Winter Skin Care Secrets Revealed

Trendy accessories and gorgeous cashmere sweaters will hardly make a difference to your appearance if you skin looks tired, dull and dry this winter. While winter can bring that rosy glow to your cheeks, it also can make your skin uncomfortably dry on the face, hands and feet.  For some people, winters can be extremely problematic, as the dry cold can cause flaking and cracking of skin. Regardless of which category you fall in, you can now keep your skin healthy and moist with these skin care tips.

Get Hold of a Specialist

If you are the type of person who picks up her moisture from a drugstore, do not expect to find a salesperson to dole out expert advice. You need to invest your money and time in seeking out a qualified esthetician, who can analyze your skin and recommend the best winter skin care possible. The esthetician also will recommend the products you should be using on your skin. Remember, it is not always necessary to buy expensive products, as inexpensive products can work just as well on your skin. It is important that your skin feel soft, supple and moist when you use a product. So stop worrying about the cost.

Moisturize More Often

Just because a moisturizer managed to keep your skin soft and supple during spring and summer, it does not mean it is ideal for winter. Your skin care regimen should change in winter. These are the things you should be looking for:

• Invest in an oil-based moisturizer. Such a moisturizer will form a protective layer on your keep and help to keep the moisture in.
• Make sure the moisturizer contains oils that do not clog your pores. The oils that do not plug your pores include primrose oil, almond oil, avocado oil and mineral oil.
• Buy a lotion that contains humectants, such it will help to attract moisture to your skin. You should look for lotions containing alpha-hydroxy acids, sorbitol or glycerine.

Once you have the lotion and moisturizer, moisturize your skin twice a day – once in the morning and once again at night. Try to slather moisturizer on damp skin (after a bath) to seal in the moisture and keep your skin soft and supple.

Do Not Forget Your Sunscreen

Just because the day is dark, dull and gloomy it does not mean you should forgo your sunscreen before venturing outdoors into the cold. On the contrary, winter sun and the glare from the snow can wreak havoc with your skin. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen and apply 30 minutes before venturing outdoors. If you intend spending a long time outside, carry along your sunscreen to reapply.

TLC for Your Hands

Most people are always worried about their face in winter and tend to forget that hands also need some tender love and care. This is especially true in winter, as the skin on the hands is thinner than other parts of the body and it also does not have too many sebaceous glands. As a result, hands tend to get dry very quickly in cold season which can lead to skin irritation and itchiness. Use a moisturizer especially formulated for hands to keep the skin supple and moist. In addition, when venturing out, don a pair of gloves to protect your hands from the cold as well as the dry air.

Get that Humidifier Going

Heating is a welcome respite from the chills of winter. However, most heating systems emit hot, dry air and this can leach the moisture from your skin. To prevent your skin from drying out indoors, install humidifiers throughout the house. This will ensure the air inside your home is humid and this will your skin from drying out.

Hydrate Your Body

If you check out skin care tips, most will advise you to drink a minimum of 8 glasses every day to keep your skin young-looking and hydrated. However, this is a misconception. The amount of water you drink does not show on your skin. By drinking plenty of water daily, you will flush out the toxins and other waste materials from your body, some of which may adversely affect the wellbeing of your skin. So drink water for overall health, which includes healthy skin.

Greasy Feet is a Must

While those sweet-smelling foot lotions are great for summer, your feet need something stronger in winter. Opt for foot lotions containing glycerine or petroleum jelly. Once a week exfoliate your feet to get rid of dead skin cells. This will allow the foot lotion to penetrate deep into your skin and help moisturize your feet and keep them soft and beautiful.

Forget Peels and Astringents

If after all the moisturizing you still feel your face is dry and the skin feels stretched, it is time to put away those face masks, peels and astringents. These will strip the natural oil from your skin cause it to get drier. Instead clean your face with cleansing milk and tone it with an alcohol-free toner. If you want to continue using a mask as a part of your skin care routine, buy deep hydrating masks instead of clay-based masks. However, do not use masks very often, as they can dry up the skin.

Kiss Hot Baths and Showers Goodbye

Yes, it is cold and yes a hot bath or shower will warm you up, but it will also breakdown the lipid barrier on your skin and strip away the natural oil and moisture. Do not give in to the temptation. Instead stick to a warm water bath or shower. If your skin is terribly dry and itchy, run a lukewarm bath and pour in some baking soda to alleviate the itching. Right after the bath, apply moisturizer liberally to combat dry skin.

Your winter skin care regimen should begin the moment you decide to turn the heating on in your home. This way, you will never be plagued by dull, dry and itchy skin in winter. Instead, you will be complemented on your glowing, soft skin.

Home remedies to remove pimples

Pimples are every teenager’s dreaded nightmare. Many adults too are plagued with pimple and acne issues and run pillar to post looking for remedies. While the market is indeed flooded with several acne treatment lotions and scars, these over the counter treatment regimens cause more harm than good to the skin. Not only do they barely help, they also leave the skin dry and scaly. Once the treatment is curtailed, the pimples return with more vigour!

It is therefore prudent for you to choose a mild yet effective acne treatment that suits your skin type, if you do not wish to aggravate the condition. Most dermatologists today suggest their patients to go natural! Here are a few of the best home remedies that are tried and tested by millions the world over.

Clay mask: Make a thin mask by mixing clay with water. Add to this lavender oil or even tea tree oil to give the mask a boost. Apply a thin layer on your face and leave it overnight. Use honey to scrub this off in the morning. Even beastly pimples are gone overnight! Do not lose hope if you see them staring back at you in the mirror the next day, simply continue using the mask for a week and you are sure to have a pimple free face in a few days!

Clay Mask

Apple Cider Vinegar: Ingredients stacked in your kitchen shelf can now come to your rescue and help you combat with severe acne. Dilute apple cider vinegar in a small cup. Dip a cotton pad into it and swab your face gently. Do not rinse off. ACV acts like magic on zits..

Apple Cider Vinegar

Lemon juice: This comes as no surprise to many! Lemon juice has been used for centuries in beauty care and treatment. Just dab some fresh lemon juice over the spots and leave it overnight. Do not swab lemon juice over your face and step out in the sun, unless you want your face burnt! Lemon juice makes acne prone skin photosensitive and can cause sun damage that is harder to treat!

Lemon juice before and after

Egg mask: This remedy is not my personal favourite for apparent reasons, but it does work wonders on tough pimples. After making a sumptuous omelette for breakfast, swipe your finger tip inside the broken egg shell and pick up some of the remnant gooey white. Dab this on the affected areas and leave it on for as long as you can. 

Egg Mask

Boost acne treatment by first using lemon juice on the acne and then the egg white for better results.

Those who have tried these remedies vouch for its efficacy and gladly will recommend it to others too. Try them to rediscover the beautiful YOU!

Lucerne Hay Toowoomba

You have a passion for keeping horses, cows and goats in your yard though you do not have enough time to nurture them.

In the morning you go to them with a cup of coffee in your hand and you call them by their names and you pat on their back and talk to them without language barrier.

They reciprocate with signs and sounds you used to. They know that it is the time for their morning feeding and you give them what they want.

In the beginning, when you started to keep them in your yard, your main problem was finding the preferred food for them.

You tried grass, hay, legumes etc. besides concentrated feed but they didn’t take it enough and left over more than half. You were sure that the taste and digestion were the problem with them and you kept on changing the feeding items without much effect. 

It was your friend who advised you to buy Lucerne Hay Toowoomba and try once. You enquired about the availability of the hay and found that it is freely available in Australia at a reasonable price.

Before placing orders you searched for the quality and contents of the hay. You could find that Lucerne is a legume grown throughout the world. In Australia, Toowoomba grows it in large scale.

It is a high yielding forage plant. It has high nutritional value. Usually it is not retained in the pasture for grazing the animals. It is cut, dried and converted into hay.

When it is dried, it is baled either as square or round. It is available in small, medium and large bales.

Having understood the quality of the product, you decide to buy Lucerne Hay Toowoomba and place order for two medium bales as sample.

In the next morning you were eager to note the interest shown by your pets when you served the new food item.

When you put the hay in the feeding pen, they once smelt and started eating uninterruptedly.

You simply waited and watched each of them for some time and you could find that they liked it very well.

You came to know that dairy farmers used to buy Lucerne Hay Toowoomba in large quantity as it is one of the best cattle feeds available in the market. Farmers prefer it because of the protein richness and high digestible fiber contents in the hay.

Farmers buy it for feeding beef cattle, sheep, horse, goats etc. It is widely used as rabbit and poultry diets as well.

Now you can heave a sigh of relief as you could find a feed that is rich in nutrition, protein and fiber contents for your pets.

By this time you have gained enough experience to buy Lucerne Hay Toowoomba free of moisture content and in correct bale size.

Hesaraghetta Lake - Bangalore

Hersaraghetta Lake has become quite popular off late for it is close to Bangalore and it is perfect for a Sunday out. Hesaraghetta Lake is a manmade lake that is located around 18km away from Bangalore. It's a fresh water lake. It was actually made in 1894- so it is quite old. It is made across the Arkavathy River and it was initially constructed in order to ensure supply of water to Bangalore.

By road, the lake is only 26 km away from the city, so it is quite easy to visit. The lake has been built on the Arkavati River, which actually originates in the Nandi Hills at Chikkaballapur district and joins the Kaveri River. Right after it's construction, the lake began to dry up in 1925, and a dam was constructed to ensure continuous waterflow to the Hesaraghetta lake. This lake is integral to bangalore because of the fact that it has continually provided water to the city over the past century. 

Now, the lake is a popular tourist spot. A lot of tourists go here from Bangalore- a lot of Bangalore residents prefer visiting Hesaraghetta lake in the form of a Sunday or a holiday trip. It's a large and beautiful lake surrounded by greenery. It's quite a picturesque place. 

It attracts a lot of important birds as well- including common mynas, the magpie robin, kingfishers, common mynas, purple sunbirds, black drongbos, bulbuls, etc. Around 29 different species of birds have been identified in the area. It's an amazing spot for bird watchers. Even if you are not a bird watcher, the sight of over 2000 birds is rather amazing to behold. If you visit the lake during the winter months, you will be able to spot the spotted eagles and herriers as well.

Right next to the lake, there are a lto of big institutes. There is a Government Aquarium that you would be able to visit. If you do have enough time, you should most certainly go to Nrityagram, the dance village close to the lake. Nrityagram was actually the first gurukul established in India by the famous Protima Gauri, a renowned Odissi dancer. The lake's quality has been deteriorating- as has been the condition of all the lakes in and around Bangalore. But major restoration projects are being undertaken in the area.

The best time to visit the area would be in the winter months- October to February. The winter birds migrate around that time and the area is beautiful to behold. During the winter months, the chances of finding the lake in it's fully glory is high- as the monsoons would have just replenished it's water availability. The best way to reach the lake is through road. It will take about an hour to get there. You will get to the place if you go on NH-4 till Vidyanagar and then get on to the Hesaraghetta Main Road. The road conditions are good. If you do not have your own car, you should be able to hire a car to reach there. There are a lot of car hire options in Bangalore- depending on the size of the car you want and whether or not you want air conditioning, it will cost anywhere between Rs 6 to Rs 18 per kilometer. There are a lot of eateries on the NH4, but the number of eateries does go down drastically in Hesaraghetta Road. If you are planning a picnic in the lake, you should certainly pack your own food. 

Bangalore - Bull Temple

Bangalore over the past few years has grown to be a chaotic and confused city. Older residents can give you just the account of how the city transformed from being a gentle, peaceful place to what it is today. But even amidst such tumultuousness there are places in the city that offer a calm and soothing environment for dwellers. One such place is the island of the Bull Temple. Located in Basavanagudi which literally means ‘Bull Temple’ this temple is one of the most famous temples in the city installed by Kempegowda the First who is the founder of Bangalore.

The temple is built in the Vijayanagar style of architecture and is dedicated to Nandi, Lord Shiva’s mount. The temple is famous for its larger than life statue of a bull that measures almost 20ft in length and 15ft in height. The temple is present on top of a mound just below the highest point known as the Bugle Rock. There is a very famous tale behind the construction of this temple which dates back to the early 16^th century. Back then the present area of Basavanagudi was a vast group of farmers who cultivated groundnuts. Most of these farmers had a common problem which was a large bull pillaging all their crops time after time. Kempegowda who was then the ruler of the city knew straight away that this was no ordinary bull and ordered the construction of a giant Nandi to pacify the raged bull. It is believed that the construction of the temple appeased the bull and the farmers could cultivate groundnuts without any further problems.

Ever since, farmers around the temple first offer groundnuts to the Nandi as a sign of gratefulness. This tradition continues even today as you can see several farmers set up shops in front of the temple in an annual event called the Kadalekai Parishe which means groundnut fair. This fair takes place in the months of November and December which is the best time for anyone to visit this temple. 

Below the hillock is the Dodda Ganesha Temple which is also known for a large statue of Ganesha. The Benne Alankara is the most celebrated event in this temple. This extraordinary ritual involves the covering of the huge idol completely with over 100kg of butter. 

Plus the vantage point of the hill has is known as the Bugle Rock which is a great place for tourists and visitors to spend sometime and breathe some fresh air. The Bugle Rock too has a lot of history associated with it as this is considered the place where the Mysore Army finally recruited before attacking the British during the Third Mysore war.

The place is well connected by buses and other public transport and it is just about half an hour’s journey from the Kempegowda Bus and Railway station. Tourists can also find a lot of comfortable accommodation options around this historic temple. Lalit Ashok, ITC Windsor, The Chevron Orchards are all great places for a brief stay in the city. 

Gokarna - Pilgrim's Paradise At The Beaches Of Gokarna

A picturesque town in North Karnataka, Gokarna is a popular tourist destination as well as a pilgrim's paradise, as it is well endowed with temples and shrines dedicated to various deities. Bordered by coconut groves, palm trees, sandy shores and sapphire waters, this town is a beautiful destination to relax, unwind and indulge in local history and culture. One can visit Gokarna throughout the year. It is better to avoid the beaches during the rainy season. One can reach Gokarna via rail from Ankola, Karwar, Hubli, Kumta, Mangalore and Margao. For those looking to reach Gokarna by road, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation operates tourist buses from Hampi, Hospet, Bangalore and Mangalore. One can also drive down from Goa. Private buses also operate from Hampi and Hospet.  One can also choose to drive down from Goa. The nearest airport is in Goa, the Dabolim airport. 

Tourist places of interest in Gokarna include the following destinations.

Mahabaleshvara Temple

Attraction: Pilgrim Center The Mahabaleshvara Temple is one of the largest in Gokarna and is a popular pilgrimage spot for those travelling through Karnataka on a religious trip. The temple is located towards the Western end of town, towards the beach offering visitors to the temple a scenic view amid calm waters and sandy shores.

  

Maha Ganapati Temple

Attraction: Temple in honour of Lord Ganesha The Maha Ganapati Temple is a few metres away from the Shiva temple, constructed in honour of Lord Ganesha for his part in procuring the AtmaLinga from Ravana. For domestic and foreign tourists not familiar with the custom, one visits the Ganesha temple before the Shiva temple.

Koti Tirtha

Attraction: Artificial water tank

The Koti Tirtha is an artificial water tank used by pilgrims and priests for ritual bathing as it is considered holy by the locals. This sacred tank can be approached from the Venkateshwara temple, from the West.

There are five beaches in Gokarna, the Gokarna beach, The Om beach, the Kudle beach, Paradise beach and the Half-moon beach. While all the beaches are stunningly beautiful, the Gokarna beach is popular with pilgrims and the Kudle beach and Om beach is more popular with tourists. The Gokarna beach is a long narrow strip of sand, rock and sea, situated towards the edge of town. Kudle beach is a popular tourist spot offering visitors an idyllic vista of the deep blue waters of the Arabian sea, with five star hotels and resorts offering guests a fabulous view of the sea.

Om beach is further along the coast from Kudle and is christened for its unique shape , the auspicious Indian 'Aum', created by the rocky terrain of the beach. This beach can be visited throughout the year, except in the rainy season. One must be wary of strong currents while visiting these beaches. Om beach offers tourists budget yet cosy accommodation in the form of Bamboo or concrete beach huts. Half moon beach is a small but idyllic tourist destination, accessible through the Om beach. One is offered budget accommodation in the beach, with small huts and restaurants for guests visiting Half-Moon beach. Paradise beach is the farthest from the town of Gokarna. A beautiful tourist destination, ideal for honeymoon couples and those on an intimate getaway as this beach is very private and offers only basic facilities for those looking to soak up the sun and take a break from the daily hustle of civilization. There is no accommodation on the beach.

Entry Fee

No entry fee.

Plan a holiday in the picturesque town of Gokarna for a vacation you will never forget!

Ten Popular Tequila Cocktails!

Tequila, the dark, smooth liquor, from the juice of the agave plant is a favorite and is served at all Five-star establishments, pubs and bars. 

Tequila is a liquor that tastes fantastic with a range of drinks, from ginger ale to fruit juice, making for an excellent cocktail. The liquor is sweet, and brings an earthy quality to drinks. Most people are aware of a dash of tequila in frozen Magarita or a shot with lime and salt. Outlined are ten exciting ways to down tequila, get that punch and enjoy some great liquor! 

Paloma

Beach Vibes and sandy shores, soak up the sun with Tequila and Grapejuice!

Think Paloma, think white sandy beaches! This drink is made of grapefruit juice, lemon-lime soda and a shot of tequila, a great drink for an afternoon by the beach, looking over the lazy ocean with gentle waves and enjoying the gentle spray of the sea. The drink is refreshing and easy to make, an ideal knock-up for an impromptu beach gathering!

Matador 

Dare the devil with the Matador, Silver tequila in a champagne flute!

One of the most popular tequila-based cocktails, The Matador is composed of three primary ingredients, Lime juice, pineapple juice and a shot of Blanco or Silver Tequila. Matadors are presented in a cocktail or martini glass or in a champagne flute, making for a unique visual appeal. Since pineapple has a naturally sweet flavour, no additional sweeteners are added to the Matador.

Earthquake

Shake 'em strong! Tequila, strawberry, grenadine and orange bitters combine to give you a delicious toss up!

A very catchy name for a cocktail, the Earthquake is a Tequila based drink with crushed ice, strawberries, Grenadine and Orange bitters. The ingredients are combined in a blender for about thirty seconds, strained and served with a slice of lime and strawberry. The drink is very potent and is normally served in sophisticated establishments like Five Star hotels and premier Pubs.

Pepino

Earthy ambrosia? Try nectar with tequila and tranquil cucumbers for a 'heavenly' drink!

Pepino is one of the lesser known tequila based drinks. This liquor serving is made with an unusual combination of cucumber, agave nectar, a spot of basil, Cointreau, pineapple juice, tequila and fresh lime. The ingredients are given a good shake to allow them to blend well and served on the rocks in a tall glass. The Pepino is great for a pool party. Cucumber and basil lend a pleasant aroma and fresh flavor while the orange and pineapple give the Pepino a fruity twist, making for an enjoyable drink.

Tequila Slammer

Wham n Slam! Bottoms Up with Tequila and 7Up!

The Tequila Slammer or the Muppet as it is called in Mexico, is a potent cocktail served on the rocks on a tall glass. The Slammer is made with equal parts Tequila and Carbonated beverage, often 7 Up, Ginger Ale, Mountain Dew or lemonade. The cocktail gets its very interesting name from the way it is consumed, leaving about a fifth of the glass empty, allowing the drink to fizz well, and slamming the glass onto a hard surface to mix the drink well! A very unusual yet entertaining procedure, the Slammer must be consumed immediately after slamming!

Brave Bull

Test your mettle with this Kalhua based Tequila knockout!

A very macho drink, the Brave Bull is on the darker side, more potent with Tequila. The cocktail has very little fruit juice but pairs instead with an interesting complement, coffee. Coffee has a unique quality that imparts an interesting flavor to most combinations with the beverage. The dark, rich flavor of coffee works wonderfully with the smooth texture of Tequila, making for an enjoyable drink. The cocktail is made of Tequila and Kalhua on the rocks, creating a dark hue and thick, smooth texture for the cocktail.

Bloody Maria or The Vampiro  

Looking for a nocturnal swill? Bloody Mary is your man!

Something that would go down as a great Halloween drink, the Bloody Maria surprisingly is great for a hangover! The spooky Vampiro is made of two shots of Tequila in tomato juice, with a generous measure of Worcestershire sauce and a dash of lemon juice. Salt and pepper brink out the flavour of this Bloody drink!

Juan Collins

The gentleman's drink!

A gentleman's drink, Juan Collins is made with a shot of tequila, club soda, a dash of sugar and lemon juice. The drink is served in a tall glass on the rocks, garnished with a wedge of lemon. Juan Collins works well as liquor served at either a formal or an informal setting, and is a delicious drink that complements most cuisines.

Tequila Sunrise

Golden hues, smooth as honey and warm textures with tequila, grenadine and orange juice!

A popular tequila cocktail, the Tequila Sunrise is christened for its brilliant golden hue. Tequila is mixed with orange juice and Grenadine for a sweet flavour spiced with the tang of citrus. The blend is light and smooth. Once the orange juice is added, the cocktail takes on a brilliant golden glow.

Toreador 

The sinner's vice!

Rounding off our list of the Tequila's ten best, is the Toreador, a chocolate lover’s delight! Toreador is made by blending two shots of Tequila with a shot of Crème De Cacao. The resulting cocktail is then mixed with a generous dollop of cream and topped off with a sprinkling of coca powder. The ingredients are mixed in a blender with ice and the strained cocktail is consumed. The liquor is smooth, dark, well textured and delicious, an unusual but excellent combination of chocolate and alcohol for a delightful experience. A chocolate lover’s haven!

Enjoy your tequila based drink whether you are poolside, at a beach, in a pub, at a social gathering or relaxing at home! Ten different ways to make your drink gives you ten different ways to savour it! Tequila is a liquor that blends well with a variety of ingredients, giving you a unique, delicious, fruity, warm, textured, dark or smooth swill with every new combination!