Hair Care - Split Ends

The problem of split ends occurs when the cuticle is damaged and the fibres of the cortex unravel. This happens because of chemicals, neglect and harsh treatment.
Conditioner will not fix this problem. You will need to have the split ends cut off.
It is best to go to the hair dresser but you may do it yourself. Just take some small sections of hair strands, twist them, very carefully run some scissors up and down the hair shaft cutting off any stray ends that poke out.

Nail Care

Too much water and chemicals is bad for your nails, get into the habit of wearing rubber gloves when you do any cleaning around the house.
Cleaning agents can be extremely harsh on both nails and hands. The nails when exposed to water, swell and then shrink back as they dry. This contributes to brittle nails.

Egg White Skin Tightner

As far as masks go, it can't get simpler than this…it leaves your skin tightened and feeling very refreshed.
Ingredients:
1 egg white

Separate the egg white from the yolk. Put the egg white on your face and relax for about 15 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water.

Vegetable Facial Mask

This mask works well for oily skin, since it absorbs the surplus oils. Tomatoes are excellent anti-oxidants, and the curd prevents excessive drying.
Ingredients:
1/2 tomato, mashed (remove seeds and skin)
2 tsp. curd
1 tsp. mashed cucumber
3-4 tsp. oatmeal powder
3 crushed mint leaves.

Mix ingredients together and apply on your face or massage a little on your face. Wait for ten minutes, and then wash off with warm water

Home made face mask for dry skin

1. Take 1 tbsp olive oil and mix with 2 tbsp of fresh cream, leave it on the face for 10 minutes and then wash your face with warm water.
2. Mix 1 tbsp of honey with 15 drops of orange juice and 1 tbsp of fuller’s earth and add 1 tbsp of rose water. Mix well and apply on the face, wash off after 10 miuntes.

Home made face mask for oily skin

1. Mix a tbsp of honey with 1 egg white and apply thickly on the face and neck. Leave for 10 minutes and wash off.
2. Mix 2 tbsp of papaya pulp with 10 drops of lemon juice and leave it for 20 minutes and then rinse well.
3. Take fresh juice of any of the fruits (orange, sweet lime, watermelon or papaya) and apply on the face as a mask. This is very relaxing, it cleanses the skin, closes pores and stimulates blood circulation.

Know your skin type…

Normal skin: This skin type is neither oily nor dry. Beautiful as it is, it needs care, if it is to last. People with normal skin start showing signs of age and wrinkling sooner than others. Daily cleansing, toning and nourishing is the adequate care for normal skin.

Oily skin: In this kind of skin, oil producing glands are overactive. They produces more oil than is needed, which oozes up, giving the skin a greasy shine. The pores are enlarged and the skin has a coarse look. This kind of skin also suffers from blackheads, pimples & acne. Oily skin needs special cleansing to keep the pores unclogged.

Dry skin: Majority of the people have dry skin. Your skin lacks both sebum and moisture. It looks fine textured, transparent, patchy and fragile. There are many factors which affect dry skin and make them even ore dry. For instance, washing with soap & water not only removes grime but also the natural oils that protect the skin. Exposure to the sun, air- conditioners and heaters also take their toll. Dry skin always needs moisturiser which increases the water content of the outer layer of the skin, giving it a soft, moist look.

Taking care of your skin

If you want a good skin, the most important thing is to take care of it daily. Make it your habit. Your diet also plays an important part, so does getting adequate sleep and exercise.
If you like your skin to be young forever, follow these basic rules:

1. Cleanse your skin twice a day with products suited to your skin type.
2. See a beauty therapist regularly after the age of 25
3. Learn to treat the skin according to its type.
4. Avoid sun.
5. Avoid smoking.
6. Drink 8 glasses of water daily.
7. Use a face mask once a week.
8. Exercise regularly.
9. Remember that a regular care & routine pays you back.
10. Neglect accelerates ageing more than anything else.

Skin care in winter

Lemon as a beauty aid
Start your morning with a combination of half a lemon of juice and an orange, squeezed in hot water, sweetened with honey.
For weight watchers & those on a reducing programme, lemon is excellent. Since it helps in depigmentation of the skin, it is useful for those suffering from blemishing and blotchy skin.

Lemon as a hand lotion: Mix lemon juice to rose water and rub on hands to get smooth hands. Rub granulated sugar and the juice of a lemon together till the sugar is dissolved. Then rinse it off. Do this regularly for a month and see the difference.

Lemon as bleach: rub lemon halves on elbows, heels and toes and then rinse off.

Lemon as a hair rinse: Add lemon juice to boiled & strained tea water. Use immediately after the shampoo. It highlights dull hair, making it shine.

Henna miracles
Henna is used to color the hair, hands and nails. Henna gives reddish color to the grey hair, but not to those with dark hair, either brown or black. Dark hair cannot turn red. Instead henna will give them beautiful coppery tints, which would highlight the hair, making it gleaming & lustrous.

Daily care for dry skin in winter

First thing on your routine should be cleansing. Most of us use some kind of make-up on our skin, so cleansing is very essential. A cactus cleanser with a lemon base is the best. Cactus is ideal for rehydrating the skin. The cleanser must be massaged gently, into the skin, paying particular attention to the creases of the nose under the chin, neck and ear lobes.
Second step is toning of the skin, toning removes the last stages of cleanser and dissolves dirt. It is good if you use skin toning lotion. A skin tonic, with mint and honey base would be excellent for delicate & parched skin. Skin tonic braces the skin and tightens the pores, especially under the eyes and on the jaw line.
Third step is nourishing the skin, if you want to prevent it from dryness. Every night, a nourishing cream with preferably an orange base, should be used. If you feelthat your skin is very dry, use a second application. A nourishing cream with vitamin E would work wonders.

Supplying moisture to the skin by use of suitable cosmetic aids si the only way to prevent the skin from drying up.