Get the Glow with Home Remedies- By Shahnaz Hussain

Nature is not only a cosmetologist, but an expert chemist! It has provided such versatile natural ingredients that help to enhance the beauty of the skin. In fact, they have curative properties too. Indeed, natural ingredients can even be categorized under cosmetological terms.

Cleansers, toners, moisturizers, nourishers, astringents, masks, all exist in nature and some of these are within your easy reach. While using home ingredients, remember to choose items which are clean and fresh and follow the basic principles of hygiene while chopping, mixing and grinding them. Knowing your skin type and specific needs helps to select the right ingredients. It always helps to be aware of the look and feel of your skin to know which ingredient will be of greater benefit. If you have sensitive skin, apply the preparations on a very small area first and leave it on for about 20 minutes, to see whether your skin reacts or not. Beauty is the outcome of regular care. Indeed, regularity is the keyword. It is never too late to start taking care of the skin.

Cleansing

Our skin is exposed to dirt and grime, as well as chemical pollutants in the air and water everyday. Cleansing the skin at night is of utmost importance, to remove all the impurities that have been deposited during the day. Most of us love soap and water to cleanse our face. However, soap may not help to dissolve the pollutants and make-up debris and remove them totally from the skin surface. Besides, most soaps are alkaline in nature. The skin should not be washed with soap and water more than twice a day.
Cleansing for Oily Skin: For an oily skin, deep pore cleansing is essential, so that the pores remain free of oil. Mix rice flour with curd and apply on the skin. Rub gently, using small circular movements. Leave the mixture on for a few minutes and then rinse off with plenty of plain water. However, if you have rash, pimples or acne, facial scrubs should not be applied on them. You can apply them only on areas with blackheads. A cotton wool pad dipped in milk can be an adequate cleanser for oily skin.

Cleansing for Dry Skin: Take half a cup of milk and add five drops of any vegetable oil (til, olive or sunflower oil). Put this in a bottle and shake well. Apply it on the skin using cotton wool and then wipe off with moist cotton wool. Keep left-over mixture in the fridge. Remember that home recipes should not be kept for more than 4 to 5 days.
Cleansing Scrub for all skin types: Take one teaspoon ground dry orange and lemon peels, one teaspoon oatmeal and one teaspoon ground almond. Add one teaspoon rose water. Apply on the face and rub gently with circular movements. Then wash off with water. For dry skin, facial scrubs should be used only once a week. For oily skin, they may be used three or four times a week. Orange and lemon peels should be dried thoroughly in the sun and kept in a tightly closed container. You can use the oats which are available for making porridge.

Skin Toning

Skin toning helps to improve blood circulation to the skin surface, close the pores, refresh the skin and add a glow. It should be an integral part of daily skin care. Cotton wool pads of about 4 inches square in size are useful for toning the skin. Soak it in the skin toner and wipe the skin. Pat the skin briskly with it. Then, use it to stroke the skin gently, with outward and upward movement on the cheeks. Each movement should end at the temples. Apply gentle pressure at the temples. On the forehead, start from the centre and go outwards on each side, again ending at the temples. For the chin, use circular movements. Tone the neck too, going downwards from the chin. Tone around the eyes, using a very light touch. Rose water is the best known natural skin toner. For dry skin, rose water may be used daily to tone the skin.
Skin Tonic for normal to dry skin: For normal skin, mix together three-fourth cup rose water with one-fourth cup witch-hazel. For dry skin, mix three-fourth cup rose water with one-fourth cup witch-hazel and half teaspoon honey. Keep the lotion in a tightly closed glass jar in the refrigerator.
Toner for oily skin: Mix rose water and cucumber juice in equal quantities and use it to tone the skin. Cucumber has an astringent effect and helps to close the pores. Or For oily skin or oily areas on combination skin, mix rose water and witch-hazel in equal quantities and apply.
Toner for all skin types: Take one tablespoon honey and one peeled and cored apple. Pour the ingredients in a blender. Apply it on the face like a mask and keep it on for 15 minutes. Then, rinse off with cool water. This is a powerful skin toner.

Mask

A good mask is an ideal way of preserving the youthful qualities of the skin. They perform many functions that improve the health and appearance of the skin. A good mask should improve skin texture and make it clearer and more translucent. Before applying any mask, tie your hair back, away from the face. First cleanse your skin thoroughly. Use a flat, wide brush to apply the mask. Do not apply the mask on the sensitive skin around the eyes. Avoid the lips too. Leave on the mask till it is dry, or for 20 to 30 minutes. Remove the mask by rinsing it off with plenty of water.
Cleansing Mask for oily and combination skin: Apply ripe papaya pulp on the face, keeping it on for 20 minutes. Rinse off with water.
Fruit mask for all skin types: Fruits like banana, apple, papaya and orange can be mixed together and applied on the face. They should be mashed or made into a pulp. Keep it on for 20 to 30 minutes. Papaya is rich in enzymes and helps to cleanse dead skin cells. Banana tightens the skin. Apple contains pectin and helps to cleanse the skin. Orange is rich in Vitamin C. It restores the normal acid-alkaline balance.
Mask for normal to dry skin: Mix together three tablespoon cornflakes with one teaspoon each of milk, honey and egg white into a paste. Apply on the face and wash off after 15 minutes.
For oily/combination skin and acne: Mix one teaspoon honey and two teaspoons curd to fuller’s earth (multani mitti) and apply. Curd can also be applied by itself, even on an acne condition. It helps to soften the skin and restores the natural acid mantle.