Even if you cannot afford professional treatment, there's still a lot you can do for yourself from home beauty treatments.

Although backless blouses look very elegant many women have blemished backs. Rather than covering up and hiding your body, do something to get rid of these spots.

A weekly light scrubbing down with pumice stone or a scrub gives a regular exfoliation, which is a must to give the skin a satin smooth look.

Also include healthy doses of vitamin C (at least 1000 mg two to three times a day) in your diet. There's nothing like a good massage to relax those tense nerves.

Fast once a week to detoxify the system. When toxins overload the body, the skin appears blemished and sallow. Following a detoxification programme will give your skin a chance to regain its natural shine.

Get into a regular beauty routine. Never go to the bed with your make-up on. Cleanse, tone and moisturize your face every night, even if you have oily skin. Of all the products that promise soft and radiant skin, a moisturizer is probably the most effective.

It nourishes the skin, giving an almost immediate softness and suppleness. Wear a moisturizer with a high SPF to protect the skin from the sun's damaging effects, and use a renewal cream, preferably collagen based, during the night.

Pay special attention to dry areas such as knees and elbows by moisturizing liberally after exfoliating.

If you need to loose weight, go about it in a systematic way. Crash dieting doesn't work as you'll only loose much needed energy. Any weight loss programme should be slow and controlled. Breakfast like a king, lunch like a Queen, and dine like a pauper. Avoid cholesterol rich food like butter, cheese, and ghee.

Avoid tea, coffee and fizzy drinks, opt for fruit and vegetable juices, mineral waste and herbal teas.

Stock up on foods that boost the immune system, especially if you are susceptible to flu. Zinc is one of the most powerful immune system boosting minerals, but avoid taking too much of it in a supplement form. Food rich in zinc are red meat, wholegrain bread and cereal. Fill up on the A-list foods, which are nutritious and taste great!

Carrots (Anti-cancerous, reduce the risks of heart attacks, good for the eyes);
Broccoli (anti-cancerous, and rich in vitamin C and calcium);
Spinach (Anti-cancerous, contains vitamin C, E and calcium);
Grapes (helps prevent heart disease, high in vitamin C, iron and potassium);
Strawberries (reduces cholesterol and risks of high blood pressure);
Onions (clears blocked sinuses, help prevent heart attacks and rectal colon and stomach cancers);
Garlic ( Anti-cancerous, reduces acidity, lowers blood pressure, boosts immunity, and reduced blood clotting).

Get a plant in your room. It's well known that houseplants are good for health. They cut down on chemical toxins in the atmosphere, counteract allergies, asthma, headaches and fatigue and humidify rooms, so both your lungs and skin will benefit.

Moderate exercise makes the bones stronger, but intense training can have the opposite effect, as a lot of calcium is lost in sweat.

If you are working in a hot and humid weather, you would sweat more and so you'll need to increase your calcium intake. Swimming is good for everyone, especially those with damaged joints or muscles. If you have a bad back, swimming is the ideal exercise. It builds strength, is relaxing and helps tone every area of your body.

Yoga is an extremely effective work out for the body and the mind. It improves co-ordination and posture, and asthma patients have benefited greatly as they are taught how to breathe properly. Yoga has no side effects, is beneficial for all the systems and prevents illness from striking.

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