Skin Potions For The Monsoon

Tea Honey Cleanser, Skin Potions

The monsoon in Mumbai is not just about navigating your way around potholes and dealing with grumpy auto and taxi wallahs. As it begins to pour, your skin, too, demands its share of attention. These simple remedies will help you stay radiant this rainy season:

Attack those germs: High humidity levels make the skin susceptible to fungal and bacterial infections. Green tea is anti-bacterial and an excellent immune booster. Take 2 glasses of drinking water and throw in some green tea (organic would work even better). Bring the water to boil and then let it simmer for some time. Strain and add the liquid to your bathing water.

Tea time: After you have brewed yourself a cup of green tea, don’t throw away the leaves. Mix them with a little honey and use this concoction to take a bath. While the tea leaves will take care of rashes and mild infections, honey will clean and moisturize. Do this once every 7-10 days.

Bread Honey Cleanser, Skin Potions

Raid the fridge: Slice a tomato and rub the pulpy side all over your face (avoiding the eyes). Wash off with cold water after 15-20 minutes. Tomato juice shrinks skin pores and acts as a natural astringent. This is a simple and hassle-free way to get rid of blackheads and whiteheads during the monsoon.

Ice ice baby: Grate a cucumber and squeeze the strands to collect juice. Mix some honey and water to it and pour this into an ice tray. Freeze. Rub one ice cube on your face daily after cleansing for glowing and healthy skin. Make enough to last you a week and not more.

Break bread: Put two slices of bread, a quarter cup of milk, 4 teaspoons of honey and a quarter teaspoon apple cider vinegar in a blender and mix. Adjust the consistency of the potion by adding milk. Use this once a week to clean your face and take a bath. Bread gently exfoliates, honey moisturizes and apple cider vinegar helps restore the skin’s pH balance.

Mint Rosemary Footsoak, Skin Potions

Coriander club: 3-4 teaspoons of whole wheat floor, 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 cup chopped cucumber, handful of fresh coriander. Put all these in a blender and make a smooth paste. Apply on face and body. Wash after 15-20 minutes with lukewarm water. Believe it or not, coriander is full of anti-oxidants and rich in vitamin A. Whole wheat flour contains Vitamin E and helps rejuvenate the skin. Do this once every 7-10 days.

Happy feet: Take 4 glasses of water and add some fresh mint leaves. Add some rosemary and parsley (I use the dried ones) and bring the liquid to the boil (women who are pregnant or are breast-feeding should not use rosemary and parsley). Switch off the gas and add some salt. Mix with room temperature water so that the liquid is comfortable for you to soak your feet in it.

Drink water: Most of us cut down on our intake of water because of the drop in temperature. Don’t do this. Your skin needs to be hydrated. Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily and try drinking at least 3 glasses on an empty stomach.

All these recipes are based on my personal experience and research. These are not cures and people with skin infections and allergies should consult a doctor. Women who are pregnant or are breast-feeding and people with existing ailments and allergies should not use any of the recipes without consulting their doctors. Some people can be allergic to natural products. Always test a product on the inner portion of your elbow. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes. If irritation or rashes occur, do not use.

You can view Shalini’s products by Skin Potions on the farmer’s market page on Facebook. Shalini can be contacted on skinpotions@gmail.com or on her Facebook profile.

Have time tested skin care tips or grandama’s recipes of our own? Share with us!