Here is a list of facial care products for different skin types which can help you look flawless, naturally.

As we enter the festive season while being socially distant, no one wants to compromise on anything essential. Be it the heartfelt prayers, family gatherings, reliving the nostalgia or the natural facial glow.

As most of us are skipping on our monthly salon visits, one can easily follow the facial care routine at home. With products from homegrown brands who rely on toxin-free formulas made with natural ingredients, it is possible to attain that natural radiance in a quick and safe manner. Be it the Durga Puja, Navratri and Dushhera, followed by karwa chauth and pre diwali bashes,

Here is a list of facial care products for different skin types which can help you look flawless, naturally:

Mamaearth Skin Illuminate Face Serum With Vitamin C & Turmeric For Radiant Skin

Mamaearth Skin Illuminate Face Serum with the power of Vitamin C and Turmeric helps you to achieve radiant glow. It also reduces hyperpigmentation and fine lines. Vitamin C is considered to be one of the most well-known and has been a preferred solution to many skincare problems. The Mamaearth face serum is free from harmful toxins such as paraben, mineral oil and silicones.

Price: INR 599/

Available at: MamaEarth website across India at offline stores and all major e-commerce portals such as Amazon, Flipkart and Nykaa.com.

Upakarma Ayurveda VitaminC and Saffron Night Face Serum

All natural ingredients of Vitamin C and Saffron Night face serum by Upakarma Ayurveda help in achieving radiant and glowing skin. This night serum has the ability to soften, and proactively diminishes the look of fine lines, age spots, and smooths out skin imperfections appearing during the day. While Aloe Vera extracts essential vitamins and Hyaluronic acid in Vitamin C Serum provides instant hydration to the skin, it also fights the damages which are caused by UV radiation, reduces hyperpigmentation and prevents skin ageing. Upakarma Ayurveda is India’s fastest growing Ayurvedic startup. These face serums are 100% vegan, gluten-free and cruelty free and it contains no silicone, mineral oil and parabens.

Price: INR 949/- for vitamin C face serum and INR 799/- for night serum with saffron.

Available at: https://upakarma.com/ , across India at offline stores and all major e-commerce portals such as Amazon, Flipkart and Nykaa.com.

Super Smelly mud-based Acne Warrior Oil Control Pack and activated charcoal-based Go Glow face pack

Super Smelly’s range of Mud-Based Acne Warrior Oil Control Pack and Activated Charcoal-based Go Glow face pack can help you with unclogging the pores, healing acne along, exfoliating, softening and brightening the skin, preventing blackheads, along with drawing out impurities and toxins from the skin naturally without getting it exposed to any toxic ingredients. Recognized as a winner in the ‘face pack’ category as one of the best innovations by consumers in a nationwide survey conducted by Nielsen this year, these face packs have also been certified by Safe Cosmetics Australia. These are gender-neutral and 100% toxin-free, and are made with naturally derived ingredients, which are gentle and effective on the skin of a Gen Z.

Price: INR 599/- onwards

Available at: https://supersmelly.in/ and all major e-commerce portals such as Amazon, Flipkart, Big Basket and Nykaa.com. The brand currently also retails its range across over 250 retail outlets in Delhi NCR.

Aadvik’s Camel Milk Skin Care Range

The beautiful gift from the desert, Camel Milk Body Butter and Day Cream is now made available in India for the first time by Aadvik Foods. The richness & softness of camel milk gives your skin a moisturizing effect & a healthy glow. Camel milk is rich in natural Alpha-hydroxy acids which replenish skin, helps in anti-aging, and acts as a natural toner. It is rich in iron and vitamin C & D as well. The lactic acid in camel milk also helps to brighten the skin and even the skin tone. Aadvik’s Camel Milk Body Butter and Day Cream is free from Paraben, GMO, Mineral oils and By-Products.

Price: INR 375 (Camel Milk Body Butter) & INR 250 (Day Cream)

Available at: https://aadvikfoods.com/ and all major e-commerce portals such as Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal.

mCaffeine Naked & Raw Coffee Body Scrub with Coconut

mCaffeine naked & raw coffee body scrub is made out of Pure Arabic Coffee and Cold Pressed Coconut Oil, the scrub exfoliates your dead skin and helps you to get rid of blackheads, sun-tan and impurities it even polishes your skin and also deep cleanses your pores making your skin smooth and glowing. mCaffeine is India’s first brand that has a wide range of caffeinated personal care products.

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SUPPLEMENTS could be used to lower your risk, or even prevent some high blood pressure symptoms. This is useful and natural remedy to avoid the deadly signs and symptoms of hypertension. Should you consider adding vitamin C supplements to your diet, to prevent high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is a common condition that affects more than 25 percent of all adults in the UK. But you could lower your risk of developing hypertension by simply taking daily vitamin C supplements, it’s been claimed.

Hypertension puts extra stress on blood vessels and vital organs.

Eating an unhealthy diet or not doing enough regular exercise could be raising your chances of high blood pressure.

But you could lower your chances of developing the condition by taking supplements, scientists have claimed.

One of the most effective remedies for hypertension is vitamin C supplements, it’s believed.

Vitamin C helps to maintain blood vessels’ elasticity, which has a subsequent effect on blood pressure, according to nutritionist Dr Sarah Brewer.

Arteries that aren’t very elastic increase the risk of hypertension.

Regularly taking vitamin C supplements could lower your blood pressure by as much as 3.8/1.5mmHg, if you already have hypertension.

The European Union recommends taking no more than 80mg of vitamin C every day.

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“Vitamin C is a useful natural remedy for high blood pressure,” she wrote on her website, MyLowerBloodPressure.com.

“It is needed for collagen formation which allows blood vessels to function normally and retain their strength and elasticity.

“As vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, it cannot be stored in the body and a regular intake is essential.

“Dietary sources include most fruit and vegetables including citrus, berries, blackcurrants, capsicum peppers, kiwi fruit and green leafy vegetables.”

Vitamin C helps the body to keep its cells healthy, while also maintaining the health of skin and bones.

Without enough vitamin C in your diet, you may be at risk of scurvy.

The most common vitamin C deficiency symptoms include having rough or bumpy skin, easily bruising, and even having corkscrew-shaped body hair.

Speak to a doctor if you’re worried that you may have a vitamin C deficiency.

Meanwhile, it’s not always easy to know if you have high blood pressure, which is why it’s often known as ‘the silent killer’.

But some of the earliest symptoms of hypertension include severe headaches and unexplained dizziness.

Everyone over 40 years old should check their blood pressure at least once every five years.

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist to have your blood pressure checked.

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Keto has been proven to be one of the most effective weight reduction diets there is by restricting carbs and simple sugars. If you jumped on the keto bandwagon, lost some significant pounds and taken back control of your life, can you reintroduce carbs and sweets into your life?

With keto, transitioning is very tricky and should be done carefully. This is because the sudden introduction of carbs and sugar into your meal plan can lead to some unwanted results like weight gain, bloat, blood sugar fluctuations, sugar addiction, and lastly, increased hunger. You have to do things slowly and keep an eye out on any body fluctuations.

Go slow

Rather than ingesting vast amounts of carb-rich foods, start with gradual increments. Foods like whole-grain bread, seeded crackers, more avocados, or bean pasta are a great start as opposed to donuts and chips. These carbs digest slower and won’t leave you feeling hungry almost immediately. However, even with this slow introduction, you’re likely to notice about one or two-pound gains just because of their water content.

Go fiberous

Fiber-rich foods like grains, nuts, fruit, and seeds have a fair amount of carbohydrates in them, and they don’t leave you with the pang of hunger so fast. So incorporate everything from dark veggies to beans, legumes to wheat bread in your diet.

Avoid sugars

Keto is a natural sugar reducing diet that reduces one’s craving for sugar. So, to prevent restoring to default settings, go easy on the sugar. Beware of natural sugars too like that in honey and certain fruits.

If you achieved your dream weight with the keto diet, it’s essential to be cautious when transitioning off it.

These precautionary measures and pointers will keep you from losing all you’ve gained and gaining all you’ve lost with respect to weight and general fitness during your keto diet.

The post How To Transition Off Keto Without Gaining Weight appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

A cure for aging?

The research was carried out at University of Southern California and focuses on a kind of cell known as a senescent cell. Much aging-related research focuses on these, as they are key players in how humans grow old. Essentially, these are cells that have ceased the ability to divide and are therefore thought to be a key driver in age-related decline, along with conditions such as arthritis and heart disease.

“Senescent cells are effectively the opposite of stem cells, which have an unlimited potential for self-renewal or division,” says lead author Alireza Delfarah. “Senescent cells can never divide again. It’s an irreversible state of cell cycle arrest.”

While this is a well-established function of senescent cells, the biological processes underpinning this behavior aren’t so well understood. To investigate this, the team performed an analysis of the metabolic pathways in epithelial cells that had become senescent.

This led the researchers to discover that the cells had stopped producing a class of chemical compounds called nucleotides. These are the building blocks of DNA, and the researchers found through further experiments that when they intervened to stop the cells producing nucleotides, they indeed went on to become senescent.

“This means that the production of nucleotides is essential to keep cells young,” Delfarah says. “It also means that if we could prevent cells from losing nucleotide synthesis, the cells might age more slowly.”

That is easier said than done, but the discovery marks an important step in this direction. If we understand how and why cells become senescent, then we may be able to design drugs that target those particular machinations. But equally important, identifying what makes these cells unique will make it easier to design drugs that selectively target them and not other healthy ones.

These medications are part of a class of drugs called senolytics, which focus on eliminating senescent cells for healthier aging. Last year, scientists made a breakthrough in this area, demonstrating a new type of senolytic compound that could slow down the deterioration of aging mice with just three days of treatment.

The thinking with this kind of research isn’t necessarily to stop aging altogether, but to make aging in humans a more palatable experience by keeping us fitter and healthier for longer. Senescent cells are implicated in a range of age-related conditions, so new methods of clearing them away or preventing their buildup in the first place could open up some exciting possibilities.

“To drink from the fountain of youth, you have to figure out where the fountain of youth is, and understand what the fountain of youth is doing,” says study author Nick Graham. “We’re doing the opposite; we’re trying to study the reasons cells age, so that we might be able to design treatments for better aging.”

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hen reading about hair and skincare, you’ll often encounter the term “pH balance,” as if you’re supposed to have any idea what it means. pH might sound familiar, though, and rightfully so: You learned about it in your high school chemistry class. And, as it would turn out, your skin and hair have their own natural pH levels that, if imbalanced, can lead to dryness and irritation.

And we’ll get to that, but before we dive in, here’s what you need to know about pH: “It stands for ‘potential hydrogen,’” says dermatologist Tsippora Shainhouse of Beverly Hills. “It refers to the acid-basic ratio of a substance. The more hydrogen ions available, the more acidic, and the lower the pH.” There is a 0-14 scale denoting if something is alkaline (with high pH) or acidic (low pH). The middle, 7, is neutral, and anything less than that increases in acidity, whereas anything above it increases in alkalinity. Different elements and organisms carry different natural levels, and a neutral 7 isn’t necessarily equilibrium.

Maintaining healthy pH levels is essential to keeping your skin happy, especially on your face. It can help prevent aging and generally keep your face clear of irritation. Here’s how to do it—without trying too hard.

Know your natural pH level
Skin is acidic in its natural state, with levels believed to be somewhere between 5-6 on the pH scale, says Shainhouse. However, some studies have proven that natural, untreated skin gets as low as 4.7. “The skin’s acid mantle, aka the skin barrier, is made up of sebum, lactic and amino acids, and it is what enables the skin to retain moisture and keep out germs, damaging UV rays and environmental pollutants, as well as preventing it from becoming irritated by topical chemicals and skin care products,” she says. There’s no easy way to check the pH balance of your skin. But there are other, more indirect, ways to monitor it.

Watch out for signs that your pH is off
If your skin is inflamed, dry, irritated and overly sensitive, it might be suffering from a high pH, Shainhouse says. “The alkali strips the skin of its protective properties. It can lead to premature skin aging and wrinkling.”

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Low skin pH—e.g. when it gets too acidic—manifests as redness, irritation, oiliness, or increased acne. “Many skincare products are acid-based and can help treat some acne, but overusing them can remove the protective skin barrier, leaving skin irritated and hypersensitive,” Shainhouse adds. “Healthy skin with a normal pH appears smooth, soft without tightness, dryness, flaking, irritation or itching,” she says. “It doesn’t react or become sensitive to skincare products that you use regularly.”

So try to preemptively maintain your pH balance
First and foremost, the pH levels in the water that you shower in can affect your skin—including your scalp. “You want soft, non-alkaline, non-mineral, heavy water for bathing,” says Shainhouse. She suggests getting a water softener if your skin and hair are consistently too dry.

Many soaps of yore were made of lye, which is ultra alkaline, and would dry out the skin—or worse, leave chemical burns on it. Shampoos and soaps that contain sulfates—the ingredient that lathers up all those suds—might also irritate the skin. So Shainhouse suggests using gentle, moisturizing soaps and shampoos, and something slightly acidic—with alpha or beta hydroxyl acid—to maintain proper acidic levels. (Try Murad® AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, Mario Badescu AHA Botanical Body Soap and Davines Minu Shampoo.)

Skin toners are especially good for targeting pH—they’re specifically designed to manage these levels in the skin. “Toners and micellar waters can be used to deliver specific ingredients, including salicylic acid for acne-prone skin, or green tea or chamomile to soothe,” Shainhouse says. (Try Ursa Major 4-in-1 Essential Face Tonic.)

Perhaps the best thing you can do for your hair is use a conditioner. “Hair conditioner is actually a ‘toner’, in that it can pH balance the hair after it is altered by alkaline tap water or drying, stripping shampoos,” Shainhouse says. (Try Hanz de Fuko Natural Conditioner.)

Lastly, Shainhouse says that moisturisers add the important levels of hydration that keep skin balanced, while reparative formulations like ceramide- or hyaluronic-acid-packed products will help seal a broken skin barrier to minimise moisture loss and prevent irritation. (Try Dr. Jart+ Ceramide Liquid, Youth to the People Hyaluronic Acid Age Prevention Cream.)

The post What is pH balance and why should I care? appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

In the world of anti-aging ingredients, there are few that can compete with or compare to retinol, the undisputed gold standard among dermatologists. And for good reason: retinoids have been proven to be highly effective time and time again, helping to both speed cell turnover on the outer layers of the skin, while also stimulating collagen production in the deeper layers. Translation: Clearer, more even skin and fewer wrinkles. So why isn’t everyone and their mother using a retinoid? Largely because along with all of that potency comes the potential for some seriously irritating—and unsightly—side effects, namely redness, flaking, and dryness. It also breaks down when exposed to sunlight, not to mention isn’t safe to use during pregnancy.

That’s why bakuchiol is the latest anti-aging ingredient garnering lots of buzz. Derived from a plant native to India and Sri Lanka, it’s been used for centuries in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, despite the fact that it’s just now becoming a mainstream skincare ingredient. Why the lag time? Scientists have only recently discovered that it may be comparable to retinol. Despite the fact that the two have very different molecular structures, “bakuchiol has antioxidant properties that make it similar to retinol,” explains cosmetic chemist Perry Romanowski. “This is what prompted scientists to investigate how the two would compare,” he adds.

The results? According to a recent study published in the British Journal of Dermatology, bakuchiol and retinol had similar effects when it came to decreasing wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. “It’s hard to make conclusions about bakuchiol because this was a small study, but the evidence points to them being comparable,” Romanowski says. The big difference between the two? The newbie proved to be much less irritating. Couple that with the fact that it won’t break down in the sun and is generally safe to use during pregnancy (though it’s always a good idea to check with your doc) and bakuchiol is poised to give retinol a run for its money. Curious to give it a try? Find it in these five products.

1. sephora
   
   Ole Henriksen Glow Cycle Retin-ALT Power Serum
   Since bakuchiol won’t be rendered inactive by the sun, it’s totally fine to make it part of your daytime routine. Try this multi-tasking day serum, which does everything from fade dark spots to minimize pores. Plus, the subtle lavender tint brightens dull skin on the spot, perfect when you want a little instant gratification.

2. alpynbeauty.com
Alpyn Beauty Plant Genius Moisturizer
This line relies on a whole host of plant-based active ingredients, so it’s no surprise that bakuchiol is one of them. It’s coupled with hydrating ceramides and squalane, which melts into skin, leaving it with a perfectly velvety finish. Oh, and it layers beautifully under makeup, too.

3. herbivorebotanicals.com

Herbivore Bakuchiol Retinol Alternative Smoothing Serum
Bakuchiol is paired with uber-gentle PHAs (polyhydroxy acids) to help minimize wrinkles and exfoliate, leaving your complexion smooth and glowing. Bonus points for the very pleasing jelly-like texture and pretty purple hue.

4. twinmedix.com

TwinMedix Pro:Refine Eye Corrector
The delicate skin around your eyes is thin and where signs of aging tend to show up first. Fight pesky crow’s feet with this treatment that contains bakuchiol, hydrating sodium hyaluronate, and vitamin B5.

5. isdin.com

Isdin Melatonik 3-in-1 Night Serum
Bedtime bakuchiol for the win. This p.m. powerhouse boosts elasticity and firmness, but the formula also helps undo the day’s damage. Melatonin and vitamin C fight free radicals caused by exposure to UV rays and pollution.

The post Bakuchiol Is the All-Natural Anti-Aging Alternative to Retinol appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

Weird, but unreal?

Lads, have you ever looked in the mirror and though “hmm I think my skin is getting a little older?”

I had that recently.

That plump, vibrancy of youth starts to fade when you reach your mid twenties, it’s just a fact of life.

Thankfully, in 2019, there are plenty of treatments you can get that helps reduce the signs of ageing.

And, remarkably, most of them are non-invasive, which is music to my ears.

I personally have a chronic fear of going under the knife, so that will forever be a non-runner.

No needles, no knives, no never.

So, when I got invited to trial the snazzy ESPA Natural Facelift, I was all for it – despite not having a clue what it was.

I rocked up to the Powerscourt Hotel (which is just divine btw) on a very rainy Wednesday afternoon, excited for my treatment.

Before going in to get the facial, I spent an hour or so in a white robe lounging around the spa, living my best life.

Then I got called in for the Natural Facelift, and the real fun began.

So, what exactly goes on, I hear you ask?

There are four main steps to the facial, and they’re all incredibly different.

ou begin with a double cleanse and gentle exfoliation using steam, which warms the skin and muscles. Very pleasant.

The New Tri-Active Advanced ProBiome serum is then mixed with an ESPA Face Treatment Oil, and massaged into key lymph points around the face, neck and décolleté.

Then came the Kobido massage.

This is an old school method that stimulates the facial muscles. The massage increases circulation, while bringing oxygen and nutrients to the skin’s surface.

Then came the bit I really wasn’t expecting – a deep massage.

The goal here is to tighten, tone and lift the skin whilst releasing tension around the jaw.

It also aims contour the face and bring about total relaxation.

I have to admit, it was more intense than any facial massage I have ever received. It verged on the side of painful, but that was kind of the point I guess.

Next up, an ESPA Lifting and Soothing Mask was applied to my face, neck and décolleté to cool and calm my skin.

Then came by favourite part – the soothing scalp massage, which happened while the mask was setting.

There is nothing better. Fact.

The mask came off, and on went the ESPA Tri-Active Advanced ProBiome Eye Cream and Moisturiser.

And sure, just like that I looked younger, with more glowy radiant skin.

I can’t deny, my skin definitely felt more springy and full of life, and looked amazing too.

Would recommend to a friend (and all of you gorgeous people!)

The writer was invited by ESPA Skincare and Powerscourt to trial the treatment exchange for a fair and honest review. 

You can find out more about the Powerscourt spa , including pricing and availability,

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