Shahnaz Husain
In these days of Covid-19, you cannot go to the beauty salon! So have a home facial!
First take a head band or scarf, place it just above the forehead, along the hairline and tie it at the back just above the neck. This protects the hair. Start by cleansing the skin thoroughly. Choose the cleanser according to skin type – gel/cream cleanser for normal to dry skin; cleansing milk or lotion for normal to oily and combination skins. Apply it on the face. Take moist cotton wool pads. Using these, wipe your skin with upwards and outwards strokes. On the forehead, use strokes from just above the bridge of the nose, going on either side towards the temples, following a gentle arc. Don’t forget the neck area. Wash face with plenty of water.
Use a facial scrub for deep pore cleansing. This is particularly good for oily skin and blackheads. Avoid scrubs on pimples, acne or rash, or if the skin is very dry and sensitive.
Make a facial scrub with walnut powder. Add honey and lemon juice. Apply the mixture on the face and leave on for a few minutes. Then, rub gently, with small circular movements, washing off with water.
For normal to dry skin, apply nourishing cream, wet your hands with water and massage the cream into the skin, using outwards and upwards strokes. Use extremely gentle strokes for the area around the eyes, using only your ring finger. The motion should be outwards and care should be taken to see that the skin is not pulled or stretched. For the neck, use strokes from the chin downwards. Continue the massage for three to four minutes and wipe your skin with damp cotton wool or a clean, moist face towel. Avoid applying cream if the skin is oily, but nourish the neck area.
Next, apply a face pack, avoiding the lips and area around eyes. Fruits packs 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.
Take two cotton wool pads and soak them in rosewater, for eye pads. While the mask dries, lie down, close your eyes and put the eye pads on the eyelids. Relax. Wash off after 20 to 30 minutes. Then give the skin a cold compress with chilled rose water, using large cotton wool pads. It will help to tone the skin, close the pores and add a healthy glow.
For oily and acne-prone skin, avoid facial massage with cream. Apply a scrub, avoiding areas with pimples, acne or rash.
For dry skin, after thorough cleansing, massage the skin with oil or cream to strengthen supportive tissues and keep the skin firm and smooth. Special massage techniques are used for special areas, like the delicate region around the eyes.
Home-made Packs:
Fruits like banana, apple, papaya, water melon can be mixed together and applied as a face mask for all skin types. Apply and wash off after 30 minutes.
For normal to oily and combination skin, mix two teaspoons oats with one teaspoon each ground almonds, rose water, honey and yogurt. Apply on the face, avoiding lips and area around eyes. Wash off after 20 minutes.
Mix one teaspoon each honey and orange juice with egg white. Apply on the face, to nourish and moisturize the skin, making it soft and smooth. Wash it off after 20 minutes.
Soak 1 tsp urad dal and 4 almonds in water overnight and then grind them into a paste. You can then apply this protein mask to your face and wash it off after half an hour.
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