The market is replete with skin care products and if I add up the hours I have walked the skin care aisles in supermarkets, I’d be slapping my forehead silly. Now this was before Amazon and Myntra and Nykaa and before imported brands became commonplace and accessible to everyone and yet home brewed options weren’t being explored actively.
There came a time when I had every single brand and product there is and just could not find the right combination for my skin. If the face wash was good, the moisturiser just didn’t cut it. And of course if the moisturiser was perfect I needed to use more of it to counteract the dryness the face wash caused. I could not sustain the trial and error and it was costing me a LOT of money. With a new baby and expenses mounting I did not have the financial bandwidth to experiment any more.
So I decided to go back to my roots and dump all of the products I was so used to. As Indians, we have a treasure trove of skin care options in our kitchens and we sometimes overlook it because we feel they might not be as good as the gorgeously packaged and marketed product lines.
Here’s what I tried.
1. Salt and turmeric scrub with honey
Wash your face thoroughly with water to the point of it being soaking wet. Luke warm water is fine. Take a teaspoon of salt, a pinch of turmeric and a teaspoon of honey in your wet palm and rub your palms together. Now scrub your face very very gently, like you would with a face scrub. A gentler touch is also fine, till you get used to the abrasiveness of the salt. I found that the honey clings to the skin and creates a barrier between the salt and your skin. Do not use only salt and turmeric, as that might lead to redness and skin irritation. Scrub well and wash with cold or cool water. Dry your face and enjoy supple smooth skin that will not need a moisturiser after.
Photo by Art Rachen on Unsplash
TIP
Bump up or reduce the amount of salt and honey you’ll need depending on your comfort level. If your skin feels dry after you try this for the first time, increase the amount of honey you use. But do not increase the amount of turmeric, as it may leave a yellow hue on your skin.
You must know
Avoid if you have acne, as the salt could be very abrasive on it. This is not a one time quick fix for better skin. You will need to do this regularly for at least 15 days before you see any results.
2. Besan, milk and turmeric
This has been used for generations in Indian homes and one remedy we are most familiar with. A tablespoon of besan or chickpea flour, two tablespoons of milk to make a thick paste and a pinch of turmeric. You can replace the milk with curd if you’d like. Add a bit of honey for moisturising purposes. Apply the besan, milk/curd, turmeric and honey into your unwashed face. Focus on the upper lip, and under the lower lip where the skin tends to be a bit darker. If the paste is too runny, you won’t be able to use it effectively. Make sure it’s thick. You could leave it on if you have some time on your hands. If you don’t have time to let it rest, using it like a face wash will still get you results. Wash it off thoroughly and pat dry.
Photo by Prchi Palwe on Unsplash
TIP
Adding honey to the paste gives you that extra glow, but if you do that, you won’t be able to use the paste like a mask, as the honey will start to make your face sweat and it’ll drip. If you use it like a mask it could make your face a bit dry, so when you want to wash the mask off your face, take a little honey in one palm. Use the other hand to splash some water on your face. Rub the honey between your palms and continue washing your face with both hands. This will ensure moisturization and your face won’t feel sticky with the honey, because it will have mixed with the paste.
You need to know
Use about three times a week for best results. Using it everyday could cause some irritation, with the direct application of dairy if you aren’t use to it. To be on the safe side, do a patch test before you try this.
3. Olive oil and sugar
This one’s a bit tricky and messy, but it’s totally worth it. Adding a few drops of lemon juice to the mix can do wonders for your skin as well. Scrub gently if you’re using the coarse sugar that we generally use in the kitchen. Use luke warm water to wash off the mix, as the cold water might not be able to wash off the oil effectively.
Image by master1305 on Freepik
TIP
Use an olive oil that you’re accustomed to. Don’t experiment with something new.
You need to know
Don’t add lemon to this home brewed face wash if you have acne or cuts or have just done your eyebrows and upper lips.
Home brewed face cleansers need consistency and patience. These will not give you immediate results and they certainly won’t change your skin overnight. Give it time. Give your skin time and the care it needs.