JANUARY-MARCH
Winter is at its peak. If you have dry skin, follow the golden rule of keeping your skin smiling all the time - moisturize and nourish regularly.
Try mixing a combination of almond, apricot and sandalwood oils in equal quantities and massage your skin with it. Wipe off after an hour and you won’t feel sticky or stretched any more.
For patchy and dull skin, blend 2 tsp powdered almonds, 1 tsp fresh cream and 4-5 mashed figs to a smooth paste and massage gently. Wash face with tepid water.
For a glow, mix together 2 tsp orange peel powder, 1 tsp almond powder, 1 tsp oatmeal, 1 tsp honey and a little rose water. Scrub gently onto the skin for about 10 minutes and wash off with cold water.
If you have a combination skin, apply little almond oil to the under eyes, cheeks and neck area, and clean your T-zone i.e. forehead, nose and chin with a little rose water. Make a paste of 3 mashed figs, 1 tsp whole wheat flour, juice of half a lemon, 1 tsp honey and 1 egg, and scrub gently onto the face and neck. Wash after 10 minutes.
Take time out for a long, languorous body massage. Sesame and sandalwood oils mixed together is excellent.
Hair is more prone to dandruff and dryness in winter. For dandruff, oil hair with pure coconut oil twice a week followed by the application of the juice of one lemon to the scalp. This should be followed by turban therapy - wring out a towel in hot water and wrap it around your head to steam it.
Shampoo with a mild shampoo after two hours. You can make the most fabulous hair conditioning pack with the following ingredients: 2 tsp amla powder, 2 tsp shikakai powder, 2 tsp fenugreek powder, 2 tsp liquorice powder and 2 eggs. Make a smooth paste and apply this from the root of the hair to the ends and leave on for at least an hour. Shampoo off and feel your hair turn to silk.
APRIL-JUNE
Spring-clean your skin… This is the time when arms and legs are uncovered for the summer sun, so it’s absolutely important to have soft glowing skin.
Massage the hands with a nourishing cream and apply the following hand pack: 2 tsp oatmeal, 1 tsp sandalwood powder, 1 egg, 1 tsp honey, 1 tsp lemon powder. Mix all the ingredients to a thick paste and apply on hands with special attention to the knuckles. Leave on for 15 minutes and dab with full cream milk and scrub off in a rotating movement. Wash off with cold water and see your hands turn as soft and supple as a baby’s skin!
The neck and back also require care. Start using a natural loofah while bathing as this helps slough off dead skin. Always use a body lotion after bathing. If you want to go completely natural, use a light hibiscus and lavender oil mixed with apricot oil. Not only will this keep your skin soft but also protect it from the sun.
JULY-SEPTEMBER
Skin must be kept clean especially during the monsoon months, so use plenty of cool rose water, cucumber water and mint tonics.
Use cool masks made of spring summer fresh fruits like plums, peaches, watermelon etc. For this, you need to take 5 seeded and mashed plums, 2 tsp whole wheat flour and 1 egg. Mix all the ingredients and apply all over the face and neck, leaving on for 10 minutes. Wash off with rose water.
If you have sunburn or tanned skin, freeze 2 slices of watermelon in the fridge for 20 minutes. Dip it in 4 tsp of honey and massage all over the face and neck, leave on for 5 minutes and wash off with cold water.
For limp, oily hair, take half glass each of strained tea water and beer, and juices of half lemon and orange. After shampooing, pour this all over the hair and well into the scalp. Let your hair dry, not only will your hair feel like silk but will shine as if there are sun beams dancing on it!
For dry hair, take half a glass of strained tea water, 1 tsp honey and half a cup of strained fresh carrot juice. After shampooing, rinse your hair with this fabulous hair rinse and feel the difference in your hair.
Monsoon is also the time to feel fresh and fragrant. Always use a deodorant and talcum. After bathing, in half-a-bucket of water,add 10 drops of citrus or jasmine oil and use as a last rinse.
OCTOBER-DECEMBER
The nip in the air, the stretch on the skin - time to prepare your skin and hair for the winter months. Start eating almonds, figs and raisins to give your body the extra nourishment and anti-oxidants that it requires.
Massage the skin with honey and feel your skin succumb to softness.l Regularly oil your hair, it would be a good time to switch to warmer oils like Mahabhringraj followed by turban therapy.
Use mayonnaise in your hair as a nourishing hair mask. Leave on for 30 minutes and shampoo with a mild natural shampoo, followed by a herbal conditioner.
The use of sea salt scrubs is highly recommended especially because the neglected areas of the body require special attention. The knees, buttocks, thighs, elbows - all start to show signs of neglect and dryness. Take 4 tsp of sea salt and mix with 5 tsp olive oil and 5 drops of sandalwood or lemon oil. Scrub these areas to uncover super soft skin in no time at all!
Indulge in these magical natural ingredients to make your skin and hair smile throughout 2009!
