Blogs >> Health & Science >>
Stay Beautiful but naturally
What can be better than feeding your skin and hair an all-natural diet? But if you're wary and confused about how to select these products,we're here to tell you how to choose from the natural products' aisle so you can look your best-naturally.
We all know Grandma's beauty tips-washing tresses with reetha, scrubbing the face with a mix of sandalwood and milk, using rose water to tone the skin and so many more. And on those few days when we do make the effort, the positive results are for all to see. But with hectic schedules and a chaotic lifestyle, who has the time to pound reetha or prepare a sandalwood-milk pack? And even though there's plenty available in the market that comes with the 'natural' tag, there's always some doubt about what that actually means. Even a look at the ingredients leaves you puzzled. If you're looking for a natural path to a more beautiful you, we give you the lowdown here on how to choose natural products-what's good for you, what to look out for and what to avoid.
Why go natural? A lot depends on what suits your skin and works for you. But going natural can have its advantages. As beauty expert Shahnaz Husain points out, "Plant ingredients and natural substances have powerful healing and beauty enhancing properties. In fact, several beauty products exist in nature-natural cleansers, toners and moisturisers. Natural ingredients can also treat skin and hair problems because of their healing properties." Also, natural products have fewer side-effects, says well-known aesthetician Blossom Kochhar.
Synthetic or chemical products unless used with care, on the other hand, could cause skin damage in the long run, especially for those with sensitive skin. Regular use might result in allergic reactions, rashes, pigmentation, excessive dryness and even premature ageing. "Certain chemicals can certainly damage the collagen bands and the dermis, causing dents and deep wrinkles," warns skin expert Dr Jamuna Pai. For instance, Pai explains that an active 'skin lightening' or 'collagen producing' cream lies on the face for 7-8 hours at bedtime. In the day time this sensitised skin is exposed to sunlight.
The sensitive skin that has been treated absorbs more UV light than the normal skin and thereby premature photo ageing is possible. If you're using such creams, sun protection is a must. "While using chemical products, you must always follow the instructions for usage and post-care dates," adds Pai.
But this is not to say that natural products cannot cause allergies and rashes. On the contrary, you could be allergic to anything, including a natural ingredient. So always perform a patch test on your elbow before using any product.
Au Naturel?
Imagine keeping an orange on your bathroom shelf to use on your face just before your daily bath. The orange will keep fresh for the first few days and give you great results but soon it'll start to dry up and within a week or so, will wrinkle up completely. The same is the case with any product that claims to have a shelf life. Anything that has a shelf life of more than a few days will necessarily have preservatives.
And many preservatives are artificial chemicals. Even the base of a so-called natural product can be synthetic. Therefore, the trick before picking up a product is a close scrutiny of the ingredients.
"The first thing to keep in mind while choosing a natural product is the percentage of the natural ingredient. Second, make sure that the base of the product is derived from natural products such as shea butter, aloe vera or a vegetable base. Third, check that the preservatives are naturally derived," says Kochhar. Natural essential oils and Vitamin E also make a good base for an all-natural product.
But using natural preservatives does reduce the shelf life of the product, so make a note of the 'use-by' date. "Most of our products have a shelf life of 12- 18 months as compared to chemical products that normally last for 24-36 months," says Ami Gupta, Brand Manager of The Nature's Co. "You should also be wary of products with a strong fragrance or dark colour," warns Mumbai-based dermatologist Dr Jaishree Sharad. "Remember, fragrance cannot be stored for too long. Similarly, a very dark colour means that some dye has been added," she says.
Good Home remedies
Blossom Kochhar gives us some recipes that form the basis of modern preparations
Get a face-lift
Rub a lot of fresh cream (malai) on the face, then powder with fine starch mixed with a small amount of alum (phitkari). Allow it to remain on the face for 15 to 20 minutes before washing off with plain water. this tones up the skin.
Remove freckles and aark patches
2 tablespoons of honey with 2 tablespoons of lukewarm water. Apply when cold, as often as convenient. Butter milk or lassi is also a gentle bleach for freckles.
Soothe irritated eyelids
Take a slice of stale bread, toast both sides well, but do not burn it. When cold, dip it in cold water, and put it between a piece of gauze and apply. When it gets warm, change it.
We all know Grandma's beauty tips-washing tresses with reetha, scrubbing the face with a mix of sandalwood and milk, using rose water to tone the skin and so many more. And on those few days when we do make the effort, the positive results are for all to see. But with hectic schedules and a chaotic lifestyle, who has the time to pound reetha or prepare a sandalwood-milk pack? And even though there's plenty available in the market that comes with the 'natural' tag, there's always some doubt about what that actually means. Even a look at the ingredients leaves you puzzled. If you're looking for a natural path to a more beautiful you, we give you the lowdown here on how to choose natural products-what's good for you, what to look out for and what to avoid.
Why go natural? A lot depends on what suits your skin and works for you. But going natural can have its advantages. As beauty expert Shahnaz Husain points out, "Plant ingredients and natural substances have powerful healing and beauty enhancing properties. In fact, several beauty products exist in nature-natural cleansers, toners and moisturisers. Natural ingredients can also treat skin and hair problems because of their healing properties." Also, natural products have fewer side-effects, says well-known aesthetician Blossom Kochhar.
Synthetic or chemical products unless used with care, on the other hand, could cause skin damage in the long run, especially for those with sensitive skin. Regular use might result in allergic reactions, rashes, pigmentation, excessive dryness and even premature ageing. "Certain chemicals can certainly damage the collagen bands and the dermis, causing dents and deep wrinkles," warns skin expert Dr Jamuna Pai. For instance, Pai explains that an active 'skin lightening' or 'collagen producing' cream lies on the face for 7-8 hours at bedtime. In the day time this sensitised skin is exposed to sunlight.
The sensitive skin that has been treated absorbs more UV light than the normal skin and thereby premature photo ageing is possible. If you're using such creams, sun protection is a must. "While using chemical products, you must always follow the instructions for usage and post-care dates," adds Pai.
But this is not to say that natural products cannot cause allergies and rashes. On the contrary, you could be allergic to anything, including a natural ingredient. So always perform a patch test on your elbow before using any product.
Au Naturel?
Imagine keeping an orange on your bathroom shelf to use on your face just before your daily bath. The orange will keep fresh for the first few days and give you great results but soon it'll start to dry up and within a week or so, will wrinkle up completely. The same is the case with any product that claims to have a shelf life. Anything that has a shelf life of more than a few days will necessarily have preservatives.
And many preservatives are artificial chemicals. Even the base of a so-called natural product can be synthetic. Therefore, the trick before picking up a product is a close scrutiny of the ingredients.
"The first thing to keep in mind while choosing a natural product is the percentage of the natural ingredient. Second, make sure that the base of the product is derived from natural products such as shea butter, aloe vera or a vegetable base. Third, check that the preservatives are naturally derived," says Kochhar. Natural essential oils and Vitamin E also make a good base for an all-natural product.
But using natural preservatives does reduce the shelf life of the product, so make a note of the 'use-by' date. "Most of our products have a shelf life of 12- 18 months as compared to chemical products that normally last for 24-36 months," says Ami Gupta, Brand Manager of The Nature's Co. "You should also be wary of products with a strong fragrance or dark colour," warns Mumbai-based dermatologist Dr Jaishree Sharad. "Remember, fragrance cannot be stored for too long. Similarly, a very dark colour means that some dye has been added," she says.
Good Home remedies
Blossom Kochhar gives us some recipes that form the basis of modern preparations
Get a face-lift
Rub a lot of fresh cream (malai) on the face, then powder with fine starch mixed with a small amount of alum (phitkari). Allow it to remain on the face for 15 to 20 minutes before washing off with plain water. this tones up the skin.
Remove freckles and aark patches
2 tablespoons of honey with 2 tablespoons of lukewarm water. Apply when cold, as often as convenient. Butter milk or lassi is also a gentle bleach for freckles.
Soothe irritated eyelids
Take a slice of stale bread, toast both sides well, but do not burn it. When cold, dip it in cold water, and put it between a piece of gauze and apply. When it gets warm, change it.
|
|
