Shampoos
1. Coconut Milk Shampoo: Take 1/4 cup coconut milk, 1/3 cup Liquid Castille Soap (can be bought online), 1/2 teaspoon of Vitamin E oil, 20 drops of Essential Oils of choice. Combine all ingredients in an old shampoo bottle or jar of some kind and shake well so that all the ingredients can be mixed well. You can store this mixture in the refrigerator for about a month. People with normal hair types can use rosemary, chamomile or lavender essential oils whereas chamomile and jojoba works great for dry hair types.
Note: For dry hair: add 1/2 tsp olive or almond oil too in this mixture
2. Honey Shampoo: Take 1/4 cup honey, 2 tablespoons mild shampoo of your choice, 2 tablespoons water, 1 tablespoon witch hazel, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon almond oil and 1 tablespoon rosewater. Put all the ingredients in a bottle and shake well. Massage into your hair and your scalp well and then rinse out with warm, not hot water. Keep the leftovers in the refrigerator and use the next time you shampoo. This recipe is especially suited for people with oily hair and scalp.
3. Dried herbs Shampoo: Boil 2 cups distilled or spring water and keep it aside for 15-20 minutes. Now take 10 tablespoons dried herbs of your choice (rosemary and sage are a good choice for dark hair while lavender and nettle can be used for any hair type) and put them in a cup of boiling water. Cover and allow the mixture to steep for 30 minutes undisturbed. Strain the liquid from the pan into a medium sized mixing bowl and add half cup of liquid castile soap, 10 to 20 drops essential oil and 1 teaspoon jojoba oil. Stir vigorously and pour the contents in a plastic bottle. Store the shampoo in the refrigerator and use approximately one tablespoon per application, and shake well before each use.
4. Egg Shampoo: Put 1 egg, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon mild unscented shampoo and 1/2 cup water in a blender and blend until you get a smooth and runny liquid. Put this liquid in an old shampoo bottle and store in the refrigerator for multiple use.
5. Jojoba oil shampoo for dry hair: Take 1 tbsp mild shampoo, /2 tsp glycerin 1/2 tsp jojoba oil, 1/2 tsp melted coconut oil and 1/4 cup distilled water. Swirl all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl and store in air-tight container. This shampoo will not lather as much as commercial ones but it will clean your hair nicely.
6. Baking Soda Clarifying Shampoo: Mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 3 cups water (this will make enough for several washings). Store in a plastic or glass container. You can also make it one serving at a time. Mix 1 Tablespoon of baking soda with 1 cup of warm water. Shake well each time you want to use this natural clarifying shampoo. Apply to your scalp and scrub it gently.
Conditioners
1. Banana Hair Conditioner: Take 1 large overripe banana, 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 2 tbsp pure vegetable glycerin and 2 tbsp honey. Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend until you get a smooth paste. Apply this conditioner on your hair and let sit for 30-45 minutes under a shower cap. Rinse thoroughly with tap water and then wash off with a mild shampoo. This conditioner improves the manageability of hair and gives you the moisturizing benefits.
2. Honey Conditioner: Take half cup honey, one and half cups water, half cup organic coconut milk and 1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil. Blend the ingredients thoroughly in a food processor or blender so that all the ingredients are mixed well. Now, slightly heat this mixture in a saucepan (the mixture should be able to be handled without burning your fingers). Apply to hair from root to tip and then cover with a plastic cap. Rinse off with lukewarm water and then shampoo and condition as usual.
3. Hydrating Conditioner: Take 1 medium banana, 1 egg, 1/2 avocado, 2 tbsp honey, 3 tbsp buttermilk and 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil. Put all the ingredients in a blender to get a smooth consistency. Apply this mask from roots to tips and leave it on for about half an hour and then wash out with a moisturizing shampoo. Slather your hair in this rich conditioner to bring back its lost lustre.
4. Yogurt and Mayonnaise Conditioner Take 1 egg white, 1/4 cup plain organic yogurt and 1/4 cup mayonnaise. Beat egg white until frothy and then mix in yogurt and mayonnaise. Massage this mixture into wet hair and then cover your hair with a shower cap. Leave it on for about 30 minutes and then wash out with a mild shampoo. Use it as a monthly deep conditioning treatment to get silky and manageable hair.
5. Avocado Deep Conditioner Take 1/2 ripe avocado, 1/2 tsp olive oil and 3 drops lavender or rosemary essential oil. Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend well so that no lumps remain. Apply this paste on your hair, focusing on the ends. Leave on for at least 10 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water and then wash out with a moisturizing shampoo.
6. Protein Deep Conditioner Take 1 egg, half cup apple cider vinegar,1 cup plain unflavored yogurt and 5 drops of your favourite essence oil (a scented one such as jasmine or lavender would make a difference to the scent of this concoction). Mix all the ingredients well in a bowl and then apply to wet hair. Leave it on for half an hour before washing your hair off with a mild shampoo. This mild moisturizing protein treatment will do wonders for hair especially if you want to increase the volume of the hair.
Homemade Hair Oils:
1. Homemade Coconut Hair Oil:
Things needed:
1 litre of pure coconut oil.
50 gm of fenugreek seeds, coarsely grounded.
50 gm of amla fruit, chopped (Indian Gooseberry).
50 gm of aloe vera gel.
50 gm of green curry leaves.
50 gm of sesame seeds.
50 gm of black pepper, coarsely grounded.
Take the pan and pour around ¼ th of the coconut oil into it and let it get heated for some time. Put the sesame seeds and let them crackle for some time. Now, add the green curry leaves and stir the mixture. Keep the flame on low for this. Now, add the chopped amla and aloe vera gel and mix the contents well.Let it simmer, now, add the coarsely grounded fenugreek seeds and black pepper corns. Mix well and let it heat for some time on low flame made.
After 15 minutes or when the ingredients start turning black, mix the remaining oil in the pan and heat on low flame for about 1 hour. This will help the oil absorb all the goodness of the ingredients. Cool, strain, store and use!
2. Nourishing Amla & Methi Hair Oil:
One table-spoon dried amla (gooseberry) power or pieces.
• Half tablespoon methi (fenugreek) powder.
• One cup coconut oil.
• A bowl to heat the mixture.
• A strainer.
Take one tablespoon of dried amla pieces and half a tablespoon of methi powder. You can increase the quantity as required keeping it in the ratio 2:1, i.e., for two tablespoons of amla powder, take half the amount of methi powder. Mix two tablespoons of coconut oil and pour these three things in a bowl, which you can put over the gas oven. Then, add one cup coconut oil to this mixture. (You can also use any other hair oil of your choice).Heat the mixture on a low flame. When you see the fumes coming out and the amla mixture has turned brown, bring it down from the heat. (Don’t let the mixture turn black). Cool, strain, store and use!
3. Amla / Indian Gooseberry oil:
Grate the required quantity of amla with the help of a grater. Squeeze the now grated amla to extract all the juice out of it. The juice and the coconut oil should be mixed with the oil in 1:2 ratio. Then put coconut oil of your choice into it in appropriate proportion, you may add olive oil in this step but make sure oil constitutes half of the amla juice. Now boil the mixture over low flame. You’ll notice it starts to boil, let it boil and keep it over the flame for about 10-15 minutes. Itll have alight yellowish tint. Cool,strain, store and use!
4. Homemade Hair Regrowth Oil:
Almond Oil (80 ml),Coconut Oil(80 ml), Castor Oil(25 ml) Vitamin E capsules(5), Lavender oil (5 ml),
Stimulate oil (10 ml)- For a quantity of 200 ml.
The most three widely known carrier oils mainly Almond Oil ,Coconut Oil, Castor Oil should be mixed with each other.Add Lavender oil dropwise.Add Stimulate oil dropwise.Slit open 5 Vitamin E capsules and pour it in the above mixture, shake it well and store in a cool dark place.Use every alternate day massage your scalp and hair before going to bed for 15 minutes.
Hair Dyes
Homemade Products for Eyes
Eye Masks
Potato and Cucumber Eye Mask For Dark Circles: Grate half a potato which has been peeled. Grate in half a cucumber into it. Squeeze them hard in a bid to extract juice out of the grated cucumber and potato. Dip in round cotton pads so that they soak in the juice nicely. Keep in the refrigerator for 10 minutes and place the cotton rounds on the eyes and relax.
Homemade Bath and Shower Products
Homemade Bath Jellies:
Add hot water little by little into readily available agar agar (two packets) (or gelatin) to dissolve it completely. Add a shower gel (3 to 4 tablespoons) of your choice into the mixture and then add olive oil (1 tablespoon) and stir properly. You can add permitted food color into this. Let this mixture chill in the refrigerator overnight to set. Once set, cut into favourite shapes and use. Store in the refrigerator.
Homemade Handcare Products
Homemade Hand Care Products:
Scrubs
1. Walnut & Rose Water Scrub:Take some soaked walnuts and grind them. Add rose water to the ground walnuts, 2 to 3 spoons should be enough, Scrub your hands by rubbing the walnut-rosewater mixture. Use hand-washing movements. Rinse off with plain water.
2. Milk Cream & Sugar Scrub: To make this scrub, add two spoon of milk cream in 2 spoon of sugar, mix them well. Your scrub is ready, apply it on your hand and rub both hands for few minutes. With light pressure rub the scrub in circular motion till all the cream is absorbed in skin and only sugar is left. Now wash hands with tap water.
3. Powdered Oats Scrub: You can make a mild scrub at home by grinding 1 cup of uncooked oats into fine powder. Gently massage your hands with this powder to remove dead skin cells. Apply a thin layer of hand cream after rinsing your hands.
4. Sugar & Fresh Lime Scrub: Mix together some granulated sugar and fresh lime juice. Apply this paste onto the hands and allow the mixture to work on the skin for a minute or so. Rinse your hands and pat your hands dry. Apply a good hand cream after doing so.
5. Brown sugar hand exfoliant: Mix two spoons of brown sugar with a spoon of baby oil. If baby oil is not available, you can use virgin olive oil instead. Use this mixture to rub your hands in washing motion. Do this for 1 minute and then, wash off with lukewarm water.
Soaks
1. Soda Bicarbonate Hand Soak: Add some soda bicarbonate in a bowl of warm water. Soak your hands in the water for 10 minutes. Rinse hands thoroughly, and apply petroleum jelly or any hand cream. This method is very effective in softening the skin as well as reducing the itching.
2. Herbal Hand Soak: Bring half a pan of water to boil and add 1 tbsp each of chamomile, nettle, sage, coltsfoot, calendula. You can buy these in dried form from a herbal or beauty store. Cool the infusion a little. When it is still warm, soak your hands in it for about 20 mins. Dry your hands with a soft towel and apply a rich moisturizer.
3. Castor-Olive oil hand lotion/ soak: Mix castor oil and olive oil in equal quantities. The mixture should now be warmed a bit. Add a dash of lemon juice. It is best taken in adequate quantity in a bowl, where you can soak your hands for about 20 minutes. Massage your hands as you soak them. It helps to boost blood circulation and naturally, you get soft glowing hands.
Softeners & Moisturizers
1. Milk & Honey Moisturizer: Take 2 spoons of milk. Add a spoon of honey. Add a spoon of olive oil and mix the ingredients properly. Take the mixture in small batches and apply on your hands like you apply body lotion. Reapply and massage well. Repeat this process over and over again till the mixture is used up.Rinse!
2. Lime-tomato hand softener: Mix lime juice and tomato juice in equal quantities. Add a spoon of glycerin. Massage the concoction on your hands for five minutes. Rinse with trepid water. If your hand feels rough, this treatment will surely soothe the skin
3. Olive Oil: Every night before going to bed, massage the dried skin of hands with olive oil. The active ingredients of olive oil will retain the lost moisture, and it will also prevent the growth of microbes in the cracks.
4. Glycerin-Rosewater hand nourishing lotion: Mix two spoons of rose water with a spoon of glycerin. Apply it on your hands and massage whenever your hand feels dry. This can be done as often as you want.
Hand Masks
1. Weekly Dry Skin Hand Mask: Mix 1 tbsp Glycerin, 1 egg yolk, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1tbsp almond oil, lemon juice of 1 lemon, 100 ml herbal infusion, 20 ml rose water. Apply on clean freshly exfoliated hands. Rinse after 25 minutes. Follow with moisturizer
2. Mayonnaise & Baby Oil: Mix 2 tbsp of mayonnaise and a tsp of baby oil. Apply this on dry cracked hands and leave it for 20 minutes
3. Egg Yolk: Beat the egg yolk and apply it on the hands. Leave it for 30 minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water.
4. Honey, Turmeric and Milk Cream Moisturizer: Add the one spoon full of honey and pinch of turmeric in the remaining milk cream and mix them well. Now apply this mixture on your hands and let it rest for 8-10 minutes. After that, wash your hands with your favorite moisturizing hand wash, as just washing with water won’t remove the greasiness. After drying your hand, apply some hand lotion/cream and you are done!
5. Honey-olive oil hand mask: Mix honey and olive oil in equal quantities and apply it on your hands. Leave on for about 30 minutes and rinse. You may also choose to wear cotton gloves while using this hand mask. It makes your hand feel soft and nourished.
6. Honey-banana hand moisturizing mask: If you suffer from excessively dry and coarse hands. Mix pureed banana, pure honey, lemon juice and butter in equal quantities. Apply the mask on your hands and leave it on for 15 minutes. Rinse off. If you think your hand still feels dry, you can repeat the procedure.
7. Mashed Potatoes Mask: Half cup mashed potatoes with half cup milk is an excellent hand mask.
8. Egg Shell Mask: When cooking eggs for breakfast, don’t throw away the eggshells. Scrape out the remaining egg white and spread over your hands. Wash off after 10 minutes.
9. Tomato & Cucumber Juice Hand Mask: Rub your hands with a cotton ball dipped in 1 tsp tomato juice+1tsp cucumber juice to give the skin a more even tone.
Homemade Footcare Products
Homemade Footcare Products for Cracks
1. Vaseline & Lime Juice Mix: If you have cracks, follow up with a cream formulated especially for that. You can also use Vaseline mixed with lime juice, wrap with plastic for 15 minutes. Wear loose cotton socks and tuck yourself in. Voila!! Happy Gorgeous Feet!
2. Almond & olive oil: Massage with Almond oil and olive oil (1tsp each) with 10-12 drops of your favorite essential oil also makes a good home made massage oil for feet. Rub a generous portion into your feet and massage well, better still if you can get someone else to do the massage for you.
3. Sesame oil: Massage your heels with sesame oil before going to bed. This is supposedly the best remedy for cracked heels.
4. Glycerin & Rose Water: Mix glycerin and rosewater together and apply in on the heels daily. This soothes and cures cracked heels real quick.
5. Lemon Juice & papaya: Make a mixture of lemon juice and papaya; apply it on the cracked heels. Let it be there for 20 minutes at least. Wash off after 20 minutes..
6. Ripe Banana: Take a super ripe banana, which has almost turned black, and you are about to throw in the dustbin. Mash it, and apply in on the affected areas. Let it be there for 15 minutes at least. Wash off after 15 minutes.
7. Turmeric, Tulsi & Camphor: Mix turmeric, tulsi and camphor in equal parts along with aloe vera gel and apply the paste on the heels. Just plain aloe vera gel is great for cracked heels.
Soaks
1. Epson salt & lemon soak: Soak your feet in Epsom salt ½ cup, Lemon juice from one lemon,and 10 drops of essential oil of your choice. Sit in a comfortable position, soak your feet and relax for 15-20 minutes. Dry them with a towel.
2. Lemon soak: Take 1/4th bucket of water and squeeze one lemon in it, soak your feet in this and wash it with pumice stone and soap. Do this twice a week.
3. Peppermint oil & Neem leaves soak: If your wet feet have tendency to cause odour, mix 5ml of peppermint oil in a tub of lukewarm water with handful of neem leaves and soak your feet for 10 minutes. Dry and spray talcum powder on it. This will help in reducing the perspiration plus relieve you from odour-causing bacteria.
4. Cinnamon, lemon, milk, & Olive oil soak: Take one cup lemon juice, Two tablespoons olive oil, 1/4 cup of milk, Cinnamon for fragrance, Water (temperature and amount are not important).Mix all ingredients in a tub or your foot bath container. You can substitute any spice, perfume or flower petals for the cinnamon. Soak for a while. Wash with a mild soap. Repeat for a few weeks to achieve silky, smooth feet.
Scrubs and Exfoliation
1. Avocado/ Banana/ Strawberry + Suagr/ Coarse ground almonds/ Coarse salts Scrub: You may use a fruit base, say mashed avocado or strawberry or banana; and then, add some grain-like material like sugar, ground almonds or coarse salts. As add ons, you may like to add a few drops of essential oil or honey!
2. Oil + salt scrub:
Scrub your feet every other day with a homemade foot scrub made from 4 tablespoons of salt mixed with ½ cup of baby oil, almond oil, or coconut oil. When you use an oil-based foot scrub make sure that you lightly rinse your feet with warm water and not wash them with soap, because then you will remove the hydrating effects of oil.
Raw salt scrub:
3. Mix raw salt (khada namak) in Luke warm water, and scrub your heels sin it as you soak it. Natural Pedicure for your feet, and this will exfoliate your feet too
Masks
1. Oatmeal Mask: This can be easily made at home! For instance, for a nourishing oatmeal foot mask recipe, you would need some ground rolled oats, flour, a spoon of honey and a few drops of almond oil.
2. Cucumber, cream & lemon juice mask: For a cool foot mask, you can use grated cucumber, sour cream and lemon juice..
Moisturizers
1. Almond oil: Almond oil is very good for your skin. Applying it regularly to your feet after bath will get you a smooth result.
2. Coconut oil: Virgin coconut oil can be used as a deep moisturizing treatment on your feet. Coconut oil contains medium chain fatty acids, including lauric acid, which concurrently heal skin and kill fungus. All you need to do is lather this magical oil onto clean, dry feet and then cover them with cotton socks. Let the oil penetrate overnight. Wash it off thoroughly in the morning.
3. Milk Wash: Try washing your feet with milk. Yep, milk! Get that carton out from your fridge. Milk contains lactic acid which can help exfoliate the skin and make it feel softer. Take about one cup for each foot, pour and rub all over, and pat dry with a towel.
4. Banana Foot Cream: Take one banana, 4 tablespoons of honey, 3 tablespoons of lemon juice,2 tablespoons of margarine/butter/mayonnaise, 1/2 tbsp of aloe vera. Blend ingredients well. Rub the mixture on your hands and wear gloves (even socks on your hands if you don’t have gloves) to bed.Rinse in the morning.
Tan Removal
Lemon juice, curd, wheat flour: If your feet are dark than the rest of the leg, mix lemon juice, curd, wheat flour and make like paste and apply, and remove after 5 minutes.
Sweaty Feet
1. Tea foot baths: Brewed tea has tannins that help in shrinking the sweat glands and acts as astringent. Put a few tea bags in a glass of boiling water and then, pour it in a tub of cool water. Soak your feet in it for half-an-hour! Sage tea is considered to be one of the best options for preparing tea foot soak as this soak can produce very good results. Your feet might look a little tanned after you get your feet out of the tea bath.
2. Vinegar foot baths: Add a cup of vinegar to lukewarm water. Soak your feet in it for half-an-hour. Do not rinse with lain water. Just towel dry the feet. Vinegar helps to fight foul smell effectively; no bacteria, no odour! Whether you use apple cidar vinegar or white vinegar, both are good.
3. Salt water foot bath: Make a soak with the help of water and salts (preferably Epsom salts) and soak your feet in it. Just make sure you don’t have any open sores, injuries or cuts on foot, else it is going to be painful.
4. Ginger: Crush some ginger and apply it on your foot to eliminate bacteria and prevent smelly feet. The toxins are made to sweat out and you would reap better results if you can keep the ginger for a long time.
5. Baking soda: You can dust some baking soda on your feet to avoid sweaty feet.
6. Radish: Extract out some radish juice, enough to make a footbath. Soak your feet to control foot sweat.
7. Onion: Rubbing onion juice between infected toes helps to cure a foot infection faster.
Homemade Detox Treatments
Homemade Detox Drinks:
1. Watermelon and Mint Detox Drinks: Cut the watermelon into small cubes without the rind, de-seed them, and put them all in a jug. Cut one whole lime into four pieces and add into the jar. Throw in a bunch of mint leaves and fill up the jar with one liter of water. Keep this overnight in the fridge and drink the entire quantity the next day in intervals. You can throw in a few ice cubes when you are drinking it.
2. Cucumber and Mint Detox Drink: Cut the cucumber into round slices and put all of the pieces into a jug. Cut one whole lime into four pieces and add into the jar. Throw in a bunch of mint leaves and fill up the jar with one liter of water. Keep this overnight (you can keep it in the fridge) and drink the entire quantity the next day in intervals. You can throw in a few ice cubes when you are drinking it.
3. Green Tea and Tangerine Detox Drink: Cut the tangerine into slices and de-seed them if you want. Drop these into a jug containing 8 glasses of brewed green tea. Throw in a bunch of mint leaves and leave it overnight. Consume it the next day. This detox drink aids in weight loss also.
4. Green tea in itself is a well-known detox drink. You can consume it throughout to get its anti-oxidant benefits.
5. Another best and easily available detox agent is pure water. Drink at least 8 to 12 glasses of water to flush out toxins from your body.
Detox Diet:
1. Lemon water when consumed every morning alkalizes the body and helps the body detox and burn fat.
2. Green leafy vegetables boost chlorophyll levels in the digestive tract and help the body get rid of environmental toxins. Cabbage for instance has great liver cleansing properties.
3. Mung Bean/Green Gram Soup Recipe: Wash 400 mg of mung beans (whole green or split green) and soak them overnight or for 6 hours at least. Heat olive oil in a pan and add a teaspoon of turmeric powder and 2 pinches of asafoetida (hing in Hindi). Saute and add the soaked beans, water, and some ginger. For one part of mung beans, add 4 parts of water. Cook for 30 minute and add water if necessary. Keep aside once the beans are soft. Heat a bit of olive oil in a pan, add 3 chopped pods of garlic, half a chopped onion, and saute until a little brown. Add in 2 tablespoons of finely chopped ginger. Add in a teaspoon each of cumin seeds, coriander seeds, cardamom seeds, black pepper, black cumin seeds, and continue to saute for 5 minutes. Add in some rock salt and pour in the earlier cooked mung bean soup into this. Serve the soup with a good squeeze of lime juice and some fresh coriander leaves.
4. Mung Bean Khichdi: Wash 1 cup of mung dal (split or whole green and which has been soaked overnight) and 1 cup of basmati rice separately. Heat a little olive oil or sunflower oil in a pan and saute mustard seeds, 2 bay leaves, half a teaspoon each of cumin seeds, fennel (saunf in Hindi) seeds, mustard seeds, coriander powder, turmeric powder, and half a teaspoon of freshly grated ginger. Add a pinch of salt and two pinches of asafoetida. Add the soaked mung dal and rice and saute for 2 minutes. Add 6 cups of water and let it simmer for 30 minutes. Slice carrots and beans into small pieces, add peas and other vegetables you like and mix them into the pan. Add water if you want and cook for another 20 minutes or until fully cooked. There must be a little water remaining in the pan because its a khicdhi. Consume with a good squeeze of lemon.
Homemade Whitening Treatment
1. Homemade Pineapple and Coconut Milk Whitening Face Pack: Mix 1 cup fresh pineapple pulp and 1 cup of coconut milk in a bowl. Dip sterile cotton balls in the bowl till all mixture is soaked up. Place the cotton balls on the face for 20 minutes or till they dry. Wash face with warm water and pat dry. Do this at least two times a week.
2. Homemade Lemon and Yogurt Skin Whitening Face Pack: Mix a tablespoon of fresh yogurt, honey, and lemon juice. Apply the pack evenly on face and neck. Leave on for 15 minutes and wash off with warm water.
3. Homemade Sandalwood and Tomato Skin Whitening Face Pack: Mix one tablespoon of sandalwood powder with a fresh squeeze of lemon and tomato juice. Make into a consistent and apply on face and neck. Leave on for 15 minutes and wash off with warm water and pat dry.
4. Homemade Orange Juice and Yogurt Skin Whitening Face Pack: Mix one tablespoon of freshly-squeezed orange juice and one tablespoon of yogurt together in a bowl. Apply on the face and neck using fingertips, avoid eye area. Leave for 20 minutes and wash off with warm water. Do this for 30 days regularly for best results.
5. Homemade Saffron and Yogurt Skin Whitening Face Pack: Soak 10 strands of saffron (kesar) in 2 tablespoons of curd/yogurt overnight. The mixture will turn a deep yellow or red in the morning. Mix properly and add 1 tablespoon of besan (chickpea flour). Mix well and apply the face pack and keep for 20 minutes or till semi dry. Wash off to get bright skin.
6. Kasturi Manjal (curcuma aromatic or Ambi Haldi) Skin Whitening Face Pack: People with dry skin can mix 1 tablespoon of kasturi manjal with 2 tablespoons of milk cream and apply on the face and neck and allow it to dry and then wash off. People with oily skin can mix the 1 tablespoon of kasturi manjal with 1 tablespoon of honey and mix well. Keep it on for 20 minutes and wash off.
7. Homemade Ambi Haldi (Kasturi Manjal) and Rice Powder Skin Whitening Face Pack: Mix 1 tablespoon of rice flour (rice powder) and 1 tablespoon of Ambi Haldi in a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of milk cream into it. Add 1 tablespoon of green tea to it. Lastly, add 1 tablespoon of honey and mix well. Apply on the face and neck and let it dry. Rinse with warm water and get bright skin.
8. Homemade Cucumber and Rice Powder Skin Whitening Face Pack: Take a bunch of coriander leaves (cilantro leaves) and half a cucumber and grind them into a paste. Do not add any water while grinding. Squeeze in half of a lemon. Add 2 tablespoons of rice powder and mix well. Keep it on the face and neck for 20 minutes and wash off.
9. If you have a bathtub, then pour two cups of whole cream milk into the water, add a lemon and throw in a couple handfuls of ground oats. While you soak in the warm water, the natural skin bleaching properties of milk and lemon will work away at your skin. Oats have exfoliating, nourishing as well as lightening qualities. You will see your overall skin tone become fairer by doing this twice a week for a month.
10. Soak some freshly-cut lemon slices in a cup of milk, strain after an hour, add two spoons of rose water and thicken with yogurt. This paste can be used as a natural skin whitening cream.
11. Exfoliate your face regularly. Dead cell buildup makes the skin look dull and darker than it really is. Allow fresh skin cells to grow by timely removal of dead skin, and you’ll see a natural glow. If you want to become fair naturally, exfoliation should become a regular part of your beauty regime.
12. Make a face pack with turmeric, olive oil and ground gram flour (besan) and use on a regular basis for exfoliating and lightening complexion. Turmeric also adds a golden glow to the face, which helps you become fairer.
13. For a fair complexion, mix equal amounts of egg white and lemon juice. Heat on a frying pan till it thickens. Cool in the refrigerator. Applying this paste on your face and neck daily will show a gradual lightening of skin.
14. Mash a few quarter of a cucumber along with the skin. Apply this paste all over face and neck and keep for 20 mins before rinsing.
15. Honey, milk, lemon, oatmeal and brown sugar can be combined to make an excellent fairness scrub at home.
16. Another great recipe for fair skin is fennel seeds brewed in water. Fennel seeds are commonly known as saunf in India. You must boil 2 tsps of saunf in a glass of water for an hour on low flame. The water will reduce significantly by this time. Strain out the saunf and add a tbsp of buttermilk or curd whey to this preparation. Apply all over face and neck. Rinse off after 15 mins.
17. Use the pulp of papaya to cleanse twice a week to become fair. Or you can use premade papaya face packs and face washes by popular cosmetic companies. But fresh is always better.
18. Buy a serum containing vitamin C to regularly dab on your face for a fair look. Vitamin C is a natural bleach. The natural alternative to this is lemon, used in most face packs for fair skin, for it is a great source of vitamin C. Applying a mix of lemon juice and yoghurt once daily can show results in as little as two weeks.
19. Always use a good sunscreen of adequate SPF content as per the sun conditions of wherever you stay to maintain your fair complexion. In summers, one usually needs SPF 40 to 60 depending on the harshness of the sun and your exposure to it. Even in cloudy weather, a minimum of SPF 20 is required in most Indian cities.
20. Incorporating many fruits and veggies in your diet and drinking tons of water will ensure you get the right vitamins and antioxidants essential for healthy and fair skin. Dull and dry skin tends to look darker. Keep your skin hydrated if you want to appear fair.
21. Consuming fish oil capsules or eating flaxseeds will nourish your skin with omega fatty acids and keep it younger-looking, fresh and supple. Healthy skin is a must if you wish to become fair, because faults and damage show much more on fair complexions.
Homemade Cosmetics
1. Cocoa and Shea Butter Body Cream: Melt shea and cocoa butter in a bowl. Add a few drops of beauty oil or aromatherapy oil for fragrance into it. Add two vitamin E capsules which acts as a preservative as well as has healing properties. Pour pure aloe vera juice into the melted butter mix. Let the mixture stand for a few hours before first use and store in the refrigerator and use for a week. Make fresh batches every week.
2. Black Gel Eyeliner: Scrape a black eyeshadow and transfer into an empty jar. Take a bit of petroleum jelly and transfer it to the same jar. The ratio should be 3 parts of powdered eyeshadow to 1 part of petroleum jelly. Freeze the gel liner for 1 hour to set it well. Now, the gel eyeliner is ready to go on your eyes.
3. Cleansing Milk/Makeup Cleanser: Take 1 tablespoon of milk powder and mix 2 tablespoons of warm water to it. Mix well with the help of spoon. Your cleansing milk is ready. This removes all makeup effectively. Make a fresh batch every time.
4. How To Make Eyeshadow Primer: Pour some foundation in an empty plastic jar. Mix in a bit of Lacto Calamine Lotion into it. Mix both well. Foundation to Lacto Calamine ratio should be 2:1 approximately depending upon the consistency of your foundation. The eye primer is ready.
5. How To Make Body Glitter: Pour some body lotion into an empty, clean jar. Add in some fine glitter to the jar. Drop in a few drops of olive oil into this. The body glitter is ready with moisturizing properties.
Homemade Oils
Homemade Tan Removing Products
Sesame+olive+almond oil:
Mix sesame seed oil, olive oil and almond oil in the ratio of 4:1:1. Apply it on your skin and let it stay for 20 minutes. Wash it off with warm water using gram flour or a mild soap. This is one of the most effective natural remedy to get rid of face tan.
Cucumber+fuller’s earth+lemon:
Mix cucumber paste with lemon juice and fuller’s earth. Apply it on your face for 15 minutes and then wash it off. It is an excellent anti-tan pack.
Lettuce:
Lettuce juice can be used in packs to remove sun tan.
Potato juice:
Apply raw potato juice on your face to remove the face tan.
Gram flour+curd+lemon juice:
Mix together some gram flour and curd. Add few drops of fresh lemon juice. Apply it on the skin for 15 minutes and then wash it off. Use this pack regularly for few weeks to get rid of sun tan.
Turmeric+raw milk:
Make a paste using turmeric with a little unboiled milk and lemon juice. Apply it on the skin, it will help in removing tan.
Vinegar solution:
Take 2 tablespoons vinegar and add 2 tablespoons of water in it. Mix well and dab on gently with cotton wool over sore areas. Leave it on for 10 minutes and wash off. This solution is an ideal cure for suntan.
Honey+lime:
Take 2 tablespoons of honey and add to it the juice of one lime. Mix well apply over the sunburned or tanned skin areas.
Buttermilk:
You can apply buttermilk on your skin twice daily, for about 20 minutes each time. This will cool the skin and help revitalize it.
Tomato+curd:
A mixture of tomato juice and curd can also be applied to the face or body. Tomatoes have several healing qualities, and curd has millions of good bacteria that help the skin glow.
rosewater+lemon:
Mix together 5 tablespoons of rosewater and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Apply this mixture to the affected area before you go to bed. Wash it off the next morning. This helps to get rid of the tan.
Turmeric/saffron+Lemon:
Make a paste of saffron powder or turmeric powder and lemon juice. Apply it on face and let it stay on your face for some time. Wash with normal water.
Raw milk: chill the raw milk (without boiling it) and use it twice with cotton on your skin to treat sun tan and sun burn.
Raw milk + cucumber: this forms a better option. Grate some cucumber and add in milk. Rub it on your body before taking bath. Wash it with cold water.
Milk Powder:
Dry milk powder when mixed with almond oil also forms a good option if you are on a vacation. This is easy remedy for the travelers as getting raw milk everywhere is not possible.
Milk + sandalwood:
This mask is effective in case you have an oily skin. Mix sandalwood powder with milk and apply this mask before going out in sun. This will nourish your skin and will not let pimples grow because of sun.
Cabbage/lettuce/spinach leaves:
These veggies are to be chopped and then refrigerate in cold water. Rub them on your skin and mind you this gives a cooling effect in case you have sun burn problem.
Bruised onions:
Rub bruised onions on your skin and then wash it off with cold water. Do it for at least 10 minutes to have maximum benefits from it
Yogurt + orange juice:
Mix 2-3 teaspoons of orange juice with equal amount of yogurt and then rub it on your skin. Cool the mixture before doing so. Apply it for 15 min and then wash off.
• Yogurt mask: mix equal amounts of turmeric, yogurt and barley in a bowl, cool the mask and then after applying it for 15 minutes, wash it off with cold water. This is useful for sun burn also.
• Simple curd:
Before taking bath, rub your skin with curd and see the difference yourself.
Green gourd:
It’s ok even I didn’t believe till I used it myself. Rub green gourd on your tanned skin for 10-15 minutes. Then wash it off with cold water.
Vinegar options:
• Take 2-3tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and mix it in your water bucket before taking bath.
Baking soda + vinegar:
Mix ½ tea spoon of baking soda in 2-3 teaspoons of vinegar and apply on sun burn areas. It has an acetic acid content which is prescribed for inflammations caused by sun.
Sun flour oil + sugar+ lemon juice in equal quantity when mixed and applied on sun tanned areas prove helpful. This is specially for hands.
Egg white:
Apply egg white on your face and let it dry. Wash it later with cold water.
Potato peel:
Rub boiled potatoes after peeling them on your skin and remove your tan.
Green tea:
Boil green tea in 1 cup of water and then cool it. Apply with cotton on your tanned skin and leave for 15 minutes. Wash it with cold water.
Cucumber+Tomato+Chickpea:
Take one slice of cucumber and two slices of tomato, grate them or you can use a grinder to make them into a paste. Add some (half spoon) milk cream, a pinch of turmeric , 3-4 drops of lemon juice, one spoon honey to the grated mixture. Now, add almost two spoonfuls of besan (chickpea flour) to the mixture and your pack is ready.Apply and rinse off after 20 minutes.
Kesar+Yogurt+Milk:
Soak ten kesar leaves overnight in raw milk and keep it in the fridge. Next day, mix a spoon full of besan/gram flour and a spoon of yogurt, Mix well and apply for 15 minutes, then wash off.
Sugar+Lemon:
Mix sugar with lemon juice and scrub it on your skin for a good 15 mins, after this let it be over for another 15 mins, and then wash it off. This shall give you that bleached effect.
Cucumber+papaya+Lemon+oatmeal:
Take a cucumber and grind it to a pulp, now add a little ripped papaya to it and get the both to turn into a paste, now add a spoon of honey, curd and about 4 spoons of oatmeal along with a spoon of lemon juice into it and then apply it. Let it stay on for about half an hour and then wash off.
Tomato:
So cut slice a tomato and rub it on your tanned areas. Do the rubbing for about 20 mins and then keep it on for another 20 mins, and then wash it off.
Potato+Lemon:
Take a potato and slice it. Dip the same into lemon juice and then rub it onto your skin. Do this daily and I guarantee you that this works.
Yogurt+Lemon:
Mix yogurt with lemon and apply the same onto your skin and let it dry, wash it off. Do this daily.
Turmeric+sandalwood:
Turmeric powder paste also removes tan. You could also mix it with sandalwood powder and apply it.
Aloe:
Grab some fresh aloe vera gel and apply it, you could mix this with lemon juice too, it will not only help you get rid of tan but also clarify your skin.
Cabbage:
Cabbage+Honey+Multani:
Take a raw cabbage and grate it . Squeeze the juice from grated raw cabbage and collect it in a small bowl . Add honey. Add multani mitti / besan / rice flour as a binding medium with pinch of turmeric and make a paste . After you have mixed all ingredients let the pack stand for 10 mins,take some paste and apply it on the face and neck5. Wash off after dry.
Tomato+Flour+Lemon
Grate a tomato, add ground flour and 1 tsp fresh lemon juice to make a paste apply generously on face, neck and arms. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes or till it dries. Rinse off with cold water. Repeat it two to three times a week. Tomatoes and lemons have bleaching properties.
Milk+Saffron+kesar:
Take 4-5 tbsp warm milk in a bowl. (Take it down from the gas before it gets boiled). Pound the saffron strands into a powder and keep it aside for later use. Add two to three drops of lime juice in the warm milk. You will see that the milk has curdled a bit. Add the saffron in the curdled milk and give it a mix. Take the mixture in your fingers and massage it on your face and neck. Leave it on for 5- 10 minutes and wash it off.
