JOIN USRaw appeal Shahnaz Husain offers some naturally good regimens that promise to let your inner radiance light up this party season.
It’s that time of the year when you want to look your radiant best. Christmas, New Year’s, all the parties are round the corner. So, brace yourself, ladies and gentlemen, for some home beauty rituals that’ll stand you in good stead.
Fruit pack
Fruits like banana, apple, papaya, avocado, water melon can be mixed together and applied as a face mask for all skin types. These fruits are rich in nutrition and help in maintaining your skin. Papaya, rich in enzymes, cleanses the skin of dead cells and helps cell renewal. Banana tightens the skin.
Apples and oranges are rich in vitamins and minerals. Avocado is rich in antioxidants and has powerful age-control benefits, while watermelon hydrates the skin. Apply these fruits on the skin and wash off after 30 minutes. You’ll see a
fabulous difference!
Facial spray
For oily skin: To 200 ml of distilled water or mineral water, you may add five drops of lavender essential oil.
For normal to dry skin: To 200 ml
distilled water or mineral water, add five drops of rose essential oil and half
teaspoon of pure glycerin.
For acne-prone skin: To 100 ml distilled or mineral water, add three to four drops of tea tree oil.
These sprays should be made in small quantities and kept in the refrigerator to retain the freshness.
Face mask
For a rejuvenating face mask that also adds radiance, mix half-teaspoon wheatgerm oil and two drops of geranium oil. Add two teaspoons oats, one teaspoon
almond meal and orange juice. The pack is rich in antioxidants and Vitamin E, with powerful anti-ageing benefits.
Green tea toner
Green tea is a powerful storehouse of
antioxidants. For this toner, boil half a cup of water. Put two teaspoons of green tea in a ceramic bowl. Pour the hot water over the leaves and let it rest for two minutes. Strain and cool the liquid. Apply on face with cotton pads. Leave it on for a radiant feel.
Body scrub
The best body scrub is the age-old ubtan made at home with wheat bran (choker), gram flour (besan), curd or cream of milk (malai) and a pinch of turmeric (haldi). All these can be mixed together and
applied on the body, about 20 minutes
before bathing. It helps to clear away the dead cells and makes the skin clean, soft and smooth.
Another scrub involves ground dry
orange and lemon peels, oats and ground almonds (almond meal). Add a little olive oil and rose water to it. Apply on the skin and rub gently with circular movements. Then wash off with water.
Tan removal pack
This pack needs sesame seeds, dried mint leaves and one tablespoon each of lemon juice and honey. Crush the sesame seeds coarsely and powder the dried mint leaves. Mix them with lemon juice and a little
honey and apply on the face and arms. Sesame seeds have sun-protection
properties and also soothe sun-damaged skin. It helps to remove tan and produce an even colour tone. Mint has a stimulating effect and adds a glow to the skin, while honey moisturises and softens the skin. Rub gently on the skin. Leave it on for a few minutes and then wash off with water.
Moisturising hair mask
Mix aloe vera gel with two teaspoons vinegar, one teaspoon pure glycerine and one egg. Massage lightly into the hair. Wear a plastic shower cap and leave it on for half an hour before washing it off.
Henna packs help to add shine, body and bounce to the hair. For oily, dandruff-prone hair, add four teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, two raw eggs and enough tea water to the henna powder, mixing it into a thick paste. To make tea water, boil used tea leaves again in water.
After boiling, you should have about four to five cups of tea water. Cool, strain and add to the henna paste. Apply the henna on the hair and wash off after an hour with plain water. If you do not wish to use egg, add more tea water.
Nail rejuvenation pack
Take warm pure almond oil and soak the fingers and nails in it for 10 minutes. Massage the oil on the nails and on skin around the nails. Wipe off with a moist towel.
The nails can also be buffed. This is usually done with a piece of chamois leather, which helps to remove discolouration and also makes the nails shiny.
(The author is a beauty expert)