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.

The common lips problems are:

Dark Lips
Cracked lips

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.

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.

Most of us experience dry skin at some point in our life. Although some of us are born with a tendency to dryness, it's possible to experience a temporary bout due to a change in the weather, pregnancy, stress or ill-health. Simply sitting in an overheated environment can leave skin sapped of moisture. The best way to cope is with gentle, nourishing products that will leave skin feeling hydrated and comfortable again.

What is dry skin?
Technically, dry skin is a condition caused by a lack of moisture in the top layer of skin, the stratum corneum, combined with a breakdown of the protective barrier of oils and keratin in the deeper epidermis. When the moisture-content level falls below five per cent, the skin becomes dehydrated and tight. Dry skin is normally fair and sensitive with no open pores and a dullish appearance. It may develop wrinkles and lines at an early age if not kept supple, especially around the mouth and eyes.

How you know if you have dry skin
The most telling signs of dry skin are a feeling of tightness 10 to 15 minutes after washing, having dull or rough, red, flaky or scaly skin, having fine lines, and there being no visible shine, even by the end of the day. The skin can look thin and papery and is also prone to broken veins.

What causes dry skin?
Dry skin is caused by a low level of sebum production. It is exacerbated by wind, extremes of temperature and air-conditioning. As we age, the condition often worsens because sebum production naturally slows down and the skin becomes thinner (which allows moisture to escape more easily). Look at your diet, too. A lack of essential fatty acids (EFAs) can cause skin to become papery and dry. If you have a hot bath and the skin on your body still feels dry after an application of body lotion, you might not have enough EFAs in your diet.

Balance skin from within
Eating a balanced diet and, if necessary, taking appropriate supplements, is a vital part of creating a healthy complexion. Bear in mind that it takes a good three weeks for newly formed cells to reach the skin's surface, so it takes time for lasting results to show. Vitamins A, C and E, selenium and zinc are essential antioxidants that help to enhance collagen repair and generally promote skin healing. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) can also have a positive effect on skin as they form a barrier that prevents moisture loss that helps combat dryness, fine lines and wrinkles.

What to avoid if you have dry skin
Dry skin needs ultra-gentle care. Treat it well and it won't give you cause for concern. Avoid:
Harsh cleansing Washcloths, hot water, dry saunas and skincare products containing soap can dry and irritate the skin.
Extreme weather The wind and sun can both lead to dryness and even chapping. Indoors, be wary of air-conditioning and overheating.
Granular exfoliants Irregularly shaped grains (made from peach stones or sand) are too rough and can cause broken blood vessels.
Astringent toners Alcohol tends to overstrip the skin.
Clay masks Clay and mud products soak up oil and leave skin drier.

The best skincare routine for dry skin
Although dry skin can become temporarily oilier in hot weather (just switch your moisturiser to a slightly lighter one), it will usually benefit from the following care:
Use a gentle lotion or cream cleanser that can be rinsed or tissued off. Foaming gel cleansers are too drying.
If you want to use a toner, choose an extremely gentle one (such as rosewater).
Look for a moisturising lotion or cream containing hyaluronic acid (which helps your regular moisturiser attract more moisture into your skin), jojoba oil or shea butter. Apply it to damp skin for better absorption, then gently rub it in for increased penetration.
If you have dry skin, only use scrubs made with smooth, synthetic grains to buff away dead skin cells. If you prefer chemical exfoliators, look for beta hydroxy acid (BHA) products, as they are gentler than alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) products. Exfoliate no more than twice a week.
Rich, nourishing night creams can work overnight to quench parched skin.
As an occasional treat, try a moisturising mask that doesn't set on the skin. Look for nourishing ingredients such as vitamin E or collagen.

Summer Skin Care

This summer promise yourself that you will look fresh and gorgeous. Even if you are barefaced without a trace of make-up. All you’ve to do is be a true water baby. And by that we don’t mean just splashing in the surf during your holiday by the sea. Water can be your beauty Aid No 1, whenever, whenever you are – holidaying, sweating it out at your office or unwinding on a leisurely Sunday at home. Decide that you can’t do without water on your dressing table.

Aqua Skin
Moisturisation is the most important part of daily skin care, since skin needs more moisture (water) than it does color sheen or gloss. You may be surprised that your summer skin, which looked radiant throughout winter, suddenly looks dull, blemished and oily. "This is because, in winter your skin’s natural oils solidifies, whereas in summer it flows freely," explains Kristina McHugh, South African beauty specialist. Because of this, most people need a lighter moisturizer in hot weather."

Although you must, as a rule, buy a water-based moisturizer, work out your skin’s needs. Maybe just plain water works for you. Herbal beauticians says that flower-based lotions like rose water can be sprayed on the face to tone and refresh it. "A rose-based skin tonic or cucumber water (made by diluting cucumber juice with water) can be used to spray the face, Keep them cool in the fridge before use. Honey water helps dry skins more, because honey is a humecant. It dehydrates the skin.

Besides this, make a habit of splashing your face gently with water for instant freshness (try and use mineral water). You can splash as many as 20 times as long as you don’t use very hot or cold water on your skin (which can cause fine vein to appear on your face). Steam face regularly to release dirt (five minutes for dry skin and 10 minutes if it is oily). Pat dry with tissue and moisturize. Moisturizers should be used damp on the skin. This seals in the water and helps skin to hold the moisture better.

Soak Suds
Feet need TLC at the best of times, let alone in summer. And as they, unmanicured, peeling hands are a beauty sin! Blistering heat makes feet swell and sweat and sexy summer footwear means it’s all on show. So, keeping both hands and feet clean with a liberal use of soap and water (followed by a moisturizer) is a grooming must. "There’s nothing more off-putting than looking at cracked, dirty heels,"

So there you are again, water is your only escape route out of unkempt hair and legs. Soaking feet and hands helps to get rid of fatigue, more so if you add a pinch of salt to the water you use. This softens the dry, dead skin around the your soles, easing its removal. Soak feet for 15-20 minutes. Herbal beauticians recommends hot and cold contrast soaks for the feet to help boost circulation. Soak your feet first in hot water and then in cold water for two minutes each. Do this for about 15 minutes, once a week.

Bye Bye BO
Have you thought how a small bottle with nothing but clean water in it can rid you of your nightmares? You can use herbal flower water too, to spray your armpits with. Add a few drops of cologne to the water, if you like, in the spray bottle. Earlier in the day, use a spray deo immediately after a bath on semi-damp skin. Water makes a better spray than strong cologne because some cosmetics block the natural and necessary process of perspiration. Spray twice or thrice a day.

The drink of life
Add more water to your life:
You know you should, but do you do it? Drink at least 15 glasses of water a day
Mix the fruit juice of your choice with mineral water for a healthy soda.
Is there a waterfall you can get under, or a brook to swim in? Don’t pass up the opportunity. Great for blood circulation.
Sinking into a bathtub has a tranquilizing effect on the mind. Throw in mineral salts if you can.
Use water as mouth freshener along with a sprig of mint, honey and lime.
Make a compress for dry, flaky, irritated skin using water. Use gauze dipped in tolerably cold water. Apply on affected area and leave on for 10 minutes. Instant relief.
Sebastian Keipp, who wrote My Water Cure, recommends using water as a healing power to cure disease. "Walk barefoot on grass or immerse your legs in cold water up to the knees. This increases resistance to illness."
With water, remember, more is always better.

Absolute hair highlight
The question that hair specialists was asked most often at the 1999 Cosmo Show in Delhi was how often hair should be washed. "It is a total myth that you can’t wash hair everyday, Clean hair is the best hair highlight. It is overshampooing that should be avoided."

In the summer months, hair collects more dirt and washing it regularly is necessary. Especially in cities where chemical and pollutants to cling to the scalp. In summer, hair should be washed three times a week or more, if needed. But use a small quantity of shampoo and choose a mild, herbal one.
Give your hair a cold rinse prior to turning off the shower-it closes follicles so locks in shine.

Dandruff

Dandruff (or dry flaky scalp) is an itchy, annoying and persistent skin disorder of the scalp. A dark suit and dandruff simply don't go together!

There is nothing more embarrassing than to have someone brush white scaly flakes off your beautiful black dress or navy blue jacket.

Based on ongoing research, it has been noted that in the past ten years dandruff problems have become more serious and more frequent.

Dry or Greasy Dandruff
Dandruff can cause either an overly dry scalp with itchy white flakes that may be waxy or greasy or dandruff can manifest as an oily greasy scalp with scales.

What Is Dandruff?
A person's entire body surface continuously sheds dead skin cells. The skin itself sheds every twenty-four days.

Dandruff, the shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp at an excessive rate, is the result of the normal growing process of the skin cells of the scalp.
Excessive Sloughing Of Old Cells
In a normal scalp, the process of sloughing off old cells and manufacturing of their replacements is very orderly and complete. In the dandruff scalp, there is mass disorder and often the departing cells are not dead before leaving the scalp.
Why there should be a speedup in the scalp's cell production is still a debated mystery.
There appear to be two different causes of dandruff. Internal and external.

Internal Causes
Among the myriad of internal causes suspected are:

hormonal imbalance
poor health
excessive perspiration
poor hygiene
allergic hypersensitive
lack of rest
emotional stress
excessive consumption of sugar, fat, starch
improper nutrition
heredity pre-disposition

There is still no other published cure for the skin disorders that can cause dandruff so most of the 50 million people in the United States who have it find they get it again and again.

External Causes
The following factors may make the flaking of dandruff worse and considered to be external causes for the problem:

Excessive use of hairsprays and gels.
Improper use of hair-coloring products or excessive use of electric hair curlers
Cold weather and dry indoor heating.
Tight fitting hats and scarves.
Infrequent shampooing of the hair or inadequate rinsing.
Stress, anxiety and tension.

Dandruff & The Fungus Theory
Contrary to popular theory, although bacteria may aggravate a dandruff condition, germs do not cause the initial problem. The precise cause of dandruff is unknown.

Most medical authorities consider dandruff, even the mildest forms, to be a type of scalp or skin related disease.

Clinically, one description of dandruff is seborrhea capitos or excessive sebum production of the scalp.

Today most skin specialists agree that dandruff is associated with a tiny fungus called Pityrosporum ovale, P. ovale for short.

This fungus lives on our bodies and scalp all the time, usually without causing a problem. Unfortunately, for some people, it can increase in numbers, leading to dandruff.

Additional Causes of Dandruff
Dandruff is seasonal. It is most severe during the winter and mildest during the summer. The most common symptom of dandruff is scaling with occasional itching.

Dandruff scales usually occur as small, round, white-to-gray patches on top of the head. Scaling can occur anywhere on the scalp, in the hair, on the eyebrows, the beard and can spread to the neck and shoulders.

Dandruff is often known as "dry scalp", but people with oily scalps tend to suffer most. An oily scalp also supports the growth of P. ovale.

Dandruff & Baldness
As always, myths and rumors pervade any type of hair or scalp condition. For many years the common belief was held that untreated dandruff would eventually lead or contribute to baldness.

Current thinking does not support these original beliefs. Many people, both men and women, live under the fear that dandruff may lead to baldness. Although these conditions may occur at the same time, there is absolutely no known or documented evidence that baldness is related to dandruff.

Traditional Treatments For Dandruff
The most common dandruff treatments are shampoos containing:
coal-tar
pyrithione zinc
salicylic acid
selenium sulfide
sulfur

Daily shampooing with thorough rinsing has been the treatment recommended until the present.

Since dandruff is a natural process, it can not be eliminated. It can only be managed and controlled.

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