with
Blossom Kochhar

Beauty Basics

Grapes, alum and salt to banish acne marks

Dear Blossom,
Earlier, I had a severe acne problem. I used to apply multani mitti on wash my face with Acnil soap. The pimples are gone, but have left behind ugly marks. Theyve left my face looking unattractive. How do I get rid of them?
Agnel
agnel_23@yahoo.com

Dear Agnel,

* Clean your face with a cleanser depending on your skin type.

* Then tone your face with a face toner.

* Use a good sunscreen of SPF 30 daily.

* Use this pack twice a week for clean and clear skin: Take one bunch of green grapes. Moisten them with water and sprinkle with one tbsp alum and one tbsp salt.

* Wrap the grapes in silver foil and bake in a slow oven for 15 minutes.

* Unwrap the grapes and squeeze the juice into a bowl.

* Cover your face with the liquid. Rinse off after 15 minutes with luke warm water. Using this pack twice a week will show good results.

DailyDabba

JAYAA MATHHUR
Television actress

Whats in your dabba today?
Pasta Salad, Band Gobi Aloo, paneer and Biryani.

What do you love to see in your dabba?
Mutton Biryani.

What do you cringe to see in your dabba?
Tinda.

Who packs your dabba?
My mom or my dad.

As told to Kasmin Fernandes

MyFirst

Camera

DABOO RATNANI
Photographer

My father used to own a Yashica Electro 35 semi-automatic camera, which he used to keep it at his bedside drawer until I got my hands on it one day. It has stayed with me ever since. Though it was a basic, amateur piece with a fixed lens, it did gave me some very good, colour pictures.

I must have been about 12 years old then, yet people designated me the photographer at family functions and school gatherings. For a good five to six years, the camera went wherever I went, and I still look back at some of the pictures I had taken with my first camera with pride.

As told to Anjana Vaswani KnowYourself

Are you an animal lover?

Model Shamita Singha got tired of waiting in queue for free lunch at an event, and drove home to grab a bite instead. Are you a freeloader or are you like Shamita? Take the quiz and find out:

1. You go to a fancy nightclub when:
a) You know someone who can get you in for free b) Youve saved up enough money to enter c) Every week as a treat for how hard youve been working.

2. The only time you get drunk is when:
a) Someone else is buying the drinks b) On your birthday c) When you have enough money.

3. At an all-you-can-eat special buffet, you:
a) Eat till you get sick b) Eat as much as you can without feeling uncomfortable c) Eat as much as you would on any other day.

4. You are at a business convention or a function at an outstation resort where the host is paying. You:
a) Avail of every facility, even if the host has to pay extra b) Enjoy the free facilities c) Focus on the purpose of your trip instead.

5. You havent been invited to the most happening party in town. You:
a) Ask the host to invite you b) Casually engage the host in conversation, hoping for an invitation c) Dont bother. Youd rather do your own thing.

YourMail

The article on 15 year-old girls being allowed to marry was strong and insightful. I like the way this section juxtaposes current news with interesting people. Keep up the good work!
Sameer
919821974492

The On the Job section in Your Life encourages simple housewives to be financially independent. It helps boost their confidence and creativity. I enjoy reading it.
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(via SMS)

Shirley Bose

AstroAdvice

What are my future career prospects?

Dear Shirley,
When will I get married ? Will I have an arranged or a love marriage? Will I be able to marry the person of my choice? I am in a managerial position in the service industry, but I want better remuneration. What are my career prospects, both financially and by designation? Tell me about my health.

Name: P
Date of Birth: March 28, 1977

Dear P,
There will be too much family opposition if you want to marry the man of your choice. You will have to wait till you are 34 years old. Even then, there is no guarantee that your parents will agree to your marriage. The tarot reading is actually showing an arranged marriage after one year, but before you turn 32.

Your husbands career would be either in finance or marketing and sales. You will have a financially comfortable life and a happy marriage, if you and your husband are devoted to each other. As far as your job is concerned, there is a promotion after one year. I dont see any change of job right now. You will have to wait till an offer comes along. Weigh the pros and cons of the offer and only then decide if you want to accept it.

Do not resign from your present job without a concrete offer in hand (appointment letter), because it will then take upto two years for you to find a good job. From age 29 onwards, you begin the positive period in your career. The future looks good financially and professionally. To maintain good health, you must eat a balanced diet and increase your calcium intake.

Dear Shirley,
I would like to know when my sister-in-law will get married.

Name: Darshana
Date of Birth: November 28, 1979

Dear Priti,
The tarot reveals that your sister-in-law, Darshana will get married between the age of 28 to 30.

For solutions to your every day problems, send your date of birth along with your first name to astro@mid-day.com or fax it to 24150009