B eautician Shahnaz Hussain offers tips and answers queries. Send your queries to askshahnaz@gmail.com
My skin is oily. While my face and neck are dark, the rest of my body is fair. What should I do to have an even complexion? — Remya
Use a facial scrub twice a week. You can either buy one, or mix rice powder with curd and use it. Rub it gently on your skin, using small, circular movements. Leave it on for five minutes, before washing it off. Do not apply the scrub on pimples, acne or rash. Mix one teaspoon each of rose water and lemon juice and apply it daily on your face, at any time. Wash it off after 20 minutes. Twice a week, mix three teaspoons of oats with egg white and one teaspoon each of curd and lemon juice. Apply this on your face, avoiding the lips and the area around your eyes. Wash it off after half an hour.
I have dark circles around my eyes. — Sowjanya
Dark circles can occur due to hereditary factors, nutritional deficiencies, stress, inadequate sleep or sun-sensitivity. Lightly massage a little almond oil under your eyes, using only the ring finger, for one minute under each eye. Massage in one direction only. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then, wipe it off. You can also mix cucumber juice and potato juice in equal quantities. Apply this under your eyes daily, leaving it on for 20 minutes, before washing it off. Before going out in the sun, apply sunscreen lotion sparingly under your eyes.
My face is very oily. — Dhivya
After washing your face, apply an astringent lotion using cotton wool, Astringents help reduce oiliness. Or, mix rose water and cucumber juice and apply it daily on your face. Wash it off after 15 minutes. Cucumber juice has an astringent effect. Mix multani mitti with rose water into a paste and apply it on your face. Wash it off after it dries. Use a facial scrub twice a week. Do not apply it on pimples, acne or rash.
I have a fat nose. What can I do other than surgical rhinoplasty to get my nose into shape? — Radhika
Use make-up to make your nose appear less broad. Apply a dark foundation on either side of your nose, from eyebrows to nostrils and use a lighter one down the centre of your nose, from the bridge to the tip. If your nose is very broad, use powder (on your nose) which is two shades darker than the one you use on your face.
