When in doubt, I turn to my grandma. For centuries, hand-me-down remedies for glowing, healthy skin have rescued us from our countless skincare woes. Everything from drinking methi paani in the morning for voluminous hair to scrubbing my face with besan and dahi, I’ve become more accustomed to natural solutions. I’ve logged here some of the most caring and nourishing remedies from my grandma’s diary. Read on to glow like never before!
1. Turmeric and saffron
Let’s start with the classics. We all know about both these ultimate wonder ingredients, and most of us have used them in our skincare. Turmeric fights free radicals, helps revive dull skin and brings out your best glow, while saffron gently exfoliates the skin and improves blood circulation too. Both put together are superheroes for glowing skin, especially in winters.
How to use: Whip up a simple concoction of turmeric powder and saffron with milk to create a paste. Use it as a face pack for about 20 minutes and rinse off! Or you can invest in a nice moisturising formula like Mamaearth Ubtan Ultra Light Gel Oil-free Moisturizer With Turmeric & Saffron, AuraVedic Skin Lightening Oil with Saffron Turmeric Winter Cherry, Joy Revivify Ubtan Face Wash with Saffron Turmeric & Sandalwood
2. Honey and lemon
We’ve had them in our teas and other soothing beverages often, but my grandma would set aside half a lemon and some honey every now and then for me to use on my face. I researched a bit and they’re actually the perfect combination. Honey hydrates your skin and nourishes it to become stronger, while lemon is enriched with vitamin C and naturally brightens it.
How to use: Churn some honey and lemon juice together for a quick and easy mask. You can also add some almond oil to the mix when you need some extra nourishment. If this is all too much, try something like Nykaa Skin Secrets Lemon + Honey Sheet Mask, The Body Care Lemon Honey Face Pack, Vaadi Herbals Pure Honey Lemon Face Wash With Jojoba Beads
3. Baking soda scrub
This one, I genuinely didn’t know about. My mind has always connected baking soda with either cake or cleaning silver. I never knew how great an exfoliator it is. It removes oil and sebum from your pores, making it a fabulous solution for people who have stubborn blackheads. It also acts as a natural bleach on dark spots or pigmentation.
How to use: Just dampen your face and neck and pat some baking soda on and start gently massaging into your skin. Use it as you would use a scrub and wash with lukewarm water when you’re done. Don’t forget to moisturise after. You can also use Lotus Botanicals Natural Baking Soda Deep Cleansing Face Wash, Lotus Botanicals Natural Baking Soda Deep Cleansing Face Scrub
4. Used tea bags
Why throw away something that you can reuse for something as important as dark circles or dull skin? After making tea every morning, my grandma would pack up the residue tea leaves (chai patti) into small linen pouches and use them as eye bags to get rid of dark circles. Not only are they great for puffy eyes and pigmentation, but they actually work as protectors against pollution and UV rays too!
How to use: Other than using soaked tea bags for your eyes and under eyes, you can also use tea liquor as the binding agent to your face packs and ubtans. And the best part: you can find various tea-infused products too if you’d like to go the OTC route. Try Plum Chamomile & White Tea Sheer Matte Day Cream, The Body Shop Japanese Matcha Tea Pollution Clearing Mask, MCaffeine Naked Detox Green Tea Face Serum
5. Papaya
Hail the fruit that heals just about everything. Papayas! Talk about helping with heart diseases, cholesterol imbalances, diabetes problems or improving eyesight, and nourishing and brightening your skin. Papayas have rejuvenating properties that allow your skin to look fuller and vibrant. It even helps avoid breakouts and early ageing signs.
How to use: Just mash some pieces of papaya and apply. It’s easy, handy and works instantly. You can use it at room temperature or cool to your preference. To make it even more effective, add a teaspoon of honey. Or instead, you can opt for llana Brightening Skin Serum Papaya + Lemon, Khadi Natural Ayurvedic Papaya Soap, VLCC Papaya & Apricot Face Scrub Skin Defence
6. Carrots and ginger
The ultimate herbal skin healer, carrots can work like magic for clear, even-toned, naturally glowing skin. Loaded with vitamin A and beta-carotene, this snackable vegetable can plump up your skin, reduce acne and fights against sun damage. Add ginger to the mix for an extra boost of radiance. Ginger is enriched with curcumin, the same nourishing agent found in turmeric that enhances your skin.
How to use: Whiz one carrot and a few pieces of ginger in a mixer till it’s a paste. Add honey and voila, you have a super-pack for an instant glow. You can also try some carrot and ginger infused products like Aroma Magic Carrot Sunscreen Lotion, Biotique Bio Carrot Ultra Soothing Face Lotion, Bath & Body Works Orange Ginger Body Cream
7. Orange peel
What smells great, brightens your skin, deeply cleanses it and gets rid of dark spots and dark circles? Orange peel is packed with the goodness of vitamin C and natural AHAs that clears up your skin and give it a stunning, golden glow. I still remember my mother saving orange peels after breakfast and crushing them into a paste to be used as a pre-shower face cleanser!
How to use: Tear up some fresh peels, some honey and saffron into a mixer and blend them into a paste. Place the paste into an ice cube tray and freeze. Every little cube can be used as a tiny soap-like cleanser. Or you can use Nature's Tattva Herbal Orange Peel Powder, Jovees Orange Peel & Honey Exfoliating Daily Use Soap, Everyuth Naturals Glow Orange Peel Off Mask
