3 Best Natural Eyelash Growth Serums That Actually Works!

 

I wanted to share three of my favorite natural eyelash growth serums that I use regularly. We all want long and thick eyelashes and some of us are naturally blessed with thick eyelashes. But if you are a person who has got scanty eyelashes, please don't worry, there are wonderful remedies to thicken the eyelashes and these eyelash serums are the best. We get plenty of eyelash growth serums in India but they are really expensive and some people might be allergic to the ingredients in them too. The best answer is to make your own homemade natural eyelash serums. Usually natural eyelash serums are made with castor oil as a base but I prefer herbal extracts as serums made with herbal extracts are more lighter than castor oil based serums and they are so easy to apply on the eyelashes too. Herbal extracts are also equally effective in promoting eyelash growth like castor oil. But make sure to choose herbs that are very effective for promoting hair growth. I made three eyelash serums serum with three of the best hair growth promoting herbs. The herbs I have used are rosemary, peppermint and curry leaves. All these three herbs have amazing hair growth promoting properties and they also smell amazing. It is best to make the extracts with fresh herbs but if you don't get fresh herbs you can make the extracts with dried herbs too. These serums only differ in smell depending on the herb used but otherwise they are equally effective in promoting eyelash growth. Make the serum in small batches and use it within a week for best results. To make the serum, choose from anyone of the three herbs given and make an extract out of it. Then mix the extract with fresh aloe vera gel and vitamin E oil and mix well. Both vitamin E and aloe vera gel are very safe to use on eyelashes and they help in eyelash growth too. This serum if refrigerated will last well for about 7 to 10 days and if you use them everyday, you will experience amazing eyelash growth very quickly...

3 Best Under Eye Dark Circle Removal Creams You Should Try!

 

We get loads of under eye dark circle removal creams in India but you will be amazed to know that you can easily make your own at home too. The skin around our eyes are so delicate that even minute changes in our lifestyle affects it leading to dark circles. The skin around our eyes are 4 times thinner than the rest of our skin so we should take great care of it else it will lead to dark circles very quickly. Some of the common reasons for getting dark circles are lack of sleep, stress, excessive sun exposure, allergies, dehydration, nutritional deficiencies, ageing, drinking, smoking and genetics. I get dark circles whenever I am stressed, few weeks back my son had dengue fever and it stressed me out completely. His blood pressure and platelet count kept plummeting though he didn't have fever and till the platelet count started the uptrend I was always tensed. I was surprised how just a few stressful days affected my skin, I had slight dark circles around my eyes and my skin looked shallow and lifeless. Once my son got back to his normal self, my stress levels came down and I started using this homemade eye cream regularly at night to help fade dark circles. It helped so much and within a few days my skin was back to normal. Usually I make under eye creams with aloe vera gel, vitamin e oil and an extract. I change up the extract depending on what I have at home, I use either cucumber extract, green tea or rice water. Aloe vera gel is one of the best things to use on the delicate under eye skin as it is very soothing and nourishing. Vitamin e oil fades dark circles so well and all the three extracts (cucumber, rice water and green tea) added to the cream, greatly helps fades dark circles and also helps nourish the skin as they are full of antioxidants. I usually make a small batch and leave it in the refrigerator and it lasts for around 10 days. Make sure to use the eye cream every day night after removing all make up if you want to get rid of dark circles quickly. Also along with applying this cream, try to reduce stress, eat healthy and sleep well to see fast results....

3 Best Face Washes For Acne & Pimples You Should Try !

 

If you are looking for face washes for acne prone skin then you should definitely try these three acne face wash recipes. All these three recipes can be used for both oily and dry skin. It does not make the skin greasy so it is perfect for oily skin and it does not dry out the skin as well so people with dry skin can also use them. We get acne when our hair follicles get clogged with oil. Though acne can occur at any age, it usually happens during adolescence when there are hormonal changes. Stress and poor diet also can cause acne, I get acne when I am extremely stressed. Most of the mild forms of acne can be treated at home easily. One of the best ways to treat acne at home easily is to use face washes that has anti bacterial and anti inflammatory properties. We get loads of face washes in the market particularly for treating acne but we can easily make them at home without any of the preservatives, colors and synthetic fragrances. Though these face washes are homemade, you will find no difference between them and store bought acne face wash. They foam well, smell amazing and has wonderful antiseptic and anti inflammatory properties and is very very gentle on the skin. The base for these recipes are rice water and liquid castile soap. Rice water reduces inflammation, treats acne and is very soothing on the skin. Castile soap cleans well and is very gentle on the skin as it is made with olive oil as a base. I also love to add aloe vera gel in the recipe as it prevents skin dryness, it also helps reduce the inflammation very quickly. All these three acne face wash recipes use the same base and they differ only by the essential oils you add to it. Essential oils have amazing anti inflammatory and anti bacterial properties and they make the face wash smell amazing too. I have given three acne face wash recipes, choose the one you like and use regularly.

 

Ayurvedic Herbal Bath Powder For Fairness & Glowing Skin (Babies & Adults) At Home

 

Ayurvedic herbal bath powders have been used in India from ancient times and it does more than just clean our skin. Usually bath powders also called body wash and face wash powders are made with ingredients that have anti bacterial and nourishing properties and keeps the skin blemish free. Sadly the use of bath powders is slowly diminishing and nowadays younger generation generally prefer only store bought soaps and body washes. I agree store bought body washes come attractively packaged and smell great but we should remember that they also come loaded with chemicals, artificial colors and fragrances. Homemade bath powders also smell great if you add ingredients like kasturi turmeric and rose petal powder. Once you get to know the benefits of herbal bath powders, you will start using them regularly: 1. Cleans The Skin Well: Homemade bath powders cleans the skin well just equally well like store bought soaps. Soap foams so we think it cleans well but bath powders cleans the skin well too if not better. 2. Lightens Scars: Ingredients in bath powders like turmeric, sandalwood powder lightens scars really well if used regularly. 3. Removes Unwanted Facial Hair: Regular use of homemade bath powders weakens facial hair and helps remove it if used regularly. But the time it takes to remove facial hair will vary from person to person. 4. Prevents Skin Infections: Since most of the ingredients used in homemade bath powders contain anti bacterial properties, they go a long way in preventing all skin infections. 5. Make Your Skin Glow: Bath powders acts as a mild exfoliant and removes dead skin giving a nice glow to our skin. I have already given the recipe for a herbal bath powder using rose petals but you have to sundry the ingredients and then grind them which many found difficult to do. I wanted to share an instant version of homemade herbal ayurvedic bath powder using pure herbal powders that you can make under a minute! The ingredients used in this bath powder are gram flour, green gram flour, wild turmeric powder, rose petal powder and sandalwood powder. This bath powder is very fragrant and regular use will make your skin glow and will keep it blemish free. This herbal bath powder can be used for both adults and babies.

 

3 Top Ways To Make Aloe Vera Gel At Home For Skin, Hair & Health

 

Aloe Vera is one one of the best natural healers that heals even the most damaged skin and hair so well. Aloe Vera has amazing skin, hair and health benefits. It brings down inflammation, heals scars, treats acne, conditions the hair, promotes hair growth when applied externally and when consumed internally also has amazing benefits. We get loads of aloe vera gel in the markets but most of them contain lot of preservatives, color and synthetic fragrance. I have seen my relatives and family members extract aloe vera gel at home from my young age so I have always continued to do so. The first time I tried a famous store bought aloe vera gel, I hated it. It smelt of cheap synthetic fragrance and was bright green in color with loads of preservatives. I hated the feel off it on my skin and just threw it away, I would highly suggest not using aloe vera gel with color and perfume. Instead try making your own, it is so easy to do. All you need is a fresh aloe vera leaf, if you are living in India you can find aloe vera plant easily as it grows wildly all over. You can also grow aloe vera plant easily in pots, it needs very little maintenance. When you are collecting aloe vera leaf, choose mature leaves found at the bottom of the plant. They tend to be larger and contain large amount of gel. Once you have selected the aloe vera leaf, wash your hands to get rid of any germs and then cut the leaf. You will find slimy green juice flowing from the cut end, I usually wash the leaves to get rid of the slimy green juice. Pat dry to get rid of the moisture completely. Now cut the thorns on both sides of the leaf and then split the leaf into two. Now scoop out the inner gel using the knife. Now you can make aloe vera gel in three ways. For drinking it as a juice, grind the gel separately along with honey and your wonderful aloe vera drink is ready, have it immediately for best results. For using aloe vera gel for face, grind the aloe vera gel with 1 vitamin c capsule, few drops of your favorite essential oil and grind to smooth paste in a blender without adding any water. For using it for hair, grind aloe vera gel with 1 vitamin e capsule into a fine paste and apply as a hair pack. I would suggest storing the aloe vera gel in the refrigerator once you make it even if using vitamin e and vitamin c. Both vitamin e and vitamin c are natural preservatives and will increase the shelf life of the aloe vera gel (in the refrigerator) for a few weeks else it will last only for one week. You can also freeze freshly extracted gel in ice cube trays and it will last well for almost a year. I use fresh aloe vera gel extensively for skin and hair care at home. I do buy store bought aloe vera gel without color and perfume for making creams and lotions alone as fresh aloe vera gel is runny and will never thicken the creams....

DIY How To Make Beetroot Lip Balm at Home For Pink Lips | Dark Lips Remedy

This homemade beetroot lip balm using fresh beetroot juice is amazing and will rival any store bought lip balm. I have always enjoyed making my own lip balms and usually I make them with pure unrefined oils and beeswax as a base. I have always wanted to try tinted lip balms and my friend suggested using food colors but I didn't want to use food coloring instead I opted for natural food extracts and this time I chose beetroot juice. Beetroot juice not only adds a wonderful pink color to the lip balm, it also lightens dark lips. Beetroot juice is rich in nutrients and regular application gives the lips a natural pink color. Adding natural color reduces the shelf life of the lip balm and we have to refrigerate it to prevent it from getting spoilt. But after looking at the beautiful pink color after adding beetroot juice, I felt it was so worth it. The ingredients used in this lip balm are unrefined coconut oil, beetroot juice, organic beeswax and essential oil. Using this beetroot lip balm regularly has these 5 amazing benefits for lips: 1. Both coconut oil and beetroot juice in the lip balm lighten dark lips but you have to use it regularly to see results. 2. Beeswax, coconut oil and beetroot juice keeps the lip moisturized and smooth. 3. This beetroot lip balm prevents lip chapping if used regularly. 4. Beetroot juice improves the lip color and makes lips pink naturally. 5. It makes the lips super glossy and beautiful! Since this lip balm is made with natural ingredients, you can use it everyday for long periods of time. I would suggest making small batches of this lip balm, use it for a week or two and make a new batch again. That way the lip balm will remain fresh and will not loose the wonderful smell of essential oil added to it.

DIY: Best Vitamin C Serum Recipe For Face

 

 

Few months back, one of my relatives presented me a face serum kit. It had 2 beautiful bottles, one contained vitamin c serum and the other contained a liquid face moisturizer that was also vitamin c based. As I have never used serums before, I didn't bother opening the package. One fine day, when I was cleaning up my cupboard, the package popped out. As the bottles looked quite cute, I just opened one of the bottles to take a sniff and my god, it smelt so good. I ended up using the the entire bottle and my face felt very refreshed, when I was using the serum. After I finished the bottle, I wanted to make my own homemade vitamin c serum, as vitamin c serums are quite expensive. The problem with vitamin c serums is it oxidizes very quickly. When you make it at home you have an advantage, you can make really small batches, finish it off and then make it again fresh. Contrary to what many think, homemade vitamin c serum has just few ingredients that can be easily sourced and can be made in a matter of minutes.The main ingredient for this serum is pure vitamin c powder which can be got online easily in shops like amazon or eBay. The other ingredient is pure glycerine, glycerine can be got in any medical shops and the last ingredient is pure distilled water. When you first start using the serum start with thinner concentration and then when it agrees with you, you can move onto thicker concentrations. The recipe I have given is for approximately 5 % concentration, which should work for all types of skin. I would strongly suggest starting only with this concentration and for problem prone skin this concentration will work better without irritating the skin. The main problem you will face when making this serum is that vitamin c might not dissolve well into the water, for that you have to use fine vitamin c powder and mix really well till it dissolves. Though you can grind up vitamin c tablets into powder, I would strongly advice buying pure vitamin c powder. The second problem some of you might face is that the mixture might me a bit sticky depending on your skin type. That is because of the glycerine, I have used only 3/4 tsp for this recipe, usually this ratio does not make the skin greasy, if it does decrease it even further. This serum is best applied after cleansing your face every night and before using the moisturizer. Regular use has amazing skin benefits, it will delay wrinkles and also reduce the damage caused by pollution that our skin experience everyday.

 

How to Make Natural Homemade Vick's Vapor Rub Recipe For Babies

 

Like everyone, I was applying Vick's vapor rub for my headaches and cold until I used a natural vapor rub from the health shop in the forest, when we went trekking last time. This all natural vapor rub sold in the health shops are made by local tribal people using the beeswax and eucalyptus oil from the forest and I loved it to the core. There are so many controversies regarding the commercial Vick's vapor rub, that it causes harm than good, especially with children. So try making your own, as it's very easy to make it at home. All you need are good quality essential oils. Though essential oils are expensive, little goes a long way and they last for a long time. This homemade vapor rub does not have any harmful chemicals and buying products from locals, we also have that satisfying feeling that we are supporting the local tribal people too. But last time I went, the shop was closed, I missed it a lot and so I tried making it at home. I was quite happy with my homemade Vick's vapor rub. The base for a good homemade vapor rub are the essential oils. Eucalyptus essential oil, as we all know is great for getting rid of headache and cold. In India you get eucalyptus oil everywhere very cheaply, but that is not essential oil, try to buy eucalyptus essential oil, not the plain eucalyptus oil. You can also add a few drops of lavender, rose or any of your favorite essential oil along with the eucalyptus essential oil. If you ask my preference, I would go for the lavender, because lavender essential is soothing, calms the nerves and brings restful sleep when we have a cold. To make the homemade vapor rub, melt the beeswax with homemade coconut oil till it fully melted in a low flame. Remove once melted and let it cool for a bit and then add the essential oils. The quality of this homemade vapor rub will depend on the quality of the essential oils you are using. Try not to add the essential oils, when the mixture is too hot. Pour it into small glass jars and your homemade all natural vapor rub is ready! You can safely use this rub on very young children too.

 

How to Make Indian Pottu/ Liquid Bindi at Home for Babies

 

It is an Indian tradition to keep bindis/ pottu and the tradition of wearing bindis starts when we are babies itself. But the problem is many babies are allergic to the chemical bindis, that we get in the shops. Especially, If you are using the sticker bindis for them, the chances of the baby getting skin allergy is much higher, due to the gum which is used on the bindis to make it stick on the forehead. We make a wonderful homemade liquid bindi that can be safely used on babies. It is made with sago/ javarisi/ sabudana. The bindi made with this method is thick and is darkish red in color. Another best thing about this bindi is that, when you want to remove the bindi from the forehead you can easily peel it off. This is really a relief if we are using it on babies, as we don't have to struggle to wash the bindis off their face. This bindi also stores well for months. To make this bindi, sago is dry roasted in an thick bottomed pan till it turns dark. The key to making this bindi is patiently roasting the sago in a thick bottomed pan in low flame, till it is really dark. Once it turns dark, add water and boil till you get a thick homogenous mixture. I like my bindis to be thick but still liquid enough to use it, like thick honey. Switch off once the desired consistency is reached, let cool and bottle it. Once it cools down, it will thicken even more into a dark paste. To use, wash your hands, dry them completely and dip your fingers in the mixture and apply it on the child's forehead. If it has thickened into a paste, wet your fingers in water and rub it on the paste to get the paste on your hands and then apply it as a bindi. We usually keep a round on the child's forehead. This bindi is allergy free and can be used for children with very sensitive skin too.

DIY Recipe:How to Make Best Homemade Lip Scrub for Dark Lips

 

This homemade lip scrub is good enough to eat! It contains things that gently exfoliate the lips leaving it soft and smooth and it also lightens dark lips. All the things required to make this scrub are common kitchen ingredients and you can easily make it at the fraction of the cost of a store bought one. If you suffer from dry, cracked lips then this homemade scrub will do wonders to treat the problem. This scrub has got brown sugar, honey and coconut oil. Brown sugar exfoliates the skin wonderfully and I prefer it over the regular sugar. Honey is a natural moisturizer and leaves your lips soft and smooth and coconut oil heals cracked lips effectively. I just couldn't resist adding a few drops of pure vanilla, as I prefer all my homemade things to smell good. The best thing about this homemade lip scrub recipe is you can get really creative. Use this as a base recipe and add your favorite things to it. If you are fond of a particular fruit, you can add the fresh fruit pulp to it. You can also add the zest of lemon and orange, if you like citrus flavor and add few drops of citrus essential oil, instead of the vanilla. To make the scrub, first mix the brown sugar, honey to a thick paste. If the brown sugar has got lumps, break it well before mixing. Add a few drops of coconut oil and pure vanilla to it. If you like cinnamon, you can add a pinch of cinnamon powder too. To use, scoop out a small teaspoon of the mixture and gently massage the lips. Wash it off after a few minutes and apply a lip balm. Try to use it weekly twice during winter time to keep your lips soft and moisturized. This homemade lip scrub also make great gifts. Customize the lip balm according the person you are gifting by adding their favorite things to the basic recipe.

 

DIY: How to Make Sindoor/ Kungumam /KumKum at Home

 

Wearing sindoor/ kungumam/ kumkum is a part of Hindu culture. I love to apply sindoor, though I apply it only for occasions and use liquid bindi on a day to day basis. I have always seen my elders wear sindoor/kumkum. My maternal grandmother used to wear a big sindoor on her forehead daily, till my grand father passed away. I love to wear it when I am traditionally dressed in a saree or when I am visiting a temple. Usually sindoor is applied on the forehead and in the parting line of the hair. In the parting line of the hair, we usually apply it as it is, but on the forehead a special paste called "Kumkum paste" is applied and then we apply the sindoor on top of it. Applying the kumkum paste and then applying sindoor makes the sindoor to stick nicely on the forehead. It is very easy to make sindoor at home. It is just a mixture of slaked lime and turmeric paste, the same mixture that we use for making "Arathi" in ceremonies. When you mix slaked lime into the turmeric paste, it turns a bright red. You can either mix it fresh or dry and store it. In my personal experience, mixing fresh wet slaked lime with organic turmeric powder gives the best red color and it is exactly how I like to make it. The mixture can be used immediately without the kumkum paste. But if you want to make a large batch and want to store it, mix the turmeric powder and slaked lime along with little water to a smooth paste. Now all you have to do is wait for the mixture to dry. Once dry, break the clumps and you will have chemical free kumkum. This dried mixture is not as bright red and it will have an orange tinge to it, as seen in the main picture. Add a few drops of lemon juice to form a paste. When you add lemon juice, it turns bright red again. You can apply the paste as it is, since it is wet, it sticks perfectly. Don't worry if you don't get perfect circle the first time, with practice you will get perfect round kumkum on the forehead each time.

 

DIY Recipe: How to Make Rose Oil for Face, Skin & Hair + Uses & Benefits

 

I am sure many of you are rose fans, just like me. I love anything that is made with fresh roses and this rose oil recipe with dried rose petals is no exception. Regular readers of this blog will know that I use rose essential oil in all my homemade stuff. I love the fresh smell and the feel of this rose oil on my skin. This rose oil can be made in a matter of minutes, provided you have fresh, pesticide free roses. I always use "Paneer" variety roses for all my preparations and I would strongly recommend it for it's beautiful fresh smell that no other roses can compete. This homemade rose oil has multiple uses. It can double up as a moisturizer and a massage oil and it is very cheap to make it too. Applying this rose oil on the face keeps the skin supple and smooth. Massaging the scalp with this oil, strengthens the hair roots. Besides the external uses, the fresh rose smell has a very calming effect on our mind. To make rose oil at home, collect fresh rose flowers, separate the petals and sun dry till completely dry. Now in a glass bottle, add the dried rose petals and then fill it with oil of your choice. I used almond oil, but you can choose from extra virgin olive oil, sweet almond oil, etc. Tightly cap the bottle and let the oil infuse in the rose petals for a week in your pantry. After 2 weeks, strain the oil and add few drops of rose essential oil. If you want a quicker version, keep it under direct sunlight for 2 to 3 days and then add the rose essential oil. This homemade rose oil can be used in lotions, toners too. To use take a few drops of oil and massage it in your skin immediately after your bath and with regular use you will find good change in your skin tone.

 

How to Make Turmeric & Coconut Skin/ Face Massage Oil for Girl Babies

 

Massaging helps babies to sleep peacefully, reduces colic pain, relieves constipation and helps parents to bond with babies better. I am a firm believer of massage and I used to do it regularly, to my son when he was a baby. When my son was a new born, I was using a store bought massage oil from a very famous brand. I really used to love the smell of that oil and after a few weeks, there came a lawsuit against the company.  The law suit was filed because there was cancer causing substances found in one of their products and the license of the company was suspended temporarily. This really upset me very much and this incident was also one of the reason, I started trying to make my own homemade products. Many like me, fall for the branding, packaging and smell of the product and pay a huge amount of money, when it can be made purely at home with the fraction of the cost. In India using homemade oils to massage the babies has been done for a long time. The homemade virgin coconut oil is the best base oil for this. For girl babies, we use a turmeric based massage oil. This massage oil keeps the babies skin soft and free from infections. For massaging boy babies, the homemade virgin coconut oil can be used as it is. As turmeric tends to reduce body hair growth, we don't use it on boys. To make this massage oil, first take an organic turmeric and rub it in a coarse stone along with little water to get turmeric paste. Heat homemade virgin coconut oil in a pan. Make sure not fill the pan full with the oil, as the oil will splutter all over. Add the turmeric paste, the oil will start sizzling. Remove the oil, once the sizzling sound stops and let it cool. Make sure not to burn the turmeric paste. Once it is completely cool, strain and store in glass bottles. To use, before bath, massage this oil gently all over the body and then give them a bath with warm water.  Use this oil weekly twice for best results. 

 

How to Make Virgin Coconut Oil at Home for Hair, Skin, Body & Massage (Urukku Velichenna)

 

Since the summer has started, I was busy last week making fresh homemade coconut oil for this year's use in cooking. We store the homemade coconut oil in huge jars, after it is sun dried well and use it throughout the year. Making homemade coconut oil is a time consuming process. We first cut open the coconuts and sun dry them till the inner flesh starts leaving the outer shells. Then we remove them from the outer shell and cut them into pieces and again sun dry them. After that we send it to the local oil mill, where they extract the oil with little bit of jaggery. When the oil is brought home from the oil mill, it is very cloudy and has a milky appearance. We sun dry the oil for a week, till the residue settles down and the clear oil floats on top. We strain the clear oil and store it in huge jars in our pantry. Since both my parents and in laws use coconut oil for cooking, I love the flavor of coconut oil very much. Now that I am so used to homemade coconut oil, I find it very hard to use refined coconut oil from the markets. Once I had bought a small bottle of coconut oil while traveling and I was shocked to see that the coconut oil did not even solidify during winter time. One of our relatives also mentioned about coconut oil manufacturers adding coconut essence to refined coconut oil that is made from inferior coconuts to get that fresh smell. I personally feel that we should make it a point to use unrefined oils. That is how our elders were using these oils all these years and in my humble opinion, that is how we should continue to use these oils, to get all the benefits they offer. We also make an easy version of  unrefined coconut oil from coconut milk. The homemade extra virgin coconut oil/ kachiya enna recipe made this way is so pure, that it can be even used on new born babies skin. This homemade oil can be used on skin, hair and even for massage. To make coconut oil, first grate fresh coconut and grind it in a mixer along with little water and strain it to get coconut milk. Now start heating the coconut milk in a pan, first the coconut milk will split. Continue boiling it till it reduces nicely and all the water evaporates. At one point, you will find the coconut oil separating and beautiful coconut smell emanating, at this stage switch off. Let it cool and strain the oil. The amount of coconut oil got from this method is very less, so we use this method to make coconut oil especially for using it on babies.

 

DIY: Easy Natural Homemade Lip Gloss Recipe

 

 

After I made my homemade Vaseline, I wanted to try my hands on homemade lip gloss with homemade Vaseline as a base. This homemade lip gloss has so many benefits. It is great for dry chapped lips. Since it is 100% natural, any one including small girls can use it. It is very economical and costs the fraction of store bought lip balm. I usually don't shop for lip gloss, as my sister-in-law usually brings it for me, whenever she visits India. But then I wanted to make a lip gloss that is 100% chemical free and one that is equally good or if not better than store bought ones. The main problem I had with making homemade lip gloss was the color. The book I referred to advised to use food colors, if not left over lip stick to get the suitable color. But since I was keen on making the lip gloss without any synthetic colors, I decided to use extracts. At first I thought of using alkanet root to get a deep red color, but decided against it, since many of you won't be able to get it easily. I finally settled with beetroot juice for my color and my lip gloss ended up with a beautiful light pink shade. To make the lip gloss, first take the required amount of homemade Vaseline in a bowl and mix it well with a spoon to get a smooth mixture. Now take a fresh beetroot, peel the outer skin and cut it into chunks. Grind it in a mixer without any water and extract the juice by squeezing the ground beetroot  through a strainer. Add the beetroot juice to the Vaseline drop by drop till you get the desired shade. Add a few drops of pure vanilla to it. You can even add few drops of vitamin e oil too, if you prefer. Please make sure that you don't make the lip gloss runny. Since we are using fresh extracts, the lip gloss has to be kept in the refrigerator. If you don't mind using good quality food colors, please do so. If you don't use fresh extracts, you don't have to keep it in the refrigerator. However make sure that you keep the homemade lip gloss away from moisture and you can also your own favorite essential oils instead of using pure vanilla. This lip gloss can be safely used by young girls, as it does not have any chemicals in it and it is also a great project to do with them. Have fun making your own homemade lip gloss!

 

DIY: Natural Homemade Vaseline Recipe

 

 

My son always takes a bottle of Vaseline/petroleum jelly with him, when he goes to his boarding school, as it is very cold there. I also have a small tub of Vaseline in my bed side table always. I was quite alarmed, when one day I read an article on petroleum jelly. The author of the article, explained that since petroleum jelly is a byproduct of oil refining, it is carcinogenic. Though the manufactures claim that the carcinogens are removed, no one knows the extent the carcinogens are removed. He further added that though it feels like it is moisturizing our skin, all it does is seal the pores of the skin, actually drying out the skin. I really felt everything said in that article was true and it is also a highly refined product making it unsuitable for children. After reading that article, I really wanted to make a homemade Vaseline that is natural, mild and one that really moisturizes. I also wanted a recipe that is quick and easy to make with fewer ingredients. I tried out a recipe that is made with extra virgin olive oil and beeswax and I really was satisfied. Extra virgin olive oil is a very good moisturizer and it can be safely used on irritated and sensitive skin. Beeswax is a natural wax made by honey bees. It has been proved that creams made with beeswax are far better than mineral based creams. This homemade Vaseline just has two ingredients and can be made very quickly. To make the homemade Vaseline, melt both beeswax and extra virgin olive oil in a double boiler, once completely melted, pour into individual jars. This is how easy it is, but be precise with the measurements. This homemade Vaseline can be safely used as homemade diaper cream for young babies. Make sure to use good quality beeswax and extra virgin olive oil. The color of this homemade Vaseline depends on the color of the beeswax. 

DIY: Homemade Hibiscus Shampoo Recipe

 

 

I have always tried to use homemade, natural products on my son, when he was a baby. For his hair wash I used to use gram flour mixed into a paste with little water. But as his hair started growing, washing the gram flour out of his hair was quite difficult as he had quite thick hair. It was also quite drying on the hair, when used separately as a paste. I started using arappu and this hibiscus shampoo to wash his hair. If I didn't get hibiscus flowers that day or if I am out of station, then I will switch over to arappu powder. Most of the Indian homes will have hibiscus plant and especially the red hibiscus flower is very common. Out of all the varieties of hibiscus, the red color hibiscus is used the maximum for herbal remedies. Please try growing hibiscus plant in you garden, it produces flowers year round and it needs very less maintenance. This hibiscus shampoo is very very mild on the hair and it is perfect for washing babies hair. Hibiscus flowers are good hair conditioners, so I always add a hibiscus flower for making this shampoo. The leaves of hibiscus produce a very slight lather and it helps clean the hair very well. To make this shampoo, first take the required amount of hibiscus leaves and soak them in water for 5 to 10 minutes, this will help to grind it to a smooth paste. Now take the soaked leaves, a hibiscus flower (remove the stigma) and grind to a smooth paste. To use it as a shampoo for babies, wet the hair in lukewarm water and then apply this hibiscus shampoo and gently massage their hair. Rinse off. If you are giving an oil bath, you can even use the shampoo twice.

Bindi (Forehead Decoration) - How to Design Your Own Bindis (Pottu) at Home

 

If you ever happen to visit a village fair in India, you will find these bindi stamps (pottu achu in Tamil) sold by small vendors. I got mine a long time ago and I have made a good use of it over the years. I have always loved to draw elaborate bindhi designs with my hands using a good eye liner brush. Designing your own bindhis is not very difficult, but you need a steady hand to draw the bindhis from scratch and loads of patience. But these bindhi stamps take out all the hard work of bindhi designing and the best part is they usually have all the shapes that we can think of. Usually a bindi stamp will have up to 20 to 25 individual stamps of different designs. I usually make a base design with the bindhi stamp and then add a few touches to the basic design and it usually results in a stunning and unique bindhi design. These bindhi stamps also have fun shapes like animals that small girls will enjoy a lot. If you are a person who is allergic to chemical based eyeliners, then please try out my homemade eyeliner and use it a base for bindhi designing. To make the bindhi design, first apply a thick coat of homemade eyeliner on the bindhi stamp and then press it lightly once on the forehead without shaking your hands. It is very important that you press it lightly and remove it without shaking the hand. If you press it firmly, it smudges and the design looks all messed up. Now you will have a beautiful base design. With the help of a good fine eyeliner brush, add further designs to the bindhi. You can even add stones that are available everywhere, to make bridal bindhis. If you use the homemade eyeliner as a base, you can draw bindhis for very young girls too, without worrying about any skin allergies. You can even try it out with different colored liquid bindhis available in the market, if you are not allergic to store bought liquid bindhis. But when you are using liquid bindhis on stamps, make sure to use little or they will smudge. 

 

How to Make Kajal (Surma) at Home| Kan-Mai Preparation

 

Any makeup for women will be incomplete without applying eyeliner. We call this traditional eyeliner kohl/kajal/ kan-mai. Though I am not a person who loves makeup, I love to apply eye kohl. In fact most of the time, it will be my only makeup. Making kohl/kajal at home has been done for centuries in India and I am sure most Indian women would have seen or at least heard of homemade kohl/kajal. This homemade kajal made with castor oil, really keeps the eyes cool and bright. If you are a person who are allergic to chemical based kajals, then please try this homemade kajal. Homemade kajal can be made with either clarified butter or castor oil as a base. I chose castor oil, as it has a very cooling effect on the eyes and I used clarified butter to mix the soot. You can try with both and choose the one that you prefer. The quality of the kajal depends on the quality of the oil you are using, so try to best quality castor oil you can get. To make this homemade kajal, fill a small lamp with castor oil and light it up and place it between two bricks. I used a small diya, but you can use any lamp that you prefer. Place a clean plate on top of the bricks in such a way that end of the flame touches the plate. Traditionally a silver plate was used, but you can use a copper or an ever silver plate too. Use a very thick wick for burning the diya, as it needs to burning for at least 40 to 50 minutes to get the soot. After enough soot has been collected, carefully remove the plate with a help of a cloth, as it will be very hot to touch. Let it cool completely, then scrape the soot that has been collected with the help of a knife into a clean cup. Now add required amount of ghee/clarified butter to make it into a thick paste. Please make your own ghee/clarified butter, as most of the store bought ghee has got additives. Mix it with your hands to make it into a paste and fill it into a small airtight container and your kohl/kajal is ready!

 

DIY: Natural Homemade Face Paint Recipe for Kids

 

It is always a big struggle for parents, when it comes to dressing up children for fancy dress competitions. It is even greater struggle when the fancy dress competition involves face paint. It is mainly because many children get allergies with store bought face paints that are made with harsh chemicals. This homemade face paint is very easy to make and the best thing about it is that you can make it with the ingredients that are easily available at home. I have used my homemade cream that is made with almond oil as a base for this recipe. If you don't have any natural home made cream at home, try any good quality cream that is free of color and perfume. If the child is very young, you can try colors from natural sources, as they might get the paint into their mouths accidentally. For yellow color turmeric powder can be mixed, for pink color fresh beetroot juice can be added, for green color spirulina powder can be added. You can get creative with colors, carrot juice also can be used for orange color. Though it takes some work to grind and mix the colors, you can make a big batch of each paint and store it in the refrigerator. If you are making these for children who are going for competitions, I would suggest safe good quality food colors, as you have a wider choice of colors. Children do waste a lot of paint, with this home made paint you don't have to worry, as it is very cost effective. To make this home made face paint, mix home made cream and corn starch. I already had a bottle of home made cream with me, so I just used that. I added a few drops of  rose essential oil and water to get the desired consistency. I then mixed my food colors to get the desired shade. I also tried turmeric powder for yellow color and beet root juice for the pink color, it came out great. Have fun making this home made paint!