4 Natural Remedies for Peeling Skin

Very dry skin can start peeling with time and that is definitely a sign that something is not right. Maybe your regular moisturizer is not helping anymore and you want to try something new, or you are switching to all-natural remedies and want to check out what the methods against peeling skin are. Here are a few pure items that might help you out with very dry peeling skin:

• Bananas: make a banana cream using a ripe banana and yougurt. Apply the mixture to the affected area. The skin will get softer and smoother after you wash it out, but it’s better to repeat the procedure in a few consecutive days for better results.
• Almond Oil: the “skin” oil will definitely help you with dry patches of skin by simply applying it to the affected area.
• Lemon Juice: not only it is refreshing and can be used in cooking, but lemon juice will help to reduce the peeling of skin. It can be turned into a scrub if you combine it with sugar or in a pure form to serve as a moisturizer
• Aloe Vera: it is one of the best components of beauty products for sensitive skin. You can use it in a gel form or the Aloe Vera pulp to enhance moisturizing and help easing the blood flow.

How to get rid of your suntan

While a tan may be attractive for some, for others it's just one of the dreaded hazards of summer. Besides darkening your complexion, it can also harm your skin. Here are a few remedies to help you fight tanning.

• A mixture of lime juice and glycerine helps remove freckles and pigmentation spots.
• Aloe Vera gel soothes sunburnt skin.

• Applying caladryl helps fight skin rash caused by sunburn.
• A mixture of curd and lime helps lighten a tan.
• A mixture of milk powder, sandalwood powder, lime juice and a few drops of honey, when applied twice a week also helps lighten skin.

Tips to look younger

Who does not want to look younger, and in a quick way that does not involve getting surgeries or needles?

And you always do not need expensive anti-wrinkle and night creams. When you wear the right clothes and accessories, practice a great skin care regime daily, and keep your wardrobe updated you can take years off you without the large financial burden that operations bring. Here are some simple tips to look younger.

Get glowing

Lifting your spirits can actually lift your complexion too — wear a bright colour that makes you feel good and cheery. A bright yellow T-shirt or a cheery pink top can make you feel great and that reflects on your personality.

Update a trusted outfit

Wear one of your favourite outfits and then accessorize with a large neck piece — it can make you look feminine and young.

Go for flawless skin

A little makeup can go a long way. Take a few dots of primer/ corrector/ concealor to hide your age spots. When your dark circles aren't too obvious you look young and fresh.

Try out a new trend

Take off those boring black pumps, instead opt for a fresh pair of pretty shoes in metallic or pop shades.

Minimize your pores

Visible pores on your skin can make your look older. Here is a quick remedy — brew green/ camomile/rose hip tea and pour it in an ice cube tray. Let it freeze. Now wrap a frozen tea cube in a soft cloth and lightly massage your face for an instantaneous fresh look.

Open up and brighten your eyes

Use a creamy eye shadow that is shimmery and bright. Swipe mascara on your lashes to open up your eyes. Avoid thick eyeliners, because if not applied well, they may make you look older than you are.

How to get luminous skin

This season one of the biggest beauty trends is natural and glowing skin, the foundation of which is a good skincare routine.

Skincare experts Rabia Malik and Preema Vig suggest that exfoliation and increasing hyaluronic acid in your skin can show great results, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Malik says that one can begin with some gentle exfoliation as this will ensure removal of surface debris from the skin.

"Following exfoliation, increase your skin's level of hyaluronic aid to achieve a more luminous, brighter complexion. This can be achieved with topicals that contain high levels of molecular weight hyaluronic acid. Try using homecare products that contain peptides too as these help to achieve a brighter complexion," said Malik.

Vig feels that hyaluronic acid helps to plump the skin and so does the intake of vitamin A.

"Vitamin A increases the skin cell cycle which brings new skin cells to the surface. Vitamin C helps in lightening, brightening and tightening the skin. Fruit acids at night exfoliate the top layer of skin," said Vig

Coffee face packs for supple skin

Your favourite beverage also doubles up as a great face pack, read on how

Use these coffee face packs to draw your coffee-addict partner towards you. They are easy to make and well, everybody has coffee at home!

Honey coffee pack:

We love coffee, we love honey! When you mix the two, think of the kind of delicious paste you will get. Mix a spoonful of each and slather it over your face. Wash it off after it dries to get beautifully soft, exfoliated skin.

Cocoa-coffee pack: 

It simply cannot get better than this! Think of what this mouthwatering, mind-blowing combo does to your senses... now think what it can do to your face! Both cocoa and coffee are antioxidants and when made into a paste using a little honey (another antioxidant) you will nourish your skin and cleanse it off all the grub you have accumulated all day.

Dry-skin pack: 

By mixing a little olive oil with some coffee powder, you will get a useful remedy for dry skin. Just make a paste it apply it on your face. Wash it off when the pack is still wet, don't let it dry off.

Drink coconut water for glowing skin

Got dull, lifeless skin? While skin texture is mostly hereditary, there is a lot you can do to improve it.

The effect of diet is seriously underestimated in beauty care. While consumption of fruits and fruit juices is said to be good for the skin, it is best to avoid oily and masala rich foods. While orange juice has been voted the best for skin, not many are aware of the benefits of coconut water when it comes to skin care.

The liquid, considered the purest one after water, hydrates the skin, making it look more youthful and supple. Studies say that the antioxidants and cytokinins present in coconut water have an age defying effect on skin. The nutritious value of the drink has always been acknowledged. If you are feeling weak or have stomach problems, drink coconut water for an energy boost.

An advantage it has over fruit juices is that you can easily have a glass a day since it is almost entirely fat free and sugar free. There are also studies which say that coconut water dabbed on skin has a positive effect. However, there are no studies to prove this.

Well, drink coconut water every day and watch your skin glow!

Foot care regime for summer

It's easier to protect your feet during winter, but one can put the best foot forward in summer too by following simple steps like washing them properly, using coconut oil and more. 

The tips should be followed religiously to get the best results, says capital-based dermatologist Deepali Bhardwaj. 

Here are the tips: 

1. Wash feet daily: 

Summer is the time when you sweat a lot and so do your feet. This attracts lots of dirt and dust. So, make sure that before going to bed, you wash your feet with cold water for around 15 minutes. 

2. Moisturize daily: 

           

Use any lotion or foot cream and make it your daily routine to apply it on your feet. But don't go overboard with moisturizer especially between your toes as it might cause fungal infection. 

 

3. Apply sunscreen: 

When you choose to uncover your feet, apply sunscreen on your feet to protect them from scorching heat. 

4. Choose comfortable footwear: 

Give your feet space to breathe by wearing comfortable footwear preferably made of mesh fabric. 

5. Use coconut oil: 

Apply coconut oil on your feet and keep it overnight. Make sure to wear a pair of cotton socks after application. 

6. Shea butter treat: 

It is very effective to take care of chapped feet. Soak them in a tub of warm water with a teaspoon of shea butter in it.

How to get rid of blackheads

Blackheads commonly appear on the chin, around the nostrils and forehead due to the oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells accumulated in skin pores. Here are some easy tips to prevent and get rid of blackheads:

Cleansing: 

Wash your face with a good cleanser at least twice a day. Keep oily areas of your face like nose and cheeks oil-free by using an oil-free cleanser.

Exfoliate: 

Scrubs or exfoliators are a good way to remove dead skin accumulated on the skin. Use a light exfoliator on your face two or three times a week.

Facial steam: 

It removes the excess dirt on the skin and helps to open your pores and get rid of blackheads. You can also use a warm washcloth and hold it on your face until the blackhead has moved to the surface.

 

Always remove makeup: 

Try not to use foundation on a daily basis, as it can clog your pores. Remove makeup only with a makeup remover.

DIY skin detox for summer

Get rid of dry, flaky skin and be summer-ready by following these do-it-yourself (DIY) steps to make your body look beautiful.

Sweat it out: 

Sweating is our body's natural way to discard toxins. Take a brisk walk, go for a morning jog, take up power yoga, exercise in your local gym — do whatever it takes to make sure you sweat. Lazy girls can opt for the sauna or steam room at the gym.

Eat right: 

Dump those packaged and processed foods from your fridge. Stock up instead on fresh vegetables and fruits. At least once a week, make sure you eat only fresh veggies and fruits of different colours —oranges, cucumber, guava, apples, broccoli, zucchini, red and yellow pepper, carrots and watermelon to name a few. Including different coloured items in your diet ensures that various vitamins and minerals are consumed.

 

Scrub off dead cells: 

Use a mixture of honey, oatmeal, curd and fine sugar as a mask on your body. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes and then scrub off gently. You could also use a pre-packaged body scrub. Squeeze a small quantity on a loofah and use gentle circular movements all over your body to scrub off dead skin cells. Follow it up with a shower and apply an intensely nourishing but non-sticky moisturising lotion. Avoid going out in the sun directly after a thorough scrub. It's best to scrub before you retire for the night.

Drink to cleanse: 

Make water your best friend. Avoid drinking packaged fruit and vegetables juices — even if they promise to be sugar-free and preservative-free. For your fix of natural juice, take a few pieces of beetroot, cucumber, bottle gourd and a few leaves of spinach and blend in the juicer.

Have a shot of wheatgrass juice every morning if possible. Try combinations of different vegetables and fruits in your juice to suit your taste. You'll see a noticeable difference in your body, skin, hair and nails when you drink two glasses of mixed juices every day for two weeks.

Tips to banish large pores

Large pores on the face are common problem of women. Use ice cubes, cleansers containing ingredients like geranium, chamomile and witch hazel to lessen the appearance of the pores.

Celebrity make-up artist and skincare expert Caroline Frazer helps to banish beauty myths about pesky enlarged pores, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"Products or DIY (do it yourself) remedies such as an ice cube used on the face can help lessen the appearance of open or enlarged pores but only for a very short while - enlarged pores won't disappear or shrink overnight. However, there are things you can do to make them look less visible," said Frazer.

Here are the tips one can follow:

Most people who have larger pores have greasier skin. Look out for cleansers that will help de-clog the pores which contain ingredients such as geranium, chamomile and witch hazel to clarify and refresh skin and help visibly reduce the size of pores.

This helps reduce the dead skin cells which can get stuck in the pores. It will also help lessen the oil on the skin, which can make the pores look bigger.

One can also try pore strips to help unblock the hard to shift areas on the nose etc.

Exfoliation, using mask and staying hydrated also help.

Exfoliating on a regular basis will definitely give the appearance of shrinking pores. If one is routinely getting off the dead skin cells, which get clogged in the pores, the pores will avoid getting stretched out daily. If one wants to splurge, try a sonic face brush to help with the exfoliating.

Masks with Kaolin clay in them are great for those with large and clogged pores. One needs to use them once or twice a week for noticeable benefits.

Drink plenty of water to keep oneself hydrated, which will enhance the appearance of the skin, reduce pore size, and help flush out toxins from the body.

Microdermabrasion can really help when it comes to treating open pores with the sort of intensity guaranteed to keep unwanted attacks of acne and spots at bay.

Love the skin you are in

How your skin looks is directly proportionate to your dedication to pampering it everyday. Here are simple steps towards radiant skin...

Who needs makeup if you can flaunt flawless skin? But that, sometimes, is elusive, thanks to all the pollution and the stress that we go through every day. However, there are some skincare programmes, which if followed regularly, could make a difference and make your skin look youthful and radiant.

You need to keep in mind that great skin is a reward you can get only when you are diligently looking after it daily. How your skin looks is directly proportionate to your dedication to pampering it everyday. And if you are really at it — results are bound to show, albeit in a few weeks.

 

Check out this simple easy to follow routine that comprises cleansing, exfoliating, mositursing, sunscreening, eating right, and keeping hydrated...

Cleanse

Begin with a thorough cleansing. Aesthetician Ritu Tanwar says, "Choose a cleanser according to your skin type. Gently rub it in a circular motion on your face, but don't stretch or pull your facial skin, especially the areas around your eyes." She advises washing off with normal or cold water and warns against using hot water.

Dermatologist Dr Apratim Goel says, "Before your retire for the night, make sure that you remove all traces of makeup with a make-up remover and then cleanse your skin with a facial cleanser." Dr Apratim recommends using a toner and then a nourishing moisturiser. "Do this without fail, every day. Don't ever skip this routine, because unclean skin can cause a host of skin problems," she cautions.

 

Exfoliate

Use a mild exfoliator to get rid of dead skin cells. Do not overdo the exfoliation bit on your face as you may end up with damaged skin, advise skincare experts. Facial exfoliation, even with a mild one, should not be done more than twice a week. Dr Jamuna Pai, cosmetologist says, "Use exfoliating agents on your knees and elbows too."

Moisturise and screen it

Toning and mositurising should be like a daily habit for you if you want to retain youthful skin. Use a sunscreen, two to three times a day. Ritu says, "Harmful sun rays can damage skin irreversibly sometimes, so avoid all excuses to skip the sunscreen. Even if you are indoor and the sky is overcast, apply at least an SPF 30 or above sunscreen."

Eat right

Eating the right kind of food is extremely essential if you want glowing healthy skin. Dietitian Deepshikha says, "Antioxidants present in berries — blueberries, and cranberries and also in aloe vera can help keep you skin vibrant." Dr Pai says taking nutritional supplements can help tackle free radicals that cause premature aging.

Drink water and juices

The idea is to keep your body hydrated all the time — if you are not too fond of water you can have fruit smoothies, chaas, vegetable soups, unsweetened natural fruit juice, low-fat milk and soy milk advises dietitian Deepshikha Aggarwal.

Get rid of dark lips

Worried about dark lips, here are some home remedies.

Dark lips can make you less confident and mar the beauty of a smile. Here's how to get naturally pink and healthy lips.

Lemon 

Rubbing lemon juice over darkened lips can help lighten them. Being a natural bleaching agent, lemon helps remove pigmentation and dark spots on skin also.

Cucumber 

Cucumber juice is cooling and can help bring the colour back to darkened, dry lips due to their moisturizing qualities also.

Beetroots

Rub some beetroot juice onto your lips and leave it on for 5-10 minutes allowing the skin to soak it all up. Wash it off and repeat this for a few days until you see the pinkness coming back in your lips.

Olive oil 

Massaging your lips with olive oil before bed can help to not just lighten the lips but also bring moisture and flexibility to them.

Sugar 

Sugar is an excellent exfoliating agent and can scrub all your dead skin cells away. You can make a sugar lip balm by mixing two spoons of granulated sugar with one spoonful of butter and use it several times a day.

5 home remedies for ageing skin

Have you ever imagined snails crawling across your face or leeches feasting on your blood? If you think this is some form of torture, wake up to the world of extreme beauty treatment. In the search for ageless skin, people all over the world are looking for exotic beauty treatments that promise a youthful glow. But don’t worry if you’re not in favour of such disconcerting therapies; your kitchen holds several goodies that can help you keep ageing skin at bay.

 

1. Lemon juice to reduce age spots

The vitamin C present in lemons is a strong antioxidant. Besides, its bleaching action works wonders on age spots and freckles. Just squeeze out the juice from a lemon, apply and leave on your skin for about 15 minutes every day and then rinse with plain water.

For even better results, combine 1 teaspoon of lemon juice with half teaspoon of milk cream and 1 teaspoon of egg white. Mix all these ingredients and apply on the face; after 15 minutes, rinse with cold water.

Lemon juice in combination with honey is also a very effective remedy for ageing skin because honey has a soothing action. Mix one teaspoon each of lemon juice and honey and massage it into your skin. Keep for 20 minutes and then wash with warm water.

2. Coconut milk to moisturise dry skin

Coconut is a treasure-trove of vitamins and minerals; it also has the ability to moisturise your skin and keep it soft, supple and radiantly young. Grate raw coconut and squeeze the milk out of it. Apply this coconut milk onto your face; stay for about 20 minutes and then rinse it out with warm water. 

3. Papaya mask for skin firmness

You may know about papaya being good for the eyes because it has a lot of vitamin A; the same reason ensures it has a strong antioxidant action and this makes it good for your skin, too. Besides, the enzyme called papain in papaya can digest the dead cells on the surface of the skin and makes skin more elastic and firm. To make a papaya mask, cut a few pieces of a totally ripe papaya fruit and mash into a smooth paste. Apply this on the face and after 15 minutes, wash away with warm water. 

 

4. Rose water to tighten skin

Rose water is a cleanser and can help remove the dirt clogging the pores of the skin. It also has an astringent action which means it tightens the skin; this helps it to give firmness and reduce the puffiness under the eyes. Mix 2 teaspoons of rose water with 3-4 drops of glycerine and half a teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply this mixture to your face using cotton ball every night before you go to bed.

Or you can also make a face pack by mixing in a teaspoon of rose water into a mixture of 1 teaspoon each of curd and honey. Add this mixture into a mashed ripe banana; apply the pack to your face and after 20 minutes, wash it with cool water.

5. Cucumber and curd pack to rejuvenate skin and under-eye skin

Cucumber helps to reduce the puffiness and dark circles under the eyes; besides it also has a soothing action that keeps skin healthy. Curd contains lactic acid which has the property of exfoliating the dead cells of the skin and this helps to rejuvenate the skin. Prepare a face mask by mixing half-cup curd with two teaspoons of grated cucumber and apply this to the skin. After 20 minutes, rinse with warm water. Using this face pack about twice a week for a few months will help keep your skin healthy and young.

While the local application of a face pack can help prevent ageing, it is equally important to strengthen the skin from within by providing it the right nutrition. Vegetables, fruits, fish oils and nuts such as almond and walnut are valuable sources of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids and help to keep your skin young and healthy. So make sure you eat a healthy, balanced diet and use the right nutrients on your skin and you don’t ever need to worry about leeches and snails on your skin.