Raiding the Kitchen

Hey everyone,

Its been quite a while that I wrote a beauty post. Though this blog is all about Decor and has nothing to do with skin care or hair care, but this blog is my extension and I thoroughly believe that one must always look radiant and take good care of themselves irrespective of their busy schedules.

I am not much of a believer of those expensive creams and lotions but instead love raiding the kitchen for my skin and hair care. I believe in natural things. I mean I really don't get the point of buying a cream/gel containing aloevera when we can just pluck a portion and apply the natural aloe juice-all pure and untouched by chemicals(preservatives etc).Or for that matter why buying a cream that boasts off milk cream and kesar(saffron), when you can get it in your own kitchen, and believe me they will be all much better than your expensive creams.Anyways that just my personal opinion.

Here today I will be sharing when and why I raid my kitchen. Who knows you might also start raiding your kitchen!

 CLEANSING- TONING- MOISTURIZING

CLEANSING:

The first and the foremost step in skin care is the cleansing step. We all accumulate a lot of dirt on our skin throughout the day. So it becomes rather mandatory to thoroughly clean it up before moisturizing.

 

 

• Use half a cup of coconut/olive/baby oil and mix it with equal portions of water. Mix it thoroughly and put it in a bottle. Using a cotton, remove all the dirt/make-up in a single swipe.
• Use milk. Soak a cotton ball in milk and apply it on your face and then after 2 minutes of massaging remove it using a cotton.

TONING:

The second step of your skincare should be to re-balance the pH and close all the open pores to make your skin look firm and tight. Many people does not pay much heed to this step..But this step is as much important as the moisturising step. Here's the toners that are present in your kitchen.

 

• Ice- Rubbing the ice on your face closes all the open pores and instantly gives you a glowing firm skin.
• Vinegar- Use either the apple cider vinegar or the simple vinegar and dilute it a little. Apply on your face using a cotton ball.
• Tomato juice- The acidic property of the tomato juice closes all the pores and gives a tight radiant looking skin. Apply the juice and keep on for 5-7 mins before wiping it off with a cotton wipe.
• Cucumber Juice- This soothes, relaxes and tones your skin. Apply the juice or put thin cucumber slices on your face.
• Green Tea- This miracle drink does wonders for both your skin and body. Rich in anti-oxidants this also tones and evens out your skin.
• Rose water- Excellent for all skin types.Relaxes you with its rosey smell.
• Honey + Apple juice- The  concoction of one tablespoon honey and fresh apple juice when applied on face for 15 minutes tones the skin, keeping it firm.

MOISTURIZING:

This is the most important step for keeping your skin soft and supple. It is a myth that people with oily skin can go without moisturizing, but it is not TRUE. Your skin needs moisturization irrespective of the type, so don't miss this step at any cost.

• Honey- Honey has humectant qualities i.e it attracts water and also retains it in the skin, so the skin remains supple and elastic. It also protects against wrinkles and dryness. This is used in several cosmetic creams.
• Milk-cream- Malai as it is called in India, is a miraculous thing for your skin. I use it to massage my face followed by steaming to clean out the impurities from deep under the skin. Trust me, this mosturizes your skin leaving it super soft and supple. My grandmother used to apply it and she had the most spectacular skin- free of freckles and super soft. And she had been using this for all her life.
• Curd- Curd is full of anti-oxidants and vitamins and is very mositurising. Apply it on your face as it is and let it dry. Wash it off with cold water and you get a visibly fairer, clearer and even skin in minutes.
• Fruits- Banana, avocado, apple, papaya, cheekoo, melons, watermelons, mangos, strawberry, oranges etc are full of moisturising properties and store house of vitamins and minerals. Mash your favorite fruit and apply on your face. Wash off after 15 minutes to get the fresh as a dew skin in minutes.And you can just apply any fruit.Tip: Dont throw over-riped fruits,instead puree them and apply on your skin.

So go out ladies and raid your kitchen. Your kitchen has the most awesome and priceless things for your skin. Take cues from the likes of Cleopatra and get an envious glow on your skin and fuller pockets too.

                                                                   MUCH LOVE


                                                                   AAKANKSHA

(All images via google)

MAGICAL ALOE

 

Hey beautiful people!

Now since Diwali is just around the corner...we all are concentarting on cleaning our homes...right? But what we all are ignoring is our skin.... Imagine your house sparkling clean but your skin dull... I know that this cleaning and all takes all the time and leaves us tired ...but this does not mean that we can let our skin be lifeless...after all diwali means all things sparkle and bright and clean...Including your skin. So today, I am sharing with you all  super easy and quick tips so that you glow like a diya.

I will be sharing the mirracles of the magical aloe for our well being. Now this plant is really cheap and easy to find and its gel does wonders for your skin, hair and body.This gel has vast range of Vitamins (including Vitamin E –which is very important for skin), Minerals, Amino Acids & Enzymes. Aloe is weirdly a close match to our Skin’s pH balance. Therefore, it is able to moisturize and heal Skin fast.

 

 ALOE FOR SKIN

Suitable for all skin types, aloe vera gel can be used even by people with sensitive skin. Let`s take a look at the benefits of using aloe vera gel to treat skin conditions.

1. Aloe vera gel is great for moisturizing.

For women: Popularly used as a moisturizer by women who use mineral make-up regularly, aloe vera gel is great for face. Applying aloe vera gel on skin prior to application of make-up can prevent the skin from drying.

For men: Aloe vera gel can be used as an aftershave. Its healing properties can treat small cuts caused by shaving.

2. Aloe vera gel is great for treating acne.

Aloe vera gel has antimicrobial properties that kill bacteria and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce skin inflammation. It allows the skin to heal quickly and naturally with minimal scarring. Aloe is moisturizing but doesn`t give skin a greasy feel, so it`s perfect for anyone with an oily complexion.

3. Aloe vera helps fight common problems of skin aging.

Let`s face it: as we get older, everyone begins to worry about the appearance of lines and the loss of elasticity in our skin. The vitamin C and E present in aloe gel can improve our skin`s natural firmness and keep our skin hydrated.

4. Aloe vera can lessen the visibility of stretch marks.

Whether due to a growth spurt, weight change, or pregnancy - many of us are plagued with unsightly stretch marks. These marks appear due to minor tears in the layers of the skin caused by sudden and excessive stretching. Aloe vera gel can help hide these stretch marks by healing these wounds.

5. Aloe vera can be used to treat sunburn.

Aloe vera gel can reduce the pain and swelling you experience during sunburn. It acts as a protective layer on the skin and helps replenish its moisture. When the skin is hydrated, then it will recover faster from the sunburn.


ALOE FACE PACK: Mix together aloe gel, egg white, curd, lemon juice and a pinch of turmeric and blend well. Apply the mixture all over your face and neck or over your entire body. Leave it for 15 mins and wash with cold water. You will get a fresh, younger, dewy and glowy skin in minutes. If you want to thicken the face pack then you can add besan/multani mitti/sandalwood powder etc to your mask.

ALOE FOR HAIR

 Aloe vera  gel is great for hair and gives your hair shine along with health. Apart from that it also contains enzymes that are involved in hair growth.

It also stops and prevents hair fall.

ALOE HAIR PACK : Mix together aloe gel, 1 egg, curd, glycerine, and olive oil in a blender. Massage this mixture into your hair from roots to the tip. Wear your shower cap and let it sit for around 30  mins before washing and conditioning your hair.

ALOE VERA FOR WEIGHT LOSS: Yes you read it right, aloe vera gel/ juice taken daily helps reduce weight and also to detoxify your body.

There is no doubt about the fact that Aloe Vera was called as the ‘plant of immortality’ years ago by the Egyptians. Cleopatra swore by the use of Aloe Vera and considered it as the secret to her beauty. Today, this plant is used by people worldwide for a variety of uses right from treating health disorders like insomnia to hair treatment like baldness.

Aloe Vera oil, lotion, gel, cream, body wash, juice, body lotion, shampoo..the list is endless. Aloe Vera has evolved over the years and will continue to do so.



                                                                      MUCH LOVE


                                                                     AAKANKSHA
(all images vis google)

LOOK AT ME!!

Hey all,
Look who is here....

                                                                                                  Baby B

                                                     Mystery plant (To know about it click here)

                                                                            Mr. Beans are flowering

These are such attention seekers...I tell you...every morning they grow bigger than the previous day and HAAAAOOOOO.... they literally leave us amazed... The mystery plant's flower is soo gorgeous.. and those little tiny brinjals...aww so cutee....Grow fast dude....

                                                         

                                                                                MUCH LOVE
  
                        
                                                                                AAKANKSHA

NEW BEGINNINGS

Hola people!!

Looks like autumn is the "IT" season for our kitchen garden when we get loads of organic veggies straight from our backyard... It is such a wow feeling...plucking the fruits from your hands feels so much fulfilling....you grow them and nurture them and finally eat them hehe....whaattt.... they are meant to be eaten na.... anywhooooo we are already getting a kg of sponge guard every third day and now several other veggies are having new beginnings...and very soon we will be enjoying the veggies straight from our garden to our plates(not literally......I meant only after the cooking process is over )... hehe.... Have a lookie at our backyard where we are growing spinach,beans,cauliflower and brinjal presently..... Grow fast lovelies is what I say to them daily...
And ya one mystery plant is also growing.... of which we dont have any clue...gardener says that this is pumpkin growing.....but I ask HOOWWWW?????????.... we never ever sowed pumpkin seeds or for that matter never ever bought pumpkin seeds.... but how cute it would be if it is actually pumpkin...
 Eagerly waitin....

Sponge-guard

 

Another

 

                                                                 Flowers of Sponge guard

 Brinjal plant flowering

 

 

 

 

 Spinach

 

                                                                        Cauliflowers

                                                                         Mr. Beans

 

                                                                           Parsley

                                                                      ?Mystery Plant?

How did you like the pics?:-)
Do you recognize this mystery plant?
Share with me in the comments section!

                                                                       
                                                                      MUCH LOVE

                                                                      AAKANKSHA

ROOMIES

Hey all,

The winters are slowly setting in and we can already feel the nip in the temperature here in Gurgaon...How excited I am ..I mean.. I just love winters...reasons being infinite...From several hot cuppa of coffee, cozyness of the quilt, soups, hot noodles, jackets, mufflers, boots, coats, fake smoke from your mouth...hehe, smell of winters, soaking in the sun,bar-be-ques,christmas,loathing on the clothes....and what not...But what i hate dont like about them is that the ambience inside the house seems so gloomy and dull..... Anywhoo that does not mean we will sit and let that happen....NO WAYS....when we have those greens with us, no winter can ever fall upon us.
So this winter too, my roomies will going to be my greens....or is it the other way round....my greens will going to be my roomiess....whatevaaa
Here are some greens that I am planning to get inside:

                                                                 Money plant

 

                                                                           Palm

 

 

                                                                    

                                                                           Arcaria

 

 

                                                                         Succulents

 

 

                                                        Cuttings from our garden

 

 

There are so many more options, but alas all my other plants are outdoor plants.... But thinking of investing in some gorgeous small succulents this time.
Apart from these, I will also be getting colorful gorgeous flowers in to go GAGA over these winters.


                                                         MUCH LOVE


                                                        AAKANKSHA


(So how are you fighting those gloomy winter woes?Do tell me in the comments section.)

COFFEE-COCOA SCRUB CUM FACE-PACK

                         

The best thing about this mask is that the ingredients are so readily available in the kitchen and you can use so many substitutions based on what's currently in your cabinets or fridge. While coffee and cocoa powder are the staples of this popular mask, you can customize it for your skin type by adding yogurt or cream and honey if you have dry skin or lemon juice if you have oily skin. If you have super dehydrated skin, oils work as a substitute for dairy products. I tried this pack yesterday and my skin is  looking so fab(really not exaggerating). Try it out and check for yourself.

Ingredients:

Coffee – 1 tbsp

Cocoa powder – 1 tbsp

Castor sugar -1 tbsp

Olive oil - ½ tbsp

Curd – 1 tbsp

Lemon juice – 1/2 tbsp

Honey – ½ tbsp

Before we proceed, let’s take and insight into the benefits of these ingredients.

COFFEE: Coffee/ caffeine is a vasodilator which works to firm and tighten your complexion. Coffee is also naturally full of antioxidants, that helps the skin get rid of free radicals that are the main culprits behind premature aging and sagging skin. Nowadays ,it is also being used in several lotions and skin cream.

 

     CHOCOLATE:It has powerful anti-oxidant properties and is considered to be a health food. And also it has skin softening properties, probably as it contains cocoa butter.

 

 

     CURD: Yoghurt has lots of benefits on the skin as it is rich source of vitamin B, zinc and calcium which are best known for skin care. Curd has many properties to clear skin internally as well as externally and it leaves your skin with glow and smoothness.

LEMON JUICE: These little yellow gems contain juice that is high in vitamin C and antioxidants and that has an abundance of fruit acids and sugars that are great for acting as an exfoliant, blackhead remover, skin brightener and as a treatment for sunburn.

OLIVE OIL: Olive oil has vitamin E and oleic acid, which are both beneficial to the skin. Olive oil's oleic acid helps to soften the skin, and the vitamin E improves the elasticity of the skin.

 

CASTOR SUGAR: Castor sugar helps to exfoliate your skin and removes the dead skin cells, giving a radiant glow.

 

HONEY: Honey contains the sugars glucose and fructose, natural alpha-hydroxy acids that exfoliate the skin. Natural exfoliates reduce the appearance of skin blemishes, which leaves the skin smooth and even in tone. When you wash the honey off your skin, a small amount remains in the pores. As a result, the sugars in the honey attract water from the air, which keeps your skin hydrated, and is important property of any skin blemish treatment.

 

PROCEDURE FOR MAKING COFFEE-CHOCO PACK

This gorgeous face pack is super easy to make…

·         Mix all the dry ingredients first, as you do while making a cake.

·         Then add all the wet ingredients and mix thoroughly to avoid any lumps.

·         Keep aside for 5 mins.

·         Mix again and apply all over your face and neck area gently.

·         Let it dry for half an hour.

·         Then scrub off the face pack with moist fingers and gently scrubbing in circular motion for 1 min.

·         After scrubbing, wash your face with cold water and pat dry.

·         Apply rose water and then your favourite moisturizer and enjoy your radiant skin.

PROS:

·         It's rich in anti-oxidants which helps repair damaged cells and helps prevent skin ageing quickly.

·         It's a diuretic which helps removal of fluids and toxins from the skin.

·         It helps narrow any surface veins and capillaries on the surface of your skin, making     them less obvious.

·         It gives an enviable glow.

·         Exfoliates and moisturize at the same time.

·         Suits almost all skin types.

·         This coffee-cocoa face pack is extremely gentle in nature and can be used regularly.

 

CONS:

·         You will find it hard to resist. No negatives for this gorgeous yummy home facepack.

 

My Rating:

4.5 / 5

Do try this pack and tell me how your skin glowed.... dont forget to tell me your rating.

                                                             Much Love

                                                            Aakanksha

 

(All images via google)