Not afraid of the sun anymore

undo the damage

Healthy and glowing skin can be damaged due to the extreme weather conditions during the summer season. The summer sun is very strong and the UV rays can be very harmful for your skin. If not protected, your skin can get burnt or fall prey to rashes, allergies. But the right kind of protection can negate the ill-effects of the sunlight.

It is imperative to use a sunscreen with minimum SPF 50 before stepping out. It’s also important to layer your skin by either applying a lightweight foundation or a moisturiser before stepping out. This acts like an extra layer on your skin, thereby protecting it from the sun.

Also, it’s a good idea to wear a cap or carry an umbrella while out in the sun. Avoid direct sunlight as much as you can. But sometimes, nothing works. And your skin gets tanned. Dark patches form which make your skin look unevenly toned.

This is also not a healthy sign. So, what do you do in such cases? Head to your kitchen of course. Your simple kitchen has all the magical ingredients to treat almost every kind of skin issue. Be it lemon for its bleaching abilities or honey for its soothing qualities, everyday kitchen ingredients hold the answer to all your beauty queries. So, let’s try some of the remedies:

Rose water & sandalwood powder
A combination of rose water and sandalwood powder is great to beat the summer heat. Sandalwood powder soothes your skin and rose water has anti-inflammatory properties. It also makes for a great cleanser. All you have to do is  mix a spoon of sandalwood powder and rose water to a paste. Refrigerate this mixture and then apply on your face. Wash off after 20 minutes.

Honey & turmeric

There is the age-old recipe of mixing turmeric with honey, which always works wonderfully on the skin. Besides adding colour, turmeric powder also has many medicinal properties. This is why it is also used for healing wounds. And honey is a wonderful anti-bacterial agent, thus great for acne-prone skin. It is also known to be an effective anti-ageing element. Combine two spoons of honey and a pinch of turmeric powder, and apply this on your face. This will bring a natural glow to your skin and even keep your skin well moisturised during the summer season.

Oats & buttermilk

A combination of oats and buttermilk makes for a powerful weapon to combat tanned skin. Since oatmeal contains amino acids and is also high in silica, it helps to restore the natural moisture of the skin. Oatmeal works well as a wonderful exfoliating agent. Take two teaspoons of oatmeal, one teaspoon of honey and three tablespoons of buttermilk. Mix all these ingredients and apply it on your face. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes and then wash your face with cold water.

Exfoliators

If you are not a big fan of home remedies, you can always go in for exfoliators easily available in the market. Choose a gentle exfoliator, and use it once in three to four days. This will help remove the tan and help smoothen out your skin. You can also apply a ‘de-tan pack’ on the skin for 15 to 20 minutes and then remove it and apply a face pack. This will also help in removing the tan and giving you that bright healthy glow even in this scorching heat.

(The author is a make-up expert)