Are you pained by the sight of long, dark hair on your chin? We understand your frustration as chin hair can make having someone near your face uncomfortable. Sometimes the hair just doesn’t go away, and you continue to see a pesky strand on the same spot even after you remove it. There are three reasons why your hair keeps coming back—your genes, your hormones and the method of hair pulling. Often when you go off a birth control pill, you can notice hair growth. You may also see hair growth during your puberty and menopause when there is a surge of hormonal changes. Let us find out from dermatologist Dr Sejal Shah the best way to get rid of chin hair for good.

Can pulling chin hair help?
You are not going to get rid of chin hair if you continuously pull it. Pulling starts this whole chain reaction of stimulating dormant follicles to develop noticeably darker hair.

Can waxing help get rid of unwanted chin hair?
Waxing and threading your chin hair can also be a wrong decision. The more hair you pull, the more hair you will notice growing. Also, read this before you try any facial hair removal technique. 

What is the best hair removal method to remove chin hair?
While laser offers permanent hair reduction (not removal), electrolysis can be the best method to get rid of chin hair for good. Electrolysis removes hair permanently, however, you can still notice the growth of new hair if there are any changes in your hormones. In electrolysis, a thin needle that is finer than hair goes into the hair follicle sealing the root for ever. It might take up to three settings for the root to never produce another hair. A thicker hair may have to be treated about three times and a fin hair just once. The number of treatments you need also depends on how much hair you have on your chin.
Electrolysis can be painful, but if you are okay with waxing, you might find the pain tolerable. Your doctor will prescribe some cream and also apply some ice to numb the area first. Try these chemical-free home remedies to get rid of unwanted facial hair. 

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Every day there is a new lip colour trend on Instagram. While we may not try everything that the beauty bloggers do, we really feel like trying some trends. One such trend is the evolutionary caviar lips. Wondering what it is? Beauty expert Nandini Agarwal from Marvie Ann Beck Academy gives some dope.

Caviar lips are just an upgraded version of the glitter lips trend with a textured finish. The look is created using 3D embellishments like beads, sequins and pearls giving an illusion of actual caviar added to the lips. You need to just wear a glitter primer as a base for the embellishments to stick on. The caviar lips not only looks unique but it looks yummy too. So do not hesitate to apply lots of beads and pearls. That will make it look stunning and also enhance the shape of your lips making it more prominent.

However, you may not want to wear all that glitters to work as you might be eating up the glitter along with your sandwich at lunch. You must get it done if you are going for a drive with your date.

The right makeup for caviar lips
You can wear the lipstick as a statement piece and cut down the highlighter on your face. When you are carrying the caviar lip trend, it is best to keep the rest of your makeup minimal and clean so that the focus is only on your lips. Just pair the lip colour with a classic thin liquid eye liner or just a nude colour eye shadow to keep the look as minimal as possible. An eye shadow in a single colour is enough to bring radiance to one’s face. It is important to select an eye shadow in a muted tone to make the lips the highlight of the look.

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Genesis Rejuvenation Therapy is one of the most preferred non-invasive skin procedure to achieve vibrant, even tone and smooth texture skin in both men and women. Whether one is suffering from enlarged pores, extreme redness or fine-line wrinkles, this treatment is practically free of side effects. No topical anesthetics are used. Unlike other harsher contemporary treatment methods, Genesis Rejuvenation Therapy is done without disturbing the upper layers of skin (non-ablative). One can resume daily activities soon after the procedure. Dr Madhuri Agarwal, Founder and Medical Director of YAVANA Aesthetics Clinic helps us in understanding if this procedure really helps in producing new collagen and what makes this treatment different from other laser treatments.

How does Genesis Rejuvenation Therapy procedure work? Genesis skin rejuvenation uses ND:YAG laser light to treat the deeper layers of the skin. The laser light causes heating of the dermis resulting in new collagen production. The Genesis session results in an even skin tone, pore tightening, and a supple skin tone. It also targets the tiny vessels beneath the skin surface, decreasing the red patches and dull appearance. Read more about Acne treatments recommended by skin specialists — do they work?

What does Genesis Rejuvenation Therapy help to achieve? This therapy has proven to have many benefits. It helps in reducing fine lines and wrinkles. It aids in minimizing open pores, improves uneven skin texture and reduces redness and flushing of the face. This therapy also helps in treating acne scars that are shallow and not very deep.

Can Genesis Rejuvenation Therapy worsen any pre-existing medical conditions? Normally it is a safe procedure and does not cause any extreme adverse effects. However, it should not be done in individuals with keloidal tendency as it can worsen or at times trigger new keloids.

How many sittings does Genesis Rejuvenation Therapy take? Generally, 4-6 sessions will be required to achieve the desired results. The shelf life of the procedure varies and lasts anywhere from 3-6 months depending on lifestyle and other factors. The Genesis sessions require maintenance session once in 3 months to sustain the results for a long time. It is recommended to combine it with chemical peels for superior results.

What is Genesis Rejuvenation Therapy’s recovery time? There is no recovery time. Initially, there will be mild redness or flushing more evident in lighter skin type but it settles down in a few hours. In darker skin types, there is no visible change or redness immediately after the session.

How much does Genesis Rejuvenation Therapy cost? The cost is variable depending on the skin concern and number of session required. A detailed consultation will help to determine the exact cost for an individual. The average cost for a session can be in the range of Rs 3,000-Rs. 5,000 and clinics also offer packages depending on the session recommended.

Who is the right target audience for this treatment? For the benefit of anti-ageing and skin rejuvenation, anyone in their 30s can start doing Genesis. An individual with rough, patchy skin, large pores, fine wrinkles and dull tired skin can opt for this treatment. Younger patients with superficial acne scarring or redness of face can also be given the Genesis session. Read more about 6 best beauty treatments to reduce pigmentation and get clear skin

Who is not a good candidate for this treatment? Any individual with deep folds and wrinkles, deep pigmentation and lot of aging changes are not good candidates for this treatment. In case they plan to do this treatment, it must be combined with other treatments like chemical peels, dermal fillers, and Botox.

How different is this treatment from other non-surgical treatments? This is a unique treatment for reducing the redness and flushed look of skin and also improving difficult conditions like Rosacea. With a couple of sessions, the red patches on cheeks become less prominent and mellow downs. It is also a quick, lunch time procedure that overall improves skin dullness and porous look.

Advantages of Genesis Rejuvenation Therapy

1. It is a quick procedure with no downtime.


2. It helps in reducing redness and flushing of the face.

Disadvantages of Genesis Rejuvenation Therapy

1. It requires multiple sessions to deliver desirable results.


2. The results are not long lasting and require maintenance.


3. It cannot be done in patients with excessive scarring tendency such as keloids.

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Keratin treatment promises to make your hair manageable, smooth, frizz-free and shiny. It softens your curls and with the help of other chemicals, helps retain the look for a good few months. Rod Anker, Creative Director of Monsoon Salon and Spa, advises that the hair must be kept straight for 72 hours, without using any accessories, water or moisture as it may disturb the process. But what should you do if your scalp is prone to sweating? Here are a few cues.

Avoid activities that cause you to sweat: If you are prone to sweating, it is best that you try to prevent perspiration at least for the first two to four days after the treatment. You are not supposed to get your hair wet at least for a period of time after the treatment. So avoid activities that make you perspire like household work or exercise.

Do not tie or clip your hair: If you still tend to sweat anyway do not tie or clip your hair as your hair might cling. Just leave your hair open and keep it down. If your scalp tends to sweat the best idea would be just to blow dry your hair as soon as you can. These hair straightening methods and treatments can cause hair fall.

Use advanced formulas: If you do not think that you can do away with sweating for four days just ask your expert for some advanced formula that set within 24 hours. However, these advanced hair formulas are designed for coarser hair texture so consult your specialist first before insisting her to use the advanced formula on you.

Keep your hair off your face: Once your keratin treatment is set, make sure that you pull your hair off your face. So if you are out in the sun or are working out; just tie your hair into a ponytail to keep it off your face. These 4 hair treatments will help you go from damaged to gorgeous hair. 

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Your skin is the largest organ of your body, with functions ranging protecting the organs to regulating body temperature. Your skin gets its strength and resilience from collagen and elastin, two important proteins that work together to give it its shape and texture. When the production of the proteins is impaired, your skin starts wrinkling and looking old. However, you can beat the aging procedure by eating enough collagen and elastin rich foods. Here are five essential nutrients that are necessary for building these two proteins.

Vitamin C
Strawberries, limes and gooseberries: What do they have in common? They have an abundance of vitamin C, a nutrient essential for collagen biosynthesis. It is important for cross-linking collagen molecules and stimulating collagen gene expression.¹ So include vitamin c rich fruits and vegetables in your diet to make your skin look ageless.

Phytoestrogen
Oestrogen is a woman’s best friend; it makes you look younger. That’s because oestrogen increases collagen and elastin levels in your skin. Oestrogen deficiency in the body is manifested as dry, lifeless and wrinkled skin. To counter such a situation, eating a phytoestrogen-rich diet is important. Phytoestrogens like daidzein, genistein, formononetin, biochanin A, the coumestan coumestrol, and the lignans secoisolariciresinol and matairesinol are compounds that mimic oestrogen functions in the body. Foods like beans, soya, nuts, legumes, oats, barley, sesame seeds are teeming with these essential nutrients. If you are on the other side of thirty, eat a phytoestrogen-rich diet to keep ageing at bay.²

Gelatin
Did you enjoy eating jelly as a child? It is made of a protein called gelatin, found in the bones and connective tissues of animals. Consuming gelatin can help supply collagen and elastin to your body, preventing any early formation of wrinkles.³ Gelatin rich foods include meat, bone broths, yoghurt and agar-agar.

Vitamins B
Vitamin B is a family of eight vitamins: thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin b6, biotin, folic acid and vitamin B12. Together, they help in the production of collagen in the human body. Studies have shown that those deficient in vitamins B2 and B6 have very low collagen content in the skin.⁴ So ensure you eat a diet rich in beans, peas, green vegetables and cruciferous vegetables for a steady supply of vitamin B.

Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a fat soluble antioxidant that acts against free radicals and protects skin against sun damage. In conjunction with vitamin C, vitamin E works to produce collagen reserves in the body. Some of the richest foods that contain vitamin E include nuts, spinach, whole grains, olive oil and sunflower oil. Topic application of the vitamin is also good for healing skin.⁵

Copper
For healthy, taut skin, your body has to mesh together both elastin and collagen. And the mineral that helps in doing that is copper. Copper is needed in the human body to increase the activity of the enzyme lysyl oxidase, which helps in the cross-linking of collagen and elastin.⁶ The mineral is found widely in foods such as organ meat, shellfish, cashews, almonds, sunflower seeds and lentils.

References:
1. Telang, P. S. (2013). Vitamin C in dermatology. Indian Dermatology Online Journal, 4(2), 143–146. http://doi.org/10.4103/2229-5178.110593
2.Thornton, M. J. (2013). Estrogens and aging skin. Dermato-Endocrinology, 5(2), 264–270. http://doi.org/10.4161/derm.23872
3. Liu D, Nikoo M, Boran G, Zhou P, Regenstein JM. Collagen and gelatin. Annu Rev Food Sci Technol. 2015;6:527-57. doi: 10.1146/annurev-food-031414-111800. Epub 2015 Mar 23. Review. PubMed PMID: 25884286.
4. Prasad R, Lakshmi AV, Bamji MS. Impaired collagen maturity in vitamins B2 and B6 deficiency–probable molecular basis of skin lesions. Biochem Med. 1983 Dec;30(3):333-41. PubMed PMID: 6651795.
5. Keen, M. A., & Hassan, I. (2016). Vitamin E in dermatology. Indian Dermatology Online Journal, 7(4), 311–315. http://doi.org/10.4103/2229-5178.185494

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You may think that cleansing your face with a face wash will help you do away with the dirt and grime of the day. However, you are not doing your skin any good if you are using the wrong formula. According to dermatologist Dr Sejal Shah, you need to change your face wash if you notice the following signs.

Excessive breakouts: Apart from the hormonal changes, if you are waking up with a new zit every day, it could be a sign that you are using the wrong cleanser. Pick a face wash which contains benzoyl peroxide.

Dry skin: Does your face feel too tight after you cleanse? It could be a sign that your face wash is too drying for your skin. If your skin is dry, look for a formula which contains hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid can help lock in moisture into the skin and prevent dry skin. Also, make sure that you apply a moisturiser within seconds of patting your skin dry. Here are 6 things you did not know about facial cleanser. 

Redness of skin: If your skin appears red after the cleanse it is a sign that you are using the wrong formula. Ditch the formula if you notice redness across your nose and cheeks. To avoid any irritation, look for fragrance-free formulas with ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid.

Irritation: Using a harsh cleanser can irritate your face every time you expose yourself to all kinds of pollutants from the car and environment. The cumulative effect of the face wash and pollutants can make your skin extra sensitive and cause burning and itching. Make sure that you use a gentle face wash that is sulphate-free. Look for more soothing and natural ingredients on your face wash.

Shiny skin: If your skin is oily and you feel the need to blot even after cleansing you are probably using the wrong formula that is not suiting your oily skin type. Look for oil absorbing formulas containing salicylic acid and clay. These ingredients will help your skin appear matte for longer. Here are the top 5 face wash brands for oily skin. 

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If you have grown up reading The Twits by Roald Dahl, you may have come across this line: ““If a person has ugly thoughts, it begins to show on the face. And when that person has ugly thoughts every day, every week, every year, the face gets uglier and uglier until you can hardly bear to look at it.” Not just Roald Dahl, even our elders have always scolded us for sulking or grimacing when we were children, saying that the face would stay that way. But it looks like they were not bluffing after all.

Ageing is an unavoidable truth. Sooner or later, we all have to age and die. But the truth is, not everybody ages at the same pace. Some people look more youthful in their forties than many do in their twenties. While the role of a good diet and exercise cannot be disputed in making us look younger, oftentimes we forget how much our mentality can affect our ageing. Today, we have scientific proof that validates the role of negative emotions in our ageing.

The explanation lies in telomeres, the ends of each DNA strand that protect our chromosomes from binding to another. They protect genetic information as the cells divide and lose DNA. As we age, our telomeres tend to get shorter and shorter. In fact, there is enough evidence that says shortening telomeres are directly linked to ageing in human beings.¹ The natural wear and tear of the body causes the telomeres to shorten naturally. But sometimes, mental negativity may speed up the shortening process, causing faster ageing. This explains why some people who have been through difficulties start looking older. So if you want to remain youthful, stay away from these five negative emotions.

(Read: Boozing will make you age faster)

Cynical hostility: Have you ever doubted a person’s good intentions? So did cynics. A cynic is someone who never trusts other people. He or she may believe that behind every good deed, there is usually a selfish or an impure motive. So when a friendly neighbour greets a cynic in the morning, he or she starts doubting the neighbour’s intentions. And hostility is bitterness and unfriendliness. But if you want to look youthful, you better start trusting people and being good to them. A study says that your telomeres can shorten if you harbour cynicism and hostility in your mind. They are also likely to suffer from heart attacks. ²

(Read: Cynics likely to become demented)

Pessimism: A pessimist is someone who always sees the worst, even in the best of situations. As the cliche goes, he sees adversity in every opportunity. A study said that those who held a pessimistic world view had shorter telomeres that those who were optimistic. So stay younger and always think of the glass half full. ³

(Read: Want a healthy heart? Be optimistic)

Rumination: Most people live in the present, but some of us are still stuck in the past. Ruminating or thinking regretfully about the past may be bad for your health. If you are beating yourself up over an unfortunate incident in the past, it could cause more depression and shortening of the telomere length. So if your constant thinking cannot do you any good, stop!⁴

Suppressing your thoughts: While rumination is bad, the other extreme can also be equally awful. Deal with your negative emotions instead of running away from it, be it grief, regret or anger. But once you are done with it, move on. A study conducted on Zen meditation experts found that they had longer telomeres than the ones who didn’t meditate.⁵ Reflecting on your emotions can indeed be good for you. However, stop the temptation to get sucked into a rumination state.

Wandering thoughts: Chronic daydreamers may not like this news, but escaping into your happy place to get away from reality may make you age faster. Scientific evidence says that mind wandering can be a sign of unhappiness. In a study, 239 healthy women were tested for their telomere length. The ones who reported high mind wandering were the ones with shorter telomeres.⁶

It’s difficult to change your world view and thought patterns overnight. Taking baby steps and creating self awareness may come in handy. Practice meditation, be grateful, take good care of your body and challenge your negative thoughts as they crop up in your mind. You will see a marked difference in your attitude. Always remember what Roald Dahl said:

“A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts it will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”

References:
1. Sahin, E., Colla, S., Liesa, M., Moslehi, J., Müller, F. L., Guo, M., … & Maser, R. S. (2011). Telomere dysfunction induces metabolic and mitochondrial compromise. Nature, 470(7334), 359.

2. Chida Y, Steptoe A. The association of anger and hostility with future
coronary heart disease: a meta-analytic review of prospective evidence. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2009 Mar 17;53(11):936-46. doi: 0.1016/j.jacc.2008.11.044.

3. Ikeda A, Schwartz J, Peters JL, Baccarelli AA, Hoxha M, Dioni L, Spiro A, Sparrow D, Vokonas P, Kubzansky LD. Pessimistic orientation in relation to telomere length in older men: the VA normative aging study. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2014 Apr;42:68-76. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.01.001.
Epub 2014 Jan 9. PubMed PMID: 24636503; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4070424.

4. Nolen-Hoeksema S. The role of rumination in depressive disorders and mixed anxiety/depressive symptoms. J Abnorm Psychol. 2000 Aug;109(3):504-11. PubMed PMID: 11016119.

5. Alda, M., Puebla-Guedea, M., Rodero, B., Demarzo, M., Montero-Marin, J., Roca, M., & Garcia-Campayo, J. (2016). Zen meditation, length of telomeres, and the role of experiential avoidance and compassion. Mindfulness, 7(3), 651-659.

6.Epel, E. S., Puterman, E., Lin, J., Blackburn, E., Lazaro, A., & Mendes, W. B. (2013). Wandering minds and aging cells. Clinical Psychological Science, 1(1), 75-83.

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In the past few years we have come across a lot of weird beauty trends one after the other. With the advent of social media, it has become very easy for any such beauty trends to gain popularity quickly. Talking about the brows trends specifically today, Instagram has more than 56 lakh posts under #brows and more than six lakh under the #BrowsOnFleek and #BrowsOnpoint. Clearly, you can make out how many people are falling in love with trying new brow trends. From glitter brows to Feathered eyebrows. Recently we witnessed women going all crazy about brow-wigs, YES! Wigs for your brows. But recently, a trend that has taken over the internet by storm is the squiggly eyebrows trend. Which, basically, is framing the eyebrows in a wavy form. Like squiggly snakes. Here’s what it looks like: