We love using primers to create that smooth base before applying foundation on our faces every morning, but what if I told you that you can have smooth and supple skin naturally that’ll not only make you subtract applying one chemical-based product from your hectic mornings but also make you feel great about your skin even when you’re wearing no make-up at all! Gear up for these organic masks that compliment all skin types, and repair dull skin.
MASK 1
7–8 pieces of peeled, sliced papaya Juice of 1 lemon
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoons sandalwood powder
- Grind the papaya pieces to a paste.
- Mix lemon juice, honey, sandalwood powder and apply to your face for 25–30 minutes.
The presence of potassium in papaya, when combined with honey and lemon, makes for an ideal combination to take dullness off your face. Sandalwood powder is a cooling agent that’s been added to soothe your skin.
Nikita Upadhyay
MASK 2
- banana
- tablespoons honey
½ sliced avocado
Few drops of grapeseed oil
This is such a fruity mask! All the ingredients in this moisturize and hydrate your face without making it greasy. As cosmetics are majorly dehydrating for the skin, using this hours before putting on make-up can also help your foundation sit well on your face and last longer. The fruits used in this mask are basically internal moisturizers used for external use. Grapeseed oil is like a natural astringent that’ll block excess sebum and is totally suitable for people who have oily skin.
- Cut up the banana and avocado and mash them. You can even grind the avocado to make a finer paste.
- Mix honey and few drops of grapeseed oil to the mashed fruits and apply to face and neck. You can switch grapeseed oil with any oil you find suitable too.
- Rinse after 20–25 minutes and apply serum or moisturizer if you still feel the need for it. This pack is pretty hydrating on its own, anyway.
MASK 3
4–5 blocks of grated pumpkin or ½ cup pumpkin puree 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoon honey
2 teaspoon curd
Pumpkin is packed with anti-ageing properties. With its retinoic acid, antioxidants, beta-carotene and vitamins,
this humble fruit, despite being so cheap, has ingredients found in expensive night serums and creams.
- Add curd to the pumpkin puree and mix well.
- Then add apple cider vinegar and honey to the paste and apply to face and neck.
Keep it on for 20 minutes and wash.
Excerpted from Roots to Radiance: Wholesome Beauty Solutions for the Millennial Life , by Nikita Upadhyay (Penguin Random House India)
