The Answer to Beautiful Skin is Found in Nature
Beautiful, glowing skin is something we see advertisements promise very often. We also see them in celebrities and think that’s something they are born with or paid for at a fancy parlour. Partially true. Today, as we progress as a society, we are also falling back on things and healthy habits of the past that we had abandoned at some point. Organic food over processed food for one.
We only need to look up to our grandparents to uncover the little secrets to solving various irritants. Pimples, rashes, black spots or getting glowing skin. These are what we call home remedies. More aptly put as dadi-ke-nuske. These simple remedies often rely on things that were found or grown around the house, hence easily accessible and natural. Like turmeric, papaya and cucumber. The good bit is, that homeopathy uses these very ingredients, at least most of them. We all know that while the shelves are filled with skin and beauty products, nothing beats the goodness of nature or dadi-ke-nuske.
Here is a brief compilation of some that I managed while conversing with my dadi. BTW, on a side note, her naturally ageing skin looks beautiful and someday, I’ll share her picture.
Here is a list of ingredients for glowing skin, how they are beneficial and how one can use them.
Turmeric
Rich in curcumin and antioxidants. Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory agent and helps to get rid of puffiness. Along with anti-oxidants, it rejuvenates the skin making it glow.
How To apply.
Grind the turmeric into fine powder. Take a teaspoon of it and mix it with a cup of gram flour (chickpea flour). Add milk/water and a few drops of rose water. Mix all till it becomes a smooth paste. Apply this paste to your face and leave it to dry. Then, rinse with cool water. Not only will your face get an instant glow, but it also works as an excellent coolant. I have tried to myself.
Honey
Honey is one of those things that are there in most households. But that’s it. The bottle just lies there, unsure of its purpose. Let’s give it one.
Honey moisturises and keeps the skin well-hydrated. It’s also anti-bacterial. So, infections acne, keep off. Another important I picked from the internet. Honey has bleaching properties and helps in fading of the pigmentation and scars.
How To Use?
Apply it directly on your face. Or add a few drops of rosewater to dilute and apply. Massage is well to allow the skin to absorb it. If you have acne, add a dash of lemon to the concoction. Later, wash it off with lukewarm water.
Olive Oil
An antioxidant for the skin. Prevents early ageing of the skin. It’s not only great for the skin but also gives it a shiny glow.
How To Apply
Take a few drops of olive oil and apply them all over your face. Massage with a gentle upward stroke for about two to three minutes. Then dip a towel in warm water, squeeze off the excess water and place it on your face for about a minute. Towel dry your face.
Orange Juice
Rich in Vitamin C. A glassful of orange juice daily helps to clean the complexion. It also helps control acne.
How To Use
Squeeze a few oranges and add a pinch of salt and some black pepper to this freshly made juice. Alternatively, you can also take a few pieces of orange peel and grind it with a few drops of rose water to make a smooth paste. Apply this paste all over your face and rise after 15 minutes with cool water.
Besan
You must have tried it before. Or seen your parents apply a paste of Besan. It’s for a good reason. Besan or gram flour acts as a natural exfoliator and helps in removing dead skin cells.
How To Apply
Mix Besan with water or milk. Apply the paste on your face on any part of the skin. Let it dry and wash off after an hour or so.
Aloe Vera
An ingredient common in homeopathy, Aloe Vera is rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Aloe Vera keeps skin glowing and soft.
How To Use
Gently scrape out aloe gel from the leaves and apply it to your skin. Leave it for 10 to 15 minutes. Then rinse your skin with cool water and pat dry.
Banana
Bananas are rich in potassium and Vitamins A and B. They hydrate and moisturize our skin. They also have powerful anti-ageing effects.
How To Use
Mash a banana, apply to your skin and leave for 15 to 20 minutes. Then wash with lukewarm water. You can also make a facemask. Use 1 ripe banana, 1 tsp honey and a few drops of lemon juice.
Papaya
Papaya has papain. It’s good for your liver, which in turn makes your skin look healthy. Papaya also acts as a gentle exfoliator and helps in removing inactive protein cells and dead skin cells.
How To Use
Make a paste and apply it to the skin. Eating papaya is as good for the skin.
Almonds
Almonds are rich in Vitamin E and antioxidants. Regular massage with almond oil keeps our skin glowing and healthy. It moisturizes our skin and helps in reducing stretch marks and dark circles.
How To Use
Crush soaked almonds in milk and blend well to form a paste. Apply on the skin and leave for 10 to 15 minutes. Then wash with cold water and pat dry.
Yoghurt
Yoghurt moisturizes our skin and reduces wrinkles and fine lines. It also helps in reducing tan and dark circles. It’s also great for sunburns.
How To Use
Apply it directly on the skin using cotton, leave for 10 to 15 minutes and then wash with cold water. Yoghurt can also be used on our skin as a face pack. Lemon, oats, honey, etc. can be added to yoghurt to make face packs.
Eating right
The right diet goes a long way in giving you glowing skin.
- Eat four portions of fruits and veggies daily
- Eat food rich in Vitamin C such as papayas, oranges, kiwi, strawberries, broccoli, guava and blueberries.
- Avoid crash diets. It sags skin, and brings wrinkles and stretch marks.
- Get Vitamin E into your diet. Avocados, hazel nuts, pine nuts and almonds are rich in E.
- Consume omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acid-enriched foods such as fish, chia seeds and walnuts.
- Eat more phytoestrogens which you can find in tofu and soya.
To sum it up, a holistic approach works better than picking one new thing from a shelf. Our grandparents know that. Homoeopathy follows that line of treatment. You just need to choose wisely.