Detoxify, sleep well for radiant skin

Hectic work schedules often keep women away from spending any time on nurturing their skin. But it's easy to do it at home by detoxifying the body and getting proper beauty sleep.

Sun, stress, pollution and dirt leads to several skin concerns like uneven skin tone, blemishes and dull looking skin. However, an expert at cosmetic brand Lakme has shared tips on how one can get the desired flawless and radiant skin in the comfort of your home, said a statement.

Detox your body: 

Your body is a result of what is going on inside it. Skin problems develop when your skin can't do its job of eliminating toxins efficiently. Drink warm water with lemon every morning to help flush toxins from the body. Reduce your intake of alcohol for a few days to give your body and skin a break. Up your intake of fresh fruits, vegetables and water to boost the amount of skin-saving nutrients you're getting.

Get some beauty sleep:

Sleep affects your physical and mental well-being. When you sleep, you're allowing your body to begin the healing process. Good sleep directly leads to fresh looking skin. Try and hit the sack earlier than you usually do and you will see the result within no time on your skin.

Skin serum is in: 

Gone are the days when serum was only for your hair. Skin serums are the latest trend in skin care. Whoever thought skin serums were only used by experts at the salon, think again. You can now use skin serums even in the comfort of your home with ease. Vitamins in these serums help make your skin even and radiant.

Strip off your make-up before going to bed: 

Leaving make-up and dirt on skin doesn't just clog pores but it also causes skin dullness. Always wipe off your make up and wash your face with a face wash to remove all the dirt and grime that your skin has collected throughout the day. Massage your face with a hydrating creme after you wash your face to help replenish your skin while you sleep.

Don't forget to apply sunscreen: 

We know, you've heard it a million times, but stepping out of the house during the day without wearing sunscreen is like directly forcing your skin to dullness. Sunscreen not only prevents your skin from tanning but also keeps it moisturized and hydrated throughout the day. Applying sunscreen everyday helps your skin retrieve its natural moisture.

What to eat for a brighter skin

Here's a list of edible items that can help you get that glowing skin you've always craved for

Shelling out that last penny in the salon and still, women fret about maintaining a glowing complexion throughout the year. It's no secret that drinking about eight to 10 glasses of water on a daily basis will help clear those impurities and give you a healthy looking skin. But it's not just water that will add to your skin's radiance. There are many edibles that will keep you glowing. Here's an index of what you should add to your daily food slot to look bright and pretty.

Strawberries

Yes, this is one secret that has been out of grandma's kitchen trove for the longest time. Strawberries are known to be brilliant as it benefits the skin in more than one way. This accessory fruit is known to be rich in coenzyme Q10, a substance that helps fight free radical damage, and lessens the pace of aging, increases both the adeptness and rate of cellular energy production. Quite high in alpha-hydroxyl acid, this fruit helps get rid of dead skin cells and helps the body build collagen. Another great thing about strawberries, it's highly concentrated with vitamin C, an essential antioxidant that helps prevent skin blemishes, fights the aging process and the harmful effects of the sun.

Tomatoes

There are many reasons to toss a tomato in your diet, it adds to the content of collagen in the skin, thus preventing it from sagging. Also, tomatoes have higher antioxidants , this helps reduce fine lines on the skin. Also, eating tomato sauce and tomato juice can help clear up acne.

Oranges

Another fruit apart from the strawberry that is extremely high in antioxidants are oranges. These help brighten the skin. Orange, a citrus fruit, contains vitamin C, that helps prevent conditions like skin inflammation. One thing known about vitamin C is that, it helps improve the absorption of Vitamin E and iron in the body, and this in turn gives you a radiant complexion. You might have noticed, there are many skin care products that have orange extracts in them.

Eggs

Eggs are great for the skin, they help soften, firm and hydrate the skin. It is known to contain amino acids that help in generation of new skin cells. A study states that two major antioxidants that eggs contain, lutein and zeaxanthin, is known to increase more than four times the protection against the UV damage that leads to lines, brown spots, and cancer. Apparently, eating about one egg a day significantly increases blood levels of lutein and zeaxanthin (but not cholesterol).

(Compiled by Simi Kuriakose)

Get rid of tan naturally

Summers may mean lots of coolers and skimpy clothes but they also bring along with them a major tan, get rid of it to enjoy summers more

While some love a tan, for some others a tan just spells disaster and then starts the complex process of applying strange chemicals and doctor visits. Here are some home remedies that will take your tan off in a jiffy.

1. Lemon juice

While some suggest that you should not use lemon juice directly on face as it may ruin the delicate layer and dry it up, some others swear by its magical properties to make the darkest of tans disappear. It is however suggested that you dilute your lemon juice in a little water and then apply it on the face initially. Let it dry and wash it off with some cool water.

 

2. Tomato pulp

Tomatoes are great to eat during the summers but they also have tan removal properties that could put any facial cream to shame. Just apply the pulp of a tomato on the face and wash it off after 10-15 minutes. The effect isn't as instant as that of lemon, but its safer if you have very sensitive skin. Repeat this for a week.

3. Yogurt

A bowl of chilled yogurt and half a teaspoon of turmeric applied on the face will not only leave your skin dewy fresh but will also take that ugly tan off and even out the skin colour while providing it with moisture.

 

4. Potatoes

Raw potatoes rubbed onto the skin everyday will also help remove tan. Potato slices places over eyes also help remove dark circles and provide relief to tired eyes.

Summer care tips for a happy feet

The summer heat can make your feet dry and rough with the skin peeling off due to bad weather conditions. In order to keep your feet healthy, Blossom Kochhar, chairperson of Blossom Kochhar Group of Companies, offers a few tips to take care of feet:

Shea butter:

Shea butter can play a major role in taking care of chapped and neglected feet. Follow the given procedure to keep your feet healthy and glowing:

• Soak your feet in warm water for 10-15 minutes and cleanse your feet thoroughly by scrubbing properly with a sponge or a pumice stone to remove the dead skin, rough areas and calluses from under the feet.
• Change the water. Take another tub of warm water and add one teaspoon of shea butter to it.
• Soak your feet in it once again for 10 minutes. 
• After that pat your feet dry with a towel. 
• Then apply little amount of the shea butter on your feet thoroughly to keep it smooth and moisturised.

Wear sunscreen:

Don't forget to slather sunscreen on your feet, too! During the summer, feet are often forgotten when protecting skin from the sun. Protect your feet and remember to check them for sun damage when you do regular self-exams.

Soak you feet: 

To bring the swelling down after a long, hot day, soak your feet in a tub of ice water for 15 minutes. Then pat dry with a towel. It will give a calming and easing sensation to the pain that you might experience from the swelling.

Moisturise your feet: 

The skin on your feet needs moisture just like the rest of your body. To keep your feet soft and to prevent dry, cracking heels, use a foot cream regularly at night as part of your home pedicure routine.

Buff off dead skin and calluses:

Keep your feet looking their best by gently buffing off dead skin and calluses. After bathing or a relaxing foot soak, use a pumice stone to buff away calluses on your feet. Do not shave or cut corns or pop blisters; you could cause an infection.

Use coconut oil:

Keep some extra coconut oil handy and your feet will be happy even in summers. This oil has the ability to moisturise dry, rough skin. It nurtures skin cells and removes impurities in the skin. Leave it overnight and wear cotton socks and you will wake up with soft, beautiful feet.

Tips to banish large pores

Large pores on the face are common problem of women. Use ice cubes, cleansers containing ingredients like geranium, chamomile and witch hazel to lessen the appearance of the pores.

Celebrity make-up artist and skincare expert Caroline Frazer helps to banish beauty myths about pesky enlarged pores, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"Products or DIY (do it yourself) remedies such as an ice cube used on the face can help lessen the appearance of open or enlarged pores but only for a very short while - enlarged pores won't disappear or shrink overnight. However, there are things you can do to make them look less visible," said Frazer.

Here are the tips one can follow:

Most people who have larger pores have greasier skin. Look out for cleansers that will help de-clog the pores which contain ingredients such as geranium, chamomile and witch hazel to clarify and refresh skin and help visibly reduce the size of pores.

This helps reduce the dead skin cells which can get stuck in the pores. It will also help lessen the oil on the skin, which can make the pores look bigger.

One can also try pore strips to help unblock the hard to shift areas on the nose etc.

Exfoliation, using mask and staying hydrated also help.

Exfoliating on a regular basis will definitely give the appearance of shrinking pores. If one is routinely getting off the dead skin cells, which get clogged in the pores, the pores will avoid getting stretched out daily. If one wants to splurge, try a sonic face brush to help with the exfoliating.

Masks with Kaolin clay in them are great for those with large and clogged pores. One needs to use them once or twice a week for noticeable benefits.

Drink plenty of water to keep oneself hydrated, which will enhance the appearance of the skin, reduce pore size, and help flush out toxins from the body.

Microdermabrasion can really help when it comes to treating open pores with the sort of intensity guaranteed to keep unwanted attacks of acne and spots at bay.