WHITENING COMPLEXION
The herbal way for those of us, who have not been blessed with a fair complexion, here are a few recipes to help to lighten your skin tone.
• A paste made of sandalwood and rose water may be applied daily.
• Turmeric paste combined with sandalwood paste makes skin noticeably fairer.
• Cucumber juice is considered to be an excellent whitener.
• Coconut milk combined with equal quantities of cucumber juice may be applied as often as possible.
• Gently massage coconut water all over the face and neck to lighten skin tone.
• Almonds ground to a paste using rose water or milk are said to make your skin fair.
• Make a paste using red sandalwood and rose water. This preparation not only whitens your complexion but also helps fade scars and blemishes on the skin’s surface.
COMPLEXION SPARKLERS
• Combine equal quantities of salt and baby oil. Rub gently to slough away rough, dull skin.
• Boil neem leaves in water and go to sleep before using it as a face wash.
• Use a cotton pad to apply undiluted orange juice all over the face and neck.
• A beneficial substitute for hard water is soft water. Use it for a sparkling complexion.
• Splash the face with icy cold water to which powdered nutmeg has been added.
EFFECTIVE METHODS FOR REMOVING
BLACK AND WHITEHEADS
• Rub your face gently with pears, soap and table salt. This helps to dislodge whiteheads. Rinse off with cold water.
• Use camphor crystals in hot water used for a steam facial.
• Cleanse your face with raw milk. Gently rub with a friction glove dipped in milk to remove white and blackheads.
• Apply a paste of Fuller’s earth and rose water on the face. When dry, rub with a friction glove to dislodge impurities.
• A solution made of one and a half cups of hot water and half a tbsp. Boric powder is an ideal concoction for blackheads. Saturate a face napkin in this hot solution and press on to the face. Repeat. Extract blackheads with a blackhead remover and sterilize cotton wool.
• Rub oatmeal paste (made with a bit of water) on the face. Allow to dry for 15 minutes before washing off with cold water.
• After facial steam, apply warm honey on the affected parts. Rinse off after 15 minutes.
GENTLE ASTRINGENTS
• Combine equal vinegar and water to get an effective astringent.
• Tomato juice rubbed over your face makes another marvellous astringent off your kitchen shelf.
• Saturate cotton wool in pure lemon juice and apply it as an astringent.
• Mash a small peach and add four drops of pure lemon juice and four drops of tomato juice to make an astringent lotion.
• Grind spinach to extract the juice and use it as an astringent for all skin types, especially normal skin.