Best Saffron DIY Face Packs to Get Fair & Glowing Skin
By Nidhal
The bright red-coloured, minuscule strands of saffron (called Kesar in Hindi) are exactly what you need to incorporate in your skin care regimen. Saffron is one spice that is capable of burning a hole in your pocket. It is used for adding flavour to dishes. It is a rich source of health benefit nutrients like vitamins A, B, C, foliate and minerals like zinc, potassium and sodium that rejuvenate skin cells and promote the regeneration of new cells. It helps in the removal dark spots and blemishes.
So, let us concoct some skin treats from the comforts of your kitchen using saffron (kesar).
1. SAFFRON, RAW MILK & BESAN MASK
Saffron is an excellent skin toning agent. It helps in eliminating blackheads and unclogs clogged skin pores. Saffron also scavenges free radicals and promotes better circulation of blood, thereby ensuring that skin looks toned and firm.
Raw milk, rich in B-vitamins, alpha hydroxy acids, calcium and other potent antioxidants, has innumerable skin benefits! It works to nourish skin cells from deep within and keep skin moisturized for long. Besan is used to cleanse and exfoliate skin.
PROCEDURE- Soak 3-4 saffron strands in raw milk for two hours. After that, the colour of the concoction will turn yellow wholly provided the saffron you have used is authentic. Add a tbsp. or two of besan flour and mix well. Apply on your face as well as neck. Let it dry for around 30 minutes and then, wash off. Feel rejuvenated, don’t you?
2. SAFFRON & CURD MASK
Packed with various vitamins such as A, C, and the B vitamins, saffron-the wonder ingredient is known to possess skin brightening properties. Acne and pimples can leave behind scars that take a long time to fade. Using curd and teaming it up with saffron will speed up the process of healing. Sounds exciting?
PROCEDURE- It is as simple as it gets. Just soak 3-4 strands of saffron in a heaped tbsp. of curd/yoghurt for two hours. Post two hours, the concoction will turn yellow completely given that the saffron you have purchased is authentic. Smear it generously on your face as well as neck. Let it dry. It will take around half an hour to dry. After this, wash off your face with adequate cold water.
3. SAFFRON, MILK & SANDALWOOD POWDER MASK
The inherent anti-inflammatory nature of saffron arising from the high presence of antioxidants enables saffron to be used as a potent tool against various skin conditions such as pimples, acne, and Rosacea. To top it all, if we have milk (raw one please) which boosts collagen production, slows down fine lines and wrinkles, protects skin from free radicals that cause premature aging, helps fade dark spots and marks, reduces acne and promotes skin elasticity, you know it’s going to be “Good times” for your largest organ aka your skin. Finally, sandalwood powder owing to its fragrant and soothing aroma will act as the binding agent in this recipe. It also absorbs excess oil off one’s face and neck. Time to cheer oil-skinned ladies, isn’t it?
PROCEDURE-Soak 3-4 saffron strands in raw milk for about two hours. Add a heaped tbsp. of pure sandalwood powder (known as Chandan powder in Hindi) and mix well. Once a smooth and consistent paste id formed, generously daub a fine layer of it on your skin. It will take around 30 minutes to dry solely. Wash off with cold water and admire the newfound glow.
4. SAFFRON, ROSE WATER & COCONUT MILK MASK
The moisture absorbing and enhancing nature of saffron makes it an ideal home remedy for dry, chapped and rough skin. On the other hand, we have rose water (known as Gulab Jal in Hindi) which helps to maintain skin’s pH balance, fight acne, dermatitis and eczema.
Rose water also hydrates, revitalizes and moisturizes skin. It helps to tone one’s skin. It also helps to revitalize aging skin and keeps fine lines at bay. So many virtues rolled into one! Didn’t that get you ecstatic? Add to this, coconut milk needs no elaboration when it comes to moisturisation.
PROCEDURE- In a tbsp. of pure rose water, add 3-4 saffron strands. Let them soak into it for 2 hours. Finally, add a tbsp. of coconut milk. The final/resulting concoction will be predominantly liquid. That goes without saying that application would be messy but do not fret. You’ll be blown away by the results if not immediately then, definitely over a couple of uses periodically.
Best Aloe Vera Face Packs to get Clear, Glowing Skin
By Nidhal
It’s juicy. It’s succulent. It’s tender. It is a magic potion for your skin and hair. If consumed on a regular basis, it endows your body with a whole range of vital nutrients. It comes packed in tubs, tubes and bottles but that’s as good as a paper airplane in the name of defence equipment! It’s not real. Raw/real Aloe vera displays the tendency to turn stale within half an hour of being extracted.
Naturally the one in tubs, tubes or bottles would either be conspicuously fake or pumped with an overwhelmingly large number of chemicals. In the name of revitalising our skin, why then go for something that is just gel and nowhere as nourishing as our real Aloe Vera is?
Today, I will enlist a few tried-and- tested face masks with real Aloe Vera that you can easily whip at home to nurture your skin from within
1. ALOE VERA & HONEY MASK
The secret of Aloe Vera lies in its long, tender, succulent leaves – it is this gel that makes aloe vera a magical plant. It contains a host of beneficial compounds like polysaccharides, lectins and mannans etc. The main constituent of Aloe Vera is water but it also packs inside a bulk of minerals, vitamins and many active compounds which will leave your skin nourished and refreshed.
Honey, on the other hand, being a humectant (moisture binding agent) traps in moisture and doesn’t let your skin feel dry or stretchy.
PROCEDURE- Simply extract the gel of a whole Aloe vera plant and add half the quantity of raw (preferably Manuka) honey to whatsoever quantity of Aloe Vera gel you’ve extracted. Mix, apply and wash after 15 minutes. Since the mask contains honey, it won’t dry up solely so, there’s no point in sitting with it for hours. At most, half an hour is suggested after which Aloe vera would tend to be infested by bacteria.
2. ALOE VERA & CURD MASK
Known to be a peerless retainer of one’s skin’s firmness, Aloe vera in combination with curd that has lactic acid and hence, efficacious in lightening scars, spots, freckles, marks, blemishes, etc. is a wonderful mask to kick away spots and dullness. It also raises radiance.
PROCEDURE- As usual, extract the gel of an Aloe Vera plant (a single leaf would be sufficient) painstakingly and add two tbsp. of curd to it. Mix both well, massage on your skin gently and let it stay for 15-20 minutes or till it gets dry completely. Wash off with ample cold water to reveal brighter and energised face.
3. ALOE VERA, BESAN & HALDI POWDER MASK
The humble Aloe Vera gel has anti-microbial properties which spells cheer. Why? Because that makes it ideal to treat acne and pimples. Did I just see acne-prone ladies cavort excitedly on reading this? Besan helps to sort sallow complexion thereby evening out skin tone. Haldi makes for an excellent instant skin brightening ingredient that you just cannot skip in this recipe. I would suggest using either Kasthoori Haldi or Amba Haldi because these two variants are exclusively crafted for skin care and won’t turn your skin yellow if applied a little in excess (of course, don’t add an entire pack of Haldi just to ascertain the level at which your skin would turn yellow)
PROCEDURE- Simply extract Aloe vera’s gel off a leaf. Add a tsp of Kasthoori haldi or Amba haldi as well as besan. Mix well, apply and wash off within 15-20 minutes. Do not keep any Aloe vera face mask for more than half an hour. It gets infested by bacteria. You may not feel it but its nutritive value surely diminishes.
4. ALOE VERA, MILK & RICE FLOUR MASK
This mask comes to rescue to those who are battling sunburns. Aloe vera helps reduce inflammation and when teamed up with milk (that is high in lactic acid which lightens blemishes and deep cleanses skin) and rice flour (which helps to even out complexion), there’s surely no way your sunburn would stay for long.
PROCEDURE- Simply mix adequate amount of raw Aloe vera gel in a tablespoon of rice and little milk (enough to liquefy) the resulting mixture and smear it liberally on your skin. Once dry, splash cold water and scrub it gently to remove it. Voila! Someone’s glowing.
Editor’s Note: Loved this! I love curd & honey, definitely trying first two <3
Do you use aloe vera in your DIY face packs? How do you use it?
Top 10 Types of Essential Oils, Their Uses and Benefits, How to Use, Buy Online
By Simran
An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants.
An oil is ‘essential’ in the sense that it contains the ‘essence of’ the plant’s fragrance—the characteristic fragrance of the plant from which it is derived.
Interest in essential oils has revived in recent decades with the popularity of aromatherapy, a branch of alternative medicine that claims that essential oils and other aromatic compounds have curative effects.
In addition to these impressive qualities, they often also transfer very pleasurable sensory experiences within minutes because of their fragrances and restorative natures, making them impactful on our brain chemistry, emotional well-being, and spiritual wellness. This makes for a highly vast and diverse list of uses for essential oils.
Rosewood is a decorative tree and used to make furniture, chopsticks, and show pieces; it is a versatile and durable tree that grows abundantly in Brazil. It is commonly called sheesham in India. But rosewood is more than just a raw material used in manufacturing.
Benefits/uses of rosewood essential oil:
Rosewood oil has tissue-regenerating properties that help prevent wrinkles and premature aging.
You can use it to reduce the onset of pimples and blackheads while controlling the amount of sebum secreted by your oil glands
It even has wound-healing actions, making it an ideal first-aid remedy for cuts and insect bites.
Aroma therapists use it to help treat depression, as it is said to impart feelings of happiness and strength.
How to Use: You can dilute the oil by using a carrier oil like coconut/olive oil and apply it on your face or use it as a massaging oil. Add a few drops to your bath to relax your body. You can even mix it in your unscented shower gel to achieve a sweet smelling shower gel which relaxes you.
Tea tree oil is made from the leaves of the tea tree plant, a member of the myrtle tree family, which is native to Australia.
Benefits/Uses of Tea Tree essential oil:
Tea tree oil can be used to cure acne, fungal and bacterial infections.
It can even effectively be used to get rid of dandruff.
Tea tree essential oil can provide relief from muscular pain, aches, and sprains because its strong chemical properties can work as an anti-inflammatory and also encourages blood flow.
How to Use: Mix the oil in your moisturiser or Mix a drop or 2 with a smidge of coconut oil and use a cotton swab to apply on your face to effectively fight acne. Mix 10 drops of tea tree oil with 1 cup of water and dip your toothbrush in it once a week to get rid of bacteria on your toothbrush. Use the oil as your deodorant since it fights bacteria and helps you smell fresh.
Orange essential oil is obtained from the peels of orange by cold compression. Although most of you know the common name of oranges, perhaps you don’t know the botanical name, Citrus Sinensis.
Benefits/Uses of orange essential oil:
Orange essential oil is known to relax muscular and nervous spasms.
Curing acne and constipation.
Improves complexion.
Inhibits growth of microbes in wounds and helps reduce inflammation.
How to Use: Use it with your moisturiser, since Vit. C helps in repairing skin and fighting wrinkles. Add a few drops of oil in water and use it as a kitchen cleanser. Diffuse Orange with Lime, Lemon, or Tangerine for a sunny warm-weather scent, or diffuse it with Cinnamon and a hint of Clove for a festive smell perfect for the holidays.
Lavender oil is extracted mostly from the flowers of the lavender plant. The flowers of lavender are fragrant in nature and have been used for making potpourri for centuries. Traditionally, lavender essential oil has also been used in making perfumes.
Benefits/Uses of Lavender essential oil:
Lavender essential oil is known to Reduces anxiety and emotional stress
Heal burns and wounds.
It helps in Improving sleep
Restores skin complexion and reduces acne.
It Slows aging with powerful antioxidants.
How to Use: Put a drop or two in your bath water to instantly relax your body after a long day. If you have trouble sleeping, put 2-3 drops on your pillow case to help you fall asleep faster. Mix several drops of Lavender oil with a nut or vegetable mixing oil (coconut, sesame, etc) and use topically on acne.
Cedarwood essential oil is extracted from wood pieces of the cedar wood tree. Cedarwood contributes a great deal to its health benefits.
Benefits/uses of Cedarwood essential oil:
Cedarwood oil promotes hair growth
has anti-inflammatory agents
cures toothaches
strengthens gums
It clears out toxins and helps cure acne and fungal infections.
Reduces skin irritations
regulates menstruation
stimulates metabolism
tightens muscles
How to Use: Just add a few drops of Cedarwood oil to your shampoo or massage it directly into the scalp to promote hair growth. Simply add a few drops of cedarwood oil to your skin cream and rub it into the affected acne areas or you can add 4 or 5 drops to your bathwater to help soothe the skin. You could also add cedarwood oil to coconut oil and some oatmeal to make your own facial scrub. If you are feeling in any way tense, stressed or depressed try inhaling cedarwood essential oil from the bottle or put a few drops on a handkerchief and breathe it in whenever you feel the need.
Chamomile oil is extracted from the flowers of the Chamomile plant, which is very popular as a flowering plant. There are two types of Chamomile; The Roman Chamomile and the German Chamomile.
Benefits/uses of Chamomile essential oil:
Chamomile oil is best known throughout the ages for its sedative and soothing qualities.
Endowed with an overall calming effect for the stressed mind and tense body
Chamomile essential oil can also be used to ease feelings of grief, anger, discontent or over-sensitivity.
It helps in fading scars and spots on your skin and treats sunburn.
How to Use: Rub a few drops of Chamomile essential oil on your pulse points like behind the ear or neck; it will help you fall asleep better. Add 1–2 drops to your favourite moisturizer, shampoo, or conditioner to promote youthful looking skin and hair. Add 1–2 drops to herbal teas or hot drinks to soothe the body and mind.
Cinnamon originated in tropical Asia, and was particularly widely used in Sri Lanka and India. Now, the shrub is grown in almost every tropical region of the world. The spice, owing to its vast medicinal uses, has found a prominent position in traditional medicines, especially in Ayurveda, which is the traditional Indian medicinal system.
Benefits/uses of Cinnamon essential oil:
It increases circulation and fights viruses.
The oil possesses anti inflammation properties and hence cures acne effectively.
Helps alleviate sore muscles and joints
How to Use: Place 1 drop Cinnamon essential oil in hot water or tea and drink slowly to soothe your throat. Dilute the oil with a carrier oil like coconut or mineral oil and apply on your face for glowing skin and decreasing acne. Place one drop on your toothbrush then add toothpaste for healthier gums.
Sweet Basil/Tulsi Essential Oil
8. Sweet Basil essential oil:
Sweet basil oil comes from basil, a plant with a thick foliage and small white flowers. Fresh basil leaves taste sweet and pungent, and exudes a fresh and floral aroma, while the dried ones have a spicy and earthy scent. Basil was widely used in ancient times and still used in India for various medicinal purposes.
Benefits/uses of Sweet Basil essential oil:
Sweet Basil essential oil Soothes sore muscles and joints.
It enhances the lustre of dull-looking skin and hair.
It helps cure acne and improves circulation.
Apply to minor skin irritations
For sensitive skin, dilute with fractionated coconut oil.
It is anti bacterial
How to Use: Mix it in your shampoo or moisturiser for lush hair and glowing skin. Use basil essential oils topically on the feet or by diffusing them aromatically to fight fatigue.
While the aroma of peppermint essential oil may be synonymous in some minds with the candy, it’s a lot more than flavouring. The essential oil of peppermint has been used for centuries for digestive problems, sinus and respiration and more. The aroma of the oil can be very sweet, and obviously minty, in nature.
Benefits/uses of Peppermint essential oil:
It nourishes skin and improves texture of oily skin
Promotes hair growth
Improves mental focus and relieves headaches.
How to Use: Add 2-3 drops of peppermint essential oil to your regular morning shampoo and conditioner to stimulate the scalp and energize your mind. Use a drop or two on your temples to help enhance mental clarity. Inhaling peppermint essential oil can stave off the munchies and can help you feel full faster.
Lemongrass is an herb that belongs to the grass family of Poaceae. Lemongrass oil has a light and fresh lemony smell with earthy undertones. It is stimulating, relaxing, soothing, and balancing.
Benefits/uses of Lemon grass essential oil:
It relieves head and stomach aches
Helps reduce acne and oiliness of the skin
Helps in reducing fatigue or insomnia, even menstrual cramps.
How to Use: Diffuse or apply Lemongrass essential oil to bottoms of feet at bedtime for a restful night’s sleep. Drink two cups of lemongrass tea a day to relieve pain associated with your period. To help clear up acne, add one drop to a carrier oil and dab on to affected areas once or twice a day.
These essential oils are also available in a set of 6 (HERE) and set of 12 (HERE), different combinations.
I am a sucker of body washes. I have been using them since years and lately i have fallen in love with them. I have tried number of body washes since ages. Be it from the regular drugstore brands or the premium brands. This time I was eyeing the online marketplace to look for a brand new in terms of bath gel and I landed up with this baby – SEBAMED Liquid face and body wash. I am sure all of you might have heard the amazing properties of the foaming face wash which is supposed to be anti bacterial and all. And since it’s summers when i suffer the most with bacterial attacks and all so I decided to use the body wash. and that is the time when i bought this – Sebamed Liquid Face and body wash and thus here follows the review.
Product claims : Sebamed Liquid Face and Body Wash is dermatologist developed, ultra-mild, and compatible with the most sensitive of skins. It gently deep cleans pores without causing dryness or irritation as regular soap can. Fortified with a natural moisturizing complex of vitamins and soothing allantoin, it rinses away completely for naturally healthier, smoother skin.
My experience with Sebamed Liquid Face and body wash
The packaging of this body wash from the house of sebamed looks like it is a medicinal product. The packaging has the product name and other details written all over it. The bottle is medium in size which makes it easy to carry around. It comes with a easy cap which needs to be only twisted to get the product out.
The texture of the body wash is medium in nature. But still you need to dilute it so that it easily spreads on your body. The body wash controls the amount of oil on your body and also reduces the presence or formation of any new bacteria or any allergies on your body. There is a bit of medicinal smell but nothing over the top so sensitive noses need not worry. And you require a very little amount per usage so a little product will easily go a long way.
Good about Sebamed Liquid Face and body wash
1. Medicinal properties
2. Little product goes a long way
3. Affordable
4. Easy to use texture
5. Does not dry out skin
6. Maintains the pH 5.5 balance of the body
7. Keeps skin bacteria free
8. 100% Soap and Alkali free
Bad about Sebamed Liquid Face and body wash
1. Nothing for me other than the availability part
Rating – 5/5
Editor’s Note: Wow, this sounds pretty good for summers Pallavi. Definitely checking this out right away, nice review.
Have you tried the Sebamed Liquid Face and Body Wash?
Winters are almost getting over and sunny days have started. I can feel my skin which suffered from excessive dryness during winters is going to back to its usual oily-combination self. When it comes to face washes, I was using more of creamy cleansers during winters. But now I have to change them to a more deep-cleansing face wash which can control oil for a longer time. Thanks to Bhumika, I got to try this Fash Face Wash from Curatio at the right time. Read to know whether it is a hit or a miss.
Product Claims: Fash Face Cleanser is an innovative approach to healthy skin, which regulates the skin ecosystem. With its specially developed formulation, Fash helps remove dirt, dead cells and excessive oil without leaving skin feeling dry. Regular use of Fash cleanser helps maintain clean, youthful and radiant skin.
Ingredients:
Directions to use: Wet face with water, pour sufficient quantity of Fash face cleanser on palm, develop a rich lather, and gently massage on face for 2 minutes. Rinse off. Repeat if skin is very oily. Use 1-3 times a day.
Packaging:
The face wash comes in a sturdy plastic tube with a flip-open cap. The blue and white color graphics of the tube looks fresh and energizing. I have carried around the tube in my handbag and there has been no leakage or spillage. So packaging wise, the face wash looks good as well as convenient and travel friendly.
Texture and fragrance:
The face wash is blue colored with a mild, fresh, menthol-kind of fragrance. The texture of the face wash is one of the weirdest I have ever come across. It is gel-like and sticky.
My experience:
I have been using the face wash for the past two weeks and have been pretty satisfied with it. Except for the weird, sticky texture that I have mentioned above. When I squeeze the face wash into my hands, the gel just sticks to my hands. I have a hard time spreading it on my face as it just sticks to the skin, even though my face is wet. I need to massage well for it to work. It doesn’t create any lather as such. But on massaging for some time, the blue gel texture turns into bluish-white paste like a face pack. On the directions, it is mentioned that the face wash has to be massaged for 2 minutes. And I felt, it works well only when used that way.
Initially, I was using it in the usual quick way of applying and washing off like any other face wash and it didn’t work well. Also, owing to the sticky consistency, it becomes difficult to wash off as well and takes time to remove it completely. Even I have a hard time washing it off from my hands. While washing, if any gel accidentally drips into your wash basin, it sticks there as well and you have to scrub to get rid of it.
But for all this hard work in using a face wash, the results are very satisfactory. It deep cleanses the skin and removes all oil, dirt and gives a fresh look. Am not sure if it contains menthol or not, but it gives a nice cooling and fresh feeling just like a menthol-based face wash. It doesn’t dry out skin much and I don’t feel the need to immediately reach for a moisturiser, though that might not be the case with dry skin people. It keeps my face fresh and oil-free for around 4-5 hours which is pretty good. Also, as mentioned in the product claims, I feel that it removes dead cells too and the whiteheads which I used to get frequently are more in control now.
Pros:
* Deep cleanses skin and gets rid of all dirt and oil.
* Gives a nice cooling effect.
* Keeps face oil-free for 4-5 hours.
* Removes dead cells.
* Controls whiteheads.
* Doesn’t dry out skin.
* Mild fragrance which is not bothersome.
* Nice and travel-friendly packaging.
* Free from SLS and parabens.
Cons:
* Sticky texture.
* Difficult to wash off.
Price and quantity: Rs.190 for 100g.
Rating: 4.3/5
Verdict: Overall, Curatio Fash Face Wash is a good face wash for oily-combination skin especially in summers. It gives a nice cooling feeling, deep cleanses skin and keeps it oil-free for a long time. Only con is the sticky texture which takes a while to spread and then wash off.
Editor’s Note: Oo..this is something quite unique and interesting. I have never tried something like that, but since this is specially meant for acne prone skin and controls that, it will be a boon for acne prone people. Nice review Archana 🙂
Have you heard of Fash Face Wash from Curatio yet?
