flawless skin – That Madras Mom

We’re almost at the final leg. Today’s post is on W. The same time last year, I went into labour last year as I was typing my post for W. Brings back nostalgic memories.

Today lets look at the ingredients in W that help maintaining great skin. For a bonus I’m also giving you all winter skincare DIYs from ingredients at home. Thank me later.

WATERMELON

High water content in watermelon can help in hydrating skin from within and make it smooth and supple. It’s a boon for people with dry and flaky skin.

Watermelon is a natural toner that can help in shrinking of body tissues.

The presence of antioxidants like lycopene , vitamin A and C help in fighting against free radical damage. Hence watermelon has great benefits for anti ageing.

Watermelon also encourages boosting production of collagen and elastin which help in making skin look young and firm.

Vitamin A in watermelon helps in shrinking pore size thereby reducing the oil storing capabilities. Hence this results in reduction of acne.

The lycopene and beta carotene help in protecting against sunburns.

DIYS:

ACNE PRONE SKIN: Mix a tablespoon of watermelon juice to one mashed banana. Apply on to face and wash off after 15 minutes.

OILY SKIN:Blend half a cup of watermelon with a tablespoon of honey. Apply on to face and wash off after 15 minutes.

DRY SKIN:
Blend a teaspoon of yogurt with 4-5 slices of watermelon. Apply on to face and wash off after 15 minutes.

ANTI AGEING:
Mix in a tablespoon of watermelon juice to half a mashed avocado. Apply on to face and wash off after 15 minutes.

BRIGHTENING PACK: Blend two tablespoons of curd with 4-5 slices of watermelon. Apply on to face and wash off after 15 minutes.

GLOW MASK: Mix in a tablespoon of watermelon juice and raw milk. Dab a cotton pad in this mixture and apply on to face. Wash off after 15 minutes.

WATER

Adequate amount of water consumption is essential to maintain well hydrated healthy skin.

Only if enough water is consumed the essential nutrients get circulated around the body.

It will also help in improving skin elasticity and make it supple so you do not age prematurely.

Water helps in flushing out toxins and keep skin clear from any infection.Helps in keeping acne and breakouts at bay.

Drinking enough water helps in tightening the skin and therefore makes skin look more firm.

Water helps in maintaining the natural pH of the skin.

Water helps in reducing dehydration therefore makes eyes look sparkly and also reduce the puffiness around the eyes.

Intake of adequate water helps in maintaining healthy gut and thereby aids good digestion.

HOW TO INCLUDE WATER?

LEMON:You could squeeze in lemon juice on your salads or even infuse lemon in drinking water.

GINGER: Adding ginger to tea concoction can aid in digestion and reducing inflammation.

CINNAMON: Infuse cinnamon sticks in water. Helps cut down on sugar craving and also regulate blood sugar levels.

HONEY OR ACV: Adding few drops of honey or ACV will help in clearing out acne.

MINT: Mint aids digestion and is great for detox. Infuse few mint leaves in water overnight for a refreshing day ahead.

What kind of water for skin? It is always best to use lukewarm water on skin.

WINTER SKIN DIYS

Winter is known to be harsh over the skin. And if you already have dry skin then winter is definitely a season that you don’t wish for.

DIYs

MILK AND ALMOND: Mix in 3 teaspoon of almond powder to two tablespoons of milk. Apply on to face and wash off after 15 minutes.

YOGURT AND HONEY: Mix in a tablespoon of honey to half a cup of yogurt. Apply on to face and wash off after 10 minutes.

COCONUT OIL: Coconut oil is a great moisturizer. Apply a light layer to see smooth skin.

STRAWBERRY: Blend 2-4 strawberries with two teaspoon of fresh cream and a teaspoon of honey. Apply on to face and wash off after 15 minutes.

BANANA AND MILK: Add in a tablespoon of milk to mashed banana. Apply on to face and wash off after 15 minutes.

ALOE VERA AND SESAME OIL: Mix in a tablespoon of aloe vera gel to a teaspoon of sesame oil. Apply on to face and wash off after 10 minutes.

CARROT AND HONEY: Mix in a tablespoon of honey to one pureed carrot. Apply on to face and wash off after 15 minutes.

This post is written as part of Blogchatter’s A2Z challenge.

Infused water is really good for skin and is also easily available. Water in general is really helpful in maintaining good skin. It helps to keep you hydrated and flush out toxins so that makes your skin clear and supple.

Rose water and rice water are two easily available or easy to make infused water recipes at home. Trust me they work wonders .

RICE WATER:

Fermented rice water or commonly known as rice wine helps in protecting skin against sun damage. It also helps in collagen build up and helps in preventing wrinkles due to ageing.

It helps to keep the skin supple and also is a good sunscreen.

Rice water works great for dry skin. It helps in soothing irritation caused by using products that contain SLS.
Rice water when applied topically helps in clearing out blemishes and heal irritation caused when having eczema.

Most ancient beauty rituals clearly involve usage of rice water. K-beauty products also predominantly use rice water for its ability to give you flawless skin.

Its an extremely easy DIY at home and brims with skin nutrients though the name looks very humble.

Rice water that is starchy helps in toning and tightening the pores on oily skin.

The starch found in rice water helps in improving and repairing the natural barrier of the skin.Because when this barrier is compromised skin is exposed to various infections.

HOW TO MAKE RICE WATER?

SOAKED RICE WATER:
Take a handful of rice. Rinse in water for about 3-4 times until water runs clear. Soak the rice in water that is of 3 times the quantity of rice. After 30 minutes. Drain the rice and store the water in refrigerator. Use this up to two weeks.

BOILED RICE WATER:
Take a handful of rice. Rinse in water for about 3-4 times until water runs clear. Soak the rice in water that is of 3 times the quantity of rice. Boil the content. Once rice is cooked, collect only the water and store in refrigerator.Use up to two weeks.

FERMENTED RICE WATER:
Take a handful of rice. Rinse in water for about 3-4 times until water runs clear. Soak the rice in water that is of 3 times the quantity of rice. Close and leave it in room temperature for about two days. Drain and collect the water and refrigerate. Use up to two weeks.

HOW TO USE?

Rice water can be used as a cleanser, toner , foot soak and can also be mixed in bath water.

ROSE WATER

Rose water is obtained by steam distilling rose petals. It has anti inflammatory properties that help in soothing skin that is irritated by eczema.
The anti bacterial property helps in reducing acne and the redness caused by it.

It has powerful antioxidants that help in protection of cells from free radical damage.

Rose water has anti ageing properties that help in reducing wrinkles.

Using rose water as toner helps in keeping skin free from extra oil and also prevents acne, blackheads and white heads.
Rose water helps to hydrate and moisturize skin. Since it is mild it can help in reducing puffiness around the eyes.

Rose water when used in combination with natural oil helps remove make up in a gentle way. You could either use coconut oil or almond oil.

Rose water gives a burst of moisture to skin. It can be applied directly or applied when using a face mask.
You could also mix in two drops of rose water to regular moisturizer to get the hydrated effect.

DIYS

OILY SKIN:Mix in a tablespoon of bentonite clay to two tablespoons of cucumber extract and two tablespoons of rose water. Apply on to face and wash off after 10 minutes.

NORMAL SKIN: Mix in a tablespoon of besan to a tablespoon of yogurt and two tablespoons of rose water. Apply on to face and wash off after 15 minutes.

DRY SKIN:Mix in a tablespoon of aloe vera gel and honey. Add two tablespoons of rose water to the mixture. Apply on to face and wash off after 15 minutes.

MOISTURIZER: Mix two tablespoons of honey to four tablespoons of rose water. Apply on to face and wash off in 10 minutes.

CLEANSER: Rose water helps remove dirt and impurities which are missed by cleansers. Mix in two tablespoon of water to a tablespoon of multani mutti. Apply on to face and rinse off after 3 minutes.

MAKEUP REMOVER: Mix in a tablespoon of rose water to a teaspoon of coconut or olive oil. Dip a cotton pad in this mixture to wipe off make up.

This post is written as part of Blogchatter’s A2Z challenge.