Glycerine is one of the oldest and most common ingredients that can be found in almost any household. It is one of the most effective ingredients to treat dry and dehydrated skin. Glycerine, also known as glycol, can be extracted from animal fat as well as vegetable fat. It is a thick gelatinous, sweet tasting, odourless liquid that is used in a variety of cosmetics like creams, moisturisers, shampoos and conditioners. Apart from facial skin, glycerine can be used on lips as well to keep dryness at bay. You can replace those expensive lip balms with glycerine and have naturally soft lips. I have seen my grandmother using glycerine for her skin. She used to make a mixture of rose water and glycerine and massage it on her face regularly. No wonder she had a super soft and glowing skin all the time, inspite of living in the hills where the summer sun was harsh and the winters were even harsher.

So, without much ado, let us see how glycerine supports our skin's health.

Glycerine For Dry Skin | Removes Dryness

Glycerine is an excellent moisturiser for skin. Using it regularly on your skin will keep it hydrated and fresh. If you have a dry, patchy skin, then bring glycerine to your rescue and bid goodbye to dryness.

Maintains pH Balance

Glycerine helps maintain the pH balance of your skin. Using it regularly will minimise the water loss in your skin, which generally happens due to evaporation. It creates a layer of moisture on your skin that protects from harmful UV rays, keeping your skin healthy, hydrated and glowing. You can make it a part of your winter skin care regime.

Anti-Fungal

Glycerine has healing properties and can act as a natural medicine, especially in treating skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

Dead Skin Removal

Glycerine breaks down the proteins in dead skin cells and removes them from our skin. This helps in generation of new skin cells, giving you a clear and healthy skin.

Now you know why glycerine is so important for your beauty arsenal. Although there are many beauty products available in the market that claim to have glycerine in them, it is always recommended to use homemade glycerine beauty treatments to avoid putting any other chemicals on your skin.

Here are some DIY glycerine beauty remedies that will give you healthy and happy skin:

Night Moisturiser
Take 50ml of glycerine and 50ml of rose water in a bowl and mix them well. Store the mixture in an air-tight bottle/jar. To use it, dip a cotton ball in it and wipe your skin with it. Leave it overnight. Wash your face the next morning.

Hand Moisturiser
Take 2tsb honey, 2tsp glycerine and 2tsb oatmeal in bowl. Mix all the ingredients well until you get a thick paste. Apply the mixture on your hands and allow it to dry. Scrub it off with milk and then water.

Skin Cleanser And Softener
Take 2tsp sugar, 2tsp glycerine, 2drops lavender essential oil or geranium oil, 1tsp sea salt and juice of half a lemon. Mix all the ingredients well in a bowl and scrub gently onto damp skin, allowing the sugar to melt into the skin and salt to cleanse. Wash it off with water and say hello to see a super soft skin.

Cracked Heel Healer
Massaging glycerine regularly on your heels may give you relief from painful cracked heels. All you have to do is to directly massage on your heels. You may also mix warm sesame seed oil with glycerine and apply it on the affected area.

Anti-Ageing Mask
Take 1 egg white, 1tsp corn-starch, 2tsp ice water and 1tsp glycerine in a bowl and mix all the ingredients well. Apply it on your face and allow it to dry. Wash it off with cold water. Using it regularly may give you better results.

Make-Up Remover
As we know that glycerine is a good skin cleanser, you may also use it as your make-up remover. Take 2tsp glycerine and mix it with the juice of half a lemon and 2tsp of milk. Now, with a help of cotton ball, wipe your face with this mixture. Wash off your face with normal water before going off to bed.

Anti-Acne Treatment
Take 1tsp glycerine, 1tsp Fuller's Earth, a pinch of camphor and a tsp of witch-hazel in a bowl and mix them well. Apply the mixture on the affected area. Leave on till dry and wash off with normal water.

Glycerine is an excellent ingredient for your skin when used with caution. If you think that there are any more glycerine beauty treatments, leave them in the comment section below.

Bright red, tangy and full of goodness, tomatoes have so much to offer not just for your overall health but also for a glowing skin. Apart from being used in the culinary world to add that add extra zest and colour, antioxidants and other essential nutrients present in tomatoes can make your skin spot and blemish free too. Tomatoes are known to have astringent and soothing properties along with a healthy boost of vitamin C that helps reduce acne and dark spots. It replenishes the skin with natural acidic properties and flushes out excess oil. While you may have used tomatoes in the form of commercially bought face-washes or cleansers and toners, we bring some amazing natural tomato based face-packs that will definitely give your facial skin a complete makeover.

1. Tomato and cucumber face pack

All you need to do is take one tomato and two tablespoons of cucumber paste along with a tablespoon of honey. Squeeze all the juice from the tomato and mix it well with the cucumber and honey. Spread the mixture on your face and let it sit for 15-20 minutes and rinse off using lukewarm water. Cucumber has hydrating and soothing properties and will help remove excess oil from the face and retain natural oils. This one's perfect for people with oily skin.

2. Tomato and olive oil face pack

Olive oil is known to be a great moisturizer and mixing it with tomato paste makes it even better. Take a medium sized tomato and squeeze all the juice from it and add one tablespoon of olive oil and mix well. Apply this mixture on your face and leave it for about 15-20 minutes or as it dries. Do not rinse it with cold water, instead take lukewarm water and massage the face in circular motions. This will leave your skin soft and moisturized. This face pack is the best for people with excessively dry skin.

3. Tomato pulp face pack

Tomato pulp is best used for removing suntan and can be used to treat open pores as well. Whenever you are pressed for time, just mash boiled potatoes into a pulp and rub it in circular motion on your face and leave it till it dries off. In fact, you can also add one tablespoon of milk and apply it on your face and leave it for not more than 10 minutes before washing it off with cold water. Do this regularly to remove suntan.

4. Tomato with yogurt and lemon face pack

Beat the pollution with the goodness of tomatoes, yogurt and lemon. Take a tomato and squeeze all the juice out of it, add two teaspoons of lemon juice and fresh plain yogurt. Mix all these ingredients together and apply it on your face and rinse it with lukewarm water after leaving it on for 15-20 minutes. All of these ingredients act as bleaching agents and will ensure a glowing skin.

5. Tomato and oatmeal face pack

Talk about exfoliation and oatmeal comes to mind. Powder two tablespoons of oatmeal in coarse form and mix it with two tablespoons of tomato pulp; you can add cucumber pulp too to this mix. Apply this on your face and leave for 15 minutes and then rub it in circular motions before washing it off with lukewarm water. Hello, soft and supple skin!

These simple tomato face packs can be used regularly to get your skin glowing. So go ahead and make the most of these juicy red delights!

Sensitive skin can make life miserable. Factors, such as environmental and climatic changes, certain beauty products and medications can affect individuals with sensitive skin. There may be skin inflammation, irritation, rashes, redness, dryness and flakiness. The extent of the sensitive reaction can vary from one individual to another. In many cases, it has been observed that sensitive skin appears to be thinner than the normal skin. Thus, people with such delicate skin type need to be extra careful. Do not try self medication. It will make things worse. Always seek an expert advice. A dermatologist knows what is best for your skin.

People with sensitive skin need to follow some basic skin care regimes:

It is very important to keep a sensitive skin hydrated and moisturised all the time. A dehydrated skin not only appears tighter, but also results in extreme skin dryness and irritation. Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water daily. It is very important to flush out the toxins and maintain the alkaline skin pH. Avoid taking very hot water or ice baths. The extreme temperatures will do your skin more harm than good. A warm water bath is an excellent option. Apply generous amounts of moisturiser, whenever your skin feels dry and itchy.

It is best to avoid products that are harsh on your skin. Consult a dermatologist before using products containing alpha hydroxyl acids. These are strong acids and their application can lead to skin irritation and rashes. It is a healthy practice to keep your skin clean. However, not all soaps are suitable for sensitive skin. Soaps (strong alkali) are a big no. It is best to use a medicated soap, specially formulated for sensitive skin. To cleanse your face, use a mild (soap free) face wash or a cleanser.

For people with sensitive skin, it is best not to experiment with the skin care products. Play it safe, stick to the brands you have been using for long.

Certain beauty products are strongly fragranced. These can trigger severe skin and allergic reactions. Lanolin, artificial mineral oil and alcohol containing products are no better. It is best to use natural and herbal skin care products.

Do not use cosmetics and beauty products beyond a certain period of time. Face powders, silicone based foundations, sunscreen (titanium oxide or zinc oxide based) are best for sensitive skin. These products are known to be less harsh and thus have little or no side effects.

Before using any products, know the ingredients and chemicals that goes into its manufacture.

The skin on your body is an important organ which also has many important functions such as regulating the body temperature through perspiration, allowing you to touch and feel the world around us. The skin is a supple organ with folds and variations and different levels of thickness. To maintain its health, it is very important to keep it properly hydrated. Let’s look at a few ways that can be done naturally:

Moisturize: This is an important step that many don’t follow and it is a very important part of skin care. Moisturizing is necessary in both dry and wet climates. What you need to be aware of is to change the type of moisturizer from season to season. It is better to moisturize with a lighter lotion and less often during summers while the winters would require a heavier lotion with increased frequency.

Use humidifiers during the dry seasons: Many people may miss this trick, but it is a good idea to run a humidifier within the room during the dry seasons as it helps you to breathe better as well as keeps your skin hydrated. Also, when sleeping in air conditioned rooms, it is a good idea to run a humidifier to ensure that the cold air doesn’t dehydrate your skin.

Stop taking hot showers for too long: This is another common reason for dry skin. Taking hot showers for extended periods of time will rob your skin of its natural moisturizers and result in dry, scaly skin. Too long and hot showers will strip the skin of its essential oils and thus result in it becoming scaly and dry. Preferably, take shorter and colder showers.

Change lifestyle habits: One of the greatest disruptors of skin health are bad habits, such as smoking, drinking excessive alcohol and sun damage. Ensure that you have enough protection from the sun to stop sun damage. Smoking and alcohol both dry out our skin and thus result in you looking older as well as developing more wrinkles. Give up smoking and try to limit alcohol consumption to limited quantities.

Exercise: Many of the skin related woes occur due to the lack of physical movement, which results in underlying conditions. These underlying conditions may not only cause the skin quality to deteriorate, but will also result in it being dry. It is important to exercise to keep the internal regulatory systems in best condition and keep the skin hydrated.

A flawless skin is the first parameter of a beautiful appearance. No matter what is your colour, a glamorous skin with no spots and blackheads is a must for being beautiful. In fact, it is the dream of most women to get a beautiful skin. Your skin can look young forever, if you take care of it in a proper manner. Your skin can look young if the collagen that is produced by the cells in skin remains intact. It helps in keeping your skin wrinkle-free and holds it tight. But, as you get older, the collagen gets damaged and its production is reduced. Here’s how you can take care of the collagen fibre and keep your skin intact:

Take Vitamin C: According to American Journal of Nutrition women in their mid age with sufficient amount of vitamin C had wrinkle-free skin. They looked young and vitamin. Vitamin C plays a vital role in the production of collagen. It also catalyses collagen repair. You can have food rich in vitamin C. Thus, you can eat leafy green vegetables and citrus fruits for best results on regular basis.

Stop Smoking: It is always advisable to quit smoking in order to have younger and fairer spotless skin. Smoking is responsible for the release of an enzyme called metalloproteinases. This enzyme is responsible for damage of collagen fibre.


Stay Away From Sun Rays: It is a known fact that sun rays are harmful to the skin. They contain ultraviolet radiations. These UV rays destroy collagen fibres, leading to loosening of the skin. Thus, it is best to avoid staying outdoors under the sun for too long on a regular basis. Or, if it is absolutely unavoidable, you must put on sunscreen lotions or creams, which protect your skin against UV rays.

Take Retinol: You can apply retinoid creams. They boost the formation of collagen. These are prescription drugs. But, there are also some over-the-counter creams with retinol in lighter doses. These are useful for having a younger skin.

Avoid Sweet Stuff: You must not eat too much of sweet stuff as they can cause beauty disaster. Excess sugar leads to the production of advanced glycation end products by attaching itself to lipids and proteins. This would hamper your skin and its collagen.

Exfoliate: It is important for you to exfoliate your skin daily. It removes the dead cells from the outer layer and allows the skin to breathe and look fresh.