Skin Care

Skin Care

In today's highly toxic world, all too often, we find
ourselves getting adversely affected in small ways. Chemical pollution ravages
us in various manners. Our skin especially, seems to pay the biggest of
prices, as it constantly exposed to all elements. A little self-medication at
home will prevent many a visit to the doctor, the dermatologist and the
medical store.



Our kitchens house a multitude of ingredients which, when used well, help undo
the damages and tend to our skin with a gentle nurturing effect. Such regular
care will help combat small but irritating problems and leave our skin healthy
and rejuvenated.



Probably the toxins in the air that settle on our skin do the worst damage.
These need to be cleansed out daily. Since the days of Queen Cleopatra, milk
has been acknowledged as the best of skin cleansers. Dip some cotton into some
warm milk and apply it on your face with gentle upward strokes. Your skin will
get clean and supple in no time at all.



Sometimes too much oil not only produces a dark gleam but also opens up skin
pores. This results in pimples, acne and other skin disruptions. Rubbing a
slice of cold lime on our skin will help close the pores and do away with
various skin problems. A paste of neem, tulasi (basil) and turmeric, applied
over the affected areas regularly, gently cures skin problems. It leaves your
skin smooth and glowing.



Lime however should not be used on faces with dry skin. Lime will only make it
dry further. This would leave the skin unhealthy and prone to rapid ageing.



Dead cells can be scrubbed off with a tight mixture of flour and milk. Just
remember that all strokes should run upward and outward. Downward strokes on
facial skin will only hasten the ageing process and would defeat the purpose
altogether.



Dermatologists around the world frown on bleaches being used on skin. They
believe that it does more harm than good in the long run. But milk and honey
mixed in minuscule amounts and applied on the skin would serve the purpose
just as well and win your doctor's approval as well.

Fruit is healthy not only when consumed internally,
but also when mashed and applied to the face. Papaya, banana and avocado work
wonders as they provide our skin with all the necessary vitamins and moisture.
Just peel and mash the fruit and mix it with a bit of milk. Apply on face and
wash off after half an hour. The improvement is immediately visible.



Long hours in the sun, incessant pollution and age will tend to tell on the
skin. To prevent rapid ageing and degeneration of the facial muscles, the
following remedy may be able to prove effective. Egg white, half a teaspoon of
honey and a pinch of flour should be mixed to a smooth paste. Keep on for
fifteen minutes. Wash off with warm water and towel dry gently. Repeat process
twice a month. This helps to rejuvenate our skin and keep it healthy for a
longer time.



A homemade technique can be used to make the skin all over your body well
hydrated and supple. Professionally done, it could be very expensive. But done
at home, it proves to be economical. Take a few overripe bananas, one glass of
milk and a cup of very rich cream. Put into blender and whip it well together.
Apply evenly all over our body. Wrap your hands, legs and torso tightly with
plastic or cellophane paper. Lie down and relax on a old bed sheet for an
hour. It can be washed off with gentle scrubbing. The texture of your body
will be softer and well moisturized. It rejuvenates the skin.



Your feet support your entire weight for most of the day. It is important you
take good care of them and rest them every now and then. But most of us don't
pay too much attention to them. Now is the time to start. Soak your hands/feet
for 30 minutes in warm water with a little shampoo poured in it. If you have
neglected feet, add a few drops of coconut oil. Dry feet and scrub gently with
a pumice stone. Don't try to remove all cracks at one sitting. Wash your feet
and dry again. Rub in warm mustard oil into the cracks. After twenty minutes
you can wear an old pair of socks and move around normally.



Some feet are cramped into shoes all day and are prone to sweating, smelling
and fungal growth. In such cases, substitute the coconut with a few slices of
lime. After soaking for a while, you can even scrub your feet with the lime.
Pay special attention to the space between and under your toes. It is
advisable to wash such feet often and go barefoot whenever possible.



It is a well-accepted fact, especially in the eastern countries, that homemade
remedies are just as effective as skin care products. And what's more, they
are easier on the purse too.