BEAUTY POTIONS
Hydrating your skin with fresh air and keeping it away from the maladies of air conditioning is extremely important. A five-minute skin cleansing, toning and moisturising routine and having a healthy lifestyle can work wonders for your skin. Here are some wonderful skin toners and tighteners that can be created from natural ingredients.

Apple cider oily and combination toner:
200ml apple cider, 1tsp powdered camphor, 1 drop witchazel
Mix all the ingredients and store in a bottle and use it to wipe skin three times a day. The ingredients will help tone and clean the skin as well as increase blood circulation.

Honey and rose toner for dehydrated and dry skin:
200ml of pure rose water, 2tsp raw honey, 2 drops lavender essential oil
Mix all the ingredients well and store in a bottle in the fridge. Wipe the skin with this three times a day for cleansing, toning and moisturising.

Egg white skin souffle:
2 egg whites, whipped till it peaks and put in freezer, 1tsp honey, 1tsp china clay
Clean the skin and mix these ingredients and brush onto the skin with a broad flat brush and relax. Let it dry completely [avoid talking] and wash off with ice water and pat dry. This is excellent to fade out fine lines and wrinkles.

Papaya porcelain mask:
2 cubes mashed papaya, 2tsp grated cucumber, 2tsp fullers earth, a pinch of powdered camphor BP, 1 egg white, rose water to mix to a smooth paste.Mix all the ingredients and apply on a clean skin. Let dry and wash off with lukewarm water and pat dry.

Honey age care:
3 tsp raw honey, 2tsp fresh cream, 50 gms beeswax, 1tsp wheat germ oil, 1tsp olive oil
Heat the beeswax in a double boiler and add all the ingredients except the fresh cream, stir in well and let cool. On cooling add the fresh cream and stir well until it becomes a smooth consistency. Pour into a glass air-tight jar and refrigerate. Massage for 20 min. You can safely store this in the fridge for up to 10 days. It is an excellent skin polisher and hydrater.

How to Get a Fair Complexion:

The causes for a dark skin or complexion could be many. Some of the most common ones are heredity - people who have a dark skin often have children who are dark-skinned too, hyperpigmentation, skin disorders and sun rays.
You can make a face mask from ordinary kitchen goods. Here are some recipes which are inexpensive to make and you probably have the ingredients right in your kitchen. Home remedies must be done regularly and best results are obtained if they are inculcated as a part of daily routine.Aloe vera, apple cider vinegar, buttermilk, castor oil, dandelion sap and lemon juice are some popular home remedies used to lighten complexion and dark spots on face. Apply to the face once or twice a day.

Tip!If you use lemon juice, wait until it dries before going into the sun. Don't forget to use sun screen products.

Honey & Almond Face MaskMix 1 tsp of milk powder, 1 tsp of honey, 1 tsp of lemon juice, and ½ tsp of almond oil. Apply on face and wash off after 10-15 minutes. This pack helps bring shine to the skin and also removes tan.

Oatmeal & Tomato Face MaskMix oatmeal with curd and tomato juice and apply on the face. Keep it on for 20 minutes and then wash it off with cold water. It helps remove the tan and lightens the skin.

Milk & Lime Face Mask: A tbsp of gram flour mixed with 2 tsp of raw milk and 2-3 drops of lime juice works well for lightening dark skin. Apply this mixture and leave it for 15 minutes before washing off. Repeat for 4 weeks and follow up with once a week.


Almond & Milk Face Mask: Soak 4 almonds overnight. Grind into a fine paste using milk. Apply on face and neck and leave it overnight. Wash with cold water in the morning. Do this daily for 15 days, followed by twice a week.

Mint Leaves Face Mask: Apply a paste of fresh ground mint leaves and leave it for about 20 minutes. Wash with cold water, continue for 15 days.

Tomato Juice & Lime Face Mask: Apply a mixture of grated tomato with 2-3 drops of lime juice on the face. Leave it for 20 minutes before washing off. Do this twice a day for 15-20 days for best results.

Dark Skin home remedies and natural cures :

Here are some simple home remedies that you can do to lighten the skin tone and get a lighter complexion. However, they must be done regularly and best results are obtained if they are inculcated as a part of daily routine.

Mix 1 tsp of milk powder, 1 tsp of honey, 1 tsp of lemon juice, and ½ tsp of almond oil. Apply on face and wash off after 10-15 minutes. This pack helps bring shine to the skin and also removes tan.

Mix oatmeal with curd and tomato juice and apply on the face. Keep it on for 20 minutes and then wash it off with cold water. It helps remove the tan and lightens the skin.

Place sliced raw potato on the face. It helps reduce blemishes and other marks.Applying turmeric powder along with lime juice removes the tan. Lime juice is a natural bleach.

Dried orange peels mixed with curd also help reduce blemishes and scars. Wash off this mixture with cold water after 15 minutes.

Face Packs

Look Young Face Pack
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream1 med. banana - peeled1 vitamin E capsule
-Mash together cream and banana.-Stir in contents of capsule.-Smooth onto face and neck.-Leave on for 10-15 minutes.-Wipe off with damp cloth.
Notes: Look younger instantly

Apple Mask For Normal Skin
1 apple - quartered, cored2 Tbls. honey1/2 tsp. ground sage
-Chop apple in food processor.-Add honey and sage to apple. Mix well.-Refrigerate for 10 minutes. -Pat mixture onto face with a light tapping motion, tapping until honey feels tacky. -Leave on for 30 minutes.-Rinse.

Banana Mask for Dry Skin
1/4 cup plain yogurt2 Tbls. honey1 med. banana
-Mash all ingredients together with a fork.-Smooth onto face and neck.-Leave for 10 minutes, then rinse off.
Notes: Soothes dry skin.


Blemished Skin Mask
1 tomato - chopped1 Tbls. instant oatmeal1 tsp. lemon juice
-Blend all ingredients just until combined. -Apply to skin, making sure the mixture is thick enough to stay on blemished areas, such as cheeks, forehead, or chin. -Add a bit more oatmeal to thicken the mask, if necessary. -Leave on 10 minutes.-Scrub off with a clean washcloth dipped in warm water.

Fruit Salad Body Mask
2 slices pineapple - rind removed1/2 med. honeydew melon - rind removed1 doz. green grapes1 med. banana - peeled1 med. pear - cored1 med. kiwi fruit - peeled
-Puree all ingredients in food processor. Mixture will be slightly lumpy.-Refrigerate for 1 hour.-Smooth onto body and/or face, leaving on for half an hour.-Rinse of with tepid water.
Notes: Softens and exfoliates the skin, leaving you feeling cool and clean.


Green Ambrosia Body Scrub
1/4 cup uncooked white rice1/2 cup Epsom salts2 Tbls. oatmeal - ground in blender1/4 cup cornmeal1/8 cup glycerin5 drops baby oil1/2 bag green tea1 tsp. poppy seeds5 drops china rain essence oil
-Grind rice in the blender.-Combine all ingredients with a whisk.-Pour in bottles or Ziploc® bags to store.
1 med. lemon - juice of2 Tbls. finely ground almonds1 Tbls. honey
-Combine all ingredients.-Massage mixture into face and neck.-Leave on for 5 minutes.-Rinse off with warm water.


Nail Strengthening Solution
2 tsp. castor oil2 tsp. salt1 tsp. wheat germ oil
-Pour all ingredients into a sealable bottle.-Before each use, shake well.-Rub a small amount of the mixture into your nails.-Leave on for 3-5 minutes.-Wipe off with a cotton ball.

Nourishing Almond Oil Mask
1 egg1 tsp. almond oil1 splash half and half
-Combine all ingredients.-Smooth onto face and neck.-Leave on for 15 minutes.-Rinse with cool water.


Peach Tightening Mask
1 ripe peach - peeled, pitted1 egg white
-Whip peach and egg white together in a blender until smooth. -Gently pat mixture over face. -Leave on for 30 minutes. -Rinse off with cool water.

Refreshing Mint Mask
1 Tbls. ground spearmint leaves1 Tbls. vegetable oil 1 Tbls. honey
-Puree ingredients in the blender for 2 minutes.-Smooth onto clean face and neck, avoiding areas around the eyes.-Leave on for 10 minutes.-Rinse with cool water.


Revitalizing Avocado Hair Treatment
1 med. avocado - peeled, pitted2 Tbls. honey
-Mash together both ingredients in small bowl.-Massage into hair.-Leave in for 20-30 minutes.-Wash hair as usual.
Notes: Brings tired-looking hair back to life.

Strawberry Drawing Mask
1/2 cup ripe strawberries1/4 cup cornstarch
-Mash strawberries and cornstarch together to make a paste.-Apply to face, avoiding the delicate area around eyes. -Leave on for 30 minutes.-Rinse off with cool water.

Strawberry Face Brightener
2 ozs. ripe strawberries1 cup milk
-In a bowl, mash together strawberries and milk.-Strain through a fine sieve.-Smooth onto face with cotton ball, then wipe clean with fresh cotton ball.-Refrigerate left-overs for future use.


Ultimate Dry Skin Treatment
2 Tbls. real mayonnaise1 tsp. baby oil
-Combine both ingredients.-Smooth onto face, neck, rough elbows and knees, or anywhere you need it.-Leave on for 20 minutes.-Rinse thoroughly with tepid water.