Have you ever been through that embarrassing moment when someone told you "Your nose is full of blackheads"? Yeah happens with me every time I visit a salon. The beautician over there is like " When was the last time you had a cleanup?" It seems as if I am the dirtiest, filthiest and unhygienic person who has ever visited her. So much of self-loathing and humiliation.

Well, these days dermatologists have come up with a term to address the obsession with one’s facial pores- 'porexia'.  One of the biggest complaints estheticians hear from their clients is that the client wants to minimize the appearance of their facial pores. It’s not just women who are concerned about large, clogged pores but men also a lot. 

Large pores are a serious problem like acne and spots

This post caters to the people like me who are laid back, don't go to parlor often and still want to have awesome skin. Trust me it was not at all difficult. A simple understanding of the easy science behind how your skin actually functions and then treating it accordingly. 
Your skin is specific to you. You cannot treat it like how that Instagrammer, YouTuber or your friend is treating his or hers.

Starting with the basics:

WHAT ARE PORES?

Pores are the tiny openings on the surface of the skin that allow sweat and sebum to leave the body. They help our body in eliminating oils & toxins.

SOME FACTS & MYTHS:

1. Pores do not open and close regularly: MYTH

Warm water does soften the skin, making it easier to clean the pores.

2. The Oilier the skin, the larger the Pores: FACT

If you find your skin more oily, automatically your pore size too will be increasing. It will soon appear as if an orange peel.

Our skin is always creating new skin cells and shedding old ones. The sebaceous glands create natural oils (sebum) that are meant to nourish your skin. In a perfect world, sebum would simply keep skin soft and hydrated. However, there are times when sebaceous glands can become overactive. During these periods, your sebaceous glands can actually create too much oil, which can cause dead skin cells to stick together instead of shed off. In clogged pores, the sebum from the oil glands can't move out. As a result, stretches the pores. Even after the clog is gone, the pore may remain stretched and visible.

OILY SKIN = OPEN, LARGE PORES

3. Your pores belong to your parents: FACT

Yes, genetics decide the size of your pores. Your skin is decided according to the skin of your parents.

4. Blackheads & whiteheads cause open pores: MYTH

It is instead the opposite! They are the result of large pores and oily skin.

5. Pore size can be changed: MYTH

It is not something to do once and it will be gone forever. You have to take care of it every 3 days or once every week at least. Regular exfoliation help return the pore to its original size. Pores cannot be shrunk permanently. But with the right products they can be made look smaller temporarily. Keeping pores cleaned out is going to make them look a lot smaller
6. With age, pore size increases: FACT

Sun exposure and the aging process gradually decreases the production of collagen and elastin, responsible for the elasticity of our skin. Hence, pores become stretched downwards, look saggy and appear bigger in size.

Premature greying of hair can be a nuisance and add years to your age. There are many external factors that contribute to it like everyday pollution, use of harsh chemicals on your hair, and obviously stress. But have you ever thought why stress causes white hair?

It is not just white hair that is the visible outcome of stress. Stress affects our whole body. We become weak, frustrated and we age faster 10 times. It affects our eating habits, we either start eating junk or less. Vitamin B12 deficiency, production of hydrogen peroxide by our hair cells, and other medical conditions like thyroid and anemia. If we do not take the proper nutrition, our skin loses its glow, our hair starts falling and this is the main cause of hair greying.

We try to cover our white hair with coloring whereas some prefer to use henna because not just it covers the grey hair, it conditions our hair shafts naturally and cools down our scalp, unlike the artificial coloring.


Home curated beauty processes may seem a lot of work but in fact, are easy on your pockets and close to nature and more satisfying.

The Receipe:-

My mix is two parts henna, one part shikakai, and one part egg.

Take water from RO

Add henna powder as desired

Add shikakai powder for black hair

The egg makes the paste an excellent conditioner and provides protein to your hair

or,

In the second method:-

1. You can combine henna in mustard oil and curry leaves.

Both mustard oil and curry leaves help in strengthing our roots and providing nourishment

2. Boil 1/2 tsp tea in 2 cups of water until 1 cup left. Keep it aside to cool down and further use that black water to soak the henna overnight.

A tea concoction for grey hair

The perfect henna paste looks something like this!

Extra tip💡:-

If you like burgundy shade, crush beetroot in the grinder and mix its juice into henna to make a paste.

3. For a more reddish-brown color, mix henna with some lemon juice and curd the next morning.

It also helps reducing dandruff and itchy scalp

4. You can also add egg, olive oil, or yogurt to henna for conditioning the extra dry hair.

Yogurt is full of protein. It cleanses the scalp and removes dead skin cells to help hair follicles grow.

How To Apply?

It is better if you start from the midsection, make a roll of this section on the top of your head and then move towards the sides. If you start from the sides, chances are you will stain more and it is difficult to keep it on the head.

Start the application from the center by pulling a few strands together

Never let it get dry as then it becomes difficult to take it out of the hair and it leads to hair breakage during the wash. Also, it is said that dry henna does not impart rich color.

Cover your head with a shower cap or like this :P

The time we hit puberty, we become vampires. With our feelings heightened, we are brimming with energy and emotions. What to do! where to go! If we are happy, we dance and jump, whereas if sad, it seems like the end of the world.

Everything we are doing seems to be right and everything else wrong.
Have these feelings occurred to you too, when you were a teenager? or are still there...

Well, I was into studies kinda meritorious student and have never put me into trouble that much. The 'trouble' I am talking about might seem nothing today but when we are young, dumb and broke, I remember crying about those petty things.

I consider myself privileged enough that I was strong headed, no bad thought ever came to my mind. And today also, when there are many things to bother me and kill my mind's peace, I think through it and try to do anything that will help me out to be in a better situation. But some don't.

They are depressed and desolate about being bullied, fat-shamed, not scoring well in the exams, tired being a loser!

I could have never connected with this mindset, why can't a person get out of his sadness?
Why does a person feel like a loser? until recently...

I was the so-called intelligent student, secured above 90 % all the time. Even though I did not do that well in my competitive exams after 12th. But I knew there is something great stored in God's kitty for me- "I am meant to be great".
With time, everything falling into place perfectly, you get a good job, life is comfortable, I grew mediocre, I felt like I was not made for something big.

I started many small ventures and left them midway. I start things and leave them. Similarly, I used to think that I am a good dancer. I joined professional classes. After 1 year of training, I learned that I have a lotttttttt to learn. Recently, We had a competition where hundreds of the students from our academy participate against each other and seeing myself not only losing but performing bad, broke my heart. I felt embarrassed. They are kids, people who joined the course with me doing better than me. It might seem like a first world problem, but I was deeply unhappy about my incompetence in general.

Sometimes in life, even a tiny incident adds to the problem and we need a little motivation.

This post is a reminder for all those who have been feeling like a loser, sad or down in life.

To redeem yourself if you are in a bad place and cannot see any way out especially when you are 18, you are just out of school. You now have the 'partial' freedom ( The complete comes once you stand on your feet and start earning obviously 😆), like me some of you move out of your hometowns. You are a free bird. You can sleep, roam, and get addicted to bad things as much as you want.  There are a few things I would like to telepath somehow and tell to the 18-year old me:

1.Travel as much as you can:

Travel is getting to know- Who the person inside you really is!

One thing I am disappointed about that during my college days, we traveled zero. We used to eat, sleep and repeat.
Traveling makes you a better version of yourself. You grow faster than ever. While traveling, I cannot afford the company of blood-sucking people.
When we are young, we are friendly and everyone is our friend. Choose your buddies wisely. True friends are not hard to find but it is harder to know who is not :)

Traveling with your buddies makes the bond even stronger

Travel solo- You learn how to take care of yourself and connect with nature but yourself first.

Travel but don't trash

2. Relationships:

You are in this lovey-dovey relationship. But let me warn you- The relationships are very fragile when you are in that age. I am not saying it is anybody's fault. It is just we (both parties) are not mature enough to handle things. The boy you like, may mean nothing to you in a few years time. I am not saying all relationships suck. You can either have a long-lasting friend or a lesson learned. Just choose someone who respects the people who don't even matter to them.

Love is literally in the air

3. Love:

Family forever <3

As a teenager, I was a rebel with 'why this, why that' kinda attitude to my parents. At times stubborn too. But doesn't mean I cared any less for them. It is just the phase of life when we are the kings, and queens, and the stars of the story. Until reality strikes! But your parents love you like anything.

"My parents don't understand anything"

"They are too strict"

Yes, it can be true. But I will give you one suggestion here. What worse can a parent do, beat you? Yes, the worst nightmare of a kid. Indian parents do not think much when it comes to beat the shit out of their kid. But it is just how they have brought up too. You have been brought up in the internet era, you have access to the motivational sessions, quotes, and wisdom. They didn't! They had the most conventional methods of making a kid understand. If they are not understanding you, you try and understand their side. Why are they behaving like that and try to help yourself by attacking at the right spot. Bang on!

4. Time:

For me, it is dancing, But I got into it late. I wish I has joined early :)

10 years later, as you will grow. You will understand the fact that life is short and you have so many aspirations to fulfill. Focus on building skills.

Make a bucket list for yourself and a diary of what 'new' you have learned in this month, or year. This will help you keep track of your growth. If you want to learn swimming, learn it this month. Be it dancing, any musical instrument, any new language or software. Enhance your skills and thank me later.

5. It Won't Be The Same Tomorrow!

I had braces when I was in school. That time it was not cool. But luckily, My classmates making fun of me was taken by me on a lighter note. I won't call it bullying but normal fun-making.

It didn't bother me much. But as I entered the 16-17 age group. My concern about how my hair looked, why am I so thin enhanced. Other girls look so hot! I started spending too much time bothering about my looks, which definitely took my precious time which I should have focussed more on the things that mattered.

Believe me, Nobody is perfect!

Nobody has perfect skin, hair, or the body. It is the confidence which makes one. And the confidence comes when you are skillful. Don't be a shallow person.

6. It is okay to be selfish.

Selfish, Bitch #$6@!

Don't do anything to please your friends or to show something off.
Learn to say NO. I know how difficult it can be. Well, It was for me. I have been with people, won't call them friends though. I used to think that everyone we talk to, 'call' as friend hai and in return they will try to suck the little pocket money you get.

Are you? :D

Even with your best buddies, being selfish at times is not bad. But honesty about it, is what it takes.
Do not keep anything in your heart. Say what is on your mind with good intentions and not to hurt other person's sentiment too.
Remember not everyone is your friend, friends are special. You don't choose them, friendship happens. The ones where it just happened to me are still with me until today.

On the ending note, Our fathers play a very important role in the formation of our minds. Whatever your father must have told or guided you at some point in time. You remember that when you grow old. I remember him saying, teens are the most crucial part of a person's life. It can either make or break his future. Though he used to tell me this in respect to the studies. and which is true also.

I hope you liked the article, in case you want to share your story comment below :) Happy to read.

Bye-bye!
-Team Shongruff
A glow of happiness🌟

I do not think there is anybody in this world who has not complained of pimples, scars, pigmentation, big open pores, and unhealthy skin. Skin related issues are not based on any caste, gender or region.

Customer Reviews

Do you have any of these problems?

If only used with water, the orange pack does not bind together nicely. I have used besan to stick it together

Winter season brings round, sweet oranges along with it. Recall those legendary days when you used to call your friend, and the moment he used to look back.

Squeezeeee!!!

All the juice from the peel in his eyes. Haha! Those were the pranks amongst 90s kids. 
Guess what the juice was instead good for the skin.

I have never been a fan of fancy bottles telling us 'natural and pure' when in reality they have only a slight percentage of it and is loaded with preservatives, artificial colors, and fragrances. Last year I made flax seed gel for ageless skin at home

Be radiant as these dazzling-orange bright peels

Born in a middle-class family, I tend to reduce the waste to the minimum and get the maximum out of a thing. Taking an example of oranges, why to throw the peel when it is not a waste but in fact, 100 gm of peel contains about 50 mg more vit.C than the pulp. Orange peel also contains considerable amounts of calcium, copper, magnesium, vitamin A, folate and dietary fiber.

"I prepared an orange scrub without any hassle at home."

Steps to prepare it-

"Peel, Dry n Grind"

• First, wash the oranges judiciously before peeling them off to remove all the pesticides Keep them immersed in water like for 10-15 minutes. 

• Take out the peel and cut them in smaller pieces in order to receive even sunlight.

You can also use clean scissors to cut them more evenly.

• Let them dry for 3-4 days under the direct sunlight.

• Do the 'Brittle Test': The peel should be hard and brittle making sure that it has no sign of water left. The water content leads to the growth of microorganisms and bacteria.

• If found good for use, grind them well in a grinder.

• Voila! your scrub is ready

It won't look as bright orange as it used to. Instead it will take the color of the inside of the peel.

PROS:

Happiness is utilising to the maximum and reducing waste to the minimum

• It can be made at home: Best homemade scrub.
• 100% Pure, natural, and fresh.
• Super Inexpensive.
• Keeps skin radiant and healthy with an orange glow.
• If you are suffering from TANNED SKIN. This is the solution.
• Help get rid of period acne and pimples. It is a boon for OILY SKIN.
• Gets rid of dark spots and blemishes
• No wonder nature has given us hints for every remedy. The skin of an orange resembles a human facial skin. You can see tiny pores on its peel. 

A hint for curing open pore problem!

Cons:

It smells heavenly!

• It needs to be finished within 2-3 months as it has no preservatives added. For better usage, Keep it dry and in the refrigerator but in an airtight jar to prevent microbial contamination.

I hope you liked my DIY orange peel mask cum scrub. I am a regular user of orange peel powder wish it betters glow and happiness to your face too like it brings to mine everyday.

If you wish to have any other 'DIY mask, face wash or scrub' request. Comment down and I will try to make it and tell you know the process.

Till then,
Keep masking, Keep glowing 😃
and remember that- " YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL !"

Shongruff
-A Glow of Happiness!

"It is only 1 water bottle" said - 8 billion people

No matter how much we try to avoid it, it has become an inevitable thing in our life. We cannot abstain from using it because of its omnipresence- The Plastic!

How to ruin a perfect place

Did you read about a  pregnant sperm whale found dead on the beach and the scientists found that the excess plastic found in its body blocked its way to its stomach?

If you are feeling the pain and anguish inside you. Welcome to the group that somewhat slightly somewhere in their hearts does care about mother nature. I go through the same pain everytime I visit Himachal Pradesh. People are turning beauty into trash bin.

I now completely understand the phrase-" Her enemy was her own beauty". 

If we see on a micro level: the soil, like humans, contains five basic elements of nature called earth, air, water, fire, and space. By throwing plastics anywhere, we contaminate the earth and the water it carries. The wildlife gets affected, the birds feeding on insects who are consuming this plastic. We are unknowingly harming so many species. The water that we think is the purest and the safest, might be carrying the poison from the plastic.

And not even the top of the peaks are not kept unadulterated infact are contaminated the most- Beautiful places but covered with wrappers of lays, chewing gums, biselri bottles, cigarette packs, beer bottles, and what not.

Where do you think your plastic waste goes?

So heartbreaking </3 Mothers feeding their babies, death.

It has been taken off from your house does not mean it has been taken off the planet. It is here only.

Chances are it ends up in rivers, land, seas or ocean, putting the marine life at risk. That is why we should make an effort in our daily life to refuse single-use plastic at least.

Facts about it:

Do you know plastic items can take up to 1000 years to decompose in landfills?

Plastic bags we use in our everyday life take 10-1000 years to decompose, while plastic bottles can take 450 years or more. 

What on earth are these golf balls doing in the ocean?

Can we burn it?  No, we can’t just burn it either. But we still can see people burning plastic and causing more damage to the already severely polluted air we breathe in.

Here is a small list of small efforts required from our side to save our environment:

1. Drink water from the locals and natural water available in the mountains. this is good for your health.

No man-made purification can match the natural process.

 2. Even if you have bought a biselri bottle. Try to stick to that one bottle by re-filling it where ever possible .

Have you done something like this? If yes, we are proud of you :)

3. When in a cafe, ask them to give you food in steel plates and not disposal ones.

Stop buying plastic & the companies will stop producing crap

4. Guide and spread awareness among the locals, cafes, and shops about the installation of dustbins. Ask cafe owners to replace disposable to steel utensils. Even if you are able to change a single person's mindset. Consider yourself a gifted one, nature will surely pay you back one day.

It is the responsibility of each and every one of us, we all have to do our bit

5. We love eating Maggi up at the top. But do you know the amount of waste it is generating
Keep a small bowl, a mug and a spoon with you. Switch to enjoying a bowl of local food. Maggi and lays you can have at your home in the city too.

Get free maggi noodles by returning 10 empty Ma`ggi-wrappers

You have the choice to decide either Maggi or Mountains???

6. If it is convenient, keep an extra poly bag for collecting plastic waste you see on your way.
Imagine 1 bag by 1 person and hundreds of people participating. Together we can do it.

Even after 33 years, it still looks like it was used yesterday.

7.  Bring your waste down like beer bottles, Lays wrapper, chocolate/chewing gum wrappers along with yourself. You carried it to the top. Have the courage to bring it down with you. It will be lighter than before. A true nature-lover will never hurt his love.

8. If you are an artist, make the local dustbins colorful with sprays to make them attractive.

9. In Kasol, it was not easy to walk along the banks of river Parvati because it had broken beer bottles, stuck in the sand. Pick up the unbroken bottles and make art out of it.

Clean water is a blessing from God, don't pollute it

10. Join and help NGO like healing himalayas and trek and clean the area along with them. They will provide you with the great opportunity to give back to the mother nature and satiate your love for the mountains at the same time.

“What difference will it really make?”

I say A LOT.

Respect the environment and culture of people living in the places you visit. Follow the 'Leave No Trace' policy everywhere you go and carry you waste till you can dispose of it properly. Not anywhere like roads, from the bus windows or near trees. These are 'bad manners'

Transparent plastic found in our online deliveries is the most dangerous.

Before going vegan, I guess I need to boycott online shopping too. While searching for some solutions to this problem, I found: 

A great solution, if true!

We have to push our govt.  by whatever means it is possible. If you are a writer, poet, singer, dancer or an engineer-  spread awareness through your work and actions.

Sealed!