Beautician Shahnaz Husain offers tips and answers queries. Send your queries to askshahnaz@gmail.com
How often can one use facial scrubs? And, how can I make a scrub at home? Kindly suggest me how to prepare facial scrubs at home. Tell me the frequency of use.— Yogeshwari
If you have dry skin, use a facial scrub once a week. For oily skin, you may use it twice or thrice a week. If the skin is very dry, or if there are pimples, acne or rash, avoid facial scrubs. To make a scrub, you can mix rice powder or ground almonds with curd. If the skin is very oily, mix rice powder with rose water. Ground almonds can also be mixed with honey to make a scrub. Walnut powder, dried and powdered lemon and orange peel, or dry and powdered mint leaves may be added to a scrub for a glowing skin. A scrub can also be made with walnut powder, honey and lemon juice. Apply scrub on the face and leave on for a few minutes. Then, rub gently, using small, circular movements, before washing off with water.
I have small pimples on my face. Are they due to dandruff? What treatment can help?— Anitha
Yes, dandruff or oily scalp can lead to small pimples and spots. Wash your face twice a day, morning and night, with a medicated soap. Then, wipe with an astringent lotion, using cotton wool. Mix equal quantities of rose water and astringent lotion, and apply on the face, twice or thrice a day. You can also mix rose water and sandalwood paste and apply on the face, washing off after 15 minutes. Make a paste of Multani mitti, rose water and lemon juice and apply on the twice or thrice a week, washing off when dry.
I have cracked heels. Can you suggest some home remedies?— Lakshmi
Regular care for the feet works wonders. Apply a cream every day immediately after your bath. At night, before retiring, soak your feet in hot water, to which some coarse salt and shampoo have been added, for about 20 minutes. Using a pumice stone or heel scrubber, rub the heels gently to remove dead cells. Avoid metal scrubbers. Wash the feet and rub cream into the skin. Then, apply a generous amount of cream on the heels, and bandage with a clean cloth. Wear cotton socks before going to bed. Repeat this every night for a week. Some special preparations for the heels, available commercially, may have anti-septic properties, and so, prevent infections.
At times, my skin turns oily. I use a fairness cream and also apply compact powder. Can I do this on a regular basis, or will it lead to pimples? do this regularly, or will I get pimples?— Raji
If your skin is oily, creams and powder can clog the pores and lead to pimples. You should definitely cleanse the skin at night, to remove impurities. Also, after cleansing in the morning, wipe with an astringent lotion, using cotton wool. If there are no pimples, use a facial scrub twice or thrice a week; it will help keep the pores free of clogged oil. Add lemon juice or tomato juice to ripe papaya pulp and apply thrice a week; this helps reduce tan and lightens the skin colour over a period of time.
My feet are dark and dry. Will any home remedies help? black and dry. Please suggest some natural home made pastes.— — Harika
Take lemon halves and rub them on the feet every day before bathing. Wash off, apply sesame seed oil and massage it into the skin. After your bath, apply cream (probably a lemon-turmeric) while the skin is still damp. Make a paste of gram flour (besan), curd, lemon juice and a little turmeric (haldi), and apply this paste on the feet at least thrice a week, washing off after half an hour.
I have open pores on my face. Please suggest a remedy— Harish
Open pores occur on oily skin. After washing the face, wipe the areas with open pores with an astringent lotion, using cotton wool. Cucumber juice or grated cucumber can be applied, as it has an astringent effect. Use a facial scrub on these areas twice a week, to keep the pores free of hardened oil. Make a paste of egg white and oats and apply on these areas twice a week, washing off when dry.
