Precluding and alleviating Sun Damage on Skin

Who doesn't like to bask in the Sun during the winter afternoons or frolic in the Sun in the beach holidays!We have a fair share of fun in the Sun but we cannot undermine the long-term harmful effects of the Sun on our skin.
The harmful rays of the Sun in the peak hours of the day (10 am to 3 pm), have deleterious effect on the skin. Right from skin dryness to premature ageing, the Sun does most of the damage to the skin. The UV -A rays cause skin ageing while UV-B rays cause sun burns.
Sun damage can range from minor skin reddening/tanning to premature wrinkles. The better prevention taken and the sooner the cure done, the skin revives back to its normal healthy condition.

Don't ditch broad brimmed hats and pure cotton stoles when out in the Sun. It blocks the Sun's rays from penetrating your skin. Avoiding going outdoors during the peak hours, acts as the first line of defense when it comes to preventing Sun damage.
When coming from Sun, it is advisable to rub an ice cube all over the face and apply pure Aloe Vera gel on the face for about 20 mins. It greatly soothes Sun burns.
Applying a face pack of chilled curd and lemon juice, deeply hydrates the skin and lightens Sun tan.
Applying a face pack of pure Sandalwood powder, lemon juice and rose water, thrice weekly, helps moisturize, soothe and brighten the skin.
Kiwi , Tomato and Almond paste on the skin repairs the Sun damage and gives way to healthier skin.
Green tea also greatly reduces inflammation and promotes healthy skin.
Smearing Vitamin E oil onto face before going to sleep, helps regenerate and heal the damage.

However, if the Sun damage is too severe and has occurred from over years of serious exposure to the Sun, prompt medical attention is required. Symptoms of Melasma and Skin Cancer often result due to severe Sun damage and should be exigent in their treatment.

Take these smart measures and may your skin brim like the Sun!

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Home Remedies for Chapped Lips

Chapping happens when your lips can’t produce natural oils to moisturize themselves. Vitamin deficiencies, dehydration, smoking, allergic reactions, sun and wind exposure, harsh weather changes, and skin disorders can all cause chapped lips, and chapped lips can lead to other health problems, like cold sores and bacterial infections.

1. Rose Petals

Rose petals provide your lips with natural moisture and color.

Process:

·         Wash a handful of fresh rose petals.

·         Soak them in milk for 3 hours.

·         Crush them to make a paste.

·         Massage the paste into chapped lips and leave on.

·         Repeat 3 times daily and night before going to bed.

·         Note: if you can’t have milk, replace it with glycerin.

2. Sugar

Sugar exfoliates to remove dry, dead skin cells, encouraging the growth of new, healthy skin.

Process:

·         Mix 2 teaspoons of sugar with 1 teaspoon of honey.

·         Stir well to make a paste.

·         Apply to the copped lips and leave for few minutes.

·         Massage the paste into lips for 1 minute.

·         Rinse with warm water.

·         Repeat regularly to get rid of chapped lips.

·         Note: You can add 1 teaspoon of olive oil instead of sugar and follow the same process.

3. Milk Cream

Full fat cream provides your lips with the natural moisture they need to heal.

Process:

·         Massage milk cream into your lips, leave it on 15 minutes.

·         Rinse with lukewarm water.

·         Do this 3 times a day to get relief from chapped lips.

4. Honey

Honey is a natural moisturizer and it is naturally antibacterial. It will keep cuts and splits from becoming infected.

Process:

·         Rub pure, raw honey into your lips 5 times a day.

·         Or mix honey with glycerin, leave it on overnight.

·         Rinse it off in the morning.

·         Repeat regularly to soften lips.

5. Castor Oil

Castor Oil is a natural moisturizer.

Process:

·         For even better results, mix 1 teaspoon of castor oil, 1 teaspoon of glycerin, and ¼ teaspoon of lemon juice.

·         Rub it into your lips before bed, leave it on overnight.

·         Rinse with lukewarm water in the morning.

·         Repeat regularly.

·         Or Rub castor oil into your lips several times a day.

6. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a natural moisturizer and it has anti-inflammatory properties. It will heal and soothe the pain of chapped lips. It also has hygroscopic properties, which means it will attract and hold moisture.

Process:

·         Cut open a fresh aloe vera leaf and squeeze to extract gel.

·         Massage the gel into chapped lips and leave it on 15 minutes.

·         Rinse with lukewarm water.

·         Repeat regularly to heal chopped lips.

7. Cucumber

Cucumber is a natural moisturizer, and it contains vitamins and nutrients that keep skin healthy.

Process:

·         Cut a fresh slice of cucumber.

·         Rub it all over chapped lips.

·         Let the juice absorb into your lips.

·         Leave it on 15-20 minutes.

·         Rinse with lukewarm water.

·         Repeat regularly to treat chopped lips.

8. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is one of the most effective natural moisturizers available. It soothes and heals cracked, dry lips and provides nutrients skin needs to stay healthy.

Process:

·         Apply organic coconut oil to your lips several times a day.

·         If you need a substitute for any reason, mustard oil and coconut oil also work.

9. Mango Butter or Oil

Mango butter and oil are effective emollients because they are rich in oleic and stearic fatty acids, which act just like sebum, the oil your skin is naturally supposed to produce to moisturize itself.

Process:

·         Apply organic mango butter or oil to your lips.

·         Leave on until dry.

·         Wash with water and repeat regularly to get relief from the dry and chapped lips completely

10. Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly is one of the most economical over-the-counter solutions for chapped lips. Use in combination with honey, it is also one of the most effective.

Process:

·         Rub a thin layer of raw honey onto chapped lips.

·         Cover with a thin layer of petroleum jelly.

·         Leave on 15 minutes.

·         Gently remove both layers with a clean, dry cotton ball.

·         Repeat 2 times a day.

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Turmeric Can Beautify Your Skin

1.      Protects from sun damage

Turmeric has been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for centuries due to its beneficial effects on a wide range of diseases and conditions. It has been shown to possess strong anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and laboratory studies suggest that turmeric can help protect the epidermal skin cells from the damage caused by ultraviolet B radiation (UB radiation).

2.      Helps reduce acne

Acne is one of the most common skin conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. Inflammatory acne can ruin one’s appearance and can affect work and social life. Home remedies using turmeric can benefit acne. There are pastes and masks using turmeric, which when applied to acne affected areas can provide relief.

Turmeric has the potential to kill the acnes bacteria that cause acne and reduce the amount of oil produced by the sebaceous glands. Specifically, turmeric mixed with glycerin or vitamin E and applied overnight on the acne has shown to dramatically reduce the size of the same. The scientific reason shown behind acne reducing action of turmeric is its antioxidant property. It reduces the amount of sebum secretion, controls the microbial growth on the skin, cleans up the pores and combats the reactive oxygen species that harm the skin.

3.      Reduces risk of skin cancer

Here’s another reason manufacturers would be wise to add turmeric to sunscreens—it has anti-cancer activity. Several factors such as UV rays, chemicals and genetics affect the occurrence of this disorder that starts in the top epidermal layer of the skin and spreads in the underlying layer.

Cancer of the skin not just affects the inner skin makeup but also deteriorates the appearance. The skin is affected by lesions and inflammation. Turmeric has been shown to provide relief not just on the outside of the skin in the affected area but also helps reduce the tumor on the inside. Turmeric has powerful antioxidant activities which helps reduce the growth of tumor cells of the skin.

4.      Helps heal wounds

Turmeric has a long history of being a wound-healer. Whether one was to suffer a bruise, insect bite, infected wound, or even mouth inflammation, a turmeric salve or paste is the answer.

It has anti-bacterial properties that help treat wounds and hasten healing, therefore preventing spread of infection.

5.      Helps treat psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common inflammatory skin disorder in which the immune system dysfunctions and causes skin lesions with white colored patches. It occurs majorly on the elbows, knees, scalp, back of the ears and neck but can occur in any area of the body.

Oral consumption of turmeric has been scientifically proven to control the psoriasis causing T-lymphocyte autoimmune proliferation. Controlling these cells helps reduce their attack on the skin.

Applying turmeric as oils, masks and creams on psoriasis affected skin can help reduce inflammation and scaling. Those with psoriasis can ensure they add turmeric in their daily cooking. This can be in tea, milk, curries, stews, roast vegetables, eggs or as a general seasoning.

6.      Delays the appearance of aging

Studies have shown that curcumin helps in both reversing and preventing photo-aging. Curcumin is also a potent antioxidant that scavenges free radicals that are produced in our skin due to exposure to UV rays of the sun, pollution, harsh chemicals, etc.

7.      Fades hyperpigmentation

Tired of age spots and melasma? Turmeric may help.

The spice seems to be able to affect melanin, which is the substance in skin responsible for pigmentation. If you have melasma, you have too much melanin on your cheeks, chin, and forehead. Age spots are also created by too much melanin in one place.

The curcumin in turmeric seems to block the activation of proteins that increase and regulate melanin production.

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The Best Anti-Aging Foods

1. Indian Gooseberry (Alma): It is foremost in natural beauty tips’ list of top anti aging foods. Its consumption on regular basis delays aging process and keeps you young and is therefore an answer to how to look younger. Indian gooseberry is a gift of nature to mankind. It is an excellent source of vitamin C and works excellent as an antioxidant. It sets right your cholesterol, regulates your BP and helps in curing so many other ailments. If fresh Amla fruit is available, then you can eat it as such, or make salads or pickle with it. You can also make juice of amla, mix it with water and drink it. If fresh Amla is not available, then consume amla powder.

2. Walnuts: This easily available nut contains a hormone that helps you sleep better, essential fats with brain boosting power, antioxidants with disease fighting properties, anti aging skin benefits and many more health benefits. It is an easily available delicious snack packed with good fats, fiber and protein. This super nut has many nutritional benefits. Walnuts are also advised for people having high blood pressure and therefore are included in the natural beauty tips’ list of anti aging foods and are also an answer to how to look younger.

3. Apple and Pears: The more white fleshed fruit you eat the better as far as reducing your stroke risk is concerned. The humble little one apple or pear a day can make a big difference. You know old saying, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. This is another nature gifted best anti aging food.

4. Avoid sugary and high calories products: Eat less of sugary, high calories products and foods that contain excess of fat. It will help a lot in slowing down the aging and therefore, this tip is included in the natural beauty tips’ list of anti aging foods and is an answer to how to look younger.

5. Honey as best anti aging food: Replace your consumption of sugar with honey. Honey is not just a simple sugar. It contains many substances including minerals, amino acids, enzymes, bioflavonoid, aroma compounds and vitamins. This unique combination gives honey its amazing health benefits. Honey increases levels of antioxidants in your blood and improves your immune system. Consume honey, a top anti aging food, instead of sugar.

6. Raw Fruits and vegetables are powerful antioxidants and best anti aging foods: When you cook vegetables you destroy much of their antioxidant values. When you over heat – you lose up to 97% of the water, soluble vitamins (vitamins B and C) and up to 40% of the fat soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E and K). These are key antioxidants & hence are anti aging and we waste them. Cooking also alters the proteins in foods to such an extent that they become difficult for the human being to digest. Frying, high roasting and char-broiling are the worst, causing oxidization of foods leading to the production of damaging free radicals, which we then eat. Eat raw as much as possible.

7. Green Tea: Green tea is naturally high in plants derived elements which offer antioxidant protection. Green tea is a super food which retains more of the good things hence we recommend it as far as health benefits are concerned. Green tea contains catechism, which gives it antioxidant power.

8. Fresh fruits & vegetables juices: The beneficial effects of fresh fruits & vegetables juices extend far beyond protection from loss of memory. Juices are an important part of anti aging nutrition as well. Some of the most powerful anti aging antioxidants are present in fresh, highly colored fruits and vegetables. Juicing gets them into your system immediately and in their raw state, with no loss of nutrients from cooking or oxidation and therefore included in the natural beauty tips’ list of anti aging foods and as an answer to how to look younger.

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GET RID OF UNSIGHTLY ARM FLAB

Arm flab is the extra amount of skin or fat that loosely hangs out of the arm, making the arms look flabby and shapeless. It makes us look unfit, aged and overweight. Due to flabby arms, we tend to feel conscious and a bit diffident, specially when donning sleeveless or tight sleeved clothes. It is an issue that maximum people tend to face.
There are some substantial causes behind flabby arms. The first and major cause behind flabby arm is excess body weight.The excessive fat tends to make the arms heavier which subsequently makes the arms saggy.
Another equally strong cause is the genes. Sometimes it is is in our genes to inherit the flabby arms in the long run. Our genetics do determine to a great extent the structure of our body and we actually preclude it.
However, there are several ways in which we can control flabby arms.
A balanced diet, low on fats and carbs and high on proteins and fibers, goes a long way in delaying and keeping flabby arms in check.
There is a plethora of exercises that help reduce the arm flab and give way to toned arms.A few of them have been listed here:

Bicep Curl: Keeping feet at shoulders' distance, carry weights of around 3 kilos in each hand and alternately fold each hand from the elbow, and bringing the hand up to collar bone level.

Hammer Curl Press:Keeping feet shoulder distance apart, carrying weights in both the hands, do the Bicep curl simultaneously with both the hands and then lift up both the hands above the head level, again bring them down to the shoulder level and finally bring down both the hands.

Push Ups: Push ups are a great way to add strength and firmness to the hands.

Doing 3 sets of 5 times repetition will do great benefit to the arms.

Cross training: Starting with 0 resistance and then slowly increasing the resistance on a cross trainer and working on the handles for moving the paddles, in short high intensity work outs greatly tones the arms and makes them strong.

Yoga: Certain yoga poses like Bhujangasan, surya namaskar and tadasan help greatly in maintaining toned and strong arms.

Have a balanced diet and do proper exercises to have well toned arms and forget those flabby arms !

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TOP 10 HOME REMEDIES to GET RID of DANDRUFF

1)   Baking soda- Your kitchen could hold the key to an itch-free, flake-free scalp. Wet your hair and then rub a handful of baking soda vigorously into your scalp. Skip the shampoo and go right to rinsing. Baking soda reduces overactive fungi that can cause dandruff. Your hair may get dried out at first, but after a few weeks your scalp will start producing natural oils, leaving your hair softer and free of flakes.

2)    Yogurt- Shampoo your hair and rinse. Post that, apply the yogurt to your scalp and leave it as it is for about 15 minutes. Rinse your hair, and wash again using a small amount of shampoo. Alternatively, You can add two spoons of freshly ground black pepper to the yogurt. Pepper has antifungal properties

3)    Apple Cider Vinegar- Mix the apple cider vinegar and water in a bowl. Wash your hair as usual, and then pour the vinegar-water mixture onto your hair and scrub it into your scalp. Leave it that way for about 15 minutes, after which you can wash it off with water. Repeat this activity daily for a week to get amazing results.

4)    Garlic-Garlic's antimicrobial properties are perfect for eliminating dandruff-causing bacteria. Crush garlic and rub it into your scalp. To avoid that potent smell,  mix crushed garlic with honey and massage into the scalp before washing as usual.

5)    Coconut Oil- Coconut oil helps eliminate dandruff due to its antifungal properties. It also moisturizes dry scalp and provides relief from itching. Simply wash your hair with shampoo and let your hair dry completely. Do not use a conditioner. Apply the coconut oil directly to your scalp and leave it undisturbed for a few minutes. Wash your hair thoroughly with water.

6)    Egg Yolks- Mix the yolks of the eggs in a bowl. Ensure your hair is dry, then apply the yolks to the scalp. Once done, cover your hair with a plastic bag and leave it undisturbed for about an hour. Wash your hair thoroughly with a good shampoo. You might need to wash your hair twice to remove the odor.

7)    Lemon- Dandruff relief may be no farther away than your refrigerator. Just massage 2 tablespoons lemon juice into your scalp and rinse with water. Then stir 1 teaspoon lemon juice into 1 cup water and rinse your hair with it. Repeat this daily until your dandruff disappears. Lemon's acidity helps balance the pH of your scalp, which helps keeps dandruff at bay.

8)    Aloe vera- Collect the aloe vera gel that is directly obtained from the plant and apply it on your scalp. Leave it on for about 15 minutes, and then rinse using a mild shampoo.

9)    Aspirin-Crush the aspirin tablets (you can place them beneath a clean napkin and gently hammer on it) and add the powder to a bowl. Take a little amount of your regular shampoo and add it to the powder. Mix well. Leave the shampoo on your hair for two minutes, after which you can rinse with water. Alternatively, crush three aspirins and dissolve the powder in one tablespoon of vinegar. Massage the mixture into your scalp. Leave it in for half an hour and then wash your hair thoroughly.

10)           Fenugreek Seeds- The herb fenugreek has antifungal and soothing properties that can help control dandruff to a great extent. Soak two to three tablespoons of fenugreek seeds in water overnight. In the morning, grind them into a fine paste. You can also add a few teaspoons of plain yogurt to it. Apply the paste all over your scalp and leave it in for a few hours. Rinse it out and shampoo your hair. Do this once or twice a week.

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ESSENTIAL OILS FOR HAIR GROWTH AND HEALTH OF HAIR

Thick, lustrous and healthy hair is wanted by all. But gradually, due to genetics and many other factors like stress, unhealthy lifestyle, excessive chemical treatments, hair follicles become loose and start to fall off.
If the condition of the hair fall is too severe, then the best solution is to seek medical advice.However, if the condition is mild , then with some extra care, at the comfort of the home, the problem of hair fall can be redressed.
Essential oils are highly potent and concentrated oils extracted from various parts of a plant, by methods of steam distillation and the purest ones are obtained by the usage of no chemicals. There is a plethora of essential oils with tremendous medicinal values.
Among the several essential oils, some are known to have immense beneficial properties towards hair growth and health of the hair.A few of the most effective essential oils for the health of hair and scalp are as follows:
Lavender Oil: Its massage on the scalp increases blood circulation, invigorates the scalp and relieves stress, a major cause of hair fall. It soothes the scalp and subsides itchiness,dryness and dandruff.
Rosemary Oil: It reduces dryness and prevents premature graying. A few drops of this oil can be added to shampoo and conditioner for reaping added benefits of hair care product.It increases hair growth by enhancing cellular metabolism
Peppermint Oil: It has antimicrobial properties which curb any kind of scalp infection, promote scalp health and invigorate the hair follicles.
Ylang Ylang Oil: It is very beneficial in increasing the thickness of the hair shaft and bringing shine and luster to hair.

Since, these oils are highly concentrated , they should always be used in combination with some nutritious carrier oils like Olive Oil, Jojoba Oil or Coconut oil. 30 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil.

Doing an everyday gentle massage with oil , adding to shampoo/ conditioner or weekly once in a hot oil therapy, does wonders to the growth and texture of the hair.
Grab a pure essential oil or a combination of pure essential oils , as per your need and soon you will be overwhelmed with your beautiful hair!

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