Five Tips For Healthy Skin

1: They never go to bed with makeup on
After a long, tiring night, it may be the last thing you’d want to do – wash your face. But by now we all know that leaving makeup on can be disastrous for your skin. It clogs your skin’s pores, trapping the oil, leading to dead cell accumulation and even breakouts. Worse, leaving eye makeup on can result in you waking up with itchy, red eyes. So no matter how tired you are, walk up to the sink and wash it off.
We suggest you pour some baby oil onto a cotton ball and remove eye-makeup and then just wash your face with a good face-wash. This is less cumbersome in comparison to using a cleansing lotion. Do this only on nights that you are very tired. Otherwise go the elaborate way, as it removes any trace of leftover makeup.
2: They wear sunscreen everyday
The sun’s harmful rays are known to be a major cause for skin damage; even causing early ageing. So this is definitely one thing you mustn’t skip before heading out during the day. Experts recommend using a sunscreen with SPF 30 at least in combination with a moisturiser. Even oily skin needs external moisture application. But choose one that isn’t too heavy.
3: They keep their hands off their faces
Many people can’t seem to keep their hands off their faces. This is one nasty habit. By doing this, you’re transferring all the bacteria from your dirty hands — that have touched all things under the sun — onto your face. And now we know why your skin has been breaking out.
Keep your hands strictly off your face. Don’t touch it unnecessarily, when you have to use clean hands.
4: They get their beauty sleep
When one doesn’t get adequate zzzz time, it shows on the skin. All those lucky women who have glowing, radiant skin never skimp on their sleep. Sleep time is when your skin repairs itself, if you take that away from it – your skin is likely to look haggard.
So get at least 8 hours of sleep a day. Unless you’re doing that you are missing out on the last burst of growth hormone that is released during the last stage of sleep. This growth hormone is known to play a key role in carrying blood to the skin’s surface, which oxygenates the skin and improves its overall appearance.
5: They don’t overdo it
This one is of utmost import. The best skincare regimes are those that are done in balance. By this we mean, not overdoing them in your hunt for perfect skin. Over cleansing, over moisturising and over medicating the skin upsets the balance. For example, you’re having breakouts, and so you try using a host of products that control oil secretion. When you do this, you end up over-drying your skin, and this puts the sebaceous glands in your skin on alert, and they begin to produce more oil, resulting in more breakouts.
So wash your face two times a day. Moisturise it and apply sunscreen in the morning. At night, make sure you remove all makeup and apply a night cream that suits you. Get facials once a month or perhaps every 15 days if you think your skin needs one. But don not over do any skincare regime.

Use Soaps Or Not

After a visit to my bathroom and seeing my collection of toiletries, including shower gels and body washes, my grandmother couldn't help telling me how in their days, soap used to be a luxury - that they used to even make "lye" soaps at home to save expense. She disapproved of my "indulgence" in toiletries. While dadi may be partly right (I don't need four varieties of shower gels at one time), the fact is that today, one actually needs several beauty products that were considered indulgences in the past. In my grandmother's times, environmental conditions were not harsh for one's skin, and pollution wasn't choking your skin cells. So, the everyday soap, which does in fact strip your skin of natural oils, was something your skin could take more easily than it can now. So, while soap still serves the basic purpose of cleansing, ordinary bars will strip your skin of the essential fatty oils. All body washes are formulated to cleanse, without drying your skin.]

Why not soaps?
Dr Aparna Santhanam, columnist for Good Housekeeping and Mumbai based dermatologist says, 'Soaps are, traditionally, alkaline in nature. As our skin is slightly acidic, soaps were harsh and harmful to its basic nature. Today, there are "neutral" soaps with glycerin as well as syndet (synthetic detergent), changing the alkaline factor. So choose the right one, if using.' Adds Dr Shehla Agarwal, Delhi-based dermatologist and cosmetologist, 'People with dry and sensitive skin must use body wash.

Why body washes?
Body washes, explains Dr Agarwal, are milder. 'They are not "hard" like regular soaps - they clean without ripping the skin of essential natural oils and fatty acids.' Dr Santhanam adds, ' Body washes are more hygienic as their surface is not touched by different users. They come in a closed container, so pollutants in the air do not affect them. They are also enriched with additional moisturisers which help nourish the skin better.

Face wash, a must
When it comes to your face, use a face wash. The skin on your face is more delicate and needs extra moisturising care that you do not get from the regular soaps. If you want to use soap on your face, choose the ones with moisturisers, glycerine or moisturising milk as ingredients.

Skin To Glow

In winter, low temperatures, low humidity and strong, harsh winds dry the skin and cause itchiness and rashes. Here are some tips for skin care in winter. 1. Keep Water Lukewarm, Not Hot - Hot water robs skin of moisture causing dry skin, so it's best to shower in lukewarm water. Try and keep your showers short and if you can avoid tub baths and a long soak. 2. Wash hands in lukewarm, never hot water. This helps prevent dryness of the skin and hands. 3. Moisturizer is the key to soft, supple skin. Apply product when skin is slightly damp. For best effect, pat skin dry instead of rubbing with your towel before application. Use a moisturizer that has sun block in it. Baby oil is also a good skin moisturizer and keep skin soft and supple. 4. Do not use soaps that are strong and can lead to dryness of skin. Use a soap with a creamy moisturizing cleanser that contains glycerin or a body wash. Try bath oils or oatmeal scrubs, which are great for soothing itchy skin.

Screen That Sun

Baz Luhrmann, the award-winning director, once said: 'If I could offer you only one (beauty) tip for the future, sunscreen would be it!' Not enough emphasis can be laid on the importance of sunscreen in your skin regime. For starters, don't step out of your house without sun protection - whether or not the sun is out in its full glory. Even on a cloudy day, you stand the risk of sunburn from the UVA and UVB rays, and once it happens, it takes an average of four years to undo it! Remember, a regular summer cotton dress gives you less than SPF 10 protection from the sun. So, to re-emphasise - there is no substitute for sun protection. Love yourself, love your sunscreen. Fact file 1: Sunblock and sunscreen are different. Sunblock sits on your skin, literally "blocking" the sun rays from reaching your skin. You don't need to apply it 20-30 minutes before stepping out of your house. Which you need to do in case of sunscreens, as they need to be absorbed into your skin to form a protective layer from within. Fact file 2: Makeup is never 100 percent water-proof. If it says "waterproof", it is going to resist being washed away by water, sweat and body oils for a while, but in time, it will go. Re-apply your sunscreen, water-proof or not, every 2-3 hours, specially when you are outdoors. Fact file 3: Mumbai-based cosmetologist Dr Rohini Wadhwani, a visiting expert at the recent Lakmé Good Housekeeping Weekend in Delhi, says, 'During the day, do not wear a lot of makeup as it gets difficult to re-apply the sunscreen. 'Keep makeup minimal, and try to buy cosmetics with SPF - this helps to increase the protection from the sun.' Fact file 4: Avoid the sun from 11am to 4pm. 5Include after-sun products in your beauty regime.

The Dark Side Of Fairness

Adding to the storm of debate around the issue of fairness creams, undertones of racism and an obsession that spans the globe, two recent incidents have stoked the fires again. An ad by a global brand in personal care, owned by Unilever, has sparked debate on whether the brand is implying that darker skin is less desirable. And Naomi Campbell's outrage at being compared to a chocolate bar has led to talk of Cadbury's Bliss ad campaign being racist. While Jake believes it stems from the psychology of Gori, another user believes it is the ads that define for society, what beauty means. In lighter vein, one user disagrees - fairness creams try to kick away racism just by making everyone fair. Something to think about? Some great contributions tracing racism and prejudice back to society, family, slave-trade and colonialism.

Look Summer Perfect

Not having fun in the sun? Here's how you can look your best even on the hottest day of the season. Looking forward to wearing that sexy sundress and strappy top that you stashed away for a special summer brunch? Wait, just as you begin to enjoy your new summer body, the sun plays spoilsport and your super toned legs are tanned, your sexy top has (heaven forbid) sweat patches and your deo is not as effective as you thought (double ouch)?.Don't worry, we tell you how to check these summer bummers. Sun Tan: A protective reaction by the skin to the sun's harsh sun rays and skin darkening is increased melanin production. Therefore to avoid tanning, protection is a must. Always use a broad spectrum sunscreen (protects from UVA and UVB rays). A formulation with an SPF of 20-30 usually works well for Indian skin tones. Apply the sunscreen 20 minutes before you leave the house. "A bottle of about 175 ml should be enough for two months. If it lasts longer, it means you aren't using enough," warns Dr Narmada Matang, head, Medical Operations, Kaya Skin Clinic. Re-application is the key. If you're out in the sun (especially during the peak hours of 10 am to 4 pm), re-apply every two hours. "Clean your face with a wet wipe (aqua-based and hypoallergenic) before re-applying," adds Matang. If you're on the beach or in the hills, beware of the sand and sun factor. You need to use a higher SPF (30 and above) and re-apply frequently. You can never be overprotected from the sun, so carry that umbrella, put on those dark glasses and wear that scarf. A sunburn is a severe case of tanning where skin can turn red, painful and even itchy, says Dr Jaishree Sharad, Mumbai-based dermatologist. Splash your face with cold water or apply ice after sun exposure to prevent redness and skin burning, advises Dr Rekha Sheth, cosmetic dermatologist. To remove a tan, apply curd or buttermilk on all exposed skin zones and wash off after 30 minutes, suggests Shahnaz Husain, beauty expert. Sweat: This is the body's internal mechanism to cool itself down. But those sweat patches on your clothes can be very embarrassing. Plus, high temperature and moisture BUMMERare ideal breeding grounds for fungi and can result in infections and body odour. Be particular about hygiene-take a shower twice a day, dry yourself thoroughly especially on body folds and between your toes and wear loose cotton clothes, says Sharad. Use anti-fungal powder all over. If you do have excessive sweat issues, underarm botox is an option. "A relatively painless and simple procedure, it slows down the working of the sweat glands for about four to six months," says Sharad. Oily Skin: High temperature causes the sebaceous glands to swell up, leading to overproduction of oil. This combined with sweat causes results in greasy skin. "Wash your face two to three times a day with a mild cleanser with 2% salicylic acid. However, don't leave it on your face too long," advises Matang. The hot summer air can also make your skin dry, so do use a hypoallergenic moisturiser, recommends Sheth. To reduce oiliness, apply a mix of fresh tomato juice (2 tsp) with a few drops of lemon juice. Apply this to your face at least once a day. This will help to control sebum production, but at the same time, won't dry out your skin, says Dr Jamuna Pai, Mumbai-based cosmetic physician. Greasy Scalp & Sun Damaged Hair: Sweat and excessive oil production result in a greasy scalp. Wash your hair frequently, even every day if required. Avoid touching your scalp or running your fingers through your hair, advises Sumit Israni, hair expert, Geetanjali Salon, New Delhi. The sun is also harsh on hair, particularly if it is coloured. It's a good idea to use a protective serum and cover your hair with a scarf before stepping out. To restore the shine to sun-damaged and brittle hair, take half a cup of apple cider vinegar and dilute it with a cup of water. Pour this on your hair after shampooing, recommends Pai. Reduce oiliness by applying egg white on hair half an hour before washing, advises Husain. Skin Breakouts: Excessive oil, sweat and pollutants can cause clogging of skin pores, leading to breakouts, rashes and even aggravation in acne. Of course, acne can have other causes as well but if oily skin is the reason for your acne condition, then summer could see a return of those skin woes. Heat boils are also very common during this season. The high temperature combined with sweat can cause hair follicle infection leading to painful boils, warns Sharad. It's important to maintain good hygiene, wear cotton clothes and use generous amounts of anti-fungal powder. Sandalwood paste applied on pimples, acne and boils can help calm the skin, says Husain. However, if you continue to be plagued with acne, it's best to consult a dermatologist. Runny Make-Up: Always use pressed powder over liquid foundation, advises make-up expert Ashima Kapoor. Not only is it easy to carry around for touch-ups, it also keeps sweat away. Choose a powder blush as well. "It's a good idea to use primer before applying the foundation as it helps the make-up stay longer," says Kapoor. Also, waterproof mascara, eyeliner and lip liner will prevent the make-up from melting in the sun. Opt for make-up with an SPF for added sun protection.