Ask shahnaz

March 27, 2011 08:29 pm | Updated 08:29 pm IST

Indian Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma poses during a hair care product launch in Mumbai on February 25, 2011. AFP PHOTO/STR

Indian Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma poses during a hair care product launch in Mumbai on February 25, 2011. AFP PHOTO/STR

Beautician Shahnaz Husain offers tips and answers queries. Send your queries to askshahnaz@gmail.com

I have oily skin. How often can I use a facial scrub? Can I use a many times a week can I use a scrub and can I use Multani mitti pack every alternate day? I am allergic to lemon juice. Can I use rose water instead?— Minakshi

For oily skin, you can use a facial scrub twice or thrice a week. Scrubs should not be applied on pimples, acne or rashes. Yes, a Multani mitti pack can be applied every other day, if the skin is oily. You need not use lemon juice; mix using rose water.

I am 16 and have oily skin. Can I use a scrub? I want to know the order in which a scrub, cleanser and toner are used. And, can you please suggest a suitable face pack?— Aishwarya

Since you have oily skin, use a scrub twice or thrice a week, after cleansing in the morning using face wash or soap. Apply the scrub on the face and rub gently on the skin using small, circular movements, and wash off with plain water. Then, apply the toner to close the pores. Or, mix astringent lotion and rose water in equal quantities and keep in an airtight bottle in the refrigerator. This astringent-toner will suit oily skin. For the face pack, mix Multani mitti and rose water and apply on the face twice or thrice a week, avoiding the lips and the area around the eyes, washing off when dry.

My hands are dark. What can I do to lighten the skin tone? my skin colour of my hands. Also, how is rose water useful? And, will applying milk cream on the face increase pimples? what is the use of rose water and if I apply cream of milk on my face, will it increase pimples?— Anjana

Make a paste of besan, curd, lemon juice and a pinch of turmeric. Apply this on your hands thrice a week, washing off after half an hour. Rose water is a natural skin toner; it also helps improve blood circulation to the skin and close the pores. It can be applied on the face and can also be added to face masks. Milk cream should not be applied on the face if there are pimples — it will make the face more oily, and also clog the pores.

I have oily skin. Will a face pack of mashed banana and milk suit my skin? Also, will eating guava make the skin glow?— Yogeshwari

For oily skin, a pack of milk and mashed banana may not help. You can mix a little curd with ripe papaya and apply it on the face. Grated cucumber and tomato can also be added to this. These ingredients help in case of oily skin. Also, you can mix Multani mitti and rose water and apply it on the face, avoiding the lips and the area around the eyes. Wash this off when dry. For glowing skin, drink plenty of water and include fruits, sprouts and salads in your diet.

I have oily skin. Even after washing, it turns oily very fast. You say that we should not wash the face too often. What else can I do? I also have hair loss. and becomes oily soon after washing. But, in your tips you say that we should not wash the face too often. I also have hair loss.— Rajan

You can wash the face with soap twice or thrice a day. Other than that, wash the face several times a day with plain water. Most soaps are alkaline and disturb the normal acid-alkaline balance of the skin, leaving it prone to pimples. You can carry wet tissues or wet wipes and use them to wipe and refresh the skin during the day. Since your skin is oily, your hair may be oily too. Oily hair can also lead to pimples and hair loss. Wash the hair three or four times a week, using less shampoo. Rinse well with water. For the last rinse, add the juice of a lemon to a mug of water. Apply herbal hair tonic on the scalp every day and leave it on.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.