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Ask Shahnaz

Beautician Shahnaz Hussain offers beauty tips and answers queries. You can send your queries to shahnaz_press@yahoo.co.in

Can you suggest ways to decrease my bustline and make it appear smaller? I am otherwise quite slim. — Shobha

The breasts themselves do not contain muscles. They are supported by the pectoral (shoulder) muscles. So, you have to exercise them. Join the palms together at waist level, with elbows out. Press the palms together for a count of ten. Now bring the palms up to bust level and repeat the same exercise. Relax and repeat 10 times. For the second exercise, stand with feet slightly apart. Stretch the arms out to the sides and rotate them, making wide circles, first clockwise, then anti-clockwise. While doing this, the shoulders should move too. If you wear dark colours, the bustline will appear smaller. Avoid wearing horizontal stripes, puffed or wide sleeves, wide collars and frills. Instead, vertical stripes and V-necklines help "tone down" the bustline.

I am 14 and have small warts on the sides of my forehead. How can I get rid of them? Also suggest a remedy for pimples. — Anu

You can try homeopathic treatment for warts. For pimples, wash your face only twice a day with a medicated soap. Apply curd on the face daily and wash it off after 20 minutes. Apply sandalwood paste on the pimples and leave it on for an hour or two.

I followed your tips such as the lemon juice and honey mixture. Due to shaving, my skin is rough and I have black spots left by pimples. I also have dandruff and oily skin. Whenever I sweat, my face becomes black. Please suggest tips to make my face bright and suggest some medicated soaps. — Kalyana Kumar

You should continue to apply the lemon juice and honey mixture on the face. Home remedies need to be followed for a long time. In fact, they should become a matter of routine, then only will you be able to see the difference. This remedy will also help lighten the skin and reduce oiliness. Stop pressing out pimples. Twice a week, mix oatmeal with curd and apply it on the entire face.

Wash it off after 20 minutes. Besides, dandruff should be controlled, as it leads to pimples. Wash your hair at least four times a week with a mild herbal shampoo, using less of it, and rinsing it well with water.

Take one tablespoon of vinegar and massage it lightly into the scalp half an hour before washing the hair. It is not possible to mention brand names of soaps, but you can look for one that contains ingredients such as neem, tulsi and turmeric.

I am a girl aged 18. My face is fresh soon after a wash but looks lifeless after some time. What kind of cream can be applied to make it remain fresh? Also when I go out, my skin gets tanned despite the use of sunscreen. Please suggest a home remedy sans milk or milk products to lighten the skin. — Prathiksha

Mix three teaspoons of oatmeal with one teaspoon each of honey, curd and egg white or rose water. Apply it twice a week and wash it off after 20 to 30 minutes. It will help brighten the skin. You can use the oats that is available for making porridge. Once daily, follow the lemon juice and honey treatment. One part of honey should be mixed with two parts of lemon juice and applied. Wash it off after 20 minutes. After my baby was born in July 2005, I put on weight, especially on my hands and around my abdomen and waist. I am doing exercises, but the upper arm looks the same. Please suggest some exercises. — Prashanthi

Learn yoga. Or, try this spot reducing exercise for the arms. Stand with feet slightly apart. Stretch the arms out to the sides, with palms facing upwards. Rotate the arms in small circles, clockwise and then anti-clockwise. Do this 10 times each and increase gradually.

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