Roots to Radiance

by Nikita Upadhyay

  Millennials in India are ranked as the ‘most stressed in the world’ by a survey conducted by Cigna TTK Health Insurance Company. Stats revealed that 95 per cent of Indian millennials between 18 and 34 years of age are stressed because of work, beating the global average, i.e. 86 per cent.3

  Now that I’ve spilled the tea, here’s how you can heal puffiness using tea bags.

  Stuff that is cold causes the skin to shrink. That’s how ice cubes are such an instant fix for open pores. Same is the case with cold tea bags. Caffeine beats puffiness and natural tannins in tea bags can make your life easier.

  Change the fate of your used tea bag from living in a trash can to sitting on your eyes. For 15–20 minutes anyway.

  When you take the tea bag out of the hot water cup, let it cool off for some minutes and then rest it on your eyes. You can also refrigerate them after steeping if you want to speed up the process. Here are the teas you can choose from:

  a. Green Tea: Every kitchen has this. And if it’s not helping you lose weight, get your money’s worth by putting those bags into good use and redeeming the power of caffeine.

  b. Black Tea: Black tea has more antioxidants than green tea, so don’t limit your options when it comes to getting your dose of the same. Using black tea bags on your under eyes regulates blood flow and hence helps de-puff the eyes.

  c. Chamomile Tea: It’s the tea that calms you and helps you sleep. Its relaxing properties also make it a great option for treating red, tired eyes. In fact, it works out perfectly that you prepare a cup to sip before sleeping, and by the time you’re done drinking it, the bag that has cooled off can be used to treat dark circles and puffiness.

  4. Eyelashes

  I’m the biggest mascara hoarder I know. Nothing finishes our eye make-up like a thick layer of mascara. You’ve probably read a quote for girls that said, ‘I won’t cry after you, my mascara is too expensive.’ To which boys clap-backed and said, ‘If your mascara is too expensive, it should’ve been waterproof!’ Boo, yeah!

  The point is, keeping your lashes healthy organically should be a major part of your beauty regime; layering it with mascara should only be the bonus.

  Imagine being asked if you were wearing false lashes or clear mascara looking at you even when you’re wearing none. I get that a lot, and it definitely feels amazing. It’s surprising that almost every chapter in my book has everything to do with what my mom does, but when it comes to my long lashes, I think my brother and I take after our dad.

  Some people have extremely long lashes even as toddlers—my Aussie niece Audrey being one case in point. It’s unfair how some of us have to spend thousands getting lash extensions, while some didn’t have to spend a dime. Lucky for us, holistic beauty has an answer to every problem and it’s quite low-maintenance.

  So, if you have fairly long lashes, this chapter is to help you on how to cleanse and maintain them, and if you’re trying to grow them, here’s how to do that as well!

  Taking off mascara and false eyelashes before sleeping is crucial. Your lashes can be damaged if your face rubs on your pillow overnight. Make sure your eyes are devoid of any cosmetics before you sleep. Here are some oils and solutions you should apply to your lashes before you go to sleep to have long, voluminous lashes. The best way to apply these to your lashes is by a spare mascara wand . . . so make sure you start storing those. Mascara wands can be used for so many things—that’s one thing you should never throw even when you toss the other half of it when the product is over. Wash and keep them to apply the following DIY lash serums and oils.

  Make sure you apply a thin layer as you don’t want a thick layer of anything on your eyes overnight.

  i. Castor Oil + Vitamin E Oil

  Consuming inexpensive Vitamin E capsules can treat a number of skin and hair problems. Applying the extracts of this capsule around your eyes (mixed with aloe vera gel or any cream that makes the extract less viscous) can help you treat dark circles and grow your lashes long and strong. In this case, it is better to mix Vitamin E capsule extract or oil with castor oil.

  Castor oil itself is rich in Vitamin E and triglyceride—a variant of fatty acids that promote lash thickening, strengthening and lengthening.

  ii. Olive Oil + Aloe Vera

  What’s better than one strong ingredient? Two strong ingredients that can hold hands to finish a job. These two ingredients are amazing even when applied separately. But combining the two makes it a sure-fire formula. Olive oil can help hair grow and so can aloe vera. Just pour a few drops on the bristles of the wand and rub it on a sliced open aloe leaf to mix the two. Apply on the lashes and sleep. This is something you can do 4–5 times or every day for best results.

  iii. Green Tea + Coconut Milk

  Same as above, they’re okay to be used individually, but combining them is great for better results. Mascara wand or cotton earbuds, both can be used to apply a blend of these two to your eyes before sleeping. So the next time you sip green tea, save a few drops to mix with coconut milk to get those voluminous lashes in progress.

  iv. Almond Oil + Argan Oil + Neem Oil

  Pretty much most ingredients that are rich in Vitamin E and fatty acids can help you in this department. And there are no exceptions in this case. These three oils help hair growth, making it a great composition of a three-ingredient formula for longer eyelashes.

  5. Eyebrow Serums

  Wavy brow, feather brow, braided brow—the world has seen it all. Most of the bizarre beauty trends include brow play. The beauty industry is ready to show the weightage of having good brows. After thousands of brow pencils and pomades being launched every day, not to mention micro-needling treatments and brow waxing techniques, brows have become a big market now.

  Sticking through thick and thin may have got a new meaning since brow transformations became all the rage. The way you do your brows can even influence what the shape of your face looks like. Not to mention how the Internet is full of sayings like, ‘Don’t let anyone with bad brows give you advice on life.’

  In a day and age that gives so much weightage to brows and how the shape of it plays a role in giving a your face a lift, it’s hardly original not to discuss the DIY recipes for lush brows naturally

  a. Flax Seeds + Boiled Water + Sesame Seed Oil

  Flax seeds have Vitamin E and so does sesame, with added B complex.

  Simmer half a cup flax seeds in boiling water till the flax seeds start dissolving and the water starts thickening.

  Keep stirring till the seeds become soft and the thick paste starts forming in the heating pan.

  Strain the paste and pour the solution in a bowl.

  When the solution cools off, you can add castor or Argan oil and apply the paste on your brows to help you grow defined, prominent brows overnight.

  b. Fenugreek Seeds + Raw Milk

  Soak fenugreek seeds in water overnight and grind them the next morning.

  Mix raw milk to the paste and apply on your brows with a cotton earbud to up your brow game!

  Now that we’ve got your eye routine in order, here are a few tips on how to see yourself:

  Don’t let anyone influence the way you see yourself.

  Have a hard look at your day each night and be grateful for the little things and pretend the stressing stuff didn’t happen.

  Stroke some eyeliner and tell the world you’re up to win again, next morning.

  3

  Lips

  You are a voice of reason. Lighting up a room with your wit and thoughts is just another day in your life. Every word out of your lips is savage. In the words of Elizabeth Taylor—‘Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick, and pull yourself together.’

  #YouGoGirl

  Am I the only one who’s sick of Kylie Jenner wannabes on social media? There are articles being written about how the Kardashians have impacted the beauty industry and influenced women to get more lip jobs and all. Writers are busy picturing and writing about how the perspective of beauty would ch
ange if the K-J Clan didn’t exist.

  In one of her interviews where Kylie admitted to getting lip injections, she said that she did it because she hated her natural lips and that no one wanted to kiss her. And now, she feels she doesn’t need it any more.

  Why? Because she thinks she could look beautiful without them. But unlike her, you don’t have to wait for someone else to tell you whether you’re kissable or not. In fact, your self-care and beauty routine doesn’t have to be a slave to your dating life at all.

  Injections are so out of context here, but I can’t help but mention this one girl who went to get fillers and her case ended up going viral. And not for the right reasons. The fluid was accidentally injected into an artery and the result was scary . . .

  I know you just Googled it!

  The point is, if you ask ten people what they would like to change about their face, their answer would probably be nose or lips. But the world has seen enough surgery fails to fear it adequately.

  Skin is in—so is authenticity, and realness.

  I’ve seen vloggers rub wasabi on their lips to make them burn and swell to achieve a plumper look. And to be honest, over-drawn lips seemed such a sane idea compared to that. Nature has an answer to solve all your problems without harming or backfiring. So, read on to get all you lip fixes in this chapter.

  1. Lip Scrubs

  Pigmented, chapped and rough lips happen to all. Regular use of cosmetics, not wearing sunscreen on your lips and lack of exfoliation leads us to having these concerns.

  Here are some DIY lip scrubs that will leave your lips looking pink, soft and supple. And leave an even canvas for your lip balm and lipstick to set on.

  a. Lip Scrub + Moisturizer

  1 teaspoon cream (malai)

  A pinch of saffron (kesar)

  A few rose petals (desi gulab)

  ¼ teaspoon white unbleached sugar

  Mix all ingredients together and rub gently on your lips for 5–7 minutes.

  After massaging, leave it on for another 10 minutes and wash.

  You can exclude the sugar and use the same recipe for a lip moisturizer.

  b. Lip Tint-In-Moisturizer

  A few drops of raw milk

  A few drops of grated beetroot juice

  A few drops of castor oil

  In the chapter on eyes, I suggested you save your mascara wands to apply lash enhancing oils. In this chapter, I’m advising you to save your old lip gloss wands and clean them to apply these lip moisturizers.

  Beetroot makes for an excellent natural lip and cheek tint. You can use it without adding anything else to add colour to your lips and go hours without having the burden of wearing chemicals on your lips. In fact, you can carry grated beetroot in your bag to extract juice and retouch your lips if you want to take a break from using lipsticks.

  Mix beetroot juice with raw milk and castor oil and apply to your lips using the gloss wand, any time of the day. This formula will nourish your lips, add colour to it and help depigment them.

  c. Cocoa Lip Scrub

  1 teaspoon raw milk

  A pinch of coffee powder

  A pinch of sugar

  Coffee and sugar are natural exfoliators.

  Mix them with raw milk and scrub and shoo away chapped lips.

  Gently massage for 5 minutes and wash.

  Follow up with a lip balm.

  d. Lip Depigmenting Mask

  ½ teaspoon water

  1 pinch baking soda

  A few drops of cucumber juice

  A few drops of almond oil

  Baking soda has stain-removing and cleaning capabilities. Add it to water, along with cucumber juice and almond oil and wash it off after 3–4 minutes to reverse the effects of smoking and pollution showing on your lips.

  2. DIY Lip Balms

  The times we live in are awesome! We can customize and personalize anything we want. So it’s high time we’re applying the same to beauty. Following is a list of lip balm recipes you can make at home. I suggest, go mad over this and come up with plenty of options to use from every day.

  a. Minted Rose Lip Balm

  1 tablespoon beeswax

  1 Vitamin E capsule

  1 tablespoon cocoa butter

  1 tablespoon rose oil

  1 tablespoon peppermint oil

  Melt beeswax and let it cool a bit.

  Cut open the Vitamin E capsule and pour the extracts into the beeswax and throw the outer shell.

  Then add cocoa butter and let it cool down.

  Add rose oil and peppermint oil and mix everything well.

  Then pour the melted balm in a small pot container and freeze it to solidify it.

  Make sure the solution is a little warm when you freeze it, don’t keep it super-hot though.

  b. Lavender Lemongrass Lip Balm

  1½ tablespoon beeswax

  1 tablespoon coconut oil

  1 tablespoon cocoa butter

  1 tablespoon Vitamin E oil

  1 tablespoon lemongrass oil

  1 tablespoon lavender oil

  Melt the beeswax and add cocoa butter and coconut oil while it’s still hot.

  Add Vitamin E, lavender and lemongrass oil and mix well.

  Pour it into the small container you wish to store the balm in.

  Freeze and solidify your lip balm.

  Bonus: You can replace lemongrass and lavender with any two compatible essential oils of your choice to come up with your very own, special lip balm combo. A blend of 6 drops of essential oils per 30ml of carrier oil should be able to help you get most combinations correct.

  c. Vanilla Coffee Lip Balm

  1½ tablespoon beeswax

  1 tablespoon coconut butter

  2 tablespoons coffee-infused oil

  1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  Melt beeswax and add coconut butter, coffee-infused oil and vanilla extract.

  Pour it in a box and freeze to solidify.

  Now that you have fantastic looking lips, let’s discuss your power of speech. The words that come out of your mouth, need to compete with the outer beauty:

  Us millennials may have more sarcastic comebacks but we’re also the wise ones. When you’re a true voice of reason, at home, workplace, and beyond, you’re wise! When you’re not around, let people miss THAT side of you. You’ll know how much more you’ll feel wanted by others!

  4

  Neck

  Hold your head high. Get your girls to do the same. Being the girl that you are isn’t easy. Fighting the fights you fight isn’t either. Show them the gracefully unapologetic lady you’ve become. #ChinUpPrincess or the crown slips!

  I’ve read articles on beauty and watched videos in my free time all my life, but never do people ever talk about taking care of your neck that often.

  Of the many signs that’ll give away your age no matter how you’re defying it otherwise is your hands and neck . . . if one’s that creepy to notice it, that is. The lines on your neck start thickening with age.

  The neck is quite ignored till the time we pull out our favourite swimsuit, halter neck blouse or backless dress. Only then do we care about blending foundation, highlighting or even moisturizing that area.

  This just hit you, didn’t it?

  Don’t worry—it’s not too late for anything. The only common problem this area deals with is fine lines and wrinkles. And here’s how you save the base of your face.

  1. Potato Juice + Lemon Juice + Rose Water

  ¼ cup Potato juice

  2 tablespoons lemon juice

  Rose water

  Potato juice reduces fine lines and evens skin tone. Lemon juice has plenty of Vitamin C. Rose water refreshes your skin by balancing its pH levels.

  Mix fresh potato juice with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and rose water. Apply to neck for about 30 minutes before jumping in the shower.

  Wash off, or you can even bathe after applying this.

  The best way to use these neck masks is to apply them before you go
to take a bath.

  2. Cabbage Juice + Honey + Ylang Ylang Oil

  ½ cup cabbage juice

  1 tablespoon honey

  A dash of ylang ylang oil

  Cabbage has skin-tightening capabilities, ylang ylang oil boosts skin proteins and promotes cell renewal, and honey smoothens the skin.

  Extract ½ cup worth of cabbage juice.

  Add a tablespoon of honey and a splash of ylang ylang oil.

  Mix well and apply this liquid paste on your neck area and rinse when it dries.

  Repeat twice or thrice a week.

  3. Egg White + Turmeric + Orange Juice

  1 egg white

  1 teaspoon orange juice

  ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder

  Neck wrinkles are not much different from face wrinkles. One can use egg whites for the neck the same way it is used for facial wrinkles and fine lines.

  Crack an egg and separate the egg white from the yolk.

  Add 1 teaspoon orange juice and ¼th teaspoon turmeric and mix well.

  Apply a layer of this on your neck in upward motion and rinse when it dries.

  Use twice or thrice a week.

  4. Chickpea Flour + Curd + Rosehip Oil

  2 tablespoons of chickpea flour

  1½ tablespoons of curd

  5–6 drops of rosehip oil

  Rosehip oil helps reduce fine lines and scars. Curd fights discolouration and chickpea flour tightens the skin.

  Mix 2 tablespoons of chickpea flour and add it with 1½ tablespoons of curd and mix well.

  Add 5–6 drops of rosehip oil and apply the paste to your neck and let it dry.

  Rinse and moisturize.