Tuesday, December 31, 2013

How to Thicken your Lashes Naturally with DIY Eyelash Thickening Serum


Those who say that long and beautiful eyelashes are not essential, or claim that they don’t bother about thickening them, are usually those who are blessed with beautiful eyelashes. Annoying as it is, I’m not among the lucky few so I am on a constant search for homemade remedies that can help me offset this inborn bad luck. Add to this the fact that constant use of makeup causes the lashes to lose their strength and eventually fall out, and you probably understand my desperation to finding a miracle solution.
I don’t know if good things come to those who wait, but I like to believe that it was my driven nature that led me to the eyelash thickening serum using castor oil. Its beneficial effects were presented to me by someone who was already using castor oil and praised its emollient effect. It carries virtually none of the shortcomings of commercial products, which makes it the ideal solution for moisturizing and nourishing the eyelash follicles.
long-lashes
The idea behind using this do it yourself remedy is to mitigate the detrimental effects of the chemicals present in the makeup we religiously use. There is more than meets the eye to this eyelash thickening serum, because the concoction contains castor oil, vitamin E oil besides the aloe vera gel. The mixture is supposed to coat the eyelashes after cleaning them from any makeup previously applied and when used frequently, it will restore their natural beauty and fortitude.
You’ll Need:
Clean nail polish container or small clean bottle
old mascara (I used an old liquid liner)
1/4 part of Castor Oil
1/2 part Vitamin E Oil
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Just mix all the ingredients and put the mixture inside a clean nail polish container or small bottle. Apply the concoction lightly in your lashes using old clean mascara (I used the liquid liner wand) before going to bed and after a month of using this DIY serum, you’ll notice longer, stronger beautiful eyelashes. Castor oil is a highly effective remedy against hair loss, promoting hair growth and improving its density so it works wonder in thickening your lashes and Vitamin E accelerates the length of your lashes.

No-Shine Complexion Treatment – Say Goodbye to Oily Face


For a smooth, glowing complexion, your pores just need a little help to all but disappear. We often troll the internet to find the best way on how to shrink the pores but technically, we can’t do anything about it. Our pores serve as pipes that line the hair shaft and their size is determined by genes. Meaning, there are some people who are predestined to have larger pores. But the good thing is, we can make them appear less visible or shrink their look by eliminating the real cause of the pore’s distension – dead skin and oil.
no-shine-facial-treatment
I know, I know, it’s kind of irritating to wash your face and after ten minutes, you glance in a mirror and gasp at the slight shine that is back. This happens because your cleanser is probably stripping your skin of moisture, which makes your oil glands work into overdrive to protect your skin.
You can stop the madness by using this no-shine facial treatment that will put an end to that vicious cycle.
You’ll Need:
1/2 cup orange juice (freshly squeeze)
1 tbsp cornstarch
Sprinkle of salt

Why These Ingredients:

The astringent quality of the citric acid in the juice cleanses pores, thus salt and cornstarch combo will remove the oil without drying your skin. The overall results? Smaller-looking pores.
newPostLabel_Instructions1Cut the orange into half and squeeze the juice over a container or a small bowl.
no-shine-facial-treatment
2Then, add the cornstarch and a dash of salt. Make sure to mix them thoroughly. Using a cotton ball/pad or a makeup brush, smooth the mixture over your face and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and follow with cold water to close the pores.
no-shine-facial-treatment

Natural Way to Remove Excessive / Unwanted Facial Hair


Most men choose to shave regularly but even if they forget or choose to postpone the operation, nobody bats an eye. When it comes to women though, facial hair is embarrassing and the more you have, the bigger the problem and the more out of reach the solution. Plugging it is painful and takes long enough to think it over and over, while waxing doesn’t work if you have sensitive skin. In fact, waxing can create an entire different problem that will in turn require another complex and procedure, so it defeats the purpose.

Causes

Abnormal facial hair development, even so, is referred to as Hirsutism. It can be triggered by increased stages of testosterone and other androgens. Usually Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is the major cause of Hirsutism. Hirsutism can also be hereditary. Sometimes use of certain medicines can also cause facial hair to grow.
Doing nothing is not an option and shaving is a big no-no too, as it will only cause facial hair to grow faster and thicker. Being a natural phenomenon, doesn’t mean that we should take it as a fact of life, instead focus on the causes and try to make amends. An irregular menstrual cycle is going to amplify the problem, but before jumping to conclusions remember that there are many drugs that have undesired side-effect and some of them make the facial hair problem worse. Hormonal imbalances, both chronic and caused by a pregnancy are also responsible for excess facial hair.
unwanted-hair-facial-removal
While shaving, waxing and bleaching are some of the temporary solutions to get rid of unwanted hair, there are some natural remedies – which may not offer permanent solutions – but help reduce hair growth.
1Use Spearmint Tea
spearmint-tea-to-regulateUnwanted hair usually appears because of excess production of androgens. You can use spearmint tea to regulate the levels of these hormones. Take one cup water and bring it to a boil, add 1 tsp dried spearmint or 5-6 leaves of fresh spearmint and remove from heat. Keep it covered for 5 minutes then strain and consume. Or you can just buy spearmint tea available in the market. A daily cup of this tea is good to treat your problem of unwanted hair.
2Basil Onion Paste
basil-onionYou need 9 to 12 fresh basil leaves and the thin transparent membrane found in the onions. Take membranes of two onions and make a paste by crushing these with basil leaves. Apply this paste on the areas with excess hair. Using this paste for a month will bring beneficial result and you might end up getting rid of your unwanted hair forever.
3Thanaka Powder & Safflower
You will need thanaka powder and safflower oil. Now you must be wondering what is thanaka powder? It is a yellowish-white colored powder made from the bark of thanaka tree and is commonly used in Burma as a cosmetic. Make a paste of thanaka powder and safflower oil, the consistency should match with a hair removal cream. Apply it to the areas where you have unwanted hair and let your skin absorb the paste. Keep it on for the night and rinse off in the morning with water. 3 months of regular use will help you get rid of your problem permanently.
4Yogurt, Gram Flour & Turmeric
Take 2 tablespoon yogurt, 2 tablespoon gram flour and ½ teaspoon turmeric powder. Make a paste of all these ingredients and apply it to your facial hair. Let it dry and gently rub it off. Frequent use of this mixture for a few months will remove facial hair permanently.
5Turmeric & Indian Nettle Paste
Take dry powdered turmeric, Acalphya Indica leaves (also known as Indian Acalphya or Indian Nettle) and neem leaves (also known as Azadirachta indica), and make a paste. Apply this paste to the areas with hair and let it dry, then peel off.
6Papaya Turmeric Paste
papaya-n-turmeric-1A paste of raw papaya and ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder is very effective for removing unwanted hair permanently. Just massage your face with this paste for 15 minutes and rinse off. Use it once or twice a week to get best results.
7Honey & Lemon Juice
honey-n-lemonMix 4 tablespoon honey and 2 teaspoon lemon juice and apply this mixture in the direction of the hair. Wash off after 15 minutes and use this mixture two times a week if you are looking for good benefits.
8Egg Sugar & Cornflour Paste
Take an egg white, add 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 teaspoon cornflour and make a paste with these ingredients. Apply the mixture on the area with unwanted hair, peel off when the mixture gets dry. You can apply this mixture twice a week for best results.

5 hair masks


Next time you think about visiting the hairstylist and paying a hefty amount for a procedure that is supposed to leave your hair smooth and silky, do yourself a favor and give these DIY hair masks a chance. You will discover that for a fraction of the amount paid in a beauty salon you will enjoy the same results, in a sustainable and all natural manner. From that point onward you will have no reason to go back to your expensive ways.
Creating a mask at home isn’t as difficult as it sounds. Most of the ingredients are things lying around your kitchen anyway, so you’ll know exactly what’s going on your hair. Not to mention you’ll be saving some money too. These five DIY hair mask ideas below are simple to do and take no longer than 30 minutes of your time.
DIY-hair-mask

Fine, Lifeless Hair:

Just because your hair isn’t thick or unruly, doesn’t mean there aren’t benefits to a moisturizing mask. Banana, egg, and oils work wonders on fine hair. The banana is one of nature’s best remedies for thinning hair; the egg is a mighty protein that will give your hair the strength, shine, volume, and texture of your dreams; and oils add strength and moisture.
What you’ll need:
1 egg
1 banana
2 tbsp of honey
3 tbsp of virgin olive oil
3 tbsp of buttermilk
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Mash the banana and egg together. Once you have a smooth mixture, stir in the buttermilk, honey and olive oil. Apply it all over your hair and cover with shower cap and let it sit for 20 minutes before rinsing. You will be left with revived, healthy-looking hair.

Itchy Scalp:

Send falling flakes packing with a mask filled with nurturing oils (like coconut, jojoba, and olive). Mayonnaise and avocados are also natural deep conditioners which will give your scalp a little TLC.
Option 1: You’ll Need:
  • 3 tbsp Virgin organic coconut oil (or you can use olive or jojoba oil
  • 1 cup Mayonnaise
  • 1 Avocado, pitted and skinned
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Mix the three ingredients and apply to your hair. Cover your hair with a shower cap and let it sit for 30 minutes and rinse as usual.
Option 2: You’ll Need:
  • Virgin organic coconut oil
  • Lemon Juice
  • Grapefruit Juice
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Mix 4 tablespoons coconut oil with 1 tablespoon grapefruit juice and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Apply this mixture to your hair. Cover your hair with a shower cap and let it sit for 20-30 minutes and rinse as usual.
DIY-scalp-treatment
Grapefruit contains medicinal properties that are essential for the growth of thicker and healthier hair strands.grapefruit is a good natural hair loss treatment for women. It is an excellent anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and anti-depressant agent.
*If you suffer from dandruff or other hair conditions characterized by a dry and flaking scalp, applying grapefruit essential oil can help reduce these problems.

Brittle Hair:

If your split ends never seem to disappear, a protein-filled mask might be what you need. This is one of my favorite hair mask as avocado is loaded with proteins and Vitamins (especially Vit E) that are essential to repair, nourish and hydrate damaged,lackluster hair. Olive oil is known as a great moisturizer that attracts and seal the moisture that treat split ends and brings your hair back to life. While egg the whites will seep into the hair, making your hair follicles stronger and healthier. In addition, the nutrients found in egg whites work much like conditioners to add shine, texture and volume.
eggs-and-olive
Ingredients:
1 avocado, pitted and skinned
1 egg white
3 tablespoons olive oil
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Puree the avocado in a blender or mash it using fork and mix with olive oil and the egg whites until you obtain a creamy consistency like conditioner. Apply the mixture to each section of your hair, cover with a shower cap and let sit for 30 – 45 minutes. Shampoo and rinse thoroughly and style as usual.

Dry, Dull Hair:

If your strands are in need of extra moisture, revive and re-hydrate your hair with this easy recipe and mix in a blender:
You’ll Need:
1/2 avocado
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
2 ounces water
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Begin by wetting your hair with warm water to open the hair follicle. Comb the mask through the hair to ensure even application. Once the mask is applied, sit under a hooded dryer with a processing cap for a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes to allow the hair to absorb the nutrients. Afterwards, rinse your hair with cool water to close the cuticle and lock in moisture. Finally, hydrate with conditioner and then do a final rinse.

Hydrating Oil Mask

What you’ll need:
4 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp honey
Heat up the olive oil for 20 seconds in the microwave before mixing it up with the honey. After you have applied it on your hair, put a shower cap on for about 20 minutes. Finish by rinsing your hair and styling as usual.

A Mask To Fight Frizz

What you’ll need:
1/2 cup of yogurt
1/2 cup of honey
1 tbsp of almond oil
Mix the three ingredients together and apply all over your hair. Leave it in for 20 minutes and then rinse off with a shampoo. Your frizz will be under control if you do this at least once a month.

Restorative Mask

What you’ll need:
1 egg
1 banana
2 tbsp of honey
1/2 avocado
3 tbsp of virgin olive oil
3 tbsp of buttermilk
Mash the banana, egg and avocado together. Once you have a smooth mixture, stir in the buttermilk, honey and olive oil. Apply it all over your hair and let it sit for 20 minutes before rinsing. You will be left with revived, healthy-looking hair.

Mask For Shiny Hair

What you’ll need:
3 tbsp of olive oil
1/2 cup of coconut milk
1 avocado
Mash up the avocado until it’s smooth then add the coconut milk and olive oil. Once everything is mixed together heat it up in the microwave for 20 seconds. Slather all over your hair and after 30 minutes wash it all out.

Oily Hair Mask

What you’ll need:
5 tbsp of plain yogurt
1 tbsp of baking soda
1 tbsp of lemon juice
Mix the three ingredients together and rub all over your hair focusing on the roots. After 30 minutes rinse off. If your hair is extra oily try doing this mask once a week.

best for eyes


If you’re looking for a dirt cheap product that will hydrate you skin, save yourself some time and don’t go shopping for long hours, because this won’t do it. The good news is that, all you need are some ingredients that you probably have at home already, at least I did.
Assuming you are in short supply of almond oil and Aloe Vera, this is the stuff that you should purchase and I suggest to buy a bit more than you need for this particular homemade remedy.
The truth is that you can’t have too much almond oil and there are so many do-it-yourself creams and lotions out there, that you should always find a use for it. Back to this homemade eye serum, I couldn’t emphasize more the beneficial effect on the skin, in addition to serving its designated purpose.
Homemade-eye-serum

Why These Ingredients?

My sensitive skin was reinvigorated after the first application, and a scientist would explain it by highlighting the fact that almond oil is rich in vitamin E, which in turn acts as an antioxidant that helps skin hydrated and fights free radicals. It’s a great moisturizer as it is loaded of fatty acids and acts as humectant and emollient that softens and soothes the skin.
The aloe vera gel makes it easier for the skin to absorb the nutrients without being heavy or greasy and also simplifies the application process, so you won’t have to worry about greasy skin. It is also good for minimizing wrinkles, is anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial, is absorbed easily into the skin, and can lessen the appearance of stretch marks!
Among the bonus benefits of this eye serum, I have to mention the fact that it makes it a breeze to remove mascara. It takes less time and there is less friction, which means that you won’t suffer from irritation, even if you have a sensitive skin. And you can make it yourself in about a minute.
You’ll Need:
Sweet Almond Oil
Aloe Vera Gel
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Combine equal parts of almond oil and aloe vera gel in a small flip-top bottle.
Homemade-eye-serum
Shake gently to combine the mixture. (Before application, make sure to shake the mixture because it will separate.) Use your ring fingers to apply the serum, and just gently pat it into the affected area and they blend together perfectly on your skin.
Homemade-eye-serum

make ur hands pretty


You’ll Need:
Heavy moisturizer
Retinol cream
Moisturizing gloves or cotton gloves
Sunscreen
1
Wear a high SPF sunscreen or sun block on the back of your hands, especially when driving your car. The sun causes 90% to 95% of the wrinkles, lines, discolorations and more to our bodies and hands. Keep some sun block in your car.
younger-looking-hands
2
Wear rubber gloves lined with cotton when your hands are in contact with harsh soaps, detergents, or chemicals. Wear gloves every single time you wash dishes or hand wash clothing. That dishwashing liquid is alkaline, which is hard on the skin. Cleaning agents can be extremely harsh on both nails and hands. The nails when exposed to water, swell and then shrink back as they dry. This contributes to brittle nails.
Always wear protective gloves when gardening or during heavy housework. Wear gloves to protect your hands from cold weather.
Use a mild pH soap, like Dove, when washing your hands.
gloves
3
Exfoliate. Use a grainy scrub on backs of hands twice a week to reveal glowing skin. You can either use the same exfoliate that you use on your face or make your own by making a solution of sea salt mixed with lemon juice. Brush it into hands with an old toothbrush to help remove any dead skin cells.
scrub-exfoliate
4
Moisturize - After washing your hands, pat dry and while moist, use a heavy moisturizer or Retinol Cream on the hands, cuticles, and nails. Keeping the thin skin of our hands moisturized is very important. You can put some cream in small containers. Carry one in your purse and put the others in strategic places around the house.
home-remedies-for-younger-looking-hands
5
Get Into the Gloves - To get your hands super soft overnight, put cotton gloves or cotton socks on your hands after applying the heavy moisturizer. Go to bed and leave the gloves/socks on overnight. After you wake up, remove the gloves/socks from your hands and be amazed how soft your hands are. I do this every night.
younger-hands
6
Keep your cuticles neat. Cuticles function as barriers to bacteria and fungus, but they can often overgrow. Use a wooden cuticle pusher after a shower to keep them in line and NEVER cut your cuticles. Tiny hangnails and bitten edges can catch on almost anything, turning into deep tears and possibly leading to infection. Keep them covered by applying a liquid bandage product as soon as tears develop or you can use any regular bandage until its heals.
clean-cuticles

unusal uses of honey


Honey is perhaps one of the most underestimated foods and even though the numbers suggest that we intake decent quantities every year, we don’t make full use of it. I love the taste and the numerous ways in which honey can be used to sweeten up my meals, but there is more than meets the eye about it and I intend to share them with you. Honey is a great moisturizer and any homemade remedy should have it among the ingredients because it can help you get smooth skin and lips.
It has certain therapeutic uses, and if you like to drink your tea sweet, then do yourself a favor and use honey instead of sugar. It will help your body, bump your energy levels and help you with a sore throat or other cold related symptoms that can ruin your day. Honey is just as good to sweeten up fruit salads and I make sure I have plenty of it around when preparing a dish for my family.
unusual-uses-of-honey

Here Are 20 Alternative Uses For Honey That You May Have Never Thought Of:

1

Put It On Your Lips

Did you know that making your own lip balm is as easy as tracking down some almond oil, beeswax and honey? Sure is. Makes you feel a little guilty about that $10 version you picked up at the health food store yesterday, doesn’t it?
Source
lip-balm
2

Lose Weight

Well, what were you expecting? With a list this long it had to be pretty apparent that honey is in fact a wonder food, and as it turns out, you can even make it part of your next weight loss plan. Honey is an excellent substitute for sugar and it also helps speed up metabolism. Just remember: all things in moderation.
cinnamon+honey
3

Get An Energy Boost

Feeling a tad lethargic? Skip the coffee and go for the honey instead. Mix a tablespoon into a cup of tea and you’ll be feeling better in no time.
4

Soften Your Skin & Fade Post Acne Marks

Honey is an excellent exfoliant. You can pair it with ground almonds and lemon juice for a killer homemade facial scrub. Or you can try using this turmeric mask home remedy regularly, my post acne scars seems to fade away and the healing process was cut down by half.
dealing-with-post-acne-marks
5

Beautify Your Hair

In the shower, after washing your hair, coat the ends with a bit of honey. Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing out and you’ll find that your hair is less frizzy and extra conditioned. Or make your hair shiny and bright by adding one teaspoon honey to one quart of water, and after washing your hair, pour the mixture over your head. Let it dry and enjoy your new-found shiny do.
hair
6

Clear Up Your Dry Elbows

Nothing’s worse than scratchy elbows (no really) so next time, after you’ve washed and scrubbed, rub some honey on to soften the skin. Leave on for 30 minutes then wash off.
7

Remove Parasites

Got a post-Southeast Asia backpacking trip bug that just won’t leave you alone? Combine equal parts honey, vinegar and water. Then drink. The combination of vinegar’s acidity and honey’s therapeutic components is more than enough to kill or expel bodily intruders. When you suspect that you have worms in your body, drink ample amounts of the solution regularly. The parasites might build a resistance if you don’t manage to get rid of them all as soon as possible.
8

Make Your Own Honey Moisturizer

If you’ve got a handful of sweet smelling herbs — think lavender — laying around and ready to be used, why not use them for your own homemade honey lotion? Warm honey over a saucepan until it gets to a liquid consistency. Pour honey over herbs and cap tightly; the ratio you want to use is 1 tablespoon of herbs per 8 ounces of honey. Let sit for a week and then mix 1 teaspoon of liquid into an 8 ounce bottle of unscented lotion.
9

Eat It With Goat Cheese

In need of a classy hors d’oeuvre but lacking in the time department? Try this: put a round of goat cheese in a ramekin, sprinkle honey and chopped walnuts on top and place in oven at 350F until honey and cheese are both soft. Serve with baguette or crackers and you’ll be the life of the party.
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honey
10

Drink It

We all know a drop of honey in tea is good for a sore throat, but you can add it to most drinks for an extra energy boost. And simply because it’s a whole lot better than tossing in a few Sweet ‘N Lows.
11

Give Yourself A Facial

Honey is a natural humectant with antimicrobial properties, which means your skin will be happy when you give it some sweet honey love. Try a basic honey wash by mixing a dollop of honey and two tablespoons of warm water and massaging the mixture into your skin. Or you can go all out and try this recipe to shrink large pores.
how-to-shrink-pores
12

Go The Extra Mile

Forget energy bars and shots, just pop a tablespoon of honey before your next workout. Seriously, it has been proven to boost athletic performance.
13

Make A Salad

One of my favorite and easiest fruit salads uses just a touch of honey to enhance the sugars in the fruit, and it’s a perfect late summer dessert.
1 cantaloupe, chopped
3 nectarines, chopped
4 tablespoons chopped basil
2 tablespoons honey
Mix together and enjoy!
14

Clean Your Cuts And Scrapes

Honey can actually be used as an antiseptic, like a natural Neosporin. Because of its many antimicrobial properties, it can be used to treat wounds and even burns.
15

Get Rid Of Your Hangover

Forget a morning of popping ibuprofen, spread some honey on your toast or add some to your tea. Because honey is loaded with fructose, it will help speed up the metabolism of alcohol.
drunk
16

Preserve Fruit

Jam is so five years ago; show you’re truly cutting edge by preserving your fruits in a honey sauce. All it takes is one part honey to ten parts water and then covering your berries. Pretty much the closest you’re ever going to get to bottling up a little bit of summer.
preserved-fruits
17

Relax In The Tub

Add a few tablespoons of honey to your bath, for sweeter smelling, softer feeling water. Pure bliss.
18

Eat The Honeycomb. No Really, Just Do It.

Yes, it can be done! Check out this food blogger who put the ingredient to her readers and got some fun responses. The best sounding one? Mix it with crunchy peanut butter on toast.
19

Mix A Drink

After you’ve been busy reaping all the health benefits that honey has to offer, it’s time to celebrate, and what better way than with a good ole cocktail. Honey Gin Cocktail? Bring it.
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