Smooth on the aromatherapy essential oils as before. When working on the arm it’s easier to effleurage with one hand only, using the other to hold the arm steady for easier application of the essential oils.

Bend the arm at the elbow. Massage around the wrist with little thumb circles using both hands.

Work down from the wrist to the ends of the fingers using little thumb circles, Repeat this aromatherapy massage five times.

Stretch each finger, then thumb, in turn between your finger and thumb.

Rotate the fingers and thumb first clockwise then anti-clockwise.

Turn the hand over and rub gently along the solar plexus (from centre wrist down the palm to the middle finger) using alternate thumbs. This massage by the essential oils is calming to the nervous system.

Rotate the hand at the wrist clockwise then anticlockwise. To do this lock your fingers into your partner’s.

Turn the hand over and work on the inside of the wrist up to the elbow using alternate sweeping movements. Repeat four or five times.

Bend the arm at the elbow and bring the lower arm up and across the chest. Squeeze massage all along the upper arm with the essential oils from elbow to shoulder using both hands.

Bring the arm back down to the side then effleurage the whole area from hand to shoulder four or five times. Cover the arm and repeat the aromatherapy massage on the other side of the arm.

Massage of the back

Don’t be at all surprised if your massage partner dozes off at this point. Back massage is extremely soothing an relaxing and great for relieving stress and tension.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Aromatherapy Massage of the Back

Uncover the back to just show the buttock crease. At this point it is a good idea to place a small rolled-up towel, under your partner’s forehead otherwise he or she will have to turn his or her head sideways or end up with a squashed nose through which it is difficult to breathe.

• Starting at the lower back effleurage oil using both hands. Work slowly up the back to the shoulders,pressing gently on the upward strokes, releasing the pressure as you come back down.
• Starting at the base of the spine work up on either side, using gentle thumb pressure or little thumb circles. Repeat five or six times.
• With reinforced hands one on top of the other sweep up the spine then work around the shoulder blades in a figure-of-eight movement. Repeat the figure-of-eight four or five times.
• Now work around each shoulder blade individually, still with reinforced hands, in a circular motion, Repeat four or five times each side. You may feel knots little bumps around the shoulder blades. These are an indication of tension and massage here gives great relief.
• Work around the shoulder blades with your thumbs, helping to break down the knots and bumps. Allow your partner to be your guide as these areas can be tender.
• Squeeze along the top of the shoulders from the neck out, using your fingers and thumbs. Repeat four to five times on each side.
• Stroke up the back of the neck and out to the ears, using your thumbs.
• Stand at your partner’s side and rub backwards and forwards over the whole back with frictions to warm the area.
• Move to your partner’s side and rub backwards and forwards over the whole back with frictions to warm the area.
• Make thumb circles out from just above the buttock crease round towards the hip. This area can often be tender and massage here is soothing. Repeat several times.
• Effleurage the whole back.
• Gently stroke up the spine, hand over hand, several times, allowing your touch to get lighter and lighter.
• Finish by gently holding your partner. Place one hand at the base of the spine, the other at the base of the neck. Hold this position and feel the warmth build up under your hands. After approximately one minute gently lift your hands off. Cover your partner over. By now, he or she might be snoozing!

Foot Care in General

Many of us neglect our feet usually thinking that they are hidden from public view. But foot care is very important, not only for the appearance, but also for health. The feet, after all, hold up the entire body and we expect a lot from them. We make them carry our weight in all kinds of footwear, over all sorts of surfaces. Happy feet certainly make you feel better-and like every other part of the body, respond wonderfully well to regular care.

How to take care of your feet?

Problem feet can arise from many reasons-ill-fitting shoes. Poor posture or heredity. Daily care, with regular exercise, can really help to overcome most of these.

Good foot posture does help to put the entire body into balance.When you stand or walk, the toes should point almost straight ahead. Lift the arches of the feet slightly so that your body weight is supported by the outside edges of the soles of your feet. Overweight people put excessive strain on the arches, resulting in aching feet and backaches.

Simple Exercises for Your Feet

The best exercise for the feet is walking barefoot, on grass if you can. Good alternative exercises can also be followed, Stand Up Straight feet, pointed, ahead, rise up on the toes and then lower yourself. This strengthens the arches of the feet. Curling the toes, as if you are trying to pick something off the floor with your feet, also help to strengthen the metatarsal arch and prevents callouses.

Corns and callouses are caused by ill-fitting shoes that rub the skin or squeeze the feet. Shoes should not be too tight, as constant pressure over bony areas interferes with the circulation of blood, leading to corns.

During the summer months, avoid closed shoes. Open sandals are much better. Properly fitted shoes are essential for relief from foot pain. Those who walk a lot or stand for long hours, need shoes with thick soles and low heels.

The front should be wide enough to allow enough space for the toes. During the hot and wet season, feet can pick up infections. Athlete’s foot is one that is caused by fungus that thrives on wet, soggy, skin.

Wear sandals for maximum ventilation and keep the skin as dry as possible. Expose your feet to the air as often as you can.

Ingrowing toe nails can also cause a great deal of discomfort. The nails should be cut squarely across. Ingrowing toe nails should not be rounded as they would tend to grow into the flesh even more.

Clean, well-kept nails lend the entire foot class and dignity that are most essential for perfect grooming. Soaking feet in warm soapy water helps to soften the nails, which can be cut or filed more easily.

Do not cut the cuticles of the toe nails, as the cuticles help to protect them. They should be creamed and pushed back very gently.

A good foot massage is a real pleasure, A weekly pedicure would normally include a foot massage, and most beauty parlours provide it. The rotating, kneading motion, adopted by the masseur is most relaxing for the feet and also keeps the sking in good condition.

Cleanliness is, of course, a must. Dirt and stale sweat secretions must be removed by scrubbing feet daily with soap and water. Rub heels with a pumice stone to get rid of dead skin and clean nails with a brush.

Creaming feet daily goes a long way towards keeping the skin soft and adds to foot beauty.

Most foot problems benefit from alternating hot and cold baths. This helps to improve circulation and relieve-pain. The feet, very often, suffer from poor blood circulation.

Technique to Improve Feet blood Circulation

• Take two buckets. Fill one with hot water and the other with cold water. The water should be enough to reach the calves. Place your feet in hot water first, for a few minutes and then in cold water for a few minutes.
• Repeat this at least five times, starting and ending with hot water. Dry the feet thoroughly and then massage with cream. An apricot cream is ideal for the feet.
• Stretch the toes and move the front part of each foot in a circular motion. Contrast baths, followed by massage and exercise, provide instant relief for tired, aching feet.

Happy feet will make you happier, ultimately resulting in making your beautiful.

What is an Aromatherapy Massage?

In basic terms aromatherapy massage is a way of stroking the body, with variations in the length and depth of strokes. However, you should always direct firm strokes techniques towards the heart, as this will be beneficial to the circulation.

Long flowing massage strokes with little pressure on the body are the most soothing and relaxing. This type of movements is called effleurage. It is done with the whole hand using gentle, even pressure and is often used to start and finish a massage.

Patting or tapping the skin with your fingers quickly and slowly is stimulating and helps to increase blood flow. This is called tapotement. It is usually done on small areas such as the forehead, cheeks and neck.

Petrissage involves squeezing and releasing a muscle or part of a muscle group. A good example of this kind of movement is kneading dought. It is mostly done with both hands, particularly on the thighs and buttocks. Petrissage helps strengthen muscle fibre, remove waste products and ease fatigue.

There’s another type of massage movement called friction which creates just that. It involves rubbing the hands backwards and forwards across an area and is very warming and stimulating to the tissues. Rubbing our hands quickly together on a freezing winter day is a good example of how friction can work.

A professional aromatherapist uses mainly effleurage and works on pressure points with some frictions and petrissage, but there is no reason why you can’t vary the movements if you decide you would like to try giving a simple massage.

You don’t need to be an expert to give a soothing massage to family or friends. Once you’ve learned a few basic movements you’ll probably be in demand.

DONT’s Before aromatherapy massaging:

Massage is a gentle healing art suitable for everyone from babies to the very elderly. However, there are certain times or conditions when it should be avoided (for example, when the person has just eaten a heavy meal). Often, this just means leaving out a body area but use common sense and if unsure leave well alone.

Do Not Massage:

1. Any infected area.
2. A person who is feverish or has a raised temperature.
3. Over an area where varicose veins are present.
4. Over any unusual swelling or information
5. Bruised or broken skin.

DO’s Before aromatherapy massaging:

1. Check with the person about to be massaged whether any of the above apply.
2. Make sure the room is warm enough.
3. Warm Your hands before massaging-cold hands are a real shock. Not a good way to begin :(.

Hands are the essence

We generally tend to forget is that our hands are on display all the time. The condition of the hands depends on the type of skin care you give them…and this is so true of every aspect of the appearance. Good grooming includes pretty hands so that you become beautiful women.

Beautiful Hands and Skin Structure

The hand is really a marvel. It has 28 bones, including the wrist, all wonderfully balanced. No wonder it has so much mobility and expression. In fact, the hands can speak a language of their own.

On the backside of hands, the skin is soft and thin. It is prone to early wrinkling. On the palm, the skin is thick and tough. The palm has no sebaceous glands, like most other parts of the body have. Therefore, it has no natural lubrication and can become exceedingly dry and rough. The skin chaps easily. The use of detergents compounds the problem, giving you a pair of hands that you wish you could hide. The hands also show up age quicker than most parts of the body. So prevention through daily care is the only answer for making you a beautiful women.

Tips for beautiful hands

After your bath, or any washing chore, always massage your hands with a lubricating cream. A lemon turmeric cream is ideal. Lemon cleanses while turmeric softens the skin. The combination is protection against chlorine and detergent damage.

Every night, before bedtime, use a cream on the hands, massaging for a few minutes. Apricot hand creams are excellent for providing nourishment to the skin. Additionally, apricot helps to tighten the skin and prevent wrinkles.

For an emergency treatment for coarse, rough skin, apply the cream lavishly at bedtime and go to sleep with cotton gloves on. Almond cream with a lanolin base is also good for the hands, giving them a mild bleaching treatment and nourishing the skin at the same time.

If you can afford the luxury of time you can always go for natural beauty, apply a bit of your daily face mask to your hands. This helps to cleanse, tone and smoothen the skin. At least, give them this treatment once a week. Specially formulated body packs are also available that can be used on the hands that enchance the natural beauty in you.

Fist Clenching Exercise - Improve Circulation to hands

Exercising the hands helps to make them flexible and improve circulation. Try the following exercises, repeating them six to ten times.

1.Clench your fists tightly for a second and then throw open the fingers as wide as possible.

2.Put your hands out in front of you, palm down. Press the fingers tightly against each other and then thrust them apart as widely as possible.

3.Allow the hands to be limp and relaxed. Then rotate them from the wrists in circles, first clockwise and then anti-clockwise.

Are your hands tired? try this to stimulate skin and hands…

If your hands are tired, give them an instant reviving treatment. Soak them for a few minutes in warm water, to which about two to three tablespoons of salt have been added. This helps to soothe them and get rid of waste debris and scales.

Another treatment which stimulates circulation is to soak them alternatively in hot and cold water. This also soothes the nerve endings.

A professional hand massage and manicure once a week really helps to maintain and protect the beauty of the hands. For home manicures, you would need a few implements to aid you.

Sticks

Among sticks essential ones for skin care are emery boards for shaping the nails and smoothening the hardened skin on the sides. A pumice stone helps to soften callouses and remove stains offering you natural beauty. Orange sticks are needed for gently pushing back the cuticles. Acetone and nail varnish are required if you would like to add color. A Cream to soften the cuticles is absolutely essential.

Nail polish removers and acetones have a very drying effect on the skin. After removing old polish, always massage a cream to keep the skin around the nails soft and smooth.

Take Care & Stay Beautiful!

Priya

Healthy hair : What its all about?

Healthy hair is one that is shiny, with resilience and elasticity neither too limp nor too dry. Hair that is dry will have the fly-away look and acquire split ends easily. It will be dull and without luster. In other words, healthy hair is one which is balanced, with the sebaceous glands producing the right amount of oil to keep it glossy. The texture of healthy hair is smooth, with body and bounce. The delicate balance can be upset very easily due to various reasons. The delicate balance can be upset very easily due to various reasons. Among these, lack of care and harsh treatments are probably the most common. Treatments like perming, the straightening and dyeing as well as harsh shampoos can remove the natural acid mantle of the scalp, leaving an alkaline residue. This can affect the hair’s natural elasticity, making it dry and brittle.

How to Condition Hair?

Conditioning is a way of giving the hair a more intense kind of nourishing treatment. It helps to protect the hair by counteracting dryness, making it smooth and easier to manage. Herbal lore is replete with age old conditioning treatments, some of which are followed even today.

Tea and Beer: These rinses are also known to improve the look of the hair. Used tea leaves should be boiled again in enough water. Strain the liquid, cool and use as a rinse after your shampoo. Beer is said to give the hair body and make it manageable.

Lemon Juice: You can use Lemon juice added to a mug of water and used as a last rinse as it helps oily hair, while honey-water helps to moisturize a dry scalp.

Honey: One age-old recipe suggests that 40 to 50 drops of honey should be added to a pint of water to make this honey lotion.

Henna: Among the best known conditioners is henna. It is an extremely versatile product and benefits all kinds of hair. A henna paste mixed with other ingredients leaves hair supple, shinning and easy to handle.

Henna can be mixed with yoghurt, lemon juice, egg and coffee. It the hair is dry, add a teaspoon full of pure coconut or olive oil. The paste is applied on the head and washed off after about 45 minutes to an hour. Henna helps to cleanse the scalp and remove impurities and wastes, thus improving the normal functions of scalp. It is also an intensive nourishing treatment and helps to strengthen hair. Hair texture becomes smooth and silky and acquires a shine. The hair not only appears thicker, but becomes more resilient.

Due to its versatility, henna has proved to be one ot the best treatments for hair problems. Henna has been mixed with other valuable ingredients like amla, kohl, brahmi and arnica into a conditioning powder, to restore health and beauty to hair. It helps to stimulate hair growth and control various scalp disorders. Dandruff and other seborrhoeic conditions have been treated successfully by conditioning with this herbal powder.

The key to beautiful hair is a healthy scalp. If it is kept clean of accumulated glandular wastes and dirt, it the normal balances are maintained, it will perform its functions well. Therefore, appropriate treatments must be given to the regularly to maintain its texture, health and beauty.

Hair care is very simple once you know what the requirements are and can relate them to appropriate products. It also entails an awareness of what can be wrought by harsh treatments and wrong products. Each hair is made up of very delicate fibre that must be protected if its beauty is to be maintained. It is up to you to ensure that it is always kept in top condition.

From organic foods to herb based cosmetics, the cycle has turned a full 180 degrees circle, back to nature. Synthetic shampoos are now being accused of causing several irritations, including dandruff and excessive dryness of hair and scalp. After sveral chemical experiments on our hair, we have now rediscovered the natural goodsness and purity of nature’s gift to beautify hair and skin. More and more women, all over the world have started realizing the real worth of natural herbs for cosmetic purpose. Vegetable dyes and rinses are already  known in the ancient times for their rich benefits they reap in. But these have come back into fashion in the past 8-10 years.

Herbs are being used to bring life to dull hair, to colour grey hair, and to bring a change in the original color of the hair and also to clean it. Rinses like Camomile team is claimed to give a golden titnt to hair, while Chinese tea is supposed to brighten dark hair.

Dyes: Herbs like henna, walnut bark, indigo, which were used even in the ancient times when women first started being consious of beautifying their hair and skin are still in practice.

Indigo: Gives a blue color to the hair. It is mised with henna to make what is called as the Persian Dye, still widely used in the East. The color obtained varies according to the porportion mixed of the 2 ingredients. It must be left on the hair for several hours for the dye to be effective.

Walnut Bark: Gives an atrractive brown color to the hair.

Henna: Henna is ther Persian name for a small shrub. A paste made of the powdered leaves is of ancient repute as a cosmetic. It has been used by egyptian and Indian women to dye their finger nails ad make intricate patterns on their hands and feet in a orange-red color, which is considered to add to their existing beauty. It is still widely being used for dyeing hair and beards, as well as horse’s manes. Perfumes too are produced from the distilled waters of the henna flowers.

Henna is used by beauticians to get a bright red color or a burnished copper, or just to get highlights. Henna gives a coppery bronze or reddish effect. Mixed with coffee seeds, the hair assumes a rich brown color. Henna when used on grey hair gives a carotty red color; when used on dark hair, it gives a rich auburn tone. It is usually applied on the strands of clean, shampooed hair while it is still damp and is left on the hair for an hour or two.

Take care of your hair, its quite precious!

Face packs have the most effective stimulating effect, improving blood circulation, toning the muscles, maintaining skin elasticity apart from several other benefits. Right Here, below I am providing recipes of how to make an simple herbal face packs for Oily skins - there are several methods, choose the one which is easy and best for you.

1. Mix a teaspoon of noney with one egg and aplly thickly on the face and neck. Leave it for 7 to 10 minutes nad wash it off.

2. Mix 1 teaspoon yeast, 1 teasoiin sugar and 1/2 cup of warm milk, cover and keep in a warm place. When this ferments, use it as a mask on your face.

3. Mix 2 tablespoons papaya pulp with 10 drops of lemon juice. Leave it on for 20 mins and rinse well.

4. Wash dried peas and dry them in the shade. When completely dry, poweder them and store it in a glass jar. Take a little of this powder, mix it with some rose water to make a paste - Another herbal Face pack ready!

5. Take juice of the pupl of any fruit (orange, sweet lime, wastermelon or papaya) and apply on the face as the mask. This pack is quite relaxing, which cleanes the skin, closes open pores or pores generally, and also cstimulates bllod circulation througout your body.

As all of them tried and tested recipes, you may want to chose any above-mentioned method.

Let me know your comments!

1. Mix 1 table spoon of milk powder, 1 table spoon of honey, 1 table spoon of lemon juice, and ½ table spoon of almond oil. Apply on face and wash off after 10-15 minutes. This pack helps bring shine to the skin and also removes tan.

2. You can do a fairness massage easily at the privacy of your home. Soak four almonds overnight. In the morning remove their skin and grind them fine. Make a paste by adding one teaspoon of gram flour, one teaspoon of milk and four drops of limejuice. A regular massage with this paste will assure a
long lasting fairness to you.

3. For 15 days, apply a paste of gram flour (besan), milk (2 teaspoon) and lime juice(3-4 drops) on face and neck for 15 minutes and wash with water. Your complexion should improve. Repeat every 2 weeks.

4. Mix oatmeal with yogurt and tomato juice and apply on the face. Wash it with cold water after 15 minutes.

5. Apply a mixture of 3-4 drops of lime juice and a grated tomato on face and neck for 15 minutes for 15 days. Wash with cold water.

6. Mash the cucumber with the skin still on to get the juice. You may then need to squeeze the juice out with your hands. You can use lime juice with Turmeric (haldi) and Gram Flour (besan), and scrub your face with this to try and remove the tan. However. simply applying lime juice and cucumber
will help lighten skin over time.

Tips forwarded through e-mail by: Angel

There are scores of people, but nature has not gifted them all with the same skin type. There are several different types of skins that we may come across, of which some broad categories are:

• Oily skin
• Dry Skin
• Hype-sensitive Skin
• Combination Skin and finally
• Normal Skin

I have listed below the general characteristics of each skin type, so that you may have a general idea what type of skin type you wear

Oily Skin Type

Unique Characteristics

• Feels supple and elastic, even after washing
• Looks shiny
• Often Blackheads and/or spots present
• Can look sluggish and sallow
• Hair is often oily, too (as a result of oily skin)

Oily skin care: When Oily skin is properly looked after, can be an advantage. This type of skin stays elastic and firm for longer and is less prone to wrinkles and fine lines than other skin types. However, it needs special attention to keep it free from spots and baclkheads,and come sometimes look rather dull and yellow.

Dry Skin Type

Unique Characteristics

• Feels tight after washing
• Feels dry, scaly or flaky to the touch
• Can look grey or pinkish
• Reacts adversely to harsh products

Dry skin care: This type of skin which is dry, is clear of spots and in younger years is fairly porblem-free. Because it is not well lubricated naturally, it ages more quickly, so extra care must be taken with moisturizers. Its a good idea to use a sunscreen all year around to reduce the harsh, drying effects of ultraviolet rays.

Thats for today, got to go - shall post on other types of skin tomorrow.

Feel free to post your comments on this topic :).