Ageingis one of the biggest fears of man and womankind. The first signs of ageing -thatwrinkle, the laugh lines, skin loosing it’s youthful glow are enough to makeany woman want to turn back time. Have you ever wished that a fairy would useher magic wand and make you young and beautiful forever? Well, your wishes arebe about to be granted! As Dr. Deepali Bhardwaj, a leading dermatologist, sharesher 5 secret ingredients for a youthful you.
Sunscreen:
Exposure to sun is the primary external factor responsible for skin ageing via oxidative stress.Damage to the skin caused by prolonged exposure to the UV rays is called Photoageing. Whileenough has been said about the importance of using a good sunscreen, it is equally important toknow How and When to apply a sunscreen. Most people apply sunscreen over their makeup,toner or day moisturizer which does not solve the purpose. If you want to protect your skin fromthe sun, sunscreen should be the first thing applied to your face after washing it- even before themoisturizer. If you apply the sunscreen after the moisturizer, it blocks the moisturizer, not theskin and most of the effects of your expensive sunblock are lost.
Superfoods:
Your skin directly reflects what you eat which is why our mothers and grandmothers had themost beautiful skin inspite of lesser cosmetic treatments and so much hard work. Include purple,yellow, green foods in raw or sauté form daily for a healthy skin. A couple of walnuts a daycould help maintain the elasticity of your skin as they are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and copperthat helps in collagen production. If wrinkle free skin is your aim, make sure your diet includesplenty of Pumpkin. Pumpkin contains the bio-pigment called carotenoids (wrinkle & pimplefighting antioxidant). Pomegranates are another superfood which contain polyphenol antioxidantthat improves blood circulation.
Raid your kitchen:
The ingredients in your kitchen are good not just for eating, but can work wonders when appliedto your skin as well. Next time you use a lemon or banana, do not throw away the skin. Did youknow that the essential oils of a citrus fruit are in it’s peel. Rub a lemon peel on your face fornatural bleach. Rubbing a banana peel on your skin can hydrate, heal scars and prevent newacne! Dry orange peel in the sun for 2-3 days and grind to make a 100% natural scrub. Apply thejuice of half a lemon or tomato on your face for 20 minutes. If your skin is dry add half teaspoonhoney and if oily add Fuller’s Earth and a bit of Sandalwood powder to this cocktail for a smoothand glowing skin. While taking care of your skin, do not forget your eyes. A drop of SweetAlmond Oil or Badam Roghan applied around your eyes over the night will bring back that sparkin your eyes.
Moist it right:
Instead of using a greasy oil like coconut or mustard or moisturizer, dab on a few drops of babyoil or vitamin E after bath to keep your skin as soft and supple as a baby always. If you are in ahurry, just add 4-5 drops of oil in the bucket and bathe with it neck- down or add a few drops inthe last mug of water, if you prefer the shower. Use a loofa regularly (twice a week for oily andtwice a month for dry skin) to exfoliate the dirty squamous skin cells especially for hips andthighs.
Head Over Heels
:Our face has 43 muscles. As much as it is important to take care of the creams we use on ourface, it is equally important to work from within and exercise the facial muscles. Sarvangasana(Shoulder Stand) is a great way to increase blood circulation towards the face. A regularheadstand or handstand also increases blood flow towards the face, giving you an instant blush.You could do this asana daily for 3-5 minutes for youthful skin. However, do consult a physicianif you are prone to high blood pressure and learn professionally from a Yoga expert near youbefore attempting this one!