A dash of honey, a pinch of avocado
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Shahnaz Husain
From honey to milk to lemon juice—make your skin glow in winter with these everyday kitchen ingredients
There are many ingredients on your kitchen shelf, which can be used for skin care in winter. In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that one does not need to go to the market to address our skincare needs.
Some commonly found ingredients in our kitchen which are good nourishers of skin during winter are:
Sweet touch
• Honey: It is one of the most powerful natural moisturisers, which actually attracts moisture to the skin. All the properties of honey make it an ideal natural cosmetic ingredient. It suits all skin types and nourishes the skin when externally applied.
If you have dry skin, apply honey daily and wash off with plain water after 20 minutes. For dry skin, you can also mix half a teaspoon honey, one teaspoon rose water and one teaspoon dried milk powder. Mix into a paste and apply on the face. Wash off after 20 minutes.
Juicy details
• Lemon juice: Oily skin also suffers from dryness in winter. For a moisturising lotion for normal to oily skin, take 100 ml rose water, half teaspoon honey and one teaspoon lemon juice. Mix, shake well and keep in a jar in the fridge. Apply on the face and wash off with plain water after 15 minutes.
Milky way
• Milk: It is another kitchen ingredient that is commonly available. It contains proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Ideal for winter care, it helps to relieve dryness, nourish the skin and make it soft. To cleanse normal to dry skin, take half a cup of cold milk and five drops of any vegetable oil, like olive, sesame seed or sunflower oils. Put in a bottle and shake well. Cleanse the skin with it, using cotton wool. Keep left-over mixture in the fridge.
Cream of milk (malai) is also extremely nourishing for the dry skin in winter. It softens the skin and makes it smooth and radiant. It also helps to lighten skin colour over a period of time. It can be added to face masks and body scrubs. Applied on the lips, it helps to soften and lighten the colour of darkened lips.
Balancing act
• Yoghurt: Yogurt also nourishes the skin. It contains lactic acid, which restores the pH balance of the skin. Applied on the skin, it relieves dryness and removes tan. Take two teaspoons of yogurt and add a pinch of turmeric. Mix and apply on the face. Wash off after 20 minutes. Turmeric is a natural antiseptic and has an anti-inflammatory action. It helps to soften the skin and lightens skin colour over a period of time.
Fruitful endeavour
• Avocado: For normal to dry skin, mix together one ripe avocado, with one teaspoon each olive oil, curd and honey. Apply on the face and leave on for 20 to 30 minutes. Wash off. Avocados are extremely beneficial for the skin. They contain vitamins and fatty acids, which nourish the skin and improve skin texture.
Go veg
• Seasonal vegetables: Boil carrots and turnip in water. Cool and mash them into a pulp. Apply the pulp on the face like a pack and wash off with plain water after half an hour. Carrots are rich in Vitamin A, while turnip is a powerful cleanser. They have a soothing effect on the skin, making it soft, smooth and supple.
(Husain is a renowned beauty expert)
