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Gorgeous grandma
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It worked well then, it works even better now! Delve into Granny's Grooming Book for some tips on looking and feeling good
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SOUND ADVICE Take a lesson or two on beauty from grandma
Who doesn't want to look like her grandmother? Grannies everywhere epitomise beauty with their glowing pink cheeks, spotless complexion, twinkling eyes and radiant smile.
While we'd love to believe our grandmoms were born looking that gorgeous, the truth is, most of them were privy to some sound advice. What's more, they followed these tenets faithfully. What worked then works even better now. So, let's check out some of those Golden Rules. Live well, live clean. It really is the most beautiful way to live. Steer away from bad food (the fried, the greasy and the sugary), bad habits (smoking, drinking, abusing any substance) and bad thoughts (they bring on stress, pimples and the like) and watch your skin glow, your teeth and eyes shine.
Get out of the fast lane. The days when women had to be Superwomen are over. Actually, Superwoman was in fashion when Gran was young but she knew better than to run herself ragged for nothing. Learn to manage your life, learn stress control and most important, learn to have fun.
Sun control: Turn away from the Sun. Especially between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The fierce sun burns both your body and hair. And tans aren't things any woman needs, believe Gran when she tells you so.
Tress talk: Never dry your hair in the sun, it splits. Use only wide-toothed combs for hair, wet or dry; the smaller teeth can be cruel on your locks. A monthly hot oil treatment works wonders on the hair. And while she's at it, here's a little known tip from Gran: there is absolutely no need to brush your hair a hundred times each night. Brush when you feel your tresses need it and wield that brush gently.
Lemon legends: Lemon will bleach hair. All you need is a homemade pack of sugar grains and lemon juice. Use it twice a month. Also, lemon in baby oil makes for a great body oil.
Body language: Be generous with body lotion in winter; switch to a lighter moisturising lotion in summer. See that you keep your feet, hands, elbows, knees and feet softly creamed. Cracked heels and scaly elbows talk of severe self-neglect.
Face-offs: Don't ever scrub face too hard or wash with icy cold or steaming hot water. Use a gentle facial cleanser and lukewarm water, lots of it. Over-cleansing can damage the skin but clean thoroughly and well when you do so. Take off all make up before you go to bed at night... never, ever neglect this vital routine.
Blemish control: However big and ugly the zit is, don't keep applying pimple medication on it all through the day, it irritates the blemish and dries up the skin around it. A great pimple treatment is a little masoor dal, curd and oatmeal mashed together and applied on the troubled spot.
Eyes right: Get enough sleep, or else it shows in your lacklustre eyes. A few drops of milk on a small wad of cotton wool is an excellent de-puffer.
All nailed: Frequent hand washing chaps the skin of your hands, and worse, makes nails brittle since nails absorb water and expand. As you towel dry, your nails lose moisture and shrink. Use petroleum jelly or a rich hand cream. Keep nails clean and short.
Be well heeled: You know what Gran always says: you can tell a woman of quality from the kind of footwear she uses. Don't teeter about in stilettos all day and all evening. Give your long-suffering feet a break with some elegant flats once in a while. Soak them in relaxing footbaths twice a month at least. Remember to cut the toenails straight across, long toenails are horrendous. Give your toenails a break from nail polish in the winter months but paint them bright and radiant during the summer months.
SHEILA KUMAR
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