I may no longer have pink hair and my square-toe docs are 3,000 miles away, but I like to think that being punk requires more than such outward signals. I’m nowhere near as in to anarchy as I once was, but I still totally love the idea of DIY everything. In honor of that hallowed part of punk ideology, I present to you the following blurb which features advice from some desi beauty expert whom I’ve never heard of…I ganked it from the May 2006 issue of Jane, which I’m trying desperately to stay fond of, even though it is suddenly for 20-something women. WTF?
Oh, Sassy…how you are missed. You are the only reason I still subscribe to the monthly which is supposedly your phoenix.
DIY pore shrinkage
Here’s an easy way to minimize the appearance of enlarged pores courtesy of Anjali, who was formerly the Martha Stew of Indian daytime TV and now is head of product development at Shobha salon in NY.
Using a blender, puree one medium unripe tomato (the greener the better…) with one teaspoon of honey– this will mix the astringent power of the fruit w/the natural moisturizers in the honey. Apply the pulp to a freshly washed face, leave it on for 20 minutes, then rinse.
And if your problems go beyond skin issues, toss the remaining puree into a shaker, add some salt, a little vodka and a lot of ice. Shake, pour, drink. – Celia
Um, no, I haven’t tried it. But I was the guinea piglet for L’oreal’s latest mascara so I think I should get a pass on this little experiment. If YOU are brave enough to smear extra sweet salsa on your punim, do let us know if this results in less holes in your face, thanks .
Martyr. 😉 CAD, if you get skin cancer, then who will lead the mass movement?
I see only one mention of sandalwood – and that’s in soap form, even. My personal beauty favorite is picking up packets of sandalwood powder from local desi groceries, making up the paste, and applying it daily (even twice daily, during the humid Houston months) to my T-zone. It’s like oil-dry for the skin! Besides which, it smells nice, and its natural scent is one of the few that doesn’t tickle my nostrils.
Really! That’s too bad, because I love SM, and I can’t help but be biased and love yours, Neha’s, and Neeraja’s posts. Keep fightin’ the good fight.
Why CAD? Especially if you spend time in the sun? So you are comfortable with aging rapidly and possibly developing skin issues?
For dry skin Aveeno products are the best. Anything with oat in it is phenomenal. There is also Lipikar made by La Roche Posey that is absolutely fantastic for dry skin. I’m talking about dry skin that the usual Jergens can’t fix.
I like soft eye liners not the harsh lines and absolutely no liquid liners. Brown skinned ladies like us end up looking like racoons when we wear hard eyeliners. I prefer to play up the lashes then the lid. If you get a liner get a soft smudge kind. Prestige is fine but use dark brown and not black. Black is just too harsh. Unstoppable eyeliner by Maybelline is very good. Will last. Also see if you can create a soft line with dark eyeshadow instead of a liner, it will last longer. Also stay away from any waterproof products for the eye, no no on waterproof mascara and eyeliner.
You’d be surprised how many don’t. It’s like an urban myth. Coconut oil smells and takes forever to come out of your hair sometimes days and does not provide any more conditioning then the other brands of deep conditining. Also women who have oily or generally curly hair (me) should stay away from that stuff.
JOAT: I do have curly hair, albeit very dry, and do use oil sometimes to condition. I definitely find my hair after regular application…have you had a very different (read: bad) experience?
JoaT,
Regardng your comment–what’s the deal with waterproof eye-stuff being bad for you? When I was at Saks a few weeks ago, my fave Chanel person said the exact same thing you just did (after looking both ways to see if anyone was around and then leaning in to whisper the forbidden anti-waterproof truth). I wanted to ask her why but then some other customers came by and she couldn’t finish her thought. I usually don’t use it, BUT the last tube of Lash Stylist I bought IS wp. Before I open it, I’d love to hear what’s up.
Sorry, that should read: I definitely find my hair to feel much softer after regular application. Haven’t had my morning shots of caffeine yet!
I’m with Jane on the oil thing…I just use the heaviest conditioner a brand carries for my ultra-dry, coarse-but-mostly-straightish-wavy hair. If you are going to use oil, I’d only apply it towards the ends…the last time I had it near my scalp, even after washing it out as thoroughly, it killed all volume and looked awful.
2nd the question to JoAT about waterproof stuff, why is that bad? I never use it, because I find it too hard to remove, but always assumed it would be fine — all my friends have used it on their wedding days for example. I’d be really interested to hear your thoughts!
Also, re comment 149, in terms of a soft kajal with staying power — MAC Powerpoints are fantastic and come in awesome colours — although I hedge my answer against the hoped for JoAT response to the question about waterproof eye makeup… 🙂
Hey try the Queen Helene stuff that’s made for African American hair. That stuff really is fantastic and provides great conditioner without the oil/smell feel. It’s not a bad experience it’s just really sticky takes a long time to go away and it really smells bad. Also it seriously flattens hair and not all of us have naturally thick hair 🙂 People don’t realize it and use the kinds they grew up with but for a non desi that smell is offensive. It takes several days of hair washing to come out. My hair doesn’t need that level of conditining because it’s very healthy. Extremely dry hair requires daily help not really just once a week application.
While we are on it I’m also against eyemakeup remover as well 🙂 Your eye area is the most sensitive. For us brown girls it has the thinnest skin on the entire body so it goes fast. It’s the first place to see signs of aging and we are also prone to dark circles. Anytime you are tugging/pulling/pressing the area to get product out you are damaging that area. Waterproof products have chemicals that really grasp the epidermis of the skin and in the long run can really irritate (non visible) the surface of the skin. I prefer washable products and I prefer to wash my face with foaming face washes and warm water, no rubbling, pulling etc. Always follow up with a toner to get out every single bit out. No need for eye makeup remover. The #1 luxury EMR in the market is the Lancome one in the blue bottle but thats too many chemicals to put on your eyes on top of the waterproof stuff.
By the way another makeup tip that I have to share…sorry I eat, breath and live this everyday…Smashbox has a primer called Photofinish. It’s silicone based clear product that glides on your skin, fills ridges and creates even tone to put makeup on. It goes over moisturizer and is absolutely fantastic. Will make you look like you have foundation on. I never wear foundation, just tinted moisturizer on top of it and everyone always asks me if I have foundation on. It makes the skin flawless…
Lowe means newer hawing to say you are sorry…and I think I speak for multitudes when I type that after THIS thread, you are LOVED. 🙂
My hair is very thicky,dry,and wavy. I never used to use any oil in my hair. However, my hair started getting very dry (I couldn’t tell if it was because of my highlights). So i have started using coconut/Amla oil on my hair once a week. I haven’t had any problem with it. I try to focus on the ends of my hair.
Dark Circle – As JaneofAllTrades mentioned before, you can use cucumber. Also I have used Almond oil around that area. It lightens the area.
Not only are you loved JoaT but you are also PSYCHIC. I was just going to ask about foundation replacements to even out skin tone since foundation is too much of a hassle for me. Plus I’m scared of looking like a cake. That’s it, I’m going to a drug store + sephora after work today. No, don’t hold me back, I’m going, that’s it!
Neha,
Any moisturizer, Smashbox primer, Lancome Aqua Teint tinted moisturizer and Photogenic powder, and voila you have flawless skin…forget foundation. That is cakey. Your skin will show thru and it’s transparent, you won’t look made up but it will just look flawless. Also no eyeliner, a basic shimmery neutral shadow all over the lid, and Very Black Lash stylist (washable) mascara, Mac blush put on with a big brush on the cheeks and Maybelline Shinylicious lip gloss. You will look even more fabulous then you do now. Good luck. Let me know how it goes.
I’m going to miss you ladies and SM over the next week while I’m off to the Bahamas and Bermuda 🙂
Neha, I’ve had really good results with Real cosmetics powders. I have used their foundation on rare occasion (spot touch-ups for a performance) but not on a daily basis. Like JoAT said, it’s really not necessary to go there with foundation. Real’s colors are FABULOUS for desi skin tones and they don’t test on animals. I know I’ve pumped them up before, and several other Mutinettes use their line. I particularly like that it’s not pink or oranged based pigment, so the risk of looking like a cake is reduced because it actually blends nicely with your skin tone, instead of trying to cover up with an off-shade…
Happy vacation JoAT!
OOh JoAT- You are the best. I have the Lancôme EMR and always thought that was fab!, looks like I wont be buying it no more. I have to admit- I’m bad…cough lazy cough about washing my face- I use the Biore or Ponds makeup removal towllette- Is that a bad thing? Also I have the Benefit’s Dr.Feel Good stuff: Doesn’t make a visible difference but skin feels real smooth…is the Smashbox photofinish the same thing? I also get Microderm abrasion atleast once a month and a jet-peel ( Icy cold jet of saline water) I’m 28- but have these pigmentation marks that disappears for a week till my next session ( at $90 a pop- I’m hooked and broke)… Note to self: don’t committ to an appointment immediately after the session when skin looks fab! sigh
Don’t 🙂 All you are doing is spreading the dirt and pressing it into your skin. I’m not a big fan of using just towlettes to remove makeup. If you need to use it use the ones that foam and wash your face and wash with water 🙂
Benefit’s Feel Good is similar to Smashbox. Mac also has a cheap primer but by far I’ve used all primers in the market, the Smashbox is the best one in terms of delivering what it promises.
OK Su forget getting microdermabrasion at the dermatologist. If you are still in your 20s its so not necessary. Save the splurge when you get in your later 30s and 40s :-). Try the L’Oreal Microdermabrasion kit and for a little more the Lancome one. There is also Neutrogena. The Neutrogena comes with equipment you use. It’s $40. The L’Oreal one is $25. The Lancome one is $100. If you wait till December you can get the Garnier one for $15 🙂
you tease us with all these hints of fabulous Garnier product to come, JoAT!
OMG…I am such a loser when it comes to make up etc. I can barely use eye liner and lipstick. I think I need to seek sponsorship for a nice brown consultation!! I have to admit…make up talk is VERY daunting to me.
I oil my hair twice a month atleast. I use Dabur Vatika. It doesnt smell too foul and gives my hair body and bounce. Yeah…my mommy dearest ingrained the use of ‘Tel’ in me..
Su Cleansing pads are not the best thing to use on a daily basis unless you’re making sure you wash really well with water after using them…in which case, why not just use soap/any natural things of your choice since it’ll be the same level of hassle :)?
Dhaavak I like “finkey”! 🙂
CAD No problem, I know you won’t forget…and best of luck with those exams.
And seriously, reach for the S.Block. I’m not that much into makeup (a little lipstick every day, and mascara perhaps twice a year) My beauty regimen, such as it is, is more about long term care rather than short term. Which brings me to…
Chandi friend, I wondered about the same thing re the ‘youthfulness’ 🙂 of most on SM vs my relatively aging (42) self. But not to worry, you’re not alone, there’s me …and doubtless other forties plus lurkers…FESS up, guys!
Geriatric Finkie
So no input on why Shahnaz Husain is not widely available in the US? UK?
JOAT:
Do you want the honest truth? Yes. Yes I am.
AK:
Hopefully, those who will still be alive (probably those who have been using sunblock religiously).
Everybody: Oh, since we’re on the topic of harmful substances, if you’re using Teflon cookware, discard it IMMEDIATELY. Stick with stainless steel.
Everybody:
Out of dying curiosity, how many of you use a washcloth everyday with soap?
Just answer this please, and put me out of my misery, so that I can sleep at night.
Let’s ask Alice about washcloths.
I have faithfully adhered to all these principles!
My main concern is to engage in a daily exfoliation ritual in order to prevent the accumulation of dead skin cells so that your skin can “breathe”.
Hmmmm, CAD, so not even that layer of dead cells is there to protect you from the UV rays :). Sunblock, friend, sunblock…or else you might as well use that teflon. After all, if we’re courting one kind of cancer, why not court the others as well ;).
About your washcloth question: no, I don’t. I feel they pull the skin around (which is not good) and feel wayyyy too rough (even the softest) on my sensitive dermis.
Yeeh, finkie, thank you. I am you, you are me. Let’s form a ‘roaring forties SA divas’ club. Woo hoo.
Fink:
I concede right away that my research may be inaccurate, but this myth about the layer of dead skin cells protecting you from the sun’s UV rays is all hogwash. For 7 months, I made myself not use a washcloth, and it was both the dirtiest 7 months of my life AND the intensity of my tan was the same as when I used a washcloth.
Not only am I courting cancer with the sun, but I am also courting cancer by being a smoker. Oh well. I enjoy having my cigarette a little too much. I’ll stop when I get pregnant.
For those of who are now going to tell me, “Smoking causes premature wrinkles!!”, I know. Thankfully, they haven’t showed up on me yet. I must have pretty resilient skin. Those of you who have seen me in person can vouch that I do not have wrinkles yet, even though I’m 27; and I look as young as a pre-pubescent lass. Even when I’ll get wrinkles, too bad. It is useless to combat the aging process, a process that is both natural and inevitable. The marketing and cosmetics industries have been remarkably successful in convincing women that we should spend every penny we have on creams, gels, lotions, etc that purportedly slow down or halt the aging process, though these products actually don’t. Furthermore, they treat the aging process as some kind of despicable enemy that should be fought in a lethal battle until the last drop of blood has dried up. If you’re “old”- the standards of being “old” as defined by these industries– you feel stigmatized and a pariah of society. No more love, sex, and friendship for you. Your life is effectively over at 40 something, unless you buy their products. I refuse to be brainwashed. I don’t buy into this.
Right on!
The Reverend Nottle, 40+, young at heart and wayyyy foxy
Msichana,
Wow. Bahenji, you get the prize for the most hardcore desi on SM this week. I’d actually give you the prize for “most hardcore desi of the month”, but only if you admit to oiling you hair into a nice centre-parting and long plait, and actually going out on public transport like that 😉
Good for you, anyway. Dabur Vatika is supposed to be, well, very good for you. At least according to my mother and her continuing efforts* to try to persuade me to use it on my own hair during the weekends, once a week 😉
*Unsuccessful efforts (so far), I should add…..
I vote that JoAT start a “beauty” blog and help brown sisters with some Beauty tips..you know with free Garnier samples thrown in with a sign-up 😉 Seriously-You rock!! Thank you to Fink too- The Indian Parlour here in Knoxville uses a tonne of Shahnaz Hussain stuff for Facials and for Haircare. She recommends Shahnaz Hussain Mehendi for hair. I hadn’t heard about heavy metals in her products before- I have seen her on TV and she looks kinda scary…
this thread is addictive 🙂
my question -> how does one properly exfoliate ? do you need to use one of those sugar/salt scrubs? those gloves? any particular body wash?
Su Yes, she does look scary doesn’t she!! I always wondered why anyone would look like that while marketing a beauty product…(now Halloween makeup, that would work). Perhaps that explains why westerners don’t use her stuff. Thanks for your input…its only Indian parlours etc that use her 🙁 but I’ve never yet seen her in any of the Amreekan department stores etc.
Rani:
What I do is: with bar soap, I use a terry cotton washcloth all over my body and face everyday, and once a week, I use either gram flour or horse chestnut flour mixed with yogurt and scrub my face. I do not buy commercial scrubs; I figure that flour works just as well and contains less chemicals anyway. Likewise, I stay away from body washes. Good ole’ bar soap is good enough for me.
I like how my skin feels with the use of a washcloth. Those 7 months I didn’t use a washcloth, I noticed that my skin was very dry and hard. With a washcloth, the dead skin cells are sloughed off and my pores are open, allowing the skin’s natural oils to come to the surface and keep my face moisterized. So I don’t need to apply moisterizer, unless it’s winter time and my skin is getting ravaged by the wind and climate. This may have also helped to prevent wrinkles. At least it’s like this in my case.
My skin care regime is extremely minimal.
Thank you you are very kind. I will I will I really need to do it, especially the beauty stuff for my brown sisters because that is the least I can do. I started the travelogue after a lot of requests and it’s shut my blog down a few times because I keep going over bandwidth. I digress. I will share more I promise.
Exfoliating is simply the resurfacing of your skin which means sloughing off dead skin. If you use a loofa in the shower everyday you are way ahead of most people who simply slather with soap. There are tons of body scrubs out there. Use it twice a week in the shower. The cheapest ones are in Bath and Body Works and are really good. They come in a jar and are oil base with sugar/sea salts and it forces the oil into your skin and are very moisturizing. Use it after you are done washing and then just rinse off. This keeps the oil on the skin and the skin absorbs it. On the weekends I don’t even dry off. I just come out of the shower and stand for a little while and let my body absorb the oil. It’s a really effective way of naturally moisturizing.
Another cheap kind is the Freemans apricot facial scrub. It’s very mild and very effective and you can use all over your body. Costco has a triple pack for $10.99 🙂 Oh and anyone who is prone to acne on their arms or back should use the Freemans facial scrub for oily/acne skin on their backs/arms. Your skin will clear up in no time. Of course you need a lover (or in my case mom at the moment) to scrub your back in the bath 🙂
Body wash is just wash it doesn’t exfoliate.
With all due respect CAD you smoke, you don’t use SPF and all this obsession with soap and washcloths hehe. The only reason you don’t have wrinkles yet is because you are only 27 🙂 You aren’t supposed to have wrinkles this early on.
Sorry I promise I’m not trying to hog bandwidth. I just remembered another excellent regime to moisturize and retain the moisture for you ladies (and metrosexual boys) out there with dry skin. Other then using Aveeno everyday. After a warm shower slather on Johnson & Johnson baby oil without drying off on your wet self. The oil along with the water just gets sucked into warm skin with open pores. You will feel that soft moisture on your skin all day.
Janeofalltrades:
With all due respect, I wouldn’t make judgements about someone you have never met or seen 🙂
I will have to try the Freeman’s. Another good way to get rid of back acne is with milk of magnesia. You spread it on, let it dry and then rinse off. Works like a charm. You can also use it on your face if you have blackheads, etc., but it’s drying so be careful if you’re skin’s on the dry side.
JOAT:
Now that I think about it, I hope this didn’t come off the wrong way. I was just jesting.
(A Sidenote: I’ve just realized that communicating via the Internet is extremely problematic, where comments are easily prone and susceptible to misunderstandings. Now I have to be extra careful, conscious, and sensitive so that I do not unintentionally offend or insult anybody)
Now, if you all would excuse me, I am going to go relax and smoke a pack of cigarettes while lying under the sun– without any sunblock on.
Ugh! …if YOUR skin’s on the dry side.
No offense don’t worry. None taken either. Not making judgements at all. Simply telling you that not having wrinkles at 27 isn’t a big deal. You aren’t supposed to have them in the first place. Lest you think albeit all the bad habits you are somehow not aging 🙂 it will catch up with you in another decade. But more power to you if you don’t care as you said early. Most women don’t care to look 15 years younger just look good for their age. Enjoy the smokin and bakin 🙂
um… did you say you were a competitive swimmer, polo player… there’s a logical disconnect for me here … unless of course you’re doing this to support the beedee-rollers in rural andhra pradesh… in which case it is good.
JOAT:
Lest you think that all those products, ointments, cosmetics, and brands aforementioned will somehow actually live up to their marketing, benefit your skin, and work 🙂
Hmm….I’m reading a bit of biting criticism here….
Hey, why not start and lead a sunblock and cosmetic jihad? Teach everybody what is best for them, even if they don’t believe in it or get it!!
dhaavak:
I stopped playing competitive sports 4.5 years ago, and started smoking 4 years ago. So I have never been a smoker and an athlete at the same time.
I’m way older then you, have aged well and have flawless skin so I know they work 🙂 And remember makeup isn’t a must protection from the sun/environment is. Most people are open to learning about something that is harmful to them. Before someone educated me I was oblivious as well. Sun damage isn’t always visible. There is a large number of people that also believe they don’t sweat nor smell and don’t need deodrant. You can take a horse to the water but you can’t make it drink. At the end of the day we all do what is best for us.
now you’re breaking my heart – come back cheap ass, c-o-me back! cant you hear the drums fernando
i resemble that remark. ahh .. the pong of man…
Since I’ve never seen you, I’ll take you word for it. Congratulations.
One thing though: you’re attributing good skin and aging well to using products. This may or may not be true. In my mind, however, I strongly believe that a good, healthy diet of lots of vegetables and fruits, packed with vitamins as well as an active lifestyle lead to an overall healthy organism (though I smoke a couple of cigarettes a day). So this is your opinion, but it’s not a fact. Furthermore, just because these things work on you doesn’t mean they work for everyone across the board. Every individual’s skin is different.
How are you assuming that I don’t know anything about the subject of sunblock, skincancer, and so on? That I haven’t been instructed about all of the intricacies of cosmetics and the dizzing array of products up the galore? Maybe I’ve tried these things out in the past and decided to discontinue spending large amounts of money, money that I would now prefer to spend on buying, say, a book. Perhaps I don’t believe in all the hype. Maybe I’ve chosen to not bow down to the the market god. I don’t think you can make assumptions about what I presumably know, don’t know, and don’t want to know based on what I’ve chosen to do. The remark above is a bit patronizing, condescending and insistent.
I actually don’t care whether I look 15 years younger than my age. If the people around me judge me based on how young or old I look, then they are not worth my time anyway. Thankfully, all of the people close in my life are not hung up on this age talk. Of course we all want to preserve our looks, and there is nothing wrong with that, but I also don’t believe in caving in to societal forces and market pressure that punish us for not being young anymore and hence making us strive to “look younger than our age”.
A slight modifier: At the end of the day, we all do what we think is best for us. Including you, me, and everyone else.
Let’s just leave it at that.
dhaavak:
dhaavak, my love, it’s too late.
Absolutely. No one would even imply that products you put on the outside replace good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.
I think you are taking this a bit too personally. You said earlier that I should start a SPF jihad so I said that I can simply attempt to inform someone as someone did with me. I can’t force anyone to follow it. It has nothing to do with what you do and don’t know or follow or not follow.
Errr how is this any different the doing what is best for us?
lash stylist – done! smashbox primer – done! tinted moisturizer or powder – err, spent remaining budget on my one true weakness instead, a bottle of bvlgari.
so i will just be lash-ious and matte today, not bronzed and glowing above my natural bronze and glow, but there’s always next week’s budget…
THANKS, JoaT! I’ll let you know how my battle with the flat comb goes…in case you’re leaving tonight, have a wicked vacation, girl!