×
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Be a natural beauty

Last Updated 27 June 2014, 15:38 IST

Why spend your hard-earned money on rather risky surgeries to get that flawless look, when you can attain it by simpler and safer means? Try natural beauty solutions first, urges Shahnaz Husain.

Improving the appearance boosts self-confidence - a necessary factor in today’s competitive world. There is an increase in the demand for cosmetic surgery and other invasive treatments. 

It might still be only a small segment of our population, due to the prohibitive costs of surgery, but there is a steady increase in the percentage of people going in for such treatments.

Women are going in for laser therapy for hair removal, while men are having hair transplants. Then there are older people, especially in show business, who go in for face lifts, liposuction, removal of eye bags, all for a more youthful look. 

But why spend your hard-earned money on undergoing rather dangerous surgeries to get that flawless look, when you can attain it by natural means? So, do consider natural beauty solutions before going under the knife.

 All surgical procedures come with a certain amount of risk. Therefore, needless to say, turning to natural solutions would be a better option, any day. And for hiding flaws, make-up is your answer. 

For example, instead of going under the knife for a nose job or fuller lips, you could turn to the right kinds and shades of cosmetics. 

n To make a broad nose look slimmer, you could use a dark foundation and a lighter one, apart from your normal foundation, which is as close to your skin colour as possible. Apply the dark foundation on either side of the nose, from eyebrows to nostrils and then use the light one down the centre of the nose, from the bridge of the nose to the tip. If the nose is very broad, use a powder on the nose which is two shades darker than the one you use on your face. 

n The skin of the lips is thin and delicate. That is why certain ingredients like camphor and menthol used in the lip-plumping injections, administered by dermatologists and plastic surgeons, irritate the lips and make them swell slightly. So why inject? Instead, try essential oils like cinnamon and ginger. When applied on the lips, they cause blood to rush to the lips. This makes the lips swell up slightly and look fuller. However, it is safer not to use essential oils directly on the lips. Look for lip balms or lip creams containing such essential oils. 

Many women go in for liposuction after pregnancy to trim down the abdomen. Before thinking of liposuction, try to lose weight by exercise and an appropriate diet. After taking your doctor’s advice, do some spot reduction exercises for the abdomen and waistline daily. 

n First, lie on the floor, on your back, with feet together and arms by the sides. Lift the legs about six inches above the ground and hold the position for a count of ten. Then lower the legs to the floor. Repeat this 3-4 times and increase the count and repetition gradually. 

n For the second exercise, keep lying on the floor, the same way. Bend the knees and keep feet flat on the floor. Raise the body to half-sitting position, holding the arms stretched out before you. Lower body to the floor and repeat 3-4 times. 

n To reduce the waistline, sit on the floor with the legs spread slightly wide. Raise the arms up. Keeping them straight, bend your waist, first towards the right, then front and then to the left. Come back to position. Repeat this five times, starting with the right side and then five times with the left side. 

n Next, stand straight, feet slightly apart and bend sideways to the right. The right arm should relax by your side and the left arm must rest on the head. Bend as far right as possible. Come back to position and do the same towards the left, reversing the arm positions. Do this 5 times on each side. 
(The writer is a beauty expert)

ADVERTISEMENT
(Published 27 June 2014, 15:38 IST)

Follow us on

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT