The most important physical aspect of our body-it looks back at you looking dry, or oily or listless or the way you make it i.e.: glowing and radiant
Start by giving yourself 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes at bedtime.

The weekends can be used for longer treatments.
Lets start with the cleansing routine.

Take 1 tbsp of un-boiled milk, dip a small pad of cotton wool in this and rub on the face gently. Use circular movements, use upward strokes on the neck area. Leave this on for 15 minutes. Wash with cold water.

OR

Take a thick slice of cucumber. Don't peel the slice, rub in a circular motion all over the face and neck areas. Wash after 15 minutes.

OR

Halve a tomato, gently rub over face and neck and wash after 15 minutes.

OR

Take the half of a lime peel, from which the juice has been extracted, rub this firmly on the face and the neck..

Using a Scrub-(once in 3-4 days)

After washing off the milk or juice - take a tsp of oat bran or wheat husk or gram flour (besan). Make a paste with a few drops of water and rub the face and neck gently with this. This sloughs away the dead cells and gives the face a glow. Don't use soap, just splash on cold water that will act as an astringent and close the pores.

Or

Use green gram powder or rice flour mixed with curds instead.

Oily Skin: If the face is oily,

After a bath as a base for make-up use some diluted limejuice to dab on before application of foundation or any other make-up.

OR

Diluted buttermilk dabbed on the face and left for 15 minutes, gently wipe with moist cotton wool before applying make-up.

OR

Rub the face well with an ice cube.

OR

Slice an Apple into thin slices. Place these on the face and leave for 15 minutes. These soak up the extra oil and helps to close pores.

Should use scrubs to remove the dry scaly skin.

Apply ½ tsp of Vitamin E oil with 2-3 drops of lime juice and ½ tsp of glycerine.

OR

Apply a mixture of 1 tsp warm Olive oil with a few drops of glycerine and 2-3 drops of lime juice.

OR

1 tsp of milk cream with2-3 drops of lime juice mixed well. This should be applied 10 minutes before a bath. It reduces the dryness and also is good when applied in Winter.

OR

Plain, whole milk, applied and left on for 10 minutes and washed with cold water helps.
This should be done twice a day.

The masks mentioned below are very good to lighten the skin tone and add a glow to the complexion. They must be followed for the specified time and inculcated as a daily routine.

Soak 4 almonds overnight. Make a very fine paste with them, using milk to grind them.
Apply this paste on the neck and face before going to bed. Wash with cold water in the morning. Repeat daily for 15 days, followed by twice a week.

OR

Take 1 tbsp of gram flour and 2 tsp of raw milk and 2-3 drops of lime juice. Mix well and apply. Wash after 15 minutes. Repeat for 4 weeks and follow up with once a week.

OR

Grind a cup of mint leaves to a fine paste. Apply and leave for 20 minutes. Wash. Continue for 15 days.

OR

Grate a tomato. Add 2-3 drops of lime juice. Apply and wash after 20 minutes. Do this morning and evening for 15 - 20 days. Apply well on the neck area also.

Or

Diluted Vinegar
Potato juice with 2-3 drops of lime juice.
Cucumber juice with 2-3 drops of lime juice.
Diluted lime juice.

The skin gets a tan due to long periods of exposure to sunlight especially in Winter when the sun's rays are more direct. Any of the treatments given below should be done regularly for a week at least.

Wash the face and arms well. Mash some ripe strawberries and apply as a paste. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes.

OR

Powder the kernel of a walnut and mix the powder with1 tbsp of milk. Apply and leave for 20 minutes.

OR
Honey 1 tsp with a few drops of vinegar applied for ½ an hour.

OR

Soya beans flour 1 tbsp with 1 tbsp of milk applied for ½ an hour.

OR

Apply grated tomato pulp mixed with cucumber juice. 1 tbsp each. Wash after 20 minutes.

Wrinkles generally are due to age, Stress and dry skin. You should always keep the areas around the eyes mouth and nose and also the neck well cared for and moisturized.

Take 1 tbsp of cold milk and add 3-4 drops of lime juice. Rub this paste well into the wrinkles before going to sleep. The next morning wash with warm water and dry with a rough towel firmly. Once again rub in the cream - in the direction opposite to the wrinkles. Wait for ½ an hour and wash, avoid using soap.

OR

Rub the pulp of a ripe Papaya on the face and leave for ½ an hour before washing.
This is a very good toner also.

OR

Rub almond oil on the wrinkles in upward strokes. Leave overnight and wash with warm water next morning.

OR

Cut open a Vitamin -E capsule, add ½ tsp of glycerine and apply. Wash after 15- 20 minutes.

OR

Add ½ tsp honey to 1 tsp rice powder. Smoothen the lines with this paste. Leave for ½ an hour and wash.

OR

Mix 1 tsp honey with 1 tsp of milk cream. Apply well. Wash after 20 minutes.

Note: Treatment for wrinkles should be done everyday for a period of 30 - 40 days to have visible results.

Usually blackheads are the result of oily skin and blocked pores. After a warm bath the face should be splashed with cold water.

IN a pan add 5-6 cups of water and add the juice of 1 lime. Remove from heat when the water boils. Place on a table and covering the head with a large towel, steam the face. Rub the blackheads firmly with a face towel after 10 minutes of steaming. Wash the face with chilled water to close the pores.

OR

Boil 3-4 cups of water and add 2 tsp soda bicarbonate to this. Steam a towel with this and place the towel on the face. Repeat 5-6 times. Now rub the face in the area of the blackheads with a paste of 1 tsp curd mixed with 1 tsp of rice flour. Wash with cold water.

OR

Rub a pinch of table salt mixed with a pinch of the soft soggy portion of a glycerine soap. (Pears) Rub well into the blackheads. Repeat for a week.

OR

Take 1 tsp of fresh coriander leaf juice with ½ tsp of turmeric powder. Apply this at bed time and wash in the morning. Repeat for a week.

OR

Take 1 tsp lime juice mixed with 1 tsp of finely powdered cinnamon. Apply at bed time and wash in the morning.

Sometimes due to illness or some form of allergy you develop some dark patches on the face. You need some gentle help to get rid of them.

Rub in some coconut oil before going to bed. Wash well in the morning. Repeat for 15 days.

OR

Watermelon juice applied and gently massaged on the blemished area. Left on for 15 minutes will definitely help.

Tender coconut water dabbed on blemishes and left for ½ an hour. Repeat for 15 days.

OR

Carrot juice applied for 15 minutes for 15 days will clear the blemished skin.

Apply buttermilk daily for 20 minutes for about 20-25 days.

OR

Radish juice applied daily for 20 minutes for 20-25 days.

OR

Potato, Tomato or Cucumber juice will help.

Any vegetable or fruit that has an astringent quality will help smoothen uneven skin texture and reduce open pores.

Tomato juice to which a few drops of lime juice has been added. Apply on open pores for 20 minutes. Wash with cold water.

The juice or pulp of Pineapple and Peaches and Papaya are very good. Always wash your face with cold water after steaming. In humid weather wash the face 2-3 times with cold water. If you have powdered orange peel, use this in place of soap.

The cause for pimples are many and not only adolescence as popularly believed. Chronic constipation is one major cause, the food we eat plays a very important role. You will have to cut down the fried food, chocolates, cheese and aerated drinks. Eat a lot of fresh fruits and green vegetables with a lot of water.

Instead of washing the face with soap, use orange peel powder. Dry Orange peels in the shade for 4-5 days. Powder finely and store. Wash your face with this 2-3 times a day. It clears the face and feels very refreshing. Smells too good.