YOU, yes You, are truly beautiful!!! Think it, feel it, believe it……………….

Yes, each and every one of us, the descendents of Eve, are beautiful and unique, no matter what our age, colour, height, body type etc! So, how does one define beauty?  
To me, being beautiful, is presenting to the world, the best of what we are, the best of the "Unique U". Each and every woman in the world  has something special, something unique that sets her apart from everyone else................. it could be anything, a sparkling pair of eyes, flawless skin, beautiful hair, lovely hands and feet, a giselle like neck, an awesome pair of legs, an enchanting smile, an hour glass figure, a sexy collarbone, a great jawline, a fabulous, confident strut ............. the list is endless!!! 
So, you, Ms. Beautiful "UNIQUE U", must be wondering as to what is the need of this blog?
I nurture this dream that every woman should always look her best and remain beautiful forever. If, through this blog, I can share tips and ideas about the same, and maybe inspire in some way, maybe spread a little happiness ..................... believe me, the pleasure is all mine!!!

Where to begin??? 
How about that glorious, most exposed, largest organ of ours, the SKIN, which has to undergo the vagaries of the weather, sun, age, diet, sleep, makeup, hormones ............. omg, its unbelievable . Still, not having a soft, silky and tranlucent, glowing baby like skin is not an option.  So, lets tackle the skin care regime on a daily, weekly, monthly and "Formal occasion" basis.

Daily Skin Care Regime:
1) CTM, Cleansing, Toning, Moisturising, of course 
Any good products that suit your skin type, used on a regular basis, twice a day, will do the trick. But even before CTM, remove all your makeup, with a make up remover or Baby oil. Its great for removing makeup from the eyes, lips, skin and even nourishes as it cleanses. The light formula of the Baby oil will nourish the skin, give it Vitamin E, and still you will never end up with eruptions. Just dap a few drops on a damp piece of cotton and wipe your face and neck clean. Then go ahead and cleanse your face with a good pH balanced face wash, that doesn't dry out the skin. Follow it up with a toner, on a dry cotton swab, used all over your face and neck in gentle circular motion. All movements on the face should be from the centre of your face, towards your temple. This way  you will never have wrinkles. The eyes also should be cleaned in the same way, from the inner corner of the eye towards the outer and back again in light circular motion. 
Now the most important part, moisturising! The market is flooded with a range of moisturisers. You need to choose one according to your skin type and age and seperate ones for day and night use ( Preferably of the same brand) . The day time moisturiser should be light and non greasy and the night moisturising cream should be able to give a more intense coverage. 
2) Serum
If you are 30 plus, then applying a serum before the moisturiser will give your skin an instant boost and make you that enviable glow. A Vitamin C serum at night after moisturiser is also advisable.
3)Sunscreen
 A MUST, must use for each and everyone of us, every day of our lives, after we hit adolescence.  Regular use of sunscreen will ensure a clear unblemished  and wrinkle free skin . It will slowly lighten any acne or other marks as well as lighten the entire skin as it prevents tanning. A Spf of 15 or above is desirable and repeat half an hour before stepping out in the sun. A moisturiser with sunscreen is also a good option.

To summarise, makeup removal, cleansing, toning, serum, moisturiser and sunscreen................. in that order. It may seem a lot but does not take more than 5-10 minutes to complete the regime. Invest in good reliable products and these can last upto 3 months or more, so its not as if its going to cost the earth. And your skin will thank you for it .......

Weekly Skin Care Regime
So the compliments have started pouring in with your regular skin care. Feels good, no???
But a weekly or biweekly special care is needed to "up" the quotient. Here,s how......
1) Scrubbing of face with a fine grained scrub, twice a week, will get rid of any underskin or blackheads and give you a  fresh feel.
2) A good massage with a moisturser, cream (malai), baby oil or honey on a clean skin works wonders to rejuvenate your skin and provide deep moisturisation. All movements should be from the centre of the face towards the temple.
3) Follow it up with a good facepack, to be kept for about 20 minutes or till dry and then wash off. It can be a ready made face pack or home made. I am sharing one of my favourite home made packs . Try it , its fabulous!!!!

Besan Face Pack 
Essential Ingredients - Besan/ gram flour            - 2 tbsp
                                - Yogurt/ curd                    - 1 tbsp
                                - Lemon juice                     - few drops
Optional any of these can be added to this face pack
                                - Turmeric powder              - 1 tsp
                                - Honey                              -  1 tsp
                                - cream/malai                    -  1 tsp for dry skin
                                - egg white                         -  1 tsp for oily skin
Mix all essential and any optional ingredients with a little water to have a smooth flowing consistency. Apply on face and neck and let dry for about 20 min. Wash off and enjoy the great feeling of a super clean, smooth and glowing skin. Regular use will keep the skin taut, close pores and get rid of skin tan also.

Monthly Skin Care
If you follow the above regimes, there isn't much need for professional care. But, once a month, the skin needs a little more pampering........
1) Skin Bleach- once a month with Oxybleach or a light herbal bleach will immediately pep up the skin and get rid of the tan. Will work wonders to lift a tired looking skin. 
2) Chemical peels or rejuvenation treatment from a dermatologist.
3) Facials- from a parlour or at home are a fab way of pampering yourself but a word of warning. If you have oily, sensitive or a problemetic skin, then stay clear of them. You can go in for a peel or facial, depending upon your skin type and how your skin responds to them.

Formal Occasion Regime
Ok, so its a party or date night and you want to look your "knock out" best. A few special tips
1) A face pack if you have the time
2) A Primer after moisturiser and before foundation, to hold your makeup longer and give you a smooth , unlined skin for hours. it literally primes the skin for makeup.
3) Illuminator- a touch of illuminator on the highlighted areas of the face, the forehead, cheeks, nose and chin. But don't overdo it and reserve it for special occasions.

To sum it up, cleansing, toning, serum, moisturiser, primer, foundation and illuminator....
Go rock the party, gal and do share some of the compliments that come your way......