skincare Blogger – That Madras Mom

April 9, 2021April 9, 2021

H’s which help in skincare

Let’s take a look at ingredients in H which help in getting you flawless skin.

Himalayan pink salt

The Himalayan pink salt has been lauded and also applauded more in the recent years as the purest salt available on the planet. But what does it got to do with skincare. If you still haven’t incorporated this in your skincare routine, you could think of including it after reading the benefits.

This salt is rich in sodium but also contains traces of potassium, calcium, chloride and magnesium.

Balance skin pH
Himalayan pink salt helps in balancing skin pH, pore tightening and eliminates impurities. The salt helps in balancing the pH which is conducive in skin repairing.

Clear skin
The salt helps in reducing sebum production and helps in clearing out skin from problems like acne and blemishes.

Eliminates body odour

This miracle ingredient is very helpful to remove body odour.

Skin detox
The salt helps in eliminating toxins and helps in rejuvenation making it one of the best detoxifiers.

EXFOLIATION
The salt not only removes the dead skin cells but also makes it soft and supple.

Deep cleansing

The salt helps in absorbing dirt and impurities on top of the skin. With antibacterial properties it helps keep the skin clean.

DIY s

1.body scrub : fine grain Himalayan pink salt could be mixed with coconut oil to make it a body scrub. This help in removing dead cells cure irritation and help in regeneration of new cells. This would be the perfect solution to areas of flaky skin.

2. face mist : a teaspoon of pink salt with half a cup of water can be your go to face mist and hair spray. Dry skin: To this add some aloe Vera gel and coconut oil. Oily skin: the above concoction can be sued as is.

This spray also when used on hair gives you perfect beach waves.

3. Face mask : mix two teaspoons of salt to four teaspoons of honey. Apply the paste on face and neck. Wash off after 15 minutes with warm water. Gently do a scrub before washing.

4. Face toner : mix half teaspoon of salt to one teaspoon of coconut oil, few drops of lemon or orange oil and half a cup of water. Transfer to a bottle.

Honey

One of nature’s best gift as food, medicine and skincare product , honey is widely used in many products.

It’s antibacterial and antiseptic nature makes it one of the best ingredients for oily and acne prone skin.

Honey is by nature a humectant, which draws moisture without making skin dry.

Skin moisturizer : The components in honey enable it to get absorbed easily and softening skin from deep within.

DIY : Apply a tablespoon of honey on clear dry skin. Gently massage and leave on for 15 minutes. Wash off with cold water.

Cleanser : Honey can be used as cleanser to remove impurities from pores and remove blackheads. The dirt in the pores being removed help prevent blackheads. This is due to antibacterial property of honey.

DIY : mix one teaspoon honey with two teaspoons of coconut oil. Massage this paste onto clean dry skin. Massage in circular motion. Wash off with cold water.

Exfoliator : Honey is a natural exfoliator which helps removing dead skin cells without damaging skin unlike chemical exfoliator. Honey also helps in making skin radiant.

DIY : Mix one spoon baking soda with two spoons of honey. Wet face and massage this paste in circular motion.wash off in cold water.

Anti aging and reduces fine lines : The antioxidant present in honey helps in reducing fine lines and wrinkles. It helps improve elasticity of skin and keeps your skin glowing and youthful.

DIY : Mix honey with milk or curd. Apply onto face. Wash off with warm water post 15 minutes.

Reduce dark spots and blemishes

Honey help in lightening dark spots and blemishes.

DIY : Mix honey to one tomato’s juice. Apply on face and rinse with water after 15 minutes. This helps lightening dark spots and pigmentation.

This post is written as part of Blogchatter’s A2Z challenge.

April 2, 2021April 5, 2021

B’s which help in skincare #blogchatterA2Z

Let’s take a look at the B’s which help in skincare today.

BEESWAX:

Prominent ingredient in lip balms but did you know that this ingredient has innumerable benefits to skin as well. One of the best ingredients that people with dry skin would be thankful for, since it helps soothe dry skin.

A humectant in itself which means that it helps retain the skin’s moisture. Which is why beeswax is a prominent ingredient in moisture lock skincare products like lotions and body butters.

Unlike petroleum jelly that’s most commonly used, beeswax doesn’t suffocate your skin but still provides the protective barrier and helps seal moisture.

The vitamin A in beeswax helps improve hydration and also regeneration of skin. Which is why now you know that this marvel ingredient is present in many skincare products.

Beeswax also help in attracting water molecules, hence it also aids in your skin getting the extra moisture it needs.

Beeswax has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which help keep the skin away from bacterial, fungal infections and also inflammations. As a result the skin is clean and clear of impurities.

Makeup products which contain beeswax stay on your skin for longer duration naturally in place of pore blocking primers which have silicone in them.

Beeswax helps in the thickening of many homemade skincare products. If you are someone who makes your own lotions, lip balms or body butters you know that this magical ingredient helps in blending the other ingredients and maintains consistency of the end product.

Especially if you use ingredients like coconut oil, beeswax helps in keeping the thickness since coconut oil has low melting point.

Since it forms a protective barrier on the skin, it does not let sweat stains on the clothes so makes a great ingredient for homemade deodorant .

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE DEODORANT
Take equal parts of arrow root, baking soda and mix with coconut oil ,essential oil , beeswax, Mix well so that they blend with each other. Freeze.
If you would want a variant you could also add shea butter to half the quantity of coconut oil.

BANANAS

B is for banana can not only be taught to kids but also for skincare enthusiasts.

The nutrient rich fruit is not only a energy powerhouse for the body but also a powerhouse of magical benefits for the skin.

Anti-ageing– Bananas are known as nature’s botox since they contains antioxidants which help reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
DIY: Mash a small banana, one tablespoon of orange juice and a tablespoon of yoghurt. Apply and rinse of after ten minutes in cold water.

Anti-acne – Acne causing bacteria and resultant blemishes would vanish off if you massage with a banana peel since they are loaded with Vitamin A , zinc and manganese.
DIY: Mash with a fork a small ripe banana, half a spoon of baking soda and half a spoon of turmeric. Apply and wash off after ten minutes in cold water.

Oil control: Bananas are boon for people with oily skin. They act as excellent exfoliator to remove the excess oil(sebum) from the skin.

DIY: Mash one ripe banana with a spoon of honey and half a spoon of lemon for an oil control face mask. Wash off after 10 minutes with cold water.

Moisturizer:
Bananas act as good moisturizers to skin, by keeping them well nourished and hydrated. They also add nourishment to dry skin. Vitamin A present helps even out skin texture of flaky skin and nourishes skin by restoring moisture.

Lessen dark spots: Whether its pigmentation or spots post acne, bananas help in lessening the dark spots. Applying mashed banana as a face mask twice a week indeed helps in this aspect.

DIY: Mash a banana with one tablespoon of honey and one table spoon of lemon juice. Apply and rinse after ten minutes with cold water.

RELIEF FROM CRACKED HEELS:
If you’re someone who has cracked feet, a banana foot mask is all you need to get it fixed. Soak foot in warm lemon water for about 2-3 minutes. Mash bananas into paste and apply on to the feet. Leave the mask on for about 10 minutes and wash off. The banana pulp gives you a soft supple crack free feet by penetrating into the skin and cracked heels.

RELIEF FROM PUFFED EYES:
The blood vessels under the eyes need to be calmed in order to not puff up the eyes. The nutrients in bananas help in this case. The potassium present in banana also helps in drawing out excess fluid and helps relieve tired eyes. A banana mask made of mashed bananas that’s generously applied helps relieve from puffed eyes. You could alternatively use the peel as well for the same benefits.

BASED ON SKIN TYPE:
OILY: Mash banana with honey and lemon juice. Apply and rinse after ten minutes.
DRY: Mash banana with one tablespoon of olive oil and one tablespoon avocado puree.

BESAN:

Besan or gram flour is an ancestral magic ingredient that has been handed down to generations as the secret to healthy glowing skin. An easily available ingredient in every household has a place in major DIY face packs.

EXFOLIATE SKIN: Besan works great as a scrub for the face and body. Mix besan, oats and corn starch in the ratio 3:2:1 with rose water or milk. Apply and then scrub off to remove excess oil, dead skin and impurities.

DECREASE OILNESS IN SKIN: Besan with raw milk mask helps in cleansing the skin and reducing oiliness.

FACIAL HAIR REMOVAL: Those tiny fine facial hairs are always a concern. No worries when you have besan at home.

DIY: Mix equal quantities of besan and methi powder/ fenugreek powder with water. Apply the paste and wash off when it dries. You will see a gradual decrease in facial hair.

ANTI -ACNE: Besan helps in preventing acne. The zinc present in besan helps fight against acne causing bacteria. The fibre present helps stabilize the sugar levels in our body. The skin experiences breakouts and acne when the sugar levels are not well balanced leading to stressed hormones.
DIY: Mix a spoon each of besan, lemon juice, honey and turmeric powder. Apply on face and neck, wash off after ten minutes.

TAN REMOVAL: Besan is good ingredient to remove tan and impurities from skin. Mix a tablespoon of besan, yoghurt and lemon juice. Apply and rinse after ten minutes. This can be done on a daily basis before taking a bath for better results.

So I hope you will start using these B’s into your skincare regimen. Do let me know your feed-backs.

This post is written as part of Blogchatter’s A2Z challenge.

January 6, 2021January 6, 2021

Five habits of people with good skin

Some people when you look at them, the immediate thought that strikes up your mind is “my my, how clear is the skin?” . Sit down and think if you have asked this question at least once.

For some people, they are blessed with genes who have clear luminous skin. But if you still want to have that beautiful skin that would make eyeballs roll, you need to make sure the below pointers are what you follow. You need to religiously take good care and simple steps to maintain skin. Glowing skin doesn’t appear in a jiffy. It needs your dedication to keep you devoted to follow that regimen.

Here are five most common habits which people who have good skin follow.

1. Hydration

The key and the foremost habit that you need to cultivate if you aren’t doing. At least two liters of water a day. Drinking plain water is the natural way to flush out toxins. If you still don’t drink enough water, you would probably making way for the toxins to pile up and result in clogged pores. Your skin needs to have proper elasticity, be supple enough and free of any wrinkles. For this, drinking water is the first and easiest habit that you can cultivate. Not only good for your skin and great for your body too. Not drinking enough water makes skin dry and lose its shine. The skin deserves its dose of nutrition every day and no better simple food that giving it enough water.

Therefore hydration is the most easiest and first step to good skin.

2. A goodnight’s sleep

Have you ever wondered why the term is coined as ‘beauty sleep’. The repair process of the body needs sleep to be a most important factor. An essential routine that boosts blood circulation and takes care of skin repair. So make sure you have a goodnight’s sleep and sleep like a baby.

3. Sunscreen or SPFs for the rescue

Photo aging refers to skin damage caused to longer exposure to sunlight and UVA /UVB rays. Invest in a good sunscreen and your skin will thank you later. Fine lines, pigmentation showing up as blemishes are often result of sun exposure leading to premature ageing. So make sure before you take your wallet next time you step out, apply a generous amount of sunscreen on face, neck and other exposed parts of body.

4. CTM- Cleanse, Tone and moisturize

Cleanse– Washing off impurities and thereby unclogging the pores.

Tone – Toner removes last trace of dirt or impurities from skin post face wash. When done regularly you could see a visible difference in skin tightening due to lesser pores.

Moisturize– A gentle way to keep your skin hydrated and not becoming dry. You could avoid using soaps often and go on to opt for a humidifier.

Above in short in known as CTM routine and is predominantly carries out before bedtime. Doing this religiously helps skin heal of any skin related problems and provides a routine for it to run the repair and regeneration process during the night time.

Also one important point to keep in mind is to choose products for CTM according to your skin type. This will not only prove beneficial but also prevent any side effects by using products which don’t suit your skin type.

5. Eating a healthy and a balanced meal

A proper meal that has all vital nutrients aids a lot of benefits to your body. So when your body feels good, it immediately shows up on your skin. Not only eating nutrient food, eating right food in the right way is what I’d want to suggest. Foods rich in anti-oxidants like oranges, tomatoes and berries provide a lot of skin benefits. These foods help delay skin ageing and improve collagen building. Avoid foods having excess oil, sugar, preservatives and foods that are processed to flaunt that healthy skin.

As mentioned above, these are five most common habits that are followed by people around the world to maintain good skin. The priority or importance is not strictly based on the order that I have mentioned.

Make sure you do a patch test every time you try out a new product. Do not go by blind recommendations. Make sure to check the ingredients and suitability to skin type before purchasing a new skincare product.

If you experience or suffer from a skin problem do not hesitate to reach out to a dermatologist. Do not go by following everyone’s advice. Until and unless they have experience in the field, do not reach out to random people on social media asking for skincare advice.

Not all highly priced products give you good results and those which are priced less result in failures. Keep that in mind and start taking care of your skin.

This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla, and happily SPONSORED BY RRE Studios and SHOWCASE Events.