Ten Beauty Recipes

For the last few columns, we have spoken at length about skin, skin texture, skin essentials, hair, hair texture and hair essentials, so, to break away from this mould and yet not deviate too much I though I’ll write you something lighter, yet extremely insightful this week. Thus, I bring to you 10 beauty ingredients and recipes, which are essential for all who love looking beautiful and like taking care!

Here are some fascinating food recipes for you to try…

1. Eggs: By far, one of the oldest of beauty aids. The white of the egg is used for toning and tightening one’s skin where as the yolk is great at nourishing and enriching it. An age old facemask and my grandmother favorite is egg white mixed with grounded barley and honey. It is great and very useful for all skin types. Egg being multipurpose is great for one’s hair as well, thus the yolk mixed with 2 tablespoon almond oil, dry skimmed milk and a drop of camphor makes for a great hair cleanser. Egg also has conditioning properties as we all know. Beat two eggs in a glass of rum or brandy or olive oil to get your hair shinning.
2. Milk: Another marvelous beauty aid. Half a pint of milk, mixed with one lemon’s juice makes a great night cream. Milk has always been used as a soothing agent, as when there were no creams for sunburns experts would suggest ¼ pint of milk, into which you add a pinch of bicarbonate of soda. Milk is also great for nourishing, so if you have dry skin a mask made of milk and honey mixed with ground almond is very useful, whereas for oily skin a mask made of a spoon of bakers yeast and milk is excellent.
3. Lemon: It would be absolutely right to say that lemon has bleaching and astringent qualities like no other food item. It is good for dry, sensitive and parched skins, but it is extremely good for oily and blemished skin. Add milk and lemon juice to oatmeal to make a mask that will deep cleanse your skin. If you have colored hair apply lemon juice in the final rinsing water and see your hair glow.  Most people have dark grey elbows; use a mixture of 1 teaspoon lemon juice and two tablespoons of rose water to whiten that area like never before.
4. Curd  or Yogurt (Dahi): It surely has many beauty uses. A famous naturopathy recipe is curd and mint mask, this is useful for all skin types. It is easy to make as well, mix one tablespoon of curd with a tablespoon of multani mitti add a teaspoon of crushed mint leaves. Apply 15 minutes and wash off you will see an instant glow. Curd is great for frizzy and unmanageable hair. Massage it through the hair for 3 minutes then rinse it off with lukewarm water. Curd helps in making the skin soft one can apply as it is on the face, hand, legs, whole body it will cool, soften and refresh your skin.
5. Butter Milk (Chaas): It’s a great beautifier; mix one or two tablespoons oatmeal with enough butter milk to make a smooth paste apply on the face it’s a great scrub to exfoliate your skin. For open pores soak a cotton wool pad in butter milk and pat on the face. Leave the milk for about ten minutes and wash of with cold water. To get rid of freckles pat on butter milk and leave to dry.
6. Honey: It is used in many beauty treatments; it is excellent for smoothing the skin and softening lines. Spread it as a film all over the face. Leave it for 15 minutes and remove with cotton wool pads and warm water. Another way is to mix it with other ingredients to make face packs. For dry skin, a honey and egg mask is very useful. Mix to a paste ½ teaspoon honey, one egg yolk and 1 tablespoon milk powder, apply on the face for 20 minutes and rinse off. Whereas for oily skin, mix ½ teaspoon honey with a dessertspoon lemon juice and mix into a paste with multani mitti and rose water.
7. Apples: Its excellent toner for oily skin, use as a face mask, cut a large apple very finely and spread a layer all over your face leave for 15 minutes and wash. If you want to move around while doing this take 1 large tablespoon of apple juice mix it with olive oil, almond oil or rosewater and apply on the face.
8. Almonds: Almond oil is great for dry skin and dry hair. For large pores mix a tablespoon of finely grounded almonds and rose water to make a paste. Rub it on the face for 15minutes and wash it off. For dry hair and dandruff one can apply almond oil half an hour before washing ones hair. To soften dry skin of hands and face add a cup of cold milk to 20gms grounded almonds and strain then add 10 gms  sugar and use the mixture to smoothen face and hands.
9. Avocado: A fruit that is rich in oil, it is again great for all skin types. Eat the fruit first and then rub it all over your body to make your skin subtle and fresh. To make an avocado mask, mash one ripe avocado with a teaspoon of lemon juice and then beat into the white of an egg. Leave for 20 minutes and then rinse off.
10. Barley: Powder barley and mix it with two teaspoon full of lemon juice and milk to make a nourishing face pack. This will improve the circulation of blood and give a deep cleanse. For making a hand and skin cream mix 1 tablespoon honey, white of an egg, 1 teaspoon of glycerin with grounded barley and rub on to the skin.

I call this my top ten beauty ingredients. As you read the column you will notice how each of these ingredients rely on the others to make different packs, masks and products. Keep your homes stored with these items for great skin. Next week, look out for  Ageing skin column, which will be broken into 6 parts dealing with problems of ageing skin.

Tip of the day: Beside food items herbs are great for skin too. One such magical herb is mint or pudina. It is easily available and can be grown in your own backyard.  If added to your bathing water it helps cure skin disorders and revitalizes the bather.