Kitchen cosmetics

BY MINAL KHONA

In keeping with my new age beliefs of eco-friendly, chemical free options to everyday cosmetic needs, I have compiled a list of exfoliating scrubs and toners that can be made with everyday things found in your kitchen. Whenever you’re at home with time to spare, rustle up one of these scrubs to exfoliate your skin. Then use the toner to smoothen and soothe the skin after the exfoliation process.

The importance of exfoliation is that it takes off dead skin cells which lead to a clearer and cleaner skin while stimulating the blood vessels. Some people think exfoliating should be a daily exercise, I think once a week is enough. Just one thing to bear in mind is that since you are making this scrub at home in a not-so-sterile environment, always make just enough to use all at one go. If you have some left over, use it over the rest of your body, but do not refrigerate it or keep it aside for later.

Oatmeal

Take a quarter cup of oatmeal, add half a teaspoon of salt, one teaspoon honey and enough milk to make a thick paste. Apply it all over your face and neck and just as it begins to semi-dry, rub the applied mask in brisk, circular movements. You can also use porridge as a substitute if you don’t have oatmeal at home.

Chickpea flour

Otherwise known as besan, this common ingredient is found in all Indian kitchens. Take a tablespoon of generous pinch of turmeric which is an excellent antiseptic and antioxidant, and add a spoon of milk, fresh cream or olive oil (whichever is handy). Mix together to make a paste and use this to wash your face and neck as you would with any other scrub. You can even use this scrub for your whole body. Our grandmothers used this when we were kids and this simple treatment holds good even today.

Rice

Now which home doesn’t have this meal staple in its kitchen? Rice grains make an excellent exfoliant. Take half a cup of rice grains, grind them to a coarse paste, add a spoon of honey and two spoons of yoghurt. Blend into a paste and apply all over your face and neck. Rub in the scrub with firm and circular movements before it starts to dry. Then wash off with water.

Dal

Again, found in every home, you can make this scrub with any dal. Take half a cup of dal or lentils and soak it in a little water for half an hour. Then drain the water, grind it to a coarse paste, add milk and a little chickpea flour or besan and apply. Like the rice scrub, begin exfoliating immediately after applying and then wash off. This scrub works well for tender skins too.

Ice cubes

The simplest and most efficient toner which is used even in beauty salons is the ubiquitious ice cube. Take a couple of ice cubes and rub them all over the face after you finish exfoliating. By doing this, you tighten the pores on your skin and increase blood flow to the face. This is the most inexpensive and instant toner that you can use – at any time.

Cucumber and rose water

Take a cucumber, peel and grate it. Add 3 tablespoons of rose water to the grated cucumber and blend in a blender to make a smooth paste. Refrigerate and use on dry skin or as an after-sun treatment if you’ve been to the beach. Leave on for 20 minutes and wash off.

Lemon tree flowers

If you are one of those lucky ones who has a lemon tree growing in the backyard, this excellent toner is for you. Take a handful of lemon flowers and infuse them in a cup of boiling water. Allow it to cool and then mash the flowers and strain the liquid. If you are left with half a cup of this lotion, add half a cup of rose water and pour in a bottle and refrigerate. You can use after a bath or after you have used a scrub. This toner can be applied and left on overnight.

Orange and lemon peels

You can recycle the peels of oranges and lemons after using them. Sun dry the peels until dry and brittle, then crush them and store in a jar. You can use this powder in a scrub, toner or a moisturizing pack.

To make a toner, take two tablespoons of this powder and add two tablespoons of water and three tablespoons of rose water. Mix well and apply all over the face and neck. This lotion works well to close open pores and reduces blemishes.

There are several such options that you can use – an overripe banana that no one will eat is an excellent face mask; papaya can also be used for the same purpose and if you have no time for any of these, just plain milk applied to the face can also work to soothe the skin as an after-sun treatment.

The purpose is to use eco-friendly ingredients and minimize the use of chemical laced products to do your bit for the environment.