Regardless of how you have planned to spend Valentine's Day, keeping up with a healthy and glowing skin is surely one way to celebrate love. Whether you are heading out for brunch with friends or you are going for a date night with your bae, showing some love to your skin ahead of the special day is the best way to make a start. With so many skincare DIY regimes and tips available on the Internet, it might be difficult to narrow down on the right ones. Glowing and tinted skin is what dreams are made of. A lot of conscious care goes behind maintaining a healthy skin, but it can get easier with expert tips. NDTV Swirlster spoke to beauty and wellness experts Shahnaz Husain and Dr Blossom Kochhar. From daily skincare tips to DIY hacks to try ahead of Valentine's Day, we have got you covered with an entire skincare guide for your daily regime.
Tips For Different Skin Types
Acne Prone: "Cleansing two times a day with a medicated cleanser is very important and wipe the skin with an astringent toner, using cotton wool. Mix together one teaspoon cinnamon (dalchini) powder, half teaspoon methi seed powder, lemon juice and a few drops of honey, making a sticky paste. Apply it only on acne once daily and leave it on for an hour. The day before Valentine's day, mix multani mitti, sandalwood paste and rose water together into a paste. Apply on the face, avoiding the lips and area around the eyes. Wash it off when it dries," suggests beauty and wellness expert Shahnaz Husain.
Dry Skin: "Cleanse your skin with a cleansing cream. Don't just directly use a face wash but go for a good creamy moisturiser. A DIY nourishing mask can also help your skin glowing. You can make it at home by mashing a small avocado, then adding a teaspoon of almond oil in it along with 2 drops of rose essential oil. Apply this on your face and neck for 20 minutes and then rinse it off," suggests Dr Blossom Kochhar.
Oily Skin: "Carry a non-alcoholic toner with you and keep spraying it throughout the day to keep your face clean. To gently re-hydrate your skin you can try this DIY. Take a cucumber, add a tablespoon of yoghurt, with one teaspoon of honey and add 2 drops of juniper berry essential oil. This pack will cool your skin and keep it non greasy throughout the day," suggests Dr Blossom Kochhar.
Tips For Glowing Skin
1.Toning: "Toning of the skin helps to add a glow. Rose water is a powerful natural toner and can stimulate blood circulation to the skin surface, adding a glow. Keep rose water in the fridge, with cotton wool pads soaked in it, so that it is chilled before use. Wipe the skin and then pat briskly," suggests Shahnaz Husain.
2. DIY Hack: A quick DIY hack for that natural glow is "a 'pick-me-up' face mask, which can leave your skin clean and glowing. Mix honey and lemon juice in equal quantities. Add egg white and apply daily on the face. Wash it off after 20 minutes," recommends Shahnaz Husain.
3. Homemade Scrubs: Nothing works better than homemade remedies and we are sure you would agree with us. Shahnaz Hussain suggests, "It can work wonders on the skin, helping to remove dead skin cells and making the skin brighter. Mix two teaspoons of walnut powder with one teaspoon each of honey and yogurt. Apply on the face and leave on for 5 minutes. Then rub gently on the skin, with small circular movements. Wash off with plenty of plain water."
DIY Hacks To Pamper Yourself
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, there is not much time left to get your skin supple and glowing. Why not give these DIY hacks a try that can work like magic?
"Since it is Valentine's Day, I am going to suggest one pack with rose petals. Blend a handful of rose petals into a paste, add a little bit of milk or cream if you have dry skin, then add a teaspoon of honey. Clean your face and then apply this pack, keep it on for 15 minutes and rinse it off with plane water. This will give you a smooth, soft and glowing complexion," suggest Dr Blossom Kochhar.
If you are a person with sensitive skin or are not yet aware about the exact skin type you have, then do not go overboard and play it safe with packs that are for all skin types.
"Fruit packs are great for adding glow to the skin. They suit all skin types. Mix grated apples with ripe papaya pulp and mashed banana. Yogurt or lemon juice can be added to the mixture. Apply it on the face and leave it on for half an hour. Wash off with plain water. It not only adds a glow, but also removes tan and softens the skin," suggests Shahnaz Husain.
Detox Is The Key
Our body and skin both need detoxification. With pollution, changing weather and many more elements, our skin needs our complete attention. But worry not, here are some detox tips for you to get on with.
1."Have cold pressed juices. They are said to contain more nutrients. Have the juice of a lemon with a glass of warm water first thing in the morning. This helps to flush the system," suggests De Shahnaz Husain.
2."If your skin feels clogged, detoxifying essential oils like rosehip, jojoba, tea tree and eucalyptus can be used as part of the cleanser. Also, remember to take vitamin supplements daily so that the body can detox which will ultimately lead to skin detoxification as well," suggests Dr Blossom Kochhar.
3."Nowadays, activated charcoal is used to detoxify the skin, because it purifies the skin, drawing out toxins. This actually brightens the skin. Activated charcoal can be used in face masks. Mix activated charcoal with aloe vera gel and rose water. Apply a thin layer on the face, avoiding the lips and area around the eyes. Wash off after 15 minutes," suggests Shahnaz Husain.
A Healthy Lifestyle Will Hold That Glow
DIY hacks can definitely give an instant glow, but a healthy lifestyle will provide that glow from within.
"Moisture is the life of the skin. Keep your skin moisturised, according to skin type. Adequate and regular sleep is very important for maintaining natural beauty and delays the manifestation of ageing signs," recommends Shahnaz Husain.
What we eat reflects on our skin. Dr Blossom Kochhar suggests, "Eat lots of green leafy vegetables, in fact try to eat different colours of vegetables, make your plate colourful. Add more protein in your diet and for skin care it is all the more necessary to have a balanced diet."
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