Five steps for healthy skin

Step1: Cleansing

Good cleansing removes the impurities, bacteria and dead cells that accumulate on

the surface of the epidermis as well as any residue from makeup, while leaving as

much of the lubricating natural oil (or sebum) as possible. A cleanser should

therefore be gentle and natural. Use a non-lathering cleansing. Massage in circular

movements over the face and neck. Leave on for 1-2 minutes to dissolve grime and

old make-up. Then gently wipe off with cotton swabs. Rinse off with warm water.

Once in a while, or on a more regular basis for those with oily skin, a clay or fruit or

oat-based cleansing mask used for a deeper cleansing action. 

Step 2: Herbal facial steam

One traditional and very simple way to deep clean the skin is to steam your face for a few minutes. Steaming removes dirt and pollution very efficiently from the skin, but it removes important natural oils as well. So, although the technique brings excellent results on an oily skin or anyone suffering from acne, most skin types must bear in mind that in the long term it has a drying effect.
Steaming should therefore be used very occasionally on a dry or aging skin (once in a month is the maximum) and never for more than 2-3 minutes. On a oily skin, it can be done once a week, and for 5-8 minutes. For a combination skin, 2-3 minutes once a week is recommended maximum. A normal skin will benefit form an occasional steaming (every two weeks) as long as the exposure to steam is not prolonged (5minutes maximum). It is not recommended for extremely sensitive skins.


Select a herbal facial steam that's best for your skin type. 
 Bring the dry herbs (lavender, chamomile, lemon grass, rosemary, etc.) to a boil in a
large pot of water. Remove from heat source; steam for 5 minutes. A facial steam is
the best possible way for deep pore cleansing, and each of the herbs used in rich in
nutrients that nourish and tone the skin. Immediately after your facial steam, rinse
your face with cold water.

Step 3: Facials

Facials are excellent for stimulating circulation to the skin. It brings fresh blood to the skin. They promote deep pore cleansing and help heal blemishes and acne. Facials also help tone and firm the skin.
They are several kinds of facials available. You can try some homemade facial masks (clay mask, honey mask, egg mask, oats mask, fruits and vegetables mask, etc) to get a beautiful skin.

Step 4: Tonic astringents

When the facial is completely dry, rinse off with warm water. Be gentle to your skin while rinsing of the facial material. Use soft, circular motions. Massage your skin; do not scrub it. Immediately after rinsing the facial, apply an astringent preparation to tone and close the pores.

Step 5: Moisturizer

Dot the skin with moisturizer and gently massage it in smooth circular movements.
Try to do this slowly as it allows you to massage the skin and relax yourself. Apply
vitamin E oil or, a small amount of eye cream around the eyes and gently pat it in
with your finger. The tapping action helps relieve puffy eyelids and also stimulates
the acupressure points around the eyes.

Skin type test

Wash your face with a neutral (not made for a particular skin type) soap or cleanser
(such as Neutrogena for normal skin). Rinse with water. Pat try with a towel just
enough to absorb moisture do not rub. Wait one hour, and then blot your entire face
with one ply (or layer) of a large facial tissue. Press lightly all over your face and leave
for about one minute. Then remove the paper carefully and examine it near a window
or a light.

 

What do you see? 

· If you see oil throughout the tissue, you most likely have oily skin.
· If you see oil only in the T zone (across forehead, down nose and chin), you most
likely have combination skin.
· If you see very little oil throughout, you most likely have normal skin.
· If you see no sign of oil at all, you most likely have dry skin.
· If your skin feels irritated or slightly itchy, you most likely have sensitive skin.

You'll need to perform this test several times a year during spring, summer and winter
because your skin changes with the seasons. 

hair care

natural Hair Sprays

Ingredients:
1 lemon or orange
water
Method:

Chop one lemon into four pieces. If you have dry hair, you can
do the same with an orange. Place the lemon or orange in a pot
with 2 cups water. Boil until half of the initial amount of water
remains. Cool, strain, and place in a spray bottle.
Note: Store it in the refrigerator. You can also add one ounce of
rubbing alcohol as a preservative. Doing this will allow you to
keep the spray for two weeks un-refrigerated. If you find the
hairspray too sticky, just add more water.

Natural Hair Conditioner
Ingredients:
3-4 tablespoons of Yogurt                                    
Lemon
Coconut Oil                                         
Egg White Beaten
Mashed soft banana
Hair henna
Method:
Mix all the ingredients and apply on your hair for about 15
minutes to 30 minutes depending upon the amount of
conditioning required. Make sure that you have covered the
roots and the tips. Wash well with water and if wanted shampoo
as you usually do. An instant shine and freshness is seen in your

Natural Dandruff Treatment 
                                                                        

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Water
1/2 cup of White Vinegar
Method:
Add both the ingredients together and then apply directly to the
scalp. Use before shampoo. For better result, apply it twice a
week.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons cornmeal
1/2 cup grape seed oil
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 plastic bag that will fit over your hair
Method:

Pour the grape seed oil into a bowl, and add the cornmeal and
vinegar. Stir well to make pasty oil. Firstly rinse hair with warm
water. Massage the oil into the scalp using your fingertips in a
circular motion gently. Repeat until the entire scalp has been
massaged. Now place a plastic bag over your hair, secure with a
hair clip or clothespin, and allow oil to remain on for at least
1/2 hour. Finally rinse well, with shampoo as you normally
would.

Natural acne treatment

Mint for Acne

Peppermint is preferable to spearmint as a medicinal herb because it contains menthol. But if you can't find peppermint or aren't sure which type of mint they have at the market, use whatever is available. Peppermint is easy to grow in most climates; consider growing your own supply.
Crushed mint as an herbal acne remedy.

Method
Take a handful of mint leaves and crush them thoroughly with a mortar and pestle.
Rub the leaves and juice on affected skin and leave for 5-10 minutes.
Rinse with cold water.
Repeat as often as desired to alleviate pain and inflammation.

Why It Works
Peppermint contains menthol which is a natural analgesic and anti-inflammatory.

Oatmeal for Acne

Method 
Cook a single serving of plain oatmeal as you would for eating.
Add approximately ¼ cup honey and mix thoroughly.
Allow to cool.
Apply to face, avoiding the eye area.
Leave for 10-20 minutes. Do not leave it on too long or it will become difficult to remove.

Why It Works
The oatmeal cleanses pores by absorbing oil and exfoliating the skin. Honey eases application and serves as a skin toner.

Lemon juice for acne

Method
Mix equal parts lemon juice and rose water.
Apply directly to skin. You might feel an initial sting from the lemon juice.
Rinse after 15-30 minutes.

Why It Works
Lemon juice is a natural astringent and mild antibacterial agent. Rose petals, from which rose water is made, also have antibacterial properties. It is a also a skin toner and helps to mitigate the rather harsh, acidic quality of straight lemon juice.

Precautions
Be careful of exposing your skin to direct sunlight if you have been using lemon juice on your face. Also, though a strong reaction is unlikely, do not continue this treatment if it irritates your skin.

What is Acne?

Acne is the most frequent and unpleasant dermatologic problem. Every fifth person on this planet suffers of this embarrassing disease. First of all, acne is not an infectious disease. It is provoked by the interaction of the normal saprophyte bacterium and a very oily skin.

The increase of the sebum secretion blocks the pilosebaceous excretion channel and thus blackheads appear. The hair follicle's colonization by the bacterium called "Propionibacterium" produces the inflammation and the papules and pustules. The most common sites of acne are the face, chest, shoulders and mostly on the back but also on the scalp. 

This disease affects both girls and boys and it worsens at the age of 17. The lesions' intensity decreases towards the age of 21 and at the age of 25 they disappear all alone. Only 5% of the women and 1% of the men at the age 40 are still affected by acne.   According to some authors, the acne is hereditary but this is not proven yet. What is for sure is that stress causes acne - as students who have exams can confess. This disease provokes depressions, anxiety and social and professional handicap which closes the vicious circle.

Girls noticed, of course, an increase of the eruption during the menstruation and the mentality that the problem will be solved once one begins the sexual life or that abstinence determined its aggravation, remains only a myth.

Beside the acne vulgaris we have already mentioned, there are other clinical forms of acne, listed according to their origin, such as:

• newborns acne
• postnatal acne
• acne caused by medication
• acne caused by industrial chemical substances (such as chlorine)
• acne caused by oil-based products, pomades and cosmetic products
• acne estival or after ionizing radiations

To get white Nails

To whiten your nails, try these: 

Use a common whitening toothpaste. Try scrubbing your nails with Pearl Drops, it’s just as easy as achieving a pearly white smile and will take away any stains and shine up your nails.

Soak your nails in water with lemon juice or lemon slices. The lemon acts as an astringent and will strip away stains. Once your hands are dry, you’ll only need to put on a couple of coats of a clear topcoat.

If you want to keep your nails clean and white, just soak them in warm water for three minutes. Then put two Alka-Seltzers in the mix and soak until it stops fizzing!
Also you can clean yellow nails with 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide. Another variant is to use the mixture of glycerin with hydrogen peroxide (proportion 1:5). To get the better effect try to make the mixture of glycerin, perhydrol and distilled water (proportion 1:1,5:4).
If you are not satisfied with result, try mechanic way of whitening. Soak the nails to help them soften in the warm bath with soap and salt water for 10 minutes. And then pumice upper yellow layer of nails.