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Beauty

Six home remedies for puffy eyes

Wake up looking like you spent the night in a pub? Take our six-step home cure to treat your peepers.
by Beverley Lewis

Swollen eyes can not only alter your looks, but also cause others to misinterpret your lifestyle. A little insight, however, can help determine the cause for marshmallow eyes, and the six home remedies outlined here, can make them very simple to treat.

Bag ’em: Teabags can help soothe puffy and irritated eyes as they not only contain powerful antioxidants, but they also contain anti-irritant properties. To get rid of the puffiness, place moist tea bags over your eyes.

For this, first soak the teabags in hot water for a few minutes and then take them out. Allow them to cool down to a warm temperature. Then, lie down on your couch or bed and place the tea bags over your eyelids (as shown in cover pic) and cover them with a soft cloth. Leave on for about 20 minutes, after which you will notice that the swelling around the eyes has reduced a bit. Do this every day and watch the puffiness disappear.

Grab some H2O: The easiest way to get rid of puffy eyes is to drink enough water. Try and drink at least eight to ten glasses of water each day. When the body is well hydrated, there is less chance of water retention, which can cause your eyelids and other parts of your body to swell. Water will also help flush out toxins from the body. Along with increasing your intake of water, also try and reduce the amount of salt you eat and avoid sodas and coffee, as they cause dehydration. Coconut water is also a great for curing puffy eyes, as it keeps the body well hydrated and flushes out the kidneys.

Be cool: Chilled cucumber slices are perfect for treating puffy eyes. The enzymes and the astringent properties present in cucumber help reduce inflammation. Chill slices of cucumber in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes. Then, place the cold cucumber slices on closed eyes for around 10 minutes or until the cucumber becomes warm. Repeat the process several times a day. This remedy will also help you get rid of wrinkles around your eyes.

Mrs Potato head: Grate a mid-sized potato and place it in a clean cheesecloth and tie it up. Now place this makeshift eye pack on your eyelids and leave it on for 15 minutes. Do this several times a week and you will notice a marked difference.

Get egged: Egg whites have got skin-tightening properties that can help reduce puffiness. They are also good for preventing wrinkles. Place two egg whites in a bowl and whip them until they get nice and stiff. Next, add a few drops of witch hazel to the mixture. Witch hazel is not only good for reducing puffiness, but it also acts as a natural skin-tightening astringent.

With the help of a brush – or you could use your fingertips – gently massage this mixture under the eyes and allow it to dry before washing it out. This remedy will not only tighten the skin around the eyes, but it will also make them look less puffy.

Spooning works: Take five to six metal spoons and place them in your refrigerator for 10 minutes. Next, take out a cold spoon and hold the rounded portion against your eye for a few minutes until the spoon becomes warm. Then, quickly replace it with another cold spoon from the refrigerator.

Keep repeating this procedure until you go through all the spoons in the refrigerator. This will not only help to tighten the skin around your eyes, but will also help relax the blood vessels in the eyes and decrease puffiness.

Beverley Lewis has written for beauty magazines and has amazing tips to share. If she’s missed a tip you’ve tried for puffy eyes, tell her about it in the comments section below.

(Pictures courtesy hudabeauty.com, www.healthyskinsolutions.com)

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Beauty

The big bangs theory

Trimming your bangs is as easy as our 1-2-3-4-5 tutorial. Follow these steps to get the bangs without spending the bucks.
by Beverley Lewis

If you’re the kind of girl who chooses  ‘dare’ over ‘truth’ and has no problem talking to strangers, then you’ll have no qualms about grabbing a pair of scissors and trimming your own bangs. While we love the look of a full fringe, we hate how high-maintenance it can be.

Bangs have a tendency to grow out very quickly, so you have to make frequent trips to the salon to get them trimmed. But, what if you could skip the hassle of heading into the salon every few weeks and just trim your overgrown bangs at home?

We give you a step-by-step tutorial on how you can trim your unruly bangs.

Step 1: Tools of the trade: Comb and a pair of hair-cutting scissors

Step 2: Comb through: Tie your hair in a ponytail to get it out of the way, comb your bangs so they lay flat (see pic on right for reference). This makes it easier to focus on your fringe and helps you see where they need trimming. Always trim your bangs when your hair is dry. Otherwise, you may end up cutting your bangs shorter than you expected.

Step 3: Get trimming: Clamp the section with your index and middle finger and move it to either side to see how long you want the fringe to be. A safe length is under your eyes, in the centre of the nose. Place the comb underneath your bangs and pull it down before you start snipping away.

Step 4: Easy does it. Point the scissors into your hair and snip vertically (see pic on left for reference). This will give you a feathered finish rather than a flat one. Start low and work your way up to reach required length. It is best to start at the middle of your fringe and work your way toward the outer left corner. Then, trim the bangs toward the right side.

Step 5: Grand finale: Keep checking the length intermittently and even out the hair when you reach the desired length. If you want to go shorter, end under the eyebrows, but remember to leave the hair longer than the desired length because you will lose about an inch or half an inch as dry hair tends to jump up.

Beverley Lewis has been a writer for beauty magazines and has amazing tips to share. Have you ever given yourself a haircut? Tell Beverley about it in the comments section below.

(Pictures courtesy www.wikihow.com, www.hercampus.com,

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Beauty

The red carpet look

Get the low-down on achieving the perfect red carpet look through the season’s hot trends: bright eyes and dashing red lips.
by Beverley Lewis

Are you inspired to look like your favourite Hollywood or Bollywood hottie, especially after all the film award functions that recently happened? I mean, who wouldn’t want to look like the stunning beauties at red carpet events like the Oscars and the Filmfare Awards?

And guess what, it doesn’t take a stylist and a personal make up team to get the same look as these women – the trick lies in applying make up well, or facing the prospect of ruining your entire look, gorgeous gown, fabulous shoes, et al. To achieve your own stunning look for a big night on the town, follow these make up tips and you’re sure to dazzle.

Vamp it up
Classic red lips have made a huge comeback this season. Whilst the classic red lip look will always be a fail-safe option, a cranberry red or even darker red wine lip packs more punch. If you’re feeling a bit more daring, you could opt for plums, purples and rubies in matte and glossy finishes. If the thought of a full-on dark lipstick puts the fear of God in you, why not try a lip stain? It’s such a key trend for the new season that if you’ve never tried it before, you can give it a go right away.

Colour me bold
Look for cool pops of colour on the eyes and gorgeous pearl-toned peacock colours for this season’s brightest, most beautiful look.
Use eyeliners in bright colours. Apply strong shades of blue and green, drawing a full dash along the upper lash line with a strong final flick towards the temples, creating the winged eye.
Metallic and creamy eye shadows and long eyelashes in bright shades complement white, blue, green and pink eyeliners. So if you want to stay ahead of the fashion pack, go for the ‘bright-eyed’ look.

Holy smokes!
Smoky eye make-up is definitely a hit on the red carpet. Newer versions of the smoky eye technique have appeared at various red carpet events. A lot of celebrities are seen wearing graphite eye shadow, covering the eyelid from the outer corner to the inner corner of the eye, featuring a mix of greys, mauves and lilacs, and the eyebrows were well groomed and slightly filled in.

Eye this
Eyeliner takes centre-stage this season with bold, graphic looks ruling the catwalk. Branch out from classic black to experiment with bright blues, purples, reds and clear whites. Leave a small gap between the upper and lower flicks to set your look apart from the crowd.

Beverley Lewis has worked in beauty magazines and has fabulous beauty tips to share. Have a make-up tip for summer? Write to Beverley in the comments section of this article.

(Pictures courtesy makeupandbeauty.com, followhanne.blogspot.com, glowingfaces.blogspot.com, beautysalon.officialtips.com, www.dailymakeover.com)

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Beauty

10 superfoods for super skin

Using expensive skin products but not taking care of your diet? Presenting 10 must-eat food items for super healthy skin.
by Beverley Lewis

What you put on your plate and in your mouth is way more important than what you apply on your skin. A diet rich in antioxidant vitamins and minerals (and plenty of water) will nourish your skin and give you a youthful appearance. So the next time you’re reaching for a slice of chocolate cake, you may want to think again.

Remember your mum telling you that if you wanted a clear, beautiful complexion, you would have to eat a lot of fresh fruits and veggies, and drink a lot of water? Guess what, like with most other things, she was right. Our skin is a direct reflection of our health, and as trying as it sounds, it is important for us to avoid eating food high in refined sugar, and salty and fatty foods.

So what should you eat for good skin? Just eat these skin-enhancing foods for a beautiful, glowing complexion:

Flaxseeds: These tiny seeds (in pic on left) contain omega-3 fatty acids, which erase spots and iron out fine lines. If you consume half a teaspoon of flaxseeds a day, your skin will be better hydrated, as the fat in these seeds attract water to skin cells and plump up the skin and reduce wrinkles. So sprinkle some flaxseeds on your oatmeal, veggies, salads, or even in a small pot of low-fat yogurt.

Green tea: When it’s hot, this brew releases catechins, an antioxidant with proven anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, so drink it when it is hot. Studies indicate that green tea may reverse the effects of sun damage by neutralising the changes that appear in skin exposed to the sun.

Spinach: The folate in these veggies may help repair and maintain DNA by bolstering your cells ability to renew themselves. This also reduces the likelihood of cancer-cell growth. The added bonus to Popeye’s favourite food, the water in these greens penetrates cell membranes, which makes for plumper and less wrinkled skin.

Sweet potatoes: These underground veggies, not only taste delicious, but they are loaded with vitamin C, which smoothes out wrinkles. Vitamin C is essential to collagen production and the more collagen you have, the less creased your skin looks.

Tomatoes: Sure, they taste yummy in salads, but cook them and these plump little beauties can help save your skin. How? Lycopene, the phytochemical that makes tomatoes red, helps eliminate skin-ageing free radicals caused by ultraviolet rays. Just half a cup of cooked tomatoes has 16 milligrams of lycopene; along with ample sunscreen, that daily dose should help keep your skin smooth and wrinkle-free.

Oily fish: Oily fish contain a little secret: selenium. This nutrient helps preserve elastin, a protein that keeps your skin smooth and tight. This antioxidant is also believed to buffer against the sun (it stops free radicals created by UV exposure from damaging cells).

Carrots: Think of them as thick magic wands – good for your eyes and great for clearing up breakouts. The credit goes to vitamin A, as it helps prevent the overproduction of cells in the skin’s outer  layer, which leads to clogged pores. Vitamin A also reduces the development of skin cancer.

Dark chocolate: Dark chocolate has flavonols, which reduce roughness in the skin and protect it against sun damage. Try and eat dark chocolate with at least 60 per cent cocoa in it. A square a day will help keep sun damage away.

Almonds: They are packed with vitamin E, a potent sun blocker. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant that helps to protect skin cells from UV light and other environmental factors that generate cell-damaging free radicals. So try and consume a handful of almonds a day, which amounts to about 12 almonds.

Water: Since skin cells contain mostly water, if you’re dehydrated, your skin will look and feel parched, too. So aim to drink at least eight glasses of water a day, and you will be rewarded with a dewy complexion.

Beverley Lewis has worked with beauty magazines and has amazing tips to share. Have a beauty question? Send it to us at editor@themetrognome.in or tweet it @MetrognomeIndia and Beverley will answer it for you.

(Pictures courtesy tumblr.com, everythinghealth.blogspot.com, thedailygreen.com, technyou.edu.au, niagarashoptalk.com, riceplex.com, verybestbaking.com, timepass.info, truedrawing.blogspot.com, geninv.net)

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Beauty

Smooth moves

Soft and silky legs are what every girl wants to flaunt in cute skirts and sexy shorts during the summer. Follow these simple tips for the smooth legs you always wanted.
by Beverley Lewis

A lot of people advise against it, but shaving can actually get you the smooth skin you want, provided you do it right.

– The trick to shaving legs is to wet your skin and let it soften from the heat and moisture. When you shave in the shower, make sure that the water is warm and not very hot as this will dry out your skin.

– You cannot shave dry skin. Shaving is a natural exfoliater and if you try to dry shave, you run the risk of clogging up the razor with dead skin while putting yourself at risk for nicks and razor burn. Be sure to exfoliate your skin before shaving. It gets rid of all the dead skin cells.

– There are several ways to exfoliate. You can use exfoliating gloves or dry brush before you shower or use a mild scrub.

– Next, finding a razor that works well for your skin, given the pressure you use while shaving, the texture of your skin, and the density of hair growth, takes some experimentation. No single type of razor works well for everyone, though the newer triple blades seem to work wonders.

– After finding the one that works best for you, the main thing is to change the blade frequently—dull razors make for poor shaving results. There’s no need to waste your money on shaving creams formulated especially for women, they are virtually the same as the creams sold for men. Avoid shaving products that contain irritants (such as alcohol, menthol, and peppermint). Used over newly-shaved skin, irritating ingredients can cause red bumps and ingrown hairs.

– If you find yourself without shaving cream in the shower, use hair conditioner or body wash instead. This is far easier on the legs than shaving with a bar soap or bar cleanser. For best results, shave against the growth of hair using careful strokes and applying even pressure.

– After you’re done, apply moisturiser and remember, if your legs are going to be exposed to sun, apply a moisturiser with sunscreen (SPF 15 or greater) that contains the UVA-protecting ingredients avobenzone, titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide.

Beverley Lewis has worked with beauty magazines and has amazing tips to share. Have a beauty question? Send it to us at editor@themetrognome.in or tweet it @MetrognomeIndia and Beverley will answer it for you.

(Picture courtesy missbudgetbeauty.co.uk) 

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Beauty

Be fresh-faced all summer long

With increasing heat and humidity, you’ll need to keep your face clean and fresh all day. Try these easy tips.
by Beverley Lewis

Ah, summer. A time for cold showers and water-rich foods. This is also the season when you need to keep your face fresh and cool – often, just having a clean, sweat-free face does wonders to get you through the day.

Try these tips for a fresh face all summer:

1. Get cleansed. Use a high quality cleanser to wash your face off sweat and grime. Make sure the cleanser is suited to your skin type. Try and wash your face twice a day to get rid of all impurities and keep the skin fresh. But ensure that the facewash you use does not contain any lauryl or laureth sulfates, as well as petroleum-based ingredients, as these tend to damage the skin due to the harsh chemicals in them.

2. Scrub it! Exfoliating skin helps remove dead skin cells and brings new skin cells to the surface. This helps keep the skin soft and gives you a glowing complexion.  

Make this simple scrub at home: You will need a tablespoon of sugar or salt, plus a tablespoon of almond or coconut oil. Mix this until you get a coarse paste. Add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to this mixture if you like a bit of fragrance. Use this scrub daily.

Or if you don’t have the time, simply use a natural bristle brush to get rid of dead skin on your body. Your skin will feel invigorated after you exfoliate and you will end up looking young and healthy. You can also buy readymade scrubs to suit your skin type.

3. Get toned. Use a good toner, as this will help close your pores and remove any excess cleanser and dirt and also help restore the skin’s natural pH balance. If your skin is oily, you’ll want to use an astringent as this helps get rid of the excess oil. For very dry skin, use rose water and witchhazel for oily or acne-prone skin. Using a toner or an astringent is an important step, as it helps prep the skin.

4. Moisturise. Make sure that the skin on your face and body is well-moisturised during summer, as air conditioning zaps moisture from your skin. Try and use a light water-based moisturiser and avoid thick body butters and creams, as they do not get absorbed into the skin and can lead to skin infections and breakouts.

If you want to go natural, apply grapeseed oil with a few drops of rose hip seed essential oil, as this is easily absorbed into the face and body and gives you a fresh, glowing complexion.

5. Back to nature. There’s so much fresh fruit available at this time of the year, and this is the ideal time to take advantage of all that Mother Nature has to offer our skin. Putting fresh fruits on the face and body helps revitalise it with vitamins and minerals. It is also a quick and easy fix.

If your skin is oily, grab a lemon or strawberry and apply some of the juice on your face and let it dry. Do this if you want a fresh dewy complexion.

For dry skin, mash a banana or avocado and let sit on your face for about 30 minutes and then wash it off. A face mask made from fresh cucumber is also great for any skin type and can help reduce red, puffy eyes.

6. Summer essentials. Whether you’re heading to the office or to the beach, you need to apply a good sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Make sure that the sunscreen you choose is labelled ‘broad spectrum’, which means it blocks both UVA and UVB sunlight.

Always apply sunscreen before heading outside. Remember to cover often-forgotten spots such as the back of knees, ears, eye area and neck. Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going outside. Then reapply every two hours, or sooner if you have been walking around in the sun, especially between 11 am to 4 pm. Also, remember that water-resistant sunscreen wears off sooner, so keep reapplying it every hour you spend outdoors.

Clothing can also help. But forget about tossing on a flimsy white tee. A white T-shirt has limited protective value. If you can see through the tee, the sun can shine through and burn the skin. Dark, tight-woven clothing that covers all exposed skin is best. You can also buy clothing that is specially treated with chemicals that help protect against ultraviolet sunlight.

On a side note, if you do get sunburned, aloe very gel is a great way to treat the burn and heal the skin. You can also use a wide brim hat to protect your face and hair and a good pair of shades to protect your peepers.

7. Drink plenty of H20. This is extremely important. Your skin is a reflection of your state of health on the inside. Drinking lots of water flushes out toxins and helps keep the skin moist and hydrated. Also, in summer we tend to sweat more, so replenishing lost fluids is important. Make sure you drink filtered water. Tap/city water usually contains lots of added elements like chlorine and fluoride, plus heavy metals like lead or iron. The point is to get rid of toxins, not introduce more into your system.

So, although the summer might try to throw you and your skin a curveball,  if you follow these few simple solutions you will look and feel great and have everyone complimenting you on your healthy glowing complexion.

Have a beauty question? Write to us at editor@themetrognome.in or tweet your query @MetrognomeIndia and Beverley will answer it for you.

(Pictures courtesy sibubeauty.com, elizadomestica.com, skincancer.org)

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