Wrinkles

An ageing skin requires a lot of care, a proper diet and a good exercise regimen to retain youth-fulness. Women all over the world fear the onset of wrinkles. They go to extreme lengths to try and hide, camouflage and delay the process.

Thankfully, there are several natural cures. A proper diet of vegetables, fruits and herbs along with skin-nourishing cures not only delay wrinkles but also improve the texture of your skin. The use of such natural products does not lead to any side effects. A word of caution too. Your attitude also determines how and when you get wrinkles. Frowning, knitting of the eyebrows, getting easily agitated causes the facial muscles to get tense and knotted up. This too contributes to early wrinkling. Cheer up, there are several simple cures that help. Smiling helps you relax your muscles too.

An ageing skin should take in plenty of fresh fruits and raw salads and yoghurt. The intake of liquids and water should increase manifold. We generally do not drink enough water.

YOGHURT AND CHICKPEA POWDER :

Take half cup yoghurt and add 2 tablespoons of chickpea powder. Stir to a smooth paste. Apply a thick coat all over the face and neck. Let it stand for 10 minutes. Wash off. Repeat this every alternate day. This helps to tighten and nourish the skin.

APPLE :

If you can use green apples there's nothing better. However any types of apples will also work wonders. De-seed and then puree an apple along with its skin. Add one tablespoon of milk and blend well. Apply this apple paste all over the face and neck. Keep taking more of the paste and massage well into the wrinkles. When it begins to dry up, rinse it off.

GLYCERINE AND EGG:

This is an effective and an ideal anti-wrinkle lotion. Especially good for wrinkles on the hands and the neck. Take the white of an egg in a bowl and add to it 2 tablespoons of glycerine and 2 tablespoons of rose water. Stir well and then apply this lotion on the wrinkled skin as well as on the neck. Sit still and leave it on for 10-12 minutes. Rinse and wash off with cold water. An ideal application.

HONEY :

Honey works like magic too. A mature skin that has been exposed to the sun and the wind can greatly benefit with this cure. Take 2 tablespoons of honey and to it, add the juice of an orange. Mix well and spread this all over your face and neck. Leave it on for 20 minutes. Gently wipe off with cotton wool dipped in milk. Use this treatment once a day, preferably at bedtime.

CABBAGE :

Take enough cabbage leaves to give you half cup of cabbage juice extract. Add half teaspoon of wet yeast and one tablespoon of honey. Stir to a smooth paste and apply to the face and the neck. Sit still and relax, without making any facial movements. Let the paste dry up. When dry, wash off with lukewarm water.

CARROT :

Grate 2 carrots and add enough milk to make a thick, non-dripping paste. Spread it evenly all over the face, forehead and the neck. Leave it on for 20 minutes then wash off. This mask rejuvenates the skin.

Another very effective mask can be made with grated carrots and egg yolk. Add beaten egg yolk to the grated carrots and add one teaspoon of almond or olive oil. Mix well in a blender to form a smooth paste. Apply all over the forehead, face and neck. Leave it on for 15 minutes. Use cotton wool dipped in warm milk to wipe it off. Follow with a rinse.

RICE FLOUR :

Take a cup of rice powder and to this add enough milk and rosewater to make a thick paste. Apply evenly all over the forehead, face and the neck area. Leave it on for at least 20 minutes. Try and relax and not move any facial muscles when this paste is applied on the face. After 20-30 minutes when it cakes up, splash cold water on your face, rinse and wash off. The skin appears very taut and the wrinkles seem to have "straightened" out or disappeared altogether. Use this treatment regularly. twice or thrice a week for best results.

APRICOT :

Wrinkles due to tiredness or tension are quickly removed with this wonderful treatment, Take 2 apricots, after de-seeding them, finely chop and puree along with their skin. Add 2 tablespoons of honey and the juice of one lime along with a little cold milk. Blend all these to form a smooth paste. Applv on the forehead, face and the neck. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes. Now take some lukewarm water in a basin and add to it the juice of one lemon. Wash your face with this water. Your face glows and radiates freshness. The worry and furrow lines are minimized. The apricot nourishes while the lime juice tightens the skin.

EGG AND LIME :

Take an egg white and beat it well to form peaks. Now add to it the juice of one lime and blend well. Apply all over the forehead, face and neck. Leave it on for 10 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water. This tightens the skin instantly.

GREEN GRAPES :

Green seedless grapes are also an excellent cure for wrinkles. Roughly crush a few green seedless grapes and apply them on the forehead, face and neck. Rub the grapes in circular motions on all these areas. Leave them on for 20 minutes. Rinse off with water. Regular use controls wrinkles.

POTATO :

A potato mask effectively improves the skin texture, lightens wrinkles, makes them fainter, and tightens your skin. Take 2 potatoes, peel and grate them. Apply the grated potatoes all over forehead, face and neck. Leave it on for a few minutes. The feeling of "pinching" and tightening of the skin will be acute. Rinse off with cold water. Cleans and tightens the skin.

You can help prevent wrinkles around your mouth with daily facial exercises. Pull exaggerated O and E shapes with your mouth for 30 seconds.
Purse lips to right, centre and left of your face. Hold each movementt for 5 second. Repeat three times.
Stick out your tongue as far as you can, keeping you eyes wide. You will feel all the muscles working. Repeat 10 times.