Winter is here!

How do you know? Well, your skin is going to be the first to feel it. The harsh cold and bitter winds are going to be here soon and then there goes the soft and supple skin you’ve been maintaining for the entire year.

Your skin will need two levels of protection – one from the outside and one from the inside. In other words, you need a protective layer on the outside to shield your skin from harsh winter effects and skin care that penetrates into your skin cells to heal it from the inside.

So what’s going to come to your rescue? The answer is Shea Butter.

What’s That?

It’s a fatty substance that comes from the nuts of the karite nut trees in Africa. But where it comes from isn’t as important as what it can do.

What Can It Do?

• Protect Your Skin: At its most basic, this is what shea butter is known for. It has vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants that protect your skin from the harshness of winter

• Act as Sunscreen: Shea butter has moisturising elements that protect your skin from the sun in winters. As if that weren’t enough, these elements also provide care for your skin after it has been exposed to the sun

• Heal Your Skin: Winter means all sorts of skin issues such as dry chapped skin, bleeding lips and cracked heels. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, shea butter is the perfect natural ingredient to heal your skin. You can even apply it for minor cuts, bruises and burns

• Prevent Aging of Skin: Yes folks, shea butter can help you look younger. It has the ability to boost collagen in your skin, getting rid of wrinkles and crows’ feet in the process

Honey is an incredible ingredient that can do wonders for your skin!

Wondering what makes us vouch so strongly for the benefits this delicious golden liquid can have on your skin. Read ahead to know more.

Why Honey?

For centuries, Honey has remained an integral part of our lifestyle. Right from being used for cooking purposes to being tried for treatment of various diseases and illnesses; the reputation and credibility of Honey as a magic potion for the overall external and internal health of the body has remained unwavering. As a powerhouse of essential nutrients; Honey has indeed been a favourite of the nutritionist, dieticians, beauty experts and naturopaths for reasons well-defined.

Some facts about Honey:

• It dates back to more than 4000 years
• Mixed with other herbal preparations, honey enhances the medicinal value of products
• Honey doesn’t spoil. If stored well, it can last way past its expiry date.
• It is a natural and healthier substitute for regular sugar
• An instant energy booster, athletes and fitness freaks often swear by Honey for enhanced endurance levels
• It is a rich source of antioxidants & flavonoids which are beneficial for health.
• Its potent antibacterial properties help keep bacterial and fungal infections at bay

It would not be wrong to say that Honey is nature’s answer to your health problems.

Why Honey for skin?

Using Honey for skin is always a good idea. Mixed with natural ingredients, found in your kitchen, makes for effective and inexpensive beauty treatment. Applying honey regularly on your skin can give you results beyond your imagination and can go a long way in giving you healthy, younger looking and glowing skin.

What are the Benefits of Honey for Skin and Face? :

Moisturises the skin deeply:

The reason why honey is often found as a base ingredient for almost every beauty product is because it deeply moisturises the skin from deep within. The enzymes present in Honey enables it to easily seep into the skin while conditioning it and softening it from deep within.

For using honey as a moisturizing mask:

Use one spoon of honey on clean, dry skin, and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with cool water. It will serve as a perfect moisturizing mask.

Acts as a Pore Cleanser:

Very few that honey can be used to cleanse pores and get rid of blackheads. Since Honey contains antioxidants, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties, it helps to rid your skin of blackheads by removing dirt from pores. It then hydrates and tightens skin pores for clear complexion.

For using honey as a pore cleanser:

Try mixing one spoon raw honey with two spoons jojoba oil or coconut oil. Apply to clean, dry skin, and massage gently in a circular motion, avoiding your eye area. Rinse with cold water.

Gentle Exfoliator :

Artificial Exfoliators often cause your skin to go red and may cause irritation. Say goodbye to all the inconvenience by simply switching to honey as your exfoliator. Honey helps exfoliate your face & skin by gently removing the dead skin cells. This in turn also leaves your face with a brighter complexion.

For using honey as an exfoliator:

Mix two spoons honey with one spoon baking soda. Splash your skin with water, and then gently rub the concoction on your face or body in a circular motion. Rinse well.

Lightens Scars:

Honey is a natural moisturiser as well as a natural antiseptic. This not only keeps your skin soft and healthy, but also makes sure less of a scar is left behind. So how does something as basic as honey do this? It minimizes any inflammation and helps heal the skin faster. Additionally, the anti-oxidants present in honey help repair damaged skin.

For using honey to lighten scars:

Mix one spoon raw honey with one spoon coconut oil or olive oil. Apply to the affected area, and massage with the tips of your fingers in a circular motion for one to two minutes. Place a hot washcloth over your skin, and let sit until cool. Repeat daily.

Useful in Sunburn:

Honey is known to be one of the best home remedies for treating burns. Honey promotes healing by decreasing any inflammation and provides nutrition to the damaged tissues. This is what makes honey an amazing remedy for sunburns.

For using honey on sunburns:

Mix one part raw honey with two parts pure Aloe Vera gel. Apply gently to sunburnt skin.

Fights Acne & Pimples :

Honey has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that aids in not only in the removal of excess oil from the surface of the skin but also clearing out any blockages or clogged pores, which if not treated can cause constant breakage of acne and pimples on the skin.

For using honey on acne & pimples:
Apply raw honey on the acne – prone areas. Leave it for 15 – 20 minutes and rinse it off with tap water.

Reverses age:

The natural antioxidants present in Honey help control wrinkles and fine lines on the face. Applying honey on face in the form of a homemade Honey mask will help increase your skin’s elasticity, thus making it look youthful and glowing.

Adds a natural glow :

Among the many uses of Honey, using it to add a touch of natural glow on the face tops the chart. Either you apply it directly on the face or mix it with milk or yoghurt; the result is going to be- incredibly glowing skin.

Hydrates the skin:

Honey is a natural humecant, which means that it draws moisture into the skin from air. Therefore, application of Honey on face, either directly or in the form of a naturally made honey face pack, is the best way to keep your skin hydrated, fresh and supple at all times.

Helps Reduces Wrinkles :

You can use honey as a home remedy to reduce wrinkles in the following way:

Mix honey with milk or curd to ease out fine lines and wrinkles. Keep this paste on your face for 15 minutes and rinse it off with lukewarm water.

Brightens Skin Complexion:

You can use honey as a home remedy to brighten your skin complexion in the following ways:

Mixing juice of one tomato with a teaspoon of honey helps reduce tan marks, brighten skin complexion and get rid of spots & blemishes. Twice a week, massage the mix on the face for 5 minutes and leave it to rest for another 15 minutes before rinsing it off with tap water for desired results.

Add 1 tsp honey to one of the lemon halves. Rub the cut side all over your face. Let it sit 5 minutes and then rinse with warm water.

While uses of honey for face are many, there are ways in which you can prepare your own face pack with honey within the comfort of your home and skip the hassle of rushing to a parlour or to the market in search of expensive and chemically treated creams and face masks.

Seaweed is something new to us Indians. Those of us who are fond of Chinese, Japanese or Korean cuisine may be familiar with it, but otherwise we haven’t really thought about it either in terms of food or in terms of, you guessed it, skin care. In fact, some of you may even find the look of seaweed a bit off-putting. One of my friends is known to have famously (in our group) declared that she wouldn’t touch that mouldy, slimy looking thing with a ten-foot barge pole.

As you may have guessed, she had to eat her words (not literally, though). The qualities seaweed has and the wonders it can do for your skin have people even labelling it a superfood. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of what seaweed brings to your skin care regime.

Nutrient Content

If you want to get a bit technical or are wondering why seaweed is called a superfood – well, the list of nutrients in it does a great job of giving you that information. Seaweed comes with potassium, vitamin C, niacin, iron and choline. These ingredients can help your skin look younger, hydrate your skin, help fade scars, promote blood circulation and even help reduce the oiliness of skin. No wonder then, that everyone from the Hollywood elite to the common man is turning to this product of our oceans.

Acne

Those of us who suffer from acne have probably tried every remedy under the sun to get rid of it and then some. Here is where seaweed can help. As I mentioned earlier, seaweed helps reduce the oiliness of skin. This means that when pimples that eventually result in acne are formed, seaweed helps to reduce their swelling thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, it acts as a great exfoliant so you can use it to get rid of dead skin.

Skin Nourishment

Thanks to its nutrient content, seaweed helps not only unclog pores but also hydrate skin and leave it looking brighter and younger. You can make a seaweed powder with aloe vera gel and a couple of drops of geranium oil to make a face mask that will achieve all of this and leave you looking at your skin in astonishment.

Eczema

If you are someone who knows how annoying and irritating eczema patches on your skin can be, you’ll definitely want to try seaweed. The powder when added to running bath water along with a bit of colloidal oat meal makes for the perfect remedy. Just soak in the water for a quarter of an hour and the relief you’ll experience will be worth it.

Seaweed has plenty of properties that benefit your skin. Whether you’re using the stuff directly or using products that feature it as an ingredient, you won’t be sorry you put your faith in this particular offering of the oceans.

Of late, you’ve probably noticed a lot of skin care products mentioning argan oil as a key ingredient. If you’re like me, you’ve probably wondered what this thing is and why it’s getting so much publicity. So, for inquiring minds, here’s the lowdown.

Argan oil is extracted from the kernel of the fruit of argan trees in Morocco. Sounds exotic, no? The oil is also referred to as ‘liquid gold’, adding to its exotic persona. The list of nutrients in this oil read like a who’s who of the world of skin and hair care, what with beneficial fatty acids and Vitamin E occupying the top spots. Considering all this, is it any wonder that the stuff can work miracles on your skin and hair? Let’s take a look at what it can do.

Conditions Hair

Argan oil is brilliant for hair. It doesn’t just condition your hair, it makes it smooth, silky and strong – the three essential Ss. As if that weren’t enough, it also helps you deal with frizzy hair and even split ends. The best part is that you only need a few drops to work miracles. You can either buy haircare products that contain argan oil in them or you can apply the oil directly.

Moisturizes Skin

The oil is the easiest thing to use on your skin. It acts as an excellent moisturizer thanks to the content of fatty acids and Vitamin E. The best part is that the oil is non-greasy and a few drops can suffice. You just need to rub it into your skin the way you would any other lotion or moisturizer.

Styles Your Hair

Since argan oil works wonders for frizzy hair, you can use it as a healthy means of styling your hair. No more worries about what the hairspray or the styling gel is doing to your hair. Simply add it to your routine (hint: after blow drying) and be amazed at the stylish, shining and healthy hair you have.

Treats Skin Conditions

The Vitamin E and fatty acids in argan oil really benefit dry and damaged skin. This holds true even if you suffer from skin conditions like eczema. People with flaky, itchy and raw skin will find that argan oil provides relief and prevents further drying of skin.

Slows Down Aging in Skin

Argan oil is a great moisturizer, no doubt, but its cosmetic benefits don’t stop there. It also reduces wrinkles and helps your skin glow. Since it has anti-oxidant properties, it makes for a very effective anti-aging agent. Just take a few drops and gently rub into your face and neck every night before going to sleep.

These don’t even begin to skim the surface of what argan oil can do for you. Incorporate this ‘miracle oil’ into your skin care and hair care routine and you won’t regret it.

Aloe Vera is a plant that can be found in many households – and no wonder, considering how much we know about its benefits. Whether you’re suffering from acne or sunburn, aloe vera is the perfect remedy. But its benefits aren’t restricted to just these two situations. There is a lot more that this plant has to offer.

Aloe Vera has been known by many names throughout history. The Egyptians called it the ‘plant of immortality’. In India, it has many names in all the different languages – in Telugu, it is known as ‘Kalabanda’, in Hindi, ‘Ghritkumari’, in Malayalam, ‘Kumari’, in Tamil, ‘Katralai’, in Bengali, ‘Ghrtakumari’, in Marathi, ‘Koraphada’ and in Kannada, ‘Lolisara’. The leaves of the plant yield two useful substances – the sap or the aloe latex and the gel, composed of water and many nutrients. It doesn’t do wonders for your skin alone; it also helps your hair tremendously. Read on and find out how this favourite can help you.

 

Benefits For Skin

The soap and gel made from aloe vera consist of nutrients such as sodium palmate, glycerine, sodium palm kemelate, sodium carbonate and sorbitol among others. Let’s take a look at how these nutrients help your skin.

Aging

While it is natural for fine lines and wrinkles to make their appearance as you grow older, sometimes factors such as pollution can make these signs show up early, causing premature aging of skin. Application of aloe vera helps to prevent these signs from showing up before they’re supposed to.

Moisturization

If you have skin that is prone to oiliness or acne or both, you’ll find that applying aloe vera can work miracles. Even if you don’t have these problems, it is one of the best natural moisturisers out there.

Acne and Blemishes

Not only does aloe vera gel help you deal with acne, it also helps to lighten the scars and blemishes left after and can even clear them up completely.

Helps With Sunburns

The soothing properties of aloe vera make it the go-to topical application if you’ve been out in the sun too long. Not only does it soothe the burns but also reduces inflammation.

 

Benefits for Hair

Hair Growth

While the benefits of aloe vera for skin are rather widely known, what is not known quite so well is that applying aloe vera on your hair and scalp can help with more hair growth.

Dandruff

Did you know that many shampoos and conditioners in the market have aloe vera as a key ingredient? If you suffer from dandruff or an itchy scalp, then you should definitely give one of these products a try. You may find that it works wonders for a persistent, irritating and embarrassing problem.

pH Balance

In addition to all its other properties, aloe vera is also great for ensuring that the pH balance of your hair isn’t disrupted – something that can otherwise cause a lot of problems such as hairfall.

Conditions Hair

Do you have dry hair? Have you been advised to condition it? Look no further than aloe vera whose moisturizing properties ensure that not only does it strengthen your hair shaft but also makes your hair shine with health.

We’re all familiar with almonds. Many of us were probably made to eat soaked almonds every morning by our mothers or other female relatives when we were children. Some of us (like me) may even have protested loudly at having to do so (children, I tell you!). But, as is usually the case, there was and is a good reason behind this practice. For example, did you know that continuing this practice into helps lower cholesterol, prevent cancer, prevent birth defects, give energy boosts and much much more? No wonder, then, that this humble little food is actually considered a superfood that can benefit your health, skin and hair.

Almond is one of the best natural substances that you can use on your skin, thanks to its Vitamin E and fatty acid content, among other things. Read on to see how much it can do for your skin.

Your Skin is Protected from the Sun

The abundance of Vitamin E in almonds ensures that your skin isn’t damaged but is protected when you step out into the sun. In fact, it is also a great remedy for sun burns if you’ve stayed out too long.

It Works Well as Aromatherapy Oil for Massage

One of the best parts about almond is that the oil is suitable for all types of skin. This means that all you need to do is relax and let it nourish your skin while you feel calm and wonderful, thanks to its aroma.

It Moisturizes Your Skin Naturally

If your skin is sensitive to the chemicals used in commercial serums or if you simply don’t want to use products with too many chemicals in them, this is what you should go for. You just need to use a few drops on your face every day and watch the transformation. The best part is that the oil is non-greasy and is absorbed quickly and easily into your skin.

It Can Treat Whiteheads, Blackheads and Acne

Oil and dirt trapped in the skin’s pores clog them up and cause conditions like acne or give you blackheads and whiteheads. Almond has certain essential fatty acids that help to regulate the amount of oil that the sebaceous glands secrete, thus helping to prevent breakouts. You can even use it to treat skin rashes.

It Can Deal with Puffy Eyes and Dark Circles

If you want to get rid of dark circles under your eyes effectively, simply soak almonds in some water and then make a paste out of them. Before going to sleep, apply the paste in the under eye region and leave it overnight. Voila! The puffiness is gone and dark circles are reduced.

This is just the tip of the iceberg as far as skin care is concerned. The benefits of almonds are too many to list. But the benefits do exist and it is a good idea for you to take advantage of everything this superfood has to offer.