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A succulent plant with rejuvenating and soothing properties, aloe vera holds many benefits for the skin and health. It is used it various forms – as a gel, oil, juice, the whole plant and in creams, soaps and tablets. A minor cut or wound, a burn or a rash can be effectively treated with aloe vera. The gel is extracted from the leaves of the plant and when applied to the skin, softens dead skin cells leaving the skin feeling soft and smooth upon regular use. It also delays visible signs of ageing like fine lines and appearance of wrinkles. While a lot of aloe products are available in the market these days, one can even plant it at home and reap in its benefits from its juice and gel. But if planting it at home isn’t possible, get an aloe vera based gel and use it for your skin. Buy moisturisers, lotions and creams which have aloe content in them. Aloe vera or aloe-based products come in handy in summers as well as winters. Its cooling properties provide instant relief from sunburn in the summer by hydrating the skin and in winters, it helps get rid of dryness by adding moisture to the skin.

You may also like to read:

• Besan for flawless skin 
• Beauty benefits of haldi
• Saffron or kesar face packs
• Methi benefits for hair and skin
• Say goodbye to hair and skin problems with honey

For more beauty benefits of natural products, visit our Go Natural section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.

We join a gym or work out to keep our bodies toned. But what about our face? The skin is much more delicate and it is imperative we do something about it to keep signs of ageing at bay. You don’t necessarily have to opt for cosmetic treatments like Botox or fillers. Face or facial yoga is also a way to keep your face fit. If you can’t find a class nearby, fret not! We’ve picked out some of the best facial yoga videos, designed to help you explore this trend. Facial yoga fans, including celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston, are all giving themselves an extra beauty burst, so why not join in? 

Face Yoga Method

Ageing skin can leave you looking gaunt and fragile. Fumika suggests simple exercises to get fuller, fatter cheeks. Get ready to pull a funny face to help fatten out those tired and saggy jowls. 

Syhairi 

Beauty expert Syhairi has a video to help people with problems like — a double chin and chubby cheeks. She promises that her exercise will help lift and strengthen your jawline. 

Julia Anastasiou

This video by Julia Anastasiou shows you how to give yourself a relaxing and rejuvenating facial massage using frankincense oil. Trained by ‘Face Yoga Expert’ Danielle Collins who has her own set of face yoga DVDs, Anastasiou shows you a number of different techniques which should help you unwind and are also said to improve skin tone.

Ranjana Khan 

She demonstrates a number of methods designed to promote general well-being which she says also help keep your face looking young. 

In order to get you started, you can also try these simple face yoga exercises devised by Danielle Collins. 

The ‘V’: To reduce lines and wrinkles around the eyes and to make the eyes more open and energised.

 Put both your middle fingers together between your eyebrows then apply pressure to the outer corners of your eyes with your index fingers. Look up and start to move the lower eyelids upwards, making a strong squint. Then relax and repeat six more times. To finish, squeeze your eyes shut for 10 seconds then relax.

 Smile Smoother: To reduce lines around the mouth and to lift and firm the cheeks and jaw.

 Hide your teeth with your lips and make an ‘O’ shape with your mouth. Then, smile as wide as you can and keep hiding the teeth. Repeat six times. Next, hold the smile shape and place one index finger on the chin. Then start to move your jaw up and down as you tilt your head back. Relax and repeat twice.

 The Giraffe: To tone and lift the neck area.

 Looking straight ahead place your finger tips on the top of your neck and pull the skin down as you tilt your head back. Bring your head back down and repeat twice. Then jut your lower lip out as far as possible, place your fingers on your collarbone and point your chin upwards, pulling the corners of your mouth down. Hold for four deep breaths.

The Owl: To get rid of forehead lines.

Pull down your skin with the index fingers while trying to raise your eyebrows upwards and making the eyes wide. Hold for two seconds, relax and repeat three more times and finish by holding this position for 10 seconds. This helps to strengthen the forehead muscles thereby smoothing and tautening the skin attached to the muscles. With regular practice, this will reduce and diminish forehead lines and wrinkles.

With inputs from AFP

Image source: AFP/Danielle Collins

• How do I get rid of my double chin?
• Top 5 myths about wrinkles
• 3 secret anti-ageing potions revealed!
• Fight signs of ageing with this skincare routine

You may also like to read:

• 5 home remedies for ageing skin
• 10 tips to prevent wrinkles and other signs of ageing 
• Do anti-ageing creams really work? 
• Would you inject your own blood into your face to fight ageing?
• Is your skin ageing prematurely? Find out with these signs 
• Beat ageing and dryness with hydration dermal fillers 
• Are anti-ageing products bad for you in the long run?
• Top 10 bizarre anti-ageing treatments 
• What is a good anti-ageing cream for men? 
• Quiz – Is your skin ageing early? 
• Fight signs of ageing with this skincare routine 
• Reverse the signs of ageing with dermal fillers 

For more articles on anti-ageing, visit our anti-ageing section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.

The concept of night cream is not new but how many of us really use it as part of our skincare regimen? It isn’t something to be used only in your 40s or 50s, the use of night cream should begin as early as in one’s 20s. Of course, the kind of cream used will differ. In order to help you select the right night cream for your skin, beauty expert Tisha Kapur Khurana of Bottega Di Lungavita, churns out some pointers. But before that, let’s note the importance of using a night cream.

• It helps keep the skin look and feel younger.
• Stimulates collagen production.
• Nourishes and revitalises the skin.
• Helps treat age spots, pigmentation, acne, etc.
• Fights against wrinkles and fine lines.

‘Most of us are not aware of the fact that night creams contain ingredients like retinol and AHA (alpha hydroxy acids) fruit acids that fight wrinkles and fine lines. As we grow older, collagen production in the body declines which leads to sagging and wrinkled skin. When your skin feels stretchy and less elastic or dry or dull and patchy, it means you should start using a night cream. These signs help to decide when to use it, but choosing the right one is another task. ‘ says Tisha. 

How to choose a night cream

In your 20s -  Choose a cream that contains natural ingredients like aloe vera, honey and other essential oils.

In your 30s – Creams with active ingredients like amino acids, ceramides, retinol and other antioxidants are recommended.

In your 40s – Invest in creams that contain peptides, soy extract and vitamins.

In your 50s and 60s -  It is important to select a night cream that is best-suited for old and mature skin, which gives extra moisture and keeps your skin looking healthy. (Read: 5 home remedies for ageing skin)

Right way of using a night cream

For visible results, Tisha advises to apply the cream half an hour before you go to bed. 

‘Wash your face with a gentle cleanser. Then take some cream on your fingers and apply gently in an upward stroke in circular motion. Never forget to apply the cream around your neck. This is the place where the ageing lines are most visible,’ said Khurana.(Read: How do I get rid of lines on my neck?)

With inputs from IANS

Also read more articles on skincare:

• How to get flawless skin without dark spots and patches 
• Beauty benefits of aloe vera gel 
• Home remedies to get rid of unwanted facial hair 
• 10 fruits and vegetables for glowing skin 
• 10 reasons for dry skin 
• Fruit face packs for flawless skin 
• How to treat open pores 
• 9 home-made face packs to remove tan 
• Benefits of haldi for skin 
• Saffron or kesar benefits for beautiful skin 

For more articles on skincare, check out our skincare section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.

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Turmeric or haldi is one of India’s most widely used spices. Not only is it used to add colour and taste to our food but is also a natural remedy for various skin ailments. It has amazing properties which make it one of the most used ingredients in the kitchen. But apart from adding to our dishes, you can also make several face packs using haldi to eliminate skin problems like acne, wrinkles, etc. Here's how turmeric helps in giving a glowing, flawless complexion.

With inputs from BollywoodShaadis.com

You may also like to read:

• Besan for flawless skin 
• Saffron or kesar face packs
• Methi benefits for hair and skin
• Say goodbye to hair and skin problems with honey 

For more beauty benefits of natural products, visit our Go Natural section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.

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So you’ve hit 35 and are just beginning to notice your first signs of ageing – thinning of your skin and fine lines. Your skin feels dry even after applying the richest moisturizers. You notice age-spots and broken blood vessels that just won’t go away. Your first wrinkles are starting to stare at you from the mirror. Before you hit that panic button, you need to understand that ageing of your skin and formation of wrinkles are completely normal processes. In fact, your skin is the first ‘organ’ which reveals your age. All these effects are mainly due to two factors related to natural ageing – the thinning of the epidermis (the topmost layer of our skin) and reduced blood flow to the skin. Certain factors expedite these effects – excess exposure to sunlight, smoking, alcohol and an unhealthy diet. Most people believe that ageing of the skin is inevitable and do not care much. However, what you need to know is that with a few lifestyle modifications and some tender loving care, you really can look as young as you feel. To help put you on the right path, here are a few tips that you should stick to in order to keep your skin looking as young as possible.

You may also like to read:

• 5 home remedies for ageing skin
• Do anti-ageing creams really work? 
• Would you inject your own blood into your face to fight ageing?
• Is your skin ageing prematurely? Find out with these signs 
• Beat ageing and dryness with hydration dermal fillers 

For more articles on anti-ageing, visit our anti-ageing section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.

Though there are several creams available in the market which help prevent the occurrence of wrinkles, a simple tip can also go a long way in making sure they do not show on your skin. One such tip is sleeping on your back. This is because, when you sleep on the side or on your stomach, either your face and neck or your chest takes all the weight and this creates sleep lines on them.

An average duration of eight hours of sleep every night can put in a lot of pressure on the face, neck and chest area and can lead to cleavage wrinkles on them as they are being crushed into the pillow or the bed. One way to avoid this is to sleep on your back. If  you cannot do this at once, start by sleeping for some time on your back and then keep alternating between the side, stomach and back to avoid putting too much pressure on any one area. Sleeping in one position can show its damage the next day. 

<<Previous tip

You may also like to read:

• Fight signs of ageing with this skincare routine 
• Reverse the signs of ageing with dermal fillers 
• Top 10 bizarre anti-ageing treatments 
• How to get rid of crow’s feet

For more articles on anti-ageing, visit our anti-ageing section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.

Want to keep your skin taut? You can very well get this right in your kitchen with the help of one egg. Yes, eggs can help your skin stay soft, blemish-free, supple and young. It has protein which your skin absorbs and keeps signs of ageing away. 

For this particular pack you will just need egg white but don’t throw away the yolk. You can use it to make a hair pack to reap in its benefits as well. And the good part is, you don’t have to use this pack every day, limit it to once a week and you are good to go! On regular use you will feel your skin tightening from within. 

You may also like to read:

• Fight signs of ageing with this skincare routine 
• Reverse the signs of ageing with dermal fillers 
• Top 10 bizarre anti-ageing treatments 
• How to get rid of crow’s feet

For more articles on anti-ageing, visit our anti-ageing section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.

Think getting busy in the act is only a pleasurable activity? The truth is, it has several hidden benefits, more so for your beauty. Research proves that sex can help you look good in terms of your hair and skin. We jot down a few pointers of how having more sex can work wonders for your beauty.

Keeps wrinkles at bay

Wrinkles are an inevitable part of ageing skin but nowadays, even young people are prone to it due to lifestyle changes such as long work hours, less sleep, smoking, drinking, etc., but sex can help keep these at bay. This is because during sex, human growth hormone is released which in turn helps keep the skin more elastic and free of wrinkles.

Adds a healthy glow

If radiant skin is what you are looking for, sex can help you with that too. When you indulge in the act, you sweat and this helps in flushing out toxins from your pores. If you haven’t noticed it yet, check yourself in the mirror before and after sex. You will find your skin to have a natural glow post sex.

Keeps skin looking younger

According to a study by British psychologist, Dr David Weeks, having sex on a regular basis can take five to seven years off your face! Our body also releases oxytocin which is known as the anti-ageing hormone and is only produced during childbirth, besides sex.

Adds shine to hair

Dull hair problems? Sex can be your go-to treatment. Having sex increases estrogen levels in a woman’s body and helps keep the dullness away from one’s hair. It also improves blood circulation in your body, which is always good for your hair and skin.

Boosts collagen

Collagen is found in our skin, which helps keep it elastic and young. With age, it reduces and you will notice your skin looking drier and older than before. In order to boost collagen, have more sex. Another way to improve collagen production is by opting for a sperm facial. Research points out that a component called spermine present in semen is rich in antioxidants and when applied on the face, can prevent the skin from ageing and give it a smoother texture.

In a way, sex is perhaps the elixir of youth! So the next time you have a romp in the sack, be happy as it is making you look more gorgeous too. 

Image source: Getty Images

You may also like to read:

• Top 10 bizarre anti-ageing treatments
• Would you inject your own blood into your face to fight ageing?
• 4 weirdest cosmetic procedures

For more articles on skincare, check out our skincare section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our Questions and Answers section.

If there is one human desire that matches mankind’s unflinching quest for progress, it is the eternal desire to stay beautiful and ageless. The quest for beauty has not only propelled men and women into adopting some quirky beauty practices over the centuries, it has also instigated major research to identify scientific mechanisms to augment appearances and delay ageing.

Till some decades ago, the facial features you were born with were meant to stay with you all your life. Today, however, it is possible to substantially alter your appearance with the help of modern advancements in the field of cosmetology, and this doesn’t necessary mean going under the knife. If Botox changed the way people looked at ageing, dermal fillers like Juvederm are another category of cosmetology innovation that have enabled many people to augment their beauty and charm.

Dermal fillers, as the name suggests, are gel-like injectables meant to ‘fill up’ the upper layers of the skin to achieve multiple results. From anti-ageing to facial contouring to non-surgical facelift, they serve a variety of purposes depending upon the need of a person. Arguably, fillers are among the most remarkable inventions in the field of cosmetology and skincare over the past few decades.

Among the most popular forms of fillers are hyaluronic acid based gels like Juvederm that can work wonders on your face, when in the hands of an expert. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring substance that is found in the layers of the dermis and along with instruments like collagen and elastin, provides elasticity, youthfulness, volume and flexibility to the skin. A hydrophilic substance, HA promotes water retention in the skin, proving hydration, sheen as well as volume. The loss of the natural reserves of hyaluronic acid with age is among the factors causing wrinkles, dullness and sagging in the skin.

What if we could replenish the lost reserves of HA back into our skin? Well, this is what HA-based fillers do. Let’s take a look at the purposes, dermal fillers can serve:

Anti-ageing: If you believed your anti-ageing cream can radically halt your advancing years, you may be expecting too much. Particles in creams, usually, are not capable of penetrating the multiple layers of the skin, and their impact can at best be limited to the upper most layer of the dermis. This is where injectables like fillers have an advantage. When injected into the deeper layers of the skin, a filler like Juvederm will fill up the skin with HA, giving the skin more elasticity, more volume and greater water retention capacity. This results is marked reduction of wrinkles and the filler fills up the folds and lines in the skin and smoothens the surface of the skin. When used in combination with Botox, fillers can give a remarkable facelift effect and addresses age-related volume loss.

Facial contouring and lip augmentation: Thicker versions of the filler like Juvederm Voluma and Juvederm Ultra are used to redefine the facial features that need improvement. For example, if a woman has thin lips, they can be made more pronounced with the use of Juvederm Ultra. Similarly, Juvederm Voluma can be effectively used to give greater volume to the cheeks or redefine the chin to achieve a more pronounced jawline.

Glow and hydration: Juvederm fillers are also used to add more glow and shine to the face. They work this through their water retention ability. As hyaluronic acid promotes absorption of more moisture, this adds glow and shine to the skin. Finer and thinner versions of the filler like Juvederm Refine are used to address the early signs of ageing like very fine lines and wrinkles or dullness on the skin, in relatively younger people.

Filling up scars: Fillers can also be used to fill up minor depressions on the skin like acne scars which leave the surface of the skin rough and dull. But filling up the little depressions, fillers help smoothen the skin surface, making it more radiant and beautiful.

Image source: Getty Images

You may also like to read:

• 5 home remedies for ageing skin
• Do anti-ageing creams really work? 
• Fight signs of ageing with this skincare routine 

For more articles on anti-ageing, visit our anti-ageing section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our Questions and Answers section.

‘You know how you wake up in the morning and sometimes you look gorgeous and other times you look like you got hit by a mack truck? I realized that my mack truck is food. If I have no sugar, yeast or wine, I have no under-eye bags and my skin is perfect.’ – Mariska Hargitay, an American actress, producer, director, and former beauty queen.

The sweetness of sugar may taste good but if you read its ill-effects on your beauty and skin, you may not find it sweet after all. Sugar or sugary products have adverse effects ranging from early ageing, unwanted hair growth, etc. Read on to find out how sugar plays havoc with your beauty. 

Sugar and acne

Acne is a skin disorder that has negative physical and psychological effects, especially in young adolescents and young adults. Commonly appearing on the face, neck, shoulders, chest and the back, acne occurs when hair follicles become plugged with sebum (the oily substance secreted by the oil glands under the skin) and dead skin cells. These blocked hair follicles then become inflamed or infected and produce red pimples with white centre, which we know as acne.

Several studies have suggested that acne has very much to do with high glycemic index diet. Glycemic index is a classification of carbohydrate containing foods according to their ability to raise your blood sugar levels. Higher the blood sugar levels in your body, higher is the glycemic index of that food. Sugars and sugary foods have the highest glycemic index.

Dermatologists believe high insulin levels in the blood and insulin resistance are responsible for development and exacerbation of acne. Although the researchers are divided in their opinion regarding the effect of low GI diets on formation of acne, several studies have suggested that reducing sugars from the diet can help reduce inflammation which in turn can control exacerbation of acne.

Sugar and wrinkles

Collagen and elastin are the two protein fibres that work together to give strength, firmness, and shape to the skin. When the glucose and fructose from the sugary foods link to the proteins in these fibres, they produce AGEs or advanced glycation end products and render both of them incapable of repair. This results in wrinkles, loss of elasticity (sagging), and reduced skin thickness.

The condition is aggravated by UV rays. The UV rays in combination with AGEs generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), producing oxidative stress leading to additional deleterious effects such as rough and red patches on the skin and further skin ageing.

Sugar and hirsutism

Well, high insulin levels in the blood has another distressing disadvantage that could mar your beauty. They could cause hirsutism. Hirsutism is an unwanted, male pattern hair growth in a woman. The hair grows in certain areas of the woman’s face and body, such as the moustache area and the beard area or the chest or back.

Hirsutism usually arises from excess male hormones, androgens (testosterone), and high insulin levels markedly increase androgen production. In simple terms, you develop insulin resistance if you consume lot of sugars, which in turn can cause excess hair growth in the regions you don’t want them to grow. The same principle can cause dark patches on the neck and body creases.

Sugar and your waistline

Even if you don’t believe beauty is just skin deep, sugar is still bad for your looks. Isn’t your beauty affected if you look flabby and unhealthy?

Consuming lot of sugary foods will raise your insulin levels and as we have seen, insulin directs the cells to store excess sugars as fat. So, the more sugars you eat, more the insulin spikes, and fatter you become. The thing is, not all carbohydrates will make you fat, it is just the simple carbohydrates, that is, sugary foods including sugar-sweetened beverages that will cause you to gain weight.

Well, these reasons should be sufficient enough for you to cut down on those sugars and achieve beautiful, glowing skin and hair.

Photo source: Getty images

You may also like to read:

• Get rid of those stretch marks
• 9 home-made face packs to remove tan 
• How to get flawless skin without dark spots and patches

For more articles on skincare, check out our skincare section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our Questions and Answers section.

Reference:

Reynolds, R., Lee, S., Choi, J., Atkinson, F., Stockmann, K., Petocz, P. and Brand-Miller, J. (2010). Effect of the Glycemic Index of Carbohydrates on Acne vulgaris. Nutrients, [online] 2(10), pp.1060-1072. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu2101060 [Accessed 19 Sep. 2014].

Gkogkolou, P. and Böhm, M. (2012). Advanced glycation end products: Key players in skin aging. Dermato-Endocrinology, [online] 4(3), pp.259-270. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.4161/derm.22028 [Accessed 19 Sep. 2014].

Medscape.org, (2014). The Reproductive Phenotype in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: The Role of Androgens and Insulin in Hirsutism. [online] Available at: http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/562712_3 [Accessed 19 Sep. 2014].

van Dam, R. and Seidell, J. (2014). Carbohydrate intake and obesity. [Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007] – PubMed – NCBI. [online] Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17992188 [Accessed 18 Sep. 2014].

Turning 30 is a big milestone in both, a man and woman’s life. However, as the years pass by, people especially women get anxious to look good and prevent the signs of ageing. Here are some useful tips to help keep you looking as young as you did in your 20s!

Change your skincare routine

The most important thing to maintain young skin is following a routine that ensures that the moisture is intact in your skin. The more hydrated your epidermis, the more youthful your skin will be.

First of all, look for gentle cleansers that are without foam. Foaming washes typically have sulfates that dry out the skin, making it less nourished and more wrinkled. Look for cream cleansers such as ‘Avederm Soothing Facial Cleanser’ or ‘Cetaphil Cleanser’ that gently get rid of dirt while moisturising your skin. Know how to moisturise your skin naturally, here.

Second, get rid of your toner. Toners dry out your skin, making it less supple. Instead use a hydrating serum that contains actives like Hyaluronic Acid or Vitamin C for nourishment with vitamins to prevent oxidative damage. Here are some chemical ingredients in your beauty products that can ruin your skin. 

Finally, make sure you moisturise your skin. Use gentle moisturisers that ensure proper hydration and make sure you do so at least twice daily!

Protect your skin from the sun

The sun is the number one cause of ageing. Both UVA and UVB rays contribute to a plethora of skin issues including sun spots, freckles, rosacea, skin laxity, pigmentation, sagging and wrinkles. Wear sunscreen with broadband protection with at least SPF30 and PA++, and make sure you apply a large amount or it won’t work! Also, apply it 30 minutes before you leave the house and do reapply every 4 hours. Here is how you can help your skin heal faster from sunburn with these DIY tips. 

Exercise

Regular exercise is a great way to prevent ageing. In fact, regular exercise has been proven to reduce skin ageing by up to 20%. Make sure you exercise at least 30 minutes a day for 6 days a week to get the most of its anti-ageing benefits.

Natural beauty care

At home, for a natural youthful boost, you can try a hydrating mask. Combine avocado and rosewater and apply on the face. Leave it on for 30 minutes until it dries, and then wash it off. This wonderful therapy delivers essential fatty acids, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, antioxidants and other nutrients for a time-reversing skin boost. You could also use mango or papaya instead of avocado. Make sure you do this once a week for the optimal results. Read here about more face packs with rosewater. 

At the dermatologist’s

As a dermatologist, I know that there are a multitude of treatments that can help boost collagen, ensuring your skin stays young. Lasers such as ‘Clearlift’ can boost skin strengthening proteins while treating marks, closing pores and gently tightening skin without side-effects. In case you are averse to lasers, gentle glycol peels can be used for a glow along with providing a slight increase in collagen production. I usually prescribe topical creams that help reduce the physical signs of ageing. These creams also leave a gentle glow on your face. Say goodbye to 4 common skincare problems with these tips.

Image source: Getty Images

For more articles on skincare, check out our skincare section. For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter.

Did you know papaya is called the fruit of angels for its heavenly taste? It contains vitamins C & B, fibre and minerals such as magnesium and potassium. The pulp of papaya has often been used as a core ingredient in shampoos and conditioners. Papaya is surely something that could be added to your beauty regime. Here’s how you can use it.

Keeps signs of ageing at bay

Papaya contains vitamin A which is necessary for daily nourishment of the skin. It not only removes dead cells, but also keeps your skin soft and supple. Signs of ageing such as wrinkles and fine lines are also delayed by eating papaya or applying a papaya pack. Say goodbye to other skin ageing problems with these home remedies.

Steps                      

• Take 3-4 chunks of over-ripe papaya and mash well.
• Add a few drops of honey and raw milk to it.
• Mix well and apply on your face and neck.
• Let it stay for 15 minutes and then wash off with water.

Reduces acne

Most teenagers suffer from pimple problem. Not only does it make you look less attractive but also lowers your confidence. You can prevent pimples and reduce their size by using a simple papaya mask. You can also fight pimples with these home remedies.

Steps

• Take 3-4 chunks of raw papaya and make a paste by mashing them.
• Apply this paste all over the affected areas and let it stay for 20 minutes.
• Wash off with cold water.
• Try this twice a week.

Helps reduce tan

If you want to lighten spots or remove tan from your skin, papaya mixed with a few other ingredients is handy. It will also moisturise your skin in the process. Here are 10 more home-made face packs to remove tan.

Steps

• Mash 3-4 chunks of papaya in a bowl.
• Add 1 tbsp of lemon juice to it.
• You can add a few drops of honey too, if your skin is sensitive.
• Mix well and apply on the skin.
• Let it dry and then wash off with water.

Controls dandruff

Dandruff becomes quite common during the winter season. If not treated early, it could damage your hair and lead to hair fall. You can easily control dandruff by using papaya as it has enzymes which can prevent and control the excess buildup of oil and chemicals on your scalp. You can also try these 7 easy home remedies to get rid of dandruff.

Steps

• Mash half a papaya and mix it with half a cup of yoghurt.
• Mix well and apply it on the scalp. You can apply it on your hair as well for shine.
• Let it stay for 30 minutes after which you can wash off with cold water or a mild shampoo.

Natural hair conditioner

People who have dry and frizzy hair can switch to a natural conditioner – papaya. Make yourself a nice and healthy hair conditioner at home with the help of papaya. It nourishes your hair by forming a protective layer and also adds shine.

Steps

• Take raw papaya according to the length of your hair.
• Add 2 tbsp of yoghurt and 1 tbsp of olive oil. You can skip the oil if your hair is greasy in texture.
• Blend together and apply all over the hair after you are done shampooing.
• Let it stay for 10 minutes and then wash off with lukewarm water.

Papaya is a fruit which is found throughout the year in India. You can therefore make use of its beauty benefits by making these hair and skin packs any time you want. Also reap in these 11 health benefits of papaya.

Image source: Getty Images

For more articles on beauty benefits of natural products, visit our go natural section. For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter.

If you ask most celebs their beauty secrets, they will often say it is drinking ample amount of water every day. Though there is more to their skincare routine than just water, this colourless liquid is one of the best solutions to resolve any skin problems. Don’t believe us?  We tell you how.

1. Helps flush out toxins

Now water may not directly flush out toxins from the body but it certainly helps the kidneys function better. If you are drinking adequate amounts of water, your urine will be pale in colour without much odour. When your system is clean internally, it will reflect on the outside too. Your skin will have a glow in it and look supple.

How to use:

The best way to cleanse your system using water is to drink a glass of warm water with a few drops of honey and a lemon squeezed into it, first thing in the morning. Here’s how drinking this concoction can better your health in 10 ways.

2. Delays wrinkles

Dry and dehydrated skin is likely to show wrinkles and fine lines as the skin is stretched without much moisture in it. On the other hand, when your skin has water in it, your cells are rejuvenated which prevent the appearance of wrinkles. According to experts at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals, the skin is an organ and its cells are made up of water predominantly. When these do not get adequate amounts of water, the skin is prone to getting dry, flaky and more prone to wrinkles.

How to use:

Drink at least 2 litres of water every day. Note, water is also found in fruits and vegetables so you can count those too to make up for the 2 litres. Apart from this, splash cold water on your face or rub ice cubes on your skin. This helps tighten pores. Here are some more benefits of ice for your skin.

3. Prevents puffiness

Your body tends to retain water which makes you look puffy but by not drinking water, you are inviting more water retention. When your body does not have enough water, it will try and retain whatever is available which can lead to more puffiness. On the contrary, drinking water will flush out impurities and help lessen fluid retention.

How to use:

Stay hydrated to prevent puffiness. Mostly, people notice puffy eyes quite often due to water retention. In order to get rid of this, you can use spoons dipped in chilled water and place them around your eyes to reduce puffiness within minutes. Watch this video to learn how to use spoons for enhancing your beauty.

4. Unclogs pores

Water is an essential part of a face cleanse wherein trapped dirt and impurities are released from the skin. Though plain water may not be enough, steam from hot water will certainly do the trick. This is because it helps open up pores which are clogged due to excess sebum and dirt and give rise to black and whiteheads on the skin.                             

How to use:

Use a steamer filled with water to get some steam on your face for a few minutes or boil water and cover your head with a towel and place your face close to the vessel. This will transfer the steam on your face. Once your pores are open, you can use a tweezer to loosen blackheads. Remember to apply a cold compress to close pores after the procedure. Here are some more ways to get rid of blackheads.

5. Reduces redness on skin

People who are extremely fair or have sensitive skin may often find their skin turning red even after a simple scrub or if they press it too hard. This redness can easily be managed with a simple ingredient such as water.

How to use

Dab a cotton ball in chilled water and then rub it on the area which has redness. Do this for a minute or two and you will notice that the redness has reduced. Do not rub your skin to wipe off water, let it air-dry on its own.

6. Keeps hair healthy

Your lovely locks too need some water to get rid of the accumulated grime and prevent damage. A cold water rinse helps close cuticles and protects the hair shaft while just wetting hair with normal water helps balance your scalp’s natural oil levels. Many people including Hollywood celebs have shunned shampoo and are washing their hair with just plain water to keep it healthy. Read more about the ‘No ‘Poo’ trend here.

How to use:

Wet your hair with water every day or once in every two days and rinse it well. This will help clear out dirt. All you need to make sure is the water you are using is soft as hard water can ruin the texture of your hair, make it frizzy and even brittle. ‘To make hard water soft, add a spoon of alum (aluminium sulfate) to a bucket of water. Let all the dirt and minerals settle down. Use the clear water and throw the residue,’ says Dr Jaishree Sharad.

7. Water-based make-up

If you are someone who has oily or acne-prone skin, you should use cosmetics which are water-based. They will not clog pores or irritate the skin. Make sure the label reads non-comedogenic. But you also need to be careful about liquid cosmetics as the chances of bacterial growth in them is higher. So do not use them beyond their expiration date and if your acne still persists, opt for loose powders or compacts instead of foundations. Here are some more tips to choose products for acne-prone skin.

Avoid these types of water

Though we’ve highlighted the very many benefits of water, you need to be careful about not using these types of water as they will only ruin your beauty.

8. Hard water

Hard water contains minerals like sulphates, bicarbonates, magnesium, calcium, etc. Regular usage of hard water can cause your skin to turn dry, itchy and sensitive to sunlight. It also makes hair very frizzy, brittle and can lead to hair fall. If you have to use hard water, make sure you use chelated shampoos and have a diet rich in protein and vitamins. Read more on how hard water can ruin your skin and hair.

9. Chlorinated water

Water which has been treated with chlorine is called chlorinated water. Most swimming pool has chlorine added to the water and if you often go for a swim, you need to ensure you take ample care of your skin and before before and after the activity. This is because chlorine can react with your skin and give it a bad tan which is difficult to get rid of. It can make your hair extremely rough and if you have coloured hair, it can change the colour too. Here are tips to ensure swimming does not ruin your hair and skin.

10. Extremely hot water

Who doesn’t like the feel of running hot water on your body which melts all the stress away! Though a hot water bath is good to relax sore muscles and open pores, washing your hair with extremely hot water may not yield good results. This is because it opens the cuticles and cause damage to the hair shaft. You are likely to trap more dirt on the scalp after a hot shower. It can also make the hair weaker which can cause it to break easily. Also read – hot bath VS cold bath – which is healthier?

11. Sea water

Love going to the beach for a dip in the sea? You may be inviting a host of hair problems. The excessive salt found in sea water makes your hair dull, tangled, brittle, frizzy, leads to split ends and also affects the colour of your hair. This is because the salt easily soaks up the moisture from your hair. In order to protect your mane, use a leave-in conditioner and wash your hair to get the salt out of it. Apply a moistursing hair pack to lock in the moisture and rehydrate your locks.

Image source: Getty Images

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Wrinkles commonly occur due to ageing or exposure to ultraviolet rays. Facial packs can be a lavish treat that can deliver visible results by diminishing the prominent signs of wrinkles. Try these simple homemade face packs that are especially effective on wrinkles.

Egg white and lemon juice face pack

The protein in egg whites help tighten the skin to improve its elasticity and reduce wrinkles. Lemon juice contains vitamin C, which helps your body produce collagen to keep your skin firm and healthy. Here are some more beauty benefits of wrinkles.

 Steps to use:

• Remove the yolk from an egg and beat the egg white.
• Now add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to it.
• Mix the beaten egg white and lime juice well with the help of a fork.
• Now apply the mixture onto your face with the help of your fingers.
• Allow it dry and leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
• Remove the pack from your face with the help of a warm washcloth.
• Use it every alternate day to reduce signs of ageing.

Carrot and almond oil face pack

The carrot reduces the appearance of wrinkles and removes the toxins and water build-up in the skin giving you a fresher and firmer look.  The vitamin E in almond oil fights wrinkles by countering the degradation of the collagen of the skin.

Steps to use:

• Peel 2 carrots and boil until they are tender.
• Mash the carrots properly.
• Add 1 teaspoon almond oil to the carrots and combine the mixture well.
• Refrigerate the mixture for about an hour.
• Apply the mixture on your cheeks, the area surrounding your eyes and your chin.
• Allow it to settle for half an hour, then rinse it with warm water.
• Use this pack 3 days a week to see visible results.

Cucumber face pack

Cucumber can provide you with antioxidants you need to combat wrinkles. The vitamin C present in lemons is a strong antioxidant. Besides, its bleaching action works wonders on age spots and freckles. Applying cucumber can also help in reducing dark circles and puffiness under the eyes. Also read about the other skin benefits that cucumber has to offer.

Steps to use:

• Peel half a cucumber and grate it well.
• Now add 1 beaten egg white to the grated cucumber.
• Add 1 teaspoon lemon juice to the mixture and mix them well.
• Apply it on your skin and leave it to dry.
• Rinse it with warm water after 15-20 minutes.
• Apply this pack every alternate day to reduce the appearance of the fine lines.

Papaya face pack

The enzyme called papain in papaya can digest dead cells on the surface of the skin and makes skin more elastic and firm. Besides, the folate and magnesium in papaya also contribute to smooth and healthy skin.

Steps to use:

• Cut a few pieces of a totally ripe papaya fruit.
• Then mash into a smooth paste.
• Apply this paste on your face and leave it to dry for 15 minutes.
• Wash it off with warm water.
• You can apply this paste twice a week to get a wrinkle free skin.

Apple face pack

The antioxidants found in apples such as vitamins, A, C & E help to promote younger looking skin. These antioxidants fight the free radicals that destroy your skin’s supply of collagen and improve the tone of your skin. The antioxidants can also prevent the premature onset of wrinkles. These signs will help you find out if your skin is ageing prematurely.

Steps to use:

• Take one apple and boil it completely in water.
• Once the apple cools, remove its seeds and mash it properly into an uniform paste.
• Add 1 spoon of honey and milk powder to it.
• Apply this paste on your face and leave it on for 15 minutes.
• Rinse it off with cool water.
• Use this pack 3 times a week to reduce the fine lines quickly.

Image source: Getty Images

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The world is gaga over the countless benefits of yoga. It keeps you fit internally as well as externally. But did you know it can keep you looking beautiful naturally? Yoga has multiple beauty benefits. Here are a few of them.

Keeps acne at bay              

Acne is caused when the pores get blocked due to excess sebum, dirt and other impurities. In order to keep these at bay, you need proper blood circulation and flush out toxins from your system. This helps in keeping your skin healthy and free from acne. There are several yoga poses which can help you do this. For example, the Bow Pose or Dhanurasana helps release toxins from the body by focusing on deep breathing. Here are a few more poses to keep your skin acne-free.

Gives glowing skin

Creams and make-up can add that touch of glow on your skin in a superficial manner. But with yoga you can get an inner glow naturally. Yoga asanas focus on your breathing and improving the oxygen supply in your body. This helps keep the skin glowing as it is free from impurities. Asanas such as Kapalbhati or the Yogic Facial Massage are extremely beneficial. Here are more asanas you could try for glowing skin.

Prevents hair loss

If you’ve started to see more hair strands on your brush than usual, it is time to start practising yoga. Believe it or not, it helps improve blood circulation to the scalp which in turn stimulates hair follicles resulting in hair growth. Balayam which means exercise for the hair is one of the poses you could try. The best part is, you can do it anywhere. Here’s how to do the pose with other asanas to beat hair loss.

Helps get rid of dark circles

Dark circles are a result of several factors including lack of oxygen to the under-eye region. The skin is very delicate in this area and it does not have any oil glands so it is essential to keep it healthy. A simple face yoga exercise called ‘Circle the Eyes’ can help get rid of dark circles by gently stimulating the area with the help of your fingers. Here’s how to do this pose.

Is an anti-ageing remedy

Fine lines, wrinkles are common as we age but if you want to prolong their appearance, yoga can help. Our face has 57 facial muscles which need to be exercised just as we exercise our body. In the process, our skin too get tightened which prevents signs of ageing. Face Yoga expert Danielle Collins shares yoga poses to keep your face fit.

Image source: Getty Images

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Gone past are those days when shaving was only a ‘men’s thing!’ Apart from facial hair removal, it’s a trending method to exfoliate the skin, keeping wrinkles and acne at bay. Here is what you need to know about this ‘no more a masculine’ hair-removal regime:

Shaving for women – what about it? 

Dermatologist Dr Shefali Trasi explains what this trend is all about. ‘The new face- shaving procedure is a specific treatment known to medical personnel as ‘dermaplaning.’ It is usually done with the help of a small surgical blade (not scalpel) and exfoliates the superficial or outermost layers of the skin.’ This method hence scrapes out all the dead skin cells and is a natural way to cleanse out clogged pores thoroughly.

Is it safe? It is said to reduce wrinkles and acne…

The home-shaving procedure is not likely to cause any pain if a specific facial razor with a curved blade is used. A single-blade and single-edge one is the ideal pick. Do not use the underarm or leg razors with sharp blades, these will be harsher on the face.

As for the procedure done professionally, Dr Trasi says, ‘Procedure is safe when done properly by a professional. It is done using light, feathery strokes which exfoliate the skin and stimulates collagen production. Also, after this procedure the penetration of anti-ageing serums is enhanced leading to better results for decreasing wrinkles.’ Here are some home remedies for ageing skin.

Any chances of in-growth on the face? 

In-grown hair is a common struggle to deal with post hair-removal procedures. However, Dr Trasi mentions, ‘It depends on the type of hair growth on the skin. Removal of hair is just a part and parcel of this procedure and is not however the main purpose. Ensure that you are shaving off your hair or moving the razor in the direction of your hair growth so there will be lesser chances of any in-growth hair.’

Is it harsh on sensitive skin? 

Many of us would not be comfortable about using a razor on our face, simply because of the risks to cuts and harsh reactions onto the skin. Dr Trasi helps explain this, ‘This procedure is similar to microdermabrasion (skin polishing) or chemical peels. Hence, on sensitive skin there is a chance of developing red rashes immediately after the treatment. You could manage this better with thorough care post the shaving.’ It is ideal to consult your dermatologist before you plan on shaving your face if you have been suffering from severe skin reaction skin products and other treatments. Also, your skin specialist is the best one to prescribe products, you could use once as post-shaving skincare.

What about growth after shaving?

The post-shaving growth depends on your natural growth and or if you have any hair on your face at all. If you have fine hair growth, then the hair is bound to grow back thicker and darker with a blunt edge.

Is it a recommendable method to exfoliate the skin?

You may be sceptical about this exfoliating procedure, but it is a method you could consider for deep cleansing and exfoliation. Dr Trasi says,’ It is one of the good ways of exfoliation. It is a new procedure but needs to be explored more.’

How to shave?

Steps

• Keep your face dry to begin with. Use the facial-razor with a curved edge in particular.
• Hold the razor in a 45-degree angle against the skin.
• Start shaving in short, gentle strokes in the direction of the hair growth and downwards.
• Be careful of sensitive areas like under the eyes, near lips and nose.

What you need to do post-shaving?

Since this procedure involves cleaning out all the dry and dead skin cells, your skin requires its share of moisturising too. Opt for a simple, and natural face pack – avocados and olive oil. Avocados would further complement this exfoliating method as it particularly helps resolve anti-ageing issues like wrinkles and crow’s feet. Additionally, olive oil is a key ingredient to moisturise dry skin, keeping it supple yet firm.  Try these 4 winter skincare packs.

Steps

• Mash a ripe avocado into a fine paste.
• Add 1 tbsp of olive oil to this paste and mix thoroughly.
• Splash some water on your face before you apply this face pack.
• Leave this paste on for 10-15 minutes.
• Rinse off with cold water.

Image source: Getty Images

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Vitamin E oil is one of the ingredients that can be used on the face, body, hair, lips, nails, etc. It has multiple benefits and contains a very high dose of antioxidants. These nourish our skin and hair and make them stay beautiful for a longer time. The regular use of vitamin E oil can therefore ward off various beauty problems as well. Here are a few of its benefits.

Fades away stretch marks

Vitamin E oil has antioxidants that prevent the damage of collagen and help repair the skin. Stretch marks often appear after sudden weight loss or post pregnancy when the skin undergoes sudden drastic changes. It stretches more than usual and the result is those white lines called stretch marks. Here’s how to use it. Here are some more home remedies to lighten stretch marks.

Steps:

• Warm some vitamin E oil by dousing the bottle in hot water.
• Now take a few drops and massage it wherever you have stretch marks.
• Leave it on overnight.
• Repeat the process every night to see them fade away in a few months.

Prevents wrinkles

Every woman’s enemy – signs of ageing such as wrinkles and fine lines. Vitamin E oil improves collagen production and also blocks free-radical damage which is often the main cause of the appearance of wrinkles. Here’s how to use it. Also try these other anti-ageing remedies.

Steps:

• Mash a few chunks of papaya in a bowl.
• Now add 2-3 drops of vitamin E oil to it.
• Mix well and apply this paste on your face and neck.
• Let it stay for 15 minutes and then wash off with plain water.

Suits dry and sensitive skin

Dry skin lacks moisture and hydration while sensitive skin can turn red at the slightest touch. Therefore, it is essential to use the right ingredients on such skin types. Vitamin E oil is suited for both types. It has anti-inflammatory properties that calm sensitive skin while its moisturising properties soothe dry skin. Here’s what you should do. Apply these packs on sensitive skin.

Steps:

• Warm some vitamin E oil and add honey to it.
• Apply this mixture on your skin, not just face but the whole body.
• Once you are done massaging, take a bath with lukewarm water.
• If you find honey to be sticky, simply massage your skin with vitamin E oil.
• You can do this at night and bathe with lukewarm water in the morning.
• This will let your skin absorb the oil better.

Lightens acne scars and dark spots

Acne scars, dark spots, burn marks, etc. can hinder your beauty but you can lighten them with the help of vitamin E oil. It helps the damaged tissue heal better and the skin also appears brighter after its use. Make sure you use this paste regularly to see a visible difference.

Steps:

• In a bowl add vitamin E oil and aloe vera gel.
• Stir it well to blend the two and then apply on the affected areas.
• Let it stay for 30 minutes and then wash off with water.
• Both the ingredients will help in lightening the spots and scars.

Soothes chapped lips

Chapped lips are a common occurrence during winters and no matter how much lip balm we use, it isn’t enough. This is due to the harsh weather that takes away all the moisture. But using vitamin E oil helps prevent them getting too chapped as it seals the moisturise in and also prevents further damage. Chapped lips can also be healed with these remedies.

Steps:

• Simply dab some vitamin E oil on your lips.
• Do this at night or if you do not want to use a lip balm, use this oil instead.
• Avoid licking your lips as it dries them out and will not let the oil seep into the skin.

Strengthens hair

For our hair to be strong and healthy the follicles need nourishment and vitamin E oil does just that. It not just improves blood circulation when massaged on the scalp, it also promotes hair health and is good for improving the condition of dry and brittle hair.

Steps:

• Warm some vitamin E oil and apply it on your scalp and hair.
• Massage the scalp well so that it boosts blood flow.
• Keep it on for an hour and then wash your hair.

Vitamin E oil is also available in the form of capsules. If you do not find the oil, you can use these to make packs. Simply cut them open and squeeze out the liquid. If you find vitamin E oil to be too greasy, mix any other light oil in it such as coconut or olive oil and then apply it on hair and skin. Also read how vitamin E can keep you fit and young.

Image source: Getty Images

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Curry leaves or kadi patta is a strong ingredient that adds a delicious, spicy flavour to most of our Indian dishes. We all know that this ingredient comes with effective properties for our health, but it has host of beauty benefits too. Curry leaves are anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory in nature and possess moisturising properties as well. Such properties help in resolving common skin problems, when used with other complementing ingredients, in an instant. Here are some face packs you could use for blemish-free, glowing skin with curry leaves.

Curry leaves with turmeric for acne

Most of us wake up with acne problems every other day. Instead of reaching out for chemical or oil-based creams, head straight to your kitchen. Curry leaves or kadi patta and turmeric – usually the ingredients to go into our curries and dals, can work wonders on your skin too. Turmeric takes care of excessive scars and inflammation and controls oil secretion by sebaceous glands as well. A fine paste with curry leaves and turmeric can cleanse out all the dirt and acne, if and when used regularly. Here are some beauty benefits of turmeric.

Steps:

• Take a few curry leaves along with some turmeric powder and blend into a fine paste.
• Apply this paste gently on the acne-affected area.
• Let it dry and then wash well with cold water. Similarly curry leaves or kadi patta can help resolve hair loss too.

Curry leaves with multani mitti for wrinkle-free, glowing skin

The market is surely flooded with anti-ageing creams, but a safer and effective way to free your skin from signs of ageing are home remedies with curry leaves. Multani mitti or fuller’s earth with curry leaves are effective enough to smoothen out fine lines and revitalise dull looking skin. Curry leaves fight off free radicals in the skin and contribute in keeping the skin’s texture healthy and firm, multani mitti purifies it, absorbs excess oil and works on healing the skin. Taking these two ingredients with rose water, which is a natural astringent and helps tackle sagging skin and puffiness, makes for an easy face pack for a younger looking skin.

Steps:

• Mix some grounded curry leaf powder, fuller’s earth or multani mitti and add a few drops of rose water.
• Apply this all over the face; be cautious of applying the paste too close to the eyes.
• Wait till it dries off. Once done, wash well.

 Curry leaves with milk for skin burns, cuts and rashes

Just as summer seeps in, the skin suffers from heat boils, rashes and sun burns. Applying some curry leaves with milk for this, could leave your skin relieved. Milk is known to heal and control allergic skin reactions, and calms red spots and rashes with ease. Try these remedies for itchy skin. 

Steps:

• Put in some curry leaves and boil them with milk for a few minutes.
• Let this cool off, and then apply it gently onto the affected area.

Image source: Getty Images

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If there is one human desire that matches mankind’s unflinching quest for progress, it is the eternal desire to stay beautiful and ageless. The quest for beauty has not only propelled men and women into adopting some quirky beauty practices over the centuries, it has also instigated major research to identify scientific mechanisms to augment appearances and delay ageing.

Till some decades ago, the facial features you were born with were meant to stay with you all your life. Today, however, it is possible to substantially alter your appearance with the help of modern advancements in the field of cosmetology, and this doesn’t necessary mean going under the knife. If Botox changed the way people looked at ageing, dermal fillers like Juvederm are another category of cosmetology innovation that have enabled many people to augment their beauty and charm.

Dermal fillers, as the name suggests, are gel-like injectables meant to ‘fill up’ the upper layers of the skin to achieve multiple results. From anti-ageing to facial contouring to non-surgical facelift, they serve a variety of purposes depending upon the need of a person. Arguably, fillers are among the most remarkable inventions in the field of cosmetology and skincare over the past few decades.

Among the most popular forms of fillers are hyaluronic acid based gels like Juvederm that can work wonders on your face, when in the hands of an expert. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring substance that is found in the layers of the dermis and along with instruments like collagen and elastin, provides elasticity, youthfulness, volume and flexibility to the skin. A hydrophilic substance, HA promotes water retention in the skin, proving hydration, sheen as well as volume. The loss of the natural reserves of hyaluronic acid with age is among the factors causing wrinkles, dullness and sagging in the skin.

What if we could replenish the lost reserves of HA back into our skin? Well, this is what HA-based fillers do. Let’s take a look at the purposes, dermal fillers can serve:

Anti-ageing: If you believed your anti-ageing cream can radically halt your advancing years, you may be expecting too much. Particles in creams, usually, are not capable of penetrating the multiple layers of the skin, and their impact can at best be limited to the upper most layer of the dermis. This is where injectables like fillers have an advantage. When injected into the deeper layers of the skin, a filler like Juvederm will fill up the skin with HA, giving the skin more elasticity, more volume and greater water retention capacity. This results is marked reduction of wrinkles and the filler fills up the folds and lines in the skin and smoothens the surface of the skin. When used in combination with Botox, fillers can give a remarkable facelift effect and addresses age-related volume loss.

Facial contouring and lip augmentation: Thicker versions of the filler like Juvederm Voluma and Juvederm Ultra are used to redefine the facial features that need improvement. For example, if a woman has thin lips, they can be made more pronounced with the use of Juvederm Ultra. Similarly, Juvederm Voluma can be effectively used to give greater volume to the cheeks or redefine the chin to achieve a more pronounced jawline.

Glow and hydration: Juvederm fillers are also used to add more glow and shine to the face. They work this through their water retention ability. As hyaluronic acid promotes absorption of more moisture, this adds glow and shine to the skin. Finer and thinner versions of the filler like Juvederm Refine are used to address the early signs of ageing like very fine lines and wrinkles or dullness on the skin, in relatively younger people.

Filling up scars: Fillers can also be used to fill up minor depressions on the skin like acne scars which leave the surface of the skin rough and dull. But filling up the little depressions, fillers help smoothen the skin surface, making it more radiant and beautiful.

Image source: Getty Images

You may also like to read:

• 5 home remedies for ageing skin
• Do anti-ageing creams really work? 
• Fight signs of ageing with this skincare routine 

For more articles on anti-ageing, visit our anti-ageing section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our Questions and Answers section.

‘You know how you wake up in the morning and sometimes you look gorgeous and other times you look like you got hit by a mack truck? I realized that my mack truck is food. If I have no sugar, yeast or wine, I have no under-eye bags and my skin is perfect.’ – Mariska Hargitay, an American actress, producer, director, and former beauty queen.

The sweetness of sugar may taste good but if you read its ill-effects on your beauty and skin, you may not find it sweet after all. Sugar or sugary products have adverse effects ranging from early ageing, unwanted hair growth, etc. Read on to find out how sugar plays havoc with your beauty. 

Sugar and acne

Acne is a skin disorder that has negative physical and psychological effects, especially in young adolescents and young adults. Commonly appearing on the face, neck, shoulders, chest and the back, acne occurs when hair follicles become plugged with sebum (the oily substance secreted by the oil glands under the skin) and dead skin cells. These blocked hair follicles then become inflamed or infected and produce red pimples with white centre, which we know as acne.

Several studies have suggested that acne has very much to do with high glycemic index diet. Glycemic index is a classification of carbohydrate containing foods according to their ability to raise your blood sugar levels. Higher the blood sugar levels in your body, higher is the glycemic index of that food. Sugars and sugary foods have the highest glycemic index.

Dermatologists believe high insulin levels in the blood and insulin resistance are responsible for development and exacerbation of acne. Although the researchers are divided in their opinion regarding the effect of low GI diets on formation of acne, several studies have suggested that reducing sugars from the diet can help reduce inflammation which in turn can control exacerbation of acne.

Sugar and wrinkles

Collagen and elastin are the two protein fibres that work together to give strength, firmness, and shape to the skin. When the glucose and fructose from the sugary foods link to the proteins in these fibres, they produce AGEs or advanced glycation end products and render both of them incapable of repair. This results in wrinkles, loss of elasticity (sagging), and reduced skin thickness.

The condition is aggravated by UV rays. The UV rays in combination with AGEs generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), producing oxidative stress leading to additional deleterious effects such as rough and red patches on the skin and further skin ageing.

Sugar and hirsutism

Well, high insulin levels in the blood has another distressing disadvantage that could mar your beauty. They could cause hirsutism. Hirsutism is an unwanted, male pattern hair growth in a woman. The hair grows in certain areas of the woman’s face and body, such as the moustache area and the beard area or the chest or back.

Hirsutism usually arises from excess male hormones, androgens (testosterone), and high insulin levels markedly increase androgen production. In simple terms, you develop insulin resistance if you consume lot of sugars, which in turn can cause excess hair growth in the regions you don’t want them to grow. The same principle can cause dark patches on the neck and body creases.

Sugar and your waistline

Even if you don’t believe beauty is just skin deep, sugar is still bad for your looks. Isn’t your beauty affected if you look flabby and unhealthy?

Consuming lot of sugary foods will raise your insulin levels and as we have seen, insulin directs the cells to store excess sugars as fat. So, the more sugars you eat, more the insulin spikes, and fatter you become. The thing is, not all carbohydrates will make you fat, it is just the simple carbohydrates, that is, sugary foods including sugar-sweetened beverages that will cause you to gain weight.

Well, these reasons should be sufficient enough for you to cut down on those sugars and achieve beautiful, glowing skin and hair.

Photo source: Getty images

You may also like to read:

• Get rid of those stretch marks
• 9 home-made face packs to remove tan 
• How to get flawless skin without dark spots and patches

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Gkogkolou, P. and Böhm, M. (2012). Advanced glycation end products: Key players in skin aging. Dermato-Endocrinology, [online] 4(3), pp.259-270. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.4161/derm.22028 [Accessed 19 Sep. 2014].

Medscape.org, (2014). The Reproductive Phenotype in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: The Role of Androgens and Insulin in Hirsutism. [online] Available at: http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/562712_3 [Accessed 19 Sep. 2014].

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