Beauty basics with SHAHNAZ HUSAIN
Diwali is around the corner and it is time you make sure that you shine your brightest. The days running up to Diwali are more hectic than a wedding in terms of cleaning, shopping and house decoration. These leave you looking exhausted and dull before the festival of lights.
It is time to get a radiant glow with organic homemade ingredients for Diwali. Here are simple things to shine brighter than the festive lights:
The effect of the homemade beauty care is always the best if started a few weeks before the festival. But those who missed the time owing to work pressure and family responsibilities can go for these organic solutions for the next few days.
Night cleansing is an absolute must, especially for city dwellers. Chemical air pollutants, dirt and grime hang in the air. They are potent skin irritants. Make up should also be removed at night.
As Diwali approaches, the weather also changes. Seasonal changes also influence the skin. The humidity becomes less and the skin loses moisture. For normal to dry skin, cleanse twice a day, with a cleansing gel, containing ingredients like aloe vera. Massage the cleanser lightly into the skin and remove it with moist cotton wool. Then apply rose water or skin tonic, using cotton wool. During the day, use sunscreen. Or, use moisturizer, if you are indoors.
For dry skin, after cleansing at night, apply a nourishing cream and massage it on the face. Wipe off with moist cotton wool. You can apply a serum afterwards.
Those with oily skin also need moisture. But, if they apply creams, they can get pimples. To moisturise oily skin, mix one teaspoon of pure glycerine with 100 ml rose water. Keep it in an airtight jar in the fridge. Use a little of this lotion after cleansing. This moisturizes the skin, without making it oily. Use cleansing milk or face wash to cleanse the skin.
The use of facial scrubs helps to brighten the skin and add a glow. Use a facial scrub twice a week. Mix ground almonds (badaam) or rice powder with curd and a pinch of Haldi. You can also add dried and powdered orange and lemon peels. Apply on the face and rub gently on the skin with small circular movements. Then wash off with water.
Apply a sunscreen before going out in the sun. So, you can look for a sunscreen lotion or cream, depending on your skin type. You should also look for day creams, nourishing or night creams and serums.
As Diwali and winter approach, try some home remedies to relieve dryness. Apply honey on the face daily for 10 minutes and wash off with water. If you have an aloe vera plant at home, the gel, found in the inner portion of the leaves, can be applied on the face to moisturize it.
Grate carrots and apply on the face for 15-20 minutes. Carrot is rich in Vitamin A and good for nourishing the skin in winter. It suits all skin types.
Mix half a teaspoon honey, one teaspoon rose water and one teaspoon dried milk powder. Mix into a paste and apply on the face. Remove after 20 minutes with water. Suits normal to dry skin.
Nourish hair with oil. Heat olive oil and apply on the scalp and 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 3-4 times. This helps the hair and scalp absorb the oil better.
If you have been working hard just before Diwali, a few ‘pick-me-up’ tips will help. Give yourself a manicure and pedicure the day before. In fact, after soaking the hands and feet in warm water, massage with a rich cream, so that the skin is smooth and soft. A good pick-me-up treatment for the hands is to rub them with sugar and lemon juice. Pay attention to details like waxing and threading too, at least a day in advance.
A ‘pick-me-up’ face mask can leave your skin clean and glowing. Cleanse the skin. Mix honey with egg white and apply it on the face. Wash off with water after 20 minutes. For those with dry skin, mix half a teaspoon honey, egg yolk or pure almond oil and one teaspoon dried milk powder. Mix into a paste and apply on the face. Leave it on for half an hour and rinse off with water. After washing off the pack, give the skin a compress with cotton wool pads soaked in rose water.
For hands and nails, mix almond oil and honey in equal parts and massage into the nails and cuticles. Leave on for 15 minutes and wipe off with a moist towel. Mix together 3 tablespoons of rose water with one tablespoon each glycerine and lemon juice. Apply on hands and feet and leave for half an hour. Wash off with plain water.
If your hair is looking dull give it a quick conditioning treatment before your shampoo. Mix one teaspoon each of vinegar and honey with one egg. Beat them together well. Massage the mixture into the scalp. Then wrap the hair in a hot towel for twenty minutes, before washing the hair.
Boil used tea leaves again in enough water. After boiling, you should have about 4 cups of tea-water. Cool and strain it. Then add the juice of a lemon and use it as a last rinse after shampoo.
