Style Check: Skin Care

Home Made Remedies to Combat Acne:

Life can never be as sad as spotting a sudden ugly bump on our face the first thing in the morning, even worse, if we have a special appointment that day. All of us have gone through this or may be some of us are going through this. Yes friends, we are talking about the “acne syndrome”.  These ugly spots never bothered us till we entered our teens, just when we needed to look good ;). Oh yes.. for those of you who thought acne and pimples were just a teen thing, hold on to your guns because they we’ll come back to haunt you again in your twenties, thirties and sometimes even in your forties. I guess they never learned to say good bye. So what do you do when these pimples suddenly show up from nowhere? Trust me the first thing that comes in my mind is to hide under the blanket and ask myself why God is so unfair to me :p, some of us get busy trying to find a reason to cancel their plans of going out that day while some of us try to hide it under consealers and heavy makeup foundation just to see it getting worse the next day. So yeah we all have our own acne stories.

The worse part about having an acne on the face is that it stays on for few days.There are plenty of products in the market for acne treatment but most of the products make the whole face skin go dry and dead…Trust me we won’t blame you if you ever got induced to buy the Proactive acne treatment products by seeing those believable ads on the T.V., only wished if those claims were true and those products freed us from our worst nightmare.

So what’s the plan B?? Plan B is a mix of some easily accessible, less expensive and more effective overnight acne pimple relief solutions that we have got just for you .. But before we give away these trade secrets , make sure that you consult a dermatologist for a prolonged acne problem and simultaneously try out these easy overnight homemade remedies:

·   Toothpaste: Apply toothpaste on the acne and leave it overnight and then wash it with warm water next day morning. Use a plain white toothpaste and not a gel.

·   Aspirin Powder: Mix aspirin powder with water and make a thick paste and leave it until dry and then wash it with Luke warm water. Apply green tea moisturizer after washing your face.

·     Baking Soda: Mix baking soda and water well, apply on the acne and leave it till dry wash it with warm water.

·       Tomato Pulp: Mix the pulp of a tomato and a cucumber juice well and leave it on the acne or on the oily zone for 30 mins and then wash it with warm water.

·         Cucumber: Mix cucumber juice, oatmeal powder and yogurt well and leave it on the acne till dry and then wash it with water .

·           Strawberry: Grind strawberry and mix it with honey and leave it for 20 mins on the acne, you can even apply it to the whole face and then wash it with warm water.

·        Garlic: Garlic is too strong when applied on the acne or pimple and it may irritate your skin for some time and it might make your skin turn red but it is an awesome remedy for acne. Leave it on skin for 5-7 mins and then rub ice on it.

·        Cumin Seed: Cumin seed paste is also good for acne relief.

·       Basil Leaves: Mix turmeric powder few pinches, saffron, milk(1tbsp),sandalwood powder (1tbsp) and basil leaves paste to make a mask. Apply this mask on your face for 20 mins to help you get rid of acne soon. Use this pack on a daily basis.

·       Cinnamon Powder: Cinnamon Powder and honey mix it well and leave it for 15 mins in the affected area and then wash it with warm water.

·      Aloe Vera Gel: Aloe Vera gel is the most effective way to treat acne. Aloe Gel are easily available in stores.

·        Mint Leaves: Mint leaves paste when applied on the affected area for 30 mins, it gives a very cool and soothing feeling and helps get rid of acne scar as well.

·        Coriander Juice: Make a paste of coriander and turmeric powder and apply it on the affected area. Please note turmeric powder should be used very little. As we know turmeric is also used in wounded areas to help in healing faster.

·      Rice Flour: Mix rice flour with water or milk and apply it all over your face and let it dry and then wash it well with warm water.

·        Clay Mask: Clay mask (Multani mitti powder)mixed with rose water and camphor powder(a pinch of camphor)when applied all over the face and neck it really makes skin looks healthy and bright. It can be done on a regular basis to get maximum result.

So next time you see that ugly bump no need to go under cover, use these overnight treatment to combat acne and enjoy life and yes don’t forget to drink at least 2 liters of water every day. 

Home made remedies

6 Easy Homemade Treatments for Hair:  

·      Egg: Egg white (1 egg ) is a rich source of protein and can be used for hair treatment when mixed well with lemon juice (I tsp.) and olive oil (1tbsp) and left on hair for 45 mins and rinsed well with water.

·      Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise is not only used in salad but when coated on hair for 30mins and rinsed with cold water it leaves your hair smooth and shiny.

·      Yogurt: When yogurt(3-4 tbsp ,depends on the length and volume of your hair)  mixed well with coconut oil (1tbsp) left for 30 mins to soak in and then rinsed with water, it gives your hair that extra bounce .

·      Avocado: Avocado is good for skin and hair both if eaten at least once week , but it can also serve as a good source of protein if mixed with lemon juice (1 tsp) and olive oil (I tbsp.) left on hair for 30mins to dry and then rinse it with cold water.

·      Henna: Henna Powder when soaked in warm tea liquor, lemon juice (1 tsp), yoghurt (1 tbsp.), egg (1), mustard oil (1tsp) and left to mix well overnight and then applied on your hair next day and left for 30 mins on your hair can really make your hair silky smooth and soft. It also adds color to your hair. A word of caution it should not be left on hair more than 30 mins, otherwise it will leave your hair dry and rough.

·     Onions: An onion is an amazing natural remedy to fight hair fall and also can prove effective to increase hair growth. You might be thinking how to use the onion on your hair especially when it smells awful? But think of it this way: your hair fall will reduce by 75% in just three washes. Moreover, if you already see your hair line receding or some bald patches showing up, isn’t it better to opt for using something you would find in your own home instead of spending more money at the salon where they promise you great results with regular hair spas but which usually don’t work out ?

·      These treatments could be done once a month or at the most twice. Frequent protein treatments may make your hair hard and really rough. Try doing these treatments in moderation and we will find an improvement in your hair quality in two months.

Timeless Elegance - Dhakai Sarees

Style it up with Jamdani Dhakai

So friends we are back again, this time to talk on a beautiful piece of cloth, called Dhakai.

A Dhakai is a type of sari (traditional cloth for women of South Asia) made with cotton and is the most intensive form of handloom weaving. The name comes from the Dhaka city, capital of Bangladesh, where this type of sari is usually made.

The unique hand technique of weaving was called Jamdani in the old days, while the weave was called Dhakai. Dhakai sari hit rock bottom during the 19^th century due to decline of Mughal dynasty and export of  low quality yarn from Europe.

Gradually this piece of craft is reviving its past glory and number of Bollywood celebrities were spotted in this traditional Bangladeshi Dhakai Jamdani

This year, Vidya walked the ramp for Vikram Padnis  at the Lakme fashion week  wearing a gorgeous black Jamdani Dhakai with multi colored thread pattern work. As usual she looked elegant and splendid.

Priyanka Chopra wore an orange Dhakai with a contrast green blouse in her forthcoming movie, Gunday and we felt she looked simple yet ravishing.

Rani Mukherjee looked impressive wearing a beautiful pink Dhakai with intricate work on it .

Shobha De was seen wearing a radiant red Dhakai at an event, and she totally stole the show.

 Shailee tips to get that perfect look :

1.    Team a white/black Dhakai (without any golden embroidery work) with a dark red raw silk blouse (preferably sleeveless/three fourth sleeves), a red bindi and a long golden chain. If you are wearing a sleeveless blouse then leave your hair open with some soft curls. You can also add a red flower on one side of the open hair, (very similar to the look that Priyanka chopra is carrying in the pic.)

2.    Team a white/black Dhakai (with golden embroidery work on it) with a golden blouse, with a chunky golden neckpiece or a chunky golden jhumka (try either one of them), hair  could open or  tied in a low knit bun. If you are going for a wedding or  being part of a festival, you can glorify this look by adding a gajra around the bun. Carry a nice golden potli with it to complete the look.

  

3. If your Dhakai has golden embroidery on it, then Shailee suggests that you accessorize it only with gold/golden jewellery. 

4.    If your Dhakai has more of white embroidery on it, then Shaillee recommends that you wear pearl jewellery with it to get that classy look.

5.    If you are thinking which color Dhakai you should pick then let us tell you that black, red and white Dhakais are the must haves and they will never go out of fashion. A red Dhakai is becoming a must have in every bride’s trousseau.  

6.  You can also try contrast colored blouses with the Dhakais. Go for brocade or raw silk material for your blouses. They are the latest fad and don’t forget to put a contrast round bindi matching with your blouse.

7.  Try out the latest, “kuchi print Jamdani”, it is a white Jamdani Dhakai with colored borders, pallu and pleats and it has white thread pattern work all over. It comes in various colors but the popular ones are red and white, yellow and white and black and white.

8.   Also try out the half silk Jamdanis with multi colored thread pattern work and golden embroidery work all over.