Beautician Shahnaz Husain offers tips and answers queries. Send your queries to askshahnaz@gmail.com
I have oily skin and black spots due to pimples. What should I do to clear them?? Reena
Use a facial scrub twice or thrice a week (if you don't have pimples now!). Mix rice powder with curd and apply on the face. Rub gently with tiny, circular movements, especially on the dark spots. Leave on for a few minutes and wash off with water. Once a day, mix a teaspoon each of honey and lemon juice and apply on the face. Wash off with plain water after 15 minutes. Make a paste of multani mitti with rose water and lemon juice and apply on the face twice or thrice a week. Wash off when dry. This helps reduce oiliness and dark spots.
Can face packs be applied every day? I apply besan and curd on the face every day. Is it of any use?? Arthy
Yes, face packs may be applied daily, but choose one according to your skin type. Fruit packs, or packs containing ingredients such as curd, honey and egg may be applied every day. But, if the skin is oily, stick to a multani mitti pack, every day. Besan also works better on oily skin. It also has a cleansing effect and helps remove tan. If you have normal to oily skin, you can apply the besan and curd pack every day.
Light brown freckles cover half my face. I also have . I also get whiteheads on my T-zone. What solution do you suggest?? Akshaya
Your skin may be sensitive to the sun. Apply a sunscreen with high SPF before stepping out. Mix rice powder with curd and use as scrub once or twice a week. Apply on the face and rub gently with tiny circular movements, especially on the freckles. Leave on for a few minutes and wash with water. Apply curd or buttermilk, with a pinch of turmeric, on the face every day. Wash off with plenty of water after 15 minutes.?For whiteheads, make a paste of fenugreek ( methi ) leaves and apply on the face every day, washing off after an hour. You can also apply grated potato or potato juice. The scrub will also help prevent whiteheads. Drink six to eight glasses of water every day. And, add the juice of a lemon to a glass of water and drink it first thing in the morning.?Drinking barley water will also help.
I've noticed that my hairfall problem is getting worse, especially after I work out in the gym. Is there a connection?? Balaji
Sweat and oil secretions increase during physical activity; this can lead to hair loss. Rinse the hair well using a little shampoo after working out at the gym. Hair loss can also occur due to an oily scalp, dandruff, nutritional deficiencies and stress. In men, hair loss can also be due to hormonal factors. Apply herbal hair tonic every day on the scalp. Apply olive oil once a week at night, and shampoo it the next day. Avoid head massage. If there is hair loss, the roots are already weak, and massage may aggravate the problem. If the hair is oily, avoid oil applications. Have a small bowl of?sprouts every day and include fresh fruits, salads, leafy green vegetables and curd in your diet. Ask your doctor to prescribe Vitamin C and B-Complex.
My elbows are dark. What can I do to lighten the skin colour?? Neha
Take lemon halves and rub them on the elbows every day. Wash, and apply sesame seed (til) oil and massage it into the skin. Make a paste of gram flour (besan), curd, lemon juice and a little turmeric (haldi). Apply it on the elbows at least thrice a week, and wash off after half an hour. You can also apply a cream containing lemon and turmeric, every day.
What is toning? How does one tone the skin?? Devi
Toning is a part of routine skin care. It helps refresh the skin and close pores. It improves blood circulation to the skin surface and adds glow. An astringent-toner also helps reduce oiliness. After cleansing the skin, use a cotton wool pad, soaked in rose water or skin tonic, to wipe and pat the skin. Then, apply gentle strokes on the skin, using outward and upward movement on the cheeks. Each movement should end at the temples; apply gentle pressure there. On the forehead, start from the centre and go outwards on each side, again ending at the temples. For the chin, use circular movements. Tone the neck too, going downwards from the chin. Tone around the eyes, using a very light touch.