Time flies by so quickly! That is exactly what I felt as I was flipping through my old photo albums a few days ago. To a great many of you, photo albums might be a thing of the past. Right? Mobile phones, sorry SMART phones with cameras have long replaced photo albums. Well I am not whining but somewhere the charm and innocence that that era of 90s had where watching photos in family get-togethers was a grand affair itself coupled with a piping hot cup of tea and light banter, is missing today.
Anyway, while going through one such album of mine, I saw my childhood pictures. The first thing that exploded in my mind was to set “some” of those hideous photos to fire but I resisted the temptation for they reminded me of how I can look hideous and pose like a diva back in childhood unlike these days when a minor flaw must be concealed to look picture – perfect!
Oh nostalgia! Finally, I came across one picture of mine which was taken immediately after I recovered from a degenerative bout of what might be the top cause of me locking myself in my room today. Without further ado, let me confess it was ACNE!
Apart from the routine medication and mom’s unstinted efforts to rid me off it, I remember my maternal grandmother’s “gharelu nuskha” (home remedy) to rid me off its scars. And thanks to mom’s and granny’s efforts, I recovered well. So, I thought of penning the same remedy for you all.
Ingredients Needed :
Curd/Yogurt : Curd is rich in lactic acid which softens, moisturizes and calms dry skin. It also sloughs off dead skin if scrubbed well.
Besan/Chickepea Flour : Besan is a staple ingredient in every Indian household. Isn’t it? This multipurpose ingredient not just makes for lip smacking pakoras but also an effective beauty ingredient. It sorts out sallow complexion while exfoliating skin.
Neem/Indian Lilac Leaves : Neem is enriched with anti-microbial, anti- bacterial, and anti- fungal properties thereby making it the “most important” ingredient in this face pack. Grab as many neem leaves as you can, let them dry in sunlight for 5-6 days and then grind them in a dry mixer to extract its powder. It is particularly used for treating acne, pimples and boils.
Sandalwood Powder/Chandan : Sandalwood powder is effective in controlling excessive oil on your face. Even if you do not have oily skin, it helps in cooling down your skin and adding a relaxing aroma to the pack.
Aloevera/Ghritkumari : Another plant which most of us have in our gardens. Right? Aloe vera dealys skin agring and softens it besides eliminating wrinkles.
Rose Water/Gulab Jal : Rose water being an effective toner prevents the entry of germs, grime and other such unwanted ‘guests’ into our skin. Not only does it tone our skin but also adds a tinge of freshness to our parched skin.
Preparation and Usage :
In a clean and dry bowl, add a tbsp of curd and besan flour. Add a tbsp or two of sandalwood powder. Next, add a generous amount of neem powder preferably 2 tbsp. Now add 1 tbsp of cold rose water. I recommend adding cold rose water for soothes skin. Finally add a tbsp of aloe vera juice. Mix them all like a maniac :P Okay don’t mix it like that! Mix well till you achieve a smooth consistent paste. Slather a generous amount of it on your face and neck. Wait for a minimum of 15 minutes. Wash off with cold water.
On my hand:
Results :
Since I do not suffer from acne TODAY, so I cannot show you how the pack works exactly on someone who’s currently suffering from acne but even if you apply it just as a face pack ‘regularly’ (that is, every alternate day), it can impart radiance to your skin. So, the usage of this pack overtime will surely fetch better results.
Precautions/Suggestions :
– Follow up with rubbing an ice cube on your face. Let your face air dry beacuse if you are suffering from acne, rubbing your face with a towel no matter how soft it is, will aggravate the situation.
– Use this pack thrice a week regularly or even a day daily if the situation is grave.
– Please be persistent in the usage of this pack since it is made up of herbal ingredients. So, unless you use it diligently and regularly, it won’t fetch the desired results.
That’s it for now. I hope it helps you in some way. I’ll be back with another post soon. Till then, stay hooked to MABH and stay gorgeous!
Editor’s Note : Don’t forget to read this recipe of face pack using marigold flowers that helps combating acne and dryness (2 in 1). Go here to read homemade face pack recipes to cure patchy complexion.
Hiii nupur
Superb face pack idea…thanks a ton. But is it useful for d under eye dark circles also?
I m suffering from very heavy dark circles around my eyes.can u suggest smthing for dem? Tya…
Except besan everything else suits me. I do not get acne nowadays `but I can use this for brightening my face
@Noorsaba- Thanks a lot for your encouraging words. Since the area under our eyes is very delicate and sensitive, so I’d recommend the following remedies to you:
(1) Keeping a cucumber slice on your eyes for 15-20 minutes daily. You can do this as often as you wish in a day.
(2) Extracting the juice of a potato, drenching a cotton ball into it and then keeping it on and under your eyes.
(3) Massaging almond or olive oil on that area.
The above pack contains besan which may dry out the area under your eyes. Also, curd is acidic in nature so your skin might tingle. That is why I don’t recommend applying it on your dark circles.
@Crazyforcosmetics- Thanks a lot for reading my post. You can substitue multani mitti (called Fuller’s earth in English) which is easily available in kiraana shops and cosmetics stores as a substitute of besan. I hope it works out for you :)
Seems like a useful DIY face pack! :)
@Mariyam- Thanks a lot Mariyam for appreciating it. I hope it proves to be useful to you :)