Expert Skin Care

Your face mirrors your personality. Skin type can effectively say a lot about you even if you choose to keep quiet in a social circle. Be it dry skin, oily skin, sensitive/combination skin - every type has a story to tell. Check out this lens to know what career prospect you can opt for with your skin type.

In addition, you can also associate the personality traits of some big names across various countries, including India.

THE THINKER

You are: A pragmatist.

Your skin is: Normal/balanced.
Your skincare routine is: Basic - comprising of shower products, deodorant, and sunscreen.
Your skin says: Your skin is relatively fuss-free, probably because you accept the way it is, and you do not try to alter it or find fault with it.
You are likely to be: A successful author writing under a pseudo name.

The Doer

You are self-centered, self-assured, and self-reliant.
Your personality is: Extroverted.
Your skin is: Shiny/oily
Your skincare routine is: You use beauty products, but it is more for convenience and efficiency than vanity or pleasure.
Your skin mirrors you: It has a luminous glow when confronted with success and can get oily and irritable when the success wanes. However, you keep skin problems at bay by keeping a wide array of skin products near at hand.
You are likely to be: In pinstripes at a high-power corporate job.

The Seeker

You are: Searching for acceptance from within and without.
Your personality: Moody, frustrated, and misunderstood.
Your skin is: Irritable, prone to eruptions.
Your skincare routine is: A must, as your skin is problematic
Your skin mirrors you: Your skin is prone to blackheads and acne that can last well past your teenage years until you learn to quell the turmoil within.
You are likely to be: Socially delinquent.
Your skin personality type: Your internal existence is in disarray as you swing between hope and despair, landing mostly on angry or frustrated. You believe that people just don't understand what you are going through.

The Helper

You are: A positive life force of energy - full of emotions and a very intuitive person.
Your personality: Social.
Your skin is: Sensitive/combination.
Your skincare routine is: Indulgent. you love the feel of creams on your skin, which is obviously a good thing as your skin tends to dry faster.
Your skin mirrors you: Pampering, luxurious, even simple and tactile. Your skin loves to be touched. When you feel happy, you skin becomes soft and supple but negative emotions can cause allergies and rashes.
You are likely to be: In any job that requires public interaction.

The Moralist

You are: Traditional, extremely rigid about ethics.
Your personality type: Introverted, dogmatic.
Your skin is: Dry, lacklustre.
Your skincare routine is: Extensive and elaborate, but you keep it a secret.
Your skin mirrors you: Your skin tends to have a sallow, lacklustre appearance with an uneven skin tone. You are also prone to dark circles and eye bags.
You are likely to be: A critic.

Just add water. Moisturizing means keeping water in your skin. In winter months when the humidity is low, water in the skin rapidly evaporates resulting in dry skin.

Grease is good. The basic job of a moisturizer is to hold water in the skin rather than to add water. Creams generally work better than lotions. Nothing holds water that is already in your skin better than petroleum jelly.

Time it right. Apply moisturizers right after toweling off, before the water in your skin that was absorbed while in the bath or shower has time to evaporate.

Don't skip. Water is a two-edged sword. Water IN your skin means moist skin, but water you bathe in (especially hot and soapy) strips your skin of its natural protective oils allowing more rapid evaporation. Five minutes after your shower your skin will be drier than before you bathed. ALWAYS moisturize after bathing.

Don't skimp. Buy products you can easily afford, and be generous when applying.

Keep it simple ... ingredients. The ingredients in moisturizers that work are safe and inexpensive. Fancy packaging, fragrance and extravagant claims boost cost. Look for ingredients like oils, glycerin, propylene glycol, ammonium lactate, glycolic acid and urea.

Keep it handy. Hands take a beating in winter. Moisturize every time you wash your hands -- more if possible. Keep your moisturizers scattered around the house, at work and in the car. Avoid greasiness by choosing products containing lots of glycerin. For most people waterless antiseptic hand cleaners are easier on the hands than repeated washing.

Soap sucks -- oil off your skin. Soap strips off your skins natural protective oils. Look for moisturizing cleansers which are widely available, and won't leave you feeling too squeaky-clean.

Getting it on -- your back. That very itchy central back is impossible to reach. Get your significant other to apply moisturizer whenever possible.

Desperately dry deserves a dermatologist. Excessive dryness can lead to eczema, and may require a visit to a dermatologist for treatment.

Loss of hair is one of the commonest problems faced by men and women today. Reasons for excessive hair loss can be many including:

a) Genetic factors
b) Hormonal troubles
c) Hypertension
d) Poor diet resulting in the malnourishment of hair (deficiency of folic acid)
e) Excessive dandruff
f) Poor circulation of blood to the scalp

If the cause of excessive hair loss is genetic, psychological or hormonal trauma, then immediate consultation with the doctor is highly recommended.

As for the other causes, try some time-tested remedies to arrest hair loss.

1. Prepare a home-made hair oil(coconut oil as base) containing fenugreek seeds(methi)and dry amla. Massage the warm oil using light finger strokes. Wrap a warm towel around the head (hot oil treatment) so that the oil penetrates into the scalp.

2. Make a hair pack using keshuth leaves, capsicum, hibiscus and curd. Apply not only to the roots but also every strand of the hair. Keep the pack till 50 minutes and wash off using a mild shampoo followed by a generous helping of conditioner.

3. Make your own natural conditioner by making a paste of Aloe Vera leaves and applying it all over the hair. Wash off to get a silky smooth feel.

4. Mix warm castor oil with coconut oil and massage lightly on to the scalp. Castor oil is known to arrest hair fall.

5. Apply a paste made from the seeds of lemon and black pepper on the bald patches. This is also useful home remedy for hair loss.

6. Make a shampoo by mixing 100 g each of amla (Indian goose berry), reetha, and shikakai and boil in two liters of water. Use this shampoo for your hair for one month. This will prevent hair loss and is good home remedy for baldness.

7. Mash beetroot leaves in henna paste and apply on the head to prevent hair loss.

Dandruff is one of the most skin problems affecting the scalp. If not treated at an earlier stage, dandruff can turn out to be a real messy issue, not only affecting our scalp but also making us feel embarrassed in front of the world.

Emotional stress, wrong food combination, over exposure to extreme cold climate, applying harsh shampoos can all be reasons for dandruff.

However, effective solution can be found in the following home remedies.

1. The first home remedy for dandruff is Aloe Vera. Rub Aloe Vera gel into your scalp, leave it for 10 minutes and wash your hair with a mild shampoo. Do this regularly to get rid of dandruff.

2. In order to treat dandruff, use lemon, as it helps restore the pH balance of your scalp. Mix 15 ml of coconut oil with a few drops of lemon juice and massage it into the hair. Leave it so for the night and wash off the next day. This mask will reduce dandruff.

3. One more effective dandruff treatment is the mixture of 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 2 teaspoons of vinegar. The mixture should be massaged into the scalp and then washed off.

4. Another valuable prescription for elimination of dandruff is the use of Eucalyptus oil. Mix a few drops of it with 20 ml coconut oil and massage into the scalp to remove the flakes. Do this twice a week for a couple of weeks to get rid of dandruff.

5. Aspirin is also very effective to eliminate the problem of dandruff. Crush and powder two tablets and mix with your shampoo. Leave this mixture on your scalp for a pair of minutes and then rinse thoroughly.

6. Henna is one of the most essential remedies in the treatment of both hair loss and dandruff. It helps restore the health of the hair. Henna powder mixed with other ingredients is very effective in dandruff treatment.

7. Another way to cure dandruff at home is olive hair mask. Mix the olive oil with almond oil. Rub the mixture into the scalp and leave for several minutes, then wash off.

Tips for Curing Dandruff

1. Massage your hair regularly (for example, when shampooing or applying a mask). This will stimulate the blood flow to the scalp and helps remove dead cells.

2. Try to change your lifestyle, if you are often stressed, as this can also be the cause of dandruff.

3. Make sure, that you consume enough vitamins B6, B12, zinc, beta-carotene, and selenium in your diet.

4. Avoid excessive use of a hot hair dryer.

5. Check your hair products, as they can add oils to your scalp and cause dandruff.

6. Shampoo your hair regularly.

7. Avoid the use of chemicals on the scalp (such as chemicals used in hair coloring).

Everyone craves for healthy glowing skin. Check out some easy home-made recipes for an excellent glowing skin.

1. A facemask of egg white and honey gently removes the tan from your face.

2. Mix oats with honey, yogurt and ground almonds. Apply this in your face, leave it for five minutes and wash with lukewarm water.

3. Cucumber is a natural cleanser. Mix cucumber juice with milk and use it instead of a cleanser.

4. Take 1/3-cup cocoa, three teaspoons of heavy cream, 1/3-cup ripe papaya, 1/4-cup honey and three teaspoons of oatmeal powder. Mix it all together. Apply on your face. After 10 minutes, wash your face with warm water. This is best for oily skin

5. For oily skin, apply a mixture of grapes, lemon and egg white. Leave it for 20 minutes and rinse with warm water. While lemon acts as a natural cleanser, grapes will soften your skin and egg whites will tighten it. Don’t be alarmed if your skin tingles.

6. Cut the lemon and rub the wedge all over your face. Leave it for about 20 minutes, then rinse off with cold water. This will refresh your face. Avoid doing this if you have dry skin.

7. Mix honey, lemon and vegetable oil .This mixture is a good moisturiser for dry skin. Apply this mask for 10 minutes.

8. Apply the mixture of honey and milk on the face . This will make your skin glow.

9. Prepare a mask by mixing a slice of pumpkin with egg yolk and milk. Let this mask set on your face for 30 minutes for a glowing skin.

10. Mix half-a-cup honey to your bath water for soft and smooth skin.

11. For a soothing body pack, prepare a paste of mint leaves and almonds. Mix it with warm water and apply all over your body. Leave it till it dries and rinse with warm water.

12. Buttermilk dabbed on skin for 15 minutes will soak up oil from your skin without drying it.

13. Carrot juice applied daily fades blemishes.

14. For dark underarms and neck apply lemon juice mixed with cucumber juice and a pinch of turmeric daily. Leave this on for 20 minutes.

15. For removing facial hair.. Apply a sticky paste of egg white blended with sugar and corn flour. When it dries, gently peel it off. Repeat this three to four times a week.

16. Thin apple slices rubbed onto oily skin will help in controlling oily shine.

17. For supple skin, apply a ripe smashed banana on your face for 20 minutes daily.

18. Cauliflower juice applied on warts regularly will make them fall.

19. For a fair skin, try this natural bleach. Mix orange peels (sun dried and powdered) with milk. Apply this paste for 25 minutes and wash off.

20. Mix half teaspoon dried curry leaf powder with multani mitti (fullers earth) and apply on the face. Wash it after it gets dry.

21. Apply the mixture of tomato juice and honey on the face and neck , wash it after 15 minutes.

22. Apply the mixture of carrot juice and basin. Leave it till it dries and wash the face.

23. Add two teaspoon of tomato juice with 4 teaspoon of curd and apply on the face.

24. Add a pinch of yeast with 2 teaspoon of cabbage juice and apply.

25. Mix 1 table spoon of barley powder with half teaspoon of lime juice and 1 teaspoon of honey. Apply it on the face and wash after 20 minutes.

26. Mix pineapple juice and carrot juice together and apply it on the face and wash it after 15 minutes.

27. Mix vinegar and rose water in equal quantities and apply.

28. Mix curd and cucumber juice and apply it on the face.

29. Apply the mixture of coconut water and thick pineapple juice.

30. Make a paste with 1/2 teaspoon of milk powder, 1/4 teaspoon of egg white and 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice and apply on the face.

31. For dry skin, make a paste with egg yolk, olive oil and lemon juice. Apply it on the neck and face, wash it out after 10 minutes.

32. For oily skin, take a mixture of oatmeal and egg white and apply it on the neck and face

33. For glowing skin, use basin or green gram powder mixed with milk instead of soap.

34. Apply the mixture of raw turmeric and cream of milk on the face and wash it after 20 minutes. It will make your skin fair.

35. Apply the mixture of honey, basin, cream of milk and olive oil as a face pack.

36. Apply the paste of fenugreek with milk on the face and let it dry. Wash off with luke warm water.

37. Make a paste of red sandal wood and apply it on the face every day for glowing skin.

38. Make a paste with red sandal powder and coconut milk and apply on the face for soft skin.

Given below are home treatment suggestions to help you overcome the discomfort of dry skin.

• For very dry hands, try this for a night: Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly, and wear thin cotton gloves to bed. (Dry feet may benefit from similar treatment.)
• If dry, brittle nails are a problem, use lotion on your nails as well.

Avoid scratching, which damages the skin. If itching is a problem, try the following:

• Keep the itchy area well moisturized. Dry skin may make itching worse.
• Try an oatmeal bath to help relieve itching.
  • Wrap 1 cup of oatmeal in a cotton cloth and boil as you would to cook it. Use this as a sponge and bathe in tepid water without soap.
  • You may also try a commercial product, such as Aveeno Colloidal Oatmeal bath.
• Try a nonprescription 1% hydrocortisone cream for small itchy areas.
  • Use the cream very sparingly on the face or genitals.
  • If itching is severe, your doctor may prescribe a stronger cream.
• Try a nonprescription oral antihistamine, such as Claritin, Chlor-Trimeton, or Benadryl.
• Cut your nails short or wear gloves at night to prevent scratching.
• Wear cotton or silk clothing. Avoid wool and acrylic fabrics next to your skin.