How to Get Rid of Dark Circles

Dark Circles
Photo Credit- Wikimedia Commons by Romana Klee

The dark circles below the eyes mar the beauty. They make the person look tired and aged.

The dark circles appear due to nutrient deficiency, sleeplessness, mental stress and prolonged sitting on computer.

Here are few tips to avoid the dark circles.

1. Tomato

Add a pinch of turmeric and little gram flour to tomato and lemon juice. Mix the contents and prepare a paste of it. Apply the paste on dark circles around the eyes and rinse off after half an hour. Repeat the remedy thrice a week. The dark circles will start disappearing.

2. Potato

This is a very effective remedy. Properly wash the face before going to bed at night. Then cut fine slices of potato and place them on the eyes and dark circles for 20- 25 minutes. Thereafter wash the face again. 

3. Rose Water

With the helps of rose water one can get rid of dark circles.Soak a cotton swab in rose water and place it on the dark circles. Let it remain for 10 minutes only. It will impart extra glow to the area around the dark circles.

4. Almond Oil

The almond oil is very beneficial to get rid of dark circles. Apply the almond oil on the dark circles and let it remain there for a while. Then gently massage the oil on effected area with fingers for 10 minutes. Wash the face thereafter with cold water.

5. Tea Water

Boil the tea leaves in water and allow it to cool. Dip the cotton swab in the tea water and place it on the dark circles. Wash the face after some time. The regular application of tea water will soon make the dark circles disappear.

6. Tea Bags

The cold tea bags could also be used to remove the dark circles. The tannin present in tea bags alleviates the swelling around the eyes and restores the actual color of the black skin.

Mint Leaves

Grind the green leaves of mint and place them on dark circles. Let the paste remain there for some time and then wash the eyes with water. It will help to get rid of the dark circles.

7. Cucumber

Cut the slices of cucumber and place them on dark circles for half an hour. Repeat the remedy and the dark circles would be removed in a week. 

Almond Face Pack for Dry Skin

The people with dry skin should use the almond face pack, which could be made at home. It will impart natural glow to otherwise dull and dry skin.

Make a paste of 4-5 almonds with organic honey. Apply the paste evenly on the face, excluding the areas under the eyes. Leave the pack for 10-15 minutes. 

Then rinse with clean water and rub lightly with towel. Apply almond oil on the face daily before going to bed at night. Drink 10-12 glasses of water per day to wash of the toxins from the body. Eat enough fresh fruits and vegetables. Follow this routine for a month and see the results.

Photo Credit- Daniel Schwen
Image URL-http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Almonds_macro_1.jpg/800px-Almonds_macro_1.jpg

Glowing Skin by Digestion

The health of the skin depends on the digestion. Because the intake of nutrients from foods needed for beautiful skin occurs in digestive system. The rashes, breakouts, eczema, redness and dull skin problems are due to digestive problems. 

The Glowing Skin
Wikimedia Commons by Paolo Neo

The toxins from the digestive system are removed by the organs like liver, kidney, skin etc. Thus acne or pimples and dermatitis occur, when the organs fail to remove the toxins. 

The poor digestion and intestinal inflammation, is caused by the overeating of dairy products, excess alcohol intake, stress, lack of exercise, sleeplessness, less water intake and constipation. In order to get healthy and glowing skin,

1. Avoid high processed foods, gluten, processed soy, sugar, and refined carbohydrates. 

2. Take whole foods, green vegetables and fruits for proper digestion. 

3. Strengthen the digestive system by friendly bacteria contained in probiotics, like milk or water kefir, sauerkraut and kombucha. It maintains the pH level, removes the toxins and helps the body to absorb the skin beneficial nutrients. 

4. Eat nuts, seeds, whole grains and legumes.

5. A tablespoon of the raw and unfiltered apple cider vinegar mixed in water or in salad, helps in digestion, increase friendly bacteria, and cleanses the digestive system.

6. There are the times when the body does not make sufficient enzymes. It also happens in old age, so take digestive enzymes for the absorption of nutrients needed for healthy skin. These promote digestion, renew damaged cells decrease constipation. Avoid contaminants from non-organic animal-based enzymes.

7. Eat dairy or meat products of organic pasture raised and grass fed animals. 

8. Physical exercise is necessary for stress and proper functioning of digestive system. Increased heart rate helps in transportation of nutrients to the skin cells and removes the toxins through sweating.

9. Take few drops of lemon juice with black pepper, coriander and cumin seeds to get relief in digestive disorders.

Hoe to take care of skin by Strawberry

1. Sliced Fruit of Strawberry 

Strawberry is a great skin care additive due to its mildly astringent properties and is the best option for various ailments of the skin. It could also be used as a natural beauty product for oily skin to improve the texture. 

1. It cleans the pores, stops the growth of tumors or cancer cells and removes the dead skin cells.

2. Strawberries act as a natural conditioner. Make a paste of 10- 12 ripe strawberries and apply on the hair. Rinse after half an hour to get natural shine.

3. As a natural treatment against acne or pimples, mash few strawberries with curd and apply the paste on the face. Let it remain for 15 minutes, then wash and tap dry. 

4. For oily skin prepare the paste by mashing strawberries with unsweetened yogurt and apply on face. Leave for 15 minutes and then rinse with cold water.

5. In order to remove the eye puffiness, put thin slices of strawberry on the eyes and lie down for 15 minutes. 

6. For a soft, smooth skin rub the slices of strawberry on the face for few minutes, let it dry and then rinse with cold water.

7. Make a paste of 8-10 strawberries with a tablespoon each of honey, olive oil, milk and cornstarch. Apply this scrub to exfoliate the skin. Gently rub off and rinse with cold water.

8. As a natural whitener, mash the strawberries with little baking soda and just rub on the teeth and brush off after some tine, to remove the stains and whiten the teeth.

9. The strawberry foot and hand scrub is made from strawberries, olive oil (2 tbsp), kosher salt (1tbsp). Apply the smooth paste on feet and massage for 15 minutes to remove the dead skin cells. Wash with soap and water. 

Strawberry, Honey, Lemon Face Scrub

The homemade strawberry face scrub is a natural, effective, inexpensive and the best remedy for the oily skin. The great amounts of alpha-hydroxy acid contained in strawberries, clears the acne, takes excess off oil from the skin, and reduces eye puffiness or dark circles.

To prepare the strawberry scrub, take 10 large and ripe strawberries and make a smooth paste with a fork or a spoon. Add one tablespoon of olive oil to the paste because it cleans the skin, makes it glowing and supple, stops the clogging of pores, and is a moisturizer.
Next add two tablespoons of honey to the mixture as it reduces the swelling and inflammation, kills bacteria, and makes skin taught and youthful.

To give make the mask a natural astringent and to reduce the skin oil, add few drops of fresh lemon juice. According to skin type, that is if the skin is dry, add 8 to 10 drops of lemon juice, or add one tablespoon of lemon juice when the skin is oily. 

Properly mix all the contents till a consistent and creamy paste is obtained. 

Apply the paste evenly on face and neck after washing and pat drying the face. Leave the mask for five minutes and then use warm water to wash the face.

2. A Face without Blemishes

Strawberry, Milk, Lemon Face Scrub

For the signs of aging and dry face the face scrub made from strawberry, milk and lemon is the best. It exfoliates the skin and restores youthfulness.

Mash and blend about 10 tablespoons of strawberries. The seeds of strawberries provide grittiness to the mixture to act as a natural scrub. The alpha-hydroxy acid present in strawberries removes the old and dead cells from the outer surface of the skin.
The lemon too contains alpha-hydroxy acids, and the addition of a tablespoon of lemon juice, will remove the dead skin cells that do not retains water. It is due to the water content in cells that the skin looks young.

Next add two tablespoons of powered milk to the mixture, because again the milk is another defoliant containing alpha-hydroxy acids. It removes blackheads, slough away dead skin cell, and unclogs the pores. The fats in milk soften and seal the skin cells.

Evenly apply the mixture on entire face and neck be avoiding the areas near the eyes. Scrub off with a dry cloth after 15 minutes with warm water containing lemon juice. Wash the face again with cold water.

How to Make a Strawberry Face Mask

The homemade strawberry face mask is the natural, effective, inexpensive and the best remedy for the oily skin. The strawberries contain great amounts of alpha-hydroxy acid, which clears the acne and take off oil from the skin. The strawberries are good to reduce puffiness and circles beneath the eyes.

To prepare the mask, take 10 large and ripe strawberries and make a smooth paste with a fork or a spoon and add one tablespoon of olive oil to it. Without clogging the skin pores, the olive oil moisturize and cleanse the skin by making it glowing and supple.

Then add two tablespoons of honey to the mixture. Because honey reduces swelling and inflammation, kills bacteria, gives youthful look to the skin and makes it taught.

Thereafter add few drops of fresh lemon juice to the mixture. Add 8 to 10 drops of lemon juice according to skin type i.e., if the skin is dry or add 1 one tablespoon of lemon juice for oily skin. Because lemon is a natural astringent and helps to reduce the skin oil.

Properly mix all the contents till a consistent and creamy paste is obtained. 

Before applying the face mask wash the face and pat dry gently, and then apply it evenly on face and neck. Let it remain on the face for five minutes and rinse with warm water.

Strawberry Honey Cream Mask

The strawberry honey cream mask is organic and natural.The salicylic acid present in strawberries, cleanses by removing the impurities and dead cells from the skin. On the other hand the mixture of honey and cream nourishes the tired and sagging skin and keeps it supple, moist and fresh. It is very easy to prepare this mask.

Make a puree of five medium sized ripe strawberries in a blender or food processor or mesh them with the back of a spoon or fork. To form a thick paste just mix 1 tablespoon each of fresh heavy cream and organic honey.

Wash the face and then apply the paste on the clean and dry face and neck. Leave it for about 15 minutes. Avoid the areas around the eyes. Thereafter rinse off by using cotton pads and water.

As a variation and to balance the pH of the skin, replace the cream with live and active cultures of yogurt. You can also use The raspberries can be used instead of strawberries for sensitive skin. It is less likely that the yogurt and raspberry combination may cause irritation to those allergic to strawberries.

3. Avoid Sunlight

Strawberry Protects the Skin from Ultraviolet Rays

It reduces the damage caused to the DNA by UV rays, because of the presence of anthocyanins molecules in it. The red color to leaves, flowers and fruits is made from anthocyanin pigments. The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti tumor characteristic of strawberry extract is due to rich contents of anthocyanins in it.

These results are becoming the basis for future studies to ascertain the bioavailability and bio activity of anthocyanins in the dermis and the epidermis layers of skin. 

The strawberry extract increases the cell survival. Thus a photoprotective cream made from strawberry extract has been developed. 

Half a milligram of extract per milliliter shows photoprotective properties and provides protection to cells exposed to UV rays. It protects the epidermal cells that are susceptible to skin-related diseases especially cancer. The enzymatic processes in the body to can be modulated by the strawberry extract. 


Further Reading- Strawberries

1. Photo Credit Wikimedia Commons by- Paolo Neo
2. Photo Credit Wikimedia Commons by - Chris Willis
3. Photo Credit Wikimedia Commons by- Jacob Montrasio

How to Take Care of Skin in Winter by Natural Oils

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The Natural Exfoliation at Home

Indeed the entire body sheds a layer of dead skin daily, but most of it remains stuck to the surface of the skin and do not fall off. This process thickens the skin, chokes the pores, block the growth of hair, and stops the natural capillary rise of oils to the surface of the skin. That is why the skin becomes dry moments later after the application of moisturisers and looks dirty after the use of skin cleansers. 

The exfoliating reduces the visibility of pores and wrinkles on the surface of skin. But it does not cleanse, and on the other hand the cleansing does not exfoliate the skin. Both the processes are to be followed separately. 

Before face exfoliating, thoroughly cleanse and rinse with lukewarm water. Thereafter immediately apply the required hydrator or moisturizer according to skin type. First of all wash the face, gently rub and towel dry the skin. The towel creates light friction, which removes the superficial and dead skin layers. 

Mix about half a tablespoon of baking soda with equal amount of cleanser and gently rub for 2-3 minutes, in circular rotations by applying medium to light pressure. For dry skin mix coconut oil instead of cleanser, and use the remedy twice a week. For further oil absorption in oily skin, keep the application of baking powder on face for 15 minutes. For body treatment avoid the neck and breasts.

To cleanse with sugar scrub, first rinse the skin to remove dirt and oils, then mix sugar and coconut or jojoba oil in equal amounts and apply the mixture for not more than 1 minute on the face or the part of the body with a cotton swab. 

To exfoliate the stubborn areas like the knees and elbows, use salt in place of sugar and lemon or loofah. 

Photo Credit- Wikimedia Commons by amrfum
Image URL-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Siti_Nurhaliza.jpg/500px-Siti_Nurhaliza.jpg

How to Cleanse the Skin with Food and Water

The Organic Vegetables

The overall health depends upon the health of the liver. The physical and emotional states of the body become smooth, if the liver functions smoothly.

Proper nutrition, exercise, detoxification and the strategic transition from one season to the next, helps the body to achieve this state.

For the health of body and mind follow these simple steps.

It is better to eat simple, unprocessed and natural whole food which has been grown seasonally and locally, without the use of chemicals, fertilizers, insecticides or pesticides. Such foods contain vital energy, nutrients, and vitamins needed for overall health.

So eat sprouts, fresh green vegetables, pungent herbs, and fruits.

In modern environment the body accumulates toxins, and it is essential to detoxify the body. 

This is done by taking enough water, and the juices of fruits and vegetables to cleanse the the body. 

To aid the digestion and to reduce inflammation, it is better to take the probiotics like kefir and the fermented foods. 

Further Reading- How to delay Ageing by foods

Photo Credit- Elina Mark
Image URL- http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Ecologically_grown_vegetables.jpg/800px-Ecologically_grown_vegetables.jpg