The author is international fame beauty expert and is called herbal queen of India
Most women do not realize that chemical-laden attractively packaged creams promising eternal youth and soft glowing complexions
A dangerous trend is gaining momentum in modern world where beauty conscious women are moving towards synthetic and chemical solutions to beauty problems by way of using gazillion products which might give instant results but these products can easily be absorbed through the skin’s pores, potentially causing a range of negative effects like pimples, rashes, acne and skin allergies.
Most health experts suggest bringing natural beauty products to your skin’s rescue and sticking to pantry-sourced beauty options would be the best and easiest way out to help you attain natural glow, without any side-effects.
Right there on your kitchen shelf are many natural ingredients for beauty care. Find out their benefits and how they help when applied on face or body.
Milk:
Milk contains proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Applied on the face, it helps to relieve dryness, nourish the skin and make it soft. It also soothes sun-burn and removes tan over a period of time. Dip cotton wool in cool milk and apply on the face and arms to remove tan and soften the skin in winter. Milk can be added to face packs.
Yogurt:
Yogurt contains elements that nourish the skin. It also contains lactic acid, which helps to restore the normal acid-alkaline balance of the skin. Applied on the skin, it helps to relieve dryness and remove tan. It also has a healing effect on acne. Take 2 teaspoons Yogurt and add a pinch of turmeric. Mix into a paste and apply on the face. Wash off after 20 minutes. It also checks acne.
Turmeric:
Turmeric (haldi) has many healing properties. It is a natural antiseptic and also has an anti-inflammatory action. It helps to soften the skin and lightens skin colour over a period of time. Add a little turmeric to yogurt and apply daily. Wash off after 20 minutes.
Cinnamon: (Dalchini):
Cinnamon powder has a healing effect on pimples and acne. To cinnamon powder, add a few drops of lemon juice and honey, mixing it into a sticky paste. Apply on the pimples and leave on for an hour. Wash off with plain water.
Vinegar:
For pimple prone skin, mix one part vinegar with four parts water and apply the lotion on the face. Leave on. For dandruff, massage 2 tablespoons vinegar lightly into the scalp 15 minutes before shampoo. It helps to restore the normal acid-alkaline balance of the skin and scalp.
Baking Soda (Bicarbonate of Soda):
For oily, blackhead prone skin, make a paste of baking soda and water. Apply and wash off after 5 minutes. Baking soda can also be used to rub the teeth, like tooth powder. It helps to whiten the teeth.
Tea leaves:
Tea leaves are said to have an anti-inflammatory action. They also help to reduce oiliness. The tannin in tea helps to add shine to the hair, if tea is used in hair rinses. Used tea leaves can be boiled again in enough water, cooled and strained and used as a last rinse after shampoo. Tea bags can be steeped in water and applied over the eyelids, like eye pads. They help to reduce puffiness and add brightness to the eyes.
Besan:
Besan or gram flour contains starch and helps to tighten the skin. It also has a cleansing action. Besan has been used in body masks (ubtans) since the ancient times. It can be mixed with curd or milk, along with a pinch of turmeric and used as a body mask or body scrub. The paste will cleanse the skin of dead cells and brighten the skin. It also helps to remove tan.
Malai:
Malai or “cream of milk” is extremely nourishing for dry skin. The effect is so mild that it can also be used on the delicate skin of babies. It softens the skin and makes it smooth and radiant. It is suited to dry skin. It also helps to lighten skin colour over a period of time. It can be added to face masks and body scrubs. Applied on the lips, it helps to soften and lighten the colour of darkened lips.
Also read: Almond Oil Is The Ultimate Skin Care And Hair Care Elixir — Shahnaz Husain
Ms Kalinga