Below is a contributed post by fellow blogger, Leia. Along with her best friend, she currently runs a fashion site from London that regularly updates readers with the latest high fashion looks and must-haves. As she was one of our first followers here at Lipstick Masala, I am honored that she has kindly taken the time to share some of her favorite beauty techniques with us. If your hair is suffering from winter woes, this post is for you! Leia has outlined some fantastic tips and tricks that have left her hair beautifully thick and silky. Check out her fabulous site over at http://hifashionsl.blogspot.com/!

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For most of us, winter has finally arrived. Whether you love the season or the cold makes you depressed and homesick, one thing is for sure: winter wreaks havoc on your hair! Wind, dry air, and central heating can cause dryness and split ends. Here are some of my tips for keeping your hair luscious when the temperatures drop.

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Deep Treatments

Extreme cold can suck the moisture out of your hair: combat this by applying deep conditioning treatments to keep your hair soft and healthy! Some ideas…

1) My favorite store-bought conditioner is Lush Henna & Jasmine Fluff Eaze (Click HERE for link) It smells divine and makes my hair feel amazing!

2) To add extra moisture to your usual conditioner, add some honey. I roughly use the proportion 1 part honey/2 parts conditioner. Make sure you mix the two before applying it to your hair. I know it sounds sticky but it’s a quick fix and works really well!

3) If you have a bit of extra time, why not consider making your own hair treatment?

Natural Hair Treatment

- 1 tsp olive oil (or whatever you prefer: almond and coconut also work well)
- 1.5 tbsp yogurt
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp coffee (optional, but it brings out the dark tones of brunette hair)
- 1 egg

If you’re worried about egg smells, you can add a drop or two of some essential oil (e.g. rosemary, lavender – whatever you like!) Mix the coffee with boiling water, add the oil and honey, and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. When it cools, add the egg and the yogurt. Apply to your hair and leave on for as long as you like – then rinse and shampoo!

4) Do you suffer from dry scalp? Try this…
- Massage some oil into your scalp
- Prepare a bowl of conditioner and brown sugar. After shampooing the oil out, scrub the conditioner/brown sugar mixture into your scalp
- Rinse
(Make sure you use a weak conditioner with the brown sugar if you’re prone to an oily scalp or if you don’t usually use conditioner on your scalp).

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Protect Your Hair

We often forget to protect our hair from the brutal wind and dry air. Personally, I look ridiculous in hats! So I wear a knitted snood: it doubles to keep you warm and to keep your hair from flying all over the place. Also consider putting your hair in braids and buns or tucking it into your coat if you just can’t deal with hats!

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Limit Heat Styling

I know you may be addicted to your blow dryer or flat iron; winter is shaadi season and you want to look your best! But this is the time to treat your hair gently. If you simply must look perfectly primped, consider using rollers instead.

- Use big velcro rollers for loose waves. If done properly, it can look like you have just had a blow dry. Comb your hair while it is damp (be very gentle, your hair can break easily when wet) and roll up separate sections. Once you have had a bit of practice, it only takes 10 minutes. I usually leave them in overnight, but you can just take them out in a couple of hours when your hair is dry! For more defined curls, put the rollers in when your hair is quite damp.

- Wrap, snap & go (click HERE for link) curlers are great for messy, tight curls, and are really comfortable to sleep in, as well.

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Static Control

I’ve never tried this myself, but I’ve heard that if you suffer from static or flyaway hair, you should rub your hair between two dryer sheets.

Happy holidays, everyone, and don’t forget to treat your hair well this winter season!

Unfortunately, dry skin does not just make an appearance during a rare snowstorm or two. Many ladies have complained to me recently that the winter air has been causing the skin on their face to tighten up and flake and no lotion or cream seems to be working to restore that moisture. Here is my answer: 1) If you live in a country where you have central heating on all the time, make sure to use a humidifier when you sleep at night – trust me, you will see a difference in your skin within a few days. 2) Don’t overdo it with the rich creams. Exfoliate regularly (for more information click HERE) and remove the dead skin cells on your face. This will help your regular winter lotion/cream penetrate better. If you still feel like you need something a little extra, then go a little heavier, but I feel like most of those result in clogged pores. I prefer treating my face in addition to moisturizing, which brings us to number 3) There are a number of moisturizing masks you can use that will bring your skin relief, my favorite of which is the Oatmeal mask below. It’s fast, easy, and best of all, costs next to nothing.

Regulars of this site are most likely familiar with my affinity with any products containing Oatmeal. Why do I love Oatmeal as an ingredient? Because it’s natural, soothing and cleanses the skin without irritation. Oatmeal contains protein as well as natural fats that help protect the skin’s outermost barrier while lubricating and moisturizing. Also, oats contain gentle ingredients that help cleanse which, along with the lubricants, remove dirt from your pores without stripping your face of its natural oils. Finally, oatmeal is naturally calming and great for both tough and sensitive skins – it’s the reason people soak in oatmeal baths when they have the chicken pox!

Here’s what you need to do:

Tools:

1)    Measuring cup

2)    Blender

3)    Washcloth

Ingredients:

1)    1 banana, preferably one that has ripened and is slightly mushy

2)    1 cup of oatmeal or fresh rolled oats

3)    1/2 cup of milk (you may use less or more depending on your preference for consistency)

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Method:

1)    Put all three ingredients in blender and pulsate until you have a paste-like consistency. It should be easily spreadable on your face but not so liquidy that it drips off. If it’s too runny, add more oats, if it’s not runny enough, add a little more milk.

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2)    Pour into a bowl. This recipe makes enough for two people, so pamper yourself with your friend/sister.

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3)    Wash your face – it’s important to always clean your skin of makeup before using a mask.

4)    Spread mask on your face and leave on for about 10 minutes (15 if you’re very dry and flaky).

5)    Lie down while you have this mask on or it may crumble onto your floor if you walk about. Watch tv or just close your eyes and relax.

6)    Wet a washcloth with warm water and clean off your face. Because the mask is sticky, it’s easier to use a washcloth but not necessary if you don’t have one.

7)    Moisturize with a light lotion if your face feels slightly tight.

Et voilà – you’re done. I know, I look like the Swamp Thing with this mask on, but it’s well worth it. My chapped cheeks are thanking me after tonight’s oatmeal mask session.

Try it out and let us all know how it goes, and if you have any other moisturizing masks you use, share your recipe!

Friends all around recommended two options: either use a lipbrush to pick up the color and apply to the lips or just buy a new one. Now, I’ll be honest – as much as I love spending hours in front of the mirror doing my makeup, I really don’t have the patience to use a lipbrush. Plus, does anyone really want to have to carry a brush and multiple tissues in their purse just for touchups? At the same time, I really had no interest in spending another $16 on the same lipstick.

For those of you that have suffered multiple (or even single) broken lipsticks because you either live in warm climates or asserted strength you didn’t know you had, there is another option. All it takes is a little heat, a little cold and some determination. Lipsticks are basically created from wax and emollients, which means once they get warm, you can mold them any way you like (if you played with candle wax as a child – here’s your time to shine).

So if, like me, you don’t wish to part with your precious lipstick, here’s a quick way to salvage what’s left:

Step 1) Take out your seemingly innocent looking lipstick and yell at it, but try not to use foul language – it IS Ramadan, after all. Then, lay out some paper towels to prevent any mess from getting on your table.

Step 2) Open the cap and rotate your lipstick out until the entire base has come up completely from the shell. Then, remove the broken half and place it on the paper towel.

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**Remember: Try not to take too long between steps 3-6 or the wax on the lipstick cools down**

Step 3) Light a match (a lighter might be easier to manage) and wave it first over the broken part of the base so it gets soft. Make sure not to apply heat for too long or you’ll melt the lipstick completely – remember it’s wax!

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Step 4) Pick up the stem of the lipstick, I used a paper towel to keep my fingers from getting red as well as to prevent the heat of my hands from further melting the lipstick.

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Step 5) Wave the match (or lighter) under the broken (bottom) part of the stem for a few seconds until you see it becoming slightly waxy. Again, try not to melt too much of the lipstick.

Step 6) Attach the stem back to the base of the lipstick (putting the two sides you just softened with the heat against each other) and push gently together until they stick.

Step 7) Take the other end of your match, or a toothpick if you were using a lighter, and lightly close the space between the two pieces. Light another match and quickly go around the line to seal it.

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Step 8 - Swivel the lipstick back down and put the cap on. Pop it in the fridge for a little while for it to set.

Et voilà! It’s ready to wear!

If you’re a little intimidated, don’t be – it really is much easier than it looks, plus it takes less than five minutes!! Give it a try on some of your old lipsticks and let us know how it goes!

Now, as a product of the eighties, I tend to doubt anything natural. My first inclination was to tease my mother and say “ewwww, mom, like, we have companies to MAKE that stuff for us now.” A lot of magazines will also tell you there are no proven benefits to using natural ingredients versus manufactured products. But the truth is, the advice of our mothers and grandmothers do hold a lot of merit. They didn’t have the luxury of free Kérastase treatments and blowouts – their techniques evolved from generations before them and were based on traditional and Ayurvedic medicine and/or an innate understanding of the human anatomy. Upon researching the effectiveness/science behind using yogurt in one’s hair, I realized our mothers were really onto something.

Yogurt (or yoghurt for our lovely ladies in the UK) is high in lactic acid, and has natural antifungal and antibacterial properties. The yogurt works to stimulate hair growth and fight dandruff by acting as a natural cleanser that tightens and clarifies the pores on your scalp. The protein properties help to strengthen and moisturize your hair and to tame persistent, pesky fly-aways by smoothing your strands. The creamy consistency and antibacterial ingredients help to soothe your scalp and reduce any itchiness. Finally, for those living in tropical areas – yogurt masks are incredibly cooling! Even if the Revlon mask that you picked up from CVS promises to accomplish the same, isn’t it better to try something completely produced in nature first, rather than with ingredients you can barely even pronounce?

There are several techniques used to make a yogurt mask – they usually vary in the ingredients added. The three listed below are the most basic methods used in South Asia as relayed by my mother and her friends:

1) Simple Yogurt

This is the easiest and least messy/time consuming method. Simply whip some plain yogurt in a bowl with a fork (this helps with ease in application) for use on dry hair before showering. The amount depends on how long your hair is. Starting on the left side near your ear, part your hair and rub the yogurt into the exposed scalp. Part your hair again an inch higher and apply the yogurt to this area. Continue the process until the yogurt has been massaged into your entire scalp. Brush on the remaining yogurt to the rest of your hair from roots to ends. Leave the yogurt in for at least an hour but no more than two – make sure to do this on a day you don’t need to be out and about. You may then rinse the yogurt out with lukewarm water and a mild shampoo. Conditioner is optional.

2) Yogurt and Egg

Perform the same method as #1, but this time when whipping yogurt, add an egg (the white part helps with strength and the yolk increases the shininess of the hair). This method also requires you to wear the mask for at least an hour, but no more than two. Make sure to wash your hair out with tepid water – you don’t want to end up with scrambled eggs in your hair from heat! Use a mild shampoo – by mild I mean a basic shampoo for normal hair that is not specifically clarifying, moisturizing or a dandruff shampoo – you’ll be negating the effects of the yogurt mask.

3) Yogurt and Mustard Oil/Olive Oil

This method is slightly different than that of the ones above in that it can be applied either before or after shampooing, but is recommended more as a conditioner rather than a mask. Whip some yogurt and add one or two tablespoons of either mustard oil or olive oil, whichever is more readily available. After washing hair with a mild shampoo, apply this conditioner and leave in for about 15 minutes. Make sure to have more parts yogurt than oil so you don’t need to reapply shampoo to get this mask out of your hair. If you feel you have used too much oil, you may shampoo again, but the idea is to have a little oil that is indiscernible remaining your hair to condition your strands.

Finally, there is the Western version of the yogurt mask that has appeared in magazines in the U.S. and U.K.. This technique asks you to blend yogurt along with pulp from fruits containing natural oils that soften your hair. These include avocados, mangoes, cantaloupe and most frequently used, bananas. If any one of you uses this method, we’d love to hear your techniques and results.

One last note: All the ladies I have asked about yogurt masks have advised that this is a beauty technique only to be used in the warm summer months. Yogurt has intense cooling properties and brings down the temperature of the body when applied on the head for long periods of time. This may sound like an old wives’ tale, but trust me, there really is something to the idea of “cooling” and “heating” foods. Therefore, pull out this mask when the weather turns warm (like now) and try to avoid using it in the winter.

Photo Credits:
http://www.merrittsforhair.co.uk/
http://stanford.wellsphere.com/healthy-living-article/herbal-remedy-ayurvedic-treatment/462331
http://www.diwinetaste.com/dwt/en2004107.php
http://www.carspace.com/guides/How-to-remove-Egg-from-your-Car
http://www.recipetips.com/glossary-term/t–33531/mustard-oil.asp
http://uk.fashion.popsugar.com/2125586

Photo Credit: tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com

When our skin starts acting up, our primal instinct is usually to run to the nearest department/drugstore and grab the first “miracle” product we can get our hands on. We use it for about a week and then move on to the next remedy. I’m guilty of the same thing myself – while spring cleaning my bathroom cupboard two days ago I threw away two economy sized trash bags bursting with almost full bottles of face wash, lotions and masks. I’ve spent thousands of dollars on useless products. It was only until a few years ago when I came across a remedy for rebellious skin that not only works but costs close to nothing – the Aspirin Mask.

Yes, aspirin. On your face. Aspirin is a BHA, or beta-hydroxy acid. BHA’s are used in most face washes and lotions that are created to prevent acne. Heard of salicylic acid? Yup, that’s a BHA. BHA’s are exfoliators that work by deeply cleaning your pores and helping prevent the formation of new spots on your face.

Aspirin masks are known to reduce redness and inflammation while brightening the complexion. Just like any other product, you must use more than one time to see results (although I’ve found that my skin is exponentially better after even just one application).

Disclaimer: As with all medications, if you are sensitive or allergic to Aspirin or BHA’s, or have sensitive skin in general, I would not use this mask. The mask is for all other skin types, dry or oily – you just need to vary the amount of times that you use the mask in a month (more for oilier skins).

There are several different “recipes” for the mask, but the most commonly used is illustrated below

Step 1

What you need: Uncoated aspirin (much easier to dissolve than regular aspirin), a small bowl or container, and something to meld the mask together and provide consistency. Dry to normal skins should use honey or aloe vera gel, while oily should use yogurt, which is a natural astringent.

Step 2

Place a few of the uncoated aspirin in the bowl (anywhere from 4-8 depending on the area you wish to cover

Step 3

Add warm water a few drops at a time to dissolve the aspirin. The consistency should be grainy and slightly thick.

Step 4

Add about half a teaspoon of honey (aloe vera, or yogurt) to the mixture. This will make the mixture more watery so it’s better to have a thicker consistency of dissolved aspirin beforehand.

Step 5

Apply to your face and leave on for about 10-15 minutes. The mask will be ready to be washed off when it begins to flake (it’s okay if you start to sneeze – it’s from the powder like consistency of the dried mask, this means it’s time to wash off).

Step 6

Add a little water to your face and start to use the mask as a scrub, exfoliating your skin in soft circular motions (no need to rub hard!). Pay close attention to your nose (that’s a problem area for most of us). After exfoliating wash your face off completely.

Step 7

Your face may feel a little tight after the mask, so it’s best to moisturize.

After washing off the mask your face will feel softer and your skin will look brighter. I tend to use the aspirin mask when I feel like my skin needs a little taming, but those with troubled skin can use it more often. As with any BHA cream or face wash, using too often will dry your skin out, so try to space your uses out: several days for oilier skins and a week or two apart for dry skin. Over time you will see a reduction in blackheads and smoother skin.

For those who are on the go and don’t have too much time, aspirin can also be used as a spot treatment. Just dissolve one uncoated tablet and apply it to your blemish. It will help reduce the redness and work to dry the blemish out.

So, if you are planning on staying in tonight and feel like the new season’s weather has devastated your skin, slather on a little aspirin mask. It has been raved about on countless beauty blogs and sites. At just pennies an application, what have you got to lose?

P.S. This mask can be used on brothers/husbands/boyfriends as well – so pass it on!