For Knees and Elbows

Are your dark knees keeping you from wearing a short dress? Afraid to roll up your sleeves at work? Well don't let dark knees and elbows stop you from flaunting your beautiful body.Here is what you can do. . .

Cause-o-meter
A person with dark elbows and knees might seem unhygienic. But it is wrong to think that before considering the real causes.According to skin expert Aparna Santhanam from Kaya Skin Clinic, there are more causes to dark elbows and knees than just dry skin."Dry skin is just one of the four causes of dark areas. The problem could also be racial or hereditary. Observe if anyone else from the family also has the same problem. Nutritional deficiency, especially of vitamin A, is also responsible for dark knees and elbows."Aparna goes on to add that exposure to the sun can harm skin more than anything else. Since the skin in this area is wrinkled, even though the whole hand is tanned, this area looks darker.

Fight It!
Dark areas can be prevented. Here are a few things to add to your daily beauty care list…
Scrub the darkened area with a body scrub; it makes skin soft and smooth.
Always use sunscreen. Apply it at least 15 minutes before moving out of your house.
Use a pigment lightener; this could be your regular fairness cream.
Eat foods that are high in vitamin A. These include carrots, beetroots, watermelons and pomegranates.
For dry skin, make sure you moisturise regularly. Use petroleum jelly at night as skin tends to get very dry at night. If the skin is very dark, consult a dermatologist who will prescribe a vitamin A supplement.These remedies affect only in the long term and not overnight. If you are looking for some quick fixes, follow these make-up tips…

Hide It!
If you have an occasion or party coming soon, make-up is the next best option!Before you start, make sure you moisturise the area well. The area on the knee and elbow is wrinkled and does not produce much sebum, leaving the skin dry.Always use liquid foundation; it blends in your skin well. Colour of the foundation can be the same or one shade darker than your skin tone but not lighter."The skin from the head to the feet is in several tones so it is best to match the foundation colour to the adjacent arm or thigh. After application the effect is seamless. If the entire leg is much darker than the face then it would look silly to have the knees a different shade. So it is important to match the foundation to the surrounding colour," advises make-up expert Clint Fernandes.The procedure is the same as what you do on your face - apply liquid foundation followed by compact. But avoid layers / packs of foundation as it can leave patches whenever you come in contact with any surface.Always remember, these little flaws should not make you feel less beautiful. Follow a diet that is rich in vitamins and watch your body glow.

Care for Lips

Care for Lips:
A beautiful smile lights up a day. It makes your face more beautiful and lively. Your lips are the most important and exquisitely sensitive part of your body. And therefore you have to take special care of your lips.

Beauty Experts tells you what are the common problems and how to take care of them..............

The common lips problems are:

*Dark Lips
*Cracked lips

1) Dark Lips:

You will be surprised to know that our lips unlike most part of our body do not have any melanin pigment to protect them. Lips are covered on the outside by a thin layer of skin and on the inside by virtually transparent mucous membranes.

Therefore it is necessary to take care of our lips and to eat well-balanced food and lots of fruits.

If you have dark lips you have to do the following………

*Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

* Stop smoking.

* Avoid lipstick.

* Apply a layer of oil and leave it on for several hours. Best apply before going to bed

* Mix coconut oil and almond oil in equal quantity. Apply a coat of this on the lips and leave on overnight. This has to be done daily for at least two weeks for best results.

* Massage lips: Every night with a mixture of 1/2 tsp. Glycerine and 1/2 tsp. Castor oil with 1/2 tsp. Lemon juice and leave overnight.

*Apply cream from curds with saffron on your lips.




2)Cracked Lips:
Lips do not produce oil like our skin, because they have no oil producing glands. The skin on our lips is actually mucous membrane, so for them to remain smooth and chap free is a bit of a challenge. The most common cause of cracked lips are allergic reaction to cosmetics, skin infections, extreme weather conditions like excess sun and wind exposure, biting of the lips or a vitamin B deficiency.

If you have cracked lips you have to do the following………

*Protect the lips from weather by applying heavy plain cream.

*Avoid licking your lips.

*To cure dry chapped lips apply peanut butter or coco butter to your lips before going to bed.

*Grind rose petals with cream on the top of milk and apply on lips to cure the cracked lips

*Take vitamin B, C foods in diet.

*Mix 2 drops of glycerine with 1 tsp of cream on the top of milk and apply to lips to cure the chapped lips and keep overnight to get smooth and shiny lips.

*Mix equal quantities of nutmeg, turmeric, and fresh butter and apply to lips.

*Hot water fomentation, followed by a mixture of Vaseline and honey applied on the lips at least thrice a week will prevent lips from chapping.

*Lips should be moisturized and exfoliated. Exfoliate lips with your gentle facial scrub using a toothbrush or just the tips of

your fingers. You can make a paste using baking soda and water to exfoliate lips as well. Work it for a minute and then rinse with lukewarm water.
General Care for lips

*Apply cold cream or moisturizer or lip balm before applying lipstick.

*To get natural pink lips apply beetroot juice before bed.

*Grind rose petals and apply on lips to get smooth pink lips

*Apply menthol based lip balm and take an old brush and brush gently on lips (don t rub too hard, because lip are very sensitive) to get rid off chapped lips.