DIY Night Cream/ Facial Serum

We all know there are plenty and plenty of brands available in the market which make night creams, but some of them target towards fainess, some towards soft skin, some towards removing dark circles, or some towards anti aging, its quite difficult to find a single cream which does all the job together, or if you do you'll get a big hole in your pocket after buying it.

The homemade night cream is an effective way to get beautiful problem free skin without spending much, that too without chemicals! So isn't it great? From the time I started using my homemade DIY Night Cream, I've seriously stopped buying those chemical loaded creams and I've really really seen its amazing effects on my skin!

So why do we need a cream that is different than the day cream? A day cream contains SPF for protection from harmful sunrays, and other pollutants, whereas a night cream targets towards healing your skin which has gone through the damage throughout the whole day and works to repair your skin.
Plus, while making at home you can add ingredients of your choice which targets towards specific problem of your skin!

So here's the ingredients you'll need to make your own Night Cream!

So there are basically three methods, #1 is easiest and simple method for which ingredients are as follows:

#1 DIY Moisturising Aloe Night Cream/Serum

• Aloe Vera Gel: 4 tblspn
• Olive Oil/Almond Oil: 3 tblspn
• Rose Water: 3 tblspn

• Take a sterlized empty container to store the cream.
• Add 4 tblspn of Aloe vera gel to it, either fresh or store bought.

• Add 3 tblspn of Vigin Olive Oil, if you don't have Olive Oil add Almond oil instead.

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• Add 3 tblspn of rose water.
• Mix all the things really well, so it forms into a serum consistency. Serum tends to get absorbed into the skin better than the cream which in turn performs better to heal and repair your skin.

• How to apply:
• Wash your face and pat dry with a soft towel.
• Apply a toner.
• Apply the DIY Night Cream all over your face and neck before going to bed. Wait for 20 mins before hitting the bed to prevent transferring the cream on your pillows, let it absorb well.
• Wash with normal water in the morning.
• You can use this cream in day too, if you stay home!

This cream gives baby soft and supple skin, removes dark spots, olive oil nourishes skin and locks in the moisture into the skin.

Read the benefits of Aloe Vera Gel, Benefits Of Rose Water, Benefits Of Olive Oil.

#2 DIY Anti Aging Night Cream

• Aloe vera gel, 4 tblspn
• Almond Oil/Olive Oil, 3 tblspn
• Rose Water, 3 tbslpn
• Honey, 1 tbslpn
• Lemon juice, 1/2 tblspn

• You can use any aloe vera gel, normal one or with the chandan and kesar, or fresh aloe from the plant.
• Mix all the ingredients, you can use lemon essential oil instead of lemon juice to increase the shelf life of the cream. Mix and make a serum like consistency.
• Apply the cream before going to bed after washing your face.
• You can store the cream for a week in the refrigerator.

This cream is really effective for brightening and removing wrinkles from your skin. It gives a nice glowing effect and tightens the sagging skin. You can see the Benefits Of Almond Oil.

#3 DIY Night Cream For Acne

• Aloe Vera Gel, 4 tblspn
• Olive Oil, 3 tblspn
• Lavender Oil, 2 tblspn
• Glycerin, 1 tblspn

• In a empty container, add all the ingredients, skip glycerin if you have very oily skin.
• Mix them all well.
• Make a serum like consistency.
• Apply all over your face and neck.
• Store for a week.

This is a really effective cream for acne prone skin, the cream heals the skin overnight and makes it clean and clear.

These DIY creams are very effective and trust me guys you'll see the effects yourself within 15 days of application. All these are entirely natural and safe, it gives our skin the much needed nourishment, during the night our skin needs nourishment, rejuvenation, regeneration and recovery.

Hence, night creams a a bit greasy and heavy than the day creams which are non greasy and light.

Other than that it is as important as taking care of skin to drink A Lot Of Water and have a balanced diet. Be active and be positive, which will definitely show on your skin!

So have you made and any of these DIYs? Plz let us know how it worked out for you and what skin problem of yours you want to target?!

Health & Beauty Benefits Of Olive Oil

Olive trees themselves have been around for many thousands of years. With a long history dating back to ancient civilizations, olive oil is even considered to be one of the most important Islamic foods . It’s a staple of the Mediterranean where olive oil is grown and consumed the most, have the lowest mortality rates in the world when it comes to cardiovascular diseases.

Olive oil is extracted from the olive fruit. From ruling our kitchens to taking over the cosmetic world, olive oil has become a rage all over the world in recent times.

Types of Olive Oils

1. Virgin Olive Oil – The most popular variety, virgin olive oil is a well-known cooking oil with a surprisingly low acid content. It is best suitable for people who want to enjoy the benefits of olive oil without spending a bomb.

2. Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Made by cold pressing olive fruit, this oil is considered to be the best for our body. But mind you, not everybody can afford to use extra virgin oil due to its high cost.

3. Pure Olive Oil – This oil is actually an amalgamation of refined and virgin olive oils. It has a high acidic content, and hence is unsuitable for use.

4. Lampante Oil – The type that is used only as a fuel and is not suitable for cooking.
Now that you know the types, let’s move on to the benefits.

Health Benefits Of Consuming Olive Oil:

1. Cardiovascular Health

Thanks to powerful antioxidants known as polyphenols, extra virgin oil is considered an anti-inflammatory food and cardiovascular protector. The protective effects of a Mediterranean-style diet rich in
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) from olive oil have been shown in many studies, with some finding that this type of higher-fat diet is capable of decreasing the risk of cardiac death by 30 percent and sudden cardiac death by 45 percent!

2. Fights Cancer

Olives and olive oil contain antioxidants in abundance, thhey are some of the best high antioxidant foods. Both olives and olive oil contain substantial amounts of other compounds deemed to be anticancer agents.

3. Fights Obesity

Medical experts suggest that it is very difficult to gain weight from the mono-unsaturated fats present in olive oil. Experiments involving Mediterranean olive oil have shown positive results in regards to a reduction in human body weight.

4. Boosts Metabolism

Olive oil boosts the metabolism, the growth of good bone structure, and brain development in children. It is an excellent source of vitamin E , which is very beneficial for older people.

5. Helps Slow Down Aging

Rich in antioxidants, olive oil slows the natural aging process of the human body. Used in cosmetic products and natural herbal therapy, it does wonders for the
skin , which gets a natural shine and glow from the enriching oil.

                    


Beauty Uses Of Olive Oil:

Olive oil has been used as a beauty product for centuries and is almost certainly one of the earliest beauty products, having been used by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks.

1. Soft and Luscious Looking Hair

Olive oil has been used as a hair treatment since ancient Egyptian times. First, warm the olive oil in the microwave or in hot water. Then apply it generously to the ends of hair and scalp. Leave it in for up to 10 to 20 minutes, and then shampoo it out.

2. Olive Oil Bath

The beauty secrets of many Italian and Hollywood actresses is Olive Oil bath.
Adding just 5 tbslpn of Extra Virgin Oilve oil in your bath tub is all you need to prepare a olive oil bath. This a simple beauty trick to make skin soft and smooth.

3. Moisturizer

Apply olive oil over your face and neck before hitting the bed and wash with a soap free cleanser in the morning to get clean and soft skin!

4. Makeup Remover

Olive oil can be used to remove makeup on its own, or you can add a little lemon juice to help prevent breakouts at the same time.Lemon juice helps treat acne because it is a disinfectant, which can destroy the bacteria that cause breakouts.
Because it is less abrasive than chemically based makeup removers, olive oil is the preferred makeup remover for people with sensitive skin or who are allergic to ingredients in store-bought removers.

5. Olive Oil Scrub

Mix one tblspn of Olive Oil with half tblspn of sugar and scrub your face for two to three minutes, rinse it off using a mild cleanser and you get clean and clear skin!

6. Sunscreen

Take Olive oil and tea concoction (boiled tea leaves water) in equal amounts, apply this all over your exposed areas for 30 minutes then rinse it off with water leaving little residue behind, then you are ready to go out! It acts as a natural sunscreen!

7. Prevents Premature Aging

Olive Oil can regenerate skin tissues and therefore you can use it regularly to keep your skin firm and wrinkle free! To make a Olive Oil mask, simply mix half tblspn of olive oil with little aloe vera gel and mix them both on your palm, it will become thick cream, apply this all over your face and neck before bed time to see the beautiful you in the morning!

Please make sure to always buy extra virgin or cold pressed olive oil for consuming as well as for beauty uses, as other refined oils tend to lose 80% of its natural minerals and vitamins during processing.
Don’t forget to add olive oil in your salads! Olive oil will improve your skin, hair and nails, and will nourish your body from within. Remember, beauty starts from within!

Health & Beauty Benefits of Chia Seeds

Chia seeds have amazing benefits in terms of health and so many people have been using chia seeds in just about anything- be it salads, smoothies, pudding or any other delicacy. Chia seeds however have more to it than just health benefits. It can actually endow you with glowing skin too. It contains Omega 3 oil and it has the potential to endow the skin with many benefits.

Chia seeds are a quick and easy-to-use source of protein, healthy fats, dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants , all rolled into one neat package.
Chia seeds are said to last up to two years with no refrigeration, courtesy of the high levels of antioxidants they contain.

So let's have a brief look at the health and beauty benefits of Magical Chia Seeds also called "sabza" in India and enjoyed with yummy falooda!

Health Benefits

1. Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Chia seeds are high in Omega 3 fatty acids, one of the healthiest fatty acids, which are considered very important for brain health. The Omega3s in Chia seeds help reduce inflammation, and help reduce high cholesterol with no side effects! However Chia seeds are very high in the Omega-3 fatty acid ALA, but our body needs Omega 3 fatty acids DHA along with ALA so never underestimate the fatty acids found in fatty fishes or fish oils as well!

2. More Fiber

Just about 30 grams of Chia Seeds contains 11 grams of Fiber! That is one-third of the daily recommended intake of fiber per day. Fiber is associated with reducing bad cholesterol, and for proper bowel functioning. By adding them to your daily diet you are making sure to get enough amount of fiber for the daily recommended intake.

3. Antioxidant

Chia seeds have antioxidant properties which protect our body from toxic elements, radicals, aging and fights against cancer. The high antioxidants in them increases the shelf life of the Chia seeds.

A study in type 2 diabetics showed that chia seeds can significantly lower blood pressure and a marker for inflammation.

4. Minerals

About  30 grams of Chia seeds contain 18 percent of Calcium, 35 percent of phosphorus, 24 percent of magnesium and 50 percent of manganese! These nutrients help you maintain your heart and brain health and gives us energy.

Chia seeds are high in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and protein. All of these nutrients are essential for bone health as well.

5. Protein

Chia seeds contain a decent amount of

protein.

By weight, they are about 14% protein, which is very high compared to most plants. Chia seeds really are an excellent protein source, especially for people who eat little or no animal products.

Beauty Benefits

1. Glowing Healthy Skin

Well who doesn't want a celeb like glowing and problem free skin? With the tiny magical seeds the task has become easy to get that healthy glowing skin. Since Chia seeds are high in Omega 3s and other nutrients which help maintain a clear and healthy skin. It flushes out the toxins from the body and makes skin tissues healthy hence a clear glowing skin!

2. Promotes Hair Growth

Protein, sulphur and amino acids are extremely beneficial for healthy long hair. Eat chia seeds everyday to strengthen your hair follicles and promote long luscious hair!

3. Fights Acne

Girls with acne prone skin must give these seeds a try! 

Chia seeds are amazing for healing acne as they are rich in powerful anti acne nutrients like zinc(fights acne bacteria), omega 3 fatty acids(hydrates dry acneic skin/heals inflamed acne), fiber (flushes out acne causing toxins)and protein(repairs cells & heals acne faster).

4. Heals Damaged and Inflammed Skin

Chia seeds exhibit anti-inflammatory properties that soothes skin inflammatory conditions like acne inflammation, eczema, rosacea and more. 

Omega 3 fatty acids also retain moisture in skin cells by improving the health of the skin.

5. Flushes Out Toxins

Rich in a load of heart healthy fiber, chia seeds are an excellent detox food. Eating chia seeds regularly regulates bowel movement, helping clean the junk that is stuck in the colon. Eliminating toxins through the colon is very healthy for our skin and hair. It prevents toxins from being stuck in the intestines, for example during constipation. These toxins are gradually reabsorbed into the blood stream and end up as breakouts on your skin as a way of getting out of the body! Add chia seeds to your smoothies every breakfast.

Few Easy Recipes with Chia Seeds that are healthy yet yummy!

• Soak about 2 tblspn of chia seeds in a glass of milk for overnight in the refrigerator. In the morning, add honey for sweetness and have your yummy and healthy morning drink.
• Soak 2 tblspn of chia seeds in a half bowl of milk, in the morning cook oats using the same milk adding little sugar or honey or jaggery! Add fresh fruits of your choice such as grapes, strawberries, bananas, pomegranate, etc.
• Soak chia seeds in coconut milk for overnight and have it as it is in the morning.
• Soak chia seeds in one glass of milk, in the morning, add chopped dry fruits and honey to it. Make a smoothie of this in a blender and have your nutritious smoothie.
• Or simply soak chia seeds in one bottle of water, and have this water throughout the day to help keep you hydrated and refreshed!

A common recommended dosage is 40 grams a day, which is about 3 tblspns!

Winter Skin & Haircare Tips

Yes, we do need to change our skincare routine for winter, every season requires different sets of routine to make your skin shine and youthful.
Freezing temperature takes away our natural body oil and thus our skin tends to dry and peel off.
Cold air, harsh winds and dryness can all lead to changes in the skin. By implementing some simple changes in your skincare routine, plus choosing the right products, can make skin as healthy as ever.
So here the top skincare tips to make your skin fresh as a rose petal!

1. A Soap Free Or A Foam Free Face Wash

Winter season comes with the pleasant feeling, the cold and wind but it makes our skin dry and patchy. For dry skin its a complete no to use a face wash with foam or a soap as these tends to strip away the natural oils from our skin thus making it more dull and scaly. Its always recommended to use a foam free cleanser or if you don't find the one that suits your skin, just wash your face with oats. Yes, you heard it right! Washing face with oats gives you a soft and supple skin and it does not strip away your skin's natural oils! Simply take a fist of oats, close your fist and pour water over it, open your palm, rub this wet oats on your face and neck, let it sit for 3-4 mins and rinse it off! You are done! Trust me it really works!

2. Moisturise, Moisturise, Moisturise

As soon as you wash your skin or come out of a shower, just moisturise your skin! A good moisturizer for winter are natural oils, such as virgin olive oil, almond oil or pure coconut oil for body! Other than that, if you use products try to search for natural ingredients in those moisturisers such as,cocoa butter, coconut oil, aloe gel etc which have great moisturising properties.


3. Avoid Hot Water Baths

Though hot water baths are a bliss during winter, it is not good either for your skin or hair. It makes our skin and hair dull and dry leaving it rough. Try to use warm showers or if you cannot avoid it at all then lessen the time in the shower, 10 mins in the hot shower is quite enough! Drop few drops of rose water or any essential oil in your bath tub to give yourself a treat!

4. Exfoliate!

It's very essential thing in any skincare routine. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells and makes new cell formation thus making our skin look younger and fresher. Gentle Exfoliation once a week during winter is necessary to avoid that dull and lifeless skin. Some of the natural scrubs you can make at home are Here!

5. Avoid Washing Hair Too Often

It's not recommended to wash your hair more than twice a week to protect them from split ends or damage. Always use a gentle shampoo with no chemicals in it and use a good conditioner to lock in the moisture. Do hair pack once a week and avoid excessive hair styling tools on them, avoid blow dryers and let the hair dry naturally.

6. Plenty of Water!

I think I have emphasized the importance of water too much, but its that thing which can not be ignored at any cost! It is the cheapest, healthiest and fat free thing you can give your body to glow and fight back diseases and other skin or hair related issues.

7. Seasonal Fruits

There was a time I didn't like to have fruits, but my mum and bros insisted me to have it so much that I actually got used to it and eventually loving it! You can see your skin glow and blush if you eat fruits daily! Of course you must have heard the saying, a fruit a day keeps a doctor and dermatologist away! 💖

8. Never Underestimate A Lip Balm

Who likes chapped and dry lips? It makes us look unattractive and aged! Every night before bed, apply a good moisturizing lip balm and in the day time, apply a lip balm with spf. Almond oil also works great before bed! Take a drop of almond oil and apply all over your lips to get up with soft and supple lips!

9. Nourish Your Body Too

We often look for the products to beautify our face but tend to ignore the importance of the body care. Of course a good face on a not so good body won't look good! So try nourish your body and soul! Use body moisturizer, do a spa once a month, do meditation or yoga which works best to feed not only your body but your soul too!

10. Some Products For Winters!

•  A facial cleanser to combat dry skin. Some of the face washes I found great are Dove Beauty Moisture Face Wash, Himalaya Aloevera Face Wash, Pears Pure & Gentle Face Wash etc.
• Essential oil such as, Almond Oil, Virgin Olive Oil, Rosemary Oil etc.
• A moisturiser for face
• A moisturiser for body
• A Lip balm with and without SPF
• And of course we cannot skip a sunscreen while going out!
• And last but not least, which is very important and I hope everyone knows the importance of having vegetables, avoiding junk and oily food which contributes a lot in making our skin look aged and lifeless.
• And yes! Have a Happy You! A Happy person can never ever look ugly!

10 Foods To Get Flawless Skin

We often think that skin problems can only be solved by applying number of creams or using different different brand's products! And that to make our skin more beautiful, first of all we think about is using a particular cream, face wash, and such other stuff! Of course they do have an important role in skincare, but have we ever thought of making skin and hair healthy from within?

In today's time, when everything has become instant, we often forget that we are not ensuring to have a healthy diet and we keep on trying different different products to look beautiful! The idea of having naturally beautiful skin starts from food!
What we put in our mouth is as important as what we apply on our skin!! We all know avoiding processed foods, sugar, oily and fried items is essential to have a healthy life!
Some foods which we tend to ignore are really healthy not only for our skin but for our body as well. As Foods get digested and broken down into vitamins, minerals and amino acids that your body can use to build healthy skin. If you crash diet or eat highly processed foods, your skin won’t be as strong and supple as it could be.
Below is the 10 healthy foods which are really beneficial for maintaining flawless and beautiful skin.

1. Vegetables

It is the top most healthy thing a person should have in their diet. Having colorful vegetables everyday not only provides many essential vitamins and minerals but it also maintains a good and healthy skin, eat veggies like spinach, broccoli, fenugreek leaves, tomatoes, beets etc.Make sure to have green leafy vegetables everyday to get those essential vitamins!

2. Salmon

Salmon is high in omega3 fatty acids which promotes hair growth, prevents scaly and dry skin, provides suppleness to the skin to get a youthful glow. Its health benefits include proper cardiovascular health, tissue devdevelopment, eye care, brain power, easing depression.

3. Nuts

Nuts like walnuts, almonds, cashews and pistchios are high in fiber and protein which builds collagens and help the skin to repair, makes skin healthy! Soaking only 15-20 gms of nuts overnight and having it before the breakfast can provide your body with essential nutrients which helps to build your skin tissues to be stronger.

4. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is very important to get a beautiful skin, it helps making skin clean, lessen breakouts and dull skin, provides glow to skin and hair. Some of the foods rich in vitamin C are, strawberries, lemons, kiwi, grape and oranges. These fruits help in slowing down the aging and prevents wrinkles.

5. Oysters

Take some seafood once in a while, if you desire to have beautiful looking skin, gorgeous nails and healthy locks; oysters, for example, are very high in zinc that makes the scalp and hair healthy (actually, oysters have higher content of zinc per serving, than any other food).

6. Yoghurt

Yoghurt is delicious and healthy too. It helps boost immunity, releases anxiety and stress, good for teeth and bones, can be used topically for skincare to get soft and supple skin. It contains Vitamin E, Zinc and phosphorus which improves complexion and skin texture.

7. Watermelon, Mango, Banana

These fruits are very beneficial for skin as these contain anti inflammatory and anti aging properties, calcium which protects skin from damage and strengthen teeths. These are known to cleanse and rejuvenates the skin from within.

8. Dark chocolate

If you think chocolates are fatty, you are mistaken.Quality dark chocolate is rich in Fiber, Iron, Magnesium, Copper, Manganese and a few other minerals. Studies show that the flavanols from cocoa can improve blood flow to the skin and protect it against sun-induced damage. Well it's not something which should be consumed daily.

9. Carrots, cucumber and sweet potato

Carrots and sweet potatoes are good source of Vitamin A, sweet potato is a best alternative to old potatoes! And as we all know cucumbers are high in water content which helps skin to be healthy and prevents dehydration.

10. Bonus Step

Foods which has antioxidant properties should be included in your diet, such as chia seeds, walnuts, oats, flaxseeds.
Foods rich in Vitamin C, i.e bells peppers, broccoli, citrus fruits etc. Carbohydrates will give you fuel during your workouts, and protein will help repair and build muscle. It’s all about a healthy balance. Drink water too; hydration will help flush out toxins!

Eat Natural Foods!!
The Longer The Shelf Life Of Food, The Shorter Yours! Choose Well...!!!

I hope you find this list of healthy foods useful! Have a beautiful you!!!