I have over 25 years of experience in the beauty business and throughout this time span I have seen that most women and men are confused about their skin type. As such they aren’t sure about what products to buy or what ingredients would suit them. Whenever I ask them about their skin type, the most common answers are “ummm” and “ahhh”, which of course show how ignorant they are when it comes to their own skin.Before I get on to any skincare treatments or home remedies, I would like to say that the most essential part of skincare is cleansing. Whatever skin type you may have, you need to thoroughly and regularly clean your skin to let it breathe. The more you neglect this basic skincare technique, the more problems you will face, losing radiance and glow. If you have some inhibitions in using commercial products, head to your kitchen and make use of natural, everyday ingredients. They are nature’s best gift for skincare.
Here are seven natural cleansers that can make your skin smooth and radiant –
1. Yoghurt
Yogurt is excellent when you have oily to combination skin. Just 2 teaspoon can be massaged daily at the end of the day and washed off. This will clean as well as prevent your skin from damage.
2. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of my favourites when it comes to using natural ingredients for skincare. There’s nothing quite as simple and incredible as rubbing cold tomato halves onto the skin. Not only do they clean your skin but also help tackle open pores, making the skin look supple and tightened.
3. Fuller’s Earth or Multani Mitti
If you have an oily skin, you can very easily clean your skin with a paste made of fuller’s earth, which is a natural clay that has been used since time immemorial to cleanse and clarify the skin. Ayurveda also emphasizes on the benefits of fuller’s earth for skincare.
Take 2 teaspoon of this clay and add a pinch of powdered camphor to it and mix with water. Massage onto wet skin and wash off.
4. Papaya
If you have combination skin, I think mashed papaya mixed with oatmeal and a little milk can work wonders. Scrub the mixture all over the face and neck and wash off. This will not only cleanse the skin (papaya has powerful cleansing enzymes) but also help in reducing tan, dark patches and add natural alpha hyroxy acids to the skin.
5. Strawberries
One of my all-time favourites for oily to combination skin is mashed strawberries. I have a soft corner for this fruit not only because it’s delicious and you can always lick some off your face but because I associate my childhood years in England with it, where it is found in abundance. Strawberries contain natural enzymes which are extremely good for the skin.
Just mash three to four strawberries and rub into the skin and leave on for 5 minutes before washing off. Not only will it help soften the skin but also make it look brighter and give an external dose of Vitamin C.
6. Lemon and Orange Peel
If you have dry skin and require cleaning make-up or dirt and grime from your pores, make the following mixture – 10 teaspoon almond oil, 10 teaspoon olive oil and juice of half a lemon. Store this in a bottle.
To use, take a teaspoon at a time and add to powdered orange peel and rub gently into the skin, including the area around the eyes. Doing so will dislodge dirt and grime and gently exfoliate the skin too.
7. Gram Flour
Last but not the least, gram flour has been a popular cleanser for most skin types all over India since ancient times. Mix this with yogurt and massage into the skin. It is excellent for oily and combination skins and if you mix it with milk and massage, it helps in cleansing and improving dry skin.
Whatever your choice of natural ingredients may be, use them wisely and with the right combinations to create the magic to make your skin smile and be cleansed naturally.
