Beauty> Beauty and the Recession

Text by: Tanya Munshi
Don’t let recession play spoil sport when it comes to your beauty regimen and skin care. You can still look a million bucks with all the home made beauty tips and secrets. You don’t need to spend anything extra; whatever you use at home can be used on your face, skin, hair and feet as well.

Here are a few of them:

Skin Care

1. Mix 1tsp honey, ½ tsp lemon juice and 1-2 tbsp of chickpea flour or besan. Mix this in a bowl and apply as a face pack. Wash after 10-15 minutes or when the pack goes dry; this will clear up your skin. Preferably do this at night, before hitting the sack. When you wake up, you will find your skin glowing with renewed freshness. You can apply this pack on your arms and legs as well. Its a great remedy to rid of that tan.
2. Gently rub papaya, banana or orange peels on your face, hands, arms and neck. Leave the juices or residue on for 5-10 minutes and wash off. These fresh nutrients will reach directly to your skin in the most natural form.
3. Take 2-3 tbsp of fresh cream from milk and add besan to it. Use this mixture massage on your hands and legs before a bath. You will notice your skin glowing with health.
4. To shoo away pimples, dab the affected area with aftershave lotion. The alcoholic content of aftershave lotion will kill the germs. Within a day or two, you will find the pimples gradually fading away.

Hair Care

1. Use flat beer as an after wash hair conditioner to add the extra sheen to your hair.
2. Massage vinegar mixed with water – 2:2 ratio in your hair half an hour before a bath. You can apply this mixture after you have applied hair oil. Vinegar helps in fighting dandruff.
3. Boil Neem leaves in water and cool. Add a mug of the Neem concentrate in your bathing water. This will not only cure your skin of any infections, but it will keep a check on the dandruff in your hair. Keep the rest away in the refrigerator, use this concentrate for your next head bath.
4. Always heat hair oil before applying on your hair. Once you have heated the oil, allow it cool till it’s bearable. Then with a cotton wool massage it in your hair. Heat water in a large bowl or bucket, it should be lukewarm, not too hot. Dip a large cloth/ towel; remove it and squeeze the extra water from it. Wrap it around your hair for a minute or so. Repeat this procedure for 5-6 times. The steam from the warm water will allow the hair and the scalp to get the best out of your hair oil. The results, after a shampoo and conditioner, your hair will look amazing!
5. If you’re applying henna at home, then add a teaspoon of coffee, or boiled tea leaves, 1 tsp of vinegar or an egg. Whatever you fancy, all this will enhance your hair colour and texture.
6. To tend to oily scalp, massage half a lemon on your hair half an hour before a head bath. Rubbing lemon on your scalp will cut down the oil, and after a shampoo and conditioner, your hair will be shiny and smelling fresh.

Foot Care

1. You can do your own pedicure at home. In warm water, add one whole lemon juice, one capful of liquid soap or shampoo, one capful of liquid anti-septic and a handful of salt. Use an old tooth brush to clean every nook and corner of your feet. Almost every household has a nail file and a nail cutter, you can shape your nails and cut them the way you want.
2. After bath or before going to bed, wash and scrub your feet well. Then massage glycerin on your feet that will leave your feet soft, supple and heal the cracks.