Beauty basics with SHAHNAZ HUSAIN
Milk is the first food of every human being. All forms of milk products, including curd and buttermilk, have proven to be beneficial for human health, skin and hair.
Milk is packed with vitamins A and D, B6, B12, biotin, calcium, protein as well as lactic acid which are excellent for skin and hair. It helps to protect skin from free radicals, fades and marks. This may be why many skincare enthusiasts have started applying milk to their skin. It is a natural beauty enhancer that has many healing benefits. Raw milk is the best remedy for acne-prone skin as it gently exfoliates and heals the breakouts.
Here’s how you can use milk for skincare.
Cotton wool soaked in cold milk can be used to wipe the skin to remove tan and soothe the skin. Cold milk applied daily, using cotton ball, for 20 minutes not only helps soothe the skin, but also keeps it soft. It also makes the skin colour lighter over a period of time.
Take a little cold milk and add some mashed banana. Mix it and apply on your face and lips. Wait for 30 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. You can use this mask for dry skin.
Applying cold milk may help draw heat out of the layers of your skin after prolonged sun exposure. Some women in plain areas use milk as a treatment for inflammation or sunburn.
Mix milk, baking soda, mashed tomatoes and mashed potatoes. Apply and leave for 30 minutes before washing off with warm water. This will help fight acne, scars and pimples.
Homemade milk cream or malai can be used as a pack for hydrated, moisturised, glowing and soft skin.
Use shelf-stable canned milk or cool dairy milk from your fridge to make a cool compress that might soothe your skin during summer.
Make a paste of milk and turmeric. Cleanse your face in a circular motion for few minutes and wash it off with cold water for fair complexion.
Milk can be added to face packs very easily. However, it suits normal to dry skin more. During winter, milk may be applied on normal to oily skin to relieve dryness and improve skin texture.
Soak lotus flowers in 3 to 4 tablespoons of warm milk for an hour. Crush the flowers with the fingers. Add three teaspoons of gram flour (besan) and mix it with the milk and crushed flowers into a paste. Apply it on the face avoiding the lips and the area around the eyes. Wash it off after 20 to 30 minutes.
Milk contains different kinds of proteins. Hair is also made up of a protein matter called keratin. Therefore, protein in milk is beneficial for the hair.
Milk can be applied on the hair to nourish and soften it and also to give it a healthy lustre. If the hair has been subjected to sun-damage, applying milk would help to nourish, soften and restore health to it.
After your shampoo, rinse the hair with milk and leave it on for five minutes. Then rinse off with plain water. It will add body and shine to the hair. For extremely dry hair, add a little milk to egg yolk and apply on the hair half an hour before shampoo. This is a wonderful nourishing treatment for dry hair. The hair looks soft, smooth and shiny.
A pre-shampoo treatment can also be done with a hair pack containing powdered milk. Add a little water to make a thick paste. Apply it on the hair. Then dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the hot towel around the head, like a turban. Keep it on for five minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap 3 or 4 times. This helps the hair and scalp absorb the pack better.
Mix 1 litre of warm water, two cups of warm milk, some lemon juice, four tablespoons of salt and a few drops of bubble bath. Soak your feet and rub your heels with a pumice stone before drying with a towel and applying lotion.
Grind four almonds and mix with milk, papaya and orange juice. Apply on clean skin and leave on for 30 minutes. Wash off with warm water to clean the skin from pollution.
Include probiotics in your diet. Probiotics help restore the balance of the skin and prevent harmful bacterial.
Wash your lips at night and apply some milk on them before going to bed. This will help them stay soft and smooth.
