skincare tips Archives

March 10, 2020 By Harpreet Kaur 3 Comments

Hair and Skincare Tips For Holi!

Holi is a festival of fun and mirth with plenty of colors and zeal. The tradition is to wish a Happy Holi by smearing colors at each other. Few decades ago, the colors used in Holi were derived from dry flowers and leaves. Even sandalwood paste, saffron, turmeric, henna and fuller’s earth were used to play Holi.

However, with rapid change in times and instant solutions, came cheaper, easily available industrial colors that replaced the natural ones. These industrial colors contain a variety of harmful compounds like malachite green, auramine, methyl violet, copper sulphate, aluminium bromide, prussian blue and cobalt nitrate. They are often mixed with starch, wheat flour and micadust.

The colors are disastrous for the skin as they increase the chances of allergies and infections. The most commonly affected areas include the face, scalp, forearms, neck and hands. So, how exactly do you avoid being affected by these harmful chemicals? The answer is quite simple!

Pre-Holi Hair and Skincare Tips

Use Organic Colors: You can make skin-friendly, natural colors at home. For instance, you can use roasted chic peas powder to make gulal. If you have hypersensitive skin, it is best to avoid chemical colors
Oil Your Way to Safety: Apply coconut oil, mustard oil or olive oil on your hair and scalp before playing Holi to prevent the color from blocking the pores
Apply Aloe Vera gel and oil on your body to create a layer of protection on the skin. Don’t forget to cover the ear area
Blend Castor Oil with Coconut Carrier Oil and apply it half an hour before playing Holi. This will protect your skin from chemicals. It also helps the colors come off easily during bath
Use Vaseline on Your Lips to keep them moisturized. You can even apply it on your ears
Use Sunscreen on your exposed skin to avoid skin damage. Try keeping yourself as covered as possible
Apply Transparent Nail Paint on your nails to prevent the color from getting inside the skin
Stay Hydrated all the time by drinking water and juices regularly

Post-Holi Hair and Skincare Tips

Clean your skin with baby oil. Do not scrub the skin for at least 48 hours post Holi
Use natural ingredients like curd and chic peas flour to exfoliate the skin and cleanse it
After bathing, apply moisturizer liberally all over to seal the moisture in
Avoid using make up or anything harsh on your skin for a few days. Let your skin breathe and get back its natural moisture
Wrap a couple of ice cubes in a thin cotton cloth and use it to soothe your face and neck area. This will help protect your skin from dryness and sunburn
Mix 2 tablespoons of Olive oil with 4 tablespoons of honey and a few drops of lemon juice. Apply this nourishing pack to your hair and scalp. Leave it on for 30 minutes and rinse it off with warm water. Use a light herbal shampoo and a good quality conditioner as well

By Adopting these simple measure before and after the festival, you can make it an enjoyable experience!

Were these tips helpful? What do you do to protect your hair and skin during Holi? Let us know in the comments below!

Wish you all a Happy and Healthy Holi!

#BeTheForce

January 7, 2020 By Saba Mirza Leave a Comment

Tips to Get Rid of The Winter Itch

Do you experience this sudden itching sensation during winter? There’s in fact, a term for it – it’s called the Winter Itch! Generally, it is more prominent on your lower legs, arms, hands, abdomen and areas of friction like the soles and ankles. It is caused by dryness of the skin due to cold weather. When humidity levels drop, the dry and cold weather cause loss of water from the superficial layer of the skin (epidermis).

Itching is the key symptom of dryness. If left untreated, the Winter Itch may lead to scratching which can cause a breakdown of the skin layer, creating complications such as Eczema, Bacterial Dermatitis, Cellulitis, etc. Fortunately, the Winter Itch is just a beginning and can be prevented and treated with some simple measures.

Tips to Reduce the Winter Itch

Coconut Oil: The saturated fatty acids present in coconut oil are natural emollients which moisturize the skin by filling the gaps in dry skin, making it smooth. It significantly improves skin hydration and increases the lipid layer in the epidermis. It is one of the safest moisturizers which can even be applied to sensitive areas of skin like underneath the eyes or around the mouth.
Oatmeal Bath: is an age-old remedy which has found its scientific backup from various research studies. Colloidal oatmeal is anti-inflammatory and rich in antioxidants. It helps in reducing inflammation, soothes the skin and binds with it to make a protective barrier. Make sure the water is warm and not too hot so that it doesn’t make the skin drier. You can make your own colloidal oatmeal at home by blending raw oatmeal finely in a food processor. Do apply a moisturizer after taking the bath to lock the protective barrier.
Peppermint Oil: Peppermint, the essential oil, contains menthol and is found to be quite effective in treating itchy skin. Its cooling effect instantly soothes the skin and reduces the urge to scratch.
Aloe Vera Gel: Aloe Vera is a natural coolant and moisturizer which you can easily grow in your kitchen garden! Clean and wash the Aloe Vera before applying to avoid any pollutants and dust particles. Aloe Vera’s wound healing property may help in quickening the healing of broken, rough patches of skin. You can mix it with essential oils like mint oil, jojoba oil and coconut oil as well to enhance its effectiveness!
Honey: Because of its anti-inflammatory, moisturizing and healing properties, honey is found to be quite effective in reducing skin itching and irritation. You can directly apply it on the affected part, keep it for a few minutes and wash thoroughly!
Apple Cider Vinegar: According to some studies, taking a bath with Apple Cider Vinegar mixed warm water has been found to be very soothing and hydrating for the skin. It is particularly helpful in relieving an itchy scalp. Dilute the Apple cider vinegar in water with 1:1 ratio, apply to the scalp and rinse thoroughly after drying with warm water. The acetic acid present in it makes it a natural wound healer and disinfectant.
Consume Antioxidants and Omega 3 Fatty Acids: Winter Itch is more prominent on damaged and unhealthy skin. Foods rich in antioxidants can minimize the damage from toxins and help the body make more healthy cells! Antioxidants are abundantly present in seasonal fruits and vegetables available during the winter season. Some of them include berries, carrots, beans, peas, tomatoes, lentils, etc. Foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids like fish, seeds and nuts contribute to healthy and glowing skin!
Other Measures: Some additional measures you can take include:

Avoid hot and long baths.
Use a gentle soap and mild cleanser
Avoid direct contact of the skin with certain materials which can irritate the skin. For instance, woollen cloths and nylon among others. Instead, wear natural, breathable material like cotton.
Try a humidifier at home
Keep yourself well hydrated by drinking a good amount of water.

We hope these tips help you relieve the Winter Itch and keep your skin glowing and healthy! How do you deal with the Winter Itch? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

For more sessions on Winter related issues, join LIVE classes by experts on GOQii Play.

#BeTheForce

May 6, 2019 By Urvi Gohil 1 Comment

6 Lifestyle Changes For Acne-Free Skin

We all yearn for clear, glowing, blemish-free skin! There’s no denying that smooth skin has mass appeal. If smooth skin were the protagonist of your story, acne would certainly be the formidable foe!

Acne is basically a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes spots and pimples. It can lead to redness and dull skin. Risk factors include genetics, menstrual cycle, stress, anxiety, humid climate, using oil-based makeup, out of home foods, etc.

Once developed, acne requires a lot of patience to fade away. Hence, you need to be religious towards the efforts.

Make smooth skin a reality with these 5 lifestyle changes which can help you reduce or prevent acne!

No Refined Carbs & Sugar

Bid alcohol, soft drinks, desserts, bread, ice-cream, sugar, maida, etc. a good farewell! As they have a high glycemic index, it can lead to high blood sugar and high insulin levels. This might result in inflammation, which is one of the prime causes of acne. High sugar intake along with acne can lead to dark circles, loose skin, and wrinkles, etc. So go low on sugar.

Drink More Water

Skin cells require water to function properly. According to research, acne is more likely to develop when your system has more toxins. Water helps flush these toxins out. Though water is not a miracle cure but it definitely helps in fighting acne.

Physical Activity

Exercise boosts blood circulation and promotes sweating, which helps the body push impurities out of the pores, reducing acne. Physical activity helps us reduce stress levels, which inturn aids acne prevention. Just make sure you clean up before and after a workout.

Get Quality Sleep

Do you wake up fresh and energetic in the morning? If you don’t get good, restorative sleep, your body might not feel rested. This could start the cortisol surge, which can put you at risk for more acne. Make sleep your priority and give your body the rest it needs and your acne a chance to heal.

Eat Your Colors

Yes! Eat all the colourful fruits and vegetables. They help us improve vitamin levels and antioxidant intake which keeps the skin clear. Eat dark leafy greens, pumpkin, carrots, beetroot, berries, papaya, etc. on a daily basis.

Eat Healthy Fats

Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids are required to keep your skin healthy. They help prevent skin dryness and help you maintain healthy and hydrated skin. Healthy fats are the building blocks of cell membranes. Hence, add walnuts, fish oil, flax seeds, avocado, sunflower seeds, etc. to your diet.

Some handy tips for good skin:

Wash your hands once you wake up before touching the face
Use fresh towels and handkerchiefs daily
Always remove your makeup completely
Clean your phone on a regular basis
Do not sleep without washing your face

Looking for more tips on skincare? Tune in to our LIVE sessions on GOQii Play or leave your queries in the comments below!

#BeTheForce

April 9, 2019 By GOQii Leave a Comment

Welcome the Summer With Sunscreen

We all know the Ozone layer is depleting, making the Sun’s harmful rays stronger than ever. It is only natural for us to take the necessary steps and protect ourselves from these rays.

In this blog, we will help you understand the importance of Sunscreen and why they are necessary to face Indian summers. Before we get to why you should be using sunscreen, it is also important to pick out the right product for you.

Choosing the Right Product

There are numerous brands out there which sell sunscreen. The key to choosing the right one is to know your skin type. Based on your skin type, you can opt one for oily skin, sweat-proof, etc.

You might have seen the term “SPF” on sunscreen bottles. This stands for “Sun Protection Factor”. The SPF rating determines how much protection you will receive from the sun’s UVB\UVA radiations. A SPF of 30 gives you 97% protection, and SPF of 50 gives you 98% protection and an SPF of 100 gives about 99% protection. SPF between 30-50 is good enough for Indian skin.

Reasons Why You Need Sunscreen

The summers in India are often very ruthless. The most important thing to understand is that nobody is excluded from the use of Sunscreen. People who tan easily, people who don’t, fair skinned, dark skinned, children and everybody else, should use it if you are going to be exposed to the Sun.

The UV rays from the sun are one of the major enemies of our skin! While Vitamin D is necessary, these UV rays damage our cells which results in wrinkles, dark circles, premature ageing, inflammation and acne. UV Rays can even cause skin cancer.

These are enough reasons for you to start using sunscreen. Even though sunscreen doesn’t avoid these conditions completely, it is a very important step towards protection from the sun. Remember that a higher SPF won’t have any effect on sensitive skin. To get 100% protection from the sun’s powerful rays, you will need clothes that cover your entire body, sunscreen, and a hat or something to cover your head.

How To Use Sunscreen the Right Way

Take a small amount, approx a small coin size of sunscreen on your palm
Apply it gently on your face
It should look white when you apply it on your face
Apply it 15 minutes before you step out so it can be properly absorbed by your skin
You can apply it twice a day

If you are someone with any kind of allergies or other skin problems, consult a doctor. With expert advice, you can choose the right product for yourself and make the most out of it.

Now you’re all equipped to welcome summer with a smile!

#BeTheForce