Get rid of habits that mar beauty

Beauty is a matter of getting rid of bad habits and cultivating good ones. Here are some tips to give you that extra edge

• Never neglect washing the hair, as keeping the hair and scalp clean is very vital to your hair looking its best and staying healthy. Oil deposits and impurities can clog the pores of the scalp and interfere with proper distribution of natural oils along the hair.
• After washing the hair avoid rubbing the hair with your towel. It can leave the hair frizzy and dry. Avoid brushing wet hair. Instead, wrap it in a towel and allow it to soak up moisture. Use a wide toothed comb to disentangle wet hair.
• Avoid using scrubs on skin with pimples, acne or rash. Scrubs should not be used on sensitive, dry, dehydrated skin also, as they can deplete the skin of both oil and moisture. It can even cause peeling of the skin if it is too dry.
• Do not neglect cleansing the face at night. Cleanse your face every night, removing make-up and all the pollutants, which have been deposited on the skin during the day. Use a cream or gel cleanser for dry skin and cleansing milk for oily skin. Then, wash your face if you like. Glowing skin, which is free from blemishes, is the result of daily and appropriate cleansing.
• Don’t forget to apply a sunscreen before going out in the sun. Use a sunscreen with high SPF if you stay out in the sun for longer durations. When you return home, use a moisturiser, because the sun not only tans the skin, but also depletes moisture.
• Remember to cream your hands daily. Neglecting care of the hands causes the skin to age fast. The hands begin to show visible ageing signs earlier than most other parts of the body. Apply cream on the hands after washing and bathing in the morning and again at night, before going to sleep.
• Remember to get yourself good sunglasses. They not only protect your eyes from the sun, but also from dirt and pollutants in the air. Without them, there may be squinting of the eyes. Habitual squinting leads to wrinkles around the eyes.
• Avoid neglecting exercise. Spend a few minutes stretching and bending the body when you get out of bed every morning. This keeps your body flexible.
• Never skip your breakfast. You can have a light lunch, but breakfast is a must. You need the energy for maximum efficiency for the day. Have fruit juice, fruits, whole wheat bread or cereal.
• Avoid sweets and have fruits after meals. They contain far more of the essential nutrients than a rich dessert.
• Don’t frown. Many people frown habitually, without realising it. Frowning causes early lines and furrows on the forehead. Consciously stop frowning and stroke the forehead while cleansing and nourishing, using both hands and going slightly upwards and then outwards, towards the temples.
• Cosmetics have a shelf-life. One should not keep or use lipsticks which have become old. If you ever find that a lipstick has become too greasy, it can mean that the oils have separated. This can happen when lipsticks are old. It is best to stop using them.