How to get a Healthy Skin with Drinks in this Winter Season

Winter! Oh baby, its so cold. We all love to have a steaming hot drinks in winters, right? In this blog, we talk about some amazing drinks which will not only keep you warm this winter but, simultaneously will give you health and benefit the skin as well. So, keep yourself warm this winter season with the following drinks. I am sure you will enjoy one of the following cups with a book in your hand. These drinks will not only keep you warm but rejuvenate you and revitalize your soul and body.

Spiced Hot Chocolate

Winters are usually categorised by cold, cosy nights, warm blankets and hot chocolate seems to be just perfect and now lets try this spiced hot chocolate. So keep calm and get your spiced hot chocolate on.

What You Need

Cinnamon stick - 1 inch (brake into tiny pieces)

Star anise - 1

Black cardamom - 1

Cloves - 3

Chilly Flakes - 1/3 tsp

Milk - 1 cup (250ml or 8.5fl ounce)

Sugar as required
Cacao powder - 1 tsp

How to Make it 

Take a pan, put all the spices into it except cacao powder, add 1/4 cup water and allow it to boil, stir. Now add sugar. Once the water starts boiling, simmer it for a minute, now add 1 cup milk, bring it to boil. Turn off the gas and add cacao powder. Stir, sieve and serve hot.

Why it Works

Both cinnamon and cardamom added to this drink has the ability to help detox the body and they even boosts the immune system. They contain antimicrobial properties that are beneficial for the skin and optimize digestion. Poor digestion can always lead to skin problems. Many skin conditions like acne, eczema or dermatitis actually begin in the digestive system. Its only through proper digestion, one will get rid of the wastes. Further, the proper digestion of food will give you a glowing skin as the food will be broken down properly and the body will be absorbing the essential vitamins for smooth and glowing skin.

The star anise that we add here is a major source of natural antioxidants and contains linalool and vitamin C. Due to these properties it prevents our body from cellular damage caused by free radicals and toxins. These free radicals are responsible for premature aging. Thus star anise can help us to have a youthful skin. However, it has mild sedative properties so, it may cure sleep disorders as well. On adding star anise, one may have this drink before going to bed. Without the addition of star anise, you may have this drink during any time of the day but, please avoid immediately after a meal.

Remember its cacao and not cocoa

The first impression might seem like is the spelling but there is a little more to it. Both comes from cacao beans - the seeds or nuts of cacao tree. Raw cacao powder is made by cold pressing unroasted cacao beans. This process keeps the enzymes living and removes the fat, that is, cacao butter.Cocoa looks the same but its not. Cocoa powder is raw cacao that's been roasted at high temperature. Sadly it reduces the enzyme content and lowers the overall nutritional value. So now you know what to look in a chocolate as well..... Cacao and not cocoa.

Yes, the cacao has surprising benefits for your skin. It contains protein, vitamin A and C, riboflavin, thiamine, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, copper, magnesium and omega 6. High in antioxidants, cacao blocks harmful free radicals in the body. As explained earlier the damage caused by free radicals, so, cacao protects our skin from premature aging and gives a glow. Because of the presence of vitamin C and magnesium, it boosts ones immunity. As it contains omega 6 fatty acids and raw enzymes it helps in cellular healing and repairing and thus, detoxifying and rejuvenating. 

The super absorbent properties of cacao protects the skin from harmful UV rays and acts as a natural sunscreen. One can improve the skins complexion as well as it provides hydration to the skin which is must for a younger looking skin.

Lemon, Honey and Ginger Tea

Early sunsets, big sweaters and warm cuppa of lemon, honey and ginger tea. Wow.... And, its really super easy to make. The heat and the ginger will warm you right up. You may also add a dash of either nutmeg or cinnamon or cardamom for a warm spicy flavour. These warm spices apart from adding just than a flavour, add a sense of comfort and some magical herbal elements too. This drink has high amount of vitamin, minerals and antioxidants that improve the overall health of a person. Altogether, this tea will not only just keep you warm but also rejuvenate your skin and give you a number of health benefits - like keeping nausea, headache and common cold at bay. 

What you Need

Fresh ginger root - 1 inch (no need to peel it)

Lemon juice - 1 tbsp (freshly squeezed)

Honey - 1 tbsp

Nutmeg/cinnamon/cardamom - 1/2 tsp (powder)

How to Make it

Grate the ginger into a pan or you may even mince the ginger with a sharp knife. Add either of nutmeg or cardamom or cinnamon powder. Pour one and a half cup water over it and let it boil. Simmer it for about 5-6 minutes and by this time the water quantity will reduce to one cup. Turn off the gas and wait for another minute. Meanwhile put the lemon juice and the honey in a mug. Strain the simmered water into the mug, stir to dissolve. You may vary the quantity of lemon juice and honey as per your taste if the lemon is too much for you.

Why it Works

The lemon and ginger in this drink are both excellent at fighting infections. Ginger has a long standing reputation as a healer. It rejuvenates the skin and has anti-aging properties that prevents the damage from free radicals and hence protect against aging. It also evens the skin tone and improves elasticity, thus giving a glow. 

Lemon is rich in vitamin C, a nutrient that is packed with antioxidants and has immune boosting properties. Adding lemon to this drink is extremely good for cleansing the liver and flushing out the wastes and toxins. It aids digestion as well, giving a glowing skin.

If you tend to catch infections easily or fall sick as soon as the weather changes, you must start drinking this tea to improve your immunity. Daily one cup is enough or you may have two at max. But yes if you are ill, you may have three as well for speedy recovery. So this powerful combination of lemon and ginger is not only exceptionally effective in treating any health disorders but also works towards giving you a beautiful and flawless skin. 

The honey added in this drink does wonders too. It makes us to glow more and rejuvenates the dull and dead skin. It is also known to be a blood purifier and aids to the production of new blood cells. Honey acts as a detox agent as well, which helps you to get rid of the toxins of the body. Please make sure not to add honey to boiling water as it destroys the molecular structure and makes it indigestible. It may also turn out to be toxic to some extent. 

Nutmeg

I have already listed the benefits of adding cinnamon and cardamom to this drink for skin and the overall health earlier in this blog in the 'Spiced Hot Chocolate' recipe. Moving on to the addition of nutmeg, it is a popular spice having a long list of health benefits along with its ability to detoxify the body, boost skin quality and reduce insomnia. Yes, I have tested it myself. It also strengthens the immune system, prevents leukaemia and improves blood circulation. Nutmeg includes the beneficial components like dietary fibre, manganese, thiamine, vitamin B6, folate, magnesium and copper which impacts ones health in a variety of ways. Adding this nutmeg will boost the appearance and health of the skin. It boosts digestive and bone health as well.

Just try to replace your sugary drinks with any of the above healthy drinks this winter and see the difference yourself. 

How to get Crystal Clear Skin at Home

There are only three things women need in life: food, water and the most important..... compliments. And with a crystal clear skin one just cant resist without complimenting you. No matter whatever dress you wear, one gets a boost in the confidence if you have a flawless skin.

We all crave for flawless and radiant skin, but nowadays our skin is becoming victim of our poor lifestyle choices and ignorance. If you wish to have a crystal clear skin, its time to tackle the skin issues. Today I am not going to share with you any of the home remedies but just tell you the routine basic practices to be followed which will make a huge difference.

1. Eat Lots and Lots of Seasonal Fruits:-

Its very essential to have not just any fruit but the locally available seasonal fruit. It means if you are living in Nagpur, India, have oranges when they ripe and if you are living in Himachal, India, have apples. Having apple in Tamil Nadu, India, will not help you as it is not grown there, but yes the locally grown banana will help you much more.

I will be covering in depth on "How to Eat and Choose the Fruits Rightly" in my next blog, including why it is necessary to eat locally grown fruits only.

Papaya grows in almost every part of India and all the year. You may have if daily if it suits your stomach. It contains vitamin A, C, B, folate and minerals.

Oranges(winter fruit) and gooseberries are rich sources of vitamin C which aids in collagen synthesis, the main requirement to have a youthful skin.

For summers one may have watermelon. Apart from giving you a lot of water, it is also rich in vitamin A, C, B1 and B6. Cucumbers are very cooling in summers. They rejuvenate the skin. The unpeeled cucumber contains vitamin K, C and dietary fibres.

2. Steaming

It is another step to have a glowing face and clean pores. Doing it once a week is sufficient. It helps to loosen the impurities embedded into the skin pores and the pores will open. It is very important to do the steaming on a clean face, that is, after washing it and after the steaming, do apply a face pack (as per your skin type) for 20minutes followed by a moisturiser.

3. Use a Primer

You must be thinking you do not need a primer. Well think again. A primer not only hides the fine lines and pores but also acts as a barrier between the skin and the make up applied. It means by applying a primer after the moisturiser and before the make up or bb cream, the skin will not break out. But make sure the primer should not clog the pores as otherwise there will be breakouts.

4. Sleep

You must have heard a number of times of the importance of sleeping for 8 hours, but are you aware that these 8 hours should be of night and not the day. Its only when we sleep in the night, our skin repairs and rejuvenates itself. Not getting enough sleep leads to not only a dull skin but a tired body and weak immune system as well. One may schedule the sleeping time keeping in mind that the hours between 10pm to 4am are included in the sleep. If we are not sleeping from 10pm to 4am, the process of repairing cells drastically slows down leading to an early aging, fine lines and pigmentation and in few cases even the breakouts.

Personal TIP:- using lavender oil in diffusers during night in the bed room enhance

oil diffuser

s the quality of sleep.

A lot of dermatologists as well as the dieticians recommend to switch off all the electronic devices at least an hour before hitting the bed to improve the quality and have a sound sleep.

5. Using Loofah

On using the loofa just for 15-20 seconds daily on elbows and knees while bathing can help to reduce their pigmentation. But remember to apply a good cream after bathing.

6. Contraceptive Pills

Taking birth control pills or contraceptive pills may cause hyper pigmentation on face as well. This hyper pigmentation is caused by increase in the production of melanin. Taking these pills regularly may increase the melanin production. So please do take them after consulting a gynaecologist and a dermatologist (skin specialist).

7. Apply Sunscreen

Sunscreen must be applied on the face as well as the neck daily, no matter even if you are indoors. Applying on neck is important as the skin on the neck is very thin which can very much be damaged by the sun exposure. Make sure the sunscreen that you apply does not clog pores or is non comedogenic, which will be mentioned on the pack. 

This step will prevent the damage caused by the sun and help to reduce the dark spots and pigmentation gradually.

8. Facial

Once a month go for a facial or if you want to save the time and money you may do it at home as well by looking at its tutorial. But facial should be done only after the age of 30years.

9. Exfoliate

Exfoliating twice a week is must for oily skin and once for normal to dry skin for a healthy and clean pores. During my early years I did not pay much attention to exfoliation but once I started doing it, I really felt the difference. Make sure that the scrub you choose has very fine round particles in it for exfoliating.

After exfoliating, don't forget to moisturise the skin with a good nourishing moisturiser.

10. Apply Face Pack

Once a week is enough or you may go for a sheet mask as well. Many face packs help to brighten the skin and keep the acne at bay. I apply the PLUM green tea clear face mask and it has helped me a lot for the acne. I have shared its link in the blog. Make sure before application of any of the face packs, the face is clean or you may exfoliate it and it is followed by application of a moisturiser.

11. Apply a Toner

Please do apply a toner for acne prone skin after washing your face. This toner will further clean the pores and make them smaller.

12. Bleach

Oh please! Say NO to bleach. Although a number of brands promise that their bleach is chemical free, but it is not so. It is only through the chemical process that the facial hair get light. Bleaching can lead to serious skin and health conditions which includes thinning of skin, leading to a blotchy appearance, dark grey spots, acne and even skin cancer.

So please ladies, think twice when your beautician asks you for bleach. She may never tell you these serious conditions which may occur after repetitive usage.

13. Drink Water

Its not that we have to drink 2 to 3 litres of water daily, but the intake of water depends on ones activity and on the hot or cooler months. So drink as much as you can to detoxify yourself.

The dark spots and pimple marks will take a little time to clear. So please have patience and do follow and stick to a skin care regime.

Please do comment below if you have any questions or even if you like the blog. Do share and follow me for more useful blogs.

Disclaimer
I do not receive any monetary compensation for promoting any of the products mentioned. All the reviews given for any of the products are on my personal experience, after purchasing and using them.

Is Mousse better than Liquid Foundation or BB Creams

May your foundation match your neck and looks like your skin, concealer be creaseless and the winged eyeliner be sharpe enough to kill..................... I kown ladies every one of you wants this, but, to achieve it you must know your skin first, I mean the type of skin you have, and accordingly apply the makeup which will give a natural effect. On reading further you will come to know whats your skin type and which one of the following will help you to kill; a mousse, a liquid foundation or bb cream.

Know Your Skin First

Your skin may be either dry, combination or oily. To check the same, first wash your face with a facial cleanser and after washing please do apply anything to it and remain indoors for minimum an hour. After one hour take a facial tissue and cover the entire face with it. Take it off and observe it carefully. If you do not find any spot on the tissue, your skin is dry. If there are traces of oil on the T-zone, that is, the forehead, nose and chin, leaving your cheeks, you have a combination skin. And yes if the entire tissue has oil traces, your skin is oily.

By performing this test you will get the true result when the atmospheric temperature is between 25 degrees to 30 degrees celsius. And of course by doing this test in the extreme winter or extreme summer months, you will have a different result and thus it may help you to buy your skin care products accordingly. No matter how best the brand you buy, it will work its best only when bought as per the skin type. On all of the good skin care products, the type of skin will be mentioned. So, please do read it before buying them.

For Oily and Combination Skin

Mousses are really good for oily skin. Especially during the summer time my skin becomes very oily and applying a mousse ends up to be really great compared to a liquid foundation. No matter whatever brand of the foundation I am using it tends to sweat after one hour. But after I have used the Lakme Absolute Mattreal Skin Natural Mousse, it stays on the skin for almost 7-8 hours without sweating and gives a medium coverage.

I do understand that life is not perfect, but your make up can certainly be. Mousse is something which a girl with oily skin should have in her daily make up bag during the hot, humid summer weather as it is neither heavy like a foundation nor patchy like a BB cream during this weather. Such products appears to be natural on the skin.

bb cream

During dry winter months, bb creams will be your best friend. I have used Maybelline bb, Lakme cc and L'oreal bb creams. The Lakme one caused acne but the Maybelline bb cream had stunned me. This is really nice and refreshing in the winter season.

Pros
- really light weight cream and helps the skin to breathe
- does not clog pores so no acne eruptions
- gives fresh, matte look not a cakey one
- its non comedogenic, that is, a product which is formulated not to cause blocked pores.

Cons
- doesn't gives heavy coverage, acne dark spots are not covered
- staying power is four to five hours however my mother is having dry skin and for her it stays for 8 hours.

For Normal to Dry Skin

My mother is having this type of skin and she uses the bb creams throughout the year. However in the winter season she applies it along with the moisturizer. For her it lasts for hours.  

Liquid foundations work well for this type of skin during summers after applying a primer. Many of us may not know what a 'primer' is. Well it is a base before applying make up that allows the makeup to be much more smoother and last longer. Liquid foundations are light weight and give natural looking coverage, suitable for dry to normal skin. Without the primer they can be applied on oily skin as well.

Disclaimer
The opinions expressed here are mine and not those of any advertiser, company, affiliate or group. I do not sell or represent any product line. I do not receive any monetary compensation for promoting any of the products mentioned. All the reviews given are on my personal experience, after purchasing and using the products by my mother and myself.

5 Most effective Tips to Maintain the Hygiene of a Mattress

If you are really fond of cleanliness, hygiene and want a flawless skin then this is for you. Yes, if proper hygiene of the bed and the mattress is not maintained one may get worst pimples and acne as well. And there is more to it, one may even get asthma and eczema. I must tell you that hygiene forms two third of our health. Always keep in mind that the one, who maintains cleanliness keeps away the diseases.Your body is your most priceless possession so one must take care of it. Keeping the mattress clean will keep you healthy and benefit your life as well.

We spend about one-third of our life sleeping, that is if one lives for 75 years, 25 years are spent in bed. The mattresses on which we sleep appears to be soft and is comfy but the hidden part is that, over the years of usage it becomes an abode to fungal spores, bacteria, dust mites and dead skin cells. Shocking huh!
Today I am going to share with you the best ways to care for your bed and the mattress which can enhance your health apart from providing a comfortable sleep.

1. Allow the mattress to breathe in sunshine

The ultraviolet rays of the sun are not good for the skin but, they turn out to be a very good disinfectants as they are able to kill a large number of microorganisms, such as bacteria and even the dust mites, which are proven to be the key allergens to trigger the allergy illness like asthma and eczema. At least once a month, on a dry sunny day let the mattress get enough sunlight. It will not only help the mattress to last longer but also disinfect to a large extent.

2. Restrain the Allergens

You may always try the following method during the months when there is not the adequate amount of sunshine. We can clean the mattress in a very simple way with an ingredient that is easily found in the kitchen.
Baking soda, is the perfect solution to clean the mattress and can be used regularly for cleaning as it has the ability to kill bacteria and helps in removing odours as well as stains.

- What all we Require

                             baking soda - 500g

                             essential oil

essential oils

                             vacuum cleaner

Mix your favourite essential oil in baking soda.

The best examples of essential oils for disinfecting would be:-
                                  tea tree

                                  peppermint

                                  lemon

                                  eucalyptus

                                  pine
                                  cinnamon

- Procedure

Sprinkle the baking soda and the essential oil mixture on one side of the mattress evenly. Leave it for two to two and a half hours.

- Vacuum it

Use a vacuum to remove the baking soda completely.

In this way you will get rid of the dirt bacteria and moisture. Very effective in the weather when adequate amount of sunlight is not available.

3. Avoid pets in the Bedroom

I do understand for many, pets may be like completing your family or best friends and many of you must be saying to them "I will be back soon", when you leave the house. But, try to understand that they shed fur and skin cells too, promoting dust mites population. They may also aggravate allergies and asthma.

So please try to keep them away from the bedroom.

4. Wash Bedding Frequently

The feeling is really amazing when one gets the fresh and clean bedsheets. We sleep much better on the fresh bedding. So try to keep the bedding fresh as much as possible.
Are you aware when you are ill and lying on bed, what happens to your bedding? The flu viruses get on to your bedsheets and stay alive for 48 hours. So one really needs to disinfect and clean. A temperature above 50 degrees Celsius is required to kill mites, viruses and other microorganisms. After washing, if possible allow the bedding to dry in the sun. Bedsheets, blankets and pillow covers should ideally be washed every 7 to 10 days. If anyone of your family members is ill and lying on bed, please wash their bedsheets and towels daily for speedy recovery as well as for your better health.

5. Take care when Shifting

Ready to move? So you have started with the packing and must be really very busy with it. Do remember, when you shift from one home to another, the mattress must be properly moved. First of all make sure the mattress is 100% dry. It is a good idea to place it in direct sunlight for few hours. Do cover you mattresses with a plastic to barrier them from the outside environment. This will help the dirt and water off them.

Following the above mentioned steps will definitely give you a better health.

Beautiful You - A smart way to Healthy Skin and Fit You

Today each one of us wants to have a lovely and flawless skin. To me, beauty is about being comfortable in your own skin. Its about knowing and accepting who you are, the way you are.

My skin was flawless till the time I was in college. But when I started working, within a couple of months my skin started having breakouts and acne. Even my complexion was becoming darker. Initially I ignored it, but with time the problem increased. And I was not able to accept this. So I changed my routine and schedule what I am going to share with you now. And today my skin feels fresh and flawless again, boosting my confidence levels. FYI mine is really very sensitive and I have a combination skin.

Just practice the following mantras and feel the difference yourself.

Mantra 1:- 8 hour sleep

Keep in mind that these 8 hours should be of night and not the day. Its only when we sleep in the night, our skin repairs and rejuvenates itself. Not getting enough sleep leads to not only a dull skin but a tired body and weak immune system as well. One may schedule the sleeping time keeping in mind that the hours between 10pm to 4am are included in the sleep. If we are not sleeping from 10pm to 4am, the process of repairing cells drastically slows down leading to an early aging.

Personal TIP:- using lavender oil in diffusers during night in the bed room enhances the quality of sleep.

A lot of dermatologists as well as the dieticians recommend to switch off all the electronic devices at least an hour before hitting the bed to improve the quality and have a sound sleep.

Mantra 2:- have periodic meals

No matter how busy you are, try to eat small portions every 2 hours. I know it is easier said than done, how can one eat periodically while at work? Even I used to think the same before I tried it myself.

See it is very easy. Start with a healthy and a heavy breakfast, that must be eaten within an hour one wakes up. One may always carry fruit, yoghurt, curd, nuts, raw vegetables that can be eaten as salads like cucumber, carrot for in between meals.

Personal TIP:- I always eat a handful of peanuts or cashew nuts as my intermediate meal. And my evening intermediate meal is a glass of milk with protein powder. These always keep me going with full energy without caffeine.

Having periodic meals not only increases ones metabolism but also the body feels loved and full and also the skin is refreshed, that means no more dull skin. But remember to eat small portions and not large, every 2 hours.

Mantra 3:- exercise

Exercising every day is not necessary. One needs to exercise just for 90 minutes a week to be fit and have a healthy skin. This means even 15 minutes of daily exercise is enough to have an awesome skin, wow.

When one exercises, the body releases hormones called endorphin. These endorphins give a positive feeling and one feels really happy thus reducing stress. There is an improved flow of blood, which reaches to every cell of our body and makes our skin to breath. Along with the skin, it will keep your hair shiny and healthy as well. It also helps to sleep better.

Mantra 4:- exfoliate

Exfoliating twice a week is must for oily skin and once for normal to dry skin for a healthy and clean pores. During my early years I did not pay much attention to exfoliation but once I started doing it, I really felt the difference.

After exfoliating, don't forget to moisturise the skin with a good nourishing moisturiser.

Mantra 5:- vitamin C

It is one of those vitamins that the body can't store and requires it daily. It is not only an essential vitamin for a bright complexion but also helps in building immunity. Go for fruits rich in vitamin C and go for skin care products that contain this vitamin.

Personal TIP:- During the winter months, daily I eat the Indian gooseberry that is the homemade amla ka murabba. Gooseberries are richest source of vitamin C in Asian countries.