Skinverse

Confession - I am a toiletries junkie.
I am also forgetful and a little bit messy. (I’m also a Virgo, which is weird, because I thought that would make me neater.)
Anyway, being a forgetful and messy toiletries junkie hasn’t being very good for my pocketbook (or the state of my room).
To illustrate this, I feel a […]

Head lice.
These little buggers are tenacious and bloodthirsty.
Their offspring (unhatched eggs) are no better, and they bring new meaning to the term “death grip” when it comes to sticking to hair.
But they’re not so tough… when you deprive them of their oxygen.
Thankfully, suffocation is pretty easy to achieve (okay this is the creepiest line I’ve […]

With the holy month of Ramadhan upon us, Muslims all over the world will fast from dusk to dawn.
While Muslims fast in observation of one of the five pillars of Islam, the act of fasting itself is also extremely therapeutic and offers a myriad of health benefits.
Why Fasting Helps: When your body stops […]

If you’re like me, you probably have a few old bottles of perfume lying around, gathering dust.
Instead of throwing them away, here are a few ways you can make good use of your old perfumes. Before you do this, just be sure that you still love the scent first.
1) Use them to freshen the air […]

What it does: Calms down inflammation. Prevents wrinkles and softens skin.
How to do it: Apply pure castor oil on skin. Don’t overdo it, a very light application is enough.
Why it helps: Castor oil softens skin naturally by penetrating the skin’s surface layers. This is important because an oil won’t do much good if it just […]

What it does: Salicylic acid is a BHA. It’s found in many over-the-counter acne products. Salicylic acid is also used as an active ingredient in gels which remove plantar warts (but you can also use the skin of a banana for warts).
How to do it: Apply to problem areas. Let dry. It is generally safe […]

Using eye pencils is a personal favourite of mine.
Its cheap, easy to use, and depending on how you draw (thick/thin, regular or with a cat-eye slant, smudged lines or sharp edges, etc etc) its flexible enough to give a whole range of looks.
Kohl is also good for skin. Kohl protects the skin around your […]

What it does: Softens skin, reduces inflammation, swelling, and dries out oily skin. You can find it in most supermarkets and pharmacies, and best of all its super cheap. You can also find it at gardening supplies stores or pet fish stores.

How to do it:
1) Fill your bath tub with hot water. Add 3-4 cups […]

What it does: Helps mild acne and pimples.
How to do it: Mix sandalwood powder (can be found in most herb stores) with water to make a paste. You can add turmeric also if you have it. So its 1 part sandalwood powder, 1 part turmeric powder, and 1 part water.
Dab on pimples. You can either […]

What it does: Lightens freckles and mild pigmentation over time.
How to do it: Cut the lemon or lime into slices, and rub a slice directly onto the affected skin. You can also squeeze the juice first if you prefer. Dab juice straight onto freckles or dark blemishes. (But whatever way, remember to use fresh! This […]

What it does: Mashed unripe papaya applied as a face mask will remove dead, flaky skin.
How to do it: Mash some fresh papaya, unripe is better. Apply on clean skin as a mask for 20-30 minutes. Wash off with warm water.

Why it helps: Like pineapple, the enzymes in papaya (papain) is a natural BHA.

[…]

Baking soda is great for a number of things, including relieving itchy skin from insect bites or a rash from cosmetics and other irritants.
Why it works: Your skin feels itchy from insect bites because of the insect’s acidic sting/venom. As baking soda is alkaline, it quickly neutralises the acid, thus soothing the itch. Baking […]

Egg whites work great as a mask for oily skin, and do an extremely good job of tightening skin and toning open pores.
How to do it: Break a fresh egg onto a clean plate or bowl. Dip clean fingers in to get the white part and dab this onto your face. Leave to dry for […]

What it does: A natural acid exfoliant for skin, which leaves it feeling soft and cleansed.
How to do it: Put into a blender/juicer to obtain fresh juice. (Use fresh fruit, not canned! And apply immediately. Since this is all-natural - doesn?t contain any preservatives, it doesn?t stay effective for long.) Pat juice on skin, leave […]

I’ve written before about how baking soda makes an excellent facial and body cleanser (here).
But if you do not have very oily skin (like me!) it can be extremely drying to use everyday.
If you can’t take the dryness, you can still use baking soda as a scrub once a week.
Tip: Use more baking […]

If you have a lot of build-up in your hair from products like mousse, leave-in conditioner, hairspray, hair wax, oils, hair gels, ok you get the idea… this one’s for you.
How to do it: Just take about a spoonful size (more if you have long hair) of baking soda and rub it into your wet […]

Remember how well you slept that night after taking a dip in the sea?
Well, there’s a reason for that.
Seawater has soothing effects to the nerves and helps to calm the mind and spirit.
Unlike refined salt, sea salt contains the minerals and trace elements that are beneficial to our health. This includes iron, […]

Well, use it to rinse your scalp and hair, that is.
Mouthwash works on dandruff primarily because of the hydrogen peroxide in them. Hydrogen peroxide has antiseptic properties which helps kill of fungi that cause dandruff and hair fall.
How to do it: Wash your hair with regular shampoo. Rinse with cold water and work about a […]

**8 March 2008 UPDATE - New Reader Submissions
______________
If you’ve ever had a boil anywhere on your body, you know how painful these suckers can be.
You can take antibiotics to get rid of the infection, but sometimes going the natural route is much more effective, especially when the bacteria has for some reason grown resistant to […]

I’m not completely on board with this particular tip. Simply because, while there are lots of people who claimed to have had great success with mayonnaise as a leave-in hair conditioner, there have also been accounts of this method being gross, stinky, or just plain useless.
But if you were to try this, do note that […]

From what I have read, applying banana peels on warts really works to remove them. Before you go all psshh!, read on my friend.
Warts (and some moles) are usually a sign of potassium deficiency, and the idea to infuse a potassium-rich food directly over the wart does have some merit. Banana peels are high […]

Coconut oil is widely used in India, and its easy to see why. Indian women are known for their long, healthy tresses.
If you have dry, damaged hair from excessive coloring, perming, or relaxing, then this tip will be especially useful for you.
But if your hair is already relatively healthy, then using coconut oil […]

Using a raw onion for bruises is an old and traditional remedy.
Onions are great for treating bruises because they have both analgesic (pain relieving) and anti-inflammatory properties.
There’s two popular ways to use onions for bruises. One is simple and very straightforward. The other one requires a bit more effort - but appears to be […]

Scotch tape that is. (Hee. )
Quick Tip: Before using tweezers to get out a splinter, try a bit of scotch tape first.
Step 1: Place a bit of scotch tape over splinter firmly.
Step 2: Pull it off and the splinter should come out with it without any pain.

(And of course, do pull in the […]

I haven’t actually tried this one yet… since well, I’d have to first stick some gum in my hair (and I’m not quite willing to do that).
But I did find more than a few references to this coke-gum remedy online.
And the method is simple enough.
Here’s how to do it: Soak the gummed up hair […]

Calamine lotion is widely known for its ability to sooth insect bites, treat eczema, sunburn, skin rashes, poison ivy, and chickenpox.
A lesser-known (but equally as effective!) use for calamine lotion is for acne and the more severe form, cystic acne (cystic acne appears larger and is particularly difficult to treat).
Expect to see results […]

For ladies that put on make-up, this tip can’t get any simpler or more frugal. And you’ll love this so much you’ll want to throw away those expensive alcohol-filled toners!
What you’ll need: One ice-cube.
How to do it: After washing your face with a cleanser (or some baking soda), rub an ice cube over […]

Garlic is extremely versatile and is found in many recipes. Its well-known for its amazing antioxidant properties and ability to reduce cholesterol.
Apart from cooking with and eating garlic, the juice in fresh garlic will also strengthen and harden weak, brittle fingernails.
How to do it: Chop freshly peeled garlic and put this in your nail polish. […]

The use of milk in skincare goes as far back as the great pyramids of Egypt, when Cleopatra used to immerse in milk to keep her skin soft and feeling smooth.
These days, filling a whole tub full of milk is not cheap, but you can still enjoy the same great effects - albeit on […]

What it does: The high acid content in apple cider vinegar makes it an excellent skin exfoliator.
How to do it: Dab on the apple cider vinegar on age spots every night before you go to bed. Leave this on overnight. (If it stings too much, wash off and dilute the mixture with a […]

What it does: An antioxidant that flushes the body of toxins that result in acne.
How to do it: Drink diluted homemade lemon juice ? add a teaspoon of lemon juice to a full glass of water. Drink this all day (6-8 glasses).
Why it helps: The lemon-water gently flushes toxins out of your body, which […]

What it does: Moisturises sensitive skin.
How to do it: Mash half of a ripe banana and apply it to clean, damp skin. Leave on for 15-20 minutes. Wash well with warm water. Repeat once a week.
Why it helps: The antioxidant vitamin A and skin-softening potassium in bananas moisturize gently.

addthis_url […]

What it does: Applied to the skin, aloe vera is an excellent treatment for wounds, burns and other skin disorders.

How to do it: Cut the leaves in half along the length to reveal the clear gel inside. Rub the clear gel over skin.
Why it helps: The clear gel makes a protective coat over skin, […]

What it does: Turmeric have been found to cut skin?s melanin production. It also helps suntanned skin return to its normal shade faster.
How to do it: Mix turmeric powder (you can find this easily in most supermarkets. It is used mainly for Indian cooking so look for stores in areas that cater to this […]

What it does: Minimises pore size and blackheads. Good for oily skin and blemishes.
How to do it: Spread a thin layer of Milk of Magnesia (unflavored is best) over problem areas. Allow to dry. Rinse off with water. Repeat once or twice a week
Why it helps: Milk of Magnesia is Magnesium hydroxide, which is an […]

Baking soda is cheap, plentiful, and best of all extremely effective against acne. If you have clear but oily skin, it also makes a good cleanser. If you have dry skin, you may have to add a moisturiser or a natural oil following the use of baking soda.
What it does: Good exfoliant for oily skin […]

What it does: Natural skin moisturizer. Expect softer, smoother skin.
How to do it: Apply honey on clean skin. (An alternative is to mix it as 1 part honey, 1 part milk.) Leave on for 20 ? 30 mins. Wash off thoroughly.
Why it helps: Honey has natural antioxidant properties and anti-bacterial. Its high sugar content and […]

What it does: Reduce mild hyperpigmentation and kills bacteria in skin. Regular use also helps oily skin.
How to do it: Use plain vinegar or better yet, apple cider vinegar. Dilute 1 part vinegar to 1 part water if its too strong! Use your own good judgement because each vinegar product will differ in strength. […]

What it does: Helps with active acne and spots. You can expect pretty fast results. Skin will be softer and blemishes reduced.
It also prevents ingrown hair (razor bumps) after shaving or waxing.
Why it helps: Aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid, which is similar but not identical to the active component, salicylic acid. Salicylic acid cleanses clogged […]