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Use milk to keep your skin moisturized all day long {DIY}

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I will be posting today a tip to keep your skin moisturized all day long. How? MILK. I have already talked about how milk can be used to maintain a shiny hair. Now, lets see how it takes care of our skin.

Take some raw unboiled milk along with its cream. Dip a wash cloth in it and saturate well. Apply the milk on your face using the wash cloth. Let it stay for 5-15 minutes till it dries. Then, again dip the wash cloth in milk and saturate it. Start scrubbing your face gently with the wash cloth. Scrub for 3-5 minutes. Then, wash off. Your skin will be smooth and supple. It will look fresh and glowing. This routine will improve your skin’s elasticity, its complexion, its water retaining capacity and will keep it looking fresh all day long.
You can use this routine for your complete body once in a while. It is a great treat for your body. Instead of putting milk in your bath water or tub, use a wash cloth and saturate it well before applying it on your body. Use a full cream milk or if you can, goat’s milk. That’s the best for skin care. Do not worry even if you have oily skin. It balances the oil secretion in your skin and your skin would not suffer breakouts. Instead, your skin might turn to a normal type. And, if you are consistent with this routine, you can notice results in as less as 3 days. Your skin would be considerably lighter and glowing. Caution: Do not follow this if you are allergic to any dairy products or are lactose-intolerant or even if suffering from acne.

Natural Shampoo-cum-Conditioner to increase hair growth {DIY}

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Some days back, I had posted about the need of co-washes. Today, I am posting a recipe for a natural conditioner which can be used during a co-wash. Actually, it can also be used as a shampoo. We all know how good is hibiscus for our hair. Yes, you guessed it right. The natural shampoo-cum-conditioner is made from hibiscus flowers and leaves.
Method: Soak some hibiscus flowers and leaves (around 5 flowers and 15-20 leaves) in 2 liters of water overnight. Make sure that the leaves are thick and use the fresh flowers. Next morning or evening, boil the water till it remains half in quantity. The liquid would be green in color and thick in texture. Strain it in a bottle and store it in the fridge. Use this liquid while co-washing your hair. You can also substitute your shampoos with this natural shampoo. It can also remove a little oil in your hair. But, mind you, it can not remove a oil from a well-oiled hair. Then, you have to switch back to your own brand of shampoo. So, I prefer this natural shampoo for a co-wash. Prepare small batches of the shampoo and use it within a week or two.
It makes hair smooth and soft. It hydrates the hair well. You do not need to follow up with a conditioner. You can instead use a few drops of oil at the ends. It also helps in hair growth and reduces the risk of hair loss. You can use this shampoo to dilute your own shampoo too. This way, the chemicals in the shampoo would be less harsh on your hair.And, moreover, it controls the oil in your hair. If your hair is oily, it tries to neutralize it.

Sunscreen: Role in anti-aging Skin Care {Sunscreen}

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Aging is the biggest worry of everyone. No one really wants to be old. Even, I dread my birthdays though I wait for them whole year. I remember how I felt when I turned 18 and then, at 20 and now, I will be hitting 24. The clocks and years seem to be running. But, yes, you can turn the years back. Follow the tips I am going to talk about today and see the results for yourself in a month.
Sunscreen
No one can ever stop talking about its benefits for your skin. Sun is the biggest enemy of our skin. The hypes UVA and UVB are for real and their effects can range from simple skin disorders to skin cancer. So, do not take sun for granted. Apply sunscreen religiously and reapply after every 2 hours. Try to stay away from sun between 10 and 4. The rays are the strongest and at their worst.
If you are outside, stand in shade, put on a hat, cover yourself completely. Do not worry if you look like thief or a militant. Its really important. In any case you are concerned about being a fashion disaster, you can buy wide-brimmed stylish hats or learn to tie scarves in an elegant manner. And, wear well-fitting full-sleeved T-shirts or tops. They look elegant.
If at home, do not close windows and doors to stop the sunlight. Allow your house to be filled with as much natural light as possible. It is good for your health and very hygienic. The sunlight cleans our surroundings. But, remember that UVA comes theough windows also. So, never forget to wear a sunscreen while at home too.
Use a high-factor sunscreen like 30SPF. It is ideal for Indian climate. High-sunscreen factor gives you a better protection for a longer time. But, no matter what, you have to apply it after every 2 hours.
Speaking of sunscreen, there is a very important thing which has never been emphasized. Many people are sensitive to light and they do not  even realize it. They get certain skin disorders which are never diagnosed correctly. Recently, I went down with a skin disorder and consulted a dermatologist. She said that I am sensitive to light and am supposed to protect my skin from the light emanating from the tube lights and floroscent bulbs too. They also emit radiations which are harmful for our body. So, either switch to filament bulbs or cover your skin well under the lights. Do not let the direct light strike your skin. You can sit behind a curtain or some covering. And, sleep with your lights switched off.
Type of Sunscreens
Sunscreens are either physical or chemical.
Chemical Sunscreens are ones which you are supposed to apply 30 minutes  prior to going under the sun. They create a film on the skin and prevent the absorption of sun’s rays into the body. So, they have to be applied a little prior to sun exposure and they should be applied as close to the body as possible. It is often best that only sunscreen is applied on the face. They have many compounds like Avobenzone, Benzophenone, Oxybenzone and many more.  These compounds get absorbed into the skin easily and affect the body internally. Read this article to know more about it.
Physical Sunscreens provide physical protection to the body. Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide are the compounds found in physical sunscreens. They can be applied just as moisturizers and you can immediately go in the sun. They do not have the dangers involved in chemical sunscreens. But, beware of the nano particles of titanium dioxide used in the products. They enter the blood stream and create havoc in the body. It is extremely toxic.
But, unfortunately, there is no natural sunscreen which can provide resistance from both UVA and UVB as effectively as the commercial sunscreens. Thus, my advise would be that you can buy a sunscreen whose key ingredient is zinc oxide. It would be the safest bet.

Foods you can eat to improve your body resistance to sun’s rays

And, eat lot of tomatoes and spinach. Both of them have capacity to increase the body resistance against sun’s rays. Do not forget other green leafy vegetables which also provide resistance against the sun. Increase your resistance internally and externally to sun.