What's Causing Your Acne By Where You Break Out

 

Women's Health readers admitted they always seem to have a zit or two. If you ask us, that's one or two zits too many. When you're prone to acne (and studies show so many of us are), anything can set it off and make it even gnarlier: your diet, your workout, and—we wish we were joking about this—even your city. So no matter how on-point your skin-care routine may be, you can't be truly free of breakouts until you get a handle on those sly culprits. We uncovered five of the most surprising triggers, mapping out precisely where they lurk on your face and how to remedy them fast. So if you've got zits, your confessions are safe with us. The only thing getting outed here are pimples.

4 Bizarre Places You Always Get Zits—and How to Prevent Them

 As if a raging red zit isn’t enough to deal with, having one crop up in an unusual place can really throw a curve ball into your routine. But you don’t have to hide away underneath a hat. Find out exactly what causes these annoying breakouts, and learn how to prevent and treat those weird pimples so you can put your best face forward.

 Oily Ears Can Lead to Breakouts
“The ears have many sebaceous glands, which makes them a breeding ground for pimples—and when oil from the glands clogs the pores, acne occurs,” says Eric Schwinger, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. The best way to prevent bumps is to make sure you’re cleaning your ears out properly, especially after applying any sticky hairstyling products that can leave grime behind. Use a medicated acne pad containing salicylic acid to wipe the outer and inner parts of the ear, taking care to not go too deep into the ear, says Schweiger.

Celebarity Beauty Tips fo gloing Skin

Beauty care for skin

While you are doing beauty care you need to concentrate on your skin, hair, etc everything. Let's start with some skin care treatments There are usually four steps which you can follow in this process. The steps are, such as, cleansing, exfoliating, toning, moisturizing.

Cleansing: First you have to buy the best cleanser from the market, you must stick to one cleanser which provides good treatment to your skin. Just forget about any bar soap which makes your skin dry. Every night with mild effort engage in the work of cleansing. Do not involve in too much cleansing. In the morning gently wash your face with warm water, it will remove dirt and also gives relief from blocked pores. Always remember to wipe off your make up from the skin with a proper makeup remover. 

Exfoliating: The next beauty care guide is associated with exfoliating the skin. This comes among one of the weekly skin care routines for you. A perfect exfoliation method helps you to identify the change on the face and it will also bring glamor and shine. Do not engage in excess exfoliation process which is very much harmful indeed.

Toning: While you are toning your face, you eliminate all unwanted oil and dirt from it. You can enjoy this beauty treatment to enhance the quality of your skin. 

Moisturizing: Applying moisturizer is as necessary as drinking water. A proper quantity of moisturizer helps your skin looking and feeling lively and it also protects your skin getting dry. However, over moisturizer is not good and can meet pimples and acne on skin.

 

1.      Make it a habit to drink minimum 8 glasses of water everyday. Also practice to take foods which are rich in Vitamin A and C. They help you a lot to look beautiful naturally. To maintain the shine on your skin, you can try to mix honey with water and drink it daily while you wake up from sleep. Your skin shall not only shine but also become smooth.

2.     We all know that our skin needs a moisturizer. To hydrate our skin naturally, one can try to massage the skin with milk. This will also keep the fresh glow of the skin intact.

3.     Keep the temperature of your room mild such that your skin doesn't get too much dried. To have a mild effect on your skin, as you need to keep the room temperature moderate, go for humidifiers.

4.     Take a bath with lukewarm water and always remember to use a mild soap. Don’t use hot water as it will make your skin all the more dry. Be gentle while rubbing your skin with a towel; never be harsh with your skin.

5.     Always try to eat uncooked raw fruits and fresh vegetables. After cooking and heating the food, the fluorine is destroyed – whose deficiency can lead to scaly skin. Remember that the deficiency of sodium can cause a wrinkled skin. Nobody would want such a skin. To combat wrinkles on your skin, have lots of cucumber. It acts as a substitute for sodium deficiency. Not only rich in sodium, cucumber is also an enabler to keep your body cool – provides a great relief during summers.

As these are natural beauty tips for girls, they give more effective results. The look of your skin is healthier. Opt for such natural beauty tips and you will discover the magic soon.

 

  

Beauty Care

Beauty tips and secrets

Looking beautiful even when you are aging is no impossible task. With so many beauty products in the market, looking stunning and tall lies with the fact of feeling confident.

Believe in yourself and half of your looks will be taken care of. Feel the best and look the best. There are some popular beauty tips and beauty secrets which can make you look awesome. 

You don’t have to spend lot of bucks to look beautiful. Though the galore of beauty products in the market takes care of the beauty essentials – looking beautiful always is not expensive. 

Pay attention to some beauty secrets and you won’t require too much of money and time.

Some popular beauty tips and secrets

1.         Moisturizers have immense power – Doesn't matter whether your skin is dry, normal or oily, moisturizers is the one skin care products which all of you will be able to afford. You can also use a mild cleanser before using a moisturizer. Moisturizers will also take care of the aging wrinkles and prevent premature aging. It adds moisture to your skin and your skin pores get hydrated and rejuvenated. If you have an oily skin, you should opt for a light, gentle moisturizer.

2.         Always use a sunscreen – Sunscreen is the best anti-aging product. It has an added advantage of reducing skin cancer – also a good beauty product which acts as an amazing beauty secret to make you look young. Sunscreen blocks the sun's damaging rays, in a way helping to block the aging effects. Make it a point to use sunscreen regularly before applying makeup; it acts as an extra protection.

3.         Choose a good cleanser – If you have a fetish for soap and water, go for a good cleansing strategy. It is one of the best beauty tips that can make you look beautiful and use it strategically. Do not over-cleanse your face but! Using a harsh product can cause irritation on your skin surface. Choose the product looking at the brand name.

4.         Use right tools for right makeup – When applying your makeup, use the right makeup brushes and applicators.

5.         Update Hair and Makeup – If you haven’t had a chance to revamp your hair style and make up style for the past few years, do it now! Not is the time to get the changed appearance

Beauty tips for Body care

You shall have to mix 6 tsp

of petroleum jelly, 2 tsp of

glycerin and 2 tsp of lemon

juice. This acts as a moisturizing

lotion which can be used at

least two times in a week to

treat dry and flaky arms and legs.

The next beauty tip for your body is to peel and grate a cucumber.

Take out the juice and then mix half-a-teaspoon of glycerin with half-

a-teaspoon of rose water. This is best to be applied on sunburns but

you shall have to leave it for some time on the affected area.

                       

·         To treat cracked heels, you shall have to melt paraffin wax and mix it with small amount of mustard oil and then apply on the area which is most affected. But remember to leave it overnight. It is definite that after 10 or 15 days, your heels are bound to become smooth.

Coconut oil mixed with aromatic oils like lavender or rosemary can act as good body massage oil.

Those who have rough palms try using a mixture of glycerin and limejuice – blend it in equal proportion.

For people with cracked heals, massaging the foot with coconut oil and keeping it in warm water might also give good results.

Use a lemon peel to remove any scars on you hand and feet. You shall have to rub the areas with the peel.

 Homemade Beauty Recipes for Face:

• In order to rejuvenate your facial skin after a tiring day, dab your face with cotton dipped in cold water

• Follow it up with the application of a face pack made of fuller’s earth, sandalwood powder and rose water and leave it for 20 minutes. Apply this pack every alternate day. For those with dry skin, you can add few drops of honey in the pack before applying.
• You can cover your eyes with two slices of cucumber as this would help to relax your eyes and reduce the dark circles.
• For pink lips, prepare a mixture made of honey, glycerin and two drops of lemon. Apply it as many times during the day and leave it on before going to sleep at night.
• You must exfoliate your face twice a week with sea salt. Wash your face , leave it moist then massage it gently with the exfoliates, especially on the cheek and T-zone regions.

Homemade Beauty Recipes for Hair

• For those with dry and damaged hair, you can beat two – three eggs and mix with milk to apply on hair. After leaving it on for 10 minutes, rinse off to get shiny and bouncy hair.
• For those with oily and greasy hair, take powder in your hand and rub it on your hair roots as well as run it through the length of your hair. Leave on for about 10 minutes and rinse, condition and you can even blow dry to get grease free hair.
• In order to get relief from dandruff, mix two – three aspirins in your shampoo. Aspirin will act immediately to clear your scalp of dandruff and grime.

Homemade Beauty Recipes for Body

• Sea salt can be used on wet skin as natural way of exfoliating. When used regularly, your skin will look clean and healthy at all times.
• Indulge in body massages with essential oils or lavender oil every week for soft skin. Mix a few drops of essential oils to half a bucket of water. You will be left with a lingering fragrance all throughout the day.
• For soft hands, mix one tsp of sugar in fresh cream along with a few drops of honey and two drops of lemon. Apply the mixture on your hands and massage till all the sugar granules dissolve. Wash off after 10 minutes. You can also use this mixture for soft skin.
• For dry and cracked feet, mix two spoons of lavender oil, honey, milk, cinnamon oil in lukewarm water. Put lemon rinds and rose-petals in the water and soak your feet for 20 minutes for soft feet.

Beauty tips for Eye care

• Dipping cotton balls in a chilling mixture of cucumber and potato juice and then applying it on the eyelids surely helps. You shall have to leave it for 15 to 20 minutes and then wash off. Do not forget to apply a little baby oil.
• Those who have long eyelashes, apply a sleek coat of castor oil every night before going to sleep. This in a way strengthens the lashes and also gives a cooling effect to your eyes.
• To get rid off the dark circles around your eyes, you shall have to massage few drops of coconut oil around the corner of your eyes.
• To get bright eyes which sparkle, add a small pinch of salt in water and wash off your eyes.
• Tomato juice and lemon juice mixed equally can be applied around your eyes. Keep it for 30 minutes and then wash off with cold and hot water respectively one after the other.
• A paste of sandal wood and nutmeg can be applied around your eyes before going to sleep and then can be washed off in the morning.

Beauty tips for Lip Care

Mix one tablespoon of cranberry

sauce juice along with two

tablespoons of Vaseline to make

a delicious lip balm entirely

homemade.

For not having black tinge on your

lips, apply juice of the lemon skin.

Coriander leaf juice also gives you soft and supple lips.

Homemade Beauty Recipes for Face:

• In order to rejuvenate your facial skin after a tiring day, dab your face with cotton dipped in cold water

• Follow it up with the application of a face pack made of fuller’s earth, sandalwood powder and rose water and leave it for 20 minutes. Apply this pack every alternate day. For those with dry skin, you can add few drops of honey in the pack before applying.
• You can cover your eyes with two slices of cucumber as this would help to relax your eyes and reduce the dark circles.
• For pink lips, prepare a mixture made of honey, glycerin and two drops of lemon. Apply it as many times during the day and leave it on before going to sleep at night.
• You must exfoliate your face twice a week with sea salt. Wash your face , leave it moist then massage it gently with the ex defoliants, especially on the cheek and T-zone regions.

Homemade Beauty Recipes for Hair

• For those with dry and damaged hair, you can beat two – three eggs and mix with milk to apply on hair. After leaving it on for 10 minutes, rinse off to get shiny and bouncy hair.
• For those with oily and greasy hair, take powder in your hand and rub it on your hair roots as well as run it through the length of your hair. Leave on for about 10 minutes and rinse, condition and you can even blow dry to get grease free hair.
• In order to get relief from dandruff, mix two – three aspirins in your shampoo. Aspirin will act immediately to clear your scalp of dandruff and grime.
• 

Homemade Beauty Recipes for Body

• Sea salt can be used on wet skin as natural way of exfoliating. When used regularly, your skin will look clean and healthy at all times.
• Indulge in body massages with essential oils or lavender oil every week for soft skin. Mix a few drops of essential oils to half a bucket of water. You will be left with a lingering fragrance all throughout the day.
• For soft hands, mix one tsp of sugar in fresh cream along with a few drops of honey and two drops of lemon. Apply the mixture on your hands and massage till all the sugar granules dissolve. Wash off after 10 minutes. You can also use this mixture for soft skin.
• For dry and cracked feet, mix two spoons of lavender oil, honey, milk, cinnamon oil in lukewarm water. Put lemon rinds and rose-petals in the water and soak your feet for 20 minutes for soft feet.

Is your hair beset with dandruff problems? Are you embarrassed by those white flakes that dot your scalp, hair and clothes? Well, there is no cause to worry as dandruff is a common scalp problem that can be cured by simple home remedies and other cosmetic preparations.

Getting Rid off Dandruff

One of the primary causes of dandruff is less oil secretions from the sebaceous glands. It may also be caused by high stress lifestyle, constipation and decreased blood circulation. A proper hair care routine is necessary for tackling dandruff.

• Cleanse your hair with a mild anti dandruff shampoo.
• You can make a banana pack that is effective in reducing dandruff. Blend together ripe bananas, egg yolks and i/4th cup beer. Use this preparation as a conditioner.
• Massage your scalp with a mixture of vinegar and lime juice.
• Apply greenback seed paste to your hair for reducing dandruff.
• Apply vinegar solution on to your scalp and wrap your hair with a towel. Wash off with shampoo after a few hours.
• A hot oil massage is beneficial for treating dandruff.
• Blend two egg yolks and yogurt and apply the paste to your scalp.
•  Eat plenty of raw fruits and vegetables.  
• Tea tree oil and juniper oil are effective in curing dandruff.

CRACKED HEELED

Having cracked or bleeding feet is never desirable to anyone. All of dream of a pair of beautiful feet that can be flaunted in the most stylish pair of stilettos. If you wish to get such beautiful feet, you need to know how to care for your feet. Setting aside some time from your daily schedule, about half an hour, for a regular foot treatment will keep them healthy and beautiful throughout the year. The time that you provide to pamper your feet will help you to forget about the day-to-day worries in a great way. Read on to know about the foot care tips that will make beautiful foot.

• Apply a foot scrub every day, preferably after a tiring day at work. You can either make a scrub at Beauty Tips or simply buy one that contains essential oils. Massage the ingredients into your feet, and leave on for 5-10 minutes. Wash off with warm water. This method is helpful when it comes to saving time as well as getting the desired effect.
• Use a moisturizer everyday on your feet, after bath and before going to sleep, carefully massaging into the dry areas, nails and the cuticles. This will keep the feet feeling soft.

.

• If you suffer from feet that ache from pressure, then there are natural remedies for aching feet as well. For this, you need 4-5 drops of essential oil of tea tree, 3-4 drops of essential oil of cypress and 1-2 teaspoons of jojoba oil. Mix all the ingredients together, pour into a large bowl or bucket of warm water, place your feet in the water and leave on for 5-10 minutes. After this, step into a bucket of cold water in which, a cup of green tea has been mixed.
• A foot massage before going to bed would help relieve you feet of stress. For this simply warm colorless sesame oil or olive oil and massage into your soles and toes with both your hands. Put on cotton socks and go to sleep.
• Another way of caring for your feet to keep them beautiful is by walking barefoot on pebbles. This would stimulate acupressure points on the soles of the feet, dispensing health benefits throughout the body.
• Sometimes girls feet suffer from painful corn. Getting rid from these corns will help you in having most beautiful feet. Soak your feet in warm water and add pinch of salt. Gently rub corn affected area with coarse emery board. Cut a fresh pineapple and put the piece over the area for 5 to 10 minutes. The enzymes present in pineapple will help the skin faster in dissolving the corn.
• Add half cup of sugar, one teaspoonful of baking powder and one fourth teaspoonful of poppy seeds combined with ten drops of lemon juice. With the help of vegetable brush, scrub your feet thoroughly and rinse. Follow this twice a week to possess most beautiful feet.
• You can also get beautiful foot with paraffin wax. This ingredient is know for making your feet soft and supple. Paraffin wax clears the clogged skin pore and increases in blood circulation. Thus with open pore, your skin will absorb required moisture and you get beautiful woman feet.
• A nice foot tonic can help you in getting beautiful girl's feet. You can make an effective tonic with a cup of milk combined by one teaspoonful of mint leaves, peppermint extract and rosemary. Apply this mixture and keep for 10 minutes. Wash off and say “my beautiful feet.

Natural beauty tips

People often complain of dull-looking skin which is a result of several factors such as your diet, pollution, dust, stress, etc. But fruits can come to your rescue in getting back the glow in your skin. Divita Kanoria, chief wellness officer, The Vedic Collection shares some fruit face packs for this purpose.

Have combination skin? Take an orange and squeeze it. Use three teaspoon of the juice and mix it with a tablespoon of yoghurt. The citrus property of orange helps in giving a refreshing glow to the skin. The fruit also has skin lightening agents. It helps in reducing dark spots and blemishes and improves complexion as well as cleans the skin. The citric nature of the fruit acts as a natural toner and and improves the skin texture resulting in tighter skin. The yoghurt maintains the moisture level in the skin.



Best for normal skin type, mix half teaspoon of pomegranate (anar) juice, mash a small piece of banana to give thickness to the paste and add half teaspoon of lemon juice with a pinch of turmeric powder. Further, add a pinch of Fuller’s earth (multani mitti), and half a teaspoon of sandalwood (chandan) powder. Mix everything together and apply on the face. It will help clear the skin and give a healthy glow. Pomegranates contains three times the amount of antioxidants and vitamins than green tea . This, along with the soothing properties of sandalwood and Fuller’s earth ensure that your skin is rejuvenated and refreshed. The pores in your skin can breathe again thanks to the exfoliating action of bananas. Your skin will also feel fairer and brighter because of the turmeric and its skin brightening properties.



Mash one peach and tomato together. Mix in it a tablespoon of honey and apply onto your face. Let it sit for a good half an hour. Wash off using lukewarm water. Over prolonged usage, you will notice, plumper, healthier and tighter skin. Peaches are abundant in vitamin C, potassium and magnesium. Its moisturising properties combined with the cleansing action of tomatoes will leave leave your skin looking visibly radiant. Honey will nourish your skin and prevent outbreak of acne and unclog pores.



Mix and pulp all the fruits together. The mixture will be quite watery due to the high water content in each fruit. You can use ground oats to thicken the mixture and provide granules for a scrubbing action. Apply onto a thoroughly washed face and keep for 20 minutes. Blueberries are packed with antioxidants that rejuvenate the skin internally. Vitamin C is a major component in strawberries and plays a key role in the production of collagen, the amino acid responsible for promoting skin elasticity. Watermelon is rich in vitamins A, B and C and keeps skin hydrated and radiant. Together, these fruits will repair the damage and wear-and-tear your skin undergoes and result in a fresh complexion.



Tomatoes are juicy to eat and work wonders for your beauty too. This is so because tomatoes boast of lycopene which is meant to resolve your skin’s problems and leave a glowing effect. Apart from this, they come with a host of benefits like making your skin look brighter, radiant and tighter as well. They can also be used as a natural conditioner for your hair, thereby making it shiny and smooth.

What tomatoes can do for your beauty:

Even out skin tone

Tomatoes, in addition to being good for your health, can be used topically on your skin. In fact, if you apply tomato juice or rub a tomato slice on your skin, you will see the skin tone even out and glow within days. It is a rich source of vitamin C which helps brighten your skin. Here are 6 ways you can ensure healthy and glowing skin. 

Resolve skin problems

Tomato seed oil can be used to reduce a number of skin problems and conditions. Tomatoes have certain substances which help slow the ageing process along with fighting free radicals. The oil is used to reduce psoriasis and eczema. It restores damaged skin as well.

 Reduce acne

Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and A which are used commonly in ointments and creams to treat acne. Therefore, if you have acne, you can apply the juice of tomato on your skin. Here is what you can do for acne-free skin.

Soothe sun-burnt skin

There are a number of beauty experts who are of the belief that individuals who consume about 4-5 tablespoons of tomato paste every day for at least 3 months will be protected naturally against sunburn. If you are suffering from sun-burnt skin, you can apply tomato to the affected area for relief. Here ishow you can heal sunburns at home.

Beat dandruff

Dandruff is a hair woe for many especially during winters. But the humble tomato can help you beat it. All you have to do is apply tomato pulp on your scalp as an effective remedy. Do this once or twice every week to see results.

How to use tomatoes

Tomato oil to help soften the skin

In order to soften your skin, you can use tomato oil to massage the areas affected. Leave it on the entire night and wash it off in the morning. Tomato oil can also be added to facial creams and scrubs to keep your skin smooth and soft.

 Tomato juice to cleanse pores

In order to to cleanse pores on your face, you can add 3-4 drops of tomato juice to a tablespoon of water and then apply it to your face with a cotton ball. You will need to massage your skin gently with the mixture and then leave it on your face for 10-15 minutes. If you follow this routine regularly, the pores on your face will reduce in size eventually.

 Tomato mash to reduce zits and acne

Getting rid of acne and zits is now made simple by cutting the tomato in half and applying it to your face. If you have an acne problem, you can peel a tomato, mash it and then apply the pulp on your skin and leave it on for an hour. Wash the pulp off your face and dry it. You can use this natural pack to rid your skin of pimples and a tan from exposure to the sun.

Tomato juice with honey for smooth skin

If you are looking to achieve smooth skin, you can mix tomato juice with honey to make a thick paste. You will need to apply the mixture on your face and keep it on for close to 15 minutes. Wash off with plain water. You can be assured of glowing and smooth skin.

Image source: Getty Images

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Beauty tips for Healthy skin

This Flower Extract Could Be The Answer Your Inflamed Skin Has Been Hoping For

Red, irritated skin isn’t just embarrassing—it can actually cause long-term damage. When skin is inflamed, production of nitric oxide increases, a phenomenon known to cause cell mutations and DNA damage. And while you can disguise ruddiness instantly with carefully chosen concealer, actually tackling inflammation starts at the cellular level. New research suggests that cherry blossom extract could be the answer your inflamed skin has been waiting for. 

According to a study published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, cherry blossom extract helps prevent the production of nitric oxide. Forty study participants saw skin-calming results using a cherry blossom extract cream; after 9 days, those who treated irritated skin with the cream were markedly less inflamed than those who tried a placebo. 

Cherry blossom extract can be found in everything from cleansers to facial masks, but products that stay on your skin longer, like creams and serums, may offer more benefits. Try Lierac Comfort Mask  equitance Brightening Serum + Spot Corrector  and Lierac Hydra-Chrono+ Intense Rehydrating Balm all of which list cherry blossom extract among their ingredients. A word to the wise though: be wary of products that have "cherry blossom" in their name—they’re more likely to contain a cocktail of fragrances than the real thing. 

7 New Uses For Pumpkin Oil

Pumpkin seed oil is carving out a place for itself in the kitchen-to-beauty scene, even as the coconut craze continues.

It turns out, the cold-pressed oil from pumpkin seeds (also called pepitas) has an enthusiastic following among natural beauty and wellness mavens who are drizzling it over their salads, smoothing it on their skin, and washing up with it in the shower—and loving it for its nutrient-packed qualities.

So, what can pumpkin seed oil do for your looks? Well, potentially a lot. It's rich in vitamin A and E, zinc, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, as well as antioxidants, says Anna Urban, founder of Aviva Hair Revitalizer, which makes a hair supplement that’s loaded with the oil.

Pumpkin seed oil is more commonly infused into natural beauty products, than applied on its own topically, but its benefits in these concoctions are no short of amazing (think: the opposite of pumpkin pie).

DIY beauty

Stroll down the anti-aging aisle at any drugstore and you'll quickly see how easy it is to spend a small fortune on lotions and potions aimed at minimizing wrinkles and sagging. But before you empty your wallet, open your refrigerator—you probably already have many of the ingredients you need to whip up your own anti-aging masks, scrubs, and creams at home.

Not only are ingredients like fruit, dairy, and nuts packed with youth-boosting antioxidants and acids, but unlike commercial skin-care products, which are fortified with vitamins that lose potency over time, fresh foods provide active vitamins that your skin can make use of right away. And it's easy, too: If you can make a smoothie, you can make the following treatments. Just remember that these recipes should be stored and handled like fresh food: Unused portions should be refrigerated and discarded within one week.

Rice Milk Cleanser

Rice is a traditional ingredient in Japanese skin care that's rich in vitamin E and helps exfoliate and smooth skin. This cleanser can be moistened with plain water, but rice milk is a better choice because it adds a hit of retinol-building vitamin A and protective calcium to the mix.

¼ c brown rice flour (or rice bran flour)

2–3 Tbsp unsweetened organic rice milk

MIX the brown rice flour with rice milk to form a smooth paste.

MASSAGE the mixture onto the skin in a slow, circular motion. Rinse with tepid water and follow with toner and moisturizer.

Cucumber Aloe Cold Cream

Your skin gets drier (and duller) with age, but this super-hydrating cream can keep it looking radiant with hydrating aloe vera, brightening fresh lemon, and the yogurt's exfoliating lactic acid.  

½ c plain organic Greek yogurt

¼ c cucumber, chopped and seeded

¼ c aloe flesh, peeled and chopped

½ lemon, juiced

LINE a mesh strainer with a few layers of cheesecloth and set it over a bowl. Puree the ingredients in a blender or food processor, then pour into the strainer. Cover the bowl, and place in the refrigerator for at least a few hours or as long as overnight. Transfer the thickened yogurt mixture to a clean bowl. The leftover liquid can be discarded or mixed with rice flour or almond meal to create a quick facial scrub.

APPLY a thick layer of the cream to your face and leave on for up to 30 minutes. Remove the mask with a moistened washcloth, and follow with toner.

Blueberry Granola Exfoliating Mask

Antioxidant-rich blueberries and raw almonds—packed with essential fatty acids and vitamin E—are the base for this beauty-boosting mask and scrub combo. Whole oats are included for their anti-inflammatory properties, while fresh milk and honey help cleanse and brighten skin.

¼ c fresh organic blueberries

¼ c raw almonds

2 Tbsp whole oats

1 Tbsp honey

1 Tbsp whole organic milk

COMBINE ingredients in blender or food processor and puree until smooth, adding additional milk if necessary.

APPLY generously to moistened skin and let dry for 20 minutes. Gently massage the mixture in a slow, circular motion until it crumbles away. Rinse with tepid water, then follow with toner. Use weekly.

beauty and tips

10 Makeup tips and tricks for blondes that will make you a bombshell

‘Blondes have more fun’, well that’s what they say. From Marilyn Monroe through to Pamela Anderson, the blonde bombshell image has been a mainstay of film and TV for decades, and it is still an image that many men say that they rate highly, but of course every man has his own taste! Despite this apparent popularity, there are surprisingly few makeup tips around designed specifically for blondes, so we address this problem with our 10 makeup tips and tricks just for blondes:

1. Boost up your eyelashes

Most natural blondes have pale eyelashes, so experiment with mascara, until you find the one that suits you. Usually, the best option for blondes is dark brown, black or dark blue. A quick and relatively inexpensive way to get a longer lasting color to your lashes is to get them tinted.

2. Define your eyebrows

To bring a better definition to the face, but without it appearing unnatural, chose eyebrow products that are one to two shades darker than your hair color, but no more.

3. Tone down the eye shadow

You have a neutral hair color, so heavy tones on your eyes will really stand out and will look unnatural. Soft browns and golds look wonderful on blondes or, if you feel a bit more colorful, light pastels would work the best.

4. Lipstick choices

As a blonde, you have many choices when it comes to lipstick, but stay away from yellow based colors, as that just doesn't work with blonde hair. The natural choice for blondes is usually pink, but if you want to move from a Barbie look, to more of a Marilyn Monroe image, bright red did wonders for Marilyn!

5. Golden foundation

Natural blondes tend to have pale complexions, so to enhance your skin color, yet still stay looking natural, use gold tinted liquid foundation to warm up the skin or use light shade of bronzer to add warmth to your complexion.

6. Soft blush on your cheeks

To flatter those beautiful blonde locks, use an apricot or pale peach blush; apply it on the apples of your cheeks and blend a little to your temples. And yes, don’t forget to apply a highlighter on your cheekbones for a complimentary glow.

7. Smokey eyes

We said that blondes are best advised to tone down eye makeup, but you can still go for the smokey eye look if you wish, it can look great with blonde hair too; just opt for dark grey instead of black.

8. Platinum blonde

There’s more than one kind of blonde…so bear in mind what kind of blonde you are, when selecting your makeup. Platinum blondes should keep the colors cool to match their hair, because bright colors will stand out too much.

9. Golden blonde

Compliment your golden locks with pinks and peaches for your lips and cheeks, and golds, browns, darker purples or mauves will work well for your eyes.

10. Beach blondes

Caramel or honey colors will bring extra sun to your beach blonde look, but avoid straying into the terra-cotta shades, as they are not sunny enough.

We hope you find our makeup tips and tricks for blondes useful.

Feel free to share your own makeup ideas in the comment section below.

Stay beautiful and be happy!

10 Healing and beautifying oils (that are not coconut or olive oil) that you need to try

Natural oils have been used for centuries in cooking, health treatments and for their beautifying properties. They are chemical free and have a whole range of different properties that can moisturise the skin, nourish the hair, heal scars and protect you against sickness and disease. Not all oils are the same though, and there is a huge range of different oils to choose from. Here are ten different healing and beautifying oils that you need to try:

1. Jojoba oil

The first thing that is amazing about jojoba oil is how close it is in composition to our own natural oils (that our body produces) and that is why it is included in many cosmetic products. It’s great for the skin and it has a high content of Vitamin E and contains anti-inflammatory compounds. It’s great oil for the face, hair and for the whole of the body.

2. Rosehip seed oil

Rich in Vitamin C, rosehip seed oil is well known for its anti-ageing, rejuvenating and skin regenerating properties. It also has a high Vitamin A content, which helps to smooth fine lines.

3. Lavender essential oil

If you have trouble seeping then lavender essential oil will help. Studies have shown that inhaling the fumes from lavender oil is a great aid to a restful night’s sleep and it’s far better for you than taking sleeping pills. Just drip one or two drops of this oil on a tissue and place it in your bedroom, next to your bed, and the whole room will be filled with wonderful calming perfume.

4. Avocado oil

Avocado oil has some amazing healing powers, due mainly to its anti-inflammatory properties. If you treat scrapes, cuts and grazes with a little avocado oil your will find that they will heal faster and leave less of a scar. You can also use avocado oil as your night cream; rich in vitamins and minerals avocado oil will make your skin softer and will help delay signs of aging.

5. Bitter almond oil

Bitter almond oil is the best oil for preventing and reducing the appearance of stretch marks. In a study, researchers found that women, who massaged their skin with bitter almond oil during pregnancy, were far less prone to stretch marks.

6. Grape seed oil

Great for the hair and skin, grape seed oil is light and not very greasy; it is rich in Vitamin E and linoleic acid. You can apply grape seed oil to your face, as a rejuvenating and nourishing treatment, and also you can massage it into the hair and it strengthens the hair follicles and it also reduces dandruff.

7. Castor oil

In addition to its use as an effective laxative, castor oil also makes a superb hair treatment. You can use castor oil to treat both ends of your hair. Massaged into the scalp, it will help improve circulation and when applied to the tips, it strengthens the hair and treats split ends. You can also apply castor oil to your eyelashes and eyebrows to make them grow quicker and thicker.

8. Sunflower seed oil

Sunflower seed oil may have lost its popularity as cooking oil, but the Omega-6 fatty acids and Vitamin E that it contains makes it great for your skin. Mildly scented, it makes fantastic, all over, hydrating massage oil.

9. Eucalyptus oil

Eucalyptus oil has been used for centuries by the aboriginal people of Australia to treat illnesses and infections. It has powerful anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties and has even been found to be effective in treating staph infections.

10. Tea tree oil

Thanks to its powerful anti-bacterial properties, tea tree oil is great for treating acne and it is even more effective than many off-the-shelf acne treatments. It also has strong anti-fungal properties that have been shown to be an effective treatment for athlete’s foot. To make your own disinfectant spay add a cup of water to a clean spray bottle and add 7 drops of tea tree oil, shake, shake, shake and it’s all ready to use!

Make sure you are not allergic to the ingredients of homemade beauty products before applying them to your skin. 

What are your favorite healing and beautifying oils?

Stay happy!