Pumpkins in all of glory

The fall season is upon us and Thanks giving is right around the corner and everyone is now making plans and preparing their bellies for the amount of food they are going to eat. On a more serious note, however, with this time of the year the weather is changing and so must our beauty regimen in order to keep our skin in top condition.

Cold weather leaves your skin feeling parched and dull. Fortunately for us, this fall season is not only good for decorating our houses with pumpkins but these vitamin packed mega squashes can protect our delicate skin from premature again, clogged pores, and an uneven complexion.

Pumpkins are enriched with many vitamins and anti-oxidants that can boost the elasticity of our skin. So after carving those pumpkins don’t throw out all the puree instead we are going to put it to good use.

So, to keep with the holiday theme, here are scrubs and masks to keep every area of our body hydrated and glowing. After all with the holidays come family photos, which you want to look your best for.

Pumpkin Body Scrub:

This body scrub will gently and effectively exfoliate your skin giving your skin a healthy glow.

Combine, in a small bowl:

1 Cup Pureed Pumpkin

1 Cup Sugar

1/8 Teaspoon of Cinnamon

1 Tablespoon of Coconut Oil

Blend all of these ingredients and apply it to your body. Gently scrub in circular motions, using your fingertips. Rinse off with warm water and you are set, see the difference?

Pumpkin Facial Scrub:

This will no doubt cleanse your skin, removing excess dirt and leave your skin feeling clean and soft, while giving your skin a lift.

Combine these ingredients in a small bowl:

½ Cup of Pureed Pumpkin

3 Tablespoons of Sugar

½ Teaspoon of Pumpkin Seed Oil

¼ Teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon

Mix well. This will give you a thick paste. Massage this scrub into your skin. Let this soak into your skin for a few minutes before rinsing off with warm water. It is that easy!

Purifying Facial Mask:

This facial mask will help to give your skin a natural glow, aiding in moisturizing your skin.

In a small bowl, combine these items:

2 Tablespoons of Pureed Pumpkin

2 Teaspoons of Honey

1 Egg Yolk, beaten (until you see little bubbles)

Plain Yogurt (add just enough to reach a spread-able consistency)

Cleanse your skin before you apply this mask. Spread this mask onto your skin and relax, and let this mask do its job for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water, moisturize, and enjoy smooth skin.

Now, you either have oily skin or dry skin. You know who you are. Here is a mask for each of you, to help you get through this season.

Face Mask for Oily Skin:

Add all of these ingredients together and blend.

¼ Cup of Fresh Pumpkin

1 Teaspoon of Pumpkin Seed Oil

1 Tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar

1 Egg Yolk

Apply this to your face and leave it on for 20 minutes. Wash off with warm water and enjoy. This will help you control the shine.

Face Mask for Dry Skin:

The creamy consistency is amazing for dry skin and will help nourish your skin.

Mix together:

¼ Cup of Fresh Pumpkin

1 Teaspoon of Pumpkin Seed Oil

1 Teaspoon of Almond Oil

Plain Yogurt; add just enough to get a creamy consistency

Apply this mixture to your face and leave it on your skin for 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and moisturize right after to lock in the effects.

Pumpkin Pie Foot/Hand Scrub:

If you are like me your feet crack and your hands become ruff when the weather outside starts to become cold. This foot and hand scrub will help exfoliate off the rough skin, leaving your skin soft and moisturized.

In a small bowl, add all of these items together:

¼ Cup of Pureed Pumpkin

4 Tablespoons of Sugar

2 Tablespoons of an Essential Oil (jojoba, grape-seed, almond, or olive oil)

1 Teaspoon of Cinnamon

½ Teaspoon of Honey

Over a large bowl or the way I do it, sit on the edge of the tub, and massage this mixture into your feet or hands. Focus on the rough areas and cuticles. To enhance the benefits, allow this mixture to remain on your skin for 5 minutes, and then rinse off with warm water.

Pumpkin Hair Mask:

Yes, we are even going to put pumpkin in our hair. Pumpkin is an excellent conditioner for dry hair, as it is packed with vitamins that aid in softening. This recipe promises to make your hair shiny and soft which is the ultimate goal, right?  

Combine in a bowl:

½ Cup of Pureed Pumpkin

¼ Cup of Plain Yogurt

2 Tablespoons of Honey

Apply the mask to your entire head (it doesn’t matter if you have dry or oily hair. If your hair tends to be very oily, simply avoid adding this mask to your roots). Once your hair is fully saturated, you can either put on one of those old-fashion shower caps or you can wrap your hair in plastic wrap. This allows your hair to soak in the full benefits of the mask. Leave this on for 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water (you can either wash your hair as normal or just rinse the mask out). This will also help tame the little strands of hair that tend to dance on the top of our heads. Enjoy!

Did you ever think you could use pumpkin for so many different things besides cooking? You are now taking the use of a pumpkin to a whole new level.

Each one of these mixtures will help you keep every area of your body in perfect condition despite the weather outside. Who knew these mega squashes could be so useful for beauty?

Hopefully, these masks and scrubs will help you radiate in those family photos and help you make it through this holiday with ease.

As a side note: In order for these benefits to last make sure you apply a moisturizer after you have rinsed off each scrub/mask. This will not only enhance the benefits of each treatment but will prolong the effects.

An easy moisturizer for your skin is coconut oil. Yes, I said that correctly. Take a little bit onto your fingertips and apply it after you have rinsed and dried your skin.

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The Benefits of Coconut Oil

If you are anything like me having a million different bottles of beauty products overflowing on your vanity can be a pain, downsizing your beauty clutter may sound ideal, but who wants to risk sacrificing radiant skin and silky hair for a little organization? Fortunately there is a single item that can replace a handful of those products and better yet, it is one hundred percent natural : coconut oil.

I have compiled ten ways for you to skip the beauty middle-man (and harsh chemicals) and create a brand new beauty routine centered around coconut oil.

1: It is a top quality moisturizer. Coconut oil has a high moisture retaining capacity, which acts as an excellent source to fight dry skin. Make a moisturizing body scrub by blending coconut oil with sugar.

2: Helps in the battle of aging. Wrinkle- free yes, please.

3: Coconut oil is one of the best oils for removing your makeup. It is perfect for removing stubborn eye makeup. You can even use it to clean all of your makeup brushes.

4: It is the perfect tool to use to penetrate into your locks, giving you a deep condition and regaining shine. Leave it on your hair over night and wash it out in the morning. It will help repair any damaged hair.

5: Get smooth and silky legs by replacing your shaving cream with coconut oil. It will make your legs hydrated without being greasy.

6: Treat dandruff and frizzy hair by applying directly to your dry scalp.

7: Fight acne with coconut oil’s antibacterial properties by combining it with baking soda to create an exfoliating scrub. This will help your skin to heal quickly.

8: Make your very own all-natural toothpaste. Mix baking soda with coconut oil and get the creamy texture you are used to, without the chemicals.

9: Natural deodorant! You are probably thinking “no way” but it can be used to kill body odor. Who knew?

10: Coconut oil is perfect for cleaning your face after a long day, since it is antibacterial. Massage into your skin and wash off the residue with your regular cleanser. It will improve the quality and appearance of your skin by eliminating dead skin cells. Making you look younger and healthier.

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Top 7 hair care products

Monsoon is a time that can wreck total havoc on your hair. The weather can make it frizzy, messy or make it look limp. You can never really predict what will happen next. It isn’t a time when you can expect to step out of the shower with perfect, smooth and settled hair. You are surely going to need some help to maintain those tresses. So we came up with a list of the top 7 products you need to stock up on this monsoon to make sure your locks look ravishing at all times, no matter what the weather is outside.

1. Deep conditioning mask : Hair can become fairly unmanageable at this time of the year. And the constant in-and-out of the rain is likely to cause some damage. To make sure your hair stays lustrous and soft, opt for a deep conditioning mask that will keep the damage in check. Besides using your regular conditioner, use a deep conditioning mask at least once a week after shampooing. Apply it and leave it in for half an hour and then rinse off. Making this, a habit will help your hair shine always.

2. Oil: The weather is very likely to strip your hair of moisture in the monsoon. This can cause your hair to become extremely dry and frizzy and can even lead to hair fall. To keep the hair nourished and hydrated, make it a habit to regularly apply oil. You can opt for any oil of your choice – coconut, almond, olive etc. You can even try combining coconut oil and olive oil in equal parts for a nourishing and softening therapy. Coconut oil is a great source for the nutrients your hair needs while olive oil works on the hair shaft to soften it and make it smooth and silky.

3. Leave-in conditioner: Applying a leave-in conditioner after a hair wash is a great way to keep the hair free of tangles and hydrated all day long. The leave-in conditioner works to moisturize the hair and makes it easier to comb through and manage which is a big boon if you get wet in the rains. Also if you are using styling products, the leave-in conditioner acts like a primer for hair before you begin.

4. Heat protecting spray: In the monsoons you are likely to use heat styling products more often than usual. Using them too much can cause a great deal of damage to the hair and make it brittle. To avoid this, invest in a good heat protecting spray and apply it generously before you use curling tongs or a straightening iron.

5. Dry shampoo: Too much of getting wet in the rain and then drying it can make the hair limp and reduce the volume. And sometimes in a rush to leave the house, you may not have enough time to wash it. Then you don’t want to go around sporting lifeless looking hair for the rest of the day. Buy a good quality dry shampoo. It will remove the excess oil build up from the scalp while also making your hair look fresh and voluminous in case you have less time.

6. Round ceramic brush: A round brush is an excellent tool to remove the frizz from the hair and also give it a polished look. Having a rounded ceramic brush will also make it easier and faster to dry your hair when using a blow dryer.

7. Setting spray: If you style your hair with a lot of effort, you don’t want it to rain on your parade and destroy the do. Buy a good quality flexible hold hair spray which will keep the style in place without making your hair rigid and stiff.

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6 Easy face care tips using turmeric

We all know of turmeric or haldi as a spice used in Indian cooking, that’s responsible for giving that rich yellow color to the Indian curry. But do you know of the multiple skin benefits, turmeric can provide? No wonder, there is a ritual of smearing the bride’s face with haldi, just before the big day to give her that all natural glowing complexion. So today Zuri brings to you 6 easy face care tips that use turmeric for that bright luminescent skin.

1. Turmeric is loaded with anti oxidants that ward off free radicals and hence prevent spremature ageing of the skin. Besides it also makes for a great exfoliating agent. So take 2 tbsp besan and add a pinch of turmeric to it. Make a thick paste with water and apply on face and neck. Let it dry and then scrub it off with your fingers in gentle circular motion to say hello to a glowing, firmer, younger looking skin.2. Turmeric also works like wonders to get rid of any pimple scars or inflammation marks. In fact it also reduces oil secretion by the sebaceous glands, hence avoiding the outbreak of pimples altogether. Add some turmeric to 2 tbsp sandalwood powder and make a fine paste with water. Apply to the affected area and rinse off with water after 10 minutes.

3. Turmeric is well known for its healing and antiseptic properties and is an excellent remedy to heal burns. So apply a mixture of turmeric and aloe vera gel on the burnt area and see the wound heal in no time.4. Turmeric is also proven to be really beneficial in getting rid of dark circles. Add a pinch of turmeric to 2 tbsp butter milk and apply this concoction around your eyes. Let it sit for about 20 minutes and rinse off with cool water. Regular use of this remedy helps you say goodbye to dark circles.

5. Turmeric in combination with other ingredients is also very effective in reducing wrinkles and fine lines. So try a pack made of turmeric, rice powder, tomato juice and raw milk. Apply on your face and rinse off with lukewarm water after 30 minutes to get visibly smoother, brighter skin.

6. Regular use of a combination of turmeric and cucumber juice can also help lighten your skin tan. Apply this mixture on the affected area and leave it on for about 20-30 minutes and wash with water. This remedy is also effective in treating any pigmentation on the skin.

A word of caution here. Turmeric can leave a slight yellowness on your skin, which will eventually subside. But I would still recommend you use it sparingly.

Beauty Therapy Tips

Being a beauty therapist pretty much makes you an expert in the field. You know all the steps to properly deep condition, and you’ve applied shellac nails more times that you can remember. You’ve memorised every process of every treatment back to front, and it’s basically second nature now. But even being the capable beauty therapist or beauty enthusiast that you are, there are bound to be things here and there that you forget to do. 

As a beauty therapist, it is important for you and for your clients that you are always wary of the things that could go wrong, or could be done better. Part of that is to practice what you preach, as well as reminding your clients how they can maintain the treatment without you. Here are a few tips to help you improve the experience for your clients. 

Exfoliate properly and regularly
Exfoliation needs to be done regularly  because the human body is constantly shedding skin cells. So it is important to buff away the dead skin before you begin any kind of skincare treatment. This removes build-up in pores all over the body and improves the effectiveness of any treatment that is applied. 

There are many ways to exfoliate. The simplest way is to apply your body wash using a washcloth. There are also many products on the market with different particles that are useful for ensure the removal of all the impurities hidden in the pores. 

You should also take note that exfoliation should not be done too often or too harshly. While gentle exfoliation will help you to remove dead skin, harsh exfoliation will damage your healthy skin cells. You should recommend that your clients exfoliate 2-3 times a week, or less if they have sensitive skin. 

Moisturise properly and regularly
After exfoliating, it’s important to replace the moisture that you have removed. As with exfoliating, you should apply moisturisers to your entire body, but unlike exfoliating, you should do so every day. During times of the year with excessive heat, or excessive cold, your skin is more likely to dry out. 



Don’t forget to moisturise.There is a common misconception that people with oily skin needn’t moisturise, but it is necessary for people of all skin types to replenish their skin. Most importantly, you should remind your clients that moisturising their skin will help reduce dryness, itchiness, redness, and premature ageing. 

Moisturiser can be applied throughout the day, all over the body. You should apply a facial moisturiser in the morning and at night. During the day you can regularly reapply lip balm to replenish your lips. And after showers, you can focus on the rest of the body. 

Take care when waxing
The key to waxing properly is having pre-prepared the skin. Although you can’t do anything about first-time clients, there are definitely steps you can take to ensure that clients who have follow-up appointments can get the most out of their waxing experience. 

Before and between waxes, it’s important to keep the skin exfoliated and hydrated. This will help avoid thedevelopment of ingrown hairs. This can be avoided by not waxing or shaving too often, and by looking after the skin after the waxing has taken place. Hair removal also strips you of skin, so as always, it is important to moisturise. 

Another issue that can arise is infection. So make sure that all your hands and your instruments are sanitary. Remind your clients to do the same, if they should ever attempt to wax at home. If an infection does occur, you client should definitely see a doctor to get it checked out, and to ask for antibiotics. 



Make sure you are educated
As a beauty therapist, you are a hub for beauty knowledge. This makes the processes you use and the information you provide very important to the beauty regimes of all of your clients. These are some key examples of things that beauty therapists often forget, but there are definitely many more. 

Like with any career, it’s important to make sure that you’re developing your business with the changes in the industry, and consistently upskilling. So, in order to make sure that you’re up-to-date with key concepts and new developments, you can invest in a beauty therapy course. This also ensures that all the information that you’re passing on is relevant and informed. 

A career in beauty therapy allows you to get up close and personal with people. During your sessions, you are able to get to know your clients and give them advice about how they should go about their beauty regimes. So remember to keep these tips in mind when you’re helping out your next appointment. 

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Beauty tips for a glowing face which are based on home ingredients

We all do so much for a healthy, glowing face. Cosmetics, makeup, you name it. But constant exposure to dust, dirt and pollution keeps thwarting our efforts. Well, it’s time to look elsewhere for that beautiful glowing skin. Not too far, just in your kitchen! We have brought you 6 very simple tips that will help you achieve glowing skin.

1. Use gulab jal (rose water) as a toner: After you wash your face with your favorite face wash, dip your cotton ball in a bowl full of chilled gulab jal and run it over your face. Let the gulab jal dry on your face and repeat again if necessary. This simple ingredient will soothe your skin after the day’s exposure to pollution and dirt. It lets your skin relax and tightens your pores.

2. Almond scrub to the rescue: Soak 2-3 almonds overnight in water. The next morning grind them into a rough paste using a little milk to add a dab of moisture to the scrub. Use it as you would use a regular scrub. This natural, chemical free process will do away with dead skin cells and the lightening properties of almonds will add a glow to your visage.

3. Milk or oil as a cleanser: With the advent of BB creams and tinted sunscreens, our skin is suddenly facing a lot more make up ingredients than it used to a few years ago. Using another set of chemicals to wash it off will create an onslaught of unnatural ingredients. Instead use baby oil or milk as a makeup cleanser. As the amount required is very little, the residue left behind isn’t too much. Always be sure to wash it off.

4. Yogurt face packs: The difference between a face pack and a cleanser is that a face pack stays on your skin for a longer time. Which is why, using milk as a face pack base may be counter-productive as milk is rich in fats and oil and can leave behind pimple causing residue. Use yogurt instead- which has all the goodness of milk, minus the oiliness and the smell. Add some lemon juice for that perfect glow.

5. Neem beats the bacteria: Pimples or acne are the worst enemy of skin glow. In our effort to rid our face of pimples, we sometimes end up drying up our skin way too much. And there goes your glow! The best way to combat pimples is prevention, not cure. Apply a simple paste of neem leaves on your face once a week and keep it on for 20 minutes for complete bacteria bashing, and a pimple-free glowing face.

6. Honey adds the extra glow: We all have our usual go-to face pack recipes. What we don’t know is that adding a drop or two of honey to the face pack will give you a healthy glow. Honey moisturizes and treats your skin, ridding it of impurities. Make sure that you don’t add more than a drop or two of honey, because too much honey can make your skin erupt. Honey is the afterthought in your face pack, not the main story.

Home ingredients are not power packed with chemicals, which is why they take their time to work. So remember to give yourself 4 weeks of regular usage to decide whether the home remedy works for your skin.

TIPS FOR RUNNING A BEAUTY SALON

If it’s your dream to be in the business of beauty, opening your own salon can be lucrative and professionally rewarding. Competition in the salon industry is fierce though, so qualifications, work experience and preparation will be key to your success.

Learn your trade

Before you begin to think about opening your own business, the most important thing is to acquire the necessary qualifications. A Diploma of Beauty Therapy and a Diploma of Salon Management can equip you with the latest industry techniques and business skills to get you started on the right track.

Work experience is also vital in understanding the daily operation of a salon and to learn the ins and outs of the business from the ground up before you take the plunge yourself. This way, you will gain an understanding of customer needs, a practical knowledge of all the tiny details that go into running a business, and forge contacts within the industry.

Decide on the services you want to offer

You also need to think about the list of services you’d like to offer, whether you focus predominately on a certain clientele, or technique, offer luxury modalities in a spa environment, or offer more practical services such as nails and waxing.

Formulate a business, inventory and accounting plan

After you’ve decided on the type of salon you wish to open, you’ll need to compile all the nitty gritty details into a formal plan.

Funding is the first step in getting off the ground. You’ll need your business plan to outline the details of your proposed business to a bank or investors for a loan, or if you have the funding in place, to calculate the costs in opening and running your enterprise.

It’s vital to ensure you have programs in place to track inventory, revenues and expenses before you start, as this is will be the foundation of your business.

Choose the right location and salon decor

Choosing the right location is highly dependent on the type of clientele you wish to attract and the services you’re offering in the salon. Apart from picking a location with high traffic and visibility, concentrating on where your target demographic is will help you attract clients in the first place and keep them returning.

The desires of your chosen clientele need to be considered in the design, color scheme and furnishings of the salon, to ensure it’s a place they love to visit for rest, relaxation and pampering, no matter what services you offer.

Design a marketing plan

A professionally created website that’s easy to navigate and contains all the relevant information, including services, prices and opening times, goes a long way towards successfully marketing your business.

Other marketing options include holding a launch party for the local community and offering opening specials. This way, you’ll inspire clients to walk through the door, which is all you need to first generate a buzz about your salon.

Provide excellent customer service

Lastly, but most importantly, providing excellent customer service can mean the difference between a successful business and a flop. This is especially true in the beauty industry, as clients typically like to return to the same therapist time and again.

If you can make your clients feel special with sincere efforts to offer outstanding service, innovative techniques and a warm, welcoming environment, you’re well on your way to a successful career in the business of beauty.

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Want to learn more

If you’re passionate about beauty, then why not download our FREE ‘Tips for Beauty’ eBook. The Beauty lecturers at AIAS have pulled together some popular all-natural treatments that are simple, practical and achievable.