Asian Beauty Tips...

The eyes are the most enchanting Asian feature and so special attention should be paid to them.

Remember this: black mascara and black liquid eyeliner are your best friends. If you have a fair amount of lid, then you may escape the use of eyeliners and mascara, but to enhance your almond shaped eyes, you can't do without these essential tools.

* Skin tone is a big factor when choosing hues for foundation, eye makeup and lipstick. Lighter shades will create a "washed out" look, while intense hues will add dramatic effect and bring to life the eyes and cheekbones.

* Use foundation and powder with a yellow undertone. Although many Asian women believe they need to wear pink makeup shades to counteract their natural skin tones, this creates a very unnatural, outdated look. Using yellow-based products do not make Asian women look more yellow, but rather they produce a natural, flawless look that is modern and beautiful.

Eyeshadow: The most important factor in deciding what colour and how to apply eye shadow is to take into consideration the amount of fold you have above the eye lid. If you possess a fair amount of fold, then you can boldly apply dramatic colors such as black, deep purple, deep turquoise (really stunning) and navy blue for night time wear and utilize the technique of multilayering colors. Colors that are especially flattering for daytime wear are bronze and light colours applied close to the lashes while more intense colors are blended on top.

Asian Hair: Most hair-color products on the North American market just don't work well on Asian hair, which is the thickest of all hair types. More often than not, any amount of lightening turns out brassy; even black comes out looking unnatural much of the time because it's a difficult color to match. Your best bet is to go to an experienced colorist. If you decide to try it at home, remember that thick hair tends to absorb dyes fairly quickly, and very dark hair is especially resistant to bleaching, so always do a strand test to get the timing right.

How To Get Fabulous Feet:

It's time to take off the sneakers and socks and slip your feet into a sexy pair of sandals. Here's how to make sure that your feet look terrific.

1. Soak your feet for about ten minutes.
2. Pat feet dry.
3. Clip toenails straight across. Or, if you would rather, use an emery board (but wait until toenails are completely dry).
4. Using pumice stone, remove any rough areas.
5. Massage cuticle area with a little oil or moisturizer.
6. Gently push back cuticles.
7. Apply foot lotion and massage into each foot.
8. Remove any excess lotion.
9. If you wish to apply polish follow the procedure below.
10. Put a small amount of polish on your brush; paint one stroke down the center of your nail. Your brush should hold just enough color to accomplish this. Stroke the sides of the nail and you are done.
11. Wait until polish is set (dry to the touch) and then apply the top coat. Don't skip this step as it not only adds life to your pedicure, it will protect your nails as well.
12. Sanitize all of your equipment with alcohol and when they are dry, store them away until the next manicure or pedicure.

Which soap is best?

All soap contain alkali which break up the horny top layer of skin, allowing water to penetrate more (as well as to escape). Although normal skin renews this horny layer, repeated use of soap may weaken the repair process. This can cause extreme scaling and dryness known as chapping.
Perfume added to soap makes it much more appealing to use, but has no other virtue.... So then?

The safest soap to use is the simplest kind which has no added disinfectant, and no purfume.
While on the subject, remember that detergents, which are synthetic chemical compounds, will remove grease from the skin more effectively than soap. But their actions are too harsh for regular use and they easily cause chapping.

Glow Like A Rose:

For a rosy face...

These are homemade treatments that will put a rosy glow on your face :

1. Boil fresh rose petals and use this rose water instead of plain water for your skin treatments.
2. Prepare a rose facemask by grinding a handful of petals into a paste. Apply on clean skin and leave the application on for 15 to 25 minutes. Then wash with plain water (no soap). Your complexion will be smooth and glowing.

USEFUL TIPS FOR BEAUTIFUL EYE LASHES...

If your lashes are thin, regular application of an equal proportion of glycerine and castor oil, makes them grow thicker. use a mascara brush or ear-bud to apply the same very carefully so that the mixture does not enter into the eyes.

Useful Tips for Beautiful Eye Lashes:

* If you suffer from dandruff make sure that you eliminate it as soon as possible, as dandruff falling on the lashes could be very bad.

* Avoid using coloured mascara as it is too heavy for the lashes and makes them stiff.

* If you suffer from premature greying, use eyelash tints to colour the lashes and not a hair-dye as it could be harmful.

* Pulling of the lashes is bad as it weakens the roots. Remove mascara very carefully using baby oil and earbud.

* If you use contact lenses, use marcara first and then the lenses.

Eye Make up Tips:

1. In order to widen eyes set too close together, shade a dark triangleacross the outer comers of the upper eyelid.

2. To minimise the space between the eyes if they are wide-set, blendeye-shadowacrossthe innerhalvesof upperlid and up towards the brow-bone. Slant shadow on outer comers of lower lid.

HOME-REMEDIES FOR DARK CIRCLES AROUND EYES...

Dark circles around your eyes. How unsightly they look and even your best dress and layers of make-up sometimes does not quite succeed in concealing them! Blame it on your genes or your lifestyle, but, you cannot deny the fact that these are a blot on your beauty.

Now to our good-old home-remedies:

* Put slices of oil-rich avocado under each eye.

* Raw potato is yet another very useful aid. Put thin slices of raw potato over dark circles at least twice or thrice a day, every day.

* Grate raw potatoes, add few drops of water, wrap it in a clean cloth and spread it over your eyelids.

* Mix ground almonds and milk and apply under the eyes.

* Crush parijat flowers (night jasmine) , mix with curds and apply this pack under your eyes for 10 minutes. Then wash off with cold water.

* You may also try applying orange juice and glycerine around the eyes.

* Mix equal parts of tomato juice and lemon juice and apply.

* You can also apply mint (pudina) juice around your undereye area for treating your dark circles.

* Grated cucumber placed over your eyelids and around your eyes helps. You can also dab cotton pods in the cucumber juice and place it over your eyelids. This would work too.

* Mix equal quantities of cornflour and yoghurt and apply.

* Mix a tsp of castor oil with 1 tsp of milk cream (malai) and massage it around the eyes.

* Make a paste of rose petals with milk and apply this paste around the eyes.

* Use this home made under eye cream for your dark circles. Works like a charm.

Some other tips:

* Drink sufficient water. Also include buttermilk and yogurt in your diet.

* Include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetable, especially colored ones like carrot, papaya, mango, green vegetables like spinach, curry leaves, sprouts in your diet.

* Wash your feet well and massage castor oil over the soles of the feet. This will also stimulate the pressure points of your eyes located on the soles of your feet.

TOP TEN BEAUTY TIPS FOR EYES...

The eyes are the part of the face we notice first. This is why it's important to make sure that your eyes look their best when attending to your makeup and care routine. Following are some great beauty tips for your eyes, no matter who you are.

1. Healthy eyes are beautiful eyes. If your eyes are swollen, red, or otherwise unhealthy, no amount of makeup is going to disguise this fact. If you wear contact lenses, make sure that you attend to all the care instructions for them. Also, protect your eyes by using cosmetics with sunscreen included.

2. When putting on eye makeup, make sure it goes with the rest of your look. Too many women forget that while the eyes are important, they must be in harmony with the rest of the face. Choose eye makeup that goes with what you're wearing, and with the look you choose on the rest of your face. Don't let your features go to war with each other to be the most prominent – you'll have to choose whether you want the focus to be on your lips or eyes, for instance. Overdoing it can just look garish.

3. Lay a good base. A layer of foundation on your eyelids will help smooth out imperfections and help your eye shadow and liner look their best.

4. Choose a color theme. This doesn't meant that you have to use a monochrome scheme for your eye makeup, but it does mean that it's a good idea to keep an idea of color harmony in mind as you apply your makeup. The colors that will work best for you depend on your skin tone.

5. Pay attention to your eye shape. What works on one person won't necessarily look good on another. Figuring out what shape and set your eyes are can go a long way to helping you get the right look.

6. Select quality cosmetics. It really matters whether or not your makeup is high quality. Don't let your tools work against you just because you can get a cheaper brand. You'll never achieve the same looks you can with a better brand.

7. Use specialized cleansers to remove your makeup. Soap and water are harsh and can irritate the eyes. Specially formulated eye cleansers are gentle, but made to remove old cosmetics.

8. Use darker, more heavily made up looks at night. Daytime requires a more natural look. Apply mascara on the tips of the lashes only, and save the liquid liner for evenings. Harsh makeup in daylight can look overdone or silly.

9. Soften over-prominent eyes. Just because the eyes are the first thing we pay attention to doesn't meant that they must be the focus of every look. If you feel that your eyes are too prominent, apply medium shadow and don't use highlights. This will make them appear deeper-set.

10. Keep up to date on the latest looks. If you've been doing your eyes the same way for years, you can look dated without knowing it. Pay attention to what other people are wearing as well as the latest makeup styles, and form a look that's your own.

BEAUTY TIPS FOR DARK CIRCLES UNDER EYES

Most beauty conscious people have one complaint in common: ‘Under eye dark circles’. Here are some quick tips to knock-off those ugly looking dark circles.

BEAUTY TIPS FOR DARK CIRCLES UNDER EYES:

* Use pumpkin slices on your eyes and relax for ten minutes.

* Place grated potato on the eyes. Thin slices of potato will also suffice. Potatoes contain an enzyme, catecholase, which is a natural human skin lightener.

* Mash some ripe papaya and mix it with milk cream. Apply the paste under the eyes and unwind for 10-minutes. Peddar Road based dermatologist Dr Radha Chowgule endorses the use of milk. “Milk has exfoliating properties. Just dipping cotton in milk and placing it on the eyes helps as well.”

* Whist drinking de-caffeinated, herbal tea is good; the opposite is true as far as application goes! After using caffeinated tea bags, chill them in the fridge and then place them under the eyes. The caffeine acts as a remedy for dark circles by treating the puffiness.

* Prepare a paste with milk cream and honey. Apply it under the eyes and wash off after 10 minutes.

* Mix tomato juice and a few drops of lime. Massage the under eye region lightly for few minutes.

* Place cucumber slices on your eyelids and lie down for thirty-minutes. The slices tend to get warm soon, so have someone replace them after every few minutes.

* Alternate hot and cold compresses under your eyes for 10-minutes are also a good remedy for dark cycles.

* Apply some Vaseline on a metal spoon and chill it in the freezer for 10-minutes. Place it on the eyelids.

* Mix a pinch of turmeric in some rose water and soak cotton balls in this solution. Squeeze them out and place them on the eyelids.

Thumb rule: None of these remedies work overnight. Be regular and patient!

Lifestyle:

* Sleep well: Lack of sleep makes the under-eye skin pale and thin, thus exposing the blood vessels underneath. However, there are many people who beat owls at being nocturnal and yet have no under eye issues. The point is, as long as you make for the lost sleep it is fine.

* Exercise: This increases blood circulation and clears clogged capillaries around the eyes. Breathing polluted air decreases the amount of oxygenated blood in the body. Exercising helps counter this effect.

* Avoid using tight or heavy glasses: They hinder blood circulation around the eyes.

* Treat colds and sinuses well: Cold or sinus infection can increase pressure on superficial blood vessels, thus enhancing pre-existing dark circles.

* Eat a balanced diet: The lack of nutrients like iron and vitamin E can contribute to the discolouration of the area under the eyes. Including green vegetables in the daily diet will surely help.

* Go easy on the pills: Many medicines cause blood vessels to dilate, adding to under eye darkening. Avoid treating Crocin like popcorn.

* Watch water intake: Have too many people told you to drink ten-glasses of water a day for anything remotely connected to beauty? Be it weight loss, skin, hair or nails, it’s always about water. Well, no points for guessing that keeping the body hydrated helps prevent dark circles. Dehydration can make the skin around the eyes wither.

* Wear huge glares: When out in the sun. There are more reasons than style for flaunting those 70s glasses! Exposure to sun doesn’t cause dark circles. It just darkens the under eye skin, along with the rest of the skin, thus adding to the under eye tan.

EYE CARE TIPS FOR COMPUTER USERS

Eye care for computer users:

Most of our work is done on computers, and there is usually no escape from it.

It is a visually intensive task and, unfortunately, our work pressure and lifestyles do not give us the opportunity to be kind to our eyes.

Which is why these tips should come in handy.

1. Know your eyes:

Tears: The first line of defence, they also serve as lubrication by keeping the eyes moist and nourished; they also have a corrective lens function.

Eyelids: Their main job is to protect your eyes from dirt, dust and harsh light.

Eyelashes: A protective net for your eyes.

Cornea: A refractive zone that guides light to reach the retina.

Pupil: Controls the amount of light that enters your eyes.

Lens: A refractive zone that also guides light into the retina.

Retina and Optic Nerve: A bunch of intricate wiring that carries vision signals between your brain and eyes.

2. Exercise your eyes:

Dr Harish S Belvi, a practising ophthalmologist (eye specialist) based in Mumbai, says that regular work hours should be infused with short breaks. During such breaks, he suggests a small and easy exercise: "First, blink your eyes several times. While you keep your eyes closed, roll your eyeballs both clockwise and anticlockwise and take a deep breath. Gradually open your eyes while releasing your breath. This exercise lasts for a minute and you can repeat it three times before getting back to work." It serves as a good workout for the eyes.

3. Look away:

While working for long hours, look at distant objects either in your office or outside. Looking at a distant object and then returning to your task helps your eyes focus better. Try taking such visual breaks for about five to 10 minutes every hour.

4. Palming:

Sit straight at your workstation and rub your palms against each other till you feel them warm. The warmth of your palms helps soothe and relax tired eyes. Then, lightly cup your eyes with your palms and relax for 60 seconds. Count the seconds in your mind. Repeat this exercise two to three times whenever your eyes feel tired, or as often as you want. While palming, you can either rest your elbows on your desk or keep away from the desk and cup your eyes. Both ways are fine.

5. Splash water on your face:

During breaks, splash water on your face while closing your eyes. This has an overall relaxing effect and helps you feel refreshed.

6. Take a walk:

After you're done with lunch, take a stroll outside your office for a few minutes. This will give your eyes a much-needed break and get them some fresh air.

7. Use tea bags:

Keep two used tea bags in the refrigerator before you leave for work. Once you are home, place the tea bags on your eyes for a few minutes as you relax. This not only soothes tired eyes, but also reduces puffiness.

8. Drink water:

Drink plenty of water. It helps reduce puffiness. When a person is dehydrated, especially in an air-conditioned office, the body starts storing water as a defence mechanism. This adds to puffiness around the eyes.

9. Eat healthy:

Incorporate Vitamins A, C, and E on a daily basis; eat citrus fruits, green leafy veggies, tomatoes, spinach, poultry and dairy products. Pack a box of chopped carrots, cucumber and fresh fruits and munch in-between meals at the office.

10. Know your contact lenses:

"Ideally, a person who uses lenses should wear it for not more than 10-12 hours a day and occasionally for 14 hours a day," suggests Dr Belvi.

Never wear your contact lenses while swimming. The pool water houses various micro-organisms as there are several people using it. This may lead to fungal infections in the eyes. In addition, the chlorine in the water can damage your contact lenses.

"Lenses are like sponge, making them susceptible to attracting dirt," says Dr Belvi.

11. Eye dos and don'ts:

* Visit your doctor

"One should ideally visit their ophthalmologist once a year, but if there is a problem with your eyes, visit sooner," suggests Dr Belvi.

In addition, before buying an eye-care product such as eye drops, always check the expiry date and don't forget to check the prescription. It is always advisable to visit your ophthalmologist prior to visiting your optician. Remember, your ophthalmologist is trained to detect several other eye related diseases, apart from the reading of your eye power.

* Wear antiglare glasses while driving or at work

"Antiglare glasses are mainly used for focused light -- such as full beam car headlights -- and serve well for night driving. These can also be used while working on the computer," says Dr Belvi.

Using a pair of antiglare glasses while working on a computer can reduce the strain on the eyes to a certain extent. If you wear contact lenses, wear a pair of zero powered antiglare glasses for the same purpose.

* Use re-wetting eye drops

An office environment that is predominantly air-conditioned, coupled with a computer intensive job, this is the perfect combination for dry eyes.

In such cases, you can use re-wetting eye drops to give relief to your eyes. Why? "When dry eyes occur, the aim is to get the tears back into our eyes -- whether it is naturally (by simple blinking exercises), or artificially (if the problem aggravates)," says Dr Belvi.

"Re-wetting eye drops have a similar in composition to natural tears. One should go for eye drops that do not have any preservatives. Eye drops with preservatives are toxic to the eyes in the long run. You can use re-wetting eye drops as and when required, but preferably span it to a minimum of four to six times a day. If the problem persists, visit your ophthalmologist as soon as possible."

The two most commonly used preservatives in all eye drops are Benz Alkonium Chloride and Chlorbutol. Read the contents of the bottle carefully and avoid eye drops with these preservatives.

* Reduce your smoking and alcohol intake

"Smoking and alcohol consumption (either alone or combined) causes irreversible optic nerve damage. As both nicotine and alcohol are nerve toxins, they affect the nerves in the long run. Over a period of time, this can lead to poor or weak eyesight," warns Dr Belvi.

* Never rub your eyes

If dirt enters your eyes, do not rub as this may cause the dirt to stick inside. "Blink several times to start your tears flowing; this will help flush out the dirt," advises Dr Belvi. "If you rub your eyes, the dirt particle will keep disturbing your vision and irritate your eyes. In such cases, seek your ophthalmologist's help immediately."

Quick tips:

* Shelf life

Preservative-free re-wetting eye drops have a shelf life of about a year, if the seal is unopened. Those with preservatives last around two years, if unopened.

* Discard

All eye drops should be discarded within a month after opening their seals. Once opened, the medicinal properties tend to deteriorate due to exposure to the external atmosphere, making it unsuitable for your eyes.

* Protective eye gear

While driving, wear protective eye gear -- especially if you are wearing contact lenses (for night driving) or sunglasses with UV protection (for day driving). Make sure the gear covers the sides of your eyes as well.

Being healthy is a personal choice and one has to work hard at it. A balanced diet, regular sleep habits, a balance between work and rest, ad exercises -- all play a vital role in restoring our health and helping us maintain our eyesight.

TIPS FOR BEAUTIFUL EYES

MY TOP TEN BEAUTY TIPS FOR EYES:

The eyes are the part of the face we notice first. This is why it's important to make sure that your eyes look their best when attending to your
makep and care routine. Following are some great beauty tips for your eyes, no matter who you are.

1. Healthy eyes are beautiful eyes. If your eyes are swollen, red, or otherwise unhealthy, no amount of makeup is going to disguise this fact. If you wear contact lenses, make sure that you attend to all the care instructions for them. Also, protect your eyes by using cosmetics with sunscreen included.

2. When putting on eye makeup, make sure it goes with the rest of your look. Too many women forget that while the eyes are important, they must be in harmony with the rest of the face. Choose eye makeup that goes with what you're wearing, and with the look you choose on the rest of your face. Don't let your features go to war with each other to be the most prominent – you'll have to choose whether you want the focus to be on your lips or eyes, for instance. Overdoing it can just look garish.

3. Lay a good base. A layer of foundation on your eyelids will help smooth out imperfections and help your eye shadow and liner look their best.

4. Choose a color theme. This doesn't meant that you have to use a monochrome scheme for your eye makeup, but it does mean that it's a good idea to keep an idea of color harmony in mind as you apply your makeup. The colors that will work best for you depend on your skin tone.

5. Pay attention to your eye shape. What works on one person won't necessarily look good on another. Figuring out what shape and set your eyes are can go a long way to helping you get the right look.

6. Select quality cosmetics. It really matters whether or not your makeup is high quality. Don't let your tools work against you just because you can get a cheaper brand. You'll never achieve the same looks you can with a better brand.

7. Use specialized cleansers to remove your makeup. Soap and water are harsh and can irritate the eyes. Specially formulated eye cleansers are gentle, but made to remove old cosmetics.

8. Use darker, more heavily made up looks at night. Daytime requires a more natural look. Apply mascara on the tips of the lashes only, and save the liquid liner for evenings. Harsh makeup in daylight can look overdone or silly.

9. Soften over-prominent eyes. Just because the eyes are the first thing we pay attention to doesn't meant that they must be the focus of every look. If you feel that your eyes are too prominent, apply medium shadow and don't use highlights. This will make them appear deeper-set.

10. Keep up to date on the latest looks. If you've been doing your eyes the same way for years, you can look dated without knowing it. Pay attention to what other people are wearing as well as the latest makeup styles, and form a look that's your own.