Ayurvedic tips I have incorporated in my daily routine! {Health}

Have you ever tried Ayurveda in your daily routine? I did it. It had started with one day my mom telling me to wash my eyes with the triphala infusion. She had seen it on some program which imparts the ayurvedic tips for healthy living. And, then, some other tip came and then something else! And, on and on.

But then how many things can you incorporate in the routine so I just left it at that. But, these tips were something which were not so intrusive and could be followed easily. And, their benefits were too good to pass up. I have been doing these things on and off for the past one month or more. And, I can talk about the benefits I have seen in my skin or hair or body!

Triphala Eye Wash

Every morning right after I get up, I wash my eyes with the triphala infusion. And, the results?

Brighter eyes, clearer eyes, whites are more prominent, eyes do not get dry, they do not get tired of staring at the laptop, and the best is yet to come - lesser finer lines under the eyes :D The infusion hydrates the skin there and makes it moisturized so that helps with lesser wrinkles and fine lines. Of course, moisturizer and sunscreen do their part as well :)

How to make infusion?

Take a 1/2 tbsp of triphala powder in a glass and dissolve it in glassful of water. Leave it overnight. Strain the morning and use it as eyewash.

I have to warn you here that this infusion stains the washbasin and where it falls so when you are washing your eyes, get either eye wash cups or do something to prevent spilling.

Almond Oil Nose Drops

This has to be done just before dozing off!! Just a drop of almond oil in both of your nostrils and you are good to doze off into deeper realms. Results?

Amazingly this helps with headaches, helps you sleep better, greases your air pipe and the nostrils, cleans them of any dirty things and the list is actually quite long. But, the main thing is deep and calm sleep for me and lesser headaches.

How to use?

Get a bottle of Badam Rogan and a dropper from the pharmacy. And, that is it. Keep them by your bedside and do not forget to use them.

Oil Pulling

This has to be the most heavy tip I have incorporated in my routine. And, I think it is difficult given that you have to take a tablespoon of oil in your mouth right after you get up and swish it for 20 minutes before throwing it off. And, yeah, the first time you do it, you WILL surely gag! Results?

I am not sure if I really saw any benefits till now but I think its a routine which does not show the benefits immediately or even in the long run. The benefits are more internal and not visible. It sure does make my teeth more white and cleanse out the cough and phlegm from the body. Swishing for 20 minutes surely makes me feel wide awake but I doubt if it was supposed to be one of its benefits :D

How to do it?

Traditionally, sesame oil is used for this method. I use coconut oil, though. Take a table spoon and swish it all around the mouth gently without making your jaw hurt and then it will turn watery and foamy by the end of 20 minutes when you can spit it out. Rinse your mouth with salt water, preferably mineral or rock salts not the table salt. And, brush. Yes, it has to be done before brushing your teeth and on empty stomach right after you get up.

The benefits are multi-varied. First, it is a detoxification ritual for the body. The oil pulls all the toxins and turns watery and foamy because of them. That is also the reason why you should not ingest even a bit of that oil and throw it all off and cleanse your mouth properly. Second, I think it is extremely helpful for people with respiratory issues as it helps clean the mucus canal and improves sinusitis issues and if you are suffering from cold, you can do this to get rid of the phlegm. It is also great to maintain the healthy teeth and gums and oral care. It helps prevent bad breath.

That's it for me now. If I include any more tips in my daily routine, I shall surely let you know :)

And, what about you? Do you practice ayurveda in your daily routines? Do you find them beneficial?

Related Posts:

Does milk increase the weight?

Should you eat curd/yogurt at night?

How do I hydrate myself these days?

The Body Shop Rainforest Coconut Hair Oil {Product Review}

I have never been a fan of coconut oil but I have been using it for sometime to remove the sunscreen and that is all there to it! I did never really try coconut oil for hair seriously because I did not see it doing much for my hair. So, lets see how this product worked on me!

Price: Rs 625 for 200ml

Pros

can be used as a leave-in treatment!

gets washed out easily

leaves subtle shine on the hair

Cons

very expensive!

its a clear oil

My Experience
It always looked to me that doing the reviews are the easiest thing on Earth because you just have to use the product and write about it! No thinking and no brainstorming. Easy-peasy.

And, then the reality crashes saying "What do you know? It is the most difficult part of blogging!" The blogger has to test a product in thousand possible ways and then list them down as to what passes the test and what doesn't!

And, when it is a hair care product, it is even worse! So, forgive me if the review is too much or too less and please read on :)

I have been testing the product since a month and I can safely say I hate the smell. The oil is clear and colorless with a cocoa-buttery smell. Its not like I am a fan of the coconut oil smell but cocoa butter smell is even worse. And, the ingredient list states fragrance as well. They might have done better with few hair nourishing essential oils instead!

Anyways, barring that issue, I do not see any problem in the product. Incidentally, it is so different from coconut oil in texture probably because of the mix of all other oils. It is very less sticky and thick as compared to the regular coconut oil and does not weight down the hair if you apply as a leave-in serum. That is something I totally loved about the product.

it has all sorts of oils other than coconut and pracaxi (Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil)!

Now, it says about some Pracaxi oil which comes from South America. The oil comes from the Pracaxi seeds and has high concentration of behenic acid which apparently is good for hair! Behenic acid is a saturated fatty acid which has smoothing properties. (Source: Wikipedia)

Now, lets talk about how the product functions. Honestly, the product is so expensive that it will break your heart to use it as a hair oil. And, fortunately, I do not think I saw any difference in my hair when I used this oil as a pre-wash treatment. It did not contain the frizz or show any extraordinary difference compared to any other oil.

oil does not come drop by drop from the fliptop cap!

But, it was a hero when it came to post-wash treatment. You can easily skip the conditioner and use this product on a daily basis. Just two drops would be enough for mid-waist length hair and the leftover oil on the palms can be rubbed on the scalp. That prevents dryness of the scalp. And, even if you apply it everyday, your hair would not get weighed down.

Oh I forgot to mention - whether the product is used as pre-wash treatment or a post-wash, it leaves the hair really soft and provides subtle shine to it which makes the hair look really healthy! Hair looks full of life and bouncy. Since I wash my hair on alternate days on weekdays, my hair behaves relatively well.

Also, it brings out the color of your hair (if your hair is colored or naturally possesses some very interesting shade) which I totally loved. So, yes, it is a product which can be tried as a leave-in treatment. And, it will last you ages that way so you can spend on it in one shot as well :)

PS: Product provided by brand.

Related Posts:

Olay Total Effects 7 in One cream + serum duo SPF 15
Skinetica Anti Blemish Solution
Clinique 3-Step Skin Care Samples

5 Oils I love for my Hair {Five Series}

I am so stumbled by the writer's or shall we say bloggers block so I thought of one topic I would love to write about and suddenly, it popped. I love oils and I love taking care of my hair so combine them both and voila, oils for hair :D

Ok, that was no rocket science but trust me, it is not easy to write a post with full conviction. So, one has to constantly either evolve their likings or stick ot something they believe fully in!! So, lets check out which oils I totally love using on my hair.

Coconut Oil

Not my first choice generally but it is said that coconut oil gets absorbed very easily into the hair. And, since I started to try TBS Rainforest Coconut Oil, I am liking it a lot. I am using it as a leave-in serum as well which is working out decently!!

Almond Oil

Ok, Rogan Badam has to be my favorite. It has revived my hair, after all.

These were the bring oils so lets move to something exotic now!

Grapeseed Oil

It is supposed to stimulate hair follicles and improve hair growth so how could I pass this one? I included a few drops of rosemary EO and use 3-5 drops of the mix as scalp treatment for my hair after washing it. In case, you are wondering, it is not oily AT ALL!!

Pomegranate Seed Oil

Ok, this was part of my hair conditioning and frizz-fighting arsenal. And, of course, it sounds so exotic so I picked this up when I saw it on Soulflower. I used to use it as leave-in serum but can't say how much it has really helped my hair. Probably, more testing is required!

And, now, lets move to the good old ayurveda!

Neelibrigandi Oil

It is one oil in the recent times which has tamed my hair and has been giving it a healthy appearance. The one variant which I got recently is pretty non-sticky as opposed to the general belief that ayurvedic oils are extremely sticky so that's a plus!! In fact, in the recent days, I have been using few drops (2-3) of this oil as scalp treatment instead of the Grapeseed oil mentioned above!

So, what about you? Which oils do you like? Have you used any exotic oils lately for the hair?

Related Posts:

5 Do's and Dont's for Hair

5 tricks to sleep quickly and deeply

5 Tips for Lip Care

Nutty Nutty Coconuty!

As part of our heritage, we have many beauty rituals passed down through generations. Let us travel back to the village, Rampur, where women were very particular to adorn and beautify themselves. Coconut was about to be discovered.

In Rampur, the women had tried out every ingredient in their kitchen on their skin and wanted something new. And that was when, Leela and Neel went to an unexplored island to spend a day there. They reached a clearing.

 Neel went in search for some leaves to make a comfortable sitting. He realized that the island was covered with only one kind of tree which was very tall. Being a deft climber, he climbed to where there were fruits and leaves. He collected a lot of leaves and fruits and went back.

The couple created some comfortable seating arrangement and sat down with their food baskets. After their lunch, they decided to play ball using the fruits. But, when Neel threw the fruit, it hit a tree and smashed. The couple found the fruit broken into two and a bit of liquid oozing out.

Quickly, Neel went back to the heap of fruits he had carried previously and broke one. It was white and soft inside and had a bit of the liquid left. Rest had spilled out. Cautiously, he tasted it. Since he wasn't sure it wasn't poisonous, he urged Leela not to take it.

They carried some of the fruits back to the village. The elders of the village were equally ignorant about the fruit so they decided to observe Neel for couple of days before trying the fruit lest it be poisonous. When Neel was absolutely fine after a week, everyone started using the fruit.

The liquid in the fruit was sweet and filling. The white meat tasted equally amazing. Thus, the ladies got a new ingredient to try in their beauty regimes. Every woman now drank the fruit liquid once a day.  It had, already, become the best bridal routine because of the resultant glowing skin.

They used the liquid in their face masks. Oil was extracted from the meat and it became a staple. It was used to treat the injuries and wounds without leaving scars. Women slathered the oil on their bodies. It made the skin really soft and prevented any discoloration.

It healed the scars and blemishes better than their homemade remedies. The older women were particular fans of the oil. It prevented the skin from sagging and wrinkling. The oil kept their eye area soft as well. It also kept the feet soft and prevented cracks.

Oil helped with dark elbows and knees and stretch marks when applied during pregnancy. The skin was no longer that dry and the ladies loved the smell. They also tried using the oil for cooking. Intake of coconut oil helped their skin become more healthy and fresh from the inside.

Thus was found Neelafal named after Neel and Leela. Today its known after its European name, Coconut, but the benefits remain still the same and we still love it as much as those ladies almost 5000 years back.

PS: This is a contest entry and the story is fictional. I have no idea how coconut was discovered so please persevere with me :D

Does Coconut Oil make the skin dark? {Your Opinion}

So, I was discussing this matter a few days back with my colleagues. One of the girls said that coconut oil makes the skin dark!! I was quite surprised because a long time back some body had said that besan (chickpea flour) also turns the skin dark!

I was pretty sure that this statement was equally a myth. But, then, I decided to google a bit on it. I did not really find any thing useful!! It just says that coconut oil is amazing for hair and skin and all. I have been using coconut oil for like, a month, now.

I mainly use coconut oil to remove the sunscreen from my face, neck and arms. I haven't noted any discoloration or pigmentation recently. In fact, my skin has become more plump and more hydrated and my skin has started to glow. 

When I had dry patches, I had hoped that coconut oil would be able to make it fine but that was something I could not achieve but then it was the product which was making the skin dry. Anyways, what do you think?

Related Posts:
What's your spot of sunshine in the day?
Do you feel ticklish?
Do you like Dark Chocolates?

Beautiful Skin Without Spending A Fortune

As a mom, perhaps you're spending a fortune on your teenager's skin care. Or possibly you're searching for a answer for healthy skin, but don't want to take a loan out to pay for a tiny little vial of miracle cream. Following even one of the strategies below will put you light years ahead on your skin care regime without a lot of time, money, or chemicals.

Body Brush

Why must you brush your skin? It is your largest organ and 1 of your biggest sources of detoxification. Brushing your skin accelerates the removal of dead skin cells and enables the shiny new ones to emerge. Skin brushing also helps prevent breakouts from tiny ingrown hairs, can keep heat rash at bay, and overall just feels darn superior.

When you 1st see one of these, you could think it is an instrument of torture and that there is no way in Hades you'll be bringing it anywhere near your tender skin. And the first few times, you will absolutely be gentle with your self. But as you get utilised to skin brushing and begin to see that gorgeous glow, you'll enhance the firmness of your strokes.

Method: Starting at the bottom of your feet, move the body brush in smaller circles up each and every leg, to your buttocks, and back. Be a small bit gentle on the belly and chest areas, then move to the sides of your torso and up under the arms, then over the arms. Finish off w/ the neck and shoulders.

You'll feel a pleasant tingling when you're finished. This is a good habit to get into in the morning, as it's a awesome pick-me-up.

Coconut or Grapeseed Oil

Unlike most oils out there, coconut oil absorbs practically instantly into your skin with out leaving beads of oil. It will penetrate your skin more readily when applied proper immediately after a warm shower, and very best of all, won't trigger breakouts. Use it on your face, neck, arms, and legs. Due to the fact you will be employing virgin, unrefined coconut oil, there will be a faint scent of coconut afterwards, but it swiftly dissipates, so you won't be walking around smelling like a Pina Colada.

If you're allergic to coconuts, then you can obtain the same results with grapeseed oil. Immediately after a couple of weeks, you should certainly notice smoother and firmer skin. And it doesn't cause breakouts either, because it is a natural moisturizer.

Natural Soap

Numerous commercial soaps are colored and fragranced detergents--similar to what you wash your dishes with. Detergents trigger the massive fluffy lather that advertisers claim is synonymous with clean. Most handmade artisan soaps that use a vegetable oil such as olive or coconut as a base, won't suds as much as the commercial brands. But what they lack in bubbles, they make up for in a non-toxic, healthy clean.

If you have oily skin, then your top bet are glycerin-based soaps. If you have regular or combo skin, then the goat's milk soaps are the top. And olive oil soaps are a purely moisturizing luxury. A lot of artisan, natural soaps are lightly scented with necessary oils or stay unscented.

Hydration

For your skin to look it's most beneficial, you need to be hydrated from the inside out. 64 oz per day of pure H20 is a great commence, but if your way of life permits, try to up it 96 oz per day. You'll start off to notice a dewy freshness from the inside out that no quantity of makeup could ever duplicate!

Eating your fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are powerhouses of anti-oxidant nutrition. The extra you eat, the alot more you will detoxify and clean your blood. When you're clean on the inside, your outside will reflect the exact same, and you'll be plagued with fewer breakouts. But if you eat mostly processed food with little nutritional value, you'll notice your skin will be prone to more breakouts, regardless of your age.

Now you are armed with some really useful guidelines on how to maintain your youthful glow...no matter how a large number of birthday candles are on this year's cake!