Classic Indian Beauty Secrets

India is a place where its people always believed in the power of nature and tried to live in harmony with it. Its culture and traditions speak of such a symbiotic relationship between man and nature. The belief that nature has all the answers to every aspect of life is deep rooted in their practices.

Indian women have been the epitome of natural beauty and beauty traditions for ages. Although, Ayurveda prescribes rich herbs for internal and external medication, the Indian woman always made sure to integrate even the simplest concoctions from her kitchen in to her daily routine to beautify herself inside out. Here are some of the age old and classic Indian beauty secrets.

Turmeric

The antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties make it the perfect ingredient to fight any skin diseases. In the olden days, turmeric sticks would be rubbed on a wet stone to get a paste and it would be smothered all over the body before a bath in a river or lake. It has the most refreshing feeling to the body, mind, and soul as it was believed. However, most turmeric available nowadays is colored with artificial yellow dyes which are harmful for health. The safest turmeric for use on the skin is Kasuri Haldi. It can be applied on skin for a bright glow, sun de-tan, anti-acne and anti-septic on small wounds. Regular application improves complexion.

Get Set Girl's Recipe:

1/2 tsp Kasuri Haldi (or as required)

1 tsp Water

Make a thin paste and let dry. Wash with normal water

Besan

Known as Gram flour or Garbanzo bean flour in English, it is the most potent skin cleanser, with versatile uses as a cleanser, mask, or scrub. It not only deep cleanses but also nourishes skin. It is safe to use on every day basis as well. It has skin lightening properties which make it all the more popular ingredient in skin care recipes.

Get Set Girl's  Recipe:

1 tsp Besan

1 tsp water

Mix together as a thick paste and use on wet skin as a scrub. Leave it on for 2 - 5 minutes and wash off.

Sandalwood

Sandalwood trees are exotic aromatic trees that grow widely in the southern states, especially Karnataka. Its wood, bark, oil are extensively used in luxury cosmetics. Also sandalwood paste is smeared on freshly shaved heads to give a soothing effect as it is an anti-septic as well. It is relatively an expensive ingredient, but its popularity is immense for all its benefits including relieving headaches, stings, acne, sun tan, etc. The aroma is just heavenly. Similar to turmeric, sandalwood is ground to a paste on a wet stone, but powder form is also available for instant use. Cauvery, the government company, which is authorized to sell sandalwood products also makes ready to use sandalwood paste.

Get Set Girl's  Recipe:

1 tsp ground sandalwood paste

Just apply on the skin for as long as desired. Can be used to even spot treat pimples.

Saffron

The Queen of spices is grown only in Kashmir in India. It is a painstaking process to take the saffron threads and as such is a very expensive spice. The authenticity of this spice is tested by putting it in water. If the water immedietely gets a color, then it is very likely that the saffron has bee artificially dyed. Authentic threads let color slowly, and the color is much deeper than the yellowish-orange imparted by the fake dyes. It is used in sparing quantities in skin care routine as just a little goes a long way. It helps with skin lightening and acne treatment.

Get Set Girl's  Recipe:

2 - 3 saffron threads

1 tsp water

Soak the threads in water for 15 - 20 minutes. Take a pestle or a spoon and squeeze the threads to extract more essence. Apply this solution over the skin.

Tulsi

Known as Holy Basil in English. Tulsi plant is worshipped as a goddess among the Hindus. Consuming 2 - 3 tulsi leaves relieves cold and cough. It keeps rashes and dandruff at bay apart from proving relief to pimple battle field skin.

Get Set Girl's Recipe:

5 - 10 Tulsi leaves

Just add to your bath water for use on body and hair. The aroma is therapeutic as well.

Amla

Known as the Indian Gooseberry in English, it is rich in Vit C. So it helps unclog pores, brighten & lighten skin, cure dandruff and provide an excellent shine to the hair. The puree or pulp of Amla can be difficult to work with, so they are dried and powdered for use.

Get Set Girl's Recipe:

1/2 cup Amla powder

1/2 cup water

Make a paste and apply over skin/ hair. It rinses off easily without staining so don't worry.

Multani mitti

It is Indian volcanic clay, also known as Fuller's Earth. It derives its name from Multan, now part of Pakistan, and mitti means mud in Hindi. It is a great detoxifying ingredient which can be used on its own in combination with other ingredients. The Royal would regularly indulge in a Multani mitti bath.  It tightens the skin, shrinks pores, reduces oiliness thereby reducing pimples, reduces dandruff and makes skin stronger and resilient to hairfall. It is claimed to improve complexion.

Get Set Girl's Recipe:

1/2 cup Multani mitti

3/4 cup water

Mix to a thin paste and apply over skin and hair. Wash off before it completely dries off or it can be hard to remove it.

Coconut oil

Coconut trees grow along the coastal regions of India, and its oil is widely used in cooking and skin and hair care. It is not only moisturizing, but also soothes dry skin diseases. It removes dandruff with regular application and gives the hair strength and shine. It is the secret of south Indian women's long and luscious hair. It is also used for oil pulling. Just make sure that the oil is cold-compressed and not refined for maximum benefits.

Get Set Girl's Recipe:

1/4 cup warm coconut oil

Slather on generously over skin & hair and massage well. Let it soak in for as long as possible and then wash off.

Shikakai and Reetha

Shikakai and Reetha are both hair cleansers and conditioners in one. Reetha is known as Soapnut in English. They can be used individually or together as well. They not just cleanse the hair well removing all traces of oil and dirt, but also keep it dandruff and lice free. They do not color the hair as such, but prevent graying. They make the roots healthy and strong. They are secret behind south Indian women's black, shiny, thick hair.

Silver Lined Pink Cloud's Recipe:

A fistful of Shikakai  

and/ or A fistful of Reetha

1 glass water.

Boil together all the ingredients when it starts frothing take off the flame and cool a bit. Use as a cleanser for hair. At first, if it doesn't lather, it is because it has dissolved all the oil in the scalp and hair. The next rinse with this solution will lather up well. Just be careful not to get it into the eyes or they will burn. But even if it does get into the eyes, it does no harm, it just cleanses them too! Use the remaining solution on the body for a glossy skin.

Neem

Neem, also known as Margosa tree in English, is a sacred tree in India. Its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-microbial, and antiseptic properties make it a great medicine. It is useful for curing skin disorders too. In the olden times, and even today in the villages, the  Neem sticks are chewed on instead of a toothbrush and toothpaste for dental care. It prevents all sorts of dental problems like cavities, bad breath, plaque, tartar, ulcers, etc. Used on the hair, it treats dandruff and lice infestation. It may be safely applied on cuts and wounds for healing naturally and it doesn't burn! A few leaves may be regularly used in bath water or a mask from dried leaves powder may be used every now and then as often as required. Lighting a lamp with the oil of Neem also drives mosquitoes away. Alternatively it can be applied on the skin as a mosquito repellent. It can be mixed with coconut oil and diluted as such for use on skin and hair.

Get Set Girl's Recipe:

1 tbsp Neem powder

1 tbsp water

Mix and apply for spot treatment on skin problems.

Henna

Henna is also known as Mehendi in India. The shrub is a common garden plant in most households. The leaves are collected and ground with a pestle to a smooth paste and applied to the hands, feet, and hair for color. The color varies from orange to a deep maroon, sometimes so dark that it almost looks black! It is applied to a bride's hands and feet as part of a ceremony. The earthy aroma calms the nerves and anxiety. It is also used as a hair colorant and conditioner. People with white hair will end up with orangish hair if using henna alone. Pre-oiling with warm mustard oil will deepen the color imparted to the hair. Used on dark/ black hair will impart a gorgeous auburn color. The leaves may be collected, and dried in the sun, and then powdered to a fine texture for easier use and future storage as well. Soaking the powder in water overnight in an iron container makes it impart a much deeper color.

Get Set Girl's Recipe:

1 cup Henna powder

1/2 cup warm water

Mix both and leave aside overnight. Apply on hands, feet, or hair. If applying on the hair leave for a minimum of an hour to a maximum of 4 hours and wash off. If applying on hands or feet, leave overnight and scrape off with a steel spoon in the next morning. Do not wash with water immediately for a deep color.

Rose water

Rose petals were used in bath water for an invigorating feeling as rose is a natural aphrodisiac. Also the fragrance is extremely attractive. It softens the skin and removes skin pigmentation. Water is also infused with roses for future use. 

Get Set Girl's  Recipe:

1 bowl of fresh rose petals

1 l water

Bring water to a boil and add the petals. Switch off the flame, and cover with a lid. Let the petals infuse in the water for about 30 minutes. Filter and transfer into a clean bottle for future use. May be refrigerated or frozen as rose water cubes. Just dab with cotton on the skin for instant freshness. Regular use improves complexion. Ideal for all skin types.

Milk and curd

Both milk and curd are rich in lactic acid. Lactic acid removes pigmentation and unclogs pores, thereby assisting acne as well. They are versatile ingredients which may be used on their own or with other ingredients like besan or multani mitti, etc.

Get Set Girl's Recipe:

1 tsp besan or multani mitti

1 tsp milk/ curd

Mix and apply on the skin. Wash off with warm water after it completely dries off.

Lemon

Lemon is by far the most popular skin lightening agent and also reduces pimples. As it is acidic, it must always be diluted with plain water, rose water, or honey before using on the skin. Used on the hair, it cures dandruff and makes hair silky and shiny. The fragrance is very refreshing and uplifting on hot days especially. 

Get Set Girl's Recipe:

1 tsp besan

1/2 tsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp rose water

Combine all and apply on the skin. Wait till it dries off and wash off for smooth and glowing skin.