair is falling, make a mixture at home containing Amla, Shikakai and dry neem leaves. Grind them together and apply this paste on the hair before washing them off for a while. Whipped eggs mixed in curd and henna powder help in preventing hair fall. Eat healthy diet including green vegetables, dairy products and fruits. Drinking coconut water prevents the hair fall. You can make oil at home for falling hair. Boil henna and neem leaves in mustard oil till the leaves get almost dissolved in it. Let it cool and then filter. Add few camphor cubes to it and fill in a bottle. Use this oil to massage on your hair. Mixture of almond oil, olive oil and castor oil is equally good to prevent and stop hair from further falling. Get your hair trim every month so that there are no split ends left. Include at least 2 nuts in your daily diet. They help a lot in strengthen the hair. Avoid using too harsh clips or bands on the hair. Never make hair too tight. Protect the hair from dust and sun. Cover your head while going in the direct sun. Apply hair pack on your head at least once in a month. It can be henna paste, curd, eggs or a combination of all. Wash your hair every time you apply some chemicals on your hair in form of styling gels, creams, sprays or lotions. The harmful chemicals in them damage the hair and make them to fall. If you have got the bald patches on your head then apply onion on the bald patch by rubbing it and then apply honey over it. Leave it for few minutes and then wash off. Boil fenugreek seeds in any of the hair oil of your choice as coconut oil or olive oil. Restrain it and fill it in a bottle. Use this oil to massage on your head. Its very helpful in reducing the hair fall. Eating iron rich fruits and food helps in preventing the hair fall. Include apples, beetroots and jagary in your daily diet. They are rich in iron so help to prevent your hair fall. Eating amla in any form or drinking its juice too helps in preventing hair fall. Follow these simple hair care tips and you can protect your hair from further damage.

Basic Skin Care

The care you give to your skin depends to a large extent on the type of the skin you have. However, we will discuss the basic skin care principles first. Then we will go into specific recommendations based on the type of skin you have.

A daily routine of skin care requires no more than ten minutes and requires only three simple steps each evening and morning:

1. Cleanse:Cleaning the Skin

Cleaning the skin is important as it removes the dead cells from the surface of the skin. It also will remove the dust and dirt that chokes the pores on the skin. If the dust is allowed to accumulate, it can block the pores thus blocking the secretion of the glands from coming to the top of the skin providing it the weapons it need to fight against infections, toxic agents etc. It also gives the shine or glow to the surface of the skin.

Soap and Natural Cleaners

Skin experts recommend avoiding soap because of its high pH. A high pH (alkaline) soap will dry the skin and diminish its life expectancy. The skin's surface is mildly acidic, having a pH of around 5. Most soaps are well over 7, and some as high as 10. Soaps with a high pH will not only dry the skin but also eliminate its acid mantle (coating on the surface).

You can make good skin cleansers from natural products. For example, products that contain vegetable oils, such as coconut oil, and water, combine with sebum and allow it to be dissolved and rinsed away. At the same time, water dissolves dirt.

Effective skin cleansers can contain a number of different vegetable oils, including coconut, sesame, or palm oils. These are safe and effective cleansers and have a relatively low pH. Stearic acid provides the skin a pearly firmness.
Another organic products that is increasingly useful in skin care is seaweed. The high mineral content of seaweed stimulates circulation, helps eliminate toxins imbedded in the skin, and leaves the skin feeling smooth. Seaweeds can also strengthen the immunity and healing functions of the skin by providing the needed minerals.

Facial Scrubs

Facial scrubs help clean the surface of the skin by removing the dead skins and the dirt mechanically. We recommend that you use a facial scrub that contains a mild abrasive. The coarseness of these abrasives vary. For example, it may contain very fine, mild base of oatmeal or ground-up almonds. Some products may contain, however, coarser materials such as silica or fine sand or the shells of almonds, apricots, or walnuts.

Since women spend considerable more amount of money and time on makeups and skin care, we would expect that their skin will be smoother and blemish free compared to that of men. However, studies have found exactly the opposite. These studies have found that men have fewer blemishes and smoother skin than women on the face. Experts suggest that men are exfoliating their faces every day by shaving. The razor removes the top layer of dead cells every day. This allows the skin to breathe and eliminate waste much easier. This may explain why men's facial skin is much more smoother than women's. Women can accomplish the same by using a mild abrasive scrub on their faces, every other day.

European women have been using exfoliants for decades. People in India and the orient had been using natural exfoliants to clean their skin.

The Right Way To Wash Your Face

1. Moisten your face with water. Work up a lather by rubbing the soap between wet palms. Using your fingertips (not the bar of soap), massage the lather into your face and throat.

2. Rinse thoroughly with a washcloth or with splashes of water. Take three times as much time for rinsing as compared to what you took for lathering. The important thing is that you remove all of the soap so any caustic it contains won't burn your face.

3. Blot dry with a soft towel; vigorous rubbing with coarse material aggravates and tugs at your skin.

2.Tone:

Thorough cleansing removes more than makeup, grime, and cellular debris. It also strips your skin of its protective shield. Toners, fresheners, and astringents restore the pH balance of the acid mantle; remove any remaining makeup that was not cleaned up, oily cleanser, or soap film.

After the skin is thoroughly clean, apply a skin toner or rinse that has an astringent effect. This will close the pores, tighten the skin, and keep it from being exposed to many of the toxins that are floating in the air or other environmental pollutants.
A wide variety of toners are available. We recommend that you avoid those products that contain alcohol. Alcohol dries the skin and harms the soluble collagen below the surface of the skin.

The common herbs used in toners include witch hazel, geranium, honey, lemon, ivy, sage, nettle, and burdock. Witch hazel has a tendency to dry the skin. So, this should be balanced with moisturizers such as Vitamin E, honey, etc.

Essential oils are the gentlest way of toning up. Rose water for normal or dry/sensitive skin or witch hazel for oilier skins are ideal bases for fresheners. These can be applied with cotton wool or for a more refreshing tone, sprayed on to the face.

Herbal tea infusions are also ideal toners. Boil a cup of water and infuse chamomile, marigold, rosehip or nettle teas (you can also use herbal tea bags), add 2 drops of orange or lavender oil and leave to cool. Oily skin benefits from juniper or lemongrass whereas drier skins would benefit from rose or sandalwood.

3.Moisturizers :

Water is the secret ingredient for dewy-fresh skin. Well-moisturized skin is soft and supple, reflects a healthy glow and ages less quickly. They prevent the skin from drying and chapping, thus slowing the aging process.

Water moves through the body to the surface in a process called "transepidermal water loss" leaving skin pleasingly plump and firm. If your system is deficient in water, the skin's upper layers become dry and brittle.

Drinking at least six glasses of water daily and eating fluid-rich fruits and vegetables help normalize dry or oily conditions, and is essential for preventing your body from robbing its necessary moisture at the expense of your skin.

In addition to internal liquid refreshment, skin requires external water replenishing. Moisturizers or humectants attract moisture to the skin's surface and hold it there.
Younger skin only needs light conditioning whereas older skin needs specific nourishing treatments.

A wide variety of moisturizers are available that range from very inexpensive to very expensive. Examples are: vegetable glycerin, rose water, jojoba oil, vitamin E oils, sorbitol (derived from plants), honey, aloe vera, and iris.

Aloe vera is very good for skin care. Since ancient times, it has been used effectively to treat everything from dry skin, burns, and insect bites to skin irritations, acne, cuts, and abrasions.

Mineral oil, used in many skin care products, can dry the skin, block pores, and prevent it from breathing and eliminating waste.

Most moisturizers soothe and sit on the surface of the skin, but essential oils, with their fine molecular structure, work their way through from the surface to the inner dermis. Mixed with the correct amount of base oil, these pure essentials do not clog up pores on lubrication. They are light enough to be absorbed spontaneously by skin.

Use 30 ml (2 tbsp) of base oil and add 6 drops of essential oil (maximum of 3 different oils) to suit individual needs. (See individual skin type description for recommendations on type of essential oil to use.)

The Natural Way To Healthy Skin CARE

Diet

Diet plays an important role in maintaining the health of the skin. Diet should supply all the nutrients needed to build health, namely, protein, carbohydrates, fats, essential fatty acids and all the essential vitamins and minerals. Such a diet will consist of liberal quantities of seeds, nuts and grains, vegetables and fruits, supplemented by special protective foods like milk, vegetable oils, yogurt, honey and yeast.

Nutrients play an important role in maintaining a healthy skin.

Examples:

Your skin is unusually dry and rough. You have blackheads and whiteheads. You are probably lacking sufficient vitamin A. You could also be suffering from the deficiencies in iron, iodine and the B Vitamins. Adequate amounts of protein and vitamin C are also important.

The vitamins of the B group are important in producing beautiful skin.

Vitamin B1 aids skin health by helping to keep the circulation normal.

Vitamin B2 or riboflavin deficiency can lead to brown pigmentation, or liver spots on the skin. These ugly spots usually disappear if generous amounts of vitamin B2 are given over a period of six months. Severe riboflavin deficiency can lead to oily skin and hair and small deposits of fat under the skin of the cheeks and forehead and behind the ears. More severe deficiency of riboflavin causes the skin under the nose and at the comers of the eyes and mouth to crack and become sore.

Vitamin B6 or pyridoxine deficiency can result in dermatitis or eczema.

Niacin deficiency can also cause an eczema type of skin eruption with brown pigmentation, largely on the face, forearms and legs.

Deficiency of pantothenic acid, para-aminobenzoic acid, and biotin: This also leads to types of eczema. The symptoms will go away completely when these vitamins are generously added to the diet.

It is clear that Vitamin B plays a pivotal role in maintaining a healthy skin. So, diet that is rich in Vitamin B can go a long way in skin health. One of the important food in this connection is brewer's yeast. Even the person whose skin seems smooth and healthy usually notices improvement in texture and glow, a week after adding two or more tablespoons of brewer's yeast to the daily diet. Persons with eczema should, for an entire month, take a tablespoon of yeast stirred into citrus juice or water after each meal, between meals, and before retiring. If the diet is adequate in all other respects, the eczema is usually cured in a month 's time.
Anemia and Pale Skin: Anemia results from lack of protein, iodine, calcium, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid, cobalt, copper, and iron. Take diet rich in Vitamin B. Folic acid and vitamin B12 are especially important.

See Also: Diet For Natural Beauty

Natural Aids for Beautiful Skin

Several natural aids have been found useful in promoting healthy and beautiful skin.

Lime Juice

Lime juice is an important natural aid for healthy skin.

1. Lime Juice Formula

Squeeze lime into a bowl. Add a glass of boiled whole milk and a teaspoon of glycerin to it. Stir well and let it stay for half an hour. Apply this mixture on the face, hands and feet before going to bed at night. This treatment every night will help you to look young and beautiful. It will also help cure pimples.

2. For very oily skin

Squeeze lemon juice in a bowl of iced water. Splash this over the face, massage for five minutes and then wash off with water.

3. T o improve a dull and greasy complexion

Mix half teaspoon of lime juice with one teaspoon of cucumber juice and a few drops of rose water. Apply on the face and neck and leave on for 15 minutes. Remove with water.

4. To improve a dry and rough skin

Take an egg yolk and mix in a few drops of lime and olive oil. Spread on the face and leave it till the skin feels dry. Wash off with ordinary water and splash on cold water.

5. To relieve tired eyes

Take four tablespoons each of lime juice and iced water. Saturate cotton pads in this water and place over your closed eyelids for 10 minutes.

6. To remove freckles

Blanch and grind two almonds. Mix it with white of an egg to which half teaspoon of lime juice has been added. Spread on the face and leave it on till the skin feels dry. Then, wash off first with warm water and then with cold water.

Peach Treatment

The skin of the peach is useful in improving the complexion.

Gently massage the inside of peach peelings on the face every night for a few minutes. Don't rub off the moisture afterwards. This will cleanse the skin thoroughly and free the pores. It also has an astringent action and tightens the muscle of the face slightly, thus preventing sagging tissues.

Anti-wrinkle cream

Mix a teaspoon of olive oil with an egg. Smoothen the face and neck with it. Let it remain till the skin gets dry.

To Remove The Cream:
Add a teaspoon of soda bicarbonate to hot water. Stir. Dip a piece of cotton-wool to this mixture and use it to remove the cream.

Natural Beauty Mask

Ingredients
1 tablespoon of gram flour
1/4 teaspoon orange peel powder
1 tablespoon beaten yogurt
1 teaspoon olive oil

Mix the ingredients well and apply the paste to your face and neck. Let it remain till the skin starts feeling a little dry and then rub your face with your hands till it glows.

Wash your face first with warm water and then with cold water. This will remove all the embarrassing blemishes from the skin and make the skin soft and smooth.

To improve a dark and dull complexion

Ingredients
1 teaspoon of gram flour
pinch of turmeric powder
few drops of lime juice
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon milk

Mix the ingredients together. Apply the mixture to your skin. Leave it on for half an hour. Wash off with water.

Cleansing Lotion

To one-fourth teaspoon of lime juice stir in one teaspoon each of milk and cucumber juice. Apply on the face and neck and wash off after 14 minutes. This lotion cleanses and purifies the pores of the skin.

Cabbage Mask

Grind a couple of cabbage leaves and extract juice. Dissolve one-fourth teaspoon of yeast in it and stir in one teaspoon of honey. Mix well and apply thickly over face and neck. Keep it for 15 minutes. Remove with cotton-wool soaked in water. This mask will counteract any tendency towards wrinkles and dryness and give your skin a flower-like bloom.

Tangerine Juice Treatment

The use of orange or tangerine juice has also been found valuable for a glowing complexion.

Dip your fingers in fresh tangerine or orange juice. Apply it liberally over your face, chin, neck, and forehead. Make a paste from the powdered sun dried pips of unripe oranges. Use this paste on the pimples and acne at bed time.

Orange Tonic

Blanch and grind a couple of almonds to a paste and mix in two tablespoons of milk and one tablespoon each of carrot and orange juice. Apply thickly on face and neck and leave on for half an hour. Removes scars and blemishes from the face and makes it soft and smooth.

Watermelon Juice

The juice of water-melon is useful in the removal of blemishes on the skin.

Prepare a lotion by grating and squeezing the juice of a small slice of water-melon. Apply this lotion over the face and neck for fifteen minutes. Wash with hot water. Follow this by a splash of cold water.

Tomato

Tomato, used externally, is good for getting a good complexion.

Apply the pulp of a tomato liberally on the face. Leave this for an hour. Then wash off with warm water. Repeat this daily. You will have a good complexion. It will also remove ugly-looking pimples in a short time.

Tomato Lotion

To one tablespoon of tomato juice add a couple of drops of lime juice. Apply on face and remove after 15 minutes. It is very effective for shrinking enlarged pores.

Tomato Tonic

To two teaspoons of tomato juice add four tablespoons of buttermilk. Apply. Remove after half an hour. It is excellent for removing sunburns.

Cucumber

Grate or blend a cucumber. Apply this over the face, eyes and neck for 15 to 20 minutes. It is a great tonic for the facial skin. Regular use of cucumber prevents pimples, blackheads, wrinkles, and dryness of the face.

Whitening Lotion

To one tablespoon of cucumber juice stir in a few drops of lime juice and a dash of turmeric powder. Apply on face and neck and wash off after half an hour. Makes an excellent whitener for all types of skins.

Cucumber Lotion

Mix one tablespoon each of cucumber juice and milk and a few drops of rose water. Apply on the face and neck. Remove after 15 minutes. Makes excellent whitener for delicate skins.

Apple Tonic

Mix one tablespoon of apple juice with one-fourth teaspoon of lime juice. Leave on for 20 minutes. Makes excellent tonic for combating oily skin.

Amaranth Juice Treatment

The juice of amaranth, applied over the face with a pinch of turmeric powder, bleaches the skin, prevents it from drying and wrinkling, cures pimples and makes one look fresh.

Add to this mixture milk and lime juice. Massage the mixture delicately over the face and neck for half an hour. Wash it off with lukewarm water. Do this every night before going to bed. This is an effective skin tonic that increases and retains its beauty.

Mint Juice

Application of fresh mint juice over the face every night, cures pimples and prevents dryness of the skin. The juice can also be applied over eczema and contact dermatitis with beneficial results.

Almonds

Make a paste of almonds with mild cream and fresh rosebud paste. Apply it daily over the face. This softens and bleaches the skin and nourishes it with the choicest skin-food. Regular application of this mixture prevents the early appearance of wrinkles, blackheads, dryness of the skin, pimples. It also keeps the face refreshed.

To improve rough and dry complexion:
Take a teaspoon of almond oil and mix it with half a teaspoon each of milk cream and lime juice. Apply every night before going to bed both on the face and on the neck.

Yogurt

Yogurt is a very important natural beauty aid.

Apply yogurt on the face every morning. Wash it off after a few minutes with cold water. This will keep the complexion smooth, healthy and fresh. A mixture of yogurt and lemon juice is ideal for softening hands.

A paste of lentil and yogurt, applied as a mask, cleanses the skin and gives it a glow. Let it dry. When dried, remove it with fingertips and wash off with water.
Honey, olive oil and a mixture of turmeric and sandalwood paste are all very effective in rejuvenating dry , parched skin.

20-Minute Skin Care Routine

1. Cleanse face with gentle cleanser to suit skin type, using a cotton ball or a washcloth.

2. Steam face with head over bowl of steaming hot water for 2 minutes.

3. Apply moisturizing, purifying face mask.

4. Bathe or shower with a few drops of relaxing essential oil or invigorating oil in the water. You may also put used herbal tea bags, or cucumber or potato slices over your eyes to remove the bagginess around the eyes. Relax totally for 10 minutes.

5. Pat body dry with thick warm towels. Apply body lotion all over while skin is still moist. Take special care of feet, knees, elbows, and neck.

6. Remove mask with warm water and spray or splash face with mineral water.

7. Apply eye-soothing gel (if you are going out) or night eye cream (if you are going to bed) around eyes and on lids.

8. Apply moisturizer to face if going out, or your favorite night cream/oil if not.

9. Apply hand cream and a nail cream around cuticles.

Home Remedies for Oily Skin

HOWSTUFFWORKS.COM

If you have oily skin, you may feel as though you're forever fighting a losing battle to remove the shine from your chin and forehead. You can probably thank your genes for the sheen: Overly oily skin is a problem that is often handed down through generations within a family.

Changes in hormone levels, such as those that occur during the teen years and early 20s, can cause skin to become oily and trigger outbreaks of acne. But it's not just a problem for teenagers and young adults. Many women notice oily skin problems around the time of their menstrual periods, during pregnancy, or at menopause. Some types of birth control pills can also increase skin oiliness.

There's one more player in the blame game. Blame oily skin on men, or more specifically, the male hormone androgen that controls oil production in the skin. While it sounds odd, even women's bodies (the ovaries and the adrenal glands) produce male hormones. Many women notice that their skin feels oilier around their menstrual cycle and during menopause. This is due to the fluctuating levels of androgen.

The good news about oily skin is that it keeps the skin looking younger. Over time, people with oily skin tend to wrinkle less than people with dry or normal skin.

Home Remedy Treatments for Oily Skin
In most cases, oily skin can be treated at home. However, you'll want to call a doctor if you develop acne that doesn't respond to home remedies or notice any sudden and/or unusual change in your skin (if it goes from dry to oily seemingly overnight but it isn't time for your period, for example). Otherwise, try these helpful tips:

Keep skin squeaky clean. As anyone with oily skin knows, the oilier the skin, the dirtier the skin looks and feels. To help combat this feeling, it's important to keep the skin clean by washing it at least twice a day. Some doctors recommend detergent-type soap. You might even try adding a drop or two of dishwashing detergent to your regular soap; the extra kick will act as a solvent for the oil. However, other dermatologists say detergent soaps are just too harsh even for oily facial skin, recommending instead twice-daily cleansing with a glycerin soap. If you try a detergent soap and find it too irritating for your skin, try the glycerin variety, generally available over the counter in the skin-care aisle of most drugstores.

Try aloe vera. Apply aloe vera gel (available in many drugstores as well as health-food stores) to your face to absorb oil and clear out pores. Dab the gel onto your face two to three times a day (especially after washing), then let it dry. The gel will feel more refreshing if it's cool, so keep it in the refrigerator.

Wipe with astringents. Wiping the oily parts of the face with rubbing alcohol or a combination of alcohol and acetone (a mixture found in products such as Seba-Nil Liquid Cleanser) can help degrease your skin just as well as more expensive, perfumey astringents. Many drugstores even sell premoistened, individually wrapped alcohol wipes that you can keep in your purse for quick touchups throughout the day.

Carry tissues. Even if you don't have an astringent with you, paper facial tissues can help soak up excess oils in a pinch. You can also purchase special oil-absorbing tissues at the cosmetics counter that are very effective in removing excess oil between cleansings.

Chill out with cold water rinses. If you don't want to apply chemicals to your skin, simply splashing your face with cold water and blotting it dry a couple of times a day can help remove some excess oil.

Ban moisturizers. While advertisements are forever urging women to apply facial moisturizers, oily-skinned folks shouldn't use them -- their skin is already doing a more than adequate job of keeping itself supple and warding off dryness. Applying a sunscreen to the face before going outdoors in daylight is still a very good idea, however; check labels for products that are designed for oily skin or that are noncomedogenic (meaning they'll be less likely to plug up pores, which is especially important for oily skin that is already more susceptible to acne blemishes).

Make a scrub. Giving your face a very light scrub can remove excess surface oil. Try this almond honey scrub: Mix a small amount of almond meal (ground almonds) with honey. Then gently massage (don't scrub) the paste onto your skin with a hot washcloth. Rinse thoroughly. You can also make a scrub from oatmeal mixed with aloe vera. Rub gently onto the skin, leave on for 15 minutes, then wash off thoroughly. If you suffer from acne on your face, however, you should probably skip the scrub, since it can aggravate your already-irritated skin.

Masque it. Masques applied to the face can reduce oiliness. Clay masques are available, or you can mix Fuller's Earth (available at pharmacies) with a little water to make a paste. Apply to the face and leave on for about 20 minutes before thoroughly rinsing off.

Use water-based cosmetics. Better yet, learn to live without makeup -- or at least without foundation -- since it will simply add to and trap the oil against your skin and set the stage for blemishes. If you feel you must use makeup, choose water-based products over oil-based types, and opt for spot concealers rather than coating your entire face. In general, stick with powder or gel blushers, and avoid cream foundations.

Pull your hair back. It's best to keep hair away from the face if you are having issues with your skin. Often oily hair and oily skin go together.

Don't touch. Keep your hands off your face during the day. Hands deliver excess oil and dirt.

These simple, effective strategies can make all the difference in your complexion. Still, sometimes a person needs a little extra help. Go to the next page to learn natural home remedies that you can find in your very own kitchen.

Natural Home Remedies for Oily Skin
Although you can't change your genes, there are plenty of home remedies to combat oily skin using kitchen ingredients.

Home Remedies from the Cupboard
Almonds and honey. The luscious combination of succulent almonds and sweet honey works well as a gentle facial scrub for removing oils and dead skin cells. Mix a small amount of ground almonds with honey to make a paste. Gently massage the paste into your skin with a comfortably hot washcloth. Rinse with cool water.

Baking soda. Be abrasive, but in a mild way. Liquid soap users can add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda into the mixture. Rub gently onto oily areas such as the nose and chin. This gentle abrasive works well in getting rid of blackheads as well as oil. Rinse with cool water.

Cornstarch. Cornstarch dries up oily patches. Mix 1 to 3 tablespoons cornstarch with enough warm water to make a paste. Rub on your face, let dry, and then shower or rinse off with lukewarm water in the sink. Try this once a day for best results.

Salt. This gift from the sea is nature's best desiccant. Place tepid water into a small spray bottle and add 1 teaspoon salt. Close your eyes, and pretend you're at the seashore. Then squirt some of this salt spray on your face once during the day. Blot dry.

Vinegar. A good way to exfoliate the skin is with white or apple cider vinegar. Apply using a cotton ball before bedtime. Leave it on for five to ten minutes and then rinse with cool water. You'll need to use this remedy for three weeks to see improvements. If your skin is super-sensitive, dilute the vinegar with four parts water. For a summertime treat, chill the vinegar or freeze it into ice cubes and apply as a cooling facial.

Home Remedies from the Refrigerator

Apples. If you're willing to do some creative cooking, your effort will be rewarded with this homemade, oil-ridding facial. Mix 1/2 cup mashed apple, 1/2 cup cooked oatmeal, 1 slightly beaten egg white, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice into a smooth paste. Apply to your face for 15 minutes, then rinse with cool water.

Egg yolk. A fast fix for removing oil shine requires one of the simplest foods: the egg. An egg yolk mask dries out the skin. Apply the egg yolk with a cotton ball to oily spots. Leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse with cool water.

Lemons. Mix equal parts lemon juice and water, pat on face, and let dry. Rinse first with warm water followed by cool water for a refreshing treat.

Limes and cucumbers. Citrus fruits and some vegetables not only refresh the skin but also help reduce oils. Try mixing 1/2 teaspoon lime juice with an equal amount of cucumber juice. Apply to skin a few minutes before showering.

Home Remedies from the Windowsill

Aloe vera. Aloe vera, the wonder plant of the household, works well at absorbing skin oils. Slice open a leaf and smear the gel onto the face up to three times a day. Let dry. (Keep a small amount of gel in the refrigerator during summer months for a refreshing face-lift!)

AyurvedicCure.com
To care for oily skin you should start with a gentle, foaming facial wash. This will remove dirt and oil without stripping away moisture.

1. Make a puree of fresh tomatoes, apply to the skin

2. Mix half teaspoon honey with egg white and one teaspoon lemon juice. Add fuller's earth or brewer's yeast powder. Mix into a paste and apply. Remove after 20 minutes with water.

3. To prevent the problem of your makeup becoming patchy either on the forehead, chin or nose due to excessive oiliness in these areas, apply a little cucumber juice on the excessively oily parts of your face, dry thoroughly and then apply your makeup.

4. Mix one tablespoon youghurt with fuller's earth and apply. Youghurt itself can be applied o the face. It helps to soften the skin and restores the natural acid mantle.

5. If your skin is excessively oily, mix in a few drops of eau de cologne. This not only helps keep oiliness away but also helps in refining the pores of the skin by acting as astringent, thereby preventing acne.

6. Make a pulp of raw papaya and apply. Papaya has a cleansing action, softening dead skin cells and aiding their removal.

Recommendations for Oily Skin:

1. Keep a bowl of water in the fridge and splash this cold water on your face 3-4 times a day.Cold water will not only leave you feeling refreshed but will also tighten the pores.

2. Follow up the cleanser with an astringent as this will remove all excess oil

3. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water each day.Water helps flush out toxins from the body.

4. Use an exfoliant twice a week. These skin scrub products contains little granules that, when used with a small brush, provide deep cleansing.

1stholistic.com

Natural Skincare

Half an hour before taking your bath apply on your face half teaspoon each of lime and cucumber juice mixed together.

If your skin is excessively oily, mix in a few drops of eau de cologne. This not only helps keep oiliness away but also helps in refining the pores of the skin by acting as astringent, thereby preventing acne.

To prevent the problem of your makeup becoming patchy either on the forehead, chin or nose due to excessive oiliness in these areas, apply a little cucumber juice on the excessively oily parts of your face, dry thoroughly and then apply your makeup.

If your whole face turns patchy after makeup is applied on it, then apply equal parts of lime juice and witch-hazel. Dry well before putting on your makeup.

Choose an astringent that contains acetone, which is known for dissolving oil. Strong astringents will do more harm than good, stimulating an overproduction of oil.

To clear away excess oil, use a clay or mud mask. Blend together well 1 teaspoon green clay powder and 1 teaspoon raw honey. Apply the mixture to your face, avoiding the eye area. Leave it on for fifteen minutes, then rinse well with lukewarm water. Do this at least three times a week--or more.

Once or twice daily, mix equal parts of lemon juice and water together. Pat mixture on your face and allow it to dry, then rinse with warm water. Follow with a cool-water rinse.

Diet for Oily Skin

Take a diet rich in proteins but restricted in sugar, fluids and salt.

Take plenty of leafy green vegetables and fresh fruits.

Have your blood brought up to par by the suitable administration of necessary vitamins, iron and similar substances.

Even a slight deficiency in vitamin B2 can cause oily skin. Nutritional yeast, wheat germ and organ meats provide both vitamin B5 and vitamin B2. Other good sources of vitamin B2 are whole grains, beans, nuts, and royal jelly. Buckwheat, black beans and whole rice are excellent to supply the body with iron and rejuvenate pate skin.

Drink plenty of quality water to keep the skin hydrated and flush out toxins.

Reduce the amount of fat in your diet. Avoid pork and fried and highly seasoned foods. Consume no animal fats, or heat-processed vegetable oils.

Do not cook with oil. Do not eat any oils that have been subjected to heat, whether in processing or cooking. If a little oil is necessary, such as in salad dressing, use cold-pressed canola or olive oil only.

Do not drink soft drinks or alcoholic beverages. Avoid sugar, chocolate, and junk food.

Herbs for Oily Skin

Aloe vera has excellent healing properties. Apply aloe vera gel topically, as needed.

Burdock root, chamomile, horsetail, oat straw, and thyme nourish the skin.

Lavender is very good for oily skin. Mist your skin with lavender water several times daily.

A facial sauna using lemongrass, licorice root, and rosebuds is good for oily skin. Two or three times a week, simmer a total of 2 to 4 tablespoons of dried or fresh herbs in 2 quarts of water. When the pot is steaming, place it on top of a trivet or thick potholder on a table, and sit with your face at a comfortable distance over the steam for fifteen minutes. You can use a towel to trap the steam if you wish. After fifteen minutes, splash your face with cold water and allow your skin to air dry or pat it dry with a towel. After the sauna, you can allow the herbal water to cool and save it for use as a toning lotion to be dabbed on your face with a cot- ton ball after cleansing.

Witch hazel applied to the skin is excellent for absorbing oil.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy considers skin problems to be a general bodily imbalance. Hence treatment is constitutional. Consult an experienced homeopath if the condition does not improve.

Take one of the following in the 6c strength every twelve hours for up to one month.

Take Mercurius for an oily face that smells unpleasant, with trembling, sticky perspiration and overproduction of saliva. Oiliness is worse in cold and hot weather.

Natrum mur is useful for a person with an oily, shiny face that is worse on hairy parts, and who is constipated.

Common Sense Recommendations

Do not smoke. Smoking promotes enlargement of the pores and impairs the overall health of the skin.

Rub oily skin areas with apple cider vinegar for a neutralizing effect.

Regularly brushing and massage of the whole body stimulates circulation and rejuvenates the skin.

Evening primrose oil supplements are beneficial for skin. They contain gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid reputed to strengthen skin cells and boost their moisture content.

Get sufficient sleep as the skin's cellular repair activity is at its optimum during this resting phase.

Exercise benefits skin as it boosts circulation and encourages blood flow. Regular exercise will nourish and cleanse your skin from within.

mothernature.COM

7 Restoratives for a Happier Face

It's not your fault, really. If you've got to blame someone, blame your ancestors. Chances are they came from someplace where oily skin served a useful purpose, such as combating the effects of excessive Mediterranean sunlight or monsoon rains. Now you're stuck with oily skin in the middle of Minnesota, where the embarrassment of a shiny forehead outweighs any possible protection your skin might afford you from scorching rays or tropical torrents.

Heredity does play a big part in oily skin, but so do hormones. Pregnant women sometimes notice an increase in skin oil as hormonal activity changes. So do women taking certain types of birth control pills. Stress can also cause the oil glands to kick into overdrive. The wrong cosmetics can easily aggravate an otherwise mild case of oily skin. Some of these causes are within your ability to control, but others you'll have to learn to live with.

There is no magic cure for oily skin. State-of-the-art advice from the experts calls for keeping it clean, and keeping at it all the time. Our tips will help you do that as well as it can be done.

On the up side, skin experts believe there are some advantages to having an oily hide, not the least of which becomes apparent with the steady passing of time. That is, oily skin tends to age better and wrinkle less than dry or normal skin. Today's curse; tomorrow's blessing.

Make mine mud. "Clay masks or mud masks are worthwhile," says Howard Donsky, M.D., an associate professor of medicine at the University of Toronto and staff dermatologist at Toronto General Hospital. But Dr. Donsky cautions that masks will make skin feel good and look better only temporarily, so don't count on the effects lasting for any length of time.

Generally, the darker brown the clay (mud), the more oil it can absorb. White or rose-colored clays, though, are gentler and work best on sensitive skin.

Masks can cleanse the skin of surface greasiness, but don't expect them to "deep-clean" the pores (the term is meaningless, some experts say) or do anything more than temporarily tone the skin.

Splash on the hot suds. "Hot water is a good solvent," says Hillard H. Pearlstein, M.D., a private practitioner and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York. For that reason, he recommends that oily skin be washed in very warm water, with plenty of soap. "Hot water plus soap will dissolve skin oil better than cold water and soap," he says, "because more things dissolve in hot than cold, and that includes soap and the grit and grime you're trying to get rid of on your skin."

Seek out drying soaps. "Given the state of the art in oily skin treatment, all you can really do is degrease the skin," Dr. Pearlstein says, "and that has to be done repeatedly, with astringents and with drying soaps."

Finding a drying soap is not a problem (finding one that won't dry the skin can be, however). Many dermatologists seem to favor good old Ivory for oily skin, along with more specialized degreasing soaps such as Cuticura Mildly Medicated Soap, Clearasil soap, and Neutrogena Oily Skin Formula, to name a few.

Follow with astringents. Astringents with acetone are your best bet, according to Dr. Neldner. "Acetone is a great fat and grease solvent, and most astringents have a bit of acetone in them. If you use it regularly, you can surely remove oil from the skin."

Although most astringents contain alcohol, look for a brand that also contains acetones, such as Seba-Nil, says Dr .Neldner. Ordinary rubbing alcohol, however, can be used as an effective, inexpensive astringent. Those looking for something milder can try witch hazel, which contains some alcohol and also works well.

Nonalcohol astringents contain mostly water and are not as effective as those with alcohol and acetone, but they may be of help for those with sensitive skin. Worth noting: Dermatologists say that rather than washing the face several times a day, which can leave it too dry and irritated, you're better off to carry astringent pads with you and use them to cleanse the face.

Select cosmetics with care. "Cosmetics come in two major categories," says Dr. Neldner, "oil-based and water-based. If you've got oily skin, use only a water-based product."

There are many cosmetics formulated for oily skin. They are made to soak up and cover oiliness so the skin doesn't look as greasy. But no cosmetic has any magical ingredient that will slow down or stop oil production, so don't be lured into buying products that make such claims.

Take a powder. Baby powder, that is. For additional shine-free protection, some women find that simple products such as Johnson's Baby Powder make a superb face powder when fluffed lightly over makeup

To care for oily skin you should start with a gentle, foaming facial wash. This will remove dirt and oil without stripping away moisture. Soak cotton wool in a gentle astringent lotion and sweep it over your skin to refresh and cool it. Even oily skin needs a moisturiser, but chose a light, watery fluid; this will be enough for your skin. Allow the moisturiser to sink in and then absorb the excess with a tissue to prevent shine.

A clay mask works wonder for oily skin. We recommend this clay mask:

ZIRH Clay Mask

Natural bentonite clay detoxifies and balances the skin's surface by absorbing impurities and excess oils.

Home remedies for oily skin

1) Make a puree of fresh tomatoes, apply to the skin

2) Beat together 1 egg white, 1 tsp spirits of camphor, 1 heaping Tbsp skim milk powder and a scant drop of essential oil of mint. First apply a thin film of odorless castor oil to the skin , then apply a thick layer of the egg white mask. Lie back for about 15 minutes. Wash off with warm water, then rinse with an apple cider vinegar and water solution or witch hazel.