Soft and silky, with essential oils

Beauty corner

Every month, Living features a column by our grooming expert, Shahnaz Husain. Readers can send in their queries to [e-mail]

Oils have been used since time immemorial for beauty care. The ayurvedic system contains thousands of prescriptions using oil. I am referring to pressed oils like olive oil, sesame seed (til), mustard, coconut, almond, sunflower, castor oil, etc. They have been used as massage oils for centuries.

Some of the common oils used for body massage are sesame seed (til) oil, olive and almond oil. Sesame seed oil is light, free of odour and is easily absorbed by the skin. Ayurveda advocates it as the most balanced oil and therefore it suits all doshas. It is rich in nutrients and has healing properties too. Research has revealed that sesame seeds actually have natural sunscreen properties of SPF-6.  If rubbed on the skin, it can soothe a mean sunburn. It is also rich in Vitamin E, minerals, protein and lecithin. Almond oil is also a good massage oil for winter and is particularly beneficial for those who have dry skin. Olive oil is light and helps to restore the normal acid-alkaline balance.

Aromatherapy involves relying on essential oils to do the magic to your senses.

These are very different from pressed oils. Essential oils are present in plant products like flowers, leaves, seeds or even the bark of trees. The fragrance of rose, sandalwood, jasmine, lavender is due to their essential oils and should never be used by themselves. They should be mixed with pressed oils, or with rose water. One also has to mix them in the right proportion.

Fragrant body massage oil: Add a few drops of rose or sandalwood oil to any pressed oil, like almond, sesame seed or olive oil. This makes a fragrant massage oil for the body. Sandalwood protects the skin from rashes and rose helps to improve blood circulation and tone the skin. Both also induce relaxation of the mind. You can add five drops of an essential oil to 50 ml pressed oil.

For dry skin: Mix egg yolk with a few drops of olive oil and apply it on the face. Wash this off with water after 20 minutes. If you wish to lighten skin colour, add lemon juice to the mixture.

Face mask for normal to dry skin: Mix two teaspoons of wheat bran (choker) with a teaspoon of orange peel powder, a teaspoon each of honey, curd and olive oil. Apply and wash after 20 to 30 minutes.

For dry hair: Egg yolk and almond oil can be applied on the hair too, to nourish dry hair, repair split ends and add shine. It will also add body to the hair.

Cradle cap: Babies also develop a scaly condition on the scalp, called a cradle cap.

These scales should not be pulled out.  They may be softened by applying pure olive oil with the help of cotton wool. Wash the scalp with baby shampoo the next morning.

Hands: Massage olive oil or til into the skin followed by scrubbing the arms with half a teaspoon of sugar till it fully dissolves. Wipe your arms with a moist towel.

Nails: Heat almond oil and massage the nails and cuticles (skin around the nails). It can also be massaged into the hard skin of the elbows and knees.

Dark circles: Apply pure almond oil sparingly around eyes and massage it lightly on the skin only with the ring finger for one minute under each eye. Leave it on for 15 minutes and wipe it off gently with a moist wad of cotton.

Hair oil with amla and methi:  Take 10 to 15 grams of dry amla and a teaspoon of fenugreek (methi) seeds. Grind it into a coarse mixture. Add them to 100 ml pure coconut oil or sesame seed (til) oil.

Transfer the ingredients to a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and leave it under the sun  for 15 days, shaking it each day in order to stir the ingredients. Strain the oil through a clean muslin cloth and keep the oil aside in a glass jar. It will benefit all hair types, and help get rid of dandruff.