Even the mere mention of festive seasons brings a grin on our face. But the late nights, lack of sleep and exercise, overeating and pollutants in the air play havoc with our looks, too. What to do with those tired and puffy eyes, dehydrated skin from too much make-up, or bad hair days? All this tell-tale signs call for a detox session post festivities.
Shahnaz Husain shares some natural tips to get you back on your feet and ready for work.
Drink Green
Give up coffee and drink green tea daily. It has great benefits. It increases fat oxidation and eliminates excess levels of water from the body. Also, make sure to drink more water. Have the juice of a lemon with a glass of warm water first thing in the morning. This helps to flush out the toxins.
You can also add spices to tea, such as, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and pepper. Ginger is known as a “universal remedy” for its many benefits. Ginger boiled in water can be had as ginger tea. Ginger tea is advised after meals for digestion. It also reduces inflammation. Chamomile tea, too, calms the nerves.
Take a bath
There is nothing better than a warm bath to make you feel better. Bath salts, added to bath water, can help to remove fatigue and induce relaxation.
You can add five drops of any essential oil to pure olive oil and then add it to the water along with salt. Cinnamon oil relieves fatigue and muscular tension, while lavender induces relaxation. Rose oil is said to have a calming effect on the mind. Essential oils should not be used by themselves.
Saggy eyes?
Excess fluid around eyes can be a result of binge drinking at parties. Gently tapping the skin around eyes with the finger tips can sometimes help the collected fluid to drain away. Work from the inner eye and go towards the temples. Grated potatoes or potato juice, applied around the eyes also helps reduce puffy eyes, so do tea bags. Steep them in hot water; then cool them and use them as eye pads.
Skin talk
Natural ingredients like honey, aloe vera, cucumber and rose water help to tone the skin, moisturise it and relieve skin fatigue. Apply them on skin and wash off with plain water after 20 minutes.
For oily, combination and acne-prone skins, add 10 drops of sandalwood essential oil to 100 ml of rose water, to make a protective and refreshing skin tonic. Wipe the face with it, using cotton wool.
Eat Right
Include raw, natural foods and fresh fruits and vegetable juices. They will detoxify the system by promoting the elimination of wastes and also bring about a sense of well being and vitality. Include fresh fruits and lightly cooked vegetables, unprocessed cereals, sprouted grains, nuts, seeds, yogurt in your diet.
Work Out
Fall back on yoga. The exercises or “asanas” are particularly beneficial for strengthening the body, making it flexible and youthful. Combine them with breathing exercises. This will improve oxygenation, purifying the organ systems and inducing relaxation of both body and mind. It also helps to reduce stress.
Last, but not the least, you can go for a deep tissue massage. It will not only be most relaxing, but will also help to release toxins due to massage on pressure points.