The Most Versatile Herb – Henna! (#3 Most Useful)

Did you know it is documented that Cleopatra herself used Henna for decorative purpose??

It’s time to know about this versatile herb!

Henna is a flowering plant that grows to a medium height from a species called the Lawsonia genus. It is also called hina, Eqgyptian privet, and mignonette. The word henna comes from the Arabic (hinna). The word henna also refers to dye prepared from the henna plant and the art of temperory tattooing based on these dyes. For many centuries this is used to dye skin, hair, fingernails as well as few fabrics.

The art of henna is called Mehndi which is being practiced over many centuries in India, Pakistan and Middle East. Research did have some documentation that it is over 9000yrs. Have you wondered WHY? Well, because henna has natural cooling properties, people of the dessert, for centuries, have been using henna to cool down their bodies. Best of all is It’s Easy!!! Yes, all they need to do is to make a paste of the leaves and soak your palms and soles of the feet to get that air conditioning affect. They feel its cooling sensation throughout the body as long as the stain remains on their skin. When fading started, it left patterns on the skin surface and that lead to “Henna Designs”.

Here are some the uses of Henna:

1. Headaches: The flowers of henna can be used to cure headaches which are due to excessive exposure to hot sun. All you need to do is chop some flowers and make a paste of them using little vinegar and apply that on your forehead. Good Bye to Headache!

2. Cooling Agent: Henna as the history says is a great cooling agent. Try on the henna paste on your hair and tell me if it hasn’t cooled your burning scalp ;)

3. For Hair: One key benefit you wouldn’t want to miss out is the wellness henna gets to your hair. It is a natural remedy for hair loss and is also excellent for maintaining overall hair quality. Have you ever wondered why the Indians and Mid-Eastern people is adorable? Think now. The regular use of henna will help to seal and repair the cuticle which in turn prevents breakages. One of the main benefits of henna for hair is that it prevents dandruff, hair fall and premature graying of hair. There are many different ways how to you mix and apply this paste on your head. (Shoot me an email to know more on this @westcoastskincare@gmail.com)

4. Henna for Nails: Henna is also known to prevent breaking of nails. Now you know why those little cups of henna stain at the tip of fingers in the olden paints. One can also soak henna leaves in water and drink it the next day which has many medical benefits.

Yes, henna also used to treat sleeplessness, skin infections, burns, liver disorders, fever reduction and lot more. Apart from all these henna on skin can be turned into a beautiful art that you cant take your eyes off.

The traditional Side of Henna:

Henna is used traditionally for a lot of occasions like birthdays, festivals and weddings in many parts of the world. The most popular tradition in that a Mehndi (henna) night where the bride, her family, her relatives and friends gather and celebrate the upcoming wedding. The bride gets her extensive patterns of henna done along with other guests and family.

It is said that as long as the henna stain appears on the bride, she doesn’t have to do any household work. Also, the darker the stain the better the marriage, and the better the mother-in-law will be. Some believe that women with stained hands are often blessed by the goddess. Did you know each pattern of henna has different meanings to it too???

Final Words to Remember

"There is Nothing called Black Henna"

Happy Hennaing J

Ash

Freedom from Acne - Clear Skin from your pantry & Refrigerator!

Acne is a common skin problem that affects all ages. This is more often seen in teenagers due to their increased hormone levels in their body. Apart from hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, wrong usage of products, unhealthy eating habits, hectic lifestyles also cause breakouts on your skin.

Remember there no definitive cure for this for all skin types. However, home remedies, botanical and organic products are always best to try. We never know which one suits best and when it comes to skin be sure you try out the right ones that have zero reactions. 

Let me tell you some proven home remedies that can help you prevent or reduce the problem, which are definitely available in your pantry or your refrigerator.

1. Toothpaste 

This is one of the easiest home remedy for acne. The regular toothpaste that we use to clean our teeth can be used to reduce acne.

Directions: Apply a small amount of white tooth paste (Note: I am talking about white ones, not the gel toothpastes) on the affected area and leave it over night. This will help reduce the swelling and gets the acne dried. You should see the difference in a day or two.

2. Lemons

This is well known fact that Lemons are high in acidic property and hence these are very useful to treat acne. Lemon juice will help clean out the dirt from the pores and will harden the sebum.

Directions: Rub a slice of lemon on the affected area and leave it for sometime. You can also try mixing lemon juice with rose water and applying on the affected area. (Note: If you feel it is over drying your skin, use it 2-3 times a week instead of daily)

3. Honey & Cinnamon

Yes, you read it right. We do wonder sticky and spicy cinnamon on face? True, they make a killer combo when it comes to acne reduction. Cinnamon has antimicrobial properties that will help those acne bacteria out.

Directions: Mix two tbsp of honey and one tbsp of cinnamon until they blend and form a thick paste. Apply this mask on your face or just on the spots and leave it for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off completely and pat dry. (Note: This is a sticky mixture so make sure you have enough paper towels handy)

4. Tea Tree Oil

This is yet another popular remedy for acne treatment. This acts as an antiseptic and disinfects the pores. It also kills the bacteria that caused the acne at first place.

Directions: Just apply a drop of Tea Tree Oil on the affected area three times a day. (Note: highly concentrated ones may cause irritation to few skin types, if so, take 5% concentrated one and repeat the process)

5. Orange peel paste

Thanks to vitamin C, astringent properties and citric acid present in oranges. Vitamin C promotes the growth of new healthy cells keeping the skin in better condition

Directions: Grind two orange peels and make a paste by adding little water to it. Apply this on face or just on the spots and leave it for 20 minutes. Ideally it should become dry and then wash your face with water, pat it dry.

6. Oatmeal

This is very beneficial to skin because it cleanses your skin and also absorbs excess oil present on the face. Hence this best suits for oily skins. 

Directions: Mix 1tbsp of honey, lemon juice from half sliced lemon and a cup of cooked oatmeal. Rub this mixture on your face and leave it for 30minutes. Wash it with lukewarm water and pat dry. Do this twice a week for best results.

Top Skincare Oils for Naturally Glowing Skin - Read on to find out which one you should try

Oil: Perfect skincare ingredient

Have you ever wondered how we end up looking for Oil-Free tag line in all the beauty care products that we purchase? Little we know that they are must haves for any skin related products. We end up assuming we have enough oil on our face, T-zone etc., 

Did you know that our diligent avoidance of oil actually impairs our skins ability to heal. The right combinations of oils which are targeted for various skincare needs provides powerful properties to balance oil production, decrease the signs of aging, and refine the texture of skin. When blended according to skin type, natural oils do not cause oily skin or clog pores. Only when we use synthetic oils (like mineral oil) or some heavy oils do we run into these problems. 

Let me tell you what magic does each natural oil does to your skin.

1.      Olive Oil:

I bet this should be first in the list. No wonder Homer once described this oil as 'Liquid Gold', a term that still resonates with many. In addition to cleansing properties of oilve oil, it also protects and moisturizes for smooth and soft skin. This oil contains antioxidants that can go a long way towards health and beauty, including improvsing on skin tones, helping scars fade away and balancing oil in your skin, thus ensuring in turing what we call oily skin into "normal".

2.     Coconut Oil:

It's no wonder that coconut oil was one of the first beauty oils to hit the mainstream and had (and is still having) such a major moment. It is rich in three fatty acids — capric, caprylic, and lauric — that have antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. They not only make the skin instantly smooth and soft, but also prevent it from losing moisture. This oil works at its best when you leave it over night on you. Apply proper amounts of coconut oil before going to sleep and wash it off in the morning. Remeber pure coconut oil isnt greesy.

3.     Almond oil:
Almond oil can do wonders to your hair,skin and overal health. This nut is very rich in antioxidant, high in vitamin E, protein and fat content along with having many other essential nutrients. The daily usage of this wonderful home ingredient can treat many ailments and treats various beauty and hair issues. As it is rich in vitamin A, B and E, which are great for skin health. In fact, most skin care products have these vitamins loaded in them. The oil helps maintaining moisture levels of the skin and gets absorbed in a jiffy without blocking the pores.

4.     Jojoba Oil:
Jojoba is cosidered oil as it looks and feels like an oil, but if you technically speak it is just a liquid wax ester made from pressed jojobaseeds. Since its composition is the closest thing in nature to our own sebum, it creates a quickly absorbing, lightweight moisturizer for all skin types and can penetrate deeply into the skin. If you struggle with oily skin, a jojoba blend is the way to go because it will dissolve excess sebum and allow the pores to breath.

5.     Moringa Oil:

It is a newcomer to America, it was used by ancient Hindus and Egyptians as early as 2000 B.C. Moringa oil contains an extraordinarily high content of antioxidants, which protect the skin from sun damage and aging. Both the fatty acid profile and antioxidant content can diminish the appearance of wrinkles, lighten skin tone, and deeply moisturize the skin.

6.     Argan Oil:

This oil is extracted from the kernels of the Moroccan argan tree, and is chock-full of fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamin E, which give it serious moisturizing and restorative powers. It's great for more than just skin, but hair and nails, too. “It’s also ultra-absorbent, and doesn’t leave the greasy residue of some of its heavier counterparts.” The vitamin E is the “power ingredient” in argan oil, and is great for helping heal scars, eczema, and dry scalp.

7.     Grape Seed Oil:

The power of the grape plant goes way beyond its fruit and wine-producing abilities. The oil derived from its seeds is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, and is especially effective in the fight against acne. Applying oil on the skin actually helps to minimize your own oil production. And, the grape-seed variety is one of the best options. It’s an excellent anti-inflammatory to soothe skin that’s already breaking out, it limits excess oil production to prevent acne from forming.

8.    Pomegranate Oil:

Cold-pressed pomegranate oil is one of the more expensive varieties of carrier oils — and with good reason. The particularly lightweight oil is great for all skin types, absorbent, and has vitamins A, D, E, and K. It’s rich in punicic acid, which promotes the production of collagen fibers and slows down the processes that break it down. Not only does this help prevent wrinkles, it also encourages the healing of acne, wounds, and scars.

Good Bye to signs of Aging! (#5 Must Read)

We all heard about those Anti-aging creams that we see in every walk of life at any store. Will they really help? Of course they do, not all but some! Before using them lets start our home work onto knowing what exactly are wrinkles and hence you will know what could prevent them or delay them from hitting you.

Skin owes much of its firmness a fibrous protein called collagen. A second type of protein, elastin, supplies its spring. Oil-secreting glands make it soft and supple, and an underlying layer of fat adds contour. As the body ages, the cells that produce all of these substances become lesser in number and less vigorous. That's a sign of ageing from inside. Lacking protein, the skin weakens and loses tone. Secondly, these are also linked to genes.

How do you think you can prevent them?

There are actions that you can take to prevent/delay the apperance of aging signs like fine lines and wrinkles on your face. 

Wrinkle fighting hacks

1. Food that helps you fight wrinkles

Did you know there are a list of foods that can fight against your wrinkles and make you look younger for a longtime? All the foods that are rich in elements like antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, trace minerals like selenium and copper, high-quality protein, plant compounds such as isoflavones, retinol- one of the forms of vitamin A, iron, vitamin E and C, mono-unsaturated fat etc., are best fighters.

Some of the foods to ease your search are Eggs, Liver, Brazil Nuts, Shellfish, dark colored fruits and vegetables, lentils, almmonds & walnuts, fruits like pappaya, watermelon, pineapple, berries and vegetables like giner garlic, cucumber, tomato. Add them to your diet everyday starting today.

2. Oils

Olive oil was first used over 5000 years ago when it was extracted from olive tree, which was quickly adapted as cosmetic product by Egyptians. It is widely used as a moisturizer beacuse it is rich in antioxidants Vit A and Vit E, that helps to fight that skin damanging free radicals that are primary causes of early aging. Hence, take a table spoon of olive oil and massage into the skin twice a day.

Coconut oil is also rich in antioxidants and can prevent formation of free radicals. This oil also helps reduce wrinkles that have already developed. Massage coconut oil into your skin before you sleep to reduce the appearance of fine lines.

3.  Banana Mask

This powerfully healthy fruit isn’t just good for eating, but can also be used as a creamy face mask. Mash one banana up with a teaspoon of orange juice and a teaspoon of plain yogurt, then leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. The vitamin A will help fade dark spots and blemishes, while vitamin B will prevent aging, and potassium will moisturize and hydrate skin cells. Vitamin E is known as “the protector” because of its strength in fighting free radical damage and bolstering the skin’s resistance to UV damage.

4. Aloe Vera

The clear gel inside an aloe vera plant has wound-healing and soothing effects when applied to the skin, especially after sunbathing thanks to the vitamins and minerals it contains. Having an aloe vera plant inside your home or growing in your garden is convenient and less expensive than buying the gel by itself because the leaves regrow after they’re cut or removed from the base. Sunburns are one of the quickest ways to damage and wrinkle skin, so applying gel can ease the healing process with its anti-inflammatory properties.

5. Use Cosmetics with Care

We use cosmetics and other beauty products to enhance our skin quality but often end up in damaging it a little more. Be aware of such cosmetics that can harm your skin and lead to form wrinkles on them.

·      Avoid products having alcohol in them. Alcohol dries up your skin by dehydrating it. A skin lacking moistures tends to form wrinkles fast. Instead, use water based solutions and products or those that have natural oils in them such as avocado or evening primrose oil. 

·      Avoid using concealer to hide wrinkles. Believe it or not, they make your wrinkles more prominent by settling themselves in the spaces in between the fine lines.

Never over wash your face. The dermatologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center have hold that tap water can strip skin of its natural oils and moisture that protect your skin against wrinkles. Also you should not use harsh soaps while washing your face. Always use one that has moisturizer in it. You can always use natural cleansers like milk to clean your face instead of washing it often.

6.  Don't Stress

Easier said than done! But then, getting rid of wrinkles too is not an easy task. You need to get rid of your stress because it makes your skin thin and weak which cannot fight with the elements that produce wrinkles. Also when you frown or scowl, they only help to make your temporary facial lines permanent. Do whatever will de-stress you. Here are some tips - swim, meditate, yoga, listen to music, read books, spend time with children.

You alone can find a solution to de-stress yourself!

6 Secrets for a Glowing Skin

Every woman wants Crystal Clear, picture perfect & flawless skin. Clear and beautiful skin is one of the main elements of a person’s beauty.

Your skin care regimen and lifestyle habits are the primary predictors of your skin’s health. Some of the leading factors that take a toss on the quality and texture of your skin are stress, lack of sleep,poor nutrition, pollution, damage from the UV rays, excessive smoking & alcohol.

There are millions of skin and beauty care products that promise to give you clear and glowing skin. Instead of relying on these products, you can also try some simple and easy home remedies to improve the overall health and appearance of your skin.

Here are the 6 secrets for a Glowing Skin

1. Turmeric

Make a paste by mixing equal amounts of turmeric powder and gram flour with a little water or milk. Apply it evenly on your skin and leave it on until it dries. Wash it off with lukewarm water, scrubbing your skin gently in a circular motion. Follow this remedy once a week to lighten your skin tone and remove scars.

2. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera moisturizes the skin and stimulates new skin cell growth

·          Extract the gel from an aloe vera leaf.

·          Apply the gel on your face using a cotton ball.

·          Allow it to dry on its own for about half an hour, and then rinse it off with lukewarm water·       

3. Honey

Apply raw honey directly on your skin. Let it dry naturally and then rinse it off with lukewarm water. The water content in honey will deeply moisturize the skin, making it soft and supple. Do this simple remedy once daily or every other day.

4. Lemon

Lemon is one of the best ingredients that you can use to promote clear skin. The citric acid present in lemon helps keep the skin clear by removing dead cells, and its vitamin C content helps reduce dark spots by increasing the cell renewal process.

Apply fresh-squeezed lemon juice to your entire face and neck. Leave it on for 10 minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water. After this, rub cucumber slices on your skin to soften and moisturize it. Do this daily or every other day.

5. Cucumber

Cucumbers contain hydrating, nourishing and astringent properties that are very good for skin. They can improve the overall appearance of your skin by repairing damaged skin cells, removing dead skin cells and adding a fresh glow.

Cut a fresh cucumber into thick slices, and rub them thoroughly all over your face. Leave it on overnight and rinse with warm water in the morning. Do this daily before going to bed.

6. Papaya

Papaya can be used to improve your skin’s texture and maintain clear skin. It has natural bleaching properties that help reduce the appearance of scars. Plus, the enzyme papain present in papaya has antibacterial and wound healing abilities and also aids in removing dead, damaged skin.

•    Chop a ripe papaya into small pieces.
•   Combine the papaya with one teaspoon each of sandalwood powder and honey &     grind these into a paste
•   Apply the paste all over your face and neck.
•   Leave it on for half an hour. Then rinse it off with cool water and pat dry your skin.
•   Finally apply some rose water on your face.

Know your H2O

“Water makes up about two thirds of who we are, and influences 100 percent of the processes in our body,” says CamelBak hydration expert Doug Casa, PhD. That probably explains why we feel better when we’re drinking enough of it. To learn exactly how water is helping us, as well as some creative ways to use it.

Whether you want shinier hair, younger skin, a healthier body (or all three!), pure, clear water is the world's best beauty elixir.

Benefits of H2O

1. Improves your Mood

Drinking water makes us feel so refreshed that it actually improves our state of mind. You don’t even have to be severely in need of it to benefit: Even mild dehydration has been shown to negatively impact moods.

2. Add Shine

I always heard hairdressers saying a cool-water rinse leaves hair glossier. Is it true? Yes! The chilly temp constricts the cuticle layer of your hair so it lies flatter; making strands smoother and more reflective.

3. Keeps your kidneys on the run

Kidneys remove waste from our bodies, help control our blood pressure, and balance fluids, so they’re crucial to keeping our systems running smoothly. One surefire way to keep them working properly? Adequate water consumption! So drink up to keep those kidneys in tip-top shape. Higher fluid intake increases the volume of urine passing through the kidneys, which dilutes the concentration of minerals, so they are less likely to crystallize and form clumps. Hence, drink water and don't you worry about your kidney stones!

4. Have your Edge off of Hangovers with your bottle of water

Drinking alcohol causes dehydration, which can lead to hangovers. Having a glass of water with each alcoholic drink you sip is one way to offset the dehydration (and the day-after misery).

5. Frozen water

Ice has been shown to be an effective short-term therapy for sprains and strains. Cold packs reduce blood flow and swelling in the affected area and also treat pain.

6. Aid in Weight Loss

Anyone looking to lose weight could be helped by upping their water intake. Studies have found that when participants drink water before a meal, they lose weight faster than those who did not drink water. Extra H2O helps us eat less by making us feel full, and it may also boost metabolism. 

7. Protection against some types pf Cancer

Research has found that the greater the fluid intake, the lower the incidence of bladder cancer, with more significant results when the fluid is water. One possible reason could be that urinating more frequently prevents the buildup of bladder carcinogens. Staying hydrated may also reduce the risk of colon cancer and breast cancer.

I'm sure after knowing this much about water, we all want to have an extra glass of water starting today!

Treat Yourself with this Miracle Skin Saver!

www.westcoastskincare.org

Aloe vera is a cactus plant that belongs to the Liliaceae family. It grows in dry climates such as those found in parts of Africa and India and has been used medicinally for centuries. This spiky, green gem has a rich history of various cultures and personalities who used the plant's moist middle in a plethora of practical uses. The ancient Greeks who used it to cure everything from baldness to insomnia to the Native Americans who called aloe vera the "Wand of the Heaven."

It helps with sunburn through its powerful healing activity at the epithelial level of the skin, a layer of cells that cover the body. It acts as a protective layer on the skin and helps replenish its moisture. Because of its nutritional qualities and antioxidant properties, the skin heals quicker. And hence It is called the "Plant of Immortality" by the Egyptians. 

"Treat Yourself with this Miracle Skin Saver"

• As an exfoliator 

Aloe is a great base for a homemade scrub because it helps soften your skin and supply oxygen to your cells, strengthening the tissue to create vibrant skin, says Pekar. Mix 1/2 cup of aloe with just enough brown sugar or baking soda to get a gritty (but not sharp) texture. Then rub it on your elbows, heels, arms, or wherever else needs softening in the shower.

• Treat your sunburns 

Aloe Vera helps with sunburn through its powerful healing activity at the epithelial level of the skin, a layer of cells that cover the body. It acts as a protective layer on the skin and helps replenish its moisture. Because of its nutritional qualities and antioxidant properties, the skin heals quicker.

• Treat your acne

Aloe is soothing and can reduce skin inflammations, blistering and itchiness, while helping the skin to heal more rapidly. Additionally, in Ayurvedic medicine, Aloe is used to effectively heal chronic skin problems, such as psoriasis, acne and eczema.

• Treat your stretch marks

When the skin stretches too far, too fast (due to sudden weight loss/gain or due to pregnancy) the elasticity of the skin can be damaged. Hence resulting in unsightly stretch marks. Everyone love to hate them. Aloe vera gel can help hide these stretch marks by healing these wounds. Apply it on the area and leave it for ten minutes. Wash it off with luke-warm water

• Treat your feet

Baby feet! Awee... everyone's dream. That soft, silky and smoothing feet. This is possible with an ex foliating foot mask by mixing together a half cup of oatmeal, a half cup of corn meal, four tbsp. of aloe vera gel and a half cup of unscented body lotion.

Is there anything it cant do??

For the More Youthful Skin

www.westcoastskncare.blogspot.com

Last time I talked about few skin savers and Now I want to talk about My personal favourite fruit as well as one of the best skin savers - Papaya

Awesomely sweet with musky undertones and a soft, cheese-like consistency, it is no wonder the papaya was reputably called the "Fruit of the Angels" by Christopher Columbus. Papayas are actually found in Central America.  The fruit was bought to many sub tropical regions by Portugal and Spain explorers, later on it travelled to places including India, Philippines and some parts of Africa.

Not only the Papaya fruit but other parts of it are also very good for skin, hair and health. It contains an enzyme called ‘Papain’ that helps you in digesting proteins easily. It is used as a main ingredient in chewing gums and also used in many other dietary supplements. Papaya is a wholesome fruit that offers many benefits for your skin. And hence, this is my favourite.

Let me share some of the skin benefits of papaya that I am aware of

1. Papaya is a best source of Papain and Vitamin A, which helps in breaking inactive proteins and also aids in the removal of dead skin cells, leaving skin to glow
2. This is also less on sodium which helps in retaining water and hence your skin is always hydrated
3. Mashed papaya can also be used to treat cracked and painful heels
4. Papaya also acts as skin exfoliater, that cleans the skin and makes it healthy & glowing
5. The skin shines everlastingly with the application or consumption of papaya on a regular basis
6. It helps your skin discoloration, with the application of papaya on a regular basis
7. Papaya peel can not only whiten the face but also helps in whitening the arms and legs
8. It also helps you in reducing the signs of aging on the face

Tips on Using Papaya on Skin:

• Papaya is fruitful for treating the dark spots.  The application of mashed and uneaten papaya with or without milk on your face can help in removing the dark spots and evens out the skin tone which results into a fairer and glowing skin

• Papaya peel is good for the treating the aging signs. You have to rub the papaya peel all over the face and leave it for 5 minutes and then rinse it off with cold water. Use it on a regular basis for better results. Papaya contains AHA’s or Alfa-Hydroxy Acid in abundance, which has great anti-aging properties; these properties make papaya an acidic fruit. 

Note: Avoid applying it regularly as it causes irritation and dryness to your sensitive skin due to its high acidic properties.

• It can be used  to keep your skin hydrated, take mashed papaya and mix it with few drops of honey and gently apply the mixture on your face. Papaya is very efficient in treating dry skin. Take a small slice of papaya, mash it well and 1 tbsp of milk cream or Malai and mix them. Apply the mixture on your face. After 20 minutes, wash it off carefully.
• It can be used to tighten your skin, mix mashed papaya, rice flour and honey. Now apply the mixture on your skin and leave it for 20 minutes. Apply this pack thrice a week for good results.
• Papaya can also be used as a scrub. The body scrub can be made by mixing mashed raw papaya along with salt spa, olive oil and honey.

Have a Papaya Day!

References:

• Pattison DJ, Silman AJ, Goodson NJ, Lunt M, Bunn D, Luben R, Welch A, Bingham S, Khaw KT, Day N, Symmons DP. Vitamin C and the risk of developing inflammatory polyarthritis: prospective nested case-control study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2004 Jul;63(7):843-7. 2004. PMID:15194581.
• Wood, Rebecca. The Whole Foods Encyclopedia. New York, NY: Prentice-Hall Press; 1988. 1988. PMID:15220.