For better Skin Facial Exercise |Facial Exercise - Way To Carry A Young Look

Exercises have been one of the most important things of our life. It is always known that exercise has benefited us in many ways. In earlier times people didn't have gyms to go to, but their daily activities was not less than a gym.

Going in the field, filling water from the well, going for swimming in the lake, washing clothes, washing utensils, making food without a proper gas were some of the basic things which required lot of energy and due to this they remain fit.

Now, things have changed drastically. Looking at the way things are carried out in recent times, we can claim to be technically sound and futuristic in many ways. Being high-end and making full use of technology has helped us in many ways to improve our lifestyle.


Exercising our body is done either by going to the gym or by doing some household chores. In that case our face also needs to be taken care off. By the amount of pollutants that affect our face we are bound to have some or the other problems.

One of the apprehensions about life, for many is the idea of being old. As times flies, slowly and steadily it starts reflecting on your face in the form of wrinkles, lines, double chin, sagging of the muscles and many other things.

To avoid such problems relating to wrinkles and sagging we can do facial exercise. These would help you ward off all possibilities of wrinkles. It will help you give that extra glow which has disappeared from your face for a very long time.

There are face-lifting tools in the market which you can use, depending upon how useful they prove to be. Then there are the common facial exercises which you can do it at home at your own free will.

Facial exercises for you

If you want to sharpen your jaw line you can slap your chin with the back of your hand quickly and very lightly for at least 30 times.

Stroking your face with upward movement can relax your mind and body.

To reduce the small lines around your mouth you can curl your lips into your mouth and then try to bowl air through your mouth without opening your mouth. This would help to stretch your muscles around the mouth. While doing this count till 5 and then relax, repeat this at least 10 times for better results.

But there has been a long running debate about facial exercise, whether they are really good or just make things worse. This can be found only when you talk to other people or consult your doctor about the same.

Advice & Tips :Hair Removal - Which Method Is Best

If you're bothered by unsightly hair, you'll find many hair removal methods available. Your task is to select the right one.

Before making a decision, you'll need to (a) research the treatment options available, and (b) answer a few questions about yourself.

Which Area Do You Want To Treat?

The area of the body you want hair-free will determine the method of hair removal you select. Is the unwanted hair on your face or elsewhere? You'll need to narrow it down even more. Do you want hair removed from your arms, legs, eyebrows, back, chest, pubic area, knuckles or where?


When you're clear about which precise area of the body you want to focus on, next you'll need to determine whether your hair problem is hereditary. Some people are simply more prone to growing darker, coarser hair. If that's in your genetic makeup, no amount of treatment is going to completely solve your situation. You will have to settle for improvement rather than cure.

How Much Can You Afford To Spend?

The next step is to determine your budget. It's important to be clear on the available money, because that will eliminate some methods. Also, be aware that most methods will require multiple treatments at various intervals. Costs for hair removal treatments can range from a few dollars a month to several thousand dollars per treatment. On average 5 or more treatments are required to do the job. Your goal is to face up to whether you can afford it, and, if so, whether it will be the best use of your money.

How Much Pain Can You Tolerate?

The next cut on which method to choose is to assess your level of pain tolerance. Seriously. Your selection of hair removal methods will depend in part on how much pain you can handle. A number of hair removal methods are uncomfortable to painful. Although the pain is temporary, only you can judge your ability to tolerate it. Waxing and electrolysis are considered the most painful, so if you can't tolerate pain, these methods will not do.

Hair Removal: Temporary Or Permanent?

You still have 1 more decision to make: do you want a permanent or a temporary hair removal method? Be aware that most methods are, unfortunately, temporary.

To permanently stop hair growth you must damage the hair germination structure within the hair follicle. To date, electrolysis is the only method that has been proven to achieve this goal. Laser therapy comes close, but more experimentation is needed for conclusive proof.

These 2 semi-permanent methods are the most expensive of all the options, so your budget may make this decision for you. A temporary method may be your only option.

Last, but certainly not least, it's very important that you make sure you're undergoing the hair removal process because you want to. It's not wise to let somebody else

Advice & Tips :Breast Enlargement Mammoplasty | Breast Augmentation Mammoplasty

Breast Enlargement also known as augmentation mammoplasty, is a cosmetic surgery that enhances the upper body contour of a woman who is unhappy with her small breast size. This is perhaps the cosmetic procedure that the public is most familiar with.
Breast enlargement is done by having an implant placed through an incision, under the breast tissue or under the muscle. The incision can be made under the breast, around the nipple or under the arm. A breast implant is composed of an outer silicone shell filled with saline (the use of silicone gel implants are now restricted). The outer surface may be smooth or textured, and implants come in various shapes to meet the individual woman’s needs.



When the implant is placed under the actual muscle of the breast, there is a lower chance of contracture (contraction of the tissue surrounding the implant), and mammography is more reliable. There is also less risk of visible or palpable implant edges. The down side is that there are some people who believe the implant has a more natural appearance when placed above the muscle, under the breast tissue.

The shape of augmented breasts depends on the implant. Implants can be round or teardrop-shaped (anatomical). The choice depends on the look the female wants to achieve. Anatomical implants produce a gentle slope, resulting in a fuller upper area, whereas round implants create a round curve in the upper part of the breast. Another factor to consider prior to surgery is breast width, which determines the amount of “cleavage” between breasts and the outer curves.

Realistic expectations are important. Some women often think of breast size in terms of bra cup size. If a size “A” wanted to be a size “C”, there still has to be adequate existing breast tissue coverage: otherwise there could be visible or palpable implant edges and other possible risks.

This is a major procedure, and someone undergoing breast augmentation absolutely needs someone to drive her home and stay with you for 24 hours after surgery. There will be pain the first few days, but normal pain pills should take care of this as the body adjusts to the new implants. Wear a bra at all times (except when showering) during the first 2 weeks after surgery. Avoid heavy lifting and avoid even moderate exercise for at least the first week, and then only moderate exercise. During recovery, the breasts will be somewhat swollen. Within a few weeks, the actual shape and size will be evident, and the full success of the procedure will come abundantly clear.

Advice & tips :Six Ways on How to Clear up Acne

Although having acne breakouts is normal, especially for teens, people can’t still help but search for ways on how to clear up acne. Some are finding ways on how to treat it inexpensively while others really saves enough money so that they can pay for the soothing expensive facial skin care which can be availed in most beauty salons. But for those with hectic schedules, and can’t find time to visit any facial salons or dermatologist’s clinic, here are some ways that could help in clearing up your acne.



1. Avoid squeezing or popping your pimples and as much as possible prevent yourself from touching your outbreaks especially with unclean hands. The more you touch or squeeze the puss out of your acne, the more sebum your skin will produce. It will take more time before your pimples and blackheads clear up because of the inflammation and irritation that can possibly occur.

2. Wash your face thoroughly at least two times a day. Proper facial hygiene is the best to way on how to clear up acne as well as preventing acne to appear. Use facial soaps that does not contain oil or soaps that are not acidic.

3. Don’t forget to use moisturizer after washing your face with a sulfur-based soap that is designs specifically for acne prone people. Washing can strip of natural lipids and your skin, so put a moisturizer that suits the type of skin you have (sensitive, normal or dry) so that your body will not produce extra oil that may cause your skin to be more susceptible to breakouts.

4. Most people turn to over-the-counter products that are made to fight acne. This is the first solution they think of on how to clear up acne instantly. There are some topical creams that do not need any prescriptions from a doctor. However, make sure that the cream you will be using may not cause you allergies that can even worsen your current facial dilemma.

5. In case you are indulging yourself in some detoxification activities such as yoga or exercise, make sure that you wipe the sweat from your face immediately after the activity.

6. Use creams that have benzoyl peroxide as an active ingredient. But keep in mind that even these anti-acne products can still cause your skin to dry even though they help in healing your acne so you still need to use moisturizers. The stronger the medicine is, the higher percentage of benzoyl peroxide it contains. Some users testify that using creams with benzoyl peroxide is one of the best solutions on how to clear up acne.

When all things fail, consult your trusted dermatologist that would give you advice and medicines that on how to clear up acne.

Always keep in mind that even though these tips worked for some, it does not necessarily mean that it might work for you too. Whichever solution is best for you, keep it as a part of your daily routine. No matter what technique you choose on how to clear up acne, you need to remember that your acne problems will never be solved overnight.

Useful tips in Leadership | Leadership Skills|Leadership style with Nirmal Jain

Nirmal Jain
Chairman, India Infoline
 My leadership style
Delegative
The political leader I admire the most

Nitish Kumar
The business leader I admire the most

Steve Jobs
The leadership lesson I remember the best
When you win, everybody in your team should feel they also won
A book I would recommend on leadership

Good to Great by Jim Collins
The difference between a manager and a leader
A manager does things right, a leader does the right things
All good managers are good leaders
Not always

Advice & Tips : Get fit like the experts | Eat,Don't diet | Break the monotony |Get going on yoga |

Six fitness pros share their secrets on keeping healthy and staying in shape - get inspired and take cues for a fabulous and energised you!

"Fitness - if it came in a bottle, everybody would have a great body," said singer-actress Cher, known for an amazing body herself. Sadly, while science hasn't yet been able to pour the fomula into a bottle, some experts have nailed the easy routes to ensuring you get fit, fast. They share with us their one fail-proof way to getting a fantastic body, inside out.

Break the monotony



CJ, Group Ex manager for the Indian leg of the international gym chain Fitness First, suggests "an exercise regimen with variety; one that works on strength, cardio, flexibility and conditioning." Introducing variation in your workout not only takes tedium out of exercise, but it also targets muscles that may be neglected if you go through the same old routine day after day.

Developing smaller support muscles is as important as working on the bigger muscle groups. This minimises the risk of injury and gives the body better definition overall.
But before plunging into adding variations to your routine, consult your trainer, and tell him about any niggling pain or injuries. A wrong workout is an unwise workout. Ask the trainer to give you a combination suitable for your body type. This would get you faster results and keep you motivated.
Buy a resistance tube for a home sesion. This functional equipment can give you a full-body workout.

Make less more

It's not necessary to put yourself through a gruelling regimen every day, but maintaining a regular exercise rhythm is important. If you exercise in fits and starts, without following any particular routine, take tips on incorporating a little of the fitness spell into your day.
Istayak Ansari, the chief operating office of Gold's Gym, advises frequent travellers to work out on an average of three times a week. The suggested routine: "Do a full-body circuit training (a combination of weights and cardio) twice a week, and spinning once or twice a week," he says. "Circuit training helps to burn calories, strengthens muscles and improves metabolism, while spinning keeps the weight in check through an intensive workout and burns about 600-700 calories per session."
Easy equipment to invest in would be a bicycle for an evening ride, and a pair of thick-soled trainers that are good for both a walk and a jog.

Get going on yoga

Yoga is not just a form of workout, it's a science in itself. The impact of yogic asanas reaches the deepest recesses of your body, helping it heal and tone.
Eefa Shroff, Pune-based yoga instructor, is a perfect example of what a profound effect yoga can have on the body. Run over by a drunken kid driving a truck, Eefa was told by doctors that her life would be confined to a wheelchair by the time she turned 30. But she refused surgeries and turned to yoga, practising daily without fail. "I did yoga a lot, walked, ran and waited to turn 30 - and did that quite a few years ago. And no wheelchair!" says Eefa.

Payal Gidwani, yoga teacher to celebrities, explains why it is so effective: "Yoga works on strength, endurance, flexibility, body composition, body fat and mental and spiritual levels, too."

A few yogic positions such as the bow position (dhanurasana) or the snake position (bhujangasana) also serve as a good warm-up and cool-down routine before and after a regular gym session.

For daily asanas at home, invest in a non-slip yoga mat, a cotton mat, some loose harem pants and a foam brick.

Eat, don't diet

Moderation is in, and clichéd diets are out. Dr Vivek Talaulikar, director of Fortis La Femme, recommends eating small portions of regular foods instead of following some new fad diet every now and then, and then giving in to the inevitable craving.

For women, greasy foods do worse than just deposit adipose in the body; they play with one's hormones and lead to acne and high levels of bad cholesterol. Replace fried foods with "wholegrain cereals, skimmed milk, egg, figs, flax seeds and other protein-rich foods such as grilled chicken or fish, or soy if you are a vegetarian," suggests Dr Chiranjiv Chhabra, dermatologist and founder of the clinic Skin Alive. "Fruits, especially citrus fruits, are good for the skin and slow down ageing."

Crash diets do not work. What happens is this: as you ruthlessly cut down on your food intake, you burn calories fast for a while, but soon your metabolic rate slows down. The starved body begins to hold on to what little calories it can get. The energy that would have been released from good calories (the right foods) is no longer available to you. So you feel tired and may even pass out. When you finish the crash diet and go back to eating normal, the slowed down metabolism can't burn the calories, and you put the weight back on.

Tips and Advice : Avoid snoring|Here are the top tips to avoid snoring

The British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association has provided tips to cure snoring problems. It recommends working out whether snoring comes from the nose or throat, reports the Daily Express.

If you can make a snoring noise with your mouth open and closed, try this: stick your tongue out as far as it will go and grip it between your teeth.


Try to make a snoring noise. If it is reduced, you are probably a "tongue-base snorer", meaning your tongue is vibrating and causing the problem. If you are a "nose snorer" you snore with a closed mouth, it says.

The Association lists their solutions as follows:



1. Sleep on your side

The theory is that when we lie on our backs the tongue and muscles in the throat collapse, constricting the airway and causing snoring.

2. Higher pillows

This aims to keep the airways open by supporting the neck so the throat is less constricted. It works fairly well until you fall asleep and slump down in the bed.

3. Breathe Right Nasal Strips

These are supposed to open your nostrils from the outside and they certainly do seem to do this. They can also provide temporary relief from nasal congestion and stuffiness caused by colds and allergies.

Must-read on health: Side effects that are actually good for you

4. Snoreeze Oral Strips

These dissolving mint-flavoured strips target the main cause of snoring and are ideal if you tend to snore more when lying on your back. They contain a time-release formula, which coats the back of the throat throughout the night and reduces the vibrations of the soft tissues, helping to stop snoring.

5. Snoreeze Throat Spray

This lubricates and tones the soft tissues at the back of the throat that vibrate and make you snore.

7. Nozovent

This is a piece of flexible plastic which you push into your nostrils to make them wider and allow easier breathing. It looks like something from the Spanish Inquisition but users report good results.

Also read: 5 health mistakes NEVER to make

8. SomnoGuard

This is a bit like the gumshield worn by a rugby player, but it is reported to produce good results. The idea is to bring your lower jaw and tongue forward, making more space for breathing. The drawback is that it takes sometime to get used to and is costly.

9. Rhynil Herbal Spray

The British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association says its herbal nasal spray shrinks the lining of the nostril, creating more space to breathe. It also tightens the tissue of the roof of the mouth, making it less likely to vibrate. It smells pleasant and a friend who tried it said it reduced snoring significantly.

10. Abstinence

You should cut down on cigarettes or, better still, give up completely. Also, try to have your last alcoholic drink at least four hours before you go to bed.

Advice for women | Yoga is useful for women with breast cancer | Yoga works wonders for women with breast cancer

For women with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy, yoga offers unique benefits beyond fighting fatigue, according to new research.
While simple stretching exercises improved fatigue, patients who practiced yogic breathing, postures, meditation and relaxation techniques as part of their treatment plan experienced improved physical functioning, better general health and lower stress hormone levels.
They also were better able to find meaning in their cancer experience, the study done at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has found. The research was conducted in collaboration with Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana ( SVYAS) in Bangalore.

 Patients from different hospitals including the Bangalore Institute of Oncology come to the institute, said N V Raghuram of SVYAS. The study assessed yoga's benefits to cancer patients, compared with a control group. "The combination of mind and body practices that are part of yoga clearly have tremendous potential to help patients manage the psychosocial and physical distress associated with treatment and life after cancer, beyond the benefits of simple stretching," said Cohen.
During the study, at one, three and six months after radiation therapy, women who practiced yoga during the treatment period reported greater benefits. Women who practiced yoga also had the steepest decline in their cortisol ( stress hormone) across the day, indicating that yoga had the ability to regulate this stress hormone. Cancer is a fight within the cells of the body and the yogic method reduces the restlessness that results from it, Raghuram explained.

Style it up with scarves | Yahoo.com

I tend to look at clothes as ‘foundation' for a look. The accessories are what really turn an outfit into a complete look with a unique style. Through my college years, my accessory mania took the form of jewelery, ranging from earrings to medallions, necklaces, anklets, rings and belts. When I started working, most of it had to be put away as it was too funky/ impractical/ irreverent/ inappropriate for office wear.
That's when I discovered another accessory - a simple length of cloth. It started with knotting a colourful scarf around my neck to break up the monotony of my office garb of drab shirt and grey trousers. That's when the world of folds, drapes, knots and related appointments like brooches & pins opened up to me.
Salwar-kameezes found a place in my wardrobe around the same time and from that direction, I came to the Indian version of scarves. Dupattas, such an integral part of Indian dressing, lend themselves to so many ways of wear, spanning the range from flirty to pragmatic, modest to seductive and accessorial to pragmatic. They add character to the clothes you wear.
Call it a stole, call it scarf or a bandana or a dupatta, the versatility of an extra piece of cloth cannot be emphasized enough. I love mixing up the conventional and this accessory allows me the freedom to do so without stumbling into inappropriate. For a bohemian look, I sometimes sport a regular cotton dupatta as a stole. What is usually known as a stole can be creatively knotted and fluffed up the front of a plain tee-shirt to make a fancy yoke. At the very least, a severe formal look can be offset by a soft, feminine (and saucy) scarf. While travelling around a polluted city, a scarf is a great way to keep the dust off your face and your hair, tangle-free.


The most common ways that I see people wear scarves are:
The Headscarf: Fold a square scarf in a triangle, place on head and knot under neck. An import from rural Europe, this style has gotten associated with fever patients in urban Indian.
The Dangling Neckpiece: Loop a narrow, rectangular scarf over neck. Tie once and fasten with pin in the middle of the front. This style is most commonly seen on the uniforms of the service sector, especially airlines.
The Noose: Looped tight around neck and hung down the front or the back. Most chiffon/slippery fabric dupattas are worn this way, presumably because it is the only practical way to. This style doesn't do anything by way of modesty, grace or aesthetics for the outfit.
The Off-Shoulder Drooper: Very popular when the dupatta is the focus of the outfit because of its embroidery or other work, this is worn loosely draped over one shoulder/arm. It serves well to showcase the dupatta but often gets in the way or falls off during regular activity. I think it's best suited to a mannequin.
The Modest V: Each end thrown over one shoulder, the front pulled down to cover the torso. This is the most modest style I've seen and it finds great favour with the more conservative of my family members. For all its shapelessness, I think it still adds an element of grace and feminity to the otherwise straight lines of the salwar-kameez.
The Dhavani/ Odhni of a lehenga-choli: This outfit is rapidly going extinct, except for ceremonial occasions. There, the northern/western versions of draping over one shoulder and tucking into the lehenga seemed to be most popular. The southern version of mimicking a saree palluv (drape across torso for maximum coverage and tuck other end into lehenga/ pavadai) doesn't seem to find as much favour.
The Elbow Drape: Popularised by prime time Hindi soap operas, this style involves draping the dupatta over each elbow, leaving the ends hanging alongside the lehenga and the middle forming a triangle down the wearer's lower back. I don't like this style too much since it necessarily involves holding one's arms at right-angles (Barbie doll style) at all times.

Going Green on learn budget | Fuel Prices Hike

Fuel prices have skyrocketed in the past few weeks.

To make things worse comes the further talk of increasing the price of diesel at fuel pumps. In such times, one should look at fuel-efficient options which use alternative fuels like Compressed Natural gas (CNG) and Electric Hybrid cars.


CNG costs Rs 29 per kilogram, and is mainly used to run commercial vehicles in Delhi.

Maruti has specially designed and modified nine different vehicles starting from the Eeco van, Alto, Wagon R, Estilo, SX4 etc. to run on CNG using advanced twin computer technology.

The new generation of CNG cars will definitely offer you better performance compared to their older counterparts where you had to start pushing the accelerator a day before you actually started driving. The new cars come with integrated cylinders and piping as well as computers which monitor engine performance. Says I. V.

Rao of Maruti, "Today's generation of specially designed CNG vehicles give you almost the same performance as their petrol powered counterparts at half the cost." Maruti is not the only vehicle manufacturer with CNG vehicles.

Many others have jumped on to the CNG bandwagon as well. Toyota offers an excellent Innova and Corolla Altis in CNG.

General Motors India has an Aveo model in CNG on offer. At the launch of the Aveo CNG, Managing Director of General Motors in India, Karl Slym said, "Its (Aveo CNG's) running cost is approximately 54 per cent lower than a similar vehicle powered by petrol and 25 per cent lower than a similar vehicle powered by diesel."

He added: "Because of the lower operating economics and the growing number of CNG stations being built across India, this offering is expected to appeal to both individual and fleet customers."

CNG is a clean and green fuel which is quite light on your pocket. If you desire to go the unconventional way (and have the moolah for it) you can of course opt for a hybrid car.

A hybrid, as the name implies, is a vehicle that uses two sources of power — a conventional petrol or diesel engine and an electric motor.

Honda was the first company in India to make a hybrid version of the Civic available, though it did not do very well.

Toyota has not fared much better either with its globally popular Prius — thanks to the huge import duties imposed on all such cars by the government.

One hybrid vehicle which has done surprisingly well in India is the Porsche Cayenne SUV.

This is simply because it is placed in a segment in which people do not mind spending a little extra.

If you want to be green and are lean on the budget, do opt for a new generation CNG vehicle.

Your running costs will be half of petrol and at least 30 per cent cheaper than with diesel.

The only drawback is the long queues at filling stations and the fact that filling stations are only located in the Delhi and NCR areas.

You would also have to pick your way between auto-rickshaws and taxis— but with the savings you make at the end of the day will make it worthwhile for you.

Sleep tight with snooze foods | yahoo.com

There's some science behind the old wives' tale that a glass of warm milk can help you sleep better at night. Research claims that what you eat is directly related to how you sleep. As Ritika Samaddar, Regional head, Dietetics at Max Healthcare in New Delhi says, "Anyone experiencing difficulty in falling asleep, waking up repeatedly or waking up too early, and having experienced these more than five times a month, could be suffering from insomnia. Its causes can range from medical conditions and stress to erratic eating habits."



So if this number matches yours, eating right can help before you're forced to resort to popping pills. But here, eating right isn't about counting calories and not all foods will cart you off to dreamland. Ishi Khosla, clinical nutritionist and director, Whole Foods, India points out, "The chemical tryptophan present in certain foods, is the raw material that the brain uses to release sleep-inducing hormones-serotonin and melatonin. Adequate serotonin levels promote deep, restorative sleep."

Foods like milk, yogurt, banana, cherries, fish, nuts, flaxseed, oatmeal, honey, turkey, soy, chamomile tea, wholewheat bread, and leafy vegetables, are rich in tryptophan. Also, magnesium (found in wheat bran, almonds, cashews, kelp and brewer's yeast) and vitamin B6 and B12 (found in wheat germ, sunflower seeds and oil, and tuna) are sleepfriendly nutrients and should be incorporated in a day's meal.

On the other hand, high-calorie and spicy foods are difficult to digest and cause interrupted or fitful sleep. Also, avoid eatables with high sugar content, caffeine, and nicotine because they stimulate the brain instead of relaxing it.

For better results, one must have a a long-term commitment to a well-balanced diet and a healthier lifestyle- think regular exercise, less late nights, no junk food, and yes, no cigarettes and alcohol. After all, you can't move mountains just by sipping green tea.

Dig into these

Here's another reason to hit the greens. A German study in Psychopharmacology reveals that vegetables like lettuce, spinach, broccoli, and kale are powerhouses of vitamins that help combat stress and induce restful sleep.

Perfect timing

Restrict food intake at least two hours before bedtime to avoid feeling uncomfortably full. Besides, an active digestive system acts as a hindrance for the body and the mind to relax.

Wheat bran breads not only boost your serotonin and melatonin (these are the sleep-friendly hormones) levels, they are also rich in magnesium, which is a muscle relaxant. Eat them toasted and add a dash of honey!

The calcium content in milk helps the brain use tryptophan, creating melatonin faster, as do bananas. They make for a good wholesome breakfast.

Cut these out

The popular perception that a glass of wine acts as a sedative is a myth as it dehydrates your body. Wine will wake you up during the night, leaving you very thirsty and cranky.

Avoid fried and spicy foods for dinner as these are difficult to digest and make the digestive system hyper-active. Think twice before biting into your deep-fried chicken.

Caffeine is one of the most 'long-standing' products, that might take up to 14 hours to metabolise. So it is best not to have that double espresso too late in the day.

How to use skin essentials | How to use skin shop or fresh wash

But are so many products really neccessary? We help you decide which of those bottles and jars are really essential.

BODY WASH OR SOAP BAR

The idea of using a bar of soap when there are so many fancy bottles body wash lining the shelves is surely unfashionable.

But which is more effective? Promoters of liquid cleansers claim that these are gentler than bathing bars as they contain large amounts of petrolatum - an ingredient that moisturises and lubricates the skin.

Undoubtedly soap bars are more alkaline and have a dehydrating impact on the skin. " Body washes are a more convenient and hygienic option for bathing and they spread easily over the skin. They have hydrating and nourishing ingredients too," says Dr Chiranjeev Chabra, dermatologist and cosmetic laser surgeon, Skin Alive Clinic.

On the flip side, conservatives claim that the moisturising property of liquid cleansers makes them less effective at removing dirt and reducing body odour.


"The reality is that both soap bars and body wash are equally good in cleaning the body. The selection should be based on individual skin requirements and the season," says Dr Anil Malik, senior consultant, dermatology, Sitaram Bhartia.

Moreover, many mild soap bars are now available in the market, which have a neutral pH of 7- 10 and don't have the same drying effect. " Earlier soaps had high per cent of caustic and this left the skin dry and stretchy. Things have changed now.

Special soaps are available too for acne skin which are antiseptic and help to dry the acne," says Dr Chabr.


EXPERT TAKE:

Body wash is ideal for winter or hot and dry weather.

Use soap bars on hot and humid days, during the rainy season or if you have oily skin.

DAY CREAM OR NIGHT CREAM

DO we really need different creams for the days and night? Can't day creams be used at night too? Experts say no. Our skin needs different products as the skin's requirement varies according to the body clock. " During the day our skin needs protection from pollution and harmful rays. At night, the skin needs to rejuvenate itself and repair all the damage that goes during the day," says Dr Sachin Dhawan, head, department of dermatology, Artemis.

Day creams contain antioxidants and titanium dioxide ( or other sunscreens), which serve as proper shield for the skin. Night creams, on the other hand, have higher levels of active ingredients such as vitamin C, retinol and alpha hydroxy acids ( AHAs) that repair the skin and also moisturise it. Moreover, night creams are highly concentrated, thicker and stronger than day creams because the skin dries out more quickly while you sleep.

In fact, different categories of creams should be used by individuals of different skin types. In her book, The Skin Type Solution , Dr Leslie Baumann suggests that if your skin is dry, you need a hydrating night cream. Sensitive skin needs an anti- inflammatory night cream, while those with wrinkles should opt for a night cream with retinol or antioxidants.

EXPERT TAKE:

If you use night cream during the day, the active ingredients can either get oxidised by the UV rays or cause skin reaction.

ASTRINGENT OR TONER

Astringents and toners were earlier part of female domain but are now popular among men too. " Our face needs intense cleaning to remove the proteins produced by the skin. These will otherwise block the pores, causing blackheads and acne," says Dr Dhawan. The purpose of an astringent and toner is the same - cleaning the skin, destroying bacteria that cause acne and adjusting the pH level in the skin.

But astringent is for oily skin while toner is for dry skin. Essentially astringent has an anti- bacterial quality that reduces oil, blackheads and cares for acne prone skin types. Toners, on the other hand, are milder and are meant for those who produce less oil on their face and older skins.

EXPERT TAKE:

Astringents are alcohol based and intended for oily skin. Toners hydrate and tone the skin and are ideal for dry or normal skin.

EYE GEL OR EYE CREAM

NO ONE wants under eye pouches, dark circles or wrinkles and the solution seems to lie in over- the- counter eye gels and creams.

People assume these fulfil the same purpose.

But the reality is that eye gels and creams work differently. " Wrinkles are removed with a compound called matrixyl, which works best when delivered in the form of cream. Eye bags and dark circles, on the other hand, respond well to a chemical called haloxyl, effective when delivered in the form of a gel rather than cream," says Dr Urvashi Kaw, consultant, dermatology and cosmetology, B L Kapur Memorial Hospital.

Creams and gels are oil particles in water used in different proportions. Gels are less oily and tend to be absorbed faster by the skin. " Unlike creams, gels neither block the skin pores nor do they leave behind a greasy residual effect," says Dr Malik. " The skin under our eyes is 4- 5 times thinner than facial skin and is more porous. Therefore, the chances of pores getting blocked are higher under the eye," he adds. Hence, in general it's advisable to use eye gels as against eye creams in general.

EXPERT TAKE:

Eye gels are intended to reduce puffiness, dark circles and eye sags, while creams may reduce wrinkling.

Advice and Tips: 10 Things You Have To Do In Bed

1. Take Some Initiative: Don’t just do what you know is going to get me off. Have fun, show me what you like to do to me. Don’t simply go through the motions.
2. Kiss Something Besides My Mouth: My lips are like one percent of me; your kiss feels good on the other 99 percent.
3. Take All Your Clothes Off: Shirt, shoes, no service. I want it off. I want it all off!
4. Make Some Noise: You don’t have to impersonate R. Kelly, but please let me know when and where I’m pleasing you.
5. Watch The Hair: Unless you’re pulling it intentionally, please don’t pin my hair down accidentally. It hurts and I don’t want to ruin the mood by complaining about it.
6. Look Me In The Eye: We don’t have to lock eyes forever, but a solid check-in makes me feel desired and gives me the chance to flash you a sexy look.
7. Focus On The Sweet Action: Don’t be high-five-ing yourself in the mirror, writing your grocery list in your head, etc. I’m right in front of you, and I’m naked. Focus!
8. Ask Me What I Like: You might really like what I say.
9. Let Me Know What You Like: If I’m sleeping with you, I want to make this fun for everyone. So, don’t be shy, boys.

Advice : Five best beauty time-savers

You're a urban city girl, which means you have places to be and people to meet. So stop slaving over your looks, and use these genius shortcuts. You'll get the same gorgeous results with a lot less effort.

Shorten your night time skin-care routine


Even when you're exhausted after a night out, you need to remove makeup to prevent breakouts and irritation. To do it in half the time, choose a face wash with glycolic acid, which cleanses, exfoliates, and brightens your complexion. Now all you have to do is moisturise. If your skin tends to be oily, swipe on a product with salicylic acid to tone down grease. On the dry side? Look for a lotion with hydrating hyaluronic acid.
The last touch: slick on lip balm so your mouth isn't flaky when you wake up.

Make your manicure dry faster

A salon manicure can take up to 30 minutes to fully dry because of the thick coats applied. Hurry things up at home by choosing a pale shade, like baby pink rather than a dark hue that takes longer to set. Wipe the excess polish off the brush against the mouth of the bottle, then apply three thin stripes, working left to right on your nail. Seal with a quick-drying topcoat, and blast nails with a blowdryer on the cold setting for several minutes.

Add killer body to your hair pronto

Build volume in no time by creating texture. If you can't wash your hair, even better-slightly dirty strands are easier to mold. If your mane is too clean, douse roots with volumiser to give it lift. Section off the top half of your hair, then twist into a messy bun and secure. Using your blow-dryer on medium heat, blast the bun; the heat mixed with the product will plump strands. Undo your bun, flip head over, and mist with hair spray to set in place.

Shave your legs in a hurry

To shave superfast without getting nicks, lather lower limbs with a creamy body wash. Then go over your shins and calves with a five-blade razor-you'll only have to make one pass. Unless you're wearing a micromini, skip your thighs. After you hop out of the shower, spritz stems with a hydrating body mist.

Depuff your eyes stat

If you have 20 minutes, a cooling mask is ideal. If not, brew two black-tea bags; let cool. Press over eyes for a minute. The caffeine constricts blood vessels and reduces puffiness. Apply an eye cream with chamomile.