Indian Skin Care

For centuries, Indian woman have used simple, all natural, tropical ingredients for their beauty recipes. Recipe ingredients consisted of fruits, rose petals, nuts, milk, yogurt, honey, neem, clay, sandalwood, and most of all, ayurvedic herbs.

A simple Indian beauty regimen:

1. Herbal Steam: 1 bowl of boiling water, 1 tsp rose petal powder or citrus peel powder, 1 tsp tulsi powder, 1 tsp fennel seed powder, 1 tsp lemon balm, 1 tsp peppermint leaves. Place a towel over your head, hold your face above the steam for about 10 minutes to allow the steam to open up the skin pores. This will allow you to deep clean the skin. Make sure your skin stays hot until you apply the exfoliating cleanser so have it ready.
   
   
2. If you have acne prone or oily skin, you can soak a washcloth with hot neem infused tea and place the washcloth over your face for an additional 5 minutes. Remember not to lick your lips - the tea will be bitter!
   
   
3. Rinse the face really well with warm water and pat dry.
   
   
4. Exfoliate: Make a paste with 1/2 Tablespoon aritha powder, 1/2 tsp sandalwood powder, 1 tablespoons multani mitti clay, 1/2 tsp powdered rose petals, 1 tsp arrowroot powder, 1/4 tsp neem powder and milk. Alternatively, you can do a almond nut meal scrub using 2 tablespoons nut meal, 1 tsp honey, 2 tablespoons oatmeal coarse and 1 tsp buttermilk powder. Add water to make a paste. Using a circular motion, massage exfoliating mixture into the skin. Rinse well with warm water.
   
   
5. Tighten the pores: Mix 1/2 cup of refridgerated yogurt with 2 tsp refridgerated rose hydrosol and 1/2 tablespoon honey. Apply to the face and allow it to sit until the mixture becomes warm and then rinse. If your skin is dry you can smooth on a few finger tips full of virgin coconut oil or sweet almond oil, both of which are very light.
   
   

Visit the Indian Plants article for further information on plants used in Indian skin and hair care. (This link leads to a site outside of From Nature With Love and will open in a new window.)