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Any vegetable or fruit that has an astringent quality will help smoothen uneven skin texture and reduce open pores.

Tomato juice to which a few drops of lime juice has been added. Apply on open pores for 20 minutes. Wash with cold water.


The juice or pulp of Pineapple and Peaches and Papaya are very good. Always wash your face with cold water after steaming. In humid weather wash the face 2-3 times with cold water. If you have powdered orange peel, use this in place of soap.

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Neck Care Routine

The neck is one of the neglected parts of the body while cleaning other parts of your body. But the fact is that it is one of the areas of the body most vulnerable to skin darkening. This is because the skin is much thinner on the neck than it is on the face, making it more prone to UV damage from natural sunlight and any other forms of UV light.

Remedies For Dark Neck

Having a dark neck is a quite common complaint. There are reasons for this problem.

•  One is lack of proper cleaning. Many of us forget or ignore to clean the neck while cleaning our face and this leads to accumulation of dirt that makes the skin on the neck dark.

•  The other reason may be because of several fine folds of skin around the neck that have a tendency to trap dust and sweat particles. Over a period of time, this also leads to darkening of the skin. What ever the reason may be, cleansing and then lightening the color of your skin is the best way.

Milk acts as cleanser, use plain milk to cleanse your neck. Milk is an excellent cleanser as well as a good toner. After cleansing, scrub your neck with a granular exfoliating scrub. Any scrub that you get in medical shop is enough or you can make your own scrub. Make a pasty mix of olive oil and sugar crystals and use this to scrub your neck in gentle circular motions till all the sugar dissolves. This scrub will help to even out your skin tone. The other scrub is mix crud with crushed walnut with 2 drops of lemon juice. Apply in circular portion while using walnut scrub; be careful because it may hurt you. Massage for 15 min and then wash with warm water.

There are also some uncommon and unusual problems, one such type is pigmentation problem. In such case applying aloe Vera gel is the best. Application of lime juice to the neck will also help. Do this only at night, so that you do not go out in the sun with remnants of lime juice on your neck. This will make your neck darker, since skin that has been exposed to a mix of lime juice and sunlight will do that.

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Tip 1:

Take 1 tspn of Cucumber juice, 1 tspn of Limejuice and a pinch of Turmeric powder. Apply and leave for 20 minutes before washing.

Tip 2:

Apply a paste of 1 tspn of Gram flour, a pinch of Turmeric powder and 1 tspn of Sandalwood powder, some limejuice and milk. Wash after

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Tip 1:

Rub with limejuice, leave for10-15 minutes. Soak a towel in hot water and scrub firmly.

Tip 2:

Mix 1 tspn coconut oil with ½ a tspn of limejuice. Apply and wash in the same way with a hot towel.

Rough Hands and Feet :

Tip 1:

Soak hands and feet in water to which corn flour has been added. Soak for 5-10 minutes.

Tip 2:

Roast an onion, mash and make a paste. Apply on cracked heels. Wash after 20 minutes.Continue for a month till the cracks heal.

Tip 3:

After a bath massage Mustard oil well into hands and feet. Wash with water and pat with a towel to dry.

Tip 4:

Add ½ tspn Vinegar to ½ a cup of curds. Massage feet and ankles well with this Wash after 5 minutes.

Tip 5:

For cracks in heels, mix Candle wax with Mustard oil. Heat and apply. Wear socks and leave overnight.
Calluses :

Crush 6 Aspirin tablets in 1cup of water with 1 tspn limejuice. Coat the calluses with this. Cover with a warm towel. After 10 minutes scrub with a pumice stone and wash.

Weekly :

Once a week in ½ a bucket of water add 2 tblspns of Vinegar and 1 tspn of limejuice. Add a gentle shampoo and soak ands and feet for 10-15 minutes. Rub with a pumice stone and then have a bath.

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Tip 1:

Apply 1 tspn of Honey with ½ tspn of Almond oil. Apply at bedtime.

Tip 2:

Soak 5 Almonds overnight. Peel them, eat them by chewing well followed by a glass of milk. Done first thing in the morning for 21 days should definitely help.

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Wrinkles generally are due to age, Stress and dry skin. You should always keep the areas around the eyes mouth and nose and also the neck well cared for and moisturized.

Tip 1:

Take 1 tbsp of cold milk and add 3-4 drops of lime juice. Rub this paste well into the wrinkles before going to sleep. The next morning wash with warm water and dry with a rough towel firmly. Once again rub in the cream - in the direction opposite to the wrinkles. Wait for ½ an hour and wash, avoid using soap.

Tip 2:

Rub the pulp of a ripe Papaya on the face and leave for ½ an hour before washing.

This is a very good toner also.

Tip 3:

Rub almond oil on the wrinkles in upward strokes. Leave overnight and wash with warm water next morning.

Tip 4:

Cut open a Vitamin -E capsule, add ½ tsp of glycerine and apply. Wash after 15- 20 minutes.

Tip 5:

Add ½ tsp honey to 1 tsp rice powder. Smoothen the lines with this paste. Leave for ½ an hour and wash.

Tip 6:

Mix 1 tsp honey with 1 tsp of milk cream. Apply well. Wash after 20 minutes.
Note: Treatment for wrinkles should be done everyday for a period of 30 - 40 days to have visible results.

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This depends on how you take care of your face. Start by giving yourself 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes at bedtime.
Tip 1:

Take 1 tbsp of un-boiled milk, dip a small pad of cotton wool in this and rub on the face gently. Use circular movements, use upward strokes on the neck area. Leave this on for 15 minutes. Wash with cold water.

Tip 2:

Take a thick slice of cucumber. Don't peel the slice, rub in a circular motion all over the face and neck areas. Wash after 15 minutes.

Tip 3:

Halve a tomato, gently rub over face and neck and wash after 15 minutes.

Tip 4:

Take the half of a lime peel, from which the juice has been extracted, rub this firmly on the face and the neck. Using a Scrub-(once in 3-4 days).

After washing off the milk or juice - take a tsp of oat bran or wheat husk or gram flour (besan). Make a paste with a few drops of water and rub the face and neck gently with this. This sloughs away the dead cells and gives the face a glow. Don't use soap, just splash on cold water that will act as an astringent and close the pores.

Tip 5:

Use green gram powder or rice flour mixed with curds instead.

Oily Skin: If the face is oily,

After a bath as a base for make-up use some diluted limejuice to dab on before application of foundation or any other make-up.

Tip 6:

Diluted buttermilk dabbed on the face and left for 15 minutes, gently wipe with moist cotton wool before applying make-up.

Tip 7:

Rub the face well with an ice cube.

Tip 8:

Slice an Apple into thin slices. Place these on the face and leave for 15 minutes. These soak up the extra oil and helps to close pores.

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Most often, we feel, that when it comes to nails, no one notices them. But this is far from true as people do notice nails and the biggest turn off is to see unclipped and ugly looking nails. While many of us bestow utmost attention to the body, skin and hands, the nails more often gets ignored. Healthy nails are a sign of a fit body and it speaks a lot when it comes to beauty and hygiene. A clean set of nails can make anyone's personality look attractive and fascinating. Nowadays, fortunately there are many products available that will help you to keep your nails spick and span. Those who do not wish to shell out money on these can rely on natural oils and few things found at home. So, if you wish to flaunt shiny and strong nails, then scroll down the article to know more on nail care tips, filing techniques and natural nail care recipes.

Tips For Caring Nails

• Diet plays a significant role in nail care. Indulge in lots of leafy vegetables and fruits. Foods containing calcium and zinc are known to promote the growth of nails.
• Along with the feet and hands, the nails should also be regularly kept moisturized. Trimming is vital to prevent nail breakages and make them look clean and trendy. Overgrown nails look clumsy. So, always file them and keep them short.
• Women who do lots of daily household chores such as washing, cleaning, gardening, and scrubbing are often more exposed to nail problems. Wearing rubber gloves while doing housework can protect the nails from harm.
• Before going to bed, rub a little bit of petroleum jelly on the nails. This will keep your nails well hydrated and prevent breakages due to drying.
• Never keep nail polish for long durations as it can spoil the surface of the nails. So, make sure that you remove the nail polish from time to time using a nail polish remover. However, take care not to use the nail polish remover more than once a week or it can cause dry nails.
• Soaking the nails in olive oil for 20 minutes on alternate days is one of the most effective ways of softening them.

Nail Growth And Treatments

Nail Strengthening Soak Recipe
Ingredients

• 1 tbsp Honey
• 2 Egg yolks (beaten)
• 1/4 cup Milk
• 2 tsp Cuticle oil

Procedure

• Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl. Blend it well and then soak your nails in the solution for a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes.
• Rinse your hands with water and pat them dry with a towel. After that apply cuticle oil on the nails with a cotton ball.
• This soak is very effective in strengthening the nails as milk and eggs are rich in calcium.

Fast Growing Nail Soak Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup Coconut Oil
• 4 drops Rosemary Essential Oil
• 1/4 cup Honey

Procedure

• In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients. Gently warm the ingredients by placing the bowl in a microwave for 20 seconds. Once it is done, soak your nails for a minimum of 15 minutes.
• Soak your nails using this recipe two times a week and it will make them grow faster.

Nail Growth Soak Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 1/2 cup Tomato juice

Procedure

• Blend the above two ingredients in a bowl. Dip the nails in the solution for about 10 minutes and then rinse. Do this at least once in a week to quicken the nail growth.

Nail Care Ideas And Manicures

• Always file the nails in a single direction as the back and forth movement of the filer can lead to nail damage.
• Before filing, make sure that the nails are dry. Wet nails are more likely to get spilt on filing.
• If the nails have not grown properly, do not file them. File only when the tip of the nail had grown a quarter inch from the nail bed (skin beneath the nail plate).
• To prevent nail breakage, shape your nails in squares or ovals.
• Once you are done with filing your nails, it's important to wash and moisturize them well.

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If you wish to have fully functional feet even at a ripe old age then you better master the art of proper maintenance! The feet are definitely one of the areas of our body that deserves special care since they endure severe physical abuse in the form of walking, running etc. Foot problems are said to increase with age. But when you are young and have abnormal symptoms on your foot, it is time you resort to some foot care tips. The right techniques of foot care make your feet look much better and keep the infectious diseases at bay. A basic regimen for your feet should include regular washing and drying, especially between the toes and the base of nails. An average person takes about 8,000 to 10,000 steps every day. Add that to a person living for approximately 80 years and it is almost equivalent to walking four times around the world! A podiatrist someone who studies and checks your feet, ankle and lower leg for signs of any disorders. If you want to avoid visiting him, then read the article below for a few tips and possible foot problems that can be treated.

Foot Care Tips And You

• Soak your feet in a large basin or bowl that contains warm water and mineral salts. After ten minutes, squeeze the juice of a lemon and add a few neem leaves. Keep it there for a while since the neem has antiseptic properties. Remove and pat dry.
• Walking is best exercise for your legs. Indulge in a brisk walk atleast thrice a week. This keeps your foot muscles strengthened and also increases blood circulation to the toes.
• After a long day outdoors, rinse your feet using lukewarm water and an antibacterial soap. Scrub your heels thoroughly with the help of a pumice stone. Wash off the soap and dry.  To keep your feet odour-free, make use of products like foot powders, foot sprays and specially designed insoles.
• If you don't have time for a pedicure, the least you can do is to trim your nails to a suitable length, preferably a square cut. To make it easier, you could do this right after bathing or washing your feet. Remember to keep your feet moisture-free by towel drying it.
• Wear clean socks or stockings but don't forget to change them daily! Adorning anything too short or tight will harm the foot by depriving the pores the ability to breathe.
• Ankle Pump Up: This exercise helps increase ankle dorsiflexion and strengthens muscles in the front of your lower leg (shin).
• Bent Knee Wall Stretch: This workout helps in stretching one of the calf muscles called the soleus.
• Toe Pick Ups: This helps in improving the flexibility of your toes. Place a pile of objects on the floor and use your toes to pick them up.

Foot Problems, Body Posture And Footwear

• Plantar Fasciitis: Increased stress on the arch of your foot which results in inflammation and pain while standing or sometimes, even during resting. The heel is the most affected area.
• Bunion: This refers to an enlargement located near the base of the big toe. The swelling is made up of a fluid-filled sac under the skin. Bunions are usually painful and can be aggravated by strenuous activity and wearing tight shoes.
• Hammer Toes: A hammer toe is also referred to as a claw toe or mallet toe. It involves a deformity wherein there is an imbalance of the ligaments. Either the ligament on top of the foot pulls harder or the ligament at the bottom pulls harder. This results in curling up of toes.

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The benefits of keeping your body fit are similar to keeping your car well maintained. It runs better and stays in a good working condition for longer. The only difference is that in case of negligence, you can always get a new car but the same cannot happen with your body! Aerobics plays an indispensible role in a healthy living and perfect physique fitness. As the name suggests, aerobics is when oxygen is consumed for power and the individual makes rhythmic movements of a low level intensity in a fixed pattern. It helps in strengthening the cardiovascular system, developing muscles, enhancing our endurance capacities and burning off fat naturally. So what are you waiting for? Go on and get enrolled at your nearest aerobics centre! These exercises are inexpensive and all you need is a good pair of shoes and a set of dumbbells to begin with. Continue reading this article for some more information on the types and advantages of aerobics and body fitness.

Types Of Aerobics

• Low impact aerobics: Due to various health problems, several people cannot perform high intensity workouts. Low impact aerobics is a precise exercise that has been devised for such people as they in involve slow and rhythmic movements.
• Water aerobics: This is the best way to exercise over the summers! For individuals ailing from arthritis and other joint-related problems, health experts have declared that water aerobic workouts are extremely beneficial in burning out unwanted flab from the body and building inner strength too.
• Dance aerobics: Exercise incorporated with dance movements and practiced with music are highly popular! Fat-burning aerobics are combined with the development of muscle and stretching exercises. If this is a rigourous technique, then opting for low-impact aerobics might help.
• Sport aerobics: Sport aerobics is a hard and competitive sport that provides a singular connection of aerobic choreography and gymnastics. It generates a chance for adolescents and adult individuals to compete in a sport that is a lesser risk compared to gymnastics and still retaining the artistic quality and fun of aerobics.

Advantages Of Aerobic Exercises

• It decreases the risk in developing diabetes, heart diseases and obesity. It is believed that the heart operates more efficiently and becomes stronger in the process.
• It helps in weight control as it triggers an increase in heart rate and in metabolic rate which naturally results in more calories being burned.
• Aerobics increases body muscle strength and elasticity and hence reduces and regulates body fat.
• This form of exercise intensifies the resistance fatigue and gives you elevated levels of vigor for the rest of the day.
• Aerobics helps in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and chronic diseases like heart disease, hypertension and certain types of cancer.
• One of the biggest benefits of aerobics is that it helps people recover from their depression, stress and anxiety.

Equipment For Aerobic Exercises
Aerobics equipment includes: The step platforms, dumbbells, exercise balls, yoga & Pilates and exercise mats, fitness DVDs and videos, toning bars, fitness cords, bands, and rings, heavy bags, heart rate monitors and flooring.

Precautions To Be Taken

• Avoid aerobic classes if you have a history of heart or respiratory or joint problems. People with short-sightedness must be careful regarding a condition called retinal detachment which is possible due to sudden jerks or weight lifting.
• You should breathe deeply for an extended period of time to increase heart rate and oxygen levels before and after a workout. Warm ups must be performed to avoid any other injuries.
• Consult your trainer/doctor immediately if you experience slight pains in your chest or find it difficult to breathe since this might be related to the type and intensity of your exercise.

The concept is as simple as this: higher your degree of aerobic fitness, the lesser amount of fatigue you experience. You know exactly what you should be doing now!

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There are innumerable reasons to appreciate and relish the body you, as an individual, have. Easier said than done! But the earlier you learn to accept and love yourself, the more amounts of precious time, energy and patience you will conserve. Your body is a wonderland that needs constant maintenance because of all the junk food you've consumed. Care for the body is one of the most important things you need to attend to if your health is suffering or even otherwise. It is not a difficult job, but just that it requires a portion of your attention. The human body is an incredibly complex and intricate system with every cell, tissue and organ playing a central role in keeping you alive! What is essential is healthy living, not just survival. Exercising makes the heart stronger, strengthens the bones and helps you breathe better. Following a proper diet helps in transforming and re-shaping the body. Read about some of the tips that will help you develop a slim and trim body as well as take care of it in the right way.

Tips For A Healthy Living
Have you ever heard of the expression 'use it or lose it'? It's true! If you don't use your body well, you will surely lose it. Your muscles become flabby and weak within no time and efficiency of your heart and lungs decrease. Inactivity is as much of a health risk as smoking is! To avoid such a state, you must exercise and prepare a balanced diet.

• Eat a minimum of three servings of whole-grain foods such as bread, pastas and cereal on an everyday basis.
• Work on reducing cholesterol levels so as to maintain the health of your heart. This can be done by regular cardio exercises and consuming plenty of vegetables, protein and lentils.
• Cycling (either outdoors or in the gym) is a great all round low impact exercise that helps you strengthen your leg muscles and it also improves your aerobic fitness and flexibility.
• Avoid oily foods, especially saturated fats like butter and ghee. For cooking, use soya, sunflower, mustard or olive oil.
• Non-vegetarian dishes, usually red-meats, increase triglycerides and cholesterol, blood pressure and heart disabilities.
• Stay away from pills that are taken for body health improvement. They are known to have side effects.
• Consumption of tobacco will not only result in cancer but cause other nervous disorders and subsequent paralysis.
• Increase intake of dates, as it has a high iron content which helps in maintaining a stronger body.

How To Be Slim And Trim

• Continuous exercising is necessary for physical fitness and good health. It reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes and various such illnesses.
• Working out also improves your stamina by training your body to use lesser energy for the same amount of work. After strenuous activity, conditioning levels improve and thus causing breathing rates also to return to normal much sooner.
• Stretching exercises or warm-ups are important for good posture. They are always required before and after a rigorous routine of exercise. Workouts are also a key to weight control because it burns calories by increasing the body metabolic rate.
• Apart from the above, it also reduces stress, lifts the mood and cures insomnia! It can keep you looking and feeling younger throughout your entire life. Exercising is known to be one of the best anti-ageing agents.
• Yoga also contributes to maintenance of the body by bringing together the mind, body and spirit. But whether you use yoga for spiritual transformation or for stress management and physical well-being, the benefits are numerous. They include reduced stress, a sound sleep, lowered blood pressure, smoking cessation help, decreased muscle tension, increased strength and flexibility.

Other Body Care Tips

• Steam bath with essential oils opens the pores and moisturizes the body.
• Alpha therapy uses sound and light waves to de-stress bodily pains.
• Mud packs are heavenly when it comes to relaxation and keeping your body rejuvenated.
• Facials and body massages will also help in accomplishing body maintenance.

The key here is not to try useless and frustrating diets to remain healthy. Consuming nutritious foods on a daily basis, exercising & yoga and relaxation will help you get the best care for your body! 

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 You are refreshing and vital as the air, graceful and tender as sparkling water, lustrous and consuming as flames of fire, generous and enveloping as space and stable and deep as the earth.. you elemental woman are perfect beauty itself. 

Ancient essay on the five elemental women of Indian mythology

Indians have always understood and worshipped nature and its power way back from 1500 BC. They understood how the energy of water, wind, fire, earth and space had such restoring benefits to the body and mind. An abundance of natural plants that grew all around them were used to beautify their skin, hair, eyes and cure diseases. This knowledge of herbs has been passed down from generations by wise and experienced sages, which is now known as Ayurveda.

Indians live by the fact that your body responds well to natural ingredients compared to chemicals. This has been known for thousands of years. Nature has been a great source of inspiration when trying to find beauty remedies. Most of the beauty culture is based on wisdom from past experiences that have been passed down from mothers to daughters.

The Indian tradition believes that the body is like a temple, a shelter in which the truth and energy reside. It is believed that the body needs special care internally and externally to prepare it for god. The Hindus say that the physical body protects the soul, just like an onion with many layers of mind, body and intellect, therefore it should be cleaned and taken care of. The body is made up of five elements: earth, air, water, fire and ether. It is said that on death they resolve to their initial state. The bodies of great people are believed to have a golden aura of pure light.

Bathing is of great importance in the Indian tradition. It is considered more than a physical cleansing, but also a spiritual cleansing that can be auspicious at certain times. No soap was used back in the days. Different natural oils were used for the face, body and hair with various herbal waters.

Bathing is a time for relaxation, a private time for yourself to play out fantasies in your mind and spoil yourself. A good bath should leave your body, mind and spirit refreshed.

Rose Bath Oil

Rosewater has healing affects to your body and soul. The delicate floral fragrance is quite pleasing and known to benefit your skin by keeping it toned and hydrated.

Almond oil is a great skin moisturizer that nourishes your skin without clogging your pores. This natural oil comes from pressed almonds that is easily absorbed by your skin to promote clear, soft, glowing beautiful skin.

The shampoo in this recipe helps to keep the oil from sticking to your bathtub, and lets it cling on to your skin instead.

• 1 cup almond oil
• 2 tbsp shampoo
• 4 tbsp rosewater
• fragrant rose petals (optional)

1. Whisk together all the ingredients well and place in a bottle.
2. Pour a little of this into your warm bath and enjoy.
3. If you wish, you can sprinkle a few rose petals on top to add more fragrance to your bath.

Cocoa Moisturizer

Moisturizers are important in keeping your skin soft and hydrated, especially during the winter months. Always remember to treat your neck with all the goodies you use on your face.

Applying cocoa powder to your face leaves your skin beautiful, hydrated and glowing. It contains nutrients and antioxidants to protect your skin from free radicals, which cause skin damage. Chocolate is known to increase the levels of serotonin that helps to regulate your hormones and keep you happy and relaxed.

The cocoa in this moisturiser will not stain your face. Together with almond oil and rosewater it will nourish and rejuvenate your face keeping it smooth and lovely.

• 2 tbsp almond oil
• 2 tbsp lanolin
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp rosewater

1. Pour the almond oil, lanolin and cocoa powder in a heatproof glass.
2. Place the bowl over a pan of water on low heat. Mix until melted.
3. Use only a wooden spoon to mix, as metal will have a negative reaction.
4. Once melted, turn off the heat and add the rosewater, while stirring.
5. Once the cream has cooled, place it in a glass container.
6. Apply on your face and neck at night before bed to enjoy the benefits.

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