Following tips from our expert ensure a carefree winter for all those who dread it.

Skin

For itchy skin, add half a cup of vinegar to a bucket of water. Use it at the end of your bath.

Add a tablespoon of honey to your bath water. This also has a softening effect and relieves fatigue.

Add a handful of powdered milk to your bath water. This nourishes dry skin.

Make your own massage oil by mixing almond oil with sunflower oil and adding a few drops of rose or sandalwood oil. This leaves the body with a pleasant fragrance and is much better than using perfumed oils which are available in the market.

Pamper your hands and feet with these simple beauty aids.

The face may be the window to our soul and thus, deserving of all the special care that we lavish on it but our hands do a lot for us and those around us and our feet do the important task of carrying our weight to all places imaginable and sometimes, unimaginable. Considering that, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that we don’t always give them the kind of care and attention that they deserve. Anyway, it’s still not too late to make amends. There are loads of things that you can do to pamper your hands and feet without going to a salon.

As a beauty aid, turmeric prevents and cures pigmentation, maintains the PH balance and makes the skin glow.

Turmeric is an integral part of a bride’s beauty regimen in Pakistan and even as far as Java.

Turmeric, which is a perennial plant about 60 to 90 cm in height, has a short stem and tufted leaves, has even found a mention in ancient Sanskrit texts. From being used as a beauty aid to effectively stopping bleeding from cuts, this spice is now also used in plugging radiator leaks!

Skin -our beauty depends on its health and glow. More and more people are finding out that our skin and its related problems and cures depend largely on what you eat. Read on to know what advice a doctor has in store for you.

Skin eruptions can lead to permanent scarring. Our expert helps you deal with the problem.

Acne, a common skin condition, appears when the body goes through physical changes and glandular secretions increase. Due to this reason, adolescents are the main victims of an acne condition. In many cases, the condition reduces after puberty and may disappear. Had this been all, there would be no cause for anxiety. But, acne can cause deep, permanent scars. It is a misconception that acne is something teenagers must live with and “grow out of “.

Prompt action pays

Worried that your makeup’s looking too patchy or dry? Your skin type may hold the answer to that problem.

There was this new foundation that looked so, so good on your friend. You went out and got yourself the same brand… but it just doesn’t seem to look as good on you. What went wrong? Your skin type, in all probability. It’s the reason why the same makeup looks great on certain people, patchy on some and totally nondescript on others. That’s because the four skin types - normal to dry skin, oily to combination skin, sensitive skin and extra dry and mature skin - all respond to makeup differently. Each skin type needs specific handling both with regard to pre-makeup preparation and skin care to feel and look good.

Shading and highlighting can add dimension to your face apart from just correcting your flaws.

Makeup is a game of adding shadows to and lighting areas of the face to accentuate your features or hide your flaws. This is done to create balance and an illusion of proportion and shape. Areas that are usually shaded are the hollows of the cheek, along the hairline and jaw line, the crease of the eye (to define the socket’s shape), the sides and the tip of the nose, the area under the chin and the temples, the sides of the neck for length, the collar bone and the cleavage.

Unflavored, unsweetened milk with minimal additives is known for its skin softening and moisturizing properties. However, milk can also be used in combination with turmeric, honey and even essential oils. The simplest beauty therapy is to take the inside of a milk bag and rub it on your face. It is even safe to be used on children, especially those with problem skins. Depending on your skin type you could use full cream or skimmed milk. Cleansing milks remove surface grease, dirt and salt left on the skin by perspiration, without upsetting the face’s delicate hydro-lipid (water-oil) balance.

From making your lips look fuller to concealing dark circles, we have simple tips to solve some common makeup muddles

Eyes

Concealing dark circles
You can camouflage under-eye circles with a foundation, concealer and some powder. Dark circles have a muddy brownish or purplish tinge, so you need to neutralise them with certain colors. Use a foundation or concealer with a yellowish tint for fair-to-whitish complexions. People who have a dusky complexion should use an orangeish-yellow tinged concealer. A fine yellowish powder could be used to seal in the foundation or concealer applied to the area. This will also help the skin look more even-toned.

Good makeup is more than a touch of lipstick, a dash of eyeliner and a coat of mascara. Done properly, it is a precise art that can transform you dramatically. All it takes is the inclination, the right tools and some good cosmetics. It can make your skin look flawless, make your eyes expressive and your mouth provocative. It can give you a natural look, a sexy one or a glamorous one, depending on the mood you’re in and the colors you use. In short, it can take you from seedha-saadha to drop dead gorgeous.