Stay cool, look cool in Summer

Opt for natural and refreshing face packs to keep the seasonal skin problems at bay

In summer, naturally, cooling ingredients can be used to make face packs. Clays, like fuller’s earth (multani mitti), has a cooling effect. Rosewater is also a natural coolant.

In summer, when skin eruptions are common, you can add sandalwood paste, or paste of neem, tulsi or mint leaves to a multani mitti face pack, to soothe sensitive and rashy skin. Fruit and vegetable packs are popular during summer, as they help to cool and refresh the skin. Ingredients like cucumber, papaya, melons, etc., are known for their cooling effects.

Cooling Mask: Cucumber juice (or pulp) and watermelon fruit can be mixed with two teaspoons powdered milk. You can put the ingredients in a blender, for a smooth paste. Apply on face and neck and rinse off with water after half an hour.

For Oily and problem skin: Take one tablespoon lemon juice and one tablespoon rose water. Add crushed mint (Pudina) leaves and let it stand for one hour. Strain the leaves and add the liquid to multani mitti, mixing it into a paste. Apply on face and wash it off after 20 minutes.

Cleansing and Skin Lightening Mask: Mix cucumber and papaya pulp with one teaspoon yogurt, one teaspoon honey, 3 teaspoons oatmeal and one teaspoon lemon juice. Apply on the face and wash it off after 20 minutes.

Fruit Mask for all Skin Types: Fruits like banana, apple, papaya, watermelon can be mix together and applied on the face. Keep it on for 20 to 30 minutes. Papaya is rich in enzymes and helps to cleanse dead skin cells. Banana tightens the skin. Apple contains pectin and helps to cleanse the skin. Orange is rich in Vitamin C. It restores the normal acid-alkaline balance.

Normal to Oily Skin & Combination Skin:

For Oily / Combination Skin: Take grated cucumber or cucumber pulp. Add lemon juice and rose water in equal quantities. Apply on the face and wash it off after 20 minutes.

Oily / Combination Skin: Mix besan and curd into a paste, add a pinch of haldi and apply on the face. Wash it off after 20 minutes. You can add dried and powdered mint (pudina) leaves to the pack.

Mix together two teaspoons honey, a little milk and rose water, dried and powdered lemon peels into a paste. Apply two or three times a week on face and neck. Wash it off after 20 minutes.

Flower Face Pack: Make a paste of Marigold (Gainda) petals with milk and one teaspoon honey. Apply on the face and wash it off with water after 20 minutes. Apply the pack twice a week. It helps to keep the skin clear of pimples. This pack is ideal for oily skin. For dry skin, try the same pack with Red Roses, instead of Marigold.

Normal to Dry Skin:
Take two tablespoons ground almonds and add watermelon pulp and one teaspoon honey. Apply on the face and leave on for 15 minutes. Wash off with water.

Take one tablespoon choker (wheat bran), one teaspoon each orange peel powder and curd and one tablespoon aloe vera gel. Mix together and apply on the skin, washing it off after 30 minutes.