Beating The Chill

Now when we have entered the season of winter, we all are ready to experiment with different fruits and vegetables as they are available in plenty during this time. Everybody is looking forward to add more and more woolen attire to his/her collection. But there are few problems that this season brings along with it. Dry and brittle hair, rough skin, cracked heels and chapped lips are few of them. We can keep all these problems at bay by keeping a check on our eating habits and following easy, effective and safe natural remedies.

Lemon and honey mixture: Lemon is a rich source of Vitamin C which is one of the purest natural antioxidants. Honey contains amino acids that provide skin its necessary moisture. Mix one tablespoon of lemon and one tablespoon of honey. Add one tablespoon of milk or yoghurt. Apply the mixture on the face and keep for 10-15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. Skin will appear fresh and soft.        Honey also acts as a natural conditioner for hair. It can be mixed with regular conditioner and applied to hair.

Cocoa butter: It has moisturizing abilities. It is used for healing chapped lips and preventing dry and rough skin. It is used as a very effective daily moisturizer.

Olive oil: Olive oil contains Vitamin E and oleic acid which are beneficial to skin as they provide moisture and elasticity to skin. Warm olive oil can be used in the night for soft and supple skin. After taking a bath, olive oil mixed with warm water can be applied to the whole body as it works best on the sensitive areas like knees, elbows, heels, arms and legs. Olive oil is also known for softening nails. It also acts as an excellent conditioner for hair. It repairs the split ends and adds volume, strength and elasticity to the hair.

Aloe vera: Juice of aloe vera leaves can be applied to the skin. Leave it for few minutes and then rinse thoroughly with rose water. Aloe vera has many miraculous properties like fighting ageing, acne, sunburns and stretch marks.

Stay hydrated: Drinking ample water helps keep skin radiant and beautiful. Usually our water intake declines in winter but we should keep a watch as water is important for ejecting out the toxins and wastes from the body.

Massage regularly: For radiant hair in winter, apply hot coconut, olive oil or almond oil to the roots and the tips. Wrap a warm towel on the hair and keep it the whole night. Next morning, wash the hair with mild shampoo. Oil massage should be done at least once a weak.

Let your diet talk: Increase the intake of walnuts and almonds are good source of Vitamin E which is responsible for good hair and skin. Include green vegetables and fruits rich in Vitamin C in your diet. Spinach has been proved very efficient in promoting hair growth and volume. Sweet potatoes are quite capable of keeping ageing at bay.

By Monalisa Biswal