Besan for Beauty – History, How to Use and Benefits

What is Gram Flour?

Gram flour, chickpea flour, garbanzo flour, besan, or beshon as commonly known is one of key ingredients of the Indian culinary that also offers skin-beautifying benefits. gram flour is what we call besan in enlish.

It has been said that the Besan flour has been one of the main ingredients of a body scrub, which traditionally was used in beauty treatments for the brides.

Benefits

• Super effective, inexpensive and highly versatile ingredient is said to polish the skin to remove dead and dry skin, thus helping reveal a new layer of skin.
• Besan helps soothe inflamed acne skin to further lightening those scars, relieves itchy pimples, and reduces dark marks and dark circles.
• Besan works to help the skin complexion become visibly fair and luminous.
• However, note that Besan is an alkalizing ingredient, which needs to be mixed with yogurt or lemon juice to make the mix slightly ‘cleansing acidic’.

This mix claims to attract acids and dust particles, which are lodged in the pores of the skin and is suitable to use these pastes as soaps.

How to use Gram Flour

This ingredient also is known to eliminate bad odor as it detoxifies the skin.

You could try few of these homemade remedies for your skin.

1. For acne scars:  Mix besan, pinch of turmeric powder and 2 table spoon of fresh milk to create a smooth paste and apply evenly on the face and neck area. After 20-25 minutes, wash it with lukewarm water to achieve glowing skin.
2. For dry flaky skin:  Mix 2-3 drops of fresh lemon juice with 1 tablespoon besan, 1 teaspoon milk cream or olive oil and half teaspoon honey to form a paste. Apply it all over the face and rinse it thoroughly with water when it dries naturally.
3. For oily skin:  Beat one egg white and add 2 tablespoons of besan to make it into a mask. Apply this mask for 15 minutes and wash it off with cold water.

A simple recipe for blemish free skin:

Ingredients:  50gms chana dal, 10gms fenugeek seeds, 2-3 pieces of turmeric.

Method:  Grind it into powder and store it in a container.

Application:  Use this powder in little quantity with some milk cream and wash the face regularly instead of soap.

Beauty Secrets: Carrots for Beautiful Skin and Hair

Veggies are always healthy for skin and hair. Carrot in particular is loaded with naturally occurring antioxidants that slows down the ageing process and fights skin damage.

Carrots can remove harmful toxins from our skin leading it to appear young, revitalize it completely (be it any skin type)and enhancing the beauty of our skin and hair.

Here are some easy DIY recipes using carrots: 

1. Hydrate your skin and make it supple:

Take 2 or 3 fresh grated carrots, add 1 tsp each of raw milk, honey and olive oil. Cleanse your face and apply this. Keep it for 15 to 20 minutes and rinse off with water. This hydrates the skin leaving it soft and supple. 

2. Reveal Soft Hair:

To have damage free hair, boil some carrots, blend it, and add some yogurt and a beaten egg. Apply the pack, wash it warm water after an hour and you will find a change. 

3. Multiple Benefits of Carrot Juice:

For skin ageing problems, carrot juice can act as a great toner; it is capable of restoring suppleness, hydration and youth of the skin. Use it regularly to find a change.

Consuming carrot juice protects skin tanning and heals sun-affected damages. 

4. Use as a Mist to do away with Skin Damage:

Mix fresh carrot juice with two parts rose water, store it in a spray bottle and use it as a face mist.It reverses any damage caused by environmental factors and soothes the sun-exposed skin. 

5. Get Glowing Skin naturally:

Make a puree with boiled and blended carrots, add few drops of lemon, 1 tsp honey and few drops of extra virgin olive oil. Apply this evenly on your entire face and neck, leave it for 20 mins and rinse off, you will find a noticeably firmer and glowing skin.

This is what carrot alone can do to your skin. Try out these remedies and feel the change!

10 Must Follow Tips To Get Glowing Skin For Brides

Glowing skin for brides:

It’s going to be your special day and all the eyes are going to be on you! While you may be preparing for a lot of things in advance, to ensure your D-Day goes on great and smooth, one thing you definitely can’t give a miss is looking after your glowing skin before marriage. For most brides-to-be, one of the biggest concerns is getting the perfect makeup and getting the perfect look on your most important day, but trust me, if your skin isn’t clean and healthy enough, you’re really not a 100% ready, are you?

This does not mean that you need to have flawless skin throughout, but even if your skin has imperfections and flaws, there are many ways to ensure these will minimized  or even go away, by the time your wedding day arrives.

Here are a few tips that will help you get that glowing skin before wedding.

1. Eating Watermelon:

The first step towards having a clean and glowing skin is to make sure you’re having plenty of water. The idea is to keep the body hydrated. In addition, make sure you have plenty of watermelon, which is a great source of hydration for your skin. In addition, you can also have grapefruits, broccoli and lettuce.

2. Start Prepping Your Skin In Advance:

Give your skin some time to get ready, at least 3 months before the big day. This should ideally be the time when you religiously start looking after your skin if you haven’t done it till now, and your diet should get more healthy and natural.

3. Facials:

For brides in their 20s, this is the age when you might be getting acne and skin discolouration from the sun. Go for deep-cleaning facials once a month that will help prep the skin.

4. Exfoliate:

If you have crossed 25, your skin will need regular exfoliating to help improve the overall texture of your skin.

5. Supplements:

In addition to good food, your skin will also benefit from a few essential supplements like a good multi-vitamin, Co-Q10 that increases metabolic efficiency and improves heart health and Omega-3 (found in fish oil) that is great for heart, eyes, brain, skin and your overall health.

6. Moisturise:

Apply a good moisturiser each day, at least twice, over your face and all over your body. Also, make sure you give extra attention to areas that are excessively dry, like elbows, knees, feet and hands.

7. Sleep:

No beauty treatments will work on the skin unless you have a good 8 hours sleep every night. Make sure you’re sleeping well.

8. Clean Makeup Brushes:

There will be many pre-wedding celebrations you’ll be attending where you will have to do your own makeup and hair sometimes. Make sure you shampoo out your makeup brushes to avoid any bacteria build-up on your skin. Wash them with shampoo, rinse and hang to air-dry with the bristles facing down.

9. Home Made Face Packs:

Here are a few home-made packs that you can use to get that glowing skin:

• Brightening Mask to improve complexion for normal skin

Mix a tsp of gram flour, pinch of turmeric powder, few drops lime juice, 1/2 tsp each of olive oil and milk. Apply on the face and leave on for half an hour. Wash off.

• Treating Acne and Pimples

Wash and grind a few mint leaves and make a smooth paste. Apply all over your face in the night. Wash off in the morning.

• Clay Pack For Oily Skin

Take some clay powder (multaani mitti) and add rosewater to make a thin paste. Apply over the face and leave it on till completely dry. Wash off with water.

• Sandalwood And Rosewater Pack For Oily Skin:

This is great to achieve a radiant, glowing complexion and is also good for removing blemishes or pimple marks. Mix 1 spoon sandalwood powder with rosewater to make a paste. Apply over face and neck. Wash off when completely dry

• Milk Powder And Lemon Juice Pack For Dry Skin:

Take a spoon of milk powder and few drops of lemon juice. Make a paste and apply on face.

Wash off after 20 minutes.

10. Power Food For Glowing Skin:

Here are a few amazing foods that will help you get that glowing skin:

• Salmon: Contains essential omega-3 fatty acids to keep your skin supple, hair healthy and your nails strong.
• Pistachios:  Pistachios or pistas help nourish hair and scalp.
• Cinnamon: Stimulates blood circulation
• Turmeric: Heals sun-damaged skin
• Dark chocolate: Helps decrease sun sensitivity
• Peppermint: Great for digestion
• Beetroot: High in vitamin A, potassium, sodium, calcium and vitamin E that’s all great for healthy skin.
• Brown Rice: Helps regulate sugar levels in body
• Legumes: Peas, beans, lentils are great for digestion. High in fibre. Great detoxifying agents. Good for clean skin.
• Garlic: Helps fight off any skin infections
• Broccoli: Packed with antioxidants that add a glow to the skin. High in omega-3 fatty acids, calcium and folate content.

6 Vital Vitamins for Hair Growth

With age it is a very natural response for the fall in thickness of hair. Women tend to see signs from the age of 30 and have lost most of their hair by their 60′s where as men this is many different patterns which are associated with the cause behind the baldness. There are very many reasons behind this.

Causes for hair loss

1. Stress
2. Medication and medical condition
3. Nutritional deficiency
4. Thyroid
5. Menopause
6. Childbirth 
7. Alopecia
8. Fungal scalp infections
9. Over treating hair

Most times, the reason behind your hair loss is a combination of a few of the above reasons. Which makes it very hard to stop in most cases. The best we can hope for is reducing it to the large extent. For this we take the aid of many external treatments, ayurvedic, allopathic and what ever else we can find in between.
Some treatments work and some don’t but if we had to pick one practice to anti hair loss regimen, it would be to ensure that your hair receives abundant supple of nutrition to with stand the rigors of the daily life. Our lifestyles are a picture perfect example of excessive stress and unhealthy living. And as the saying goes, healthy inside is healthy outside. Hence, the adjustment of your diet to add the nutritional value. What reflects in your health will also reflect in your hair.

What to eat for healthy hair?
Your hair is essentially protein based and though it is dead, there is some life is roots that result in hair growth. Hence, the need for the right nutrients and vitamins for hair will help you boost hair growth. The next obvious question will be what are the nutrients. So here is the list.

• Vitamins
• Proteins
• Iron

Yes vitamins top the chart. So which vitamin is good for hair? Why do you need to consume it to ensure reduce hair fall?
Here is the list of the most required vitamins for hair growth.

1. Vitamin A
Vitamin A also plays an important role in hair growth. It keeps your hair black and shiny. Vitamin A contains Antioxidants that moisturizes the scalp and prevents the hair from drying out. Vitamin A helps in strengthening and thickening of the hair.
Foods rich in Vitamin A

• Sweet Potatoes and Carrots
• Liver
• Egg yolk
• Milk
• Spinach
• Dried Apricots
• Mangoes  

2. Biotin or Vitamin B7
Biotin is called as the H vitamin and also ‘hair growth’ vitamin by people around the world is the one the 12 of the Vitamin B family. We like to also call it our favorite of all the hair growth vitamins. It repairs brittle hair and improves the health and texture of the hair. Biotin is known to work wonders on hair volume and thickness. It aids in the production of fatty acids within the cells, the growth of cells, and many other important processes that involve amino acids and fats. Amino acids as we know are the building blocks of proteins. Plus it plays an important role in the process of glucogenesis too.

Due to its very many important functions, the result of sufficient biotin in take results in the folllowing

• rapid increase in the growth rate if your hair
• gaining thicker hair with greatly multiplied volume
• straightening of hair.

Food rich in biotin :

• Eggs
• Yeast
• Cauliflower
• Raspberries
• Bananas
• Walnuts
• Almonds

3. Vitamin B12

As the name suggests this one from the Vitamin B family too! And it is very essential to prevent hair loss. This aids in the absorption of iron to the body without which you can loss hair due to iron deficiency.

Foods containing Vitamin B12

•  Eggs
• Cheese
• Whey powder
• Milk
• Yoghurt

4 . Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a hair growth vitamin that has the ability to cure premature graying of hair and hair dryness efficiently. Daily intake of vitamin C through food items or supplements is necessary to maintain the health of your  hair.

Food rich in Vitamin C

• Lemons
• Guavas
• Mandarins
• Strawberries

5. Vitamin E

 

This is an essential vitamin for hair growth as it beats all dry and rough hair troubles! It locks in moisture and leave protects your hair from drying out and keeping it shiny. Along with this it also keeps the scalp healthy and promotes blood circulation.

Foods rich in Vitamin E

• Almonds
• Fish
• Milk
• Peanuts
• Cooked spinach
• Sunflower seeds
• Dried herbs 

6. Folic Acid

This is another miracle worker of the vitamin B group or we like to call it “the hair vitamins”. This vitamin plays an important role in the making your hair thicker and shiner all while it adds moisture. It also helps in fighting away graying of hair.

 

Food rich in Folic acid

Pretty much any source that gives you vitamin B will also have folic acid as a component. But if you feel the need for supplements than a vitamin B complex is perfect for that. Other than all whole wheat grains and cereals contain folic acid so now you can go ahead and consume carbohydrates without any guilt! 

It is now but obvious that we need vitamins for healthy hair. But there are two other nutrients that we cannot skip mentioning here, for we have said that vitamins aid in the absorption of it.

They are

• Iron
• Proteins

Iron

Researchers have found that conditions like alopecia, severe hair loss and breakage or caused due to iron deficiency. Intake of proper amount of iron everyday regulates good blood health and not only that, it will definitely help in re-growth of your hair.

Food rich in Iron:

• Red meat
• Green leafy vegetables
• Turkey
• Beans
• Dried fruits

Proteins

 

Proteins are essential for the hair structure giving you a shiny hair and iron is required to maintain their strength at the roots.  Without these your hair will be left dull and lifeless, often prone to breakage and falling out!

Foods rich in proteins

• Sprouts
• Milk 
• Paneer and many more!

It is sometimes very hard to find the natural sources to these vitamins and that is when you need to consider the use of supplements. supplements are invariably designed in difference for men and woman as the needs and quantities vary. These are basically a mix of various vitamins and minerals in the right proportions to make up its lack in our natural diet.

Pre- natal Vitamins

These are the same as any vitamin complex supplement given to a women. The only addition being that it has an additional dose of iron and folic acid. As Iron is said to carry oxygen to the roots and deficiency of this causes severe hair loss problems.

Viviscal

This supplement has a high content of vitamin C and omega 3 fatty acids. Plus, it has slew of experts that say that it works miracles!

Nourage

This is a vitamin supplement really but it does have a healthy dose keratin which is the key to the building of the hair follicle. So harm in trying this out either!

Not just topical hair treatments but inclusion of a nutritious diet plan in your hair care routine will ensure that you have the lustrous tresses that you have always desired. Consult your dietician before starting any vitamin supplements. Good luck!

How To Do A Facial At Home?

Always dreamt of a soft, smooth and glowing skin? Have you envied the celebs because of their picture perfect skin? Well the answer lies in healthy and proper skin routine.

CTM (cleansing, toning and moisturising) routine is the most efficient and effortless skin care routine which can help you to achieve the flawless and healthy skin. Along with this, skin facials should be done at least once in 4 weeks. It plays an important role to rejuvenate your skin and restore the natural glow to your face.

And now you do not have to spend long hours at parlours and spend thousands for that perfect facial. You can easily do the facial at home by following some simple tips. This saves a lot time and money and you are aware of the products you use on your face.

Facials have been loved and used by women since ancient times. There are many types of facials available nowadays such as fruit facial, gold facial, diamond facial, pearl facial, chocolate and many more. But before indulging in any of these facials, you should be aware of your skin type and then select the facial suitable for your skin type. Following are a few on how to do a facial at home along with the most popular facials suitable for Indian skin.

A. Fruit Facial:

Fruit facial is suitable for all skin types especially for sensitive skin. It contains natural fruit acids and extracts, which is natural and has no side effects. The fruit facial hydrates and moisturises the skin naturally. It removes the dead cells and gives you an instant glow naturally.

• Fruits such as plums, oranges and peaches contain high amounts of vitamin C, which provide a glow to your face. They also contain anti oxidants which helps to fight the signs of ageing.
• Papaya and banana helps to remove the tan.
• Strawberries help to get rid of the blemishes and dark spots.

Thus the fruit facial hydrates, polishes and shines your skin giving you youthful glow.

For doing skin facial at home, you could either buy the fruit facial kit from the market or prepare your own kit at home by using fresh fruits.

Step 1: Cleansing:

Firstly you have to clean up your face to remove the excess oil, grease and dirt. For this you can use a cream based fruit facewash such as Everyuth cream facewash which contains peach, aloe and wild cherry or Lakme fruit facewash (melon, strawberry etc).

After cleansing your face with cool water, pat dry your face using a soft towel.

Step 2: Exfoliation

A good exfoliation helps to get rid of dead cells, sebum and leftover dirt on the face. Depending on your skin type, you can choose the fruit suitable for your skin. Banana and avocado scrub for dry skin, orange or lemon scrub for oily skin, peach and strawberry for sensitive skin.

• Orange scrub:

In 3 teaspoon of fresh orange juice, add 2 teaspoon of oats and form a paste. Scrub gently on your face with circular motions. Wash off after 5 minutes. This is suitable for oily and combination skin.

• Lemon scrub:

Just mix 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, honey and sugar to form a paste. Scrub gently and keep for 5 minutes. This scrub is suitable for all seasons and also reduces blemishes and dark spots.

• Water melon scrub

Mix ¼ cup of fresh watermelon juice with 3 teaspoon of gram flour to form a smooth paste. Scrub and keep for 3 minutes before rinsing with cool water. This scrub is ideal for all skin types as it is hydrating and rejuvenates the skin instantly.

Step 3: Massaging

After proper cleansing and exfoliation, massaging is the next important step. A good massage with a suitable massage cream or gel increases the blood circulation in your facial area which reduces wrinkles and pigmentation, making the skin look young and radiant. It also softens your skin and tones the facial muscles.  It also encourages healthy sebum production which helps to keep your skin cells moisturised.

You can choose from the following massage creams and prepare on your own at home

• Banana cream – mash ripe banana pulp with yoghurt and honey to make a paste and use it to massage on the face.
• Strawberry cream – fresh strawberry pulp mixed with a teaspoon of cream can be used as a massage cream for dry skin.
• Lemon and honey – honey, gram flour and lemon juice is mixed in proportion to get a smooth paste. This massage cream is suitable for oily skin.

Step 4: Fruit pack

Indulge in your favourite fruit pack by using fruits suitable for your skin type. You can use different types of fruits to get rid of your skin troubles. After applying the pack, keep for 15-20 minutes till the pack dries completely. In the mean time, you listen to your favourite music or read magazines. Wash off the pack with cool water to reveal a soft, supple and glowing skin.

The various fruit packs are:

Papaya- lemon pack or Lemon, honey and yoghurt pack or Cucumber, rose water and lemon pack. These face packs are suitable for all skin types and also reduce tan and blemishes.

Multani mitti, cucumber and lemon pack, orange juice, milk and gram flour pack, papaya, multani mitti and honey pack etc are other options to choose from for your fruit pack.

Step 5: Moisturising

The final step of the fruit facial is to moisturise the skin. Use a cream based moisturiser if you have normal to dry skin or use a gel based moisturiser for oily to combination skin. After applying the moisturiser, leave it on the skin for sometime so that the cells can absorb it well.

Use a moisturiser which contains fruits like banana, peach, milk, strawberry, honey or cherry. They hydrate the skin by restoring the natural moisture in the skin thus making it soft and supple.

B. Gold Facial:

The next type of facial which is widely popular is Gold facial. Gold can not only worn as jewellery, but can also improve your skin and body.

Gold been used in the ayurvedic treatment as an anti-ageing treatment by slowing down collagen depletion and reduces sagging of the skin.

Gold helps to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, crow’s feet etc to give a shinning skin. It is believed to have revitalising and rejuvenating properties.

Gold facial helps to remove the toxins and wastes from the skin, removes tan and improves the blood circulation which makes the skin supple.

It enhances the elasticity of the skin cells and accelerates the cell renewable process.

Gold also repairs sun damage, reduce inflammation and reduces the melanin production of the skin.

The main ingredients of the gold facial include 24 carat gold, aloe vera extracts, sandalwood, and wheat germ oil. It is suitable for dry and oily skin types. However one should indulge in gold facial only once a month. You cannot prepare the gold facial at home, hence you need to purchase the kit from the market and do it at home. You can try using VLCC gold kit or Shanaz hussain gold kit for safe and effective results.

Step 1: Cleansing

Cleanse your face with the cleanser provided in the kit. It contains marigold extracts which helps to remove the dead cells and open up the pores. Rub the cleanser for 2 minutes and rinse with warm water.

Step 2: Exfoliation

Scrub you face gently in circular motions with the help of the gold scrub provided in the kit. Take little scrub on your fingers tips and apply on moist face. Scrub for 5 minutes and wash off with warm water.

Step 3: Massaging

You would be provided either with a gold massage cream or gel, depending upon your brand. This cream contains gold dust, saffron and sandalwood powder. Massage all over your face for around 10 minutes on moist skin and rinse off with warm water. This massage helps to increase the blood circulation of the skin, thus making the skin supple.

Step 4: Gold mask

The gold face mask provided in the kit contains gold foil, aloe vera gel, wheat germ oil and turmeric powder. Apply this pack all over the face and keep for 15 minutes. This will help the gold and the other ingredients to penetrate into the skin and thus start its action. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Step 5: Compressions

After the facial, your skin might turn a little red. So cool the skin with the help of the ice cold compressions gently. You can also apply a lavender cream provided in your kit to get a soothing effect on your face.

Before the facial, make sure that you do not have any wounds or cuts, as it will irritate the skin. Always use a good quality facial for no side effects.

C. Pearl Facial:

Pearl facial is also widely popular along with gold and fruit facials. This is suitable for oily skin people. However people with sensitive skin should avoid pearl facial as it contains pearl dust which can cause allergies to some.

• The main ingredient of this facial is pearl dust, which is known to reduce excess oil and sebum.
• Pearl helps to remove tan and brightens the skin. It moisturises and revitalises the skin and also evens the skin tone.
• Pearl cream gives you an instant brightening effect on your face and thus lightens the dark spots, pigmentation and blemishes.
• If used regularly, the pearl facial can also help to keep wrinkles and the other signs of ageing away.

For pearl facial, you need to buy the kit from the market. You can choose either VLCC pearl facial kit or Shanaz hussain pearl kit. However if you want to prepare the kit at home, you require pure pearl powder (which I think is a very rare item due to its unavailability). So I would suggest that you invest in a good pearl facial kit and do it yourself at home.

Step 1: Cleansing

Cleanse your face with any regular facewash which suits your skin. This will get rid of any makeup, oil and dust from your skin.

Step 2: Pearl lotion

You would be provided with a pearl lotion in your kit. Take a few drops of this in you palm and then slowly apply all over your face. Massage for 4-5 m minutes and wash off with cool water. Pat dry your face. This lotion purifies and cleanses your facial skin.

Step 3: Pearl powder

Take a little quantity of the pearl powder provided in the kit, in a bowl. Add a few drops of rose water or milk (if you have normal skin) and form a smooth paste. Apply all over your face and keep for 10 minutes. Slowly massage your face with this pack and finally rinse off with cool water.

Step 4: pearl cream

Now apply the pearl cream all over the face using your finger tips slowly. This will soothe and provide a cooling effect on your skin. The pear; cream contains pearl dust with sandalwood and wheat germ oil. Let your skin absorb the skin and then wipe out with wet cotton.

Step 5: Pearl pack

The pearl pack contains pearl dust, turmeric, sunflower seed extract, grape seed extract and almond oil. This pack evens out the complexion, provides natural glow and gives instant skin brightening results. Mix the pack with a little rose water and apply on the face. Keep for 15 minutes and let it dry.  Rinse off with cool water. Follow up with a soothing lotion.

Pearl facial is not suitable for people with sensitive skin.

always do a patch test before any facial.

I hope you enjoyed reading about the various facials that can be easily done at home. Try them and do let me know.

Till then take care and keep it stylish!

12 Essential Homemade Beauty Tips For Fair Skin

Who doesn’t crave for that perfect Barbie look – long hair, fair skin and a flawless glowing complexion? In this article, I am covering an exhaustive list of beauty tips for fair skin at home. But this isn’t all about just face packs, I have tried to cover foods and other basics that are often ignored.

Before we get to fairness tips, you need to realize that protecting our skin from further damage is of utmost importance. Otherwise all our attempts will be of no use as skin will keep sustaining damage and you will keep wondering why none of the treatments are showing any results! So how can we do this?

Simple Daily Skin Care Necessities:

Our skin needs time and care for it to regenerate and leave behind the old and tired. Without this, improving our skin condition and color is an absolute impossibility. This is why we need to ensure the below basics to make time for the skin to heal itself.

• Drink a lot of water
• Sleep well
• Exercise
• Follow a good skin care routine. Do not skip the exfoliation on a regular basis! For without this we cannot get rid of dead and dry skin. You needn’t always buy a scrub. Homemade scrubs are just as effective! Use oatmeal for an exfoliator instead of a packaged product. There are many options!
• Remove your makeup before you sleep every night. Yes every night without fail no matter how dead tired you are! With makeup on, our skin cannot repair itself.

Homemade Beauty Tips For Fair Skin:

So how to become fair? Now that you have taken good care of your skin, it’s time to pamper yourself. Lather on these lovely face packs and relax as they work their magic. These are some of the oldest and most popular Home made beauty tips for face that our grandmas have passed on to us!

1. Tea water and honey face pack:

I cup of tea water (cooled down)

2 spoons of rice flour

½ a spoon of honey

The rice flour acts as a very good scrub and honey moisturizers the skin. 

Method:

Mix the above ingredients and apply on the skin. Leave it on till the mask dries completely for 20 minutes or more.

Before cleaning the mask with water, make sure you massage the facial skin in circular motions, this is very important as it removes the dead skin and evens the skin tone.

Then wash your face with cold water .This gives you a fairer and even skin tone. 

2. Oats and lemon face pack:

1 TBSP of oats; cooked and mashed (helps reduce inflammation and heals skin)

I TBSP of lemon juice (lemon helps lighten skin tone)

If you have sensitive skin, then you can dilute the lemon juice with water.

Method:

Mix the above ingredients and apply on the face by massaging the skin.

Let it dry for 20 minutes

Wash it and pat dry.

3. Turmeric and lemon face pack:

Gram flour

Turmeric

Lemon juice

Milk 

Method:

Mix all the above ingredients and apply evenly on the face.

Scrub the paste gently on your for 5 minutes and let it dry for 20 minutes.

Once it’s dry, clean your face.

4. Turmeric and tomato face pack:

 

Things you will need:

Turmeric 

Tomato juice

Method:

Mix turmeric with tomato juice

Apply to face and allow to dry

wash face with tepid water.

This is quite a popular pack among women for the simplicity and results!

5. Turmeric Face pack:

An all-time favorite! The results have always been so stunning that this has now become a must ritual for a bride before the wedding day!

Things you will need:

 

Gram flour (Good exfoliator)

Pinch of turmeric (lightens skin tone)

Milk (moisturizer) 

Method:

Mix all the above and apply the mask

Scrub the paste gently on your for 5 minutes and let it dry for 20 minutes.

Once it’s dry, clean your face.

6. Yogurt and dried orange peel:

 

Things you will need:

Dried orange peel

Fresh and unflavored yogurt

Dry the orange peel first under the sun. That is where is pack begins.

Method:

Grind the dried orange peels to powder.

Mix 1 tbsp of it with 1 tbsp fresh and unflavored yogurt to make a paste.

Apply and keep on cleansed skin for 15-20 minutes 

Then rinsed off.

7. Milk, Lemon Juice and Honey:

Things you will need:

Milk

Lemon Juice

Honey

Method:

Use 1 tsp each of milk/milk powder, honey and lemon juice and mix together well.

It should be applied on cleansed skin and left for 15-20 minutes

After which you can rinse it off.

8. Potato:

 

Things you will need:

Potato slice, in pulp or juice form.

Method:

Use slices or paste of potato as a mask or even just the juice on tanned portions of the skin.

This can be applied twice to your skin.

After 15-20 minutes, wash off with plain water.

9. Lemon or orange rind:

Things you will need:

Lemon or orange rind

Raw milk

Method:

Take lemon zest or lemon rind ( the outer skin grated), or even orange zest, dry them out in the sun (do not microwave) and then grind them to powder.

Store in a dry air tight container

Mix it with raw milk and use as pack on affected areas.

Wash off with warm water only.

Immediately use a cool toner after.

Here are some more ayurvedic face packs for fair skin.

10. Healthy Diet:

With daily care and treatments nailed, what we need to monitor next are our eating habits. For without the right nutrients, our skin cannot undo the damage that it sustains on a daily basis!

Here we tell you what you should eat. In other words, a healthy diet for your skin!

 

The right quantities of all the ingredients need to be consumed for the skin to portray health and the fairness to show.

• Eat fruits with Vitamin C for the antioxidants.
• Balance your diet to get the right amount of proteins and unsaturated fats along with vegetables to get the right portions of nutrients for your skin to naturally care for itself.
• We Have some excellent resources to help you with your diet:
• Best Fruits for Glowing Skin
• Best Foods for Glowing Skin
• Yoga Poses for Glowing Skin

Sun Protection and Care:

With all this attended to; there is still one thing you need to keep firmly in mind! Do not step out into the sun without protection! Are you wondering why? How can forgetting one lotion cause so much damage? Don’t ever question the effects of the harsh sun rays and the UV radiation that we are exposed to when you step out of your home. That is why you need to use a sunscreen!

 

• Always apply a sunscreen before stepping out.
• An SPF of at least 30 or more depending on your skin type.
• UV rays darken and damage your skin! So make sure you reapply every four or five hours.
• These are of course not fail proof! But what if you have already spent too much time in the sun, you first need to lose the tan and burns.

11. Homemade Tan removal:

Tans are inevitable! No matter how much sunscreen we lather on…the brutal sun these days finds a way to harm us! There are several ways to remove tan right at your home. Here is an excellent article to remove tan at home.

But here is one of the most famous tan removal packs ever!

Ubtan

This traditional country treatment includes the use of a mixture of besan, turmeric and yogurt. Turmeric removes the blemishes and dark spots. Yogurt clears the excessive tan. And, besan handles the cleansing of your skin. It suits all the skin types and can be done everyday as it is very gentle. The effects are visible quite immediately but removal of tanning needs a couple of days or weeks depending on the intensity of tan.

12. Homemade sun burn cure:

Sun burns well are but natural once you hit a beach for your vacation but that doesn’t mean you need to go back to work looking toasted.

Here is one solution you will definitely love!

Vinegar

Vinegar has antioxidants which fight free radicals and also keeps bacterial and fungal infections away. More than these reasons however, the pH level of your skin is restored effectively with the use of vinegar. Take a clean spray bottle and fill it with some vinegar. Spray it directly on the affected areas and allow it to dry. Normally vinegar dries within 2 to 3 minutes and you can instantly feel the cooling and relaxing sensation on your skin. You can follow the same procedure once in every 5 hours to prevent the burning sensation and cure your sun burn faster.

10 Simple Tricks To Get Glowing Skin In Summer

10 Simple Tricks To Get Glowing Skin In Summer

Summer is here in full glory and now is the perfect time to flaunt beautiful summer dresses and enjoy the delicious seasonal fruits. But summers also require you to pay special attention to the skin as heat, warmth of sun; hot winds cause severe skin damage. Fluctuation in the weather affects the skin badly which makes the skin dull and rough. This harsh weather not only tans the skin but also causes the pores to get clogged because of excessive sweating coupled with grime and dust.

My skin dreads summer as much as you do. During summers, my skin gets scorched and gives an ugly tan which is very difficult to remove. We must pay special attention to the skin and should adapt the skin care routine according to the season. Here is a list of home remedies for glowing skin during summer,healthy and glowing skin this summer.

How to get glowing skin at home in summer:

1. Water Therapy:

Nothing works better than water. Water not only quenches the thirst but also helps to flush out the toxins and waste that accumulate in the body. Treat yourself with fluids like fruit juices, coconut water, green tea, buttermilk or just plain water to decrease the heat level and keep the body cool and hydrated. Green tea is high in antioxidants which help to eliminate dead skin cells and the anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic properties in green tea protects against a variety of skin disorders. Fluids also help to detoxify the skin and keep the skin soft, dewy and clear.

2. Food Intake: 

What you eat shows on your face. Do not consume too much of snacks and salty products as salt can have a dehydrating effect on the body. Include high water content fruits in your diet like watermelon, cucumber, oranges and lettuce which will give you nutrients and anti-oxidants.  Include green vegetables in your diet as they help to improve the immune system and decreases stress level in the body. If you are a hard core non vegetarian, please try to control your meat intake. Meat is difficult to digest and also raised the body temperature, which can result in ugly pimples.

3. Sunscreen:

Always apply a sunscreen which contains high SPF, 30 minutes before stepping out in the sun. Sunscreen not only prevents skin darkening and skin damage but will also protect you from harsh UVA rays that can lead to skin cancer. Reapply the sunscreen every two hour and opt for a waterproof sunscreen. Try to stay indoors during 10 am to 4 pm as the sun rays are harshest during that time and can have adverse effects on the skin.

4. Exfoliate:

The first step to getting a glowing skin is proper exfoliation. Moisturizer alone cannot give a glowing skin unless it is exfoliated regularly. Exfoliation is necessary to remove the dead skin that gets accumulated on the face and other parts of the body. Use an exfoliating sponge or a massager to scrub off the dead skin from the body. You can prepare a homemade scrub by preparing a paste of oatmeal, milk and besan. Gently rub this scrub in circular movements on the entire body for 3 minutes and then rinse off. Repeat this procedure 2 to 3 times a week.

5. Cleansing:

Cleanse your skin thoroughly twice a day with a good quality cleanser.  Go for a cucumber and aloe Vera gel based cleanser if you have acne prone skin. You can prepare natural and effective cleanser at home as well. Plain yogurt mixed with honey makes a good natural cleanser which not just cleanses but also moisturizes the skin. Apply this to your skin and leave it for 10 minutes. Rinse off with plain water.

6. Moisturize:

No matter what the weather is, never forget to moisturize the face and body. Avoid oil based moisturizer and opt for water based moisturizer and massage gently on the skin to get a soft and smooth skin. The best time of day to moisturize the skin is when you are straight out of the shower and the body is still damp.  Always moisturize your skin at night as it makes the skin glow and defends the skin during sleeping hours.

7. Steaming:

You can also give yourself a steam therapy once in a week to open clogged pores and remove all the dirt that has accumulated in the skin. Steaming helps to make the skin clearer and softer and works well for all skin types.

8. Toning:

Toner moisturizes the skin well, balances the pH level, removes dirt, toxins, makeup, gives a clear skin and refreshes the skin. You can make a natural toner yourself by mixing equal amounts of glycerine and rose water. Apply this toner every night and you will notice a reduction in pimples, blackheads and other marks of the skin.

9. Tan:

You can prepare a homemade mask for tan removal. Make a paste of 2 to 3 almonds, 1 teaspoon of lime juice and 2 teaspoons of milk. Leave this pace pack on the face overnight and wash the face with lukewarm water in the morning. This will not only remove tan but will also give you a healthy glowing skin.

Or you can also apply a mixture of honey and lemon juice in equal quantities, apply it on the face and leave it for 20 minutes. This is one of the most effective and simple remedy for tan removal. You can also apply cucumber juice on the face as it will neutralize and soothe the skin and will reduce the effect of harsh sun rays.

Make a paste using a teaspoon of gram flour, teaspoon of milk and a few drops of lime juice. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly apply on the face and leave the face pack for 30 minutes. This face pack will surely bring glow and radiance to the face.

10. Exercise: 

Exercise helps to get rid of the toxins and gives you glowing skin. Do simple workouts or yoga every morning to feel good and stay fresh. If you feel too lazy to work out, walk as much as you can – you will have more energy, lose those extra pounds and will get fresh and healthy skin. Exercise also increases the blood circulation of the body and promotes supply of blood that gives the skin a natural and healthy glow. This is the simplest answer to how to get glowing skin.