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Raw Food Diet Makes Your Skin Beautiful.
 

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What is acne? Acne in my words is an ugly thing that disfigures your skin and make it look like surface of moon or a hill top. Acne is mostly caused by in the teenagers and it affects the whole personality of that person.

You can’t just shove junk food in your face and expect to have smooth, supple skin. But swap those cheese puffs for a cup of cottage cheese and you’ll get glowing results. Read on for 10 yummy foods that’ll nourish your skin...

When it comes to your health, the outside reflects the inside. A dull, dry complexion is a blinking neon sign that you’re not eating right.

Lucky for you, you can put your best face forward with a better diet. Here’s how:

Face Food #1: Avocados
This creamy, green fruit is abundant in essential oils and B-complex vitamins that nourish your skin, inside and out.

Niacin (vitamin B3) is especially important for healthy skin, and avocados contain lots of it. Niacin, an anti-inflammatory, soothes irritated skin and red, blotchy skin. One avocado has 3.8 mg niacin – 27% of your daily need.

Blend half an avocado with yogurt and frozen berries to make a creamy, nutty-flavored morning smoothie. Or try this Avocado Ice Cream recipe.

And keep reading for an avocado face-mask recipe that will solve your dry skin problems instantly.

Face Food #2: Mangoes
Mangoes have more than 80% of your daily requirements for vitamin A, which is why they’re such a great face food. Vitamin A maintains and repairs skin cells; a deficiency will result in a dry, flaky complexion.

As an antioxidant, vitamin A also fights free radical damage that can prematurely age the skin. And with fewer than 70 calories per serving, this succulent fruit is the perfect pick for your figure, not just your face.

Check out this Mango-Chile Chutney.

Face Food #3: Almonds
Not only is it a gorgeous shape for your eyes, almonds are also great for your complexion. With 150% of your daily need for vitamin E, it’s no wonder that getting a bit nutty is good for you.

Vitamin E's rich oils moisturize dry skin, and its antioxidants protect against skin damage and premature aging.

Reach for a handful of these Spiced Spanish Almonds.

Face Food #4: Cottage Cheese
Dairy is good for your bones and face. But it’s the selenium in cottage cheese, not the calcium, that makes us wild for the creamy curds.


Selenium, an essential mineral, teams up with vitamin E as a powerful free radical-fighting antioxidant duo. Plus, it’ll protect against skin cancer and fight dandruff.

Get your cottage cheese fill in this Baked Mac & Cheese.

Face Food #5: Acerola Cherries
Your average cherry doesn’t supply a lot of vitamin C, but that’s not true for Acerolas. One of these cherries supplies 100% of your daily allowance for vitamin C, which is great news for your skin.

As an antioxidant, vitamin C fights skin damage and wrinkles. It also plays a central role in the production of collagen, the structural protein in your skin.

Use Acerolas in these Chocolate-Cherry Cupcakes.

Face Food #6: Oysters
Whether they’re an aphrodisiac or not, oysters are a love fest for skin. They fight pimples because they’re rich in zinc. The mineral affects sebum production, a deficiency may contribute to acne.

Zinc also helps boost elastin (the skin's elastic protein) production with the help of vitamin C.


Face Food #7: Baked Potatoes
Set aside the greasy French fries. A plump, steaming baked potato is good for your skin.

Eat one baked potato (with the skin) to get 75% of your daily copper need.

This essential mineral works with vitamin C and zinc to produce the elastin fibers that support skin structure. Too little copper in your diet can reduce your skin’s ability to heal and cause it to become rigid and lifeless.

Get your copper in these Loaded Twice-Baked Potatoes.

Face Food #8: Mushrooms
This fungus isn’t just for soup; it’s rich in riboflavin, a B vitamin that’s vital to your skin. Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is involved in tissue maintenance and repair, and improves skin blemishes caused by rosacea. This vitamin is so important for skin repair that the body uses large amounts after sustaining a burn or wound, or undergoing surgery.

Try these Garlic-Rosemary Mushrooms.

Face Food #9: Flaxseed Oil
It’s no secret that omega 3s are great for your skin, but did you know that flaxseed oil is one of the best sources of this essential fatty acid? That’s great news if you’re not a fish-lover.


Just one teaspoon of flaxseed oil per day provides 2.5 grams of omega 3s, which, in turn, hydrate the skin. Essential fatty acids also dilute sebum and unclog pores that otherwise leads to acne.

Face Food #10: Wheat Germ
Don’t let the “germ” scare you – it’s actually just the embryo within a grain of wheat, and it’s nutritious. Wheat germ is a good source of biotin, a B vitamin that's crucial to skin health. A mild biotin deficiency can cause dermatitis, a condition characterized by itchy, scaly skin.

Sprinkle wheat germ on yogurt for a tasty way to get more biotin in your diet.

Or try these Apricot-Wheat Germ Muffins.

Slather It On!
You don't have to eat these 10 foods to nourish your complexion. Some make for great facial masks too.

Try this avocado mask to instantly moisturize your skin:

1. Mash one whole avocado.

2. Add 1 teaspoon flaxseed oil and 1 teaspoon honey.

3. Mix together until smooth and creamy.

4. Apply to face and let sit for 15-20 minutes.

5. Rinse clean with warm water.

Take care of your skin by eating right and having fun with your food. Drink plenty of water and exercise daily to flush out toxins.

And don’t put toxins right back in your body! Smoking damages healthy skin and makes it more prone to wrinkles and an ashen, gray color – not pretty.

Finally, always wear sunscreen, especially on your face, whether it’s sunny or cloudy. Buy a face moisturizer that contains at least 15 SPF. Or wear a hat that provides shade

Whether your skin is normal, oily or dry, remember to cleanse the skin at night. This is even more important than washing the face in the morning. The make-up, dirt and pollutants that have collected on the skin must be removed at night, so that when you sleep, your skin can “breathe”.

Many of us like soap and water washing, because it has a refreshing effect. But, soap actually has an alkaline effect and makes the skin dry by removing natural oils and moisture. It can also disrupt the normal acid-alkaline balance. 

1 If you have a dry skin, soap can actually hasten premature aging by drying out the skin.

2 If you have dehydrated skin with sensitivity, in the form of rough, red, flaky patches, avoid soap altogether.

3 If you have an oily skin, avoid washing the face with soap and water more than twice a day. Rinse well with plenty of water. Frequent use of soap makes the skin too alkaline and leaves it vulnerable to bacterial attack.

Normal to dry skin: Use a rehydrant cleansing gel or cream, so that it provides emollients and keeps the skin lubricated and soft. After applying the cleanser, wipe it off with moist cotton wool, so that further moisture depletion is prevented.

For normal to oily and combination skin, use a cleansing milk. Soapless cleansers or face wash are also available. They are in the form of a cream, which has to be applied on the skin like soap and washed off with water. One can select the face wash according to skin type.

If you have a problem skin, with spots and pimples, choose a medicated cleanser or soap. They not only help to remove surface oils, but provide a fresh feeling.

Cleansing grains or facial scrubs are useful for deep cleansing the skin and are ideally suited to oily skin and clogged pores. If you have a tendency towards blackheads, grains will help. Scrubs are also grainy in texture and help to dermabraze the skin, removing dead epitheleal cells and unclogging the pores. They should be rubbed gently on the skin and then rinsed off with water.

Modern skin-care is based on individual needs. So, learn about your own skin and select your skin-care products according to the individual demands of your skin. It is the basis of a healthy skin.

Home Hair Cleanser: Take a handful each of dried reetha, amla and shikakai. Soak them in one litre water overnight. Next day, simmer the herbs on a low fire till the water reduces by half. Allow the mixture to cool and then strain it with a clean cloth. Use the liquid to wash hair. This quantity should be enough for four to five washes. Refrigerate it. Make small quantities at a time.

Pimples occur on the oily areas of the skin. Therefore, applying cold cream can lead to further pimples. Mix one part of pure glycerine with four parts of rosewater and keep it in the fridge. Apply it on the face after washing and before applying it, add a few drops of lemon juice to it. Once daily, apply curd mixed with a little turmeric on the entire face, and wash it off with plenty of water after 20 minutes. Apply sandalwood paste on the pimples.

Dandruff: Twice a week, heat pure coconut oil and apply it on the scalp at night, using cotton wool. Leave it on overnight. Next morning, apply the juice of a lemon on the scalp and wash your hair after half an hour. Apply henna once a week.

Lifeless Hair: Once or twice a week, heat pure coconut oil and apply it on the scalp and hair. Then dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the towel around your head like a turban. Keep it on for five minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap three or four times. This helps the hair and the scalp absorb the oil better. Use a mild herbal shampoo. After each shampoo, apply a conditioner, massaging it lightly into the hair. Leave it on for two minutes before washing it off with water. You can have henna treatment thrice a month, adding four teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, two raw eggs, two teaspoons of oil and enough curd to the henna powder. It will make your hair look healthy and lustrous.
Grey Hair: Amla is said to check greying. Have the juice of one raw amla after adding it to a glass of water. Also try adding amla to the henna powder. Henna turns white hair reddish brown. It will not colour dark hair. Soak a handful of dry amla in about two cups of water overnight. Next morning, strain the water, but do not throw the water away. Grind the amla. To the henna powder, add the ground amla, four teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, two raw eggs and enough amla water, so that the henna can be mixed into a thick paste. Apply it on the hair, covering the entire head. Keep it on for two hours and wash it off with water. It will also add shine and substance to the hair. Ask your doctor to prescribe Vitamins B-Complex and C.
Oily Hair, Hair Loss: Excessive oiliness of the scalp can lead to hair loss. Wash your hair daily, using very little shampoo — one teaspoon for long hair and half teaspoon for short hair. Dilute it with a little water and use it. After washing, add the juice of a lemon to half a mug of water and use it as a last rinse. Have henna treatment once a week. Add four teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, two raw eggs and enough tea water to the henna powder and mix it into a thick paste. Apply it on the hair and wash it off after an hour. If you do not wish to use egg, add more tea water. For tea water, boil used tealeaves in water. Cool and strain before using. Include fresh fruits, raw salads and sprouts in your daily diet. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water. Add the juice of a lemon to a glass of water and have it first thing in the morning.

Dry, Lifeless Skin: Use a facial scrub once a week. For very dry skin, avoid soap and use a cleansing gel or cream. For the body, use a mild, glycerine soap. Apply sesame seed (til) oil on the body before your bath. Mix honey with egg yolk and a little milk and apply it daily on the face, washing it off with plain water after 20 minutes. At night, apply a good nourishing cream and massage it on the face with a few drops of water. Wipe it off with moist cotton wool. Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going out in the sun. Til oil actually has sunscreen properties, but it is better to use a sunscreen lotion for proper protection. Aloe Vera is a powerful moisturiser and an anti-oxidant. It helps keep the skin soft and healthy. It is better to use moisturisers and creams containing aloe vera.

Double Chin: exercises — open your mouth as wide as you can. Hold this position for about 10 seconds, then relax your mouth, and repeat the exercise a few more times. For faster results, add resistance by placing a tennis ball underneath your chin, while testing your jaw span. Sleeping without a pillow is said to help. Also, you can massage the area daily with a cream. Start from the chin and go downwards using both hands, one hand following the other.
Oily T-Zone: either buy a facial scrub or mix rice powder with curd and use it as a scrub. You may add a little turmeric if you wish. Apply the scrub on the face, rubbing gently with small circular movements. Leave it on for five minutes and then wash it off. This will keep the pores free of clogged oil. Once daily, at any time, mix one teaspoon of honey with one teaspoon of lemon juice and egg white and apply it on the oily areas, washing it off after 20 minutes.
Glowing Skin: After cleansing, wipe the face with rose water, using cotton wool and then pat it briskly. Use a face mask once or twice a week. You can make a mask at home with two teaspoons of choker, one teaspoon of oatmeal or ground almonds and one teaspoon each of curd, honey and egg white. Apply it on the face and wash it off after 20-30 minutes.
Thin Waist: Join a gym or health club and lose weight under professional guidance. Or, practise yoga daily. You can also do the following exercises after seeking your doctor’s advice. First, lie on the floor on your back, feet together and arms at the sides. Lift your legs about six inches above the ground and hold this position for a count of ten. Then lower your legs to the floor. Repeat this exercise 3 to 4 times and increase gradually. Then, keep lying on the floor, the same way. Bend your knees and keep your feet flat on the floor. Raise your body to a half-sitting position, holding your arms stretched out before you. Lower your body to the floor and repeat 3 or 4 times. Take a look at your eating habits. Avoid eating desserts after meals and stick to fresh fruits. Take clear soups (without butter) and salads before the main dish. Avoid rich gravies. Cut down on your intake of cereals. For example, if you have been eating three chapatis, eat only two. Or, eat only one cup of cooked rice. Eat fresh fruits, salads, sprouts, curd and paneer made from skimmed milk and lightly cooked vegetables. If you feel like a snack, eat fruit, carrot or cucumber.

Combination Skin, Pimples: In combination skins, usually the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) is oily, while the rest of the face is dry. Pimples on the forehead can occur due to oiliness of the skin. You should wash the face only twice a day with a medicated soap. After washing, wipe the oily areas with rose water mixed with an astringent lotion in equal quantities. Use this two or three times a day. Avoid applying besan or multani mitti as they can sometimes clog the pores and cause pimples, blackheads or whiteheads, especially in pimple-prone skin. Add a little turmeric to curd and apply daily on the face, washing it off well with water after 20 minutes. Add a few drops of rose water to sandalwood paste and apply on the forehead and areas with spots. Keep it on for at least one hour.
Dry Skin: If you wish to use soap, you can try a mild glycerine soap and see if it suits your skin. You should keep your skin well moisturised during the day, or if you are going out in the sun, apply a sunscreen. At night, use a nourishing cream, massaging it on the skin for two to three minutes. Massage the forehead too, starting from the bridge of the nose and using both hands. Go upwards and then in an arc on either side, go towards the temples. Wipe off with moist cotton wool. Once daily, mix one teaspoon honey with egg white and apply on the skin, washing off with plain water after 20 minutes.
Blackheads: the daily use of a facial scrub will help. You can either buy a facial scrub, or you can mix rice powder with curd or rose water and use as a facial scrub. Apply on the face and rub gently on the skin using small circular movements. Concentrate on the blackhead prone areas. Leave on for five minutes and then wash off with water. Once daily, mix honey and lemon juice in equal quantities with egg white and apply on the face, washing it off after 20 minutes.

To continue on the subject of organic skin care not needing to be expensive, I decided to dedicate a post to a do it yourself skin care. Specifically, today I’d like to talk about strawberry.

SKIN CARE | FACIAL SKIN CARE | ACNE TREATMENT TIPS



Daily skin and facial care is much more effective in making us look beautiful than any skin cosmetics in the world. Here we are going to discuss some of the tips and tricks that we can use to make us look younger and more beautiful without spending too much of extra time and money:

• Get a quick facial at home by splashing your face with lots of warm water and then massaging it with olive oil to moisturize your skin. Use a half-teaspoon of sugar for scrubbing your face and keep rubbing it until it melts away. Wipe off your face with a warm, wet cloth.

• Use the toning mixture of equal parts of water and vinegar and dissolve few aspirins in it twice a day to counter any aging skin signs in your face. Vinegar flakes off dead skin cells while aspirin is a superb anti acne products and is also effective on deep acne scars. However, it tends to make skin thinner like store bought skin toner and so sun block with at least SPF 15 should be used essentially everyday.

• Wash your face several times a day and wipe off with a clean cloth to keep acne off the oily skin.

• If your eyes look puffy or swollen, wash your face and cover your eyes with sliced potatoes or cucumbers for a few minutes. This is really effective in the morning.

• Olive oil works well as face and eye makeup remover lotion.

• Clean you nails with white vinegar before applying nail polish for a smoother finish and make it last longer.

• Olive oil mixed with melted beeswax is a great lip balm.