Lip Care

After you brush your teeth every morning, try using your toothbrush to 'exfoliate' your lips too! It should brush off some dead cells and promote the growth of new ones. Also, do not forget that lip balm! Are your lips chapped and dehydrated? Fix what you already have by first using an old toothbrush and brushing your lips with Vaseline (do this every other day).

Then you need to use Vaseline or your favorite lip balm on your lips every night before you go to bed. Make sure to pile it on at night (do this every night). Drink at least 8 glasses of water each day. Remember to wear a lip balm with SPF 15 or higher to protect them. After a few days you'll notice a dramatic difference. Keep this up, and make it an everyday habit.

Try to apply concealer over your entire lip. Then use your favorite lipstick and you'll look prettier and healthier. For best results, use a lip liner before applying lipstick. Some lipstick contain materials which actually make your lips darker after regular use (a high percentage of lead or something). So, use only mild varieties of lipstick, lipliner, pencils and glosses. Drink more water, it really helps to pump up the lips.

Every night before going to bed, apply vaseline petroleum jelly on the lips with your fingers (they come in a small bottle as well) if you sleep with the AC on every night. The next day, use a toothbrush to brush away the leftover vaseline and dead skin on the lips (very effective for cracked lips) after your normal brushing. You will see your lips getting redder and 'more pumped up'.

This also helps if you have recurring problems of cracked lips or peeling skin that stays on your lips (and you tend to bite them away). Vaseline deals with uneven lips and helps in having a healthy smile. Your lipsticks may not be suitable for you. Care for your lips. It does have something to do with metabolism. Dark lips may be due to an unhealthy diet and unsuitable lipsticks.

You have to be careful when choosing a brand that is suitable for you. Stop it immediately when you notice changes with your natural lip colour. As for a healthy diet, try to eat more fruits and avoid caffeine and smoking. Another method that can help is to drink more red dates water. Put about 6 dates in a cup and pour hot water on it. Wait about 1/2 hr or 45 minutes before you drink it.

It is convenient, easy to prepare and good for your blood circulation. Try it a few times a week. Apply a thin layer of toothpaste to your lips before you go to sleep. Your lips in the morning will be redder and cleaner. Your lip colour might have to do with what you eat because it is vital to have a balanced diet. If you don't have a balanced diet, then eat more healthy food.

Get a Professional Facial at Home

Getting a professional facial can get expensive, especially in this economy, but you don’t always have to rely on other people to make you look beautiful; you can do it yourself in the comfort of your own home! Maintain your skin’s health by doing this at-home facial once a week that’s great for oily, dry, and/or combination skin.

Step 1: Cleanse

Before beginning your facial, make sure you cleane your face thoroughly. Choose a cleanser that matches your skin type and make sure you remove all makeup as well. Getting the dirt out is very important when it comes to keeping healthy and clear skin since dirty skin causes bacteria.

Step 2: Exfoliate

Exfoliating is one of the most important steps in skin care because this is the part where you actually slough off dead skin cells that can pile on top of one another and cause flakiness, dry skin, and even pimples, depending on your skin type. Gently massage an exfoliating face wash into circular motion on your face, concentrating on the oily parts such as your chin and forehead.

Step 3: Steam

When you get a professional facial done, they always steam your skin, and you can do that too. Just fill your skin with hot water (but not too hot so you burn your skin!), dip a washcloth and press to your face. Repeat this step about 2-3 times. This will open up your pores and make your face softer and easier to work with.

Step 4: Mask Yourself

Apply a mask to your face. For dry skin, use a hydrating gel or cream mask and for oily skin use a clay-based mask. Leave it on for 10-20 minutes (depending on the directions on the package), making sure to avoid the eye area when applying. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry.

Step 5: Moisturize

The last and final step is to moisturize your skin. Make sure you choose one that matches your skin type. For example, if you have oily skin, go with a very light moisturizer as not to clog your pores. For dry skin, choose a thicker moisturizer. Massange gently over your face and neck using slow, circular motions.

Slim Your Legs, Tummy & Arms Without the Exercise

Exercise isn’t the only thing you have to do to get a great figure. Of course, you should always keep up with a regular exercise routine, at least for health’s sake, but there are a few fashion tricks you can pull off to make your legs appear taller and slimmer, your tummy flatter and your arms more toned.

• 1. Body Shapers

  
  

  No mistery here…body shapers will obviously shape your body to look slimmer and more toned. The best brand out there is SPANX and although they cost a little more (about $100), they do the job like nothing else. Even celebs wear SPANX to tuck in their tummies.

  2. Lengthen Your Legs

  
  

  If you’re on the short side and want to add a little height, there is nothing better than pairing wide-leg pants with a pair of heels. Just make sure you pick a pair of pants that doesn’t accentuate your waist.

  3. Fake a Small Waist

  
  

  If you’re looking to shrink your waist, or at least look like you have a smaller waist, just wear a belt right above your hips when wearing longer tops and dresses. This will give the illusion of a smaller waist since the belt cinches it at the right spot.

  4. Slim Your Legs

  
  

  Putting on a pair of black tights or any dark colored tights for that matter will draw the attention away from your legs, as to make them look a lot slimmer. Pair them with boots and a skirt/dress.

  5. Hide Your Tummy Bulge

  
  

  This season you’re in luck because a lot of the tops in stores are the kind that will be banded at the waist which will hide your bulge and make it look like you have absolutely nothing! Pair it up with high-waisted pants.

  6. Fake Slim Calves

  
  

  If you’ve been out of the gym for a while, your calves might look a little out of shape. Thankfully, you can fake slim calves by slipping on a pair of heels. You don’t have to wear super high heels to achieve this - pretty much any heel will do!

  8. SlimYour Arms

  
  

  Believe it or not, arm shapers exist! This quarter-sleeve arm shaper will fit smoothly and discretely under your clothes to give your arms a slim, polished look. Get it at TresSleek.com for only $26.95.

  9. Slim Upper Body

  
  

  If you’re worried about a larger upper body or broad shoulders, a scarf or a shawl can help you minimize your problem area. Just wrap it around your neckwhichever way you like and opt for lighter fabrics in the summer.

  
  

For Black Spots

1. Make a paste with mehndi and oil and apply on the face

2. Make a mixture of 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice and glycerin and apply it on the spots

3. Apply the paste of turmeric and curry leaves on the face and wash it after 15 minutes.

4. Apply a mixture of mehndi and turmeric. For a piece of turmeric, 2-3 leaves of mehndi are used.

5. Grind dried basil leaf, neem and mint (100 gm each). Add some turmeric powder and rose water to make it in a paste form and apply it on the spots.

6. Grind betel leaf and add a little coconut oil and apply it on the spots.

7. Soak a chappathi in milk over night. Make it into a paste and apply it on black heads. Repeat for several days .

8. Make a paste of saffron and add some honey , apply it on the face to remove black spots.

9. To remove black spots... apply a paste of turmeric and basil.

10. To remove wrinkles on the face, apply a mixture of sandalwood powder, rosewater and glycerin. Wash with cold water after some time

Body care

Mix six-teaspoon petroleum jelly, two-teaspoon glycerin and two-teaspoon lemon juice. Apply this moisturizing lotion at least twice a week if you have dry and flaky, arms and legs.


Peel and grate a cucumber. Squeeze the juice to this, mix half-a-teaspoon glycerin and half-a-teaspoon rose water. Apply this on sunburns, leave it for some time.


If you have cracked heels, melt paraffin wax; mix it with little mustard oil and apply on the affected area. Leave it overnight. After 10 or 15 days, your heels will become smooth.


Massage your body with a mixture of coconut oil and any of your favorite scented oils like lavender or rosemary.


For rough palms, use a mixture of glycerin and limejuice in equal proportion.


For cracked heals, massage the foot with coconut oil and keep the foot in warm water for some time. Wipe the water off the feet and apply a mixture of hibiscus flower (10), Henna (1 handful) and juice of half a lemon. When dry wash it off.

Remove scars on your hands and feet by rubbing them with lemon peel

Weight reduction tips

1. Never skip meals. Eat three to six times a day in smaller portions to avoid getting hungry.


2. A person who is moderately active needs daily, 33 calories per kg of body weight to maintain his weight.


3. Reducing calories intake by 300 per day and increasing the physical activity to burn 200 calories per day results in weight loss of 400 Gms per week.


4. Reward yourself with pleasures other than food--buy some new clothes, get a different hair style, see a movie, visit a friend, etc.


5. Try to drink eight or more 8-ounce glasses of water every day.


6. You will lose weight when you burn more calories than you consume.


7. Set several short term realistic goals.


8. To satisfy basic nutritional needs eat a variety of foods every day. Choose from each of the five food group’s milk, meat, fruit, vegetable and cereals. Balanced food plans encourage making wise choices about everyday food choices. This type of diet helps to stay at your proper weight for life.


9. Consuming wheat products than rice products help to reduce obesity


10. Avoiding sleeping in afternoons help to increase the burning of calories. This avoids slowing of basal metabolic rate.


11. Eat high-fiber foods.


12. Opt for light menus in restaurants, or purchase low-calorie or reduced-fat products at the grocery store.


13. Try to cut down on foods high in fats and sugar.


14. Use sugar substitutes while sweetening foods and beverages.


15. Baking or boiling is recommended instead of frying.


16. se a smaller plate at mealtime to satisfy your psychological need to see a full plate.


17. Fry or sauté foods in a non-stick cook wear with low-calorie fat.


18. Pay attention to what you eat. Don't read or watch TV during your meal.


19. Stop eating before you feel full.


20. Eat and chew slower. It takes 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that it's full.


21. If you find yourself eating when you're not hungry, ask yourself why. Many of us eat when we're bored, stressed, or just to be polite. Listen to your body. If you're not hungry, get busy doing something else instead of eating.


22. Determine the type of physical activity that suits your life style.


23. Exercises like jogging, playing out door games, walking etc help to reduce weight.


24. Weigh yourself on a regular schedule, but don’t become a slave to your scale.


25. Health experts recommend exercising 30 minutes or more on all, days of the week for maximum benefits. The exercises should be moderately vigorous to be most effective but not exhausting.


26. Incorporate few simple measures to burn calories effectively. Like- taking an after dinner walk, using stairs instead of escalators or elevators, parking the car farther away to have a longer walk etc.


27. Exercises also improve sense of well being ,decreases stress and decreases appetite in some.


28. Losing weight doesn't, and shouldn't, mean starvation. Losing weight in a healthy way consists of eating better and being more physically active. And it should be tolerable, and perhaps even fun.

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