Scrub for the Back {DIY}

Have someone definitely help you with this :) Back is not very easily accessible and it needs to be cleaned now and then. So, here is a simple scrub to keep the back soft. 

Ingredients

• Masoor Dal (Red Lentil)
• Almond Oil

Method

Grind masoor dal till it is fine. Pass it through a sieve and separate out the bigger granules and softer ones. Mix the softer ones with almond oil and apply it to your back for 15 minutes. Scrub with a light hand and wash off. 

Results

The skin will be extra soft and clean. This will also prevent back acne.

READ MORE - Scrub for the Back {DIY}

Homemade Body Polish {DIY}

I have used this once till today and the results have been better than any scrub I have ever used. And, at a pinch of a price. 

Ingredients

• Salt (preferably any Dead Sea Salt, Rock Salt or Epsom Salt)


• Sugar (preferably Cane Sugar or Jaggery)


• Honey

Method 

Mix salt and sugar in equal quantities enough for the entire body and mix them in honey to make a gooey paste. After your shower, scrub or polish your skin with this mixture until the salt and sugar dissolve which will take some time. If you still have time and mood on hands, leave it ont he skin for 15-30 minutes in a hot bathroom. Wash off and follow with moisturizer. 

Results

Amazingly soft skin and the difference is very much visible in one time. When I tried it out, my friend couldn't stop raving about my skin and asked me what did I do. I used this on the face too. And, my skin was glowing literally. And, as I am writing this, I feel like going and doing this again. 

Skin Type

Not for sensitive skin (might irritate) and for people suffering from breakouts. Also, make sure you don't have any wounds or cuts anywhere on your body coz you are using salt.Otherwise, all skin types can use this polish from dry to oily.

READ MORE - Homemade Body Polish {DIY}

Biotique Carrot Protective Lotion {Product Review}

I have already said that I am a fan of Biotique products but the 'fanhood' is limited to some ranges only. So, I was and have been since a really long time in search of a herbal sun screen which is equally effective and less harmful as compared to its chemical counterparts. I have already used the sandalwood one from Biotique too. So, I'll just review both of them together.

Price: 280 INR for 210 ml

Ingredients

How do 1% and 3% ingredients do their work??

My Experience

I have same thing to say about both the sunscreens. They both are really effective when it comes to protection. But, the main problem arises when you apply. I found them really sticky and in case you are living in a humid climate, these are definitely not for you coz your skin will just feel sticky and damp and oily. But, I have applied this lotion in hills too where I found that the lotion did not feel sticky at all. It got absorbed very easily into the skin and it protected well from the sun which was surely never a question. But, these sunscreens are strictly for the body and not for face. I did make a mistake of using them again and again on face but they just make the face oily but they work well there too. So, if you have really dry skin or staying in really cold climate, you can definitely use this in place of a moisturizer and a sunscreen. Otherwise, I just wish they had not been that sticky and I would have been really glad to use them. 

The one question I always have for Biotique products is that what it the base cream which they use??? Does that come under the listing process of Biotique or they just buy the base material and make their own Ayurvedic formulations on top of the base material because of which they do not have to list down the ingredients of their base material. And, also, how can a product stay for so long as 3 years without any preservatives or does the base material come with preservatives too. I would definitely love an answer for that. But, their products do work (some don't though)!!

My Recommendation

Kinda tricky coz I would love to recommend it as a safer sunscreen but its pretty sticky for most of the skin types. So, in case you are a dry skin type or live in colder climates (only in hill stations and not winters in Delhi), this might work out.

READ MORE - Biotique Carrot Protective Lotion {Product Review}

Biotique Avocado Body Massage Oil {Product Review}

So, confusion about the ingredients in Biotique products has always existed. Similarly, it exists with this one too.

Price:135 INR for 210 ml

Ingredients

Rai Tail (0.5%), Badam Tail (1%), Neem Tail (0.5%), Til Tail (5%), Arandi Tail (7%) [castor oil], Dudhal Mool Kwath (1%), Ankurit Gehun Satva (2%) [Wheat Germ Oil], Vegetable Oil (Base)

As you can see above, there is no mention of avocado any where in the ingredient list and whats up with vegetable oil??? Which vegetable oil or is there some standard oil called 'Vegetable Oil'? When I searched for it, the wiki gives a list of oils which includes almost every edible oil. 

My Experience

This smells mainly of camphor. No camphor in the ingredient list. The oil feels cool on the body as opposed to warm being a massage oil which I am not sure if it is meant to feel like that. There is no drawback as such but I did not like the oil very much and I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone for any purpose.

My Recommendation

Doesn't make sense to write this review coz I don't really have anything to say about the product but I have written it coz I wouldn't recommend any one to buy this one coz it really does nothing frankly so its a waste of money. You can probably go for carrot oil in place of this though I haven't used that one and I have no idea how it is.

READ MORE - Biotique Avocado Body Massage Oil {Product Review}

Lotus Herbals Pomegranate and Plum Skin Polisher {Product Launch}

Ok, so I am late in putting this up. So, here it is and I have been eying this since it came. 

What does Lotus say about it?

If you are looking for a gentler way to scrub your skin and get that youthful appearance, look no further! Lotus Herbals has introduced Pomegranate & Plum Energizing Skin Polisher that ensures smooth, flawless and younger skin. This innovative skin polisher protects from pollution, dust and exposure to the harsh rays of the sun and helps in restoring the natural glow of the skin.

Lotus Herbals Pomegranate & Plum Energizing Skin Polisher is enriched with active ingredients such as pomegranate, which has skin renewal properties that help increase collagen and plum that infuses powerful anti oxidants into the skin, making it soft and supple. It contains ultra fine granules that are non-abrasive and gently rejuvenate the skin by removing dead skin cells. This skin polisher therapeutically exfoliates and cleanses the skin of toxins and other impurities while protecting against environmental pollutants. Suitable for all skin types, its deep detoxification re-energizes the skin, reduces fine lines and offers wrinkle protection. Now regenerate your skin to a new level of vitality for a more youthful, healthy and radiant appearance, all day long.

Lotus Herbals Pomegranate & Plum Energizing Skin Polisher is attractively priced at Rs 155 for 50gms and Rs 245 for 100 gms and is available at leading beauty and departmental stores across the country.

Now add a breath of fresh air to dull, tired skin by making this luxurious skin polisher a part of your skin care regime!

PS: Press Release sent by the brand. 

READ MORE - Lotus Herbals Pomegranate and Plum Skin Polisher {Product Launch}

The Body Shop Aqua Lily Body Mist {Product Review}

I bought this one at 20% discount recently in May.

Price: 545 INR for 100ml

My Experience

Since this is a body mist, it has 75% Denat Alcohol. I have applied it both on bare skin and on the clothes and even though it has so much concentration of alcohol, I didn't find it drying my skin. Before I review this, I would say that I can't take strong smells. They give me instant headaches. So, when I first used it, I hated the smell coz I found it was too strong for my taste and instantly regretted wasting all that money. But, gradually, I started using it just to finish it and I found that though it is an artificial smell, it does relieve you when you are tired. It has a refreshing smell and one gradually tends to like it. But, a very big con with this one is that it doesn't stay for more than 3-4 hours. One has to either spritz it again or spritz it so strong in one go only that it becomes difficult to handle the smell. But, otherwise, it is worth a try!!!

My Recommendation

Do spritz it in the shop and decide whether you like it or not before buying it. I was in a hurry and chose this just on the basis of its name but I am not regretting it, though. But, yup, it is definitely costly coz I wouldn't say that bottle will last more than a month for one who uses it regularly.

READ MORE - The Body Shop Aqua Lily Body Mist {Product Review}

The Body Shop Olive Body Scrub {Product Review}

You can love it or hate it!!!

Price: 300 INR for smaller tub (approx.) (I got it at 50% sale)

Ingredients

I have the smaller tub and I guess ingredients are not listed on it.

My Experience

The first thing you notice is its smell. Its bad :( The scrub is a gross green in color and is not runny at all which is good. It has apparently apricot granules and they are not scratchy or harsh like in their Spiced Vanilla Scrub. Except for its smell, its actually a really nice scrub though it might feel a little mild for some people on the body especially on the areas of thighs and hips where there is more of fat. It makes the skin really soft and supple. It does not dry the skin out but you should always follow scrubbing with a moisturizer. And, it keeps your skin soft for 2-3 days easily. 

A big disappointment I faced with TBS scrubs are that they get over really soon and when you are paying such high prices for a product you do expect 10 washes out of it at least. So, that's a con. A very big problem also arises due to the fact that the product gets stuck on the lid and the screw area of the lid. Its sold in the tubs (big and small) so a little of water does enter every time you use the scrub which is pretty unhygienic if a lot of people put their hands in the tub.

My Recommendation

Yes. It will suit the normal to dry skin and even sensitive skin. It is gentle enough for that but kindly keep away from the face. A bit harsh for it.

READ MORE - The Body Shop Olive Body Scrub {Product Review}

Franc Essential Cleanse and Body Melt {Product Review}

I will be talking of two products today and I will be writing about the remaining two in the next post. I received a sample each of all the four (above pic) so this won't exactly be a review. Instead, I would describe my limited experience with the samples. Lets start with the Cleanse and wrap up with Body Melt. Do visit their online store to check out their other products. They do have an interesting range of products and their ingredient lists are worth a look (almost natural).

Franc Essential Cleanse

Ingredients

My Experience

I have used this cleanser only two times. The first time I used I felt it to be a little drying for my skin but the feeling did not recur after the second use. It takes away all the impurities and cleanses well and I found that it need not be followed with a face wash like some cleansers do. But, I felt a very faint feeling that probably it leaves behind a film which I never like in my product so I always use a face wash to get rid of the effect. Otherwise, it left my skin supple and soft both the times and also did a little brightening job. It doesn't feel heavy and it did suit my combination skin.   

Franc Essential Body Melt

Ingredients

Full of Cocoa and Shea Butters

My Experience

I have used the body melt mainly for my hands and legs. I found it to be a bit hard to take out from the sample first of all. It is a thick cream and requires a lot of rubbing in the skin to get absorbed as opposed to its name. It didn't definitely melt on my body but the amount was less so I can't give a judgement on the product. It moisturized my skin well but it took a lot of time to get absorbed and later (around after half hour) my skin felt soft but till then the cream felt a little heavy for me on my hands but it was great for the legs. This product is mainly for dry skin as it is extremely creamy and moisturizing.

PS: Product provided by the brand for consideration.

READ MORE - Franc Essential Cleanse and Body Melt {Product Review}

Rice Powder Face Scrub {DIY}

Hey guys!!!

After a lot of days, I am again back with a DIY.

Ingredients: 

• Rice flour (1/2 table spoon)
• Besan (1 table spoon)
• Milk / Rose Water

Method: Mix them all in a smooth paste and apply on your face. Use rose water if your face is acne-prone otherwise it is safe to use milk. Leave for 15 minutes and then, gently scrub it off. Wash wth warm water.

Warnings: 

• Do not use Rice flour alone as it is very coarse and may harm the skin if exfoliation is overdone.
• Do not use this recipe if you have a sensitive skin. It will definitely make your skin sour. Tried and Tested. Trust me, it hurts bad.
• Do not exfoliate with scrubs if you have pimples and acne. 

Tips: 

• The scrub can be made in more quantity and can be used as a body scrub but keep the proportion same. 
• Use the finer rice flour, not the coarse one.
• You can mix it with other scrubs too to make your own DIY recipes but make sure that you use a gentle agent with rice four to reduce its abrasiveness. 

READ MORE - Rice Powder Face Scrub {DIY}

The Body Shop Bath Gloves {Accessory Review}

They are so famous among the blogosphere. So, I had to try them.

Price: 225 INR for a pair (I got at 15% discount!!)

My Experience

First of all, the biggest point of these gloves are that they are so easy to put on even when your hands are wet. I have extremely small hands and generally no size fits me. I have to wear kid gloves. These gloves are elastic fit and free size so one fits all. And, not only that, I have never been in my entire life able to wear gloves properly without taking them off at least once. But, this one is so easy to put on and I have never gone wrong with them till now. I have used these gloves like probably four-five times. In the starting, the gloves might feel a bit rough but they soften up in the consequent uses but it is very necessary to use the gloves with a light hand otherwise it can cause the skin to become sore due to over-exfoliation. It is very easy to go overboard with the gloves.

They make the soap or face wash or body wash lather well (I do use face wash as body wash too sometimes!!). And, they clean the skin really well. Squeaky clean. I guess they will remove the film which some products tend to leave but since I use no such product, I have no idea. Also, the gloves don't entirely dry out the skin leaving it to feel stretchy or something. They are not that costly especially for a TBS product but they should be washed after every usage coz they get really dirty!!! I toss them into surf after every use (which I am really not sure is a great idea so next time I'll see what to do). And, yes, the gloves leave the skin feeling extremely soft and supple and hydrated after the bath. That's the reason why your skin doesn't feel stretchy. But, I have no idea how long a pair would last!! Some change it in a year and some in six months so it depends mainly on how much you use them. Oh, and you can see the loops which are for hanging the gloves. And, it really makes the skin glow.

I tried to use this on the face but it made my face really dry afterwards. I used only a single finger very lightly for scrubbing the face so it wasn't very harsh on the face. But, it is best to avoid it on the face and neck as they are sensitive regions and can get sore very quickly. The best part is that they are very portable and handy during travel.  

My Recommendation

It is great for all kinds of skin but I am not very sure if it is a good idea for sensitive skin. So, sensitive skin gals should watch out!!! Otherwise, it is a must try at least once :) and I am sure, you wouldn't leave them ever. They can be used with exfoliators too but I guess that would be too harsh (I am not sure, though) but for me, it replaces the body scrubs. I don't belive in over-doing things so if I am using this, I wouldn't use anything else and if I use the body scrubs, I wouldn't dream of using this.  

READ MORE - The Body Shop Bath Gloves {Accessory Review}

Stop cracking your Knuckles

Well, I thought it would be a good idea to do a series of posts on habits which are unconsciously done but they effect out body and skin or even hair in harmful ways.

Habit: The first which comes to my mind is cracking the knuckles. Well, it is true and I have this very terrible habit. I have tried to stop so many times but I do it unconsciously whenever I'm nervous or brooding.

Result: The result is an extremely wrinkled hand which looks at least 10 years older to your present age.

Remedy: If you are already suffering from the wrinkled hands, a very good option is to massage your hands with coconut or almond oil at night for five minutes regularly. And, keep your hand moisturized all day long with use of either the hand creams or body lotions or my personal favorite, body oils.And, of course, avoid the habit.

How to get rid of this habit?
I am pretty sure it is in heads of many of you but this is something which I would not be able to answer because I have been trying to get rid of this habit since quite some years but I have not yet succeeded. Even one of my friends has asked me in the comments about how to get rid of this habit. I wish I could help but the only thing I have succeeded in is to be attentive to what I am doing and if I find myself cracking my knuckles, I try to turn my attention to some other work I have. I would definitely appreciate if anyone can suggest some way to get rid of this habit.

READ MORE - Stop cracking your Knuckles

How to protect skin this winter?

Autumn is giving way to winter. By the time Diwali would come, winter would officially declare itself. Its time to change your beauty routines to accommodate the change in climate and lifestyle. Whether you live in tropical, dry, temperate or cold climate, the air in winter is drier as compared to that of the summer in the respective areas. Thus, you need to lavish more pampering on to your skin.

Your skin care starts with taking baths. Remember what I said about bathing too much. A must follow advice or you will see the repercussions soon enough. And, an advise from me would be to couple your baths with oil massages. That would prevent your skin from drying. In case oil massages become too much time taking and demanding, you can pour 2 teaspoon of your favorite oil to your bath. The oil will keep your skin moisturized. Follow with moisturizing your body on the damp skin. Keep the temperature of water low. Do not take long baths in any case how so ever tempting they might be.

Do not stick to the heaters and blowers in winters in case you live in cold climate. Exercise well to make your body tolerant to cold. That would also bring a pink glow on your face. Wear a lot of clothes to protect yourself from cold. Heating equipments burn the oxygen in the room and deprive you from all your moisture.Always avoid extreme temperatures as they simply lead to cracking of your skin and trust me you do not want to see the worst of it. People living in hilly regions would be knowing about that.

The air in the winter is really drying for the skin no matter where you live. The dryness generates a lot of static electricity in the skin and wearing woolens worsens the situation. So, invest in a good humidifier.Or, place a mug full of water in the room.

Drink lots of water. No one feels like drinking water in winters. But, that will surely lead to dehydration. Compensate with drinking fruit and vegetable juices instead of just plain water. Add lots of fatty acids and oils to your diet. That will keep your skin moisturized from inside. 

Moisturize the skin a lot. In  the instant you feel dryness, apply moisturizer or oil immediately. At night, you can also compensate with milk cream or white butter. Coconut oil is the best if you go for oils. Buy heavy moisturizers. look for products rich in shea butter and cocoa butter. In case you do get pure unrefined shea butter, nothing is better than that. Pay special attention to your elbows and knees otherwise the skin around them would get rough and darker.

Cleansing and exfoliation are two things which should be done properly in winters. Anything excess would make your skin dry and less would make your skin dull. Go for homemade products in exfoliation. Do not exfoliate more than twice if you go outside regularly and once is enough if you rarely venture out. For cleansing, either stick to your favorite cleanser or go for homemade ones. Oil cleansers are good idea in winters even for oily skin.

In winters, you would find sometimes (especially at very low temperatures) that you feel like scratching your skin. I have seen my mom do it many times. That is because of the excessive dehydration of your skin. At that time, apply a moisturizer or oil and massage it slowly into your body. Oil is always better as it gives fatty acids into your body and keeps it nourished from inside instead of outside. And, improve your diet as indicated. Food is the only thing which can keep you well in winters. Eat lots of eggs and fish if you can. Otherwise, depend on lots of seeds of every kind. Do not forget nuts, any kind of them. You can go on a binging spree without any qualms.

Skin tends to get darker in winters. There are various reasons for it. The first on my list is excess exposure to sun. People love to bask in the heat of sun in winters. Do not forget a sunscreen if you are one of them. The second is dry air. It sucks out the moisture from your skin. You can do nothing except keep the water levels inside your body at a high and nutrition very controlled. Avoid junk foods which we do binge more in winters. Do not go for bike riding or long car drives in open. The third is obviously the friction and static electricity which I mentioned above also. This can be avoided by wearing cotton clothes first and then covering with woolens. Wearing multiple layers of clothing also helps prevent cold than a simple jacket. The fourth reason is excess exposure to heat. So, stay away from heaters, save electricity and keep yourself in check by exercising regularly. Use more blankets. The last reason is over application of moisturizers. If you just keep on slathering moisturizer in layers on your skin, the pores will get clogged and your skin starts to look dull. 

[These tips are for everyone no matter what climate you live in. I am sure you would be able to relate to something or other here. I would surely love to hear any ideas which you might have for winter skin protection.]

READ MORE - How to protect skin this winter?

Prepare your skin for Waxing

Waxing might seem like one of the easiest ways of getting rid with the body and definitely more safer than using hair removal creams or shaving or any other hair removal methods except for laser. But, laser is out of budget for most of the people. But, waxing can be extremely painful for many people with sensitive skin. Some can not resist pain and some are highly sensitive to the hot wax. And, many of you might be susceptible to boils and red patches which appear after the procedure. While I would definitely recommend waxing over other techniques, you should never forget that you are literally peeling one or two layers of your skin even if you are getting it done by the best of the professionals. And, in case you land up with amateurs, there is no saying that there would be bleeding or not. So, when you are exposing your most sensitive skin out, you can definitely expect your skin to react in various ways and boils and irritation is just mild of the symptoms. Though you can never get rid of these problems, you can at least strive to reduce them by following a proper before and after skin care.

Before Waxing

• Always make your appointment two weeks after your periods. Skin is less sensitive then.
• Before you go for waxing, always make sure that your skin is not injured or burned in any way. If you have allergies, cuts, open wounds, sunburns or warts, get a treatment before going for waxing.  Waxing can aggravate the situation otherwise.
• Skip exfoliation, saunas and steam baths on the day prior to waxing. 
• Do not drink coffee on the day before or on day of waxing as caffeine makes you sensitive to pain. Avoid tea also as it also contains caffeine even though it is less.
• Take bath immediately before waxing. This would help in removing the oils on your skin and any grease or dirt which might cause hindrance while waxing. 
• Do not apply and moisturizer or sunscreen or even deodorants.
• In case you are going for professional service, wash your hands and other parts of the body where you intend to get waxing done with water once more. This ensures easy removal of the hair and so an area does not need to be waxed more than once or twice.
• If you are sensitive to pain,  pop a pain killer 20 minutes before waxing. It will ease the pain. 

During Waxing

• Make sure of the wax temperature. If it is too uncomfortable for you no matter the temperature, tell the girl attending you. Do not let her do what she wants.
• If the girl attending you is too rude or does not listen to you, complain at once. Trust me it is lot better than enduring pain and not going back to your favorite salon. It happened with me.
• Do not let the girl attending you keep on waxing your skin two to three times at the same place unnecessarily. Sometimes best of the salons have such people. That makes your skin sore and painful in the extreme especially at sensitive places.
• Do look around for hygiene. Better carry your clothes instead of changing into ones provided by the salons. Salon hygiene is very important to look for before you become a regular there.

After Waxing

• Now that you have endured all the pain, you would feel a lot of itching after waxing. Do not itch your skin. I know it is uncontrollable but it made big red boils on my skin and then left ugly scars. Itching also causes a lot of ingrown hairs which in turn irritate the skin. So, do not itch at any cost. 
• If you are at home, immediately go and place a cold water shower head on the areas waxed. That will soothe you well and relives the itch. 
• Still feeling like itching, run a soothing hand over the area instead of clawing your fingers into the skin. Endure for a moment and it will be fine in the next.
• Then, take a leaf of aloe vera and scoop out all the gel. Apply it on your skin but do not massage.
• Do not use very hot water for bathing. Warm water will keep your skin in better condition.
• Avoid exfoliation for a week after your waxing. Your skin does not need exfoliation as it has been stripped off a layer of skin literally.
• Moisturize your skin well as long as your skin feels sore.
  

READ MORE - Prepare your skin for Waxing

Relaxing bath and Shiny Hair with Mint leaves

So, yesterday, I very unwisely bought a lot of mint. And, today, I find lot of it had dried up. Obviously, I did not use the refrigerator for the purpose. So, as it is not usable for culinary purposes and discarding it just like that seemed too much of a waste, I decided to have a mint bath. I cleaned all the mint and dropped it in a pot of water and brought water to a boil. Then, simmered it for around an hour. The water had become all green and smelled like mint. Oh, so heavenly!! I filtered the water and poured it in my bath. Now, here is a twist. I had to wash my hair too and forgot that before pouring the mint water in my bath. But, anyways, I was not going to throw the water and I guessed mint would not really turn out to be so bad for hair. So, I had a most comfortable and relaxing bath with mint water.

And, the results? My skin is not at all dry. Even I tried the scratch method - scratched a line on my hands with my nails, it left no white line which is usually left if I take too hot a bath which I did today also despite all my advices to you to avoid it. And, my hair is so soft and shiny, I can't get my hands off my hair. I can also claim that my hair has not looked so good in a very long time.  It has become more manageable and there are no frizzes. So, go on and give it a try. You can use mint water as a hair rinse and see the results for yourself. And, of course, do not be surprised if you smell minty all day long. I am smelling minty all over, even my hair!! It feels fabulous. One more plus point is that the bath leaves you unexpectedly cool so it can be a great option on a hot summer day.

READ MORE - Relaxing bath and Shiny Hair with Mint leaves

Safe way of detecting Breast Cancer

As you all must be already aware that October is recognized as the Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There has been a recent increase in the number of people suffering from this cancer. 

Worldwide, breast cancer comprises 10.4% of all cancer incidence among women, making it the most common type of non-skin cancer in women and the fifth most common cause of cancer death. In 2004, breast cancer caused 519,000 deaths worldwide (7% of cancer deaths; almost 1% of all deaths). - Wikipedia

Thus, it is very important for every woman and even males to be aware of their susceptibility to breast cancer. An earlier diagnosis is always helpful for timely treatment. Thus, comes the need for screening. Screening is the term used for testing healthy women and men for achieving earlier diagnosis. There are many screening tests - self examination, mammography, genetic screening, ultrasound and magnetic resonance.

A self-examination is most critical of all and should be done regularly to make sure there are no lumps in the breasts. You can do this in the privacy of your home. Start with one breast. Lift the corresponding hand up and feel your breast with the other hand. This method is called palpitation meaning feeling the firmness of the object. While examining this way feel for the presence of any lumps or soreness. Cover your complete breast while standing and while lying down and other positions as shown in the picture including the nipple region and the skin around and under your breasts. This can be done in various ways like vertically drawing straight lines on your breasts with your fingers, moving outward starting from the nipples or moving in concentric circles starting form the nipples. Repeat the procedure with the other breast. In case of any confusion, immediately seek doctor's advice. (Note: The picture is not to offend anyone's senses but to impart awareness.)

Mammography is another screening test. Unfortunately, in this technique, your body is exposed to low dose X-rays for proper diagnosis of the disease. And, a repeated exposure to radiations, however, low is a potential risk associated with this diagnosis technique. And, then, there are added risks of false positives and false negatives where you might be detected for breast cancer when you are not suffering from the disease and you might not be detected for breast cancer when you are suffering. This is, often, due to the density of tissues present in the breasts. Thus, many people would like to avoid this technique of detection. Here is an account of Mammogram experience of Sesame from Vivawoman.

Thus, there are recent advances and a new diagnosis technique for any disease has come into picture -
Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI). In this technique, images of the body are taken (called thermograms) and sent to medical practitioners for interpretation of the images and diagnosis results. Thus, you are not subjected to any radiation, however, small. It is being used for small clinical uses and among them the foremost usage is for early breast cancer detection. And, in this, the physical images of your body are not taken. To explain what kind of images are taken, I would need to delve deeper into the technique. Our body emits infrared radiation which is highly symmetric to the parts of our body as shown in the picture. So, a special camera is used to capture this radiation being emitted from the body and corresponding skin surface temperature and displayed on a screen where the amount of radiation being emitted is shown in various colors. Any change in the radiation or temperature is, thus, detected by the change in color. This is just a gist of how this technique works. The benefit of this technique is that it can detect early lesions but the drawback is that it is not widely available. I would encourage you to read this article which shares the experience of lady who went for DITI.

A note to my readers: If anyone has gone through any such tests and experiences, I would kindly request you to share your experiences. If you would like to publish an account (even anonymously), please feel free to mail at perfectskincareforyou@gmail.com. Awareness can prevent breast cancers. And, do not forget to force your women above 40 for a breast cancer screening. It can be a life saver.

READ MORE - Safe way of detecting Breast Cancer

Get rid of Stretch Marks

What are Stretch Marks?

Stretch Marks not only appear due to pregnancy but are very common among teenagers too. They can be red, purple or white in color, distorted in shape, long or short, wide lines and instantly recognizable. And, they can be present anywhere on the body but specially concentrated where you might accumulate a lot of fat like shoulders or upper arms, breasts, belly area, fat on the back just above and including the buttock region and thighs front or back. They can occur on anyone at any time.

Why do Stretch Marks appear?

During teenage, there are a lot of physical changes in the human body. One of the changes is sudden growth hence consequent stretching of the skin. Thus, these sudden stretches can tear the collagen and make the skin thinner in certain areas. The places where the collagen has torn and has become thinner are prone to appearance of stretch marks.

Stretch Marks can appear due to sudden height increase, sudden weight gain and weight loss, muscle growths, excessive exercising using improper equipments and also due to hormonal changes in the body.

How to prevent Stretch Marks?

A proper balanced diet is always best. A balanced diet ensures proper collagen production and maintainence, hence reducing the chances of collagen tear. Crash Diets and weight loss programs should be avoided. I have already discussed the ways to increase skin elasticity which is one of the ways to prevent stretch marks.

How to treat Stretch Marks?

• Coconut oil repairs the inner lying tissue structure of the skin
• Almond oil is rich in vitamin E oil so helps with regeneration of collagen
• Lavender oil (if you can get hold of original and pure lavender oil) is good for healing stretch marks or lavender flower masks are also good for the purpose though you can not find lavender in India
• Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter (if you get hold of unrefined cocoa or shea, mostly found in African stores) have lot of important nutrients for the skin
• Aloevera gel is again great for stretch marks, mix the aloevera gel with almond or coconut oil and it is great as a moisturizer for dry skin too
  

READ MORE - Get rid of Stretch Marks

Get the most out of your scrubs

When you are scrubbing your face or any other part of your body, the general trend is to scrub and wash it off. But, yesterday, I thought of improvising a little. While scrubbing my face yesterday, I did it for no more than 3 minutes and then left the scrub on to let it dry. After it dried, I washed it off. My skin was smooth and moisturized. And, I ended the routine with a little of cleanser to wash off any scrub residue left on my skin. There was no need of a face mask and I firmly believe in not overdoing my beauty routines. The result was an even complexion with perfectly glowing skin. 

Tip: You can use the products from the market or you can make various scrubs at home. For over the counter products, you can improve the results by adding a capsule of vitamin E oil or a little of aloevera gel before scrubbing. This would give even better results.

READ MORE - Get the most out of your scrubs

Should you use a body cream or a body lotion?

There is a lot of confusion between which product is better for skin: a cream or a lotion. So, I would start by giving you a definition of both the terms and then you can yourself decide which is the best for you. 

Lotion: It is a mixture of few drops of oil in water held together by a chemical substance because oil and water do not mix. 

Cream: A mixture of few drops of water in oil. The density of the product can vary according to various formulations.

When compared, body lotions are easier to apply as compared to creams. But, when your skin is damp, creams are also easy to apply as they spread well in contact with water. 

Which one is better?

I can not answer this question. It is a personal choice but I can answer a different question: why cream than a lotion? Have you ever felt that your skin has become drier after applying a lotion? I have. This problem is common in people with dry to normal skin and in extreme weathers. Why so? Because, when you apply the lotion on your body, it spreads easily creating a large surface area for water in the cream to evaporate quickly. Thus, it ends up drying your skin after a little while instead of keeping your skin moisturized. The rate at which evaporation takes place is dependent on the environment and the viscosity (thickness) of the lotion. More thick the lotion is, better it will keep your body moisturized.

My Recommendations

Thus, I would just recommend that recognize your skin type correctly and choose products mentioned for your skin type only. Using wrong products can affect your skin and make it look aged.

Dry Skin: Oily creams or thick lotions

Normal Skin: Your choice and preference

Oily Skin: Oil-free moisturizers and light watery lotions

Now, a latest skin type is aging skin. How do you categorize it? Well, according to me, it should go under dry skin because as you age, your skin loses its tendency to keep moisture intact and becomes dry. Also due to the loss of collagen, it is no longer firm.

Whatever my thoughts be, I would definitely love your opinions on this topic. Do not forget to write down your comments.

READ MORE - Should you use a body cream or a body lotion?

Instructions on washing your face and body

Yes, it is something you have been doing since time unknown but are you sure that you are washing your face correctly? It is possible that you are over-using your cleanser or your hair is peeping on your face when you are washing your face. Similar to washing your hair, washing your face is no big deal but changing little things about your routine will show amazing changes in your skin texture. And, the same principles apply when you take a shower too.

What is the correct way of washing your face? I have elaborated on some steps in the routine which should be given attention.

• First step will always be to remove the makeup. 
• Pull all your hair back from your face using a hair band. Do not pull it too tightly otherwise it will damage your hair. 
• Splash water on your face. Do not use too cold or too hot water. Neither will do your skin any good except for drying it. Room temperature water is fine even for closing the pores.
• Take a little amount of cleanser in your hand. Keep it at the bare minimum. The aim is not to get more lather but to clean your face without drying it. You would notice that in case of some face washes, a very little amount produces more than enough of lather. More lather producing products would be more drying for your face.
• Rub your palms together and apply the cleanser or face wash to your face in circular motions. Do not press to hard. And, see if you can get the circular motions with upward strokes as in case of facial massages. This action would ensure a gentle massage for your face and prevents, in the long run, your skin from hanging down. 
• Be very gentle near the eyes. Sometimes the foam enters the eyes and causes irritation so take care to avoid such a situation as it is not good for the eyes. 
• Do not forget to get the grime out of your eyelashes and eyebrows, behind the ears, on the curve of the ears, creases along the nose and edges of the eyes. These places, often, get very dirty.
• Do not exceed the time limit of one minute. Excess washing is again not good for skin. Splash lukewarm water first on your face to wash off all traces of the cleanser or soap. And, then conclude with room temperature water splashes on your face. Make sure your face is squeaky clean and no layer of cleanser or face wash is left behind. In case you feel a greasy layer on your face after washing it, get rid of the face wash or cleanser you are using and try a new one. 
• Now, you can proceed to tone your face using green tea or any other toner of your choice. You can even skip this step if you do not want to do it. But, if you do not want to invest in costly chemical laden products, then splashing green tea on your face regularly keeps it looking fresh and dewy. It is a natural toner and without chemicals and full of anti-oxidants. Give a minute for green tea to sink in to your skin before washing it off.
• Pat your face damp. Do not let it dry completely. Do not rub your face to dry it. The friction from the towel causes the skin to get dry. Or, if you have time, let it air dry. It takes only a minute. Moisturize while your face is still damp.It locks the moisture in.

Same routine should be applied while taking shower. Use as less soap or body wash as possible as they lather a lot. And, do not keep on lathering your body for unlimited time. Instead, finish off as soon as possible. Using lukewarm to little warm water is best for your skin. You would see the difference in your skin within a week of following these strictures to the 'T'. Do not forget to moisturize your body as soon as you are out of your shower. Best place to moisturize your skin is inside the bathroom. The heat and humid atmosphere will make sure you lock in more moisture and keep your pores open.

Finally, I would wind up this post by stating some tips and precautions:

• If you use a loofah or flannels in your shower, to get better results, soak them in a mug full of warm water 10-15 minutes prior to your shower. They would become soft and give better lather and are not too harsh on the skin. 
• Do not use dry brushes, loofahs and other exfoliating accessories in the shower more than thrice a week. It can seriously damage your skin. 
• Do you have sensitive skin? Stay away from using any kind of brushes or flannels in the shower.
• Do not exfoliate your body more than once or at most twice a week. 
• If you take bath twice a day, limit your baths to not more than 5 minutes. And, accordingly reduce the water temperature too.
• Do not buy a soap which makes "bubbles" in your bath. It strips off the oils from your skin. 
• Always use a non-soapy cleanser.

READ MORE - Instructions on washing your face and body

Another Exercise for Beautiful Breasts

I do not know how many of you have gone through my earlier post on exercises for firming your breasts and home remedies for making them big. But, not having beautiful and perky breasts are a big low-down for women whether they show it or not. Knowing that your body and all its parts are beautiful brings a different kind of confidence and attraction to the person. So, if you are low on your self-image, you should go through those posts. I am sure they would be of help and I can vouch that they have helped me. 

Now, I want to add another exercise which you can do make your breasts firmer and more round. Bring both your palms together and press hard in the namaste position parallel to your breasts and press them as forcefully as you can against each other. This helps in tightening the muscles within the breasts. You might feel that this would be no good. At least I thought so unless I tried it. To see the visible effect, try this sometime in the shower and you would see the immediate change in the position of breasts when you are pressing the hands. Your breasts shift upwards and become more perky and rounded.

READ MORE - Another Exercise for Beautiful Breasts