Renowned beauty expert Shahnaz Husain shares her ideas on how to keep your face sparkling and spotlessby using these natural ingredients from your kitchen:
Facial Cleansing:
1. Almonds (Badaam): Pour hot water on the almonds and allow them to soak till the skin comes off. Dry
them and grind them into a powder. Keep this in a jar. Daily add a little milk to some of the powder and use
the paste to cleanse the face by rubbing the skin gently with it. Almond powder can also be added to face
packs.
2. Cabbage: Cabbage is rich in vitamins and minerals. Boil cabbage in enough water. Cool the liquid and use it to wash the face.
Hands : Sugar and lemon juice can be rubbed on the hands to soften the skin and cleanse it.
Elbows And Knees :Lemon: Take two lemon halves and rub them on the elbows and knees. It cleanses the skin and lightens skin colour over a period of time. However, this remedy should not be used on facial skin.
Gums : Baking powder: Take a little baking powder and rub on the teeth. This helps to whiten and cleanse the gums.
For homemade overnight cream :Add five drops of almond oil to one egg white and mix with a tbsp of honey and refrigerate. Massage a small amount every night into your skin.
A Natural Skin Bleach
• If you don’t have pimples or sensitive skin try this. Use the watery layer you find on yogurt/curd and take about a teaspoon of it.
• Add a couple of drops of lemon. Apply this mixture evenly all over your face. Leave on for as long as you can (for half an hour minimum to even leaving it overnight). This acts as natural bleach.
• If you want to get rid of a suntan, use this mask overnight after a long day under the sun. You will not have any tan the next morning!
Sandalwood & Rosewater Sunscreen
• This cooling herb has medicinal properties that help heal without leaving behind any scars. What’s more, sandalwood is a natural sunscreen and protects the skin against heat and radiation. No, you don’t need to you walk around with a sandalwood mask on your face all day!
• But by applying a mask at least once or twice a week, you help your skin become sun-resilient.
Sandalwood may be expensive, but remember that a small piece of sandalwood can last for years.
• Try to get the rarer Rakta Chandan or red sandalwood. This reddish variety (unlike the common yellowish variety) has the best properties of the wood minus the fragrance.
• Pour some water (rose water preferably) into a mortar and then rub the sandalwood stick till you get a paste of medium consistency. Apply and leave on skin till dry and wash off gently with lukewarm water.
Full Of Soya Beans!
• This is a good facemask for undernourished skin. Just take about a quarter cup of Soya beans or whole
lentils (masoor dal) and soak it over night in water.
• The next morning remove the shells that will now come off easily. Grind the beans together with fresh
milk and add a few drops of almond oil to the paste.
• Apply the face pack evenly over your face and wash off after half an hour. You will be pleased with the quick pace in which the colour will come back to your skin and how nourished and supple they become.
Face Masks For Oily Skin
• An apple mask works wonders for oily skins: Skin and grate apple, add corn starch, mix well and apply on
face and neck area.
• Slice cucumber into long thin slices, place on cheeks, chin and forehead. Wash off after 15 minutes.
• Yeast easily dislodges dirt and grime from pores. Make a paste of yeast and water, apply to face and wash off after 15 minutes.
• Tomatoes and lime is all it takes to say bye-bye to that over-worked oil factory look. Since both are acidic, they help curb excessive oiliness on the epidermis. Mix tomato and lemon juice and massage it (in circular
motions) into the skin. This will not only help in removing the excessive oiliness, but the skin will also feel taut and nourished, repeat every alternate days for best results
Facial Masks For Dry Skin
• Mash apricots, and mix with warm olive oil to form a paste. Apply on your face and leave on for 10 minutes, then wash off.
• Mix 1 egg yolk with 1tbsp. of olive oil and few drops of lemon to the consistency of mayonnaise. Brush it on your face and neck. Rinse off once dry.
• For dry skin, use this regularly. Mix the yolk of one egg, two spoonfuls of orange juice, a few drops of sweet almond oil and half a spoon of lemon juice. Mix well, beat and apply. Keep it for half an hour before washing off.
Facial Masks For Normal Skin• Lettuce leaves are best home remedies for normal skin. Dip two large lettuce leaves in olive oil and sprinkle on them a few drops of lemon juice. Place them on both sides of your face, and then cover them with a paper towel dipped in mineral water.
• Wipe your face with a cotton ball soaked in warm milk, then rinse with boiled warm water.
Winter Tips
• Make a paste by adding maida (wheat flour) to milk and rub it well on your face. When the paste dries up, wash it off. The dirt and dust will come out along with the maida paste leaving the skin soft.
• Make a paste of ground mustard seeds with either milk or water. Apply this paste on face and neck and leave on for ten minutes. Wash off with cold water.
• Mix water and vinegar in equal quantity and apply on face with a cotton swab. On dry skin, use cold cream and massage.
• For normal skin, mix the yolk of one egg, with two spoonfuls of rosewater and one spoonful of honey and preserve. Use it once a week. It is especially useful in the winter, to keep skin soft and glowing.
• Make a paste by adding maida (wheat flour) to milk and rub it well on your face. When the paste dries up, wash it off. The dirt and dust will come out along with the maida paste leaving the skin soft.
• Make a paste of ground mustard seeds with either milk or water. Apply this paste on face and neck and leave on for ten minutes. Wash off with cold water.
• Mix water and vinegar in equal quantity and apply on face with a cotton swab. On dry skin, use cold cream and massage.
• For normal skin, mix the yolk of one egg, with two spoonfuls of rosewater and one spoonful of honey and preserve. Use it once a week. It is especially useful in the winter, to keep skin soft and glowing.
A Fruity Punch For A Glowing Face• All it takes is a few season fruit to restore that perfect glow on your face. Here are a few time-tested remedies that are absolutely hassles free. As a bonus we even share secrets to pearly whites! Blend equal quantities of strawberries, pear, grapes, apples and orange in a blender. Apply a thin film of honey on face and apply this deliciously good fruit mask. Let it stand for 30 minutes and rinse off with warm water.
Powder orange peels and blend in curds. Apply on scarred or pigmented areas and wash off after 15 minutes with cold water.
• Strawberries/papayas/ mangoes have great cleansing properties. Whisk in some amount with curds or
sour cream and apply on face and neck. Leave on for a few minutes and rinse off with cold water to reveal a glowing, tender you.
Shahnaz Husain’s Face Masks
• According to beauty professional Shahnaz Husain, the best body care products can be found on your kitchen shelves! Here are some natural face masks recommended by her.
• Eggs For All Skin Types: Eggs can have a tightening effect and also help to nourish the skin.Beat a raw egg and apply it on the face, like a mask. Rinse off with water after 20 minutes.
For Oily Skin:
• To one-tablespoon honey add 15 drops of orange juice, one-tablespoon
• Fuller’s Earth (multani mitti) and one tablespoon rose water. Mix together and apply on the face. Wash off after 15 minutes.
• Mix egg white and honey and apply like a mask.
For Dry Skin
• Mix together one-tablespoon cornflakes with almond oil or milk and grind into a paste. Apply on the face and wash off after 15 minutes.
• Take a little cream of milk (malai) and apply. Rinse off after 20 minutes.
• To one-tablespoon honey add 15 drops of orange juice, one-tablespoon
• Fuller’s Earth (multani mitti) and one tablespoon rose water. Mix together and apply on the face. Wash off after 15 minutes.
• Mix egg white and honey and apply like a mask.
For Dry Skin
• Mix together one-tablespoon cornflakes with almond oil or milk and grind into a paste. Apply on the face and wash off after 15 minutes.
• Take a little cream of milk (malai) and apply. Rinse off after 20 minutes.
Fighter Banana!
• Mash 1/4 banana until very creamy.
• Spread all over face and leave for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water followed by a dash of
cold. Gently pat dry.
Green Thompson Seedless Grapes!
• Note, grape is a regular ingredient of most expensive wrinkle creams.
• Slice a grape in half and gently crush it on your face and neck.
• Make sure that you get the "crows feet" and the lines around your mouth.
• Leave it on for twenty minutes or so and rinse with tepid water and pat dry.
Apricot Kernel Oil
• This is a natural oil from apricot pits.
• An emollient similar in composition to almond oil, it has a softening effect on the skin and helps to erasestretch marks and wrinkles.
Honey, Honey!
• Take the white of an egg, beat it, mix in it three teaspoonfuls of oat powder, one spoonful of honey and apply on the face.
Egg Whites• Egg white is believed to be an excellent treatment in maintaining the tightness of your skin.
• Scoop out the remaining sticky egg white after using the egg and apply on your face and neck.
• Leave it on for about 15 minutes to half an hour. The more regularly you do this the better will be your chances of keeping wrinkles away.
An Age Defying Face Mask!
• Add alum to a beaten egg and apply to face and neck.
• When dry wash off with warm water and apply a thin layer of honey. Leave on for 5 minutes, rinse and pat dry.
Potato Power• To lighten dark circles under your eyes, wrap a grated raw potato in cheesecloth and apply to eyelids for 15-20 minutes. Wipe off residue and apply an eye cream.
• Slices of raw potato (chilled if you like it better) are an excellent treatment for under eye circles. Just place the potato slices on your lids and relax for 15 minutes to half-an-hour. To make sure that you use this treatment everyday, make it a routine every night when you go to bed. No need to wake up to chuck those slices after use. Keep a cup next to your bedside on which you can place these so that you throw them away only the next morning. But do remember that you need enough good sleep and you also need to give your eyes enough rest to avoid dark circles. If you over-work your eyes you may find it difficult to get rid of dark
circle.
Almond Oil Face Wash
• Almond oil is high in vitamin E content and is very effective for dark circles and even excessively dry skin.
• To make an excellent face wash, powder the almonds and mix with fresh cream or cold milk.
• Apply this mixture on your dark circles and even rest of the face and neck, leave on for five minutes and wash well with cold water.
• You will feel fresh and smooth after this face wash.
Fenugreek
• Powdered fenugreek and milk are said to tackle dark circles.
• Apply a paste of fenugreek mixed in milk on dark circles in the night.
• Wash off in the morning, and watch dark circles vanish for good.
For Cracked Heels & Dull Feet
• For cracked feet you could heat up some Coconut oil, add some wax into it and after cooling apply it onto your heels.
• Another solution is to melt paraffin wax and mix it well with little mustard oil. Apply on the affected area of your heels. Wash it off in the morning. Do this for 10 or 15 days and see the difference.
• A foot pack of Fullers’ earth (Multani mitti) and curd is ideal to breathe life in dull and cracked feet. Apply
the mask on the feet, let it dry and wash off to leave back soft, silky feet.
• Massage your hands and feet with something natural like olive oil.
• Rubbing soles with malai rids it of cracks and blemishes. Wash off with soap and warm water.
Itchy Feet?
• If your feet are itching, then apply some lemon juice and vinegar.
• Try massaging some onion juice between the toes. This will relieve itching and athlete’s foot.
Nail Strengtheners
• Massage nails with warm olive oil thrice a week to strengthen them.
• Rub nails into lemon peels to reduce yellowness and help keep them shiny and smooth.
• Store a mixture of two tablespoons’ vodka with one tablespoon of lemon juice. Rub the solution into nails and cuticles daily.
• To get rid of dry nail cuticles during winter use a special manicure. For this you will need the juice of two slices of fresh pineapple and two table-spoons of vodka. Dip your nails in this mixture and rub them gently.
If done regularly, your nails will be absolutely healthy and soft.
• One-teaspoon Brewer’s yeast added to one glass of fresh fruit juice strengthens the nails.
• Mix almond oil and honey in equal parts and massage into the nails and cuticles.
• For dry nails, warm any vegetable oil and soak fingers in it for ten minutes. Wipe off with a moist towel.
• One-teaspoon Brewer’s yeast added to one glass of fresh fruit juice strengthens the nails.
Hand Care
• If manicuring is not done regularly, especially during winter, your hands tend to get dry and rough. To overcome this, mash two ripe bananas; mix with the juice of one lime and some husk of oat. Apply this mixture on both the hands. When dry, scrub gently and wash with plain water. Your hands will become assoft as a lotus flower.
• Take four teaspoon almond oil and mix one tablespoon rose water. Add half-teaspoon tincture benzoin, drop by drop. Mix together. Apply this on the hands. Wear loose cotton socks on the hands and leave on the preparation all night. Rinse off with plain water next morning.
• For stains on the hands, take lemon peel and rub on the stains.
• Take fresh orange peels, pierce them with a fork. Rub the peels on the hands to brighten them.
Apples For Soft Elbows
Fresh mashed apples have a toning and astringent effect on the skin. They are especially good for sensitive or fair skins. Here’s how you can make your own apple skin care cream that can soften rough areas of your elbows, knees and heals. Mash one fourth of an apple and mix it with a teaspoon of honey and few drops of glycerine. Make a smooth paste and apply on the affected areas. Leave it on for 15 minutes and wash with luke warm water
SCRUBS & TONERS
Baking Soda Scrub
• Baking soda too makes for an invigorating facial scrub.
• Cleanse face with mild soap and water and slough off blackheads and other debris with a paste of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water.
• Rinse to reveal a clear, zits-free face!
Almonds & Lemon
• Grind 2 almonds and mix with one portion of lemon juice and a bit of honey.
• Use this scrub to get rid of persistent blackheads and hard-to-dislodge dirt.
• Grind 2 almonds and mix with one portion of lemon juice and a bit of honey.
• Use this scrub to get rid of persistent blackheads and hard-to-dislodge dirt.
An Oatmeal Scrub
• Oatmeal soothes the skin, works as delicate abrasive, gets rid of impurities and works well for oily skin
• All you need is: 18 inches of fine muslin cloth & 300gms of oatmeal.
• Sew four or five small rectangular bags about 2 inches by 3 inches out of muslin.
• Leave one end of each bag open, fill each of the bags with oatmeal, and then sew it closed.
• In the bath, hold a bag under the tap of the running water. Allow the water to run through the bag, gradually soaking it. The oatmeal will mix with the water as it flows into the tub or bucket, softening the water. As you use the bag to scrub you'll be removing the impurities.
Homemade Skin Toner• All you need is honey, milk and lemon.
• Just take a teaspoon each of honey and milk, and add a few drops of lemon into it and mix well.
• Wash your face clean and follow with a massage of this solution for a couple of minutes.
• Wash off with cold water or milk. Now just feel the difference.
• Just take a teaspoon each of honey and milk, and add a few drops of lemon into it and mix well.
• Wash your face clean and follow with a massage of this solution for a couple of minutes.
• Wash off with cold water or milk. Now just feel the difference.
Overnight Cream
• An overnight cream is the most essential ingredient in skin care. You can make some really great and effective overnight cream at home.
• Mix a tablespoon of honey with one egg white to which five drops of almond oil have been added. Refrigerate the mix.
• Massage a thin film of this mix into the skin every night to reveal a new radiant you!
FOR BLACKHEADS
Who says you need to buy a cream to get rid of blackheads! Here’s how you can say goodbye to them by relying on some basic ingredients from your kitchen.
Curds, Lemon & Husk
Mix sour curd (yogurt), a few drops of lemon juice and wheat husk. Apply and keep for 10-15 minutes. Scrub
well before washing off the mix. Do this regularly to get rid of blackheads.
Herbal Steam
• Steams are an ideal and easy way of deep cleansing your skin. This is essential especially for the skin ailments prone (pimples, blackheads, etc.). This is because what a steam essentially does is open up pores and brings dirt and body toxins to the surface.
• While steaming your face over a pot of boiling hot water and covering over with a thick towel is good
enough (for 10 minutes), a herbal steam does wonders to your skin because of their soothing, healing and
nourishing properties.
• So you can add one of these to the steam water: a bay leaf, some fennel grains, rose petals, sandalwood or lavender oil, orange peel, clove, cinnamon, a eucalyptus leaf. You will be surprised how relaxed and refreshed you will feel after the steam.
• If you have dry skin, steam not more than once in a fortnight. For oily and normal skin, steaming once a
week is good. Do note that steaming more often than this could lead to drier skin in the long run.
• Steams are an ideal and easy way of deep cleansing your skin. This is essential especially for the skin ailments prone (pimples, blackheads, etc.). This is because what a steam essentially does is open up pores and brings dirt and body toxins to the surface.
• While steaming your face over a pot of boiling hot water and covering over with a thick towel is good
enough (for 10 minutes), a herbal steam does wonders to your skin because of their soothing, healing and
nourishing properties.
• So you can add one of these to the steam water: a bay leaf, some fennel grains, rose petals, sandalwood or lavender oil, orange peel, clove, cinnamon, a eucalyptus leaf. You will be surprised how relaxed and refreshed you will feel after the steam.
• If you have dry skin, steam not more than once in a fortnight. For oily and normal skin, steaming once a
week is good. Do note that steaming more often than this could lead to drier skin in the long run.
Make Your Own Scrub!
• Baking soda too makes for an invigorating facial scrub.
• Cleanse face with a face wash and water.
• Slough off blackheads and other debris with a paste of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water.
• Rinse to reveal a clear, zits-free face!
• Baking soda too makes for an invigorating facial scrub.
• Cleanse face with a face wash and water.
• Slough off blackheads and other debris with a paste of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water.
• Rinse to reveal a clear, zits-free face!
Carrots Face Mask
• Apply a paste of boiled carrots to the face.
• Let it stand and wash off after 20 minutes to reveal blemish-free clear skin.
• Apply a paste of boiled carrots to the face.
• Let it stand and wash off after 20 minutes to reveal blemish-free clear skin.
Honey- A Great Skin Food
• Apply some on your skin and wash off with plain water after 20 minutes.
• Honey enhances the skin's moisture-retaining capacity, making it soft and supple.
• Adding a few drops of citrus juice to the honey will also enhance the quality of your skin.
• Apply some on your skin and wash off with plain water after 20 minutes.
• Honey enhances the skin's moisture-retaining capacity, making it soft and supple.
• Adding a few drops of citrus juice to the honey will also enhance the quality of your skin.
Almonds ‘n’ Honey
Grind 2 almonds and mix with one portion of lemon juice and a bit of honey. Use this scrub to get rid of persistent blackheads and hard-to-dislodge dirt.
FOR WHITEHEADS
Juice It Up
• A combination of carrot, tomato and orange juice works well for whiteheads as well as other skin ailments.
Rose & Glycerin
• Sieve lemon juice through a cloth adding 5 gm rose petals and 5 gm glycerin to it. Blend well and store in a bottle. Before going to bed, rub in the lotion on the face. The curative properties of lime and rose are known to tackle whiteheads while glycerin makes the skin smooth and supple.
According to beauty professional Shahnaz Husain, the best body care products can be found on your kitchen shelves! Here are some natural face masks recommended by her...
Eggs For All Skin Types
• Eggs can have a tightening effect and also help to nourish the skin.
• Beat a raw egg and apply it on the face, like a mask.
• Rinse off with water after 20 minutes.
For Oily Skin
• To one-tablespoon honey add 15 drops of orange juice, one-tablespoon Fuller's Earth (multani mitti) and
one tablespoon rose water. Mix together and apply on the face. Wash off after 15 minutes.
• Mix egg white and honey and apply like a mask.
For Dry Skin
• Mix together one-tablespoon cornflakes with almond oil or milk and grind into a paste. Apply on the face
and wash off after 15 minutes.
• Take a little cream of milk (malai) and apply. Rinse off after 20 minutes.
Note: Honey is a powerful natural humectant, i.e. it attracts moisture to the skin.
