The Brunette Diaries

10 health benefits of different types of tea

Tea is an aromatic beverage that is well known for health benefits that it provides. Many people drink tea for pure health reasons while many others drink because of their addiction to it. Tea has less caffeine compared to coffee, and doctors from across the globe recommend the habit of drinking tea regularly.

Tea leaves can be a solution to various beauty problems also. Here are 10 beauty benefits that tea leaves offer.

Goodbye puffy eyes

Working overtime can give you puffy eyes. And, what if you have an important function to attend? How much concealer can you apply to make your eyes look normal? This is when tea leaves come to the rescue. Take two tea bags and soak them in warm water. Place the soaked tea bags on your closed eyes for 20 minutes. Tea leaves have natural astringent known as tannins which reduce the puffiness and removes dark circles under your eyes.

Sunburns can be handled as well

Many women worry about sunburns after their long summer holidays. Well, the good news is tea leaves help to provide relief to your sunburned skin. Put some tea leaves in your bath water and let your body soak in its goodness. This is will be the best solution for your itchy skin.

Lose excess weight in a jiffy

Studies prove that green tea drinkers lose weight faster than those who don’t. Also, green tea helps to balance the body weight after a period of weight loss. It also boosts your metabolism and helps in relieving digestion problems. So, why wait? Sip a cup of green tea whenever you get time and stay fit.

Quick solution to acne problems

Based on its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, green tea is the best solution for acne problems. Rub moist tea leaves on your face before going to bed, and drink green tea every day morning. This will take care of your skin by getting rid of your troublesome acne and gives a natural glow to your face.

Protect your skin

Green tea helps in skin tightening and anti-ageing. Why waste time on botox when green tea can make you look younger day-by-day? Mix water, white sugar and green tea to prepare a scrub. This acts as a cleanser and helps to moisturize your skin by increasing the hydrating levels, thus exfoliating the skin.

Tea does magic to your hair as well

Tea is a good conditioner for dry and frizzy hair. Rub some freshly brewed tea (unsweetened) on your hair and allow it to dry before you rinse it off. Also, you can add some rosemary and sage (medicinal herb) to black tea and leave it over night. Strain the mixture and rub it on your hair for positive results.

Adios stinky feet

Many people do not approve of the idea of removing their socks only because of the foul smell that their feet emit. You don’t have to worry anymore as green tea leaves provide the best solution. Soak your feet in strongly brewed green tea for 20 minutes. It helps to close the pores that release sweat. Now you can walk indoors without any fear of being the one with smelly feet.

Tea leaves can control gum bleeding

By pressing moistened tea bags on your bleeding gums and applying pressure for 20 minutes, you can easily control the bleeding and pain. Tea leaves are known for their refreshing mouthwash properties as well. So, now you can make your own homemade mouthwash.

Calm yourself with tea leaves

Studies prove that tea leaves reduce stress in our mind and body. Stuff your pillow with sundried tea leaves and sew it. The fragrance gives a relaxed feeling and also helps to get rid of your body odour. These tea leaves can get soggy easily, therefore, sun drying them frequently is essential. They also help to reduce blood pressure and headache.

Charm each other with a cup of tea

Green tea contains caffeine, ginseng, L-thiamine which is known to have positive effect on sexual drive, especially on women. Pouring each other a cup of tea can initiate some romance between any couple. In this way, there is a chance of impressing each other, especially the newlyweds.

Now, who wouldn’t want a cup of tea when it provides heaps of benefits to stay young and fit?

Do Beauty Products Come In Your Way In Conceiving?

‘Cosmetics enhance beauty’ is what most of us use them for. But, we hardly think that they can affect us more than we realize. Mounting research on this subject has raised certain concerns regarding the potential side effects of these products. The Chemicals present in the cosmetics and beauty products have shown various complications and side effects on the hormonal as well as the reproductive system of women.

Environmental chemicals and their effects on reproductive function have become a hot topic in the field of reproductive medicine. Most of the cosmetics including nail polish, anti-bacterial soaps, anti-aging creams, hair sprays and perfumes have a severe effect on female fertility due to the toxic chemicals present in it.

When asked the same question to Dr. Nitasha Gupta, Gynaecologist & IVF Specialist, Indira IVF Hospital from New Delhi, she had to say this, “In the recent years, several endocrine disrupting chemicals have been identified to affect abnormal ovarian function, miscarriages and female infertility. Soaps, the supreme germ killer, but antibacterial soap can also kill your chances of conceiving. Antibacterial soaps, contains chemical triclosan which is linked to endocrine disruption that mess up with your hormones and interfere with the reproductive system. Parabens are a type of preservative (soaps, shampoos and conditioner) used to prevent the growth of bacteria. But too much of it can have impact on fertility. When hormones are out of balance, the chances of creating healthy eggs or healthy sperm is reduced.”

Dr. Nitasha Gupta believes that beauty or cosmetics products do harm the fertility of a woman. In her opinion, With the presence of many volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, Phthalate like dibutyl Phthalate (DPT) and toluene as ingredients in nail polish, these chemicals pose a high risk to cause fertility issues, misconception and even birth defects. Women who polish their nails very frequently are at a greater concern in terms of facing fertility issues. Phthalates are known to cause infertility in both the males and females. It is sometimes advised for the people working in beauty salons for hours to take precautionary measures.

“Polish removers contain toxic chemicals too including acetone, methyl methacrylate, toluene and ethyl acetate. The most commonly used chemical is a solvent named toluene which is often used in cosmetics for getting glossy finish. This chemical is known to affect the central Nervous System (CNS) and harm to the reproductive system. Another such chemical which is more profound in beauty products are the phthalates, which are also a reason for disrupting the hormone levels, impairs fertility and aids in building up of breast milk during pregnancy. A chemical found in nail polish – TPHP (Triphenyl phosphate) is immediately metabolized to DPHP (diphenyl phosphate) and can put women at an elevated risk of fertility problems.

Exposure to these chemicals puts you at a higher risk of miscarrying and the baby at risk for physical and mental birth defects. The defects may include preterm birth, increased chances of miscarriage, learning problems and cognitive impairment, behavioral issues and even damage to the kidney, brain and the nervous system.

“So, we need to give a thought about the safety of the products before we use them. Excess use of beauty products can be disastrous to pregnancy and the chances of conceiving may reduce drastically owing to their serious effects on reproductive environment. Though IVF treatments help in conceiving, avoiding use of such chemicals is advisable, as even after conception, continued excess usage can cause miscarriage and birth defects.” Added Dr Gupta.

Beauty shortcuts that cost you more than what your makeup did

At times, in this fast-paced life we hardly find time to spare for vanity. Hence, you may find yourself rushing through your makeup routine more often than not. While taking the easy way out is okay at certain times, some of the beauty shortcuts are best avoided. It must be understood that beauty does not come with the swish of a wand. Here is a list of some beauty shortcuts to avoid.

Sleeping with your makeup on:

Makeup certainly makes you look pretty and helps you feel more confident. But if you are too lazy to remove your makeup before bed, you might do a lot of harm to your skin. Sleeping with makeup enlarges the pores which may lead to bacteria that would only bring more acne. Be sure to use a good cleanser to remove your makeup. Coconut oil is also an effective natural option for makeup removal. But be sure to use a toner afterwards to help close the pores.

Applying makeup over makeup:

In a bid to save time, some women tend to apply makeup on a face that already has previous makeup on. This must be avoided at any cost, as too much makeup will harm your skin and clog your pores resulting in blackheads.

Avoiding sunscreens:

Stepping out for a lunch date and it is bright outside? Taking a trip to the beach? Planning to go shopping on a sunny afternoon? Don’t forget to apply sunscreen. The sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays can profusely harm your skin and in the long run it may lead to different types of skin cancer.

Using dirty makeup brushes:

Using an unclean brush to apply makeup will badly contaminate your skin. When it comes to skin care, one cannot take any chances. If you don’t have time to clean your brush, use a new spare one.

Heat-styling wet hair:

While it is alright to blow dry your hair once in a blue moon, try not to heat-style your hair very often. Too much blow drying or ironing could damage the hair beyond repair. Your hair may become dry and brittle and lose its shine. If it’s really necessary to use a drier, make sure you keep the temperature not very high.

Fashion habits that are bad for your health

Many people describe fashion as an exciting, transformative and communicative attitude. Although they may be right to an extent, they fail to include (and understand) the most important aspect that goes with fashion. That aspect is – comfort. It is upsetting that there are some facets of fashion that cause more harm to you than anything else does. Some fashion habits could damage your body and overall well-being; read on to know what to avoid and still stay fashionably healthy.

High heels:

We all have a separate shoe-closet filled with all our ‘sole-mates’. But wearing high heels is one of the worst things you can do for your body alignment. When you walk on the balls of your feet your torso tilts forward and you lean backward which puts an incredible amount of stress on the spine and compresses its discs over time. Try not wearing high heels very often.

Crash diets:

So your best friend is getting married in a week or two and you want to look the second best after the pretty bride. Do you find yourself resorting to crash diets or heavy workout sessions? Beware ladies; you might be risking a lot here. Suddenly restricting your food intake for the sake of looking “skinny” can ultimately slow down your metabolism, which can cause weight gain in the long run. Fasting does not help either as it may lead you to overeat later.

Heavy bags:

The bigger the bag, the more things you find to put in it. But take a moment to observe this: you probably carry your bag on one side all the time. This uneven weight distribution can cause muscle imbalances and influence your posture. Moreover, heavy bags also cause neck, shoulder, and spine pain when your torso shifts in order to deal with the uneven weight. Instead, give your body a break, and carry a small, light bag that’s free of extraneous objects.

Plastic face:

Some women are so used to applying makeup on a daily basis that they cannot recognize themselves without it. Having a plastic doll face daily can cause serious harm to your facial skin. Your skin would not be able to breathe and eventually become dull, dry and lack-lustrous, not to forget blackheads and acne prone.

So ladies, make sure you stay away from these unhealthy aspects of fashion that we all are prone to.

How to enhance your best features using makeup

Do you have a hard time enhancing your facial assets? Ever had a makeup-gone-bad experience? We all did. But what we did not do was take advice from the right source. No problem, there’s good news for all. The Brunette Diaries spoke to a few local MUAs and makeup pros and had all our doubts cleared about how to enhance the best facial features without looking caked-up.

Also read: 10 most common makeup blunders and how to avoid them

Our experts had us turning red in shame when they quizzed us about the CTM. We stood guilty. So lesson number one is: Always cleanse, tone and moisturise your face! Healthy and flawless skin is essential if you want to sport minimal makeup. Experts suggested a weekly face pack for a healthy glow.

The primary rule is, to prime before applying makeup. This takes care of the uneven skin and makes application of products easier.

Then we proceeded to the base of the matter – yes, the base. It’s best to use a foundation in a shade exactly matching your skin tone. Natural looking skin grabs the most attention. So it is crucial to pick the right shade. Further, use a concealer and highlighter to make thin lines on your favourite areas and best features.

Pick a foundation that matches your skin tone

If you have sexy, high cheek bones, use a little bit of blush to highlight them. If your eyes give competition to a doe (just saying!) then mascara should be your best friend. Apply some highlighter on the inner crease of your eyes to enhance them further.

Blush on is best to highlight cheek bones

This may interest you: Beauty shortcuts that cost you more than what your makeup did

If you’re proud of your pout, flaunt your favourite colours on your lips. We’re talking peaches, plums, hot pinks, scarlet, fuchsia etc. Apply little bit of foundation on the centre of your upper lip before finishing off with gloss, and voila!

Experiment with bolder colours on your lips

Finally, take a clean, fluffy blending brush and work your way all over the face.

Check out: Fashion habits that are bad for your health

How to avoid weight gain due to a desk job

So it’s been a crazy-busy couple of weeks. You step on the scale one morning and, yikes! You’ve gained five pounds! How the heck did that happen? Well, research shows that what you weigh isn’t just the result of eating too much and exercising too little; it’s also linked to your feelings, your experiences, even where you live. Any change in your life circumstances can produce changes in eating and exercise, which leads to weight gain. This is more popularly known as ‘emotional eating’. Getting married and having kids are obvious triggers for weight gain, but there are other, more surprising transition points that can also influence your weight. This guide will see you through them all.

Also read: The expert’s guide to office makeup

You recently got promoted

The good news is that you love your new gig. And the bad news is that the big job is calling for a wardrobe in a bigger size! Chalk it up to stress, which prompts our bodies to release the hormones and insulin, which stimulate hunger. Usually in tense situations, we ignore the voice that tells us to eat healthy, and instead turn to high-calorie comfort foods. There’s only one solution: outsmart it. Bring a high-protein, fibre rich, fresh produce lunch, for instance; chicken salad, almonds and a orange, or yogurt and berries. The key is to choose foods that are satisfying.

Also make time for exercise. Yes, we know you’re too swamped, but we mean it. Working out or having an active lifestyle makes you more energized and helps reduce stress. If you don’t have time to hit the gym, go for a 15-minute brisk walk after lunch. Stand up and walk around for five-ten minutes at least once an hour. By moving frequently, you keep your major muscles working, which may ward off the negative effects of being sedentary.

How to lose weight without hitting the gym

Losing weight takes a lot of discipline and determination, whether in the gym or outside it. Some of us just don’t have the time for hitting the gym. Or maybe we are just not a gym-person. So how do we get rid of all the excess fat reserved in our body? Follow these steps to achieve your desired weight without sweating it out.

Smaller meals:

Not all of us are conscious enough to count every calorie, so try to make your meal portions smaller. And bunk the second helping altogether. You can take shorter lunch breaks at work so that you don’t over-eat.

Avoid too much sweet:

If you really need to have a dessert after your meals then try to swap the ice-creams and cakes with a piece of dark chocolate. It’s a healthier option to satisfy your sweet tooth without piling up on the calories.

Move your butt:

Having a sedentary lifestyle can make losing weight very difficult. Take regular breaks every 2 hours to walk around the office. Skip the elevator and start taking the stairs whenever possible. Enrol for a fun weekend dance class. The more you move, the faster you lose that weight.

Sleep:

Sleep is more than just a pretty-making mechanism. Your digestive system is also pumping hard to process your food, metabolizing carbohydrates and breaking down fats. Some studies have linked sleep deprivation to weight problems; so the bottom line is – if you don’t want your ‘bottom’ to grow bigger, hit the sack at the earliest.

Have sex:

That’s right; sex is a great way to shed the extra calories. An average sex session burns 150 to 250 calories per half hour – depending on how hot, flexible and athletic your session was. Now don’t be disheartened even if you aren’t extremely acrobatic in love-making, as sex naturally gets your heart rate up, which in turn improves circulation and burns calories and fat.

Laugh while you still have teeth:

Last but not the least – laugh more! Laughing heartily five times a day has the same beneficial effects as ten minutes on a rowing machine. How great is that!

Highly Educated Bollywood Stars

With supreme acting skills that have gained them plaudits from people all over India, some of these Bollywood stars will actually surprise you with their educational degrees as well! Here we take a look at the most highly educated B-town celebrities.

(Also read – Bollywood celebrities and expensive gifts)

Preity Zinta

This bubbly Kings XI Punjab owner, with a chubby face and a pretty dimple, is a perfect blend of beauty and brains. She has graduated with an English honours degree and earned a post graduate degree in criminal psychology! Impressive, isn’t it?

Vidya Balan

This B-town bombshell holds a major in sociology from St. Xavier’s, Mumbai. Besides this, she also holds an M.A. from Mumbai University. Talk about being diversely talented!

(Also read – The richest Bollywood stars of today)

Soha Ali Khan

Following in the footsteps of her father, Soha attended the Balliol College in Oxford. She also holds a masters degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

(Also read – Bollywood celebrities and their obsession with luxury cars)

R Madhavan

R Madhavan has charmed quite a few with his cute smile but that’s not all that is impressive about him! He is a graduate in electronics from Rajaram College, Kolhapur and even won the Maharashtra Best Cadet title which allowed him to make a trip to England. He even received training the Royal Army, the Navy and the Air Force which made him consider joining defence.

(Also read – Bollywood stars and their controversies)

John Abraham

This Bollywood hunk finished his primary education at Bombay Scottish School in Mumbai, and then went on to get an MBA degree from the Mumbai Educational Trust.

Fardeen Khan

Fardeen holds a Business Management degree from the University of Massachusetts, USA! Impressive!