Never heard baking soda and skin care being mentioned in the same sentence? Baking soda is known for being a staple in the kitchen but it's also one of the most useful and not to mention inexpensive ingredients around when it comes to DIY skin care! Grab a box of baking soda from your kitchen and get ready to see some big changes courtesy these baking soda beauty fixes!

Face wash

Make a thick paste out of two teaspoons baking soda and one teaspoon warm water. Wash your face with water and apply the mixture that you have prepared in gentle circular strokes. Rinse off the mixture with warm water.

Exfoliate

Baking soda makes for an excellent as well as gentle exfoliator. Add one teaspoon of baking soda to your cleanser and massage face gently to slough off dead skin cells. If you have oily skin, you can add one-teaspoon baking soda to two tablespoons of uncooked oats. Mix this with water and scrub your face and skin in circular motions gently. Oats combined with baking soda is great for deep cleansing and clearing clogged pores.

Footsie

While leading busy, stressful lives, its our feet that take the biggest beating. It's sad that the feet do not even figure in most people's list of skincare. Treat your feet to a baking soda and warm water soak. Baking soda will clean your tootsies and also soften the skin. Mix half a cup baking soda for every four liters of water in a tub and soak your feet for at least half an hour. Moisturise your squeaky clean, soft feet with a thick cream.

Bathing soda

Baking soda makes for a great detox bath. Indulging in a detox bath every once in a while is good for your skin since it helps in purging your body of toxins. Add one or two cups of baking soda along with two cups of Epsom salt in your bath and soak in for about 30 minutes. Make sure to sip on water all through or you might feel terribly dehydrated

Soothe a sunburn

Relieve irritated, itchy and sun burnt skin with baking soda. Soak a clean cloth in baking soda and water to make a cool compress or run a lukewarm bath with half a cup baking soda in it to soothe irritated skin especially when there's no aloe Vera on hand.

Cuti care

Dip your nail brush in baking soda and scrub your nails and cuticles to give them a good washing. If you are suffering from nail fungus (a persistent problem with ladies who love their acrylic nails), then mix two parts baking soda and one part water and make a paste. Apply generously on the infected nail and leave it on for 10 minutes. Do this twice a day till the fungus is gone.

Acne pack

Wash your face clean and then apply a mask of baking soda and water if you have an acne ridden face. Leave it on for five to 10 minutes and wash off with warm water. This also gets rid of blackheads. Source- Times of India Learn more »

For most of us, big, bold brows are but a dream. Whether it’s genetics or too much tweezing in the past, our wimpy little arches could use a boost. Thankfully, in this day and age we have tons of options for getting fuller-looking eyebrows.

Di Medlock, the director of waxing at Exhale Spa isn’t new to the issue of sparse brows. “If a guest expresses and interest in growing their brows back, I put them on ‘the system,’” says Medlock. “It’s important to see what your brows are capable of producing without outside assistance. We allow the brows to grow with no tweezing, waxing or threading for four weeks. This will show me how much natural growth is possible, trouble spots and the willpower of my guest.”

If after four weeks you’re still seeing skinny eyebrows, these methods will help make them look beefed up:

Brow Pencil/Gel

When it comes to faking big brows, Medlock says drawing them in is the most realistic looking approach. “For results you can see right away, go for a daily dose of brow pencil, shadow or gel, ” says Medlock. “All can create the look of fuller, thicker brows instantly with no commitment.” Watch this video to learn how to fill in brows the easy way.

Brow Extensions

Completely Bare hair removal spas in New York now offer brow extensions (it’s like weave for the face!). Brow specialists dye real human hair to match it to yours, and then attach the hairs to your own eyebrows. They cost $185 and last about two weeks.

Brow Serums

If you don’t want to fake it any longer, Medlock has suggestions for serums that can help regrow wimpy brows. “Castor oil is a tried and true Italian grandma trick,” says Medlock. “Apply to any and all areas where you would like to see thick, longer hair.” For over-the-counter serums, she suggests Revitabrow ($110, nordstrom.com), which is Exhale’s preferred product. “It feeds the follicle to produce thicker, fuller hairs and encourages root growth from dormant follicles.” For prescription products, Medlock likes Latisse. “It’s the most powerful lash conditioner on the market, and the great news for us is that it works on the brows too.” Source: daily makeover. Learn more »

A glass a day could keep the doctor away. Can a wine facial do the same to dry, dull skin?

What they claim

The experience promises to be a holistic one, with benefits perceptible two days after the treatment.

“De-stress and rejuvenate with improved circulation and antioxidants to treat both body and soul," reads the menu. The wine component -- they claim -- will give your skin a refreshing glow and remove tans and blemishes.

What to expect

Some of questions in their exhaustive client consultation form could stump you -- not everyone knows if the products they use have hydroquinones or AHAs, for example.

Next is a face-to-face with cosmetologist Sujata Naik, owner of Sakasti Skinic, who quizzes you about the products you use and analyses each face zone -- the forehead, the bridge, the chin -- separately. Then Naik recommends a customized Rs 3,500 wine facial -- white for oily skin, rose for combination skin and red for dry skin.

Wine’s pH is acidic which can be harsh on skin, but Naik reassures that the organic wine she uses is diluted with a fruit blend before being applied and mixed with products from Eminence Organic Skincare.

Drinking wine (in moderate quantities) has its positives but the benefits of applying it directly on the skin are still debatable.

Reservatrol, one of the hero compounds found in wine is known to fight acne and reduce sun damage, but Gabriella Fabbrocini, associate professor of dermatology at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy, and lead author of a study released last year, says, “Rubbing red wine on the face wouldn't provide a similar concentration, stabilization, or delivery of the reservatrol and would likely be ineffective.”

Naik feels the contrary. “Wine has a lot of antioxidants and amino acids, and the molecules are very tiny so everything gets absorbed into the skin,” she says.

What's our take?

The vino-therapy at Sakasti Skinic facial gets top marks for hygiene. The exfoliation, done sans steam, got a little painful but the therapist diligently cleaned up each square centimetre of the face.

Your skin does feel cleaner and moisturised immediately after, but as claimed, the tangibly brightening, vitalizing effects kick in on cue a couple of days later with results lasting about the same time. Learn more »

 

Cranberries aren't just excellent as a juice but also as a face mask to bring that glow and shine on your face.

Known to be excellent for its anti-ageing properties, a cranberry face pack is easy to make and also keeps your face shining and glowing.

Benefits

The acid in cranberries acts as an exfoliant and vitamins like A and C help boost collagen production. Cranberries also fight free radicals that may cause wrinkles and also keeps your skin moisturised. For centuries, cranberries have been valued for the medicinal, antioxidant properties and anti-ageing benefits. It enhances cell power, defends your skin against environmental damage due to high concentrations of antioxidants such as vitamin C, B and B-5. Because of its amazing capabilities to protect the skin, cranberry is also among winter treatments to protect your skin against harsh winter conditions.

It is beneficial for all skin types but those who have damaged and rough, dull skin can reap huge benefits as it is used as a potent antiseptic and to brighten your skin's appearance as well.

How to make

Rinse the cranberries and then pour them into a blender and puree until they form a paste-like mixture.

Cover this and place it in the refrigerator for approximately half an hour to 45 minutes.

Remove this and allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes.

Tie your hair and apply the mixture on your face and neck. Keep this mask for 15 minutes before you wash it off with warm water, either in the shower or with a soft cloth.Source-Times of India. Learn more »

Bright and bold hues are big this season. The trick is to choose the one best suited for your complexion.

Neon is just not restricted to clothes, but is big on makeup as well. But the question, however, is which colour suits the Indian skin tone? The best thing about neon makeup is that no matter what your complexion is, there's always a right shade for you. The most important thing is to create the right balance.

Makeup expert Meghna Butani says, "Indian women should use one element at a time while choosing neon makeup. You can either highlight your eyes or your lips with a bright colour. Don't go overboard because this will mess up your look."

Fair skin

Those who have a light complexion with pale pink or yellow undertones — bold greens, bright blues and deep neon purples are your safest bet. Purple tends to flatter your skin tone and makes your face look brighter. Also try a hot pink on your lips to add some drama.

For Medium or light-wheatish skin

Women with a medium complexion should sport neon orange, yellow or tangerine. These colours will make your skin appear fresh.

Dusky skin

While it is extremely tricky to pull of a neon trend on a dusky complexion, the key to keeping your entire makeup classy is by selecting hues that don't make your face look stark. Brightpurple for your lips or a fuchsia eye shadow is the perfect way to pull off this trend. Remember that lighter brights contrast the best against dark complexion so pick one feature to highlight with a bold shade and use neutrals to play up the rest.

How to use neon makeup right

Beauty expert Amyn Manji says, "Desi skin colours go best with warm or neutral colours. Along with the neon colour that you choose, a dash of gold on your cheeks can highlight the cheekbones of any complexion."

If you want to be adventurous, pair your neon with other saturated shades. Source-Times of India.

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Most of the times, the reason we get dark circles is due of lack of sleep — that is if you haven't slept for your regular 7-8 hours at night.

You skin under the eyes will not only get discoloured and dull, but will also look tired. So to prevent dark circles, your beauty sleep is essential.

Wear a sunscreen daily. Also, whenever you are stepping outside your house in the day, don't forget to use your sunglasses and if possible, wear a hat. This way the sun's harsh rays won't pigment the skin under your eyes.

If you are addicted to too much coffee or alcohol, it's time you cut down on these two. These contain stimulants, which can cause dark circles!

Most people think vitamins are only for children and adults. But sometimes, if you have a certain vitamin deficiency, its effects can show on your skin too. If your daily diet is devoid of certain vitamins, then start incorporating more healthy food in your meals or pop a multivitamin supplement.

In some cases, under eye circles are genetic or due to some allergy. You should get tested for this and find out the remedies from your general physician. Source-Times of India. Learn more »

With your skin constantly losing its moisture in this season, exfoliating it is a good way to keep it looking great.

Papaya is considered a wonderful wholesome fruit as it meets with some of our most essential vitamins, minerals and protein needs. Both ripe and raw papaya can be used to rejuvenate the skin. Ripe papaya is excellent for exfoliation of the skin and brings about newer looking skin and generally suits all skin types.

Recipe for skin rejuvenation:

1/2 cup ripe papaya pulp, 1/4 cup coconut milk, 1/4 cup of oat flakes. Run the mixture on your face and neck gently for about 5 minutes. Wash off with milk and water and notice the glow for yourself.

Recipe for skin glow:

1/2 cup ripe papaya pulp, 4 tsps orange juice, 4 tsps carrot juice, 1 tsp honey or glycerin. Mix the above ingredients and apply or massage the pack all over the face and neck.

Regular applications of the above two-treatments can do wonders to the face. Source Times of India. Learn more »

Face masks are nice and easy way to treat your skin to all kinds of goodies and treat your face to a mini facial. Here are some of the benefits of using a face pack.

Assorted benefits

There are more than one reason of using a face mask. Face packs are used to moisturise, cleanse, tone and rejuvenate your skin. Also face masks are designed for each skin and age type.

Relaxing

Another reason of applying a face mask is to help relax. And what better way to pamper and treat your skin to goodness than applying a rejuvenating face pack. Whether you use a cream or a sheet face pack, you'll feel great during the process.

Treatment control

Using a cream based face pack also allows you to control exactly where you apply the treatment and how much you want to use. For example, you can apply the mask on your acne to treat scars or around your eyes to lighten the dark circles.

Easy to use

Using a face pack is also the easiest way to get healthy and supple skin in minutes. You don't have to worry about layering the right products or applying something fancy to prep up your skin. Face packs are one of the easiest and also the quickest ways to give your skin a big boost without fuss. Source-Times of India. Learn more »

Your skin is your main part of your body and it does a lot more than simply prevent you from falling out all over the place. Skin cells are frequently changing themselves, as a skin cell ages and moves toward the skin’s surface, the dying cell flattens out.

Many women nowadays experiences problems with oily skin and want to know how to get rid of oily skin naturally and fast. Oily skin becomes a very frustrating issue when it causes acne, blackheads, blemishes, zits, and other skin problems. To get rid of oily skin we have to minimize the amount of needless sebum (natural moisturizer) on our skin. Every night before you go to bed, wash your face using simple and highly effective technique: wash it with hot water, and then wash your face with cold water. Repeat it 5-7 times. It will boost blood circulation and clear pores deeply.

If a pimple comes on the day or two before an event, I would still recommend to going to see a board certified dermatologist. The pimple will go down in a day, so you can still inject it. Everything the same applies. You wouldn’t pick it, you wouldn’t pop it, and you should use a prescription if it’s available to you, if not use over the counter options. Don’t put anything on to dry it, it’s too much because it’s two days before the event and you’ll want to be able to cover the area with makeup. When you are covering it with makeup the day of the event, be sure to only use oil-free makeup.

If you struggle with blackheads, come see what they are, how they differ from white heads and what you can do to get rid of them Learn more »