Sandalwood is the name of a group of fragrant trees that is found mostly in India, some other countries of south Asia, Indonesia and Australia. This aromatic tree was initially used mostly by perfume makers, a practice that lead to the overharvesting of this otherwise slow-growing tree.

While the fragrance continues to be one of the most popular derivatives of sandalwood, the powder and oil are also heavily used for their excellent skincare enhancing qualities, especially to enhance the glow on a bride just before her wedding.

Many Ayurvedic, as well as other natural products use sandalwood as a key beauty ingredient. Alternatively, you can also use sandalwood to make your own homemade face packs.
Ayurvedic care for oily skin

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Eggs are good natural conditioners. Whip an egg with water and massage into wet hair; wash off with a mild shampoo after 10 minutes for silkier hair

Cosmetic Dermatologist, Dr. Rashmi Shetty, expert advisor with Parachute Advansed Knowledge Center answers readers’ questions on skin care. Get your doubts cleared and see them featured on our FAQ page every fortnight.

This week’s answers:

1. Madam, I am 32yrs old and i have lost my maximum hairs please give me best treatment for hair fall.
Raj
Firstly look at your diet closely. Protein, calcium, iron are a few important nutrition that needs to be adequate. Also then oiling is your best bet. Give yourself 20 minutes deep conditioning massage with hot coconut based hair oil. Coconut oil is an all time favorite; I grew up on this as a hair care habit. Coconut oil is very light so it penetrates into ur hair shaft. Improves your hair health so it makes your hair withstand all the damage that pollution, wind, styling that u would put your hair thro.

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Monsoon is the time when your hair behaves differently due to humidity in the air. A diligent hair care regime is needed to nourish your hair from within and keep its volume and bounce! Nargis Fakhri shares a few tips on how to keep your mane as ravishing as hers during the rains!

1. Being in my profession, I need an effective hair care regime that can cope with the excess moisture in the air during monsoon and keep my hair smooth and manageable 24×7. Four thumb rules I swear by are – drinking water, a healthy diet, adequate sleep and regular deep conditioning massages with oil.

2. A 20-minute, deep-conditioning massage with hot coconut based hair oil is my non-negotiable hair care ritual. The oil penetrates deep into your scalp to condition the hair, making it an instant solution against the frizz.

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Is your hair falling, your scalp itchy and those lustrous locks getting sticky this monsoon? Worry not, experts have a host of suggestions, including simple homemade remedies like vinegar and methi seeds, to keep your hair healthy and sorted.

The problems occur because humidity leads to excessive perspiration and the scalp gets oily.

Get ready to glow this monsoon!

“Oil and sweat secretions tend to stick to hair and scalp. It also attracts grime and pollutants in the air. To handle all this, one needs to shampoo hair more frequently, especially if hair is oily,” renowned beauty expert Shahnaz Husain said.

Her advice is to use shampoos containing herbal extracts like shikakai, reetha, brahmi, amla and henna.

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Dr. Jaishree, Medical Director of Skinfiniti Aesthetic Skin and Laser Clinic, answers readers’ questions on skin care. Get your doubts cleared and see them featured on our FAQ page every fortnight.
This week’s answers:

1. Hello. There is a lot of pimples, freckles on my skin and I tried a lot of creams and soaps but no result appear and my skin, it is also very oily. Plz Madam tell me which products are useful and which type of food I should eat.
Maroof Khan

Mr khan, firstly pls start with a salisylic acid face wash thrice day,that get your oil on the surface in control. Make sure your scalp is dandruff free. Also use a cream with benzoyl peroxide at night all over the face. Pls
do meet your skin doctor for antibiotics. Freckles are not easily treatable. Try creams with lactic acid and use a good sunscreen during the day. There is very little literature on food and acne. But however pls do avoid sweets and dairy products.

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The onset of monsoon is a welcome relief after the sweltering summer heat. The thick grey clouds and the cool breeze makes you hum. But don’t be surprised if your skin doesn’t share your fervor.

The rainy season brings with it an increase in humidity, grime and pollution, which has the potential to play havoc with your skin. To fight all the skin woes, you are required to follow a simple but effective skincare regime. Keep your skin fresh and glowing by following the expert tips by Dr. Sangeeta Amladi, Head Medical Services, Kaya Skin Clinic.

Skin Care
· Good and effective cleansing using a soap free cleanser is recommended. You could also use a gentle scrub (with uniform mild beads) once a day
· Cleansing should be followed by toning using an alcohol free toner, since increased humidity could open up your pores
· Use a sunscreen even on cloudy days
· Use a light lotion-based moisturizer or serum which will gently rehydrate your skin and also brighten it up
· Avoid heavy makeup and use waterproof make up when necessary
· Remember to nourish your skin from the inside too – eat salads blanched in boiling water to disinfect them, vegetable soup which will keep you warm and healthy and drink the usual 8-10 glasses of water. Your skin is always thirstier than you are!

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The heat of summer can leave your hair dry and frizzy or greasy and lifeless. If you are faced with the challenge of trying to bounce up limp hair every day of the week, these tips will come in handy.

• Deep-conditioning is essential for hair at least once a week in summer. Hair tends to become dry, dull or brittle if it is exposed to frequent cycles of soaking and drying, such as if you sweat a lot or go swimming.
• If you like to spend most of summer in a pool, it may be wise to spritz on some leave-in conditioner to help avoid damage from chlorine and salt.
• Wear a scarf, hat or cap to protect your hair from the sun but make sure that it’s not so tight that it will restrict circulation in your scalp.
• Limit your use of “hot” items on your hair such as a blow dryers and curling irons.
• If you need to use a “hot” item, use a leave in conditioner or heat protecting sprays before using the item on your hair.
• Avoid taking hot showers or washing your hair in hot water. Use warm or cool water instead; the heat can dry out and/or damage your hair and skin.
• Staying hydrated is important for healthy hair as well as your overall health so make sure that you are taking enough water.
• Avoid hair products with formaldehyde or alcohol in it which dry out hair. Try to use natural products that are gentler on your hair.
• Use a mositurizing shampoo that is gentler than your regular shampoo for the summer.
• Before going into the pool/sea, wet your hair; this will decrease the absorption of chlorinated/salt water into your hair.
• Use a clarifying shampoo after swimming to wash out the chlorine/salt and any residue that may remain in your hair. Chlorine will severely dry out your hair if it is not washed out.
• Get your hair trimmed every six to eight weeks. Your hair grows faster in the warmer months and frizz is more common in the summer months due to the heat and moisture.
• Once you have your hair moist, lock in the moisture by running your hair through cold water; this will also give your hair an extra shine.
• Wash your hair daily or as many times as it gets dirty and sweaty as a clean scalp is the key to good hair.

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Dr. Meha Mhatre is a certified Trichologist from the International Association of Trichologists (I.A.T), Australia.

Dr. Meha set up Tressez in 2008 to provide effective and safe solutions for skin and hair concerns and to educate clients about the healthy and rightful approach towards a good skin and hair care regime for their overall well-being.

Dr. Meha has also created a range of products that are free from synthetic fragrances and perfumes making them safe and gentle for all skin types.

Dr. Meha took time off her busy schedule to answer Sify readers’ queries and shared tips to get flawless skin and lustrous hair. Read the chat transcript here.

Will job related stress cause skin problems ?
Yes it does… bcoz stress constricts your blood circulation…

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Beat the heat this summer, maintain your beauty and keep your skin soft, supple and well-nourished with these quick summer skin care tips by Dr. Sangeeta Amladi, Head-Medical Services, Kaya Skin Clinic.

Cover your skin:
1) For Indian skin use a broad spectrum sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection and at least SPF 15. If on vacation or outdoors, usage of sunscreen with SPF 30 is highly recommended. SPF only measures UVB protection and not UVA; hence one should look for a sunscreen that also provides UVA protection. It takes about 15-20 minutes for any sunscreen to give out complete protection, so apply it at least 20 minutes before stepping out in the sun. The product should be reapplied every 3-4 hours, if one is outdoors for long periods of time. A good sunscreen with SPF 30 effectively combats the harsh effects of the sun for up to 8 hours
2) The sun’s rays are the strongest between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. so it is advisable to limit exposure to the sun as much as possible, during these hours
3) Use sunglasses to protect your eyes. Try using an umbrella when you go out in the sun. This will protect your skin and your hair

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