5 Beauty Essentials from your Kitchen
Potato
— zap dark circles!
If you’re one of those night birds who stay awake till late, this humble vegetable will prove of valuable help. Two slices of raw potato kept on each eye while you lie flat and rest a bit is a good aid to get rid of dark circles. The enzymes and the astringent properties in these vegetables help reduce inflammation and help tighten the skin. This remedy will also help get rid of wrinkles and dark circles around your eyes. Of course, if you can shut down those screens and get better sleep, that would of course be best!
PAPAYA
— AHA for a glow!
The commonly eaten-for-breakfast papaya is a rich source of AHA (alpha hydroxy acids) and beta carotene, which help to give your skin a shining finish. Just keep aside one or two cubes of papaya from your breakfast bowl; mash the cube in your palm and apply the coarse paste on your face and neck. Wash off after 5 minutes.
Sugar
— a natural scrub that won’t dry out your skin
Take 2 teaspoons of the oil you use for cooking, add a teaspoonful of honey to it and then add 3 spoonfuls of your regular white sugar. Mix well. Now scrub your face with this gently, keep on for a few minutes and wash off with cold water. Voila! You’re done!
BESAN
— chickpea flour makes a great face wash!
Almost everyone’s kitchen has chickpea flour or besan as it is commonly called in India. Use it as a face wash regularly. If you have dry skin, mix it in milk or curd and if you have oily or normal skin, mix it in rose water. The paste is then used to clean the face. Over regular use, it helps decrease whiteheads and blackheads.
MILK CREAM
— a great moisturiser and cleanser
Milk cream — that layer that forms after milk is boiled is valued in India as a great cleanser-cum-moisturiser. Rub it all over your face and scrub gently. Keep it on till it dries and then wash off with chickpea flour and rose water. There, now look into the mirror. Smile!
