Vetiver

Biotique Vetiver Relaxing Body Oil is one of the best full body massage oil available in India. The oil has the wonderful aroma of Vetiver---woody and earthy, and not too strong in that. The oil itself gets absorbed in the skin fast, and light enough for not being sticky.

Using hair oil

Often I hear from beauticians and doctors saying that using hair oil does not improve hair growth or restrict dandruff. This pretty much seems contradictory to my own experience.

One of the most challenging times for my hair has been my trips to the US from India. The travel typically takes around 24 hour. During my early trips, to look good, I did not use hair oil. It was some hair cream that I used. But the trip itself becomes embarrassing for me in that I see visible dandruff developing in my hair due to the decreased moisture in the airplane. To avoid this, in my later trips I have been applying considerable oil (I use Coconut oil) to my hair and scalp, and the result has been better.

The most wicked part of dandruff is hair loss. I see increased hair loss when my dandruff level increases. And somehow applying oil to my hair and scalp seems to reduce hair loss and dandruff. I plan to stick to my experience (instead of listening to the experts).

New edition of Navratna Oil

Image by subWiz via Flickr

A new edition of Navratna Oil, with the tag line "Extra Thanda" (meaning Extra Cool) is available in the market. I am a ardent fan of Navratna Oil. I regularly use it for massage purposes. I was a bit apprehensive about the Extra Thanda tag line. Can anyone make a oil more cooler than the traditional Navratna Oil? As I am writing this, I am experiencing the Extra Thanda factor ;-)

Aloe Vera

Image via Wikipedia

There are many medicinal plants available in India. But many of them require special care and maintenance for growing them in a city apartment. One plant that defies this requirement, and whose content oozes with goodness is Aloe Vera. I would recommend every Indian home/apartment to grow and use it.

Saturday morning. Weekly once I put ant-dandruff shampoo to cleanse my hair of dandruff. Today, I did some thing better. I asked Aarthi to apply freshly plucked Aloe gel to my hair. The feeling was good as it has a very calming chill effect on my scalp. I had it in my for 1/2 hour before I headed for shower. Dandruff gone!

Aarthi and myself have also made it a point to apply the Aloe gel to our faces regularly.

This is one of the cheapest and best option compared with buying and applying Alo Vera based products. And believe me, growing Aloe Vera is suited for city life. It requires very less maintenance.

Fighting pimples and acne

Lately I have been subject to pimple and acne attack. It is due to the excessive Chennai heat. So how do I address this?

Sandlewood Solution

The best solution is to mix red-sandalwood powder with rose water and apply on the affected areas. I usually apply before I go to sleep. And in the mornings I discover the pimple reduced in size.

General Tips

• Drink lots of Water
• Wash your face often
• Increase your intake of fruits
• Drink tender-coconut water whenever possible

Knowing is not doing ; doing is doing. So do it to get the result. Soon your face will speak the result.

1.To soften the rough spots:

2 tsp - milk cream
4 tsp -wheat flour
3 tsp - honey
1 tsp - olive oil.
2 tsp - sandal wood powder
Mix them all and apply daily on the darkened and blackened area of the skin and the rough portions. Let it stand for 30 minutes. Within a week skin will become soft and regain its natural
color.

2. Dark ring under the eyes.

Mix coconut oil with little badam oil and before going to sleep apply it under the eyes. Within a month the black ring under the eye would have gone.

3. Dark lips and rupture of the lips.

Apply a mixture of little honey and a little coconut oil over the lips before going to sleep.

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Treat for my face

Aarthi treated me to all these wonderful products:

• Ever Yuth Walnut and Apricot Facial Scrub: To remove dead cells from my skin.


• Ayur Deep Pore Cleansing Milk: For removing dirt from inside of my skin.


• VLCC Rose Water Toner: To close the pores in my skin which were opened by the Deep Pore Cleanser.

Aarthi used Dabur Gulabari (rosewater) to moisten the cotton with which she applied the Deep Pore Cleanser.

It feels good to get your skin pampered with all these goodies :-)

Mehandi Idea

Small Tips for soothing routine.

Energy and Action

For a man of knowledge there exists only the Here and Now. So he understands that each time he acts, he is increasing his power and his force. On doing so he observes carefully everything around him and knows that each thing however small as insignificant is charged with energy and can teach him something. -Paulo Coelho

So never think daily chores as monotonous but they are soothing, when u know these simple tips.

1. To soften the brushes that are stiff treat them in water with a teaspoon of vinegar, Boil the water to the boiling point. The brush will soften.

2. To remove the bad odor in flask - add half warm water and a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate and rinse.

3.To sharpen a knife, scissor - Try to cut a glass bottle neck with the scissor several time then see how sharp the scissor is .

4.To wash dirt in the window frames, cane chairs etc - Don't use soap. Water and a pinch of salt solution will remove the dirt cleanly. Soap will make the white color dim and make it yellow.

5. To remove stains of raw banana or other stains on clothes - dip the cloth in a bucket of water with fair amount of salt and leave it for 2 to 4 hours and then wash them in warm water.

---Santha
25th July 2009

Designing Girl Dresses

Designing dresses for girls is one of the most creative activities. And getting it right is a difficult game. Why?

• Traditional parameters and customs should be respected.


• Should reveal (only) as much skin as the occasion demands.


• Should be easy on the girl wearing it.