Winter care from the kitchen shelf

When you don’t have time for a visit to the beauty parlour, here’s where to turn to for some easy and quick beauty hacks. Shahnaz Husain talks about some daily items one can use to perfect that look

In your home, and right on the kitchen shelf, are many ingredients perfect for winter skincare. From a quick fix to long-term treatments, here are many tips for beauty needs.

Honey, for instance, is one of the most powerful natural moisturisers, which actually attracts moisture to the skin. It’s properties make it an ideal natural cosmetic ingredient. It suits all skin types and nourishes the skin when externally applied.

If you have dry skin, apply honey daily and wash off with plain water after 20 minutes. For dry skin, you can also mix half a teaspoon honey, one teaspoon rose water and one teaspoon dried milk powder. Mix into a paste and apply on the face. Wash off after 20 minutes.

Those with oily skin also suffer from dryness in winter. For a moisturising lotion for normal to oily skin, take 100 ml rose water, half teaspoon honey and one teaspoon lemon juice. Mix, shake well and keep in a jar in the fridge. Apply on the face and wash off with plain water after 15 minutes.

Milk is commonly available. It contains proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Ideal for winter care, it helps to relieve dryness, nourish the skin and make it soft. To cleanse normal to dry skin, take half a cup of cold milk and five drops of any vegetable oil, like olive, sesame seed or sunflower oils. Put in a bottle and shake well. Cleanse the skin with it, using cotton wool. Keep the leftover mixture in the fridge.

Yogurt also nourishes the skin. It contains lactic acid, which restores the pH balance of the skin. Applied on the skin, it relieves dryness and removes tan. It also has a healing effect on acne. Take 2 teaspoons of yogurt and add a pinch of turmeric. Mix and apply on the face and wash off after 20 minutes. Turmeric is a natural antiseptic and has anti-inflammatory action. It helps to soften the skin and lightens skin colour over a period of time.

For normal to dry skin, mix together one ripe avocado, with one teaspoon each olive oil, curd and honey. Apply on the face and leave on for 20 to 30 minutes. Wash it off. Avocados are beneficial for the skin. They contain vitamins and fatty acids, which nourish the skin and improve skin texture.
Olive oil also nourishes the skin and provides emollients in winter. Curd restores the normal pH balance and honey moisturises the skin.

Boil carrots and turnip in water. Cool and mash them into a pulp. Apply the pulp on the face like a pack and wash off with plain water after half an hour. Carrots are rich in Vitamin A, while turnip is a powerful cleanser. They have a soothing effect on the skin, making it soft, smooth and supple. In fact, it can be applied to soothe dry, sensitive skin.

Take honey and yogurt and add a few tablespoons of red wine. Apply this on the face and leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse with plain water. This softens and moisturises the skin, removes tan and also adds a glow.

Cream of milk (malai) is nourishing for dry skin in winter. It softens the skin and makes it smooth and radiant. It is ideal for dry skin. It also helps to lighten skin colour over a period of time. It can be added to face masks and body scrubs. When applied on the lips, it helps to soften and lighten dark lips.

For all skin types, mix three teaspoons choker (wheat bran) with one teaspoon each of ground almonds, honey, curd and egg white. Gently apply on the skin and wash after 20 minutes.

For oily skin, mix red wine and green tea with Fuller’s Earth (multani mitti) into a paste.

Apply on the face, avoiding the lips and area around eyes. Wash it off when it dries. For the area around eyes, soak a few strands of saffron in milk for half an hour. Soak cotton wool pads and apply under eyes, or use as eye pads. This relieves dryness and dark circles.