For a harmless Holi

A day in the sun with your loved ones and a whole lot of colour sounds fun. But gulal and other colours — unless you're using the eco-friendly ones — are not derived from natural sources.

They contain chemicals, particles of mica and even lead, which harm your skin and accumulate on your scalp. Moreover, exposure to sun tans the skin and makes it dry due to depletion of moisture. So, don't let this Holi end on a sour note with skin and hair woes. We give you a checklist of things to do before and after rang barse... to keep your skin and hair looking clean and fresh.

POST-HOLI ROUTINE After-care post your Holi celebrations is important. Keep away from any harsh treatments for your skin and hair.

SKIN

Do not wash your face with soap immediately, because soap is alkaline and causes further dryness. Scrubbing is a strict no-no too, as your skin isn't ready for exfoliation at this stage; it needs to be treated gently. So, use a cleansing cream or lotion. Apply and massage it on the face. Then wipe off with a moist cotton ball. Also, gently cleanse the area around the eyes with a cleansing gel or a make-up remover. This will dissolve the colours and facilitate their removal. It will help seal in moisture too. If you're experiencing any kind of redness, rashes or irritation, an ice pack will take care of it. After icing, apply a gentle moistur iser - a must-do for dry skin.

Tip: If you have sesame seed (til) oil in your kitchen, you can use it to remove colours from the body and counteract sun damage.

HAIR Rinse your hair with plenty of plain water to wash away the dry colours and tiny particles of mica. Then, apply a mild herbal shampoo, specially made for dry hair. Massage the scalp gently and rinse thoroughly with water again. In a mug, add lemon juice and water and use this as the last rinse. This will help to restore the acid-alkaline balance of the scalp. Follow up with a regular conditioner.

Beer can also be used as the last rinse. In fact, it will soften and condition your hair. Add lemon juice to beer and pour the mixture all over your hair after shampooing. Leave on for a few minutes and rinse off with plain water.

http://www.kissyprom.co.uk | kissyprom sexy prom dresses

If you're experiencing an itchy scalp, add two tbsp of vinegar to a mug with little water and use it as the last rinse. This will reduce the itching. However, if the itching continues and causes redness, it may be a sign of allergy. Consult a doctor at the earliest.

GIVE YOUR HAIR A NOURISHING TREATMENT

What you'll need: Pure coconut oil: 1 tbsp and Castor oil: 1 tsp

Method: Mix the above mentioned oils. Heat and apply on the hair. Dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the hot towel around the head, like a turban. Leave it on for five minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap procedure three or four times. This will help the hair and scalp absorb the oil better. Wash your hair after an hour.

TO MAKE YOUR OWN HAIR MASK What you'll need: Henna powder: (depending on the length of your hair), Lemon juice: 4 tsp, Coffee: 4 tsp, Egg yolks: 2 eggs, Olive oil: 2 tsp and Curd: enough to mix into a paste.

Method: Apply on the hair and wash your hair after an hour.

Inputs by beauty expert Shahnaz Hussain

MAKE YOUR OWN SKIN CLEANSER What you'll need: Cold milk: ½ cup, Til/Olive/Sunflower oil: 1 tsp

Method: Mix the above ingredients. Dip cotton wool into this mixture and use it to cleanse the skin.

MAKE YOUR OWN FACE MASK

The day after Holi, you may have to deal with the effects of sun exposure, like dryness or tanned skin. Applying a homemade face mask will work wonders on your skin.

What you'll need: Honey: 2 tbsp, Curd: ½ cup, Turmeric: ½ pinch

Method: Mix the above ingredients in a bowl. Blend the mixture well. Apply this on the face, neck and arms. Leave it on for 20 minutes and wash off with water. Honey will soften the skin, while curd will nourish and restore the normal acidalkaline balance. It will also remove tan.

PRE-HOLI ROUTINE Add a protective layer on your skin and hair to keep the colour from seeping in. For the same, go for simple ingredients that are gentle and effective.

SKIN

Don't allow the colours to touch your bare skin. A thick layer of sunscreen on your body, as well as face, will help you do this. Use a sunscreen of SPF 20 or more. If your skin is prone to pigmented patches, select one with a higher SPF. Most sunscreens have built-in moisturisers. If your skin is very dry, first slather the sunblock, wait for a few minutes and then apply a moisturiser. Apply the sunblock at least 15-20 minutes before you head out. The SPF keeps the sun from harming you and the moisturiser protects your skin from drying chemicals in the colours.

HAIR

Coat your hair with a generous amount of nourishing oil. You can choose between almond oil and olive oil. Or apply a protective, leave-in conditioner or hair serum. They form a layer over your hair and protect it from chemicals in colours, pollutants and sunlight. They also add shine to your mane.

NAILS

To avoid your manicured nails from getting ruined, coat them with a vitamin E-enriched base coat. Also, drench your cuticles in cuticle oil to avoid them from soaking up the colours. You can also paint your nails with multiple coats of nail polish.

Glow this winter: Skin care tips

December is both the best of times, and the worst of times. The weather is divine, and there is no limit to the weddings and parties one has to attend. However, make-up and the harsh winter air can take its toll on one’s skin. Jill Zander, founder of the Jill Zander Skin Rejuvenation Clinic, lists some common skin-care mistakes people make, and how to avoid them, reports.

Too Much Moisturiser

If a moisturiser is correctly suited to your skin type, it should feel comfortable on the skin and not leave it feeling greasy or oily. A day moisturiser should always contain an SPF. Night creams should only be used at night as they tend to be richer and don’t contain any sun protection.

Over Exfoliating

Go easy on the exfoliation. Over-exfoliating can lead to redness and irritation, and constantly stripping your skin of its natural oils can actually make skin greasy. Steer clear of exfoliating scrubs that have sharp, uneven grains, for can tear or damage your skin.

Using Anti-Ageing creams before your skin is ready

long black prom dresses | kissyprom sexy prom dresses

Don’t use anti-ageing skincare before your skin shows signs of ageing. If you use creams with potent anti-ageing ingredients before your skin needs them, they will either have no effect or a detrimental one.

The wrong face mask

As with moisturisers, select your face mask according to your skin type. For instance, clay-based masks will cause normal-dry skin to flake. If your skin is in need of moisture, select a mask specially made for dry skin.

Forgetting SPF

Come rain or shine; always apply SPF during the day, as the sun is the biggest cause of wrinkles. Wear a daily moisturiser that contains at least SPF 30.

Sleeping in make-up

Sleeping with dirt, oil and makeup on your face can cause acne and enlarged pores. Think of makeup removal as washing away the day’s grime!

Frequently changing products

A very common mistake is changing products too often. It’s really important to try a new product for at least three months to see the true effect it has on the skin, because every skincare regime takes at least 21 days to start having an effect.

Natural beauty products often rooted in the past

As you gaze exasperatedly around the Thanksgiving table this week, perhaps you should look upon Aunt Sue or Granny Esther as a potential font of beauty-related wisdom.

Recognizing as much has proved profitable for actress Salma Hayek.

She was raised in the city of Coatzacoalcos in southern Mexico, learning beauty secrets from her grandmother Maria Luisa Lopez, who made scrubs, masks and conditioners using ingredients indigenous to the country — including prickly pear; raw honey; and mamey, a large football-shaped fruit.

“She was an alchemist and would mix beauty knowledge that is also historical tradition and make her own creams in the kitchen,” Hayek wrote by email.

Several decades later, Hayek drew from those traditions for a makeup line, Nuance Salma Hayek: 160 products for the hair, body and face that cost between $5.99 and $19.99 and have been sold at CVS since August 2011.

“I knew I had in my possession precious secrets from her that were better than anything else I had tried,” she wrote.

Sales have been the highest for a proprietary brand in CVS history, said Judy Sansone, a company senior vice president.

Hayek has the built-in advantage of being a celebrity, but she represents just one example of newcomers to the beauty world capitalizing on rituals and ingredients used by their mothers and grandmothers.

For decades, skin-care and cosmetics lines have touted their discovery of the latest scientific breakthroughs to help draw consumers.

Today, though, many are also reaching to the past.

pink prom dresses | blue prom dresses

Natural brands, which include the family-heritage category, have been outpacing the overall market, according to figures from the NPD Group, a market-research company based in Port Washington, N.Y.

In 2011, the brands grew 18 percent, compared with 12 percent for the overall market.

Indeed, some such brands have become positively big-box.

Aveda, for example, started in 1978 with the help of two Ayurvedic doctors who designed products using recipes and ingredients from their Indian grandmothers.

They’re now sold at 7,000 sites worldwide.

The beauty-and-spa chain Caudalie, available at 12,000-plus retailers, bases its treatments and products partly on the upbringing of co-founder Mathilde Thomas at a vineyard in France.

“In the world of beauty, the back story of a brand can be as appealing as the products themselves,” said Amber Katz, founder of the blog Rouge 18.

“These companies are based on homey traditions, and, really, there is something so charming about buying a product that someone’s grandmother mixed up in her kitchen back in the day.”

The many stories include that of Shaffali Skincare, founded by Shaffali Miglani in New York. It uses Indian ingredients such as turmeric and sandalwood, which Miglani’s mother praised as beauty essentials during her childhood in Pawtucket, R.I.

And Vicki Weaver-Payne started Eight Skincare, an Oklahoma City-based line of moisturizing body products, after recalling her mother’s recipe for a hydrating lotion using aloe vera, avocado oil, apricot kernel oil and five other ingredients.

“My mom worked as a mechanic with the Air Force during World War II and had super-dry skin from being in the hangar all day long,” Weaver-Payne said. “So she created this cream that a co-worker told her about, and we used it all the time as kids.”

Nyakio Kamoche Grieco, a first-generation American of Kenyan descent, went further afield.

The Nyakio skin-care line she introduced in May on HSN includes exfoliators for body and face inspired by the summers she spent on a coffee farm in Africa.

“One of my first memories,” Grieco said, “is of my grandmother teaching me and my mother to crush coffee beans and rub them on our skin using a piece of sugar cane to remove the dry skin."

In my beauty bag: Rose Matafeo

Rose Matafeo is a Samoan/Scottish/Croatian Billy T award-winning comedian (the honour recognises up-and-coming New Zealand comedians with outstanding potential). Until recently you may have seen the 21-year-old hosting U Live, well she's now a contributor on Seven Sharp and Jono and Ben at 10 (and, just quietly one of Stuff Life & Style's picks for funniest women in the biz').

We met the vintage-loving former Auckland Girls Grammar head girl in her local coffee shop and asked her about beauty.

"I wear makeup mostly at work, on-stage, on shoots and when I want to look nice. Other than that I try go most of my time without it or use it sparingly. I'd rather people know what I look like without makeup so they don't freak out when they see me!

I was pretty late to learn how to use makeup and do my hair - my mum never wears makeup and has dreads so she didn't have much to teach me as a teen! She did bless me with pretty manageable skin though, as well as encouraging me to go natural whenever I could.

I shower and moisturise in the evening so in the morning I go straight to M.A.C Studio Fix Powder, a little bit of Clinique natural-coloured eye shadow, Maybelline liquid eyeliner, Lancome mascara and a natural M.A.C lipstick.

green bridesmaid dresses | white bridesmaid dresses uk

I only exfoliate when I go to my Mum's and she has something nice!

I used to have really crazy curly, frizzy hair. I get it chemically straightened nowadays which makes it so much more manageable. I do miss my curls, but after 19 years of looking like Diana Ross on a humid day, I was ready for something different!

Because of what I put my hair through I have to put back as much moisture as possible. I use Redken shampoo and conditioner, a Pureology protein spray thing after I've washed it and I rely on Batiste dry shampoo (I can't wash my hair more than 2-3 times a week or it gets too dry).

I usually curl my hair a bit with a hot curler - and I am trying to learn how to curl with my mint green ghds. I want to look like Mary Tyler Moore all the time so apparently I need a bit of hot roller action.

I don't always wear perfume but when I do it's usually Moschino Cheap and Chic! Love.

I wear St Ives, Palmers cocoa butter and sunscreen on my body - although I'm brown I hate to burn. I keep my nails short and I don't paint them because I am so bad at it.

At night my makeup is pretty much the same as for day, except I'll maybe wear a fun bright orange or red M.A.C lip colour, and perhaps go a bit more overboard with the liquid eyeliner flicks.

Everything comes off at bedtime with a makeup wipe and eye makeup remover. I wash my face with Cetaphil, then moisturise with a light oil-free moisturiser. And that's me!

I think that makeup should really enhance what you already have rather than cover everything up."

Great Witch Hazel Beauty Uses

This great natural ingredient is eco-friendly and very cheap and you can find it in almost every drugstore. The final distilled product that's sold to us comes form the steam of witch hazel's leaves and bark. Plus, it comes in various forms, as an astringent, wipes or cream, so all you have to do is choose the best suited for your skin condition.

5 Uses For Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel Uses: Acne

One of the most important uses of witch hazel is in treating acne. You probably didn't know, but using it regularly will help you fight acne and blemishes. You should also know that this is a natural astringent that will help you control the oil level and reduce inflammations. We recommend using witch hazel as a toner. Apply it on your face after removing your makeup and shortly you'll see a great improvement of your acne.

Witch Hazel Uses for Skin: Helps Healing Bruises

Another great property of witch hazel is that it helps speeding up the healing process of your bruises. Add some witch hazel on a cotton pad and then apply it on your open bruise. You should repeat this procedure three time a day. Moreover, the tannins contained by witch hazel's leaves, bark and twigs will help you reduce the swelling and regenerate your skin. Soon enough, your bruises will be healed!

What Is Witch Hazel Used for: Refreshing Your Skin

We simply love this natural ingredient because it's the perfect skin refresher during hot summer days. Sun exposure during summer leaves your skin oily so you need a good cleanser. That's why we recommend witch hazel as a natural cleanser because it will remove all impurities and excess oil very fast and will let your skin rejuvenated and glowing. Plus, it smells divinely.

Witch Hazel Use: Eases Psoriasis and Eczema

If you've been dealing with one of these conditions, then we're happy to recommend witch hazel. It has some great anti-inflammatory properties that will help reduce the pain, the redness and itching, those common symptoms of psoriasis and eczema. Moreover, we'd also recommend paying your dermatologist a visit if you have very sensitive skin.

Great Witch Hazel Use for Your Skin: Keeps Your Skin Moisturized

Witch hazel oil eliminates water loss and keeps your face skin hydrated. We recommend using it right after you took a shower because you'll not only moisturize your skin, but you'll also prevent it from becoming dry.

short bridesmaid dresses Manchester | popular plus size bridesmaid dresses uk online

The everyday things that age you

COMMUTING

Whether you spend half an hour a day waiting at bus stops or you simply walk to work, pollution clogs pores, breaks down collagen and leaves skin dull and lifeless. Plus a build-up of oil and dirt can lead to breakouts.

To help fight damaging free radicals skin expert Amanda Elias recommends choosing a moisturiser to protect you when you're out and about.

"Look for an anti-oxidant. SPFs are important even in the winter as UVA rays cause skin ageing too," she says. "You also need a good end-of-day cleansing routine to remove make-up and also the grime that has settled on your skin throughout the day."

Take your make-up off as soon as possible. "Remove it no later than eight o'clock so you're not too tired to do it properly."

WASHING UP

"Often people don't think of their hands when it comes to anti-ageing but they are one of the first places age shows. They can be neglected, especially when we're always plunging them into hot soapy water," says Amanda.

Cleaning the dishes doesn't however have to be bad for our hands. She suggests using washing up as a pampering session.

"Two or three times a week massage in a thick layer of cream before putting on rubber gloves. The heat from the water will warm the cream and help it sink deeper into your skin."

Washing our hands continuously throughout the day causes them to become dehydrated too.

"Even when we do use an SPF on them we end up washing it off which leads to age spots so try to remember to reapply."

YOUR DESK

We know that sitting at a desk all day is bad for us but it can add years to your face too. When stressed our sebaceous glands produce more oil resulting in adult acne, plus tired eyes become dry and more lined.

Jill Zander, founder of the Jill Zander Skin Rejuvenation Clinic, recommends regular desk breaks for their beauty benefits. "Even if just for a few minutes, make sure you get out of the office," she says. "Being outside tops up your vitamin D levels which stimulates the production of elastin and collagen."

Air conditioning also wreaks havoc on our skin causing a dull, dry look.

"Always make sure to keep a large bottle of water to hand to stay hydrated from within through the day," advises Jill.

Bacteria on phones and keyboards are transferred to your hands and face causing breakouts so give the area a good clean once a week.

YOUR SLEEP POSITION

We all need our beauty sleep but depending on which way you lie you might be causing unwanted lines and wrinkles.

Most at risk is your chest.

"If you lie on your side the skin naturally creases," says Michael Oko, who runs a sleep disorder clinic in London's Harley Street.

You can try to combat this by making sure you are ready to sleep. This will mean you're less likely to keep tossing and turning.

"To ensure you fall asleep in the position of your choice, try to get into a routine," Michael advises.

"Stick to it every night to ease yourself into a sleeping pattern. Have a bath before getting ready for bed and leave iPads and gadgets outside the bedroom. Quality is more important than quantity when it comes to beauty sleep. Without good quality sleep skin doesn't heal and regenerate."

To keep larger breasts from ageing try sleeping in a bra. It will hold them in place and stop the delicate skin stretching as you sleep.

WASHING YOUR FACE

While our faces certainly benefi t from a regular exfoliation to lift away dead skin, scrubbing too hard actually has an ageing effect.

"When you scrub you can create tears deep in the epidermis," says Amanda Elias. These tiny irritations cause dry, fl aky and uneven skin.

Amanda recommends using a facial exfoliator with glycolic acid.

"This gently dissolves the dead skin cells from your face," she states.

The eye area is especially sensitive and extra care should be taken.

"The skin is thinner than that of the rest of your face and it doesn't produce its own oil." Make sure you go easy when cleansing in the morning in order not to strip skin of its natural protective oils. If you've thoroughly cleaned your skin the night before, doing it again in the morning could dry it out.

"Cleanse upwards in circular motions to stimulate skin without pulling it downwards," adds Amanda.

WATCHING TV

From helping you to pile on the pounds to lowering your mood, watching too much TV could be making you old before your time.

"Being sedentary for extended periods increases your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Simply getting up off your sofa could help you live a longer, happier life," says Dr Emma Wilmot from the University of Leicester. She advises that getting up and about in the evening, even if you just have a chat on the phone while doing chores, is sure to improve your mood more than sitting for hours in front of the box.

"Being social is a great mood enhancer and good for your self-esteem.

"Also, it may not be very glamorous but try doing more housework." For instance, rather than sticking everything in the dishwasher, wash delicate things by hand. Ticking jobs off your to-do list can send you to bed with a feeling of satisfaction at time well spent, making you more tired but relaxed and ready for sleep - crucial for keeping skin looking youthful.

RUSHING AROUND

Living your life at a hundred miles an hour is ageing, says occupational psychologist Sue Firth.

"The stress hormone cortisol can cause you to put on weight, zap your energy and leave you feeling fed-up."

Getting back in control of your life will make you feel less overwhelmed.

"Try very hard not to sweat the small stuff and stay calm," says Sue. "Talk to yourself positively about what you've achieved. Does it really matter if you didn't make it right to the end of your to-do list?" Technology has increased so much that it's impossible to switch off.

"Try not to be always looking at your phone," suggests Sue. "Just because you get a message doesn't mean you have to respond. Give yourself fi ve minutes to just sit and relax. You'll be surprised how much it helps.

"If you can pace yourself in your day you'll live longer and look much fresher."

COMPLAINING

We all love a good moan but negative thoughts de-energise you and if you're down on the inside you don't look great on the outside.

You can let your complaints out but place a time limit on it. Make a decision to have 10 minutes twice a week to moan.

Why not enlist a friend who will demand 10 pence from you every time you complain?

"If the things you believe about your life aren't helping you then try to turn your negative thoughts on their head," says Sue.

"Think of something that makes you moan such as my boss hates me'. Is it actually true? Say instead: My boss might not be easy but he's not as bad as some'."

Try this for a week and see if thinking more positively helps you feel brighter and lighter.

It will certainly help others to see you in a better light.

10 Home Remedies for Clogged Pores on Nose and Chin

Wondering how to get rid of clogged pores on nose and chin? It's an attainable goal, with a bit of patience and the right skin treatment. Check out the best home remedies to help you get rid of stubborn clogged pores on the nose and elsewhere.

1. Steaming

A steam treatment can help loosen clogged pores on nose and elsewhere. Keeping a warm cloth on your face until it becomes cool and dry will have the same effect.

2. Orange Peel Scrub

Clean and exfoliate your skin regularly to remove dead cells and grime which thicken your pores. You can make your own scrub using grounded orange peel and grounded almonds – very effective in shrinking clogged pores on nose and face.

3. Lemon Juice

Lemon juice can help purify the skin and shrink clogged pores on nose and elsewhere. To prepare a cleansing lotion, mix 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 cup of rose water, add 1/2 cup of cucumber juice and apply wherever pores are visibly larger.

4. Papaya Facial

Applying mashed papaya on your face can help exfoliate the skin, remove excess oil and clear clogged pores on nose and face.

5. Ice Cubes

Ice cubes are an instant remedy for clogged pores on nose, chin and forehead. Apply ice cubes wrapped in cloth over the pores, exercising gentle pressure. This will make your skin firmer and remove excess oil. You can use this method before applying makeup.

6. Oatmeal Face Mask

An oatmeal face mask can also act as a natural remedy for clogged pores on nose and face, while enhancing your skin tone. To prepare it, mix oatmeal, apple cider vinegar, and honey.

7. Honey

Use honey mixed with a little sugar and lemon juice to get rid of clogged pores and blemishes. Rub it into your skin, leave it on for a few minutes and rinse off with warm water.

8. Egg White Face Mask

An egg whites and lemon face mask can also help shrink large pores. Beat 1 egg white with a few drops of lemon juice. Apply evenly on your face. As egg whites dry, they will lighten the skin and unclog the pores.

9. Yogurt

Apply fresh yogurt on your skin daily before taking a bath. This will help tighten the skin, slough off dead cells, and reduce excessive oil secretion.

10. Almond Mask

An almond mask is one of the best natural remedies for clogged pores. Leave almonds soaking in hot water overnight. In the morning, mash them into a paste, adding 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply over your face and leave it on for 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.