Tips to prevent cuticle problems:

Keeping our hands well groomed does not take much time or money. Here are few points that will help you to treat them with care.

• Avoid using harsh soaps when washing your hands as they can cause dry cuticles.
• Exfoliate your hands once a week to get rid of dry cuticles.
• Keep your cuticles moisturised.
• Apply olive oil into your cuticles and nail beds. This will help to seal in moisture and will enable to heal your cuticles faster.
• Massage moisturizing hand cream onto your cuticles, and slip on a pair of cotton gloves every night before you go to sleep.
• Apply vegetable oil on the finger tips and massage your nails with it. This would help to strengthen them.

• Use baking soda to clean your nails and soften cuticles. Dip a nailbrush in baking soda and scrub your nails with it.
• Use soaps that have more moisturizing natural ingredients and antibacterial properties.
• Get a manicure done once every month to get your dry cuticles removed properly. But as the saying goes that excess of every thing is bad, manicures too can cause damage or even infection to our nails. Women who frequent the nail salon may find themselves left with brittle nails. So limit your visits.
• Never use metal or sharp instruments on your cuticles.
• Always wear gloves to protect your hands while washing the dishes or doing any task that requires dipping the hands in water. Wearing vinyl gloves, not latex or rubber, keeps your hands safe from coarse materials.

• Avoid picking your cuticles. Always soak them for 20 minutes, and then use a soft washcloth to push them back.
• Always use acetone free nail polish remover.
• Never cut your cuticles.
• Choose a cuticle cream or oil that contains natural oils such as safflower, almond oil, sweet almond or passion flower. They will heal your cuticles much faster.
• Increase the intake of fruits and vegetables to heal the nails from the inside and keep them healthy. Also, include the sufficient amount of vitamin A, iron and calcium in your diet.

Some Homemade Facial Scrubs

• Take 1 tbs baking soda, 1 tbs honey and1 tbs olive oil. Blend all the ingredients together well until you get a thick paste. Smear this paste all over your clean face. Let it stay for a min or two and then rinse with warm water. If the paste does not spread easily (because the honey in it), add a little water in it and then apply.
• To get rid of blackheads combine equal parts of baking soda and water in your hand. Rub gently in a circular motion on your skin for 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
• Mash a piece of papaya, then add 1/2 tsp brown sugar and rub your face with it. Leave it on for 20 minutes and rinse well. Your skin will be fresh and glowing.

• Mash 1/2 banana and add 1 tablespoon honey and 2 tablespoons sour cream in it. Apply this mixture on your face and let set for about 10 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.
• Take 1/2 cucumber, 1 tablespoon yogurt, a few strawberries, and 1 teaspoon honey. Put all these ingredients in a food processor or a blender to make a paste. Apply on a clean face and allow it to dry. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.
• Grind 1 tablespoon almonds into a fine powder in a blender or food processor. Mix this almond powder together with 1 tablespoon honey and 1 egg white. Apply this mixture on your face and let it set for about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.
• Soak 1 cup dried apricots in water until softened. Puree it in a blender or food processor with 2 tablespoons skim milk powder. Apply this mixture on your face and let it set about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

• Mix 1 1/2 teaspoons honey, the juice from 1/2 of a lemon, and 1 small carton plain yogurt. Stir in 1 whipped egg white. Apply to face and let set about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.
• Take 1 to 2 tbs of oatmeal or cornmeal, 1 to 2 tsp of witch hazel and few drops of water to make a past. Apply this mixture on your face in the outward circular motion. Let it stay on for few minutes. Rinse your face with lots of warm water to remove it. For dry skin add a little olive oil to this homemade face scrub.
• Take 1 tsp lemon juice, 2 egg whites, 3 tsp honey ,1 cup strawberries and  4 drops of your favourite essential oil. Mash or blend the above ingredients and smooth it over your face. Let it stay for 10 minutes. Rinse with normal water.

Health & Beauty Benefits of Rose

Biological names: Rosa damascene , Rosa gallica and Rosa centifolia
Rose has an amazing ability to bloom repeatedly throughout the summer and into late autumn. Rose bushes have become one of the most popular garden shrubs bearing flowers in a variety of colors -red, white, pink, yellow, orange, and burgundy. Currently, there are thousands of rose varieties and hybrids that have been developed for their bloom shape and color, size, fragrance, and some even for their lack of thorns.

Organic aspects

The main fragrant constituents of rose oil are the terpenoids, geraniol and citronellol. Roses have antioxidant, antibacterial and antimicrobial activities. Retinol, a Vitamin A, is frequently used in cosmetic creams as a wrinkle reducer, is found in rose oil along with vitamin C, omega-3, omega-6 and linolenic acid. These nutrients make rose oil possible treatment for scars.

Aroma therapy

There are two types of rose oil commonly available: rose otto, captured by steam distillation of the fresh petals; and rose absolute, obtained by solvent extraction of the fresh petals. It invokes positive thoughts, spiritualism and feelings of joy, happiness and hope.
The oil is said to have mild sedative activity and is used to treat anxiety and depression. In addition to producing oil, rose petals are commonly used in potpourris, and can be added to salads, jellies and jams. The dried petals of the rose varieties, Rosa gallica and R. x centifolia, which are rich in astringent tannins, are used in mouth rinses to treat mild inflammations.

Rose Oil

Rose oil is, a yellowish-grey liquid, obtained by steam or water distilled from fresh rose petals. It can help with a number of problems, particularly for women. Rose oil is considered an aphrodisiac and it takes several thousand rose petals to produce just one drop of rose oil so it is highly priced. In face creams, rose essential oil is combined with other hydrating ingredients; the essential oil alone is not enough to create a creamy consistency.

It is dry oil, the skin will soak it up quickly without a greasy feeling. It can be used straight or mixed into a cream or lotion. Rose oil should not be used on broken skin or open wounds unless directed to do so by a physician. Rose oil is anti-depressant, anti-septic, anti-viral, astringent, bactericidal and a tonic to the liver, stomach and uterus. It is known as the ‘women’s oil’, helping with menstrual problems and benefiting the skin, particularly mature or aging skin.

Rose oil is frequently adulterated because of its high price. Adulterated rose oil may be a combination of rose oil and/or other essential oils similar to rose oil. In addition, rose fragrance oil is not pure rose oil, but rather synthetically made oil.

Benefits of Roses to Skin and in Treating Scars

According to an article entitled “The Therapeutic Benefits of Roses” in Rose Magazine, roses are highly nourishing to the skin. They are beneficial to all skin types, especially dry, sensitive and aging skin. Roses can diminish redness in the skin caused by enlarged capillaries. They also have a toning effect, and are naturally antiseptic. Avoid applying rose face cream to areas of the face that do not require much moisture; in some people, these areas include the forehead, nose and chin.

Rose oil restores original skin color by reducing hyper-pigmentation and redness, avoid formation of keloids scars, fade scars left by chicken pox or acne, and even treat skin burned from radiation therapy. Some home-made tips & tricks to get benefits of roses.

Making Rose Face Cream- a simple rose face cream simply by adding quality essential oil of rose to an existing cream. Start with a cream that is mild and fragrance-free. To every tablespoon of cream, add two to three drops of rose essential oil. Mix the cream and essential oil together thoroughly using a spoon or stirrer. Store the cream in a cool place away from direct sunlight.

Rose for body odour- make a paste of fresh rose petals in water & apply it all over the body. Wait for half an hour & then bath as usual. This will also soothe your senses.

Rose for mouth odours- roses are useful in treating any kind oral problems. Take fresh rose petals wash them properly & chew for about 2mins. Doing this everyday in morning will give healthy & stronger teeth. It also checks gum-bleeding

For Itching and Skin Irritation- mix some lemon juice with essential rose oil & use it as a lotion on affected area.

Mouth ulcers- boil some rose petals in 1liter of water allow it to cool. Gargle with this water 2-3 times a day.

For naturally glowing and youthful skin and body- chew some rose petals everyday. Isn’t it easy??? It clears the system from within to give a natural glow. It will strengthen bones & joints if eaten on a regular basis & reduces chances of arthritis and other bone related problems.

For eyes- pure rose water is good for various vision problems. Put 2 drops of it before going to bed

For headache- make rose petal paste in water & apply it all over the forehead for instant relief.

For vaginal infections- dried rose petal powder is applied on the affected area.

P.S. Use of fresh rose petals is preferred. Dried ones can be used as an alternative unless it isn’t specified.

Hope you benefit from this.