Beauty Care Tips

Eye Care:
- Before swimming in salt or chlorine water, apply a dab of petroleum jelly to your eyelids and lashes. this will prevent that burning sensation.

- Petroleum jelly and baby oil are great for removing eye makeup.

- Before retiring, apply castor oil around your eyes. make sure it is the odorless form. plastic surgeons use it on their patients following surgery.

- place fresh cool cucumbers on your eyelids to rid then of redness and puffiness.

Skin Care:
- A great moisturizer - Wash face thoroughly. While face is still wet, rub in a tiny amount of petroleum jelly. Continue wetting face until the jelly is spread evenly and does not appear greasy. Many expensive health clubs and spas use this treatment. you will be surprised at how soft and smooth your face feels. Remember, it will not stay greasy if you keep adding water a little at a time.

- For Taut Skin - Pour some apple cider vinegar into a basin of warm water and splash your face thoroughly. Let dry without using a towel. If used once a day, this will restore the natural ph-balance or acid mantle to your skin. Acne sufferers should try this also, but be sure to start with a perfectly clean face.

- A paste made of oatmeal and water will firm up your face. Apply liberally to your face and rub in well. Allow it to dry. Rinse off with warm water. Oatmeal can be substituted by several other combinations such as gram flour (besan), turmeric powder, sandalwood powder to name a few.

- If you mix a teaspoon of sugar with soap lather, you will have cleansing grains you can use every day.

- For once a week deep pore cleansing, boil a quart of water. Remove from heat and add the juice of half a lemon and a handful of your favorite herbs; Cover your hair with a towel and hold it in place with a shower cap. Bend your face over the steaming bowl, eyes closed, for about 15 minutes. Afterwards rinse with very cold water to close pores.

- Facial blemishes dry up quickly if you dab them with lemon juice or apple cidar vinegar.

- You can get relief from sunburn if you apply apple cidar vinegar, or pat the burn gently with a wet tea bag, or, apply a paste of baking soda and water.

- Apply and all common household oils make great conditioners for dry skin - particularly sunflower, corn and olive oil.

- Well-beaten egg whites applied to your face act as a deep cleansing agent. Avoid the area under the eyes.

- For stay-proof make-up, try this: Before applying your make-up splash cold mineral water on your face and let it dry. Do up your face. Moisten a cotton ball with the mineral water and dab it over your face. This will set the make-up.


Personal Care:
- Straight lemon juice makes a quick emergency mouthwash and gargle.

- Brush your teeth with mashed strawberries (if available) for a good cleaning. Plain baking soda will remove stains from your teeth.

- You can make your own deodorant, both the cream and liquid types.

Cream Deodorant: Mix 2 teaspoons of baking soda, 2 teaspoons of petroleum jelly and 2 teaspoons of talcum powder. Heat the mixture until smooth cream forms. Let it cool a bit and transfer to a jar with a tight lid. Apply as you would a commercial cream deodorant.

Liquid Deodorant: Mix 2 tablespoons alum (phitkiri), which you can buy at a drug and chemist store, with one pint of warm water. Stir well. You can add a few drops of your favorite cologne or after- shave lotion. Store this mixture in a spray bottle and it is ready for use.

Hair Care:
- For a professional hot oil treatment, saturate hair with olive, mustard, coconut or any other hair oil usually used. Run the hottest water possible over 2 towels in a basin or washing machine. Soak towels or spin in machine. Wrap head in plastic or aluminum foil before applying hot towels. Wait 20 minutes for best results. By using this method, your towels will be hot without the mess of dripping water.

- Mayonnaise gives dry hair a good conditioning. Apply 1/2 cup mayonnaise to dry, unwashed hair. Cover with a plastic bag and wait for 15 minutes. Rinse a few times before shampooing thoroughly.

- A quarter of a teaspoon of olive or baby oil massaged into your hair and scalp is a great conditioner. Wrap your head in a towel and relax under your dryer for a while.

- Here's how to achieve truly shiny hair. After you have washed your hair, rub in two well-beaten egg yolks. Leave on for half an hour and then rinse off thoroughly with lukewarm to cold water.

- Beer is a terrific setting lotion, particularly when stale.

- A teaspoon of sugar or gelatin dissolved in a cup of warm water also makes a handy setting lotion.

- For a quick set, do your hair up in rollers or pins and cover your head with a warm, damp towel for a few minutes.

-If regular shampooing is not possible, make your own dry shampoo by mixing together 1 tablespoon salt and 1/2 cup cornmeal. Transfer to a large hold salt shaker, sprinkle it on oily hair lightly and brush out dirt and grime.

-Baby powder or cornstarch can also be used as dry shampoos.

Nail Care:
-To get more life from your emery boards, cut off the worn ends with a pair of nail scissors.

-The striking side of a matchbox make a good emergency emery board.

-For a manicure, soak dip your nails in warm water to which the juice of 1/2 a lemon has been added. Rinse and pat dry, pushing back cuticles. Rub lemon peel against the nail, back and forth vigorously. Finish by buffing with a soft cloth.

-If you don't care for nail polish, yet want your fingernails to look shiny, apply dry soap to each and buff. Lemon peel may be also used.

-For faster drying nail polish, set fingers in a bowl of ice water when the polish is partially dry. Or, stick your hands in the freezer.

-When you buy a new bottle of nail polish, coat the inside of the cover and the top with petroleum jelly. You will never have trouble opening it even after months.

-Your nail polish will always be smooth and easy to apply if you store it in the fridge. Frosted nail polish will not separate either. However, if it has hardened or become gummy, place the bottle in a pan of boiling water. In no time the polish will be as good as new. The cap should be loosened first when immersing in the water.