Dear girls, if you’ve been shedding tears of frustration due to your myriad beauty woes
then stop doing so. Rohana Iqbal aka (bhabi), the ace beauty expert is here with her magic wand and will solve all your beauty-related problems in a jiffy. So fret no more, as experts take over...
Q. How can I make my skin not just glow but look healthy too? Please suggest some home-made facials for me. Subuhi
A. Massage the skin with honey daily. Also exfoliate your skin with a thick paste made of two tsp oat bran and a little milk. Scrub gently, and do this twice a week for soft, glowing skin.
Q. How can I get rid of the summer tan on my face? Rahmeen
A. Massage the skin with coconut milk. Make a mask from five almonds, one tsp sandalwood powder and two tsp grated cucumber. Apply this on your face and leave on till it is dry. Wash off with milk and then water.
Q. My hair gets greasy very easily. I shampoo everyday but that does not help. Fiza
A. To remove extra grime, take a glass of tea water, and add the juice of half a lemon to it. After shampooing rinse your hair with this conditioner.
Q. I have a common problem for which I need your help. Whenever I get my eyebrows shaped, I develop tiny boils wherever the hair has been threaded. Why does this happen? Khalida
A. Most girls who suffer from mild to severe pimples and have thick hair growth on all body parts, usually have a hormonal imbalance (usually polycystic ovaries). In such cases, the dominant male hormone over stimulates the oil
glands. When hair is tweezed, threaded or even waxed, the oil glands which are connected to the hair follicles get stimulated and therefore cause boils or pimples. Avoid too much hair removal when the eyebrows are thick and dark. Tell your beautician to thread them gently. Always apply calamine or a calming lotion on the area, and take an anti-allergic tablet. Go to a dermatologist for further guidance.
Q. Do anti-wrinkle creams work? What is the correct age to start using them? Izzah
A. Anti-wrinkle creams work to a certain extent by building collagen in the skin. Collagen is a protein fiber that gives skin its strength, form and flexibility. The effectiveness depends on the active ingredients in it. These include retinol, a vitamin compound, hydroxyl acids, Coenzyme Q10, copper peptides, kinetin and tea extracts, all of which could result in a slight or modest improvement in wrinkles. Ideally start using these creams in your late 30s.
Q. What are hydra gel moisturisers? Hiba
A. Hydra gel moisturisers are oil-free, non-greasy moisturisers that are ideal for acne-prone skin and contain ingredients that help retain moisture in the skin.
Q. Do fairness creams actually work? Do they have any side-effects? Farwa
A. Fairness creams slow down pigment production and lighten pigmentation. They come in creams, peel-offs and serums that all have similar ingredients. But some may be suitable only for a particular skin type, so make sure you consult a dermatologist or cosmetologist before selecting your product. Chemical based creams contain bleaching agents that can ruin the topmost layer of the skin, unlike those that are made with natural ingredients. Creams with extracts of mulberry or liquorice, kojic acid, arbutin and hydroquinone inhibit melanin or absorb sun rays.
Q. Gels or products that promise reduced cellulite are all over the place. But what do they actually do? Shahnaz
A. These lotions are packed with minerals and cell regeneration qualities that stimulate the skin’s metabolism and break fat deposit pockets to restore skin’s firmness. The lotions should be massaged in an upward direction after a bath, a workout or at night.
Q. Are hair conditioners necessary? Fatima
A. Conditioners are a must as hair is often overexposed to sun, chemicals, blow dryers and lack of nutrition. These products provide protein to the hair, restoring its strength and giving it body.
Q. Do serums and shampoos that promise straight and non-frizzy hair work? Seema
A. Sometimes hair gets frizzy because of excessive blow drying, chemical treatments or the work of genes. Serums and shampoos close the cuticle that is on the outermost layer of the hair shaft. Rinsing your hair in cold water after shampooing and conditioning is also helpful.
Stay Cool...
Actually not much of nuclear physics is involved here. One just needs to know simple things and follow it diligently. These are mostly homespun knowledge that has stood the test of time. So, don’t worry over harmful effects.
· When watermelons are in season, freeze the peels and rub them all over the skin whenever you come back indoors. It will hydrate and tone the skin.
· A bandana, soaked in water and tied about the neck cools quickly and protects against sunburn.
· Wash your face with cold raw milk to reduce tan and sunburn.
· Wear a hat or SPF hairspray if you’re planning to spend hours in the sun to prevent frizzing.
· You've probably heard that drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day is important for flushing out toxins, and in summer it's even more important to keep replacing fluids that may be lost to perspiration.
· Avoid drinks that dry out your skin. Sure, those caffeinated drinks look thirst-quenching, but the fact is that caffeine actually dehydrates the body.
· As soon as you get back home, soak your feet in a tub of tepid water to which some peppermint foot soak has been added. This will relieve stress, tiredness and foot odour.
· Think cool. Read books about climbing Mount Everest, visiting Norway, or watch "March of the Penguins” or "Ice Age". You might not be physically cooler, but if your mind envisions a cold environment, you might feel a bit cooler.
