As a child I knew an Indian woman who would not use soap on her face or body (I´m not shore, but she might have been allergic to it). She used gram (chickpea) flour to cleanse her skin. I used to watch her beauty ritual with fascination.
   I met her again, years later. She was in her forties now, and she had the most beautiful skin I had seen till then (until I saw raw foodists, that is). It was clear, smooth, and glowing.

  Another friend of mine swore by gram flour face masks. She added tumeric powder in them to lighten the complexion.

  Gram flour is a common ingredient in Indian beauty treatments. It´s gentle, cleansing, and it soothes red and irritated skin.

Gram flour face treatment

You need Gram flour (chickpea flour)
Mix it with honey, or rose water, or yoghurt: if your skin is dry, you can use milk cream or olive oil.

Knead it into a paste. Apply it into the skin, then gently rub it off. Use it daily instead of cleanser.

Alternately, you can apply it on the face, and wait for 15 minutes before removing.

  Ta daa !

    Kohl, also called Kajal or Surma has been used in India as well as other countries of the orient not just as a cosmetic, but for it´s medicinal properties. It cools the eyes, and protects them from the sun.
    As a cosmetic, it´s the smoothest and creamiest of all eyeliners. It blends beautifully into the skin, and gives a wet dewy look.

How to Use Kohl

   You can use Kohl just like an eyeliner, to line the top or the bottom (or both) rim of the eye. It gives a soft, more smokey look than eyeliner pencils.
   When applied in the inner rim of the eye, it constricts the dilated blood vessels in the eyes, making the whites look brighter. You also get a pleasant cooling sensation.
   To prevent smudging, dust the area lightly with powder before lining your eyes with Kohl, and then dust again.

WHAT KIND OF KAJAL / KOLH TO BUY ?

  Kajal or Kohl is available in pencil form, as powder or as a paste. Which one you prefer is really a matter of taste. Usually the pencils are easiest to use, because we are so used to pencil eyeliners. Powders and pastes usually come with an applicatory that looks like a little wand. If you use your finger to apply the powder/paste to the inner rim, be sure to wash your hands first !

The most important thing when buying Kajal /Kohl is not the form, but the quality. Many commercial Kohls contain lead sulfite (Galena), although originally Kohl was an all-natural cosmetic made of coal or soot. So, you should either buy Kohl from a good natural brand (I like Dr.Hauschka´s Kajal); or you can make your own. It´s extremely easy to do !

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN KOHL

You will need:
an almond (preferably organic)
A spoon
A lighter / matches

How to:

Simply burn the almond, and hold an inverted (concave side down) spoon above the flame. The soot should collect in the spoon !
I told you it was easy !

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You might also want to read:
* It's in the eyes: white eyeliner and Q-tips
* Indian beauty secrets pt 1: turn yourself upside down !
* Indian beauty secrets pt 2: hair oil for shine and protection

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   I've written this post about how our face and scalp often don't get enough blood. Boosting circulation in the scalp makes hair grow faster and stronger, and regulates all sorts of scalp problems.
   If upside-down positions are not your cup of tea, you can simply massage the scalp for a few minutes every day or so.

How to:

Use the tips of your fingers to move the scalp skin in circular movements. You have to move the skin, not just rub your fingers on the scalp. You can do this while watching TV, in the bath, or in bed at night (I recommend that, it's nicely relaxing !)

Using a brush on your scalp also stimulates blood circulation !

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You might also want to read:

• Is there a right way to comb your hair ?
• Brush vs comb: which is better ?
• Indian beauty secrets pt 1: turn yourself upside down !
• The Best Hair Brush + long hair tips 
• Oily scalp & dry hair, and other "combination hair" problems
  * more *

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   This fantastic video from Bravissimo shows exactly how to escape from the Bra Matrix and get a bra that looks good and feels comfortable !  It shows what do the words "well-fitted bra" mean; and they also have a step-by-step guide for you to do it yourself.

  However they don't tell you about the migrating bust tissue and the way you have togather it into the cup, so read about that here. It is vital to getting the right measurement and keeping the boobs in great shape.

   If you are among the 80% of women wearing the wrong size, do check it out. For motivation, I have posted my before-and-after boob photos.

   For those of you who prefer the tape-measure to the mirror, here is my post on measuring the correct bra size.

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* the Bra Matrix
* how to measure your bra size correctly
* Buying bras online: a short guide
* The tricks we use to pretend that a bra fits
* How to put on a bra correctly
* Does this bra fit ? How can I tell ?
* Bra Myths busted
* Even Rihanna gets it wrong
   * more *

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I got this fantastic method from Laboratorium Urody

edit: I found the origin of this method here.

To treat dandruff, treat oily or dry hair, try using a hair conditioner as shampoo. No, don't close this window yet. Just any conditioner won't do. To get it right, read on.

What kind of conditioner ?

• Zero film formers (ingredients causing product buildup): silicon, polyquaternium, glycerin or liquid paraffin.
• A short & simple ingredient list
• Preferably with glyceryl cocoate, then it works like a gentle shampoo.
• Preferably cheap, since you need to use quite a bit each time.
  

This is very important, because if you choose the wrong type of conditioner then you'll just get heavy and oily hair.
Tip: a simple way to test your conditioner for "lightness" is dabbing a little on your fingertips, rubbing, placing them under water. If the conditioner washes of instantly, without slickness, then it's probably light enough to use instead of a shampoo !

How to ?

  The author of this method recommends applying the conditioner on wet hair, and massaging it slowly into the scalp, for a long time. Then, leave it on the hair for a bit.

First time tips:

Before doing this for the first time, clean your hair thoroughly of silicon and other buildup (unless you have been avoiding that). To do this, the author of the method recommends adding refined soda to the shampoo, and finally rinsing with a solution of vinegar or lemon juice in water. You can also add aspirin dissolved in water (it also nicely massages the scalp).

The first few times washing your hair with a conditioner will bring disappointment, because the scalp is used to harsher products. But after a few washes, the scalp should normalize itself and your dandruff should go away.

How does it work ?

Shampoos, especially those with SLS can often be too aggressive.
Dandruff is often just the reaction of very sensitive scalp skin to the chemicals in shampoos.
The harsh cleansing agents can further aggravate the dryness of a dry scalp.
When it comes to oily hair, harsh detergents stimulate the pores to produce more sebum !

Remember, to use this treatment you need to avoid the more "sticky" silicons in your styling products.


♥ Find more about this at the long hair community !

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You might also want to read:
* How to shampoo: the ultimate guide ! 
* Silicon and your hair
* SLS
* Oily scalp & dry hair, and other "combination hair" problems
* Is there a right way to comb your hair ?
* more *

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