Skin care routines for the harsh Lucknow summers that your grandma will approve of

It’s no news that Lucknow summers are unforgiving for the skin. You get oily, you get tanned, all the sweat-dust makes your pores clog and you get sun burnt. As if all of this wasn’t enough, the pollution and heat make our skin dry and develop cracks. Today, we have a plethora of skin care products to choose from, but are any of these products actually beneficial for the skin in the long run? Or are they doing more harm than good?

What we do know for sure is that natural, is always the way to go! So, we have curated a list of all natural and easily accessible products and skin care routines passed down from generations that you can use/follow to deal with the angry summer skin.

Aloe-vera gel as the calmer of angry skin

Aloe-vera is the holy grail of natural and organic skincare regimens all over the world. Be it Korean, Indian or American beauty gurus, every one will tell you that the gel from an aloe vera plant is extremely beneficial for the skin. Not only is it cooling, it helps with sun burns, acne and rashes, leaving the skin with a natural moisture and glow.

How to use: Cut a mature leaf of aloe vera from its base with a sharp knife, keep it in a bowl and let the yellow coloured resin/residue flow out. Then cut the leaf in half and scoop the clear gel in a jar, make sure that you don’t get any bits of the leaf. Apply this on a clean and dry skin each evening and see your skin develop a natural sheen and bounce.

Turmeric as anti-inflammatory and pimple killer

We’ve all heard about the befits of turmeric, the spice comes from a root and it has anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Our grandmothers and mothers swear by its benefits and the world is starting to see why. Turmeric has anti oxidants that bring out the natural lusture of your skin, the anti inflammatory calms down rashes and reduce pimples.

How to use: Make sure that you use good quality turmeric, raw roots are easily available in the market and you can buy some from any vegetable vendor. You can blend it in a paste for better results.

Take some natural turmeric, mix it with honey and yogurt and apply over your pimples and rashes. OR Mix some turmeric with besan/gram flour and cold milk to condition dry and discoloured skin.

Cucumbers as a pore tightener and toner

Cucumbers are not just good for putting on the eyes, as dark circle removers but also for your entire face. Cucumbers are known to have calming and cooling properties and can naturally tighten your skin.

How to use: Clean and peel a young cucumber, cut it in half and scoop out the pulp with a clean spoon. Make sure to take out all the seeds from this pulp. Blend the pulp and the rest of the cucumber in a food processor/blender and strain with a fine cheese cloth. You can keep this liquid in a spray bottle or a container and refrigerate it for longevity. Make sure not to preserve it for too long though. Use this as a natural toner, apply it to clean skin with a cotton swab and say hello to refreshed skin and tight pores.

Rosewater for mist

I’m going to keep this one short. We all know that a good rose water can do miracles for the skin. Not only does it hydrate dry skin but also works as a calmer of breakouts and rashes. Use a good distilled rose water for the softest and hydrated skin.

How to use: You can buy a good rose water from brands like Dabur and Kama Ayurveda, Khadi or you can make your own. Get a spray bottle and keep it in your bag to spray on every time your skin feels dehydrated or dry.

Water as the ultimate glow bringer

We’ve heard it from our parents, we’ve heard it from our doctors and we’ve read it in endless articles online: The best path to beauty is from within. Same goes with hydration and glow. The secret to a healthy skin and a natural glow is drinking loads and load of water on a daily basis. Make it a habit to drink at-least 2 glasses of water in the morning and a total of 8-10 glasses every single day.

Try it for just a month and you’ll see astonishing results in your skin.

Coffee+Sugar as a natural scrub

The best things are always natural and if like most of us, you too are looking for a natural option of the daily scrub-scrub, we’ve got you covered. Coffee helps with relaxing the skin, it also helps in reducing cellulite and brings a natural bounce.

How to use: Take three heaping spoonfuls of coffee, mix it with one and a half, leveled spoon of granulated sugar and add a tea spoon of coconut oil to the mixture. Combine and jar the same and you can use this daily as a natural scrub.

Potato and Lemon for detanning

Summers in Lucknow mean tanning while waiting for your rickshaw, going ganjing or eating chat. Astonishingly the good-old potato is cosidered extremely beneficial for the skin, it helps with tanning, it brightens the skin and reduces early wrinkles. Also the Vitamin C from the lemon brightens the skin.

How to use: Clean, peel, cut and grate a potato, mix two table spoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice in the same and apply directly on clean skin. Leave for a few minutes and exfoliate gently.