It is that time of the year again. Warming kadha and soups are all set to give way for cooling sherbets topped with chilled ice cubes. I remember, how long back, one of my only household duties in summer would be to refill the ice trays so that we never run out of ice cubes. Come to think of it, it was indeed quite an important task at hand. It is tough to imagine summers without ice cubes. Be it the plain water ice cubes, or the fun ones made with fruits and herbs, ice cubes are one summer staple you would find across all households. But, did you know these little ice cubes are capable of much more than cooling your drinks. They could prove to be one of your best companions for summer skincare, too. They may help reduce pimples, sunburns, skin inflammation and boost blood circulation. Ice cubes with milk or cucumber can even exfoliate your skin. Surprised? Here's how you can use this versatile and inexpensive skin care remedy for all your beauty needs.


1. Shrink Pimple Or Acne

It may not be as fancy as the cosmetic packs that you use on your acne prone skin, but ice cubes could also prove to be rather effective, if given a chance. Acne is caused due to excess production of oil from the sebaceous glands leading to the blockage of hair follicles. Ice may not cure your skin of pimple completely but it can surely help to shrink or compress it in size. Ice helps cool down your inflamed skin that broke out into that nasty pimple. Make sure you consult your dermatologist before going ahead with the remedy. If your skin is sensitive the ice massage may aggravate the bacterial action.
How to use: Wash your face and dry it with the help of a towel. Take a clean paper towel and put some ice cubes in it. Put the towel exactly on top of the acne for about a minute. Repeat the process after five minutes. If you have been using any essential oil add a drop of it on the towel filled with ice cubes and repeat. Make sure you take ample breaks.

2. Sunburn

Come summers and the sun becomes one of your greatest enemies. Staying out in sun for long could lead to nasty sun burns and tan. Exposure to harmful UV rays could penetrate in your skin and may cause damage to skin cells, too. You can use aloe-vera juice or cucumber ice cubes to soothe the painful effect of sunburns. According to the book 'The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies' by Vasant Lad, aloe vera is often dubbed as the "burn plant," indicating that its natural properties can cure a sun burn. The leaves of the plant consist of anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce swelling and further calm skin irritation caused by the burn. Ice cubes made of plain water are not a bad pick either. Its cooling properties help in absorbing the heat from the skin, subsequently, soothing the sun burnt area. Applying the cool compress regularly is known to be very effective.

How to use: Make a cool compress using ice cubes. Wash your face and pat dry it with a towel. Place the towel with ice cubes on the affected area till the ice melts.

3. Exfoliate Skin

Ice cubes are also a reasonable remedy to exfoliate your skin. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells from the surface of the epidermis. You can make milk ice cubes for best results. In an ice tray, instead if water pour milk and freeze it. To each block you can also add blueberries and cucumber. Your milk ice cubes are ready. Apply these cubes on gently on your face. The lactic acid in the milk, scrubs away dead cells and give you an exfoliated skin. The antioxidants present in blueberries and cucumber would help give you a face lift.

How to use: Take a towel, add the milk cubes and give your skin a gentle press. Softly massage your skin with the ice cubes till the cubes melt. Wash your face with water after a good massage.

4. Reduce Oiliness Of Skin
Struggling with the woes of oily skin? Give cooling and refreshing ice cubes a chance. Application of ice cubes checks the oil secretion on the skin, giving you fresh and oil-free skin in a jiffy.

How to use: After washing your face, rub your face with ice cubes wrapped in paper towel, or any towel, made in thin fabric. Once the oiliness is reduced, you may need to apply a little moisturiser. To make it even more refreshing try using mint ice cubes. In an ice tray pour water and, in each block, put a mint leaf. Your mint cubes are ready.

5. Puffy Eyes

Been working extra hours? Has the exhaustion begun to take a toll on your eyes, too? Puffy eyes are perhaps one of the biggest curses of today's fast-paced urban lifestyle. Ice cubes are perhaps the most inexpensive and convenient quick fix for the same. According to beauty experts, on an inflamed skin, any kind of cool pack is an effective remedy. You can put ice cubes of water, milk or antioxidant rich green tea, and apply them around your puffed eyes. However, beware you don't put it around your eyes for too long. Using chilled ice, right out of the fridge may not be the best idea for delicate skin, it may stick to the skin and cause pain.

How to use: Wash your face and dry it with towel. Now, wrap the ice cubes in a paper towel and gently press the cubes on your eyes for short periods. Continue the process for about 10 minutes, then dry your face with towel. Get ready for a fresh look on your face.

So, what are you waiting for? Pull out your ice trays, freeze some quick cubes and use it for your skin this summer.

When it comes to skin and hair care, natural oils can prove to be quite beneficial. If you wish to have a soft, supple and nourished skin, then natural oils can do wonders as they have their own unique set of skin benefitting properties. Rice bran oil is used as a dressing in salads. It is not only great for cooking but is also widely used as a natural skin care product. It is quite rich in various vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Rice bran is the outer layer of rice grain. According to Bangalore-based nutritionist Dr. Anju Sood, "Rice bran oil has the right amount of poly unsaturated fatty acids in it. Apart from this, it also has flavonoids present which can do wonders for skin and hair health." Here's a list of 5 benefits that rice bran oil has to offer. Read on to know more about them.

1. Nourishes Hair:

Rice bran oil is rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids which help nourish the hair. If you happen to have frizzy hair, then bring this oil to your rescue as regular use of this use oil could possibly make your hair thicker and easily manageable. To reap its benefits, massage your hair using this oil before hair wash. It will keep your hair follicles healthy.

2. Protects Skin From UV Rays:

Take 2 drops of rice bran oil and gently massage it over your face until it is fully absorbed. This oil will protect your skin from pollution and also act as a natural sun screen.

3. Acts As A Makeup Remover:

The natural antioxidants present in the rice bran oil could also help you get rid of excessive makeup, making your skin look supple and soft. It is an excellent source of vitamin E which has the tendency to penetrate deep into your skin's layers.

4. Prevents Early Hair Greying:

The antioxidants present in the oil not only provide skin nourishment but also help in keeping the skin young. It prevents early signs of hair greying. Use warm rice bran oil and massage your hair twice a week. To make the most of it, add 2-3 drops of this oil to your shampoo as well.

5. Prevents Dark Circles:

Rice bran oil enhances the blood circulation around the eye area and prevents puffy eyes and dark circles. The high concentration of sterol in it lightens the under eye skin and prevents dark circles.

So what are you waiting for? Bring this natural oil to your rescue and reap all its benefits!

It is that time of the year and swimming pools are filled with people who wish to escape the heat. Before you step out this summer, ensure you have some skin protection, say experts.

Omkar Kulkarni, Head of R&D department, Netsurf Network and Austin, Head – Research and Development, Cholayil Private Limited, lists some tips.

* An earthy touch: A dip in the pool can beat the summer heat but it can leave a severe tan on the skin for months. Try a mixture of Multani Mitti (mineral-rich clay) along with few drops of lemon and rose water.

After your time in the sun, mix the ingredients and apply on exposed areas. The paste calms the skin with a cooling effect. Also apply coconut or olive oil liberally over body parts that are exposed to chlorinated water.

* Spice up your life: Water in swimming pools contains disinfectants like iodide and chlorine, which cause skin problems like acne flare-ups, rashes and red patches. Cinnamon has great anti-microbial properties. Add a few drops of honey and Aloe Vera gel to cinnamon powder to fight bacteria-causing acne. The mixture also keeps the skin moist.

* For a golden glow: Turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and cleanses pores from within. Grind neem leaves with water and mix it with one tablespoon of turmeric powder. Apply the paste on the face with few drops of rose water to clear up skin after acne break-outs and also to reduce scars naturally.

* The secret mantra: To avoid the contagious skin diseases and allergies caused by swimming in public pools, Ayurveda recommends adding neem leaf extract to bathing water. If you cannot organise a fresh extract every day, pick body cleansing products that have “neem” or “tea tree oil” as their main ingredient.

Summer is here and so is the season of gorging on deliciously juicy mangoes. These delights are not just called king of fruits for their delightful sweet taste, but also for the numerous health benefits they have to offer.

According to the book 'Healing Foods' by DK Publishing, throughout Asia, mango has both spiritual and medicinal significance. Mangoes are high in antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin C, and are great for boosting the immune system, further protecting eyesight and aiding digestion. While mango has been deemed as one of the healthiest fruits, there is a popular belief that it might be a cause of acne, especially when eaten during summers.

Does it really cause skin problems? Why do people believe so? Let's find out.It is believed that excessive consumption of mangoes tend to produce heat in the body; which means that they raise the body's temperature that may further cause ailments like acne, boils, rash and even acidity in the body.

According to Health Practitioner and Macrobiotic Health Coach, Shilpa Arora, "Mango is the best summer fruit that is rich in vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, fibre, vitamin B6 and beta-carotene that is an essential nutrient for skin health. In fact, all of these nutrients are skin healing nutrients; for example, fibre in mangoes cleanses your gut that is overloaded with toxic substances. Mangoes do not cause acne or any skin conditions; however, moderation and discipline in eating habits is mandatory for a balanced holistic approach for health."

As per Dr. Zamurrud Patel, Consultant Dietician at Global Hospitals Mumbai, "Mangoes are loaded with essential nutrients that may not affect the body in a negative way; however, this applies when the fruit is eaten in a moderate quantity. Excessive consumption can lead to various health problems."

Mangoes are otherwise excellent for your skin; thanks to the various nutrients present in them. They are a rich source of vitamin A or beta-carotene, which is a strong antioxidant that helps rejuvenate the skin and prevent the growth of acne or pimples. In fact, apart from eating the fruit pulp, the skin of the fruit is rich in alpha hydroxyl acids (AHA) that is used as an excellent skin exfoliator and rejuvenator.

So, go on and add mangoes to your daily diet during summer, but make sure you limit the consumption of the same. Experts generally recommend eating not more than two mangoes per day. Diabetics may consult their doctors before savouring the fruit. Happy summers!

When it comes to skin and hair care, natural oils can prove to be quite beneficial. If you wish to have a soft, supple and nourished skin, then natural oils can do wonders as they have their own unique set of skin benefitting properties. Rice bran oil is used as a dressing in salads. It is not only great for cooking but is also widely used as a natural skin care product. It is quite rich in various vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Rice bran is the outer layer of rice grain. According to Bangalore-based nutritionist Dr. Anju Sood, "Rice bran oil has the right amount of poly unsaturated fatty acids in it. Apart from this, it also has flavonoids present which can do wonders for skin and hair health." Here's a list of 5 benefits that rice bran oil has to offer. Read on to know more about them.

1. Nourishes Hair:

Rice bran oil is rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids which help nourish the hair. If you happen to have frizzy hair, then bring this oil to your rescue as regular use of this use oil could possibly make your hair thicker and easily manageable. To reap its benefits, massage your hair using this oil before hair wash. It will keep your hair follicles healthy.

2. Protects Skin From UV Rays:

Take 2 drops of rice bran oil and gently massage it over your face until it is fully absorbed. This oil will protect your skin from pollution and also act as a natural sun screen.

3. Acts As A Makeup Remover:

The natural antioxidants present in the rice bran oil could also help you get rid of excessive makeup, making your skin look supple and soft. It is an excellent source of vitamin E which has the tendency to penetrate deep into your skin's layers.

4. Prevents Early Hair Greying:

The antioxidants present in the oil not only provide skin nourishment but also help in keeping the skin young. It prevents early signs of hair greying. Use warm rice bran oil and massage your hair twice a week. To make the most of it, add 2-3 drops of this oil to your shampoo as well.

5. Prevents Dark Circles:

Rice bran oil enhances the blood circulation around the eye area and prevents puffy eyes and dark circles. The high concentration of sterol in it lightens the under eye skin and prevents dark circles.