Coconut oil + honey + lemon + cane sugar = lighter lips

I have very dark lips and really want to have lighter, pink lips.
Please tell me what to do.
Prepare a lip scrub with 2 drops extra virgin coconut oil, 4 drops honey, 1 drop lemon juice and a little cane sugar; apply a thin film of this to your lips. Leave on for a few minutes. Scrub off gently and rinse. Do this every day to get healthy pink lips. Also, add green leafy vegetables to your diet to add to the health of your skin. Avoid licking your lips, as this actually causes them to get dry and dull.
I am a 13-year-old male. I have noticed that my hair has started to become thinner over the last year and has lost its old shine and strength. My hairline has also started to recede. Can you please recommend a home remedy?
- Name withheld
You are too young to have a receding hairline or thinning hair. Take charge of this issue. It may be a hormonal imbalance that can be resolved by medication. Add yoga to your routine thrice a week; it helps to activate blood circulation and thus, improve hair condition. Massage 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel, mixed with 6 drops rosemary oil, ½ teaspoon castor oil and 3 drops tea tree oil into your hair every night. Aloe vera cleanses the scalp, rosemary oil improves hair growth, castor oil nourishes and thickens hair and tea tree oil will take care of any dandruff. Shampoo the next day with a protein-rich shampoo. You will see an improvement in a couple of months.

My skin gets very dry and even develops dark spots/patches when I am in Dubai. These clear up when I am in India. Clearly, the weather here does not agree with me, but do you have any suggestions for how to keep my skin healthy, since I live in Dubai?
- Steve
Banana is a nourishing fruit. Mash a piece well, add a few drops of lemon juice, a few drops of honey and a little almond powder. Mix and apply on the problem areas. Leave on for an hour, then rinse off with cold milk; first
scrub, then rinse with cold water. Do this every day.

I wish to ask you a question about why some areas on the outside of my thighs are darker than others. Can you help?
Darkness of skin happens when skin is not well-nourished. A regular application of extra virgin coconut oil mixed with aloe vera gel in equal parts can take care of your problem. Apply to dry skin after a shower, as well as before you retire to bed. This must be done every day to clear the skin.
(Got a beauty-related query?
Write to Rima Soni at
wknd@khaleejtimes.com)