Category Archives: Tips and Tricks

Everyday habits that ruin your looks

Everyday habits that ruin your looks

Guest Post

There are lots of things we do every single day that ruin our looks, from washing our hair to talking to our friends. Don’t believe me ? Shocked ? You ask how ? Read on..

To make sure you stay looking pretty, fresh-faced and perfect, check out this list and make sure you don’t do any of these habits that ruin your appearance. If you do find some of your habits on this list, we’ll also give you remedies and solutions to each and every beauty dilemma.

Coming back to the everyday harmful habits..

Everyday habits that ruin your looks

1. Sleeping

Although we all need our beauty sleep, sleeping could be causing your skin to age unnecessarily. The problem with sleeping is not the process itself .The problem lies with your pillowcase. Surprisingly your pillowcase can draw moisture away from you and this can age skin. It can also leave unattractive lines over your face. Also, the hair tends to fall more on a normal pillow. To combat your pillowcase problem dermatologists recommend you invest in a silk pillow cover/satin pillow case. Silk contains amino acids, similar to those found in our moisturisers, so when we rest our heads for the night our skin is not losing any essential moisture. Problem solved.

2. Applying makeup/Doing touch ups

When we apply our face creams, our expensive moisturisers and our foundation, most of us are guilty of doing so with our fingers. Although using your fingers is fine, how many of us clean our hands before doing so? Some of us may wash hands before applying makeup in the morning or the night, but not so many do so when they do the odd touch-up job. This is bad news for our skin. The bacteria from fingers transfer to face, which can cause infection and spots. To prevent blemishes and still use your favourite beauty products make sure you use a hand sanitizer before applying your face creams or use makeup brushes.

If you are not sure in how to apply correctly your make-up you could find many courses in internet or locally in pages as olx.com.bd

3. Drinking water

Although drinking water can help improve the way we look, the way we actually drink can make us look terrible. Using bottles or straws to drink is something most of us do every single day, but did you know that drinking through a bottle or straw can age our skin? Drinking in this way can give us the same lines and wrinkles around our mouths that smoking causes. If you want to stay looking young and wrinkle-free it’s time you buy a glass and ditch the bottles and the straws.

4. Talking to your friends

I know we all are big time gossip mongers but does our skin like it ? Think about the places we leave our phones. We leave them on café tabletops, in the drinks holder of our car and on the seat in changing rooms. We leave our phones on shop countertops, we lend our phones to our friends and even leave them on the side in the public bathroom when we wash our hands. When you think about your phone in this way, it’s not surprising that phones can cause spots and blemishes. To combat this problem use antibacterial wipes and be a little bit more mindful where you leave your phone next time you’re out and about.

5. Washing your hair

If you want to look hot and feel good the very least you need to do is keep clean, right? Well, although basic hygiene is obviously a vital part of your beauty regime you have to choose your products carefully. Within most shampoos and hair conditioners you will find a foaming chemical called sodium laureth sulphate. Although commonly used, this chemical can damage your hair, your skin and your health. The Hair Loss Control Clinic explain that sodium laureth sulphate can even cause your hair growth cycle to decline and suggest the chemical can prolong your hair loss phase. So to keep your hair thick and luscious, choose products that do not contain this chemical, like organic shampoos and conditioners. But though, most of the companies now have switched to Sodium Laureyl Sulphate which is not that harmful.

Did you realise your everyday habits would be harming your skin and hair ?

P.S: Image from Google

Skincare Tips for Men

Skincare Tips for Men

Men mostly ignore their skin and never pay attention to even the basic things, which can in turn matter a lot, in the long run, to keep their skin younger and nicer looking.

Some things men need to follow:

  • Use a mild facewash: Determine your skin type and use a gentle cleanser/face wash and ditch those soap bars. You can try the new Garnier Men Oil Clear Facewash if you have oily skin and the Garnier Men Acnofight Facewash if you have acne. And if you have normal to dry skin, you can try Garnier Men Powerlight Facewash
  • Always use a good moisturiser: Moisturising the skin is also equally important, for all skin types. You can try Garnier Men Powerlight Oil Control & Fairness Moisturiser. If you have oily skin, the oil control would help you keep a check on that too throughout the day.
  • Use a good high SPF sunscreen everyday: Do not skip a sunscreen. Since most of you must be out in the sun, throughout the day, you should definitely use a sunscreen 365 days.
  • Use a mild exfoliator (not an harsh scrub) with AHA and/or BHA to get rid of the dead skin cells, and help regenerate the new skin cells.
  • Use a product containing benzoyl peroxide overnight, if you have acne.
  • Use a good, rich night cream if you have dry skin.

Now some don’ts:

  • Do not use a soap bar: Bar soaps are drying and irritating which irritates and inflames skin, plus the ingredients that put bar cleansers into their bar form can clog pores. Routinely using bar soap on your face can also impede shaving, potentially leading to razor bumps and a more frequent need to replace your razor blade.
  • Do not go for products with too many fragrance ingredients : That will only irritate the skin more.
  • Do not buy cheap razors: Invest in some good ones. Your skin will thank you, in the long run.

I guess some basic do’s and don’ts is only what men need to follow for good skin. And they are good to go !

Would you like to add some skin care tips for men ?

P.S: Image from Google

Find Your Scent: 6 Perfume Facts To Know Before Hitting The Store

Find Your Scent: 6 Perfume Facts To Know Before Hitting The Store

Guest Post

The olfactory sense is the strongest in means of triggering memories. We are instantly taken back to a specific time and place when we smell certain things. Therefore, when it comes to your signature perfume, it is important to pick one that truly represents who you are. To find your scent, there are six perfume facts to know before hitting the store.


1. Skin Type

Everyone has a unique skin type, and the best place to start when shopping for perfume is to identify yours. The main point to take into consideration is whether your skin is oily or dry. Dry skin will absorb the scent more quickly, so a more highly-concentrated perfume is the best option.

2. Time of Day

Many don’t realize it, but the sense of smell is keener later in the afternoon and on warmer days. Therefore, the best time to shop for perfume is in the afternoon on a warm day. This will help you really understand what scent you are getting and how it works with your body chemistry. 

3. Shop for Variety

There are a number of options available for perfume shoppers. Unfortunately, most retailers are only able to offer a small percentage due to constrictions on spacing availability in the store.

4. Avoid Multiple Spritz

When shopping for perfume, it is tempting to spray multiple products onto the skin. This is not productive as the combinations confuse the senses. The product you choose will be skewed, and you may not like it when it stands alone.

First try each scent out on the tester strips, then you can narrow your choices down to a few of what you really like. Then be sure to test them on your skin. After you have sprayed them, give the perfume between 5 to 10 minutes to mix with you natural body chemistry. It will change the way the scent smells and give you an idea of what you are getting. 

5. Point of Application

When applying perfume, there are ideal places you want to focus on. Pulse points are best such as the middle of the neck, wrists and behind the ears. If you prefer a more subtle scent, spray the perfume into the air and walk through it. In either case, avoid spraying directly on clothing as certain brands can induce staining.

6. Fragrance Families

Once you have identified a few different fragrance families that complement you well, it is always good to have them available. Using one scent everyday can cause you to get bored with it. Having the ability to switch up your daily scent is invigorating.

Always Smell Your Best

The way we smell gives a lasting impression on those around us, and it is important to make sure those memories are ones that reflect you well. By following these six tips, you will be able to pick out your optimal scent when you hit the store.

Did you know these perfume facts ?

Indo-Western Wear – Trends to Follow!

Indo-Western Wear – Trends to Follow!

When ethnic meets contemporary, it always offers a beautiful integration of two diverse worlds. This blend has much more to offer if we take a decent look at trends in indo-western wear in apparel industry. Quite a buzzword that has become, this trend is being ardently admired by fashion lovers globally.

The quintessential Indo-Western fusion carries many faces and offers a distinctive style to most of the traditional outfits. Whether it is about donning a traditional indian kurtis with a skirt or styling Indian saree with a contemporary twist, this synchronization resonates well with people who love to unleash their creativity and experiment with different styles.

Indian designers follow indo-western trends to a great extent and make beautiful outfits to suit different occasions. They have transformed the traditional outfits such as salwar kameez , saree and lehenga and re-invented them with most flattering styles. Their creativity in mixing up traditional and contemporary has coined innovative styles that can easily be fallen in love with.

Being inspired by many such styles, Indian women are not left behind in making fashion statement. They easily carry salwaar with a chic- looking top, pair a kurti with denim, drape saree in the most contemporary style that almost looks like a sophisticated evening dress or don an unusual yet classic combination of blouse and dhoti together.  Among many of these inimitable ensembles, Indo western gown too is making highlights by being one of the most preferred dresses for varied festive occasions. This full-length western gown can be embellished with Indian motif, embroidery patterns and fabrics and is ready to demand much needed attention from women across the globe.

Well, there seems to be no end to these indo-western creative combinations, as long as one has a knack of experimenting with bold looking styles; and ready to explore much more from the fashion secrets.

DIY Hairstyles with TRESemme India

TRESemme Ramp Ready Hair: DIY HairstylesHey everyone,

Are’nt we all always on the look out for DIY easy everyday hairstyles which can be done in minutes ? We all get bored of our normal look..and end up getting funky haircuts time and again..

Well worry not..now we have Tresemme India to our rescue..they have come up with easy DIY hairstyle videos..check them on their youtube channel HERE

I tried some of these hairstyles..Athena Braid, Butterfly Ponytail and the twisted hairband..so loving them !

Athena Braid

Here is the video of how to create an Athena Braid

Butterfly Ponytail

I loved the Butterfly Ponytail…its quiet easy and can be done in a minute..

Twisted Hairband

And the twisted hairband too


Please note, hairstyles may appear a little different on me coz I have layered hair and not straight.

Messy Hair Bun

And last but not the least my go to messy hair bun..here is a step by step guide..

1. Brush through hair to get rid of knots.
2. Hold hair up in a high ponytail.
3. Holding the end with one hand, start twisting the hair around the end in a clockwise direction.
4. Tuck the ends inside.
5. Secure with a rubber band.
6. Done !

I hope you like these styles..which did you like the most ?

Which hair styles did you try from the TRESemme videos ?

The Goodness of Coconut for the Skin

The goodness of Coconut for the Skin

Coconut..a ‘wonder’ nut indeed..which gives us coconut water, coconut milk, coconut oil, everything so useful for us in so many ways..it benefits our body, skin, hair..

Coconut milk is one of the oldest and most trusted ways of moisturizing the skin. Extracted from the grated meat of a coconut, the milk is known to work wonders — repairing damaged skin, bringing back the lost color and texture. Coconut Milk also has natural anti-fungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties.

Coconut oil is used in most products due to its chemical structure. It is readily absorbed by the skin..and it acts as a savior for dry skin..more so in winters..coconut oil is full of wonders and is beneficial for you from head to toe. For skin, it is a moisturizer, antibiotic, multivitamin, multi-nutrient, nourishing, anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, and anti-oxidant – All in one! Pure virgin coconut oil also helps in cleansing your pores. It melts the removes the dirt and makeup..and acts as a very good cleanser cum makeup remover. It acts as a great massage oil. It is a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays wrinkles and sagging of skin which normally becomes prominent with age. Regular massage also helps with stretch marks.

Coming to coconut water. Second, to water, coconut water is the purest liquid that you can drink. It hydrates the skin and body, helps in weight loss, and treats acne too. If you have blackheads and other types of acne then you can also use coconut water as a mask. If you don’t have time to let the coconut water rest on your face then you can simply wash your face with it. It improves the pH balance of skin and skin elasticity.


So overall how coconut benefits our skin..whether, in the form of oil, milk or water is :

  • Excellent moisturizer
  • Antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral
  • Delays wrinkles and sagging of skin
  • Great Massage oil
  • Cleanses pores and makeup
  • Hydrates skin and body inside out
  • Readily absorbed
  • Treats skin diseases like eczema, psoriasis, etc
  • Helps with stretch marks
  • Improves pH balance of skin and skin elasticity
See and still, there are countless benefits of coconut.

Parachute Advansed Body Lotions have coconut milk as their base. Parachute has come up with two new body lotions for dry skin this winter. Soft Touch for Dry Skin and Deep Nourish for Extra Dry Skin, have been launched in a convenient and exciting pump pack. Deep Nourish is just amazing. I am so loving it.

See the new Parachute Body Lotion ad..the tag line goes ‘Jagaye Love Dobara’

Check out my review HERE

Tip: Supermodel Miranda Kerr is a big fan of coconut oil, and adds it to her salads and in her green tea. She sees the effects by way of shiny hair and breakout-free skin.

Do you like coconut? How do you use it?

Four Yummy Homemade Body Scrubs

Four Yummy Homemade Body Scrubs
Many ingredients from your kitchen can be used to make yummy-smelling face, body, and foot scrubs at home. Start with a skin-friendly exfoliant, such as oatmeal, cornmeal, sugar, or salt. Then choose a moisturizing, binding ingredient. I recommend honey and avocado, which are non irritating emollients, for the face. Olive or coconut oil will work well on the body and feet, especially on dry, scaly, or flaky skin.

However, if you tend to get breakouts on your chest or back, skip the oils and stick with honey or yogurt.

You can add other ingredients as well, such as fresh citrus juice (which acts as an astringent) or cucumber (which soothes skin). For a more aromatic scrub, add some fresh herbs or a few drops of skin-friendly essential oils. I love dessert, so I like cinnamon or vanilla in my scrubs — if you’re a chocoholic, try adding cocoa!

Below are a few recipes to get you started on your own scrubs:

Simple Cinnamon-Vanilla-Oatmeal Facial Scrub
1/4 cup oatmeal
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons honey
1 tablespoon plain yogurt

Cornmeal-Citrus Facial Scrub
1/4 cup cornmeal
1 teaspoon fresh-squeezed citrus juice (lemon, lime, orange, or grapefruit)
2 teaspoons honey
1 drop ylang-ylang essential oil (optional)
1 drop ginger essential oil (optional)

Avocado-Strawberry-Sugar Body Scrub
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup mashed avocado
1/4 cup mashed strawberry
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon honey
1 cup minced fresh basil
1 drop rose essential oil (optional)

Rosemary, Mint & Salt Foot Scrub
1 cup coarse sea salt
5 tablespoons olive oil
3 sprigs fresh rosemary (remove leaves from stalk)
1 cup minced fresh mint
3 drops peppermint essential oil (optional)

Mix ingredients together and gently scrub your face, body, or feet. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry.

Don’t they all sound so good enough to eat ! Yumm…the warm vanilla cinnamon..

Additionally you can scoop out a papaya or mango (or avocado) and save the fruit to eat later. Rub the inside surface of the skin all over your face and arms. The antioxidants and fruit enzymes will help soften your skin.

Source: 1

Whats your favorite homemade scrub ??

Beauty Tips for Gorgeous Hair

Beauty Tips for Gorgeous HairGuest Post

If you dream of having beautiful, silky hair, then read on for expert advice and tips.

In winter, it’s easy for hair to become dry and dull. With constant heat from indoor heating, hot showers, styling tools and blow dryers, these things can take a massive tool on your hair and leave it thirsting for a nice, long drink. Investing in a top-quality conditioner will help your hair to beat the winter blues. Look for a rich conditioner that contains natural oils such as sunflower or coconut oils. After washing your hair, instead of directly applying conditioner, towel dry your hair. Getting excess water out of your hair before applying conditioner is very important in order to allow your hair to fully drink in the benefits of the conditioner.

When applying conditioner to wet hair, the excess water can block the absorption of nutrients and moisturizers within the conditioner. Apply the conditioner in the shower (after towel-drying your hair) and leave on for two to three minutes before rinsing out. For a more intensive conditioning treatment, apply conditioner after you have stepped out of the shower and towel dried your hair. Leave the conditioner on for an hour or overnight. There are many excellent deep and overnight conditioners on the market.

Organic cold-pressed coconut oil always works as a wonderfully rich and emollient conditioner for the hair. It can be applied to dry ends overnight. You will wake up with moisturized, shiny hair. Other excellent oils for the hair include argan and jojoba oils.

To keep split ends at bay, it’s important to make an appointment with your hair stylist for regular trims. Going to the salon every six to eight weeks should keep split ends away. When split ends are left untouched, the hair shaft can actually keep splitting higher, which can result in very unhealthy and frizzy-looking hair.


Avoid using at home color, as they can strip your hair and contain metallic dyes. It’s best to leave coloring up to a professional who knows their way around color. Boxed color which can be bought at drugstores may seem tempting when you feel like you’re in a hair rut and need a quick change, but these products are best avoided because they can damage your hair and if you find yourself in a sticky situation where the color does not turn out the way you visualized, you probably won’t have a clue as to how to fix it. This can mean having to wait until your stylist can fit you into her schedules — so you may be left having to walk around with a disaster on your head for a few days.

Avoid the overuse of hair dryers, flat irons, and curling irons. Heat tools can take a toll on your hair and leave it damaged, dry and brittle. Heat tools should be used sparingly.

Try washing your hair every other day instead of every day. Washing your hair every day is not only a waste of product, but this will dry your hair out quicker than anything else.

About Author:
Susan Shultz is in an expert in hair restoration in Toronto as well as Toronto hair transplant. She is a hair and beauty expert with vast knowledge about hair health and maintenance.

Jennifer Aniston’s Beauty Secrets

Jennifer Aniston’s Beauty Secrets
Jennifer Aniston revealed some of her top skincare secrets in a recent interview, and we’re surprised to hear how beautifully basic they are!

Though eternally sporting a youthful golden glow, Jen confessed that her most effective wrinkle-fighting regime consists of little more than ice water and Vaseline.

Rather than splashing out on fancy creams, Jen apparently prefers to dab some of the classic jelly below her eyes before bed instead.

Then to keep her skin firm and pores under control, the Friends actress is said to dunk her face into a sink full of cold water and ice cubes. Eeish!

While we get the idea – the cold water reduces puffiness, tightens up skin and shrinks pores – an icy dip first thing in the morning sounds a bit intense.

Source: 1

Do you use Petroleum Jelly or ice cold water ?

Hair Tricks that Make You Look 7 Years Younger

Hair Tricks that Make You Look 7 Years Younger Sometimes its our hairstyle that makes us look more mature for our age..we need to get a cut that takes the ages off..here are few tips to exactly do that..

BE A BANGS PERSON

Reese Witherspoon

If you’ve never had them, know that bangs work Botox-like wonders in disguising forehead wrinkles. “They also make your hair appear fuller, which helps deflect from thinning,” says celebrity hairstylist Ric Pipino, who works with Elle Macpherson and Fergie. His advice? Go big or go home: “Thick, softly beveled bangs are the most girlish,” he says. If that sounds too rock ‘n’ roll, try a long, sideswept fringe, which creates pretty movement and also erases years.

SHAKE UP YOUR CUT

Penelope Cruz

We’re shouting it from salon rooftops: The difference between a haircut that’s aging and one that’s age-defying comes down to layers. “Without them, hair doesn’t move–and nothing makes you seem older than stiff hair,” says hairstylist Juan Carlos Maciques of the Rita Hazan Salon in New York City, who works with Jennifer Lopez. “No matter what your length, you want delicate layers throughout and face-framing pieces. This creates lush, healthy-looking hair, which softens your entire appearance.” (Blunt cuts, on the other hand, can catapult you a decade, à la Callista Gingrich.) And we’re setting the record straight on length: You don’t have to abandon long hair for a short, so-called sensible ‘do when you hit 40. “Just get regular trims so your hair maintains that healthy look,” Maciques says.

EMBRACE YOUR TEXTURE

Halle Berry

If you have kinky or African-American hair and wear it natural, “a cut that’s shoulder-length or shorter is the most youthful–any longer, and your hair starts to balloon around your head, which piles on the years,” says hairstylist Tippi Shorter, whose clients include Jennifer Hudson and Mary J. Blige. This hair type also needs a serious wallop of moisture to prevent it from getting dry and brittle (an instant ager). For this, use a curl-enhancing product, says Shorter, whose fave brand is Kinky-Curly. “It’s an ethnic hair-care line with different curl enhancers, from a lightweight serum to a rich cream, so there’s something for every type of curl.”

YOUTH-IFY YOUR PONYTAIL

Add caption

Slicked-back styles put every pore and fine line on full display. Instead, use your fingers to rake your hair back into a ponytail or bun, which creates soft ripples and a slightly fuzzy finish that’s relaxed and sexy. “It’s okay if it’s a little messy–that’s what makes it young,” Pipino says.

GET YOUR SHINE ON

Octavia Spencer

As every Disney heroine reminds us, glossy hair is a symbol of youth and vitality (anthropologists, incidentally, agree). An at-home glaze like John Frieda Clear Shine Luminous Glaze, $9.99, restores sheen with nourishing oils and works on all hair types, including ethnic. Apply it once a month to wet, freshly shampooed hair; wait five minutes, then rinse and follow with conditioner.

STAY TO ONE SIDE

Julianne Moore

Unless you’re going for that Maria Callas, super-diva vibe, “a center part can make you look severe,” Maciques says. His softening tip: Shift your part to the side and make it slightly zigzaggy, which creates an effortless look that (bonus!) hides grays and roots.

Source: 1
Do you like these tricks ? Do you follow them ?