The season of merriment is knocking at our doors. The year has now rolled onto the season of fluffy, heated blankets, mittens, hot chocolate, bonfire, gingerbread latte, picnics, Christmas cakes, snuggles, sun baths, and lots of warmth. As the cool wintry breeze cuts through your face, you instantly get a sense of joy in your heart, but you also ought to ensure your skin is not dull and dry and is always moisturised and glowing. Worry not, we spoke to some experts to get a list of ingredients that are a must in your skincare regimen this season.
Honey: If you are suffering from dry skin, honey will be your best friend in this season of parched skin. Due to the cool breeze cutting across your face and layers of clothing, the skin is stripped of its moisture and requires immediate attention. Rich in fructose and glucose, honey is known to be a great humectant. Keep your skin moisturised and hydrated with honey. Packed with antioxidants and other essential components known to provide several beauty benefits, honey is a natural moisturiser and natural exfoliator too, rich in anti-bacterial and skin-brightening properties. The enzymes present in honey also make this amber nectar a great source of hydration in the deeper layers of the skin. Honey is known for its acne and scar healing properties, reducing skin inflammation apart from blessing one with glowing and radiant skin. Honey-infused homemade face packs would be your best companion this season. For beginners, simply apply raw honey to your face and neck every night before going to bed. Leave it on for 15 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water. This can go with your regular winter skincare routine. Applying honey, especially raw honey, to your skin will be doubly beneficial when it is mixed with tomato for a holistic skin rejuvenation with a natural glow. Experts say these two natural ingredients create magic together. Using your fingertips, gently rub this mixture in a circular motion on your face and neck and wash off in 15 minutes. This can be repeated thrice a week to get rid of blemishes. For exfoliation, you can mix honey and sugar and softly apply it to your face and neck using your fingertips in a circular motion. Remove the pack after 10 minutes with lukewarm water. Say hello to radiant, plump, baby-soft skin as you shed off dead skin cells. A face pack of plain yoghurt and honey will also help dry skin. This can be used thrice a week, along with your daily skincare routine.
Coconut oil: Combat chapped lips with coconut oil. Studies suggest coconut oil works as an emollient, which helps enhance the natural skin barrier, apart from its moisturising effects. Simply dab coconut oil on your lips using your fingers and leave it on. You can repeat this two to three times a day, to keep your lips nourished. Aloe vera can also be used to treat chapped lips. As much as you can buy aloe vera lip balm from the market, extracting aloe vera directly from the plant would feel more natural for your lips. You can apply it in a similar manner as you use coconut oil. Aloe vera can be used as an aftershave, too, for a naturally shiny, silky skin.
Yoghurt and turmeric: As we all know, turmeric has been used traditionally in Indian cooking for its antibacterial properties. Natural turmeric paste can make your skin glow when combined with yoghurt. It can act as a natural exfoliator and skin brightener, this dry season. Turmeric and sandalwood combined also make a great face pack.
Oats and milk: The benefits of using the oats-milk combo are immense. We all know oatmeal is one of the healthiest breakfasts in the world coupled with milk. But very few are aware of the multiple skin benefits they can render together. Mix these two into a pack and apply on your face and neck to reduce dryness, tan and freckles from your skin. It also helps with the overall moisturisation of the skin. This combination acts as a natural skin cleanser and the proteins and the lipids in oatmeal keep the skin glowing and healthy.
Bananas: Bananas are a good source of potassium, Vitamin C and Vitamin B6. Do you know they have great skin health benefits too? You can simply rub banana peel on your face to naturally brighten your skin and remove acne, scars and wrinkles. Before rubbing the banana peel, make sure to wash your face and pat it dry. You can rub it for 10 minutes and then wait for another 10 minutes before washing off your face with water. You can also slice a whole banana into pieces and mix a few chunks and the banana peel and use it as a mask in your face and neck. Let it on for five10 minutes and rinse your face with lukewarm water.
Suffering from strawberry legs? Turn to this home remedy to curb this frustrating skin condition that all too often lands us in an embarrassing situation. You can prepare a sugar and aloe vera scrub or cucumber and rosewater scrub to soften hair follicles, open up pores and remove the dead cells