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Ask Shahnaz

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

My face and eyes look dull and my arms and neck are tanned. — Shaz

Apply the following face mask twice a week. Mix together one tsp of curd, one tsp of honey, 4 tsp of oatmeal and the white of an egg. Apply this on your face, avoiding the lips and the area around your eyes. Wash it off after 20-30 minutes. Mix the liquid ingredients gradually to get the right consistency. It should be a thick paste that does not drip. Mix besan, curd, lemon juice and a little turmeric and apply it at least three times a week on your neck and arms. Wash it off after half an hour. Then massage til oil into your skin. For dull eyes, you should eat a nutritious diet and get adequate sleep. Chill rose water in a bowl in the fridge. Soak cotton wool pads in it and use them as eye pads over your closed eyes. Lie down and relax with the eye pads on for 15 minutes.

Suggest an appropriate cleansing-toning-moisturising routine? — Sangeetha

It’s advisable to select products according to skin type. If you are using a cleansing cream or milk, apply it on the face twice a day, in the morning and at night. Wipe it off with moist cotton wool. If you are using a face wash, apply it on your face, work up a lather, and then rinse it off with water. After cleansing your face in the morning, tone the skin with rose water or a skin tonic. Soak cotton wool in it and wipe your face. Then pat the skin briskly with it. It improves blood circulation. Apply a moisturiser according to your skin type or a sunscreen if you are going out in the sun.

How can I improve hair growth? — Ramya

To enhance hair growth, diet is important. Eat a small bowl of sprouts daily and include fresh fruits, salads, leafy green vegetables, soya bean and curd in your diet. Apply oil once a week. Avoid massaging the scalp vigorously. Use your finger tips to move the scalp in small circular movements. Leave the oil on overnight. Wash your hair thrice a week, using less shampoo and rinsing well with water. Weekly henna treatments will help.

I have an oily face. Suggest a home remedy. — Syeda

After washing your face, wipe it with an astringent lotion. You can buy an astringent lotion and mix it with a little rose water. Keep it in a bottle in the fridge and wipe your face with it using cotton wool. Mix multani mitti with rose water into a paste and apply it at least three times a week. Wash it off when it dries. If your face is very oily, it can be applied daily.

My cheeks are chubby. What should I do to make them thin? — Naseem

Do the following facial exercises daily. Keep your lips closed, smile in a relaxed way and then suck in your cheeks towards the teeth. Hold this position for a count of 10; relax and repeat the exercise10 times. Keeping your teeth and lips closed, blow air under your top lip and hold it there for 10 counts. Move the air to your left cheek and hold it for 10 counts, then to your lower lip for 10 counts and to the right cheek for 10 counts. Relax and repeat the exercise 5 times.

I have pimples. Suggest home remedies. — Ajay

Wash your face twice a day, in the morning and at night, with a medicated soap. Then, wipe it with an astringent lotion, using cotton wool. Mix a little rose water with sandalwood paste and apply it on your face, washing it off after 15 minutes with water. Or, simmer neem leaves in water. Cool and strain the liquid. Make a paste of the neem leaves and apply it daily on your face. Mix cinnamon powder with a little lemon juice and a few drops of honey into a paste. Apply this only on the pimples daily and leave it on for at least an hour. Avoid creams and moisturisers. Use only oil-free products.

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