Being a mom is probably one of the busiest jobs in the world. Not only does it entail giving undivided attention to your family it is also one that leaves you with no ‘me time’. Most moms don’t have the time to groom themselves and soon your once regular beauty regime becomes a distant memory. But don’t fret; here is a quick beauty guide that will help you look and feel better in a jiffy.
For your skin:
Being busy and often stressed takes a toll on your skin. Here are some simple, effective yet quick things you can do to help get back that natural glow, beat fine lines due to ageing and look radiant like you just had a facial at the parlour.
Tip #1: Anti blemish facial
Take four to five table spoons of glycerin and add the juice of one lemon to it. The secret here is that the mixture should be in the proportion of 1:1, i.e.; there should be equal parts of both ingredients. Every night, take a small amount of this mixture and gently massage into your face and neck. Make sure you wash your face, and pat dry before you apply the mixture. Allow this mixture to stay on your face as long as possible. You can even sleep with it on. The best part about this pack is that it can be stored in a glass bottle for six to eight months.
This pack gives your skin a beautiful glow and prevents wrinkles and acne formation. The lemon content in it also acts as a natural bleach and can lighten your skin over time.
Precaution: The mixture can be a bit sticky and a little uncomfortable in the beginning, keep applying it and you will see the difference.
Tip #2: Face pack and scrub
This is a handy face pack, it acts as a moisturizing and antibiotic pack that helps to brighten your skin and imparts a natural glow to your face. To make this pack, take one tablespoon of besan, add a pinch of herbal turmeric (ayurvedic haldi , also called Kasturi manjal), add the juice of half a lemon and a little bit of milk (if you have normal to oily skin) or fresh malai (if you have dry skin). Make it a paste using rose water.
First thing in the morning, wash your face and apply your regular moisturizing cream. While going for a bath, take this pack with you. Apply it on your face and wash off using a circular motion after about two minutes.
This pack can rejuvenate your skin, keep it moisturised and supple.
Tip #3: Bleaching face pack
If you are seriously strapped for time, try this tomato and potato face pack. Take half a ripe tomato and a small piece of peeled potato. Now grate or crush both in a cup (you can use a food processor for this, but make sure you don’t leave any juice in the unit). Now apply this onto your face and allow it to dry. Wash off with warm water when it dries or after fifteen minutes.
This pack is quick and has a fantastic effect on your skin. It lightens and brightens even the most tanned of areas and gives you an instant glow.
For your hair:
Just tying your hair in a bun or a tight pony tail is one of the most common things busy moms do, but neglecting your hair is a recipe for disaster. Unkempt hair can lead to brittle, dull and damaged hair that is prone to breakage and falling. Here are some quick remedies you can try.
Tip #1: Conditioned hair sans the conditioner
The best way to skip those 10 minutes in the shower with conditioner on, is to oil your hair well the night before. Oil your hair with your regular hair oil (the best for deep conditioning is coconut oil, sesame oil and olive oil). Apply it throughly on your scalp and then on the hair shaft. To add to the moisturizing effect of the oil, you could wrap up your hair in a hot towel for a few minutes. If you don’t have the time for that, cover your hair with a shower cap.
Wash your hair the next morning with your regular shampoo. Remember not to over shampoo your hair and pat dry your hair.
Tip #2: Anti dandruff shampoo from your kitchen
If you suffer from dandruff this remedy is for you. Use some sour butter milk and massage into your scalp. Leave it in for half an hour and wash it off with plain warm water. This helps relieve the itching and flaking associated with dandruff. The anti bacterial properties of curd also helps resolve your dandruff problems.
Add the juice of half a lemon and some freshly crushed leaves to the butter milk for that added anti dandruff effect.
Tip #3: Soft and silky hair naturally
For smooth and lustrous hair you can try thismultani mitti pack. Take enough multani mitti to make a pack for your hair (the amount will depend on the thickness and length of your hair). Add some sour butter milk to make into a smooth paste. You can add some lemon and soaked methi seeds paste to this pack as well. Apply this on your scalp and hair. Leave in for 30 minutes and wash off with warm water. This pack will leave your hair looking shiny, soft and healthy. An added bonus is that multani mittiimparts a lovely fragrance to your hair, without the chemicals.
TLC for your hair
Avoid making common hair drying mistakes. Here are some things you simply should not do:
- Do not comb your hair when it is wet. Your hair is the weakest and most elastic when it is wet, combing them will cause your hair to stretch and break leading to split ends.
- Do not rub your hair to dry it. This will cause tangles and lead to breakage when you try to remove the knots.
- Do not strike your hair with a towel to dry it. This practice, commonly seen in Indian households, and is very bad for your hair. This vigorous striking motion may get rid of water but it causes your hair to become damaged and brittle.
For your feet
As a mom, your feet and back usually bear the brunt of all the running around you do, and going to the parlour for that mani-pedi takes too much time. So here are some quick fixes for your hands and feet.
Tip #1: Relaxing soak
If your feet hurt and you need a massage but don’t have anyone who can give you a foot rub try, this soak. Take a small tub of warm water (make it as hot as you can handle) and add one or two table spoons of rock salt (also known as unrefined salt) to the water. Now, add a few drops of tea tree oil to the mix. You can even try adding some aromatic oils like jasmine and lavender that have a very calming effect on your mind and body. Soak your feet for about half an hour to feel absolutely relaxed.
Tip #2: Instant dead skin removal
There is no need to sit and scrub your feet if you have this soak. Take a tub of warm water, add two capfuls of mouth wash (any type will do), add some salt and the juice of one lemon to the mix. Soak your feet for about fifteen minutes and then simply rub off the dead skin. Once you are done soaking, wipe your feet well and apply your favorite foot cream. Choosing a cream with essential oils is both relaxing and great for your feet.
Tip #3: Intense moisturizing for cracked feet
You can do this before going to bed at night. Apply foot cream on your feet and a little extra on areas that are prone to cracking. If you have severely cracked feet you can try applying bee’s wax on those areas. Now take a pair of thick socks and wear them. You can sleep with this and simply wash it off the next morning. You will have soft and supple feet in a few days. To accelerate the process of healing, scrub your feet with a pumice stone the next morning while having a bath.
For your hands:
Tip #1: Malai for soft hands and cuticles
A good natural remedy for dry hands with hard cuticles is malai. All you need to do is take some malai or ghee (preferably homemade ghee)and apply them to your hands either in the morning or before bed. Massage it into your hands, taking care to apply it to your cuticles and nail bed. Leave it on for half an hour and wash off with warm water. Do not apply any soap. The warm water will wash off the excess ghee/malai but will leave traces of it on your hands. Follow this regime for a week and watch your hands become as soft and supple.
Tip #3: Care for brittle nails
Often, the lack of nutrients or constantly working with soaps can leave your nails very brittle and in some cases turns them yellow as well. The best way to rejuvenate your nails is to use a mixture of almond oil and lemon. Take a spoon full of almond oil and add the juice of half a lemon to it. Now massage this mixture into your nails and cuticles. Leave it on overnight. The lemon acts as a bleaching agent and helps whitens your nails and the almond oil will help strengthen them.
Tip #4: Intense moisturizing pack
One of the best ways to see a drastic change in the way your hands look is to moisturize it well. Want supple soft hands in a jiffy? This fix is for you. Apply petroleum jelly (preferably the non flavoured kind) onto your hands. Make sure you apply an extra amount of the jelly on our nails and cuticle. Now wrap your hands in a soft muslin cloth or you could use thick socks. Leave this on while you sleep and watch your hands become as hangnail free. Wash off the excess jelly the next morning.
Follow this practice for one week continuously, and you will have soft, supple and beautiful hands.