By Mdhil
If you’re concerned about the chemicals in your beauty products, then this is a must read!
A recent report by the World Health Organisation issued a warning against many skin-lightening products that have mercury as an ingredient. Mercury, a popular ingredient in such cosmetics, the WHO warned, can cause health hazards ranging from kidney damage to skin rashes.
Commercially produced products are typically loaded with chemicals, and many unfairly withhold full information about what goes into their creams and shampoos. If you’re concerned about it, why not make your own beauty products at home. They are cheap, trustworthy and easy to make.
Easy-to-make beauty products
Homemade antiperspirants
BAKING POWDER
Add a teaspoon of water (enough to get it wet) to a teaspoon of baking soda. Put this in a bottle and store in refrigerator, and it will last you for a week. Before use, if required add a few drops of water and apply underarms. You’ll find that it acts as an effective antiperspirant agent, and keeps foul body odour away. Alternatively, you could also dust off baking like powder.
However, the flipside to using baking soda is that you can’t use it if you’re wearing a sleeveless shirt or dress, as it is likely to leave a white residue.
ROSEWATER
Pour some rosewater onto a cotton wool and apply underarms. This one works wonders to keep you sweat free and also lets out a mellow fragrance. Try it today!
Natural skincare
Homemade facial cleanser
HONEY+LIME
Brighten your skin naturally with this. Mix four teaspoons of honey and a teaspoon of lime juice. Pour this mixture into an airtight jar and store in the refrigerator. Pour some onto your palm and apply evenly onto your face, arms or any other part of your body you want to brighten. Leave for 10 minutes and wash off with warm water. This also works as a good facial cleanser.
GRAM FLOUR
Say goodbye to that expensive face-wash. Mix a teaspoon of gram flour and a teaspoon of milk or curd. Apply on face, rub gently and wash off with warm water. Voila, soft, clean skin is yours.
Home-made face scrub
GREEN-GRAM POWDER
Dry roast four teaspoons of green-gram dal and coarsely grind it in a mixer grinder. Store in jar. Before use, add a few drops of milk and lime and use as a facial scrub. This one gently exfoliates your skin, removing dirt, grime and dead cells. Use it twice a week before going to bed. Follow it up with one of our do-it-yourself facemasks (Coming up soon).
OATMEAL
Coarsely grind oatmeal, mix milk and honey and use it to exfoliate your skin. This works well for dry, damaged skin. Try it today!
Face mask
EGG WHITE
Egg white works wonders on your skin. It helps tighten pores and improves skin elasticity. Separate the egg white from the yolk. Evenly apply the white of the egg on your face, and wash off after 10 minutes or as you feel your skin tighten.
MULTANI MITTI
Why spend hundreds of rupees on a purifying clay mask when the age-old Indian clay powder, multani mitti, will just cost you Rs 30 or less, and is as natural as it gets. If you have oily skin, mix multani mitti and rosewater to a paste-like consistency and prepare a mask. If you have dry skin, use milk or curd.
BANANA+HONEY+LIME
Hydrate your skin with this mask. Mash half a banana, a teaspoon of honey and a few drops of lime. Apply on face, leave for 10-15 minutes and wash off.
Say goodbye to pimples, naturally!
GARLIC
Take one clove of garlic. Slice it and apply the juice on your pimple. Let it dry and wash it off after half an hour. This works well in case of an occasional pimple or two. It is likely to cause mild irritation.
NEEM LEAVES+TURMERIC
Wash and grind a cup of neem leaves with a few teaspoons of water, and add a pinch of turmeric. Store this in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Once a week, evenly apply the paste onto your face and wash it off the next morning. Neem and turmeric both have antibacterial properties, and also help control oil secretion.
SANDALWOOD PASTE
You can either get yourself a sandalwood stick or powder. Use rosewater to make a paste and apply a thin coat on your face. Leave it on overnight and rinse with warm water. Sandalwood too is known to have antibacterial properties. It also regulates oil secretion.
Hair care
Homemade shampoo
EGG+LIME+OLIVE OIL+SHIKAKAI
Make your own shampoo with these ingredients: 1 whole egg, 1 tsp. of olive oil/coconut oil/almond oil, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 3 teaspoons of soapnut (shikakai) powder, ½ cup green tea. Put all the ingredients in a mixie and blend well. Pour the mixture into an air-tight container and store in refrigerator. This will last you for a month.
GREEN TEA+HONEY+BAKING SODA
Take 1 cup of green tea, add a teaspoon of honey and baking soda. Baking soda helps scrub away all the dirt and grime in your hair. Honey and green tea will condition it to give you long lustrous locks.
Homemade lip-balm
ALOE VERA+VITAMIN-E OIL
While home-grown aloe vera would be ideal, you could also buy aloe vera gel off the shelf. Take 2 teaspoons of aloe vera gel, and ½ a teaspoon of vitamin-E oil (buy a strip of vitamin-E capsules from a nearby pharmacy). Mix it well with a spoon and pour into a clean container. Use this to keep your lips hydrated.
Homemade lip colour
BEETROOT
Well, all you’ll get is shades of red. Finely grind half a beetroot and pour into a container and refrigerate it. If you want bright red, apply it as it is. If not, pour some onto your palm and dilute it with a few drops of water. Before you leave, apply an even coat onto your lips using a cotton bud. Top it up with a coat of Vaseline. This will give your lips added colour naturally.
Homemade lip gloss
HONEY
This one is super simple. After applying a tint of colour, coat your lips with honey. Honey adds instant shine and gloss to your lips. However, ensure you don’t lick it.
Homemade hair mask
EGG WHITE
Egg white can nourish your hair and give it shine and vitality. Use an egg beater and mix 2 egg whites. Apply onto your hair and scalp, and leave it on for a couple of hours. Rinse it off in cold water and shampoo your hair as usual.
CURD+LIME
Mix the juice of half lime in a cup of curd. Apply it evenly onto your hair, using a brush. Leave it in for an hour, and rinse with a mild shampoo.
Home remedies for shiny, soft hair
LEFTOVER BEER
Have some left over beer? Flat beer makes for an excellent hair conditioner. Leave an open bottle of beer for a day. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo and follow it up with that beer for a final rinse. The result: soft, shiny hair!
LEMON
Add the juice of one lime in a mug of water and use it for your last rinse.
Please exercise precaution while using any these home remedies. Avoid using any of these products if you’re allergic to it.
Source:
No comments:
Post a Comment