Prevent Pimples With These 5 Lifestyle Changes

1. Stop letting stress control you. Learn to control it instead. Compartmentalise your work life and personal life and aim for a healthy balance. Block a few hours of the day to do the things you enjoy, even if it is as simple as reading a book, playing with your kids, or watching television mindlessly. Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep.

2. Work out. It could be in any form – light low impact exercises, heavy strength training, yoga or even walking or running your dog. Exercise goads the body to release feel good chemicals called endorphins, which trigger feelings of positivity.

3. Eat mindfully. Remember mom’s warnings about too much sugar and junk food? She was right! Simple carbohydrates convert into sugar which creates an imbalance in hormones. Healthy foods such as wholegrains, veggies and herbal teas are more beneficial to the body and also up your energy and health quotient.

4. Get up close with Omega-3. They control the production of leukotriene B4 which can cause inflammatory acne. Omega-3 is also a great antioxidant and protects your body from harmful UV rays.

5. Drink up.Staying hydrated all day through with at least 2-3 litres of water flushes out toxins, metabolizes the food you eat and boosts blood flow.

5 Shea Butter Benefits That Will Compel You To Use It On Your Skin & Face

Shea butter is extracted from the seeds of the fruit that grows on Karite trees, which are mainly found in Africa. It is in the form of solid fatty oil and in its raw form, looks like scoops of hard caramel ice cream. No wonder that certain communities use it even for food preparations.

In the world of beauty, shea butter has become widely popular for its extraordinary ability to not only protect the skin against everyday environmental damage, but also repair and renew it.

Here are some shea butter benefits that actually make a difference!

Shea Butter heals: Most soaps and oils convert into soap (saponification) when they come in contact with alkali. Shea butter does not as it contains oil soluble fatty acids and plant sterols such as oleic, palmitic, stearic and linolenic acids which stand their own ground. This intensifies its healing potential especially for burns, cuts, rashes insect bites and eczema. Not just that, shea butter is a great friend of athletes and sportspersons as it also eliminates toxins which cause muscle fatigue. So give yourself a good rubdown post your workout so as to not compromise on your workout the next day.

Shea Butter protects: The antioxidants in shea butter keep cells protected from damaging free radicals and other environmental hazards whilst cinnamic acid esters in the shea fat keep ultraviolet radiation at bay. Your skin will never look dull again.

Shea butter for skin

Unsaturated fats with copious amounts of non-saponifiable components, essential fatty acids, vitamins E and D, phytosterols, provitamin A and allantoin…these are the ingredients for picture perfect skin and you’ll get all these benefits from shea butter. These ingredients also makes it a natural moisturizer which keeps the skin’s protective oils where it should be, right inside the skin!

Anti-ageing benefits: Youthful skin is just a dab away. Take advantage of the vitamin A and E that shea butter possesses to preserve your skin’s radiance and softness. Shea butter gives collagen production a gentle push to retain skin’s youthful looks.

Pro Tip - If you don’t have time to make Shea Butter face mask for youthful skin, use Olay Total Effects Night cream which may be able to address your skin ageing concerns.

Shea butter for face

Give yourself a spa-like treatment with this simple homemade face mask and get softer skin in minutes!

• In a blender, combine ½ tablespoon of shea butter, ½ an avocado, 1 tsp. raw honey and a few drops of lime juice.
• Blend till smooth consistency.
• Apply on skin and leave for 30 minutes, after which rinse off with cold water and a mild soap.
• The shea butter may not leave your face completely which is a good thing so do not try to over wash – this will dry out your face.
• If the pack remains, store in in the refrigerator and use again within 2 days.

Get Youthful Looking Skin With This Skin Care Routine For Your 30s

You know you’ve hit the 30s when your skin isn’t as taut as it used to be and wrinkles make their debut on your face. But the best part is, signs of ageing can be managed and even reversed; all you have to do is follow this routine created especially for skin care in 30s.

1. Begin your skin care routine with a cleanser; it really helps take off any residual makeup and dirt. Olay Regenerist Cream Cleanser is a good choice, as it fights the signs of ageing effectively.
2. The next step in your routine is to use a cleansing brush. Using a cleaning brush has dual benefits; it extracts the dirt that is clogging your pores and it also exfoliates your skin.
3. Follow that up with a toner; it helps rid your skin of any oil and makeup that your cleanser missed. Most times, cleansers include toners but if yours doesn’t, then you can always use a toner separately post cleansing.
4. Now that your skin has been thoroughly cleansed and toned, give it some serum treatment. The advantage of using a serum is that it will dramatically increase the efficiency of any skincare products you may be using. What’s more, it improves your skin’s overall health by boosting its moisture quotient as well as its collagen-producing ability. Use it twice a day, once in the morning and once at night.
5. Post giving your skin some good serum treatment it’s time to use a face mask. If you’re going to use a face mask during the day, do so before you moisturize and after you apply serum. If you’re planning on leaving it on all night then do not put anything on your face after you put on the mask.
6. That done, now use a nourishing creamy moisturizer that is made especially for usage on your face.
7. Your eyes are where the first signs of ageing usually make an appearance. Do a little research to find out the best anti-ageing cream for 30s and the best night cream for 30s. Olay Total Effects 7 in One Day Cream is a tried and tested choice by many women.
8. The final step in your skin care routine would be to use a facial peel. Using a peel helps exfoliate you skin allowing a new layer of skin to emerge. Every peel worth its salt should contain either glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid or salicylic acid to give your skin that beautiful radiance you deserve!

Shampoo your hair like an expert

Admit it, we’re way harsh on our hair – especially in the shower. And while we may all feel like we’re shampooing experts, there are a few tips you can do to maximize cleansing and minimize hair damage. Here’s how to turn getting clean into getting gorgeous.

1. Detangle before Washing: Don’t even think about stepping into the shower with tangled hair! Hair is the weakest when it’s wet because it swells up and stretches, meaning it can break much more easily. By gently detangling with a wide-tooth comb while your hair is dry, you’ll minimize breakage.
2. Shampoo like an Expert: Take it from the top down. To prevent new tangles, apply shampoo to hair roots where styling residue and oil tend to accumulate, and work it through to the ends, moving in the same direction as the water. Frantically rubbing hair into a big rats nest may be your go-to routine, but it can lead to snarls that even the most moisturizing shampoo can’t fix. Start shampooing at the roots and work your way through the length of your hair to avoid the knots and minimize damage. Consider a second round of shampoo if the bubbles don’t last through the first wash. Excess oil and dirt kill bubbles. If the foam doesn’t last, you know your hair isn’t fully clean.
3. Conditioning 101: Unlike shampooing, apply conditioner from the bottom, up. After rinsing out the shampoo, apply conditioner to the ends of your hair, and work your way to the roots. Then, use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb in the shower to gently comb hair starting at the ends, moving up the length of the hair. Continue your showering routine while the conditioner sits on your hair before you rinse it out last.
4. Blot, Don’t Rub: Gently blot the extra moisture from your locks with a dry towel or even microfiber cloth. If you rub vigorously, you’ll create tangles by roughing up the cuticles, setting your hair up for frizz. Use a wide-tooth comb or paddle brush to get your hair ready for styling.

Nail Art a Home

1. Crystals Coat your nails and stick tiny stones or crystals on it, while its still wet.
2. Funky Glitter: Mix loose glitter with nail gel or clear polish and apply it to your nails. Once dry apply a transparent nail enamel on the top and there you have that sparkle! it goes well with any party attire.


3. French Tips: Set a French manicure sticker across your nail, leaving the tip exposed; apply a base coat. Remove the sticker while it�s still wet, let it dry and finish off with a neutral nail varnish.
4. Polka Dots: Polka dots are simple and versatile. On a base coat of nail paint, make dots using a contrasting color so that it is visible.
5. Beaded Nails: Get nails beads from the market. They are available in various shapes, sizes and colors. Apply the base coat with whichever color you want and once it's dry stick the beads making your own pattern of flowers, stars or random designs. Don't forget to cover it up with transparent enamel as this helps in preventing the beads form falling off.
6. Newspaper Print: Apply a base coat of grey nail paint. Dip your fingers in the rubbing alcohol for about 30 sec and then press a piece of newspaper on the nail till its print comes on the nail. Let it dry for a few minutes and cover with the transparent enamel and it's done!
7. Floral Design: Apply the base coat color. Once its dry, use a thin-tipped brush or toothpick to place groups of five dots arranged in circles on your nails. These are the petals. Once the petal dots are dry, use their color to paint a simple circle in the center of the petal dots. You can add extra detail by placing a tiny white stripe in the center of the petals, or creating leaves with green nail polish. When the flower designs are dry, apply a clear top coat.

Tips For Getting Soft Hands

1.Before you go to bed, lavish on by Vaseline and after that pop on a pair of cotton gloves. Your hands will be amazingly soft by morning.

2.Do not let the skin on hands dry and moisturize them often to keep off the winkles. Use your face cream on your hands once a week. Do not apply nail polish for few days. Do not apply nail polish for few days after every two weeks for better and healthy nails.

3.Wear rubber gloves while working in the sun (i.e. garden).

4.Apply the mixture of orange juice and honey to make your hands soft.

5.Mix glycerin, lemon juice and a few drops of rose water and use it to massage your hands every other day.

6.Cornmeal is a great scrub for hands and cleanses and softens your hands wonderfully.

7.Once a week, cover your hands with petroleum jelly and then wear a glove over the top. In the morning, your hands will be smooth, soft, and will feel fantastic.

8.Application of white eggs also makes a hand mask. It makes the skin tight and prevents formation of wrinkles.

9.Special treatments such as a warm oil bath and herbal therapies can keep your hands soft and supple forever.

9 Tricks for Conquering Liquid Eyeliner

Does this sound familiar: Apply foundation, attempt liquid liner, screw it up, remove everything, settle on a statement lip. If you have a love-hate relationship with the glossy ink (as in, love the dramatic look, hate actually applying it), try these simple strategies from makeup artist Daniel Martin.

1. Choose the right tool for your skill set. If you're a liquid liner rookie, a felt-tip marker with a superfine point like Dior Diorshow Art Pen is the easiest to control, says celebrity makeup artist Daniel Martin. "It's like the training wheels of eyeliner." If you're advanced—or going for a graphic look—a brush-tip applicator is your best bet. It requires a bit more precision and patience, he warns, but the razor-thin lines you get are worth it.

2. Hold your eyeliner near the end. This simple switch that makes all the difference. "Gripping the eyeliner further up puts too much pressure on the tip, which can make the liner jagged or goopy," says Martin.

3. Tilt your chin up slightly. Then look down into the mirror so you're eyes are halfway closed. It may feel counterintuitive, but this angle helps prevent liner from smearing all over your lid and looking uneven once it's on.

4. Apply liner after shadow. "Powder shadows act as a magnet for liquid liners to stick to," explains Martin, which means less slipping and smudging throughout the day. If you're using a cream formula, prep lids with a primer first.

5. Give yourself a guideline. For those with shaky-hands, use a creamy pencil to sketch a line first. Once you've got the right shape, trace over it with a liquid formula for depth and definition.

6. Do short strokes. Rather than attempting to line your eyes in one fell swoop, try drawing tiny dashes along your top lashes and connecting them into one solid stroke. Another smart technique: holding your eyeliner horizontally (so it's parallel to the floor) and running it sideways against your lash line.

7. Use a slanted brush for perfect cat eyes. It's your best friend when you're trying to free-hand symmetrical, foolproof flicks, says Martin. His how-to: Dip the brush into a liquid or gel pigment and place it along the outer corner of your eye; drag the brush in on a diagonal to create your wing. Then finish lining your lid and fill in any holes to complete the look.

8. Clean up smudges the right way. To fix mistakes or refine edges without messing up the rest of your makeup, opt for a pointed cotton swab soaked in cleansing water, says Martin, who recommends Dr. Jart+ Dermaclear Micro Water. "It's not greasy and won't tug on the delicate eye skin."

9. Don't forget to tightline. It's the secret to making liner look polished. Do it by gently lifting your lid and wiggling the liner in between your lashes as close to the root as possible. Add some mascara and you're done.